The Tea-tox for Everyone!

photo from The Flavor Project

     Detox is a word, fad, or whatever you'd like to label it as, that we've all come to develop a love-hate relationship with. There's this huge buzz all over just about every media platform, talking about how detoxing is a necessity to kickstart your new diet and/or workout routine. However, with all of these new health claims, come some pretty unhealthy habits, some that we can all say we're guilty of taking up. But hey, lesson learned right? That's what life is all about. 

     About a year ago, I saw this huge influx in the teatox craze, everyone wanted to be a part of it. However, not long after came the negative aftermath. A lot of these teatoxes contain laxatives, and when taken in excess, can cause some serious harm to the body. A lot of females experienced issues with birth control as well, because when laxatives are taken alongside medication, the medication is essentially flushed out of the system, nullifying the effects altogether. 

     I wanted to find a way to create a customizable "teatox", without the harmful effects, but while still balancing out the body with amazing health benefits. After researching long and hard about the benefits of different types of tea, I think I've finally perfected my formula (but let's remember that nobody's perfect folks #HannahMontana anyone?). 

photo from Plonts Health Magazine

     For this teatox, I've decided that it's best to drink three cups of tea a day to get the maximum health benefits. Each type of tea I've listed below is from DavidsTea, which is a company I've recently been employed with, however all opinions are my own, and all items have been purchased with my own money.  

Morning: If you're anything like me, and you need that boost of caffeine to get you going in the morning, you'll want to start getting into matcha. Matcha is this AMAZING powerhouse of a green tea. Rather than steeping the tea leaves, you're actually ingesting them (since it's finely ground powder). Therefor, you're getting all the antioxidant, metabolism boosting benefits you could ever ask for in this magical powder! You'll need to buy a special matcha whisk in order to separate the powder in your hot cup of water prior to drinking it, or you can purchase a handheld milk-frother, which will do the trick! (If this sounds like something a little too advanced for your morning routine, any high-grade green tea will work as well). 

Afternoon: Time to hydrate without the caffeine. That's right, it's rooibos time. Rooibos tea is packed with minerals and antioxidants, but it's caffeine free, so it's one of the most hydrating ways that you can sip! There's a rooibos blend for just about everyone out there. My personal favourite for detoxing, is called "The Glow". This blend contains ingredients that are traditionally said to be excellent for overall beauty and complexion purposes. Glowing skin? Heck yes!

Before Bed: Do you ever find that your mind is always running before bedtime? Sometimes it's just a little too hard to unwind and relax your brain for the day? Incorporating certain ingredients in your nightly sip can help your body and brain get the 8 hours it truly needs, a.k.a beauty sleep! Not getting enough sleep can actually cause some serious long-term damage to your health and metabolism, they don't call it beauty sleep for nothing. Ingredients such as chamomile and valerian root are time-old traditions that have been used to help aid in relaxation. A great two-in-one tea is "Organic Mother's Little Helper", or if you have a sensitivity to chamomile, do without and still get the benefits of valerian root with "Organic The Big Chill". 

     What I love most about this teatox? You can truly make it your own. If you have allergies or sensitivities, you can find a tea in any of the above categories that will surely contain ingredients for your needs. Remember, to get the most out of this teatox, always try to drink your tea 30 minutes before or after a meal, that way your tea will have time to separate itself from anything else you've had. 

Short guide for your own customizing purposes:

Morning: Green Tea

Afternoon: Rooibos Tea

Night: Herbal (with either chamomile, valerian root, or both)

**This is only meant to help add benefits to your overall health, I cannot claim you'll lose weight or see any drastic changes from this, as everyone's body is different!**

Until Next Time!

The New Fad: Juicing, but with BENEFITS!

     In the last month, I was fortunate enough to team up with an amazing Canadian company called Welo. Welo reached out to me, via Instagram, and asked if I wanted to try some products on their behalf. I was head over heels excited to try such healthy products from a local company. Prior to receiving the products, I learned that Welo sells pressed juices, drinkable apple cider vinegars, ferments, and bars (all with added benefits such as probiotics!). Not only that, but 5 cents from every bottle they sell, goes towards building water wells in Africa. At this point, I'm now in love with the company. 

     Once I received the products, I was in no way obligated to post anything about them/review them. However, after trying each thing out, I couldn't keep the deliciousness away from the world. How can something so healthy taste so good?!

     My favourite thing about each product was that they all had a very distinct flavour. The Probiotic Ferment (first photo) tasted very similar to a sparkling water, very light with a subtle hint of flavour. The Apple Cider Vinegar Drink definitely had that vinegar kick to it, but it was refreshing with the grapefruit blend. My all time favourite, the Cold Pressed Probiotic (third picture) had a very light juice taste to it, the Beet wasn't overpowering at all! Lastly, the Probiotic bar, was delicious and chewy, not overly crunchy (which is something I always hated about most granola bars). Overall, I'm incredibly impressed with the Welo products, and would 100% recommend them to anyone who needs a little boost in their overall diet and health. 

Thanks again for the love Welo, and thanks for reading today's post everyone!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

xx - Ariana

                                                                                        

Basic Girl's Guide to Wall Photos in Disney!

Happy New Year everyone! It's 2018, we've got a big year ahead of us. What does it mean for all of you out there? For me, I'm spending this year focusing on me, self care, and doing what I love! However, for a lot of other people, this year is going to be a major year of travelling. I have a lot of friends out there who are planning on going to Disney for the first time ever (omg!!), and some who are just going back several years later. As a seasoned pro (I mean, I was a Cast Member after all), I figured it would be a great idea to create a guide showcasing my favourite picture-worthy Disney walls. Are we ready to get started?...

1. The Purple Wall - located at the entrance of Tomorrowland, MK (near The Laugh Floor)

2. The Tangled Wall - Tangled restrooms in Magic Kingdom

3. Casting Agency Door - by The Emporium on Main Street, MK

4. The Bubblegum Wall - located at the exit(s) of Spaceship Earth in Epcot

5. The Toothpaste Wall - located at The Seas with Nemo & Friends in Epcot

6. You Are Most Beautiful Wall - located in the Harambe Market in Animal Kingdom

7. Pandora Moss Walls - located all over Pandora in Animal Kingdom

8. The Teal Wall - located at the entrance of Hollywood Studios (on the left side)

9. Pop Flower Wall - located at Disney's Pop Century Resort near the Hippie Dippie Pool 

10. The Cotton Candy Wall - located at Disney's Art of Animation Resort near Nemo Suites

Well folks, there you have it, my top photo spots for walls in Walt Disney World, Florida. These are definite photo stops if your eye happens to catch any of them during your visit. Interested in doing some more creeping? Check out these amazing Instagram pages to help keep you updated:

@wallsofdisney

@purplewallphotos

@mk.castingagency

@bubblegumwallphotos

@thetoothpastewall

@cottoncandywall

Also, major shoutout to my partner in crime Lauren Zylyk. She's an absolute Disney queen, and I couldn't have done any of these photos without her. 

Have a Magical Day,

xx - Ariana

Benefit Cosmetics Top 4 Products!

Over the past couple of days, I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary package, from Benefit Cosmetics Canada and Influenster, to test out their top products. It was definitely a nice 

surprise to receive so many amazing products in the mail, especially since I was just about to head to Sephora to grab a few things I had been running low on. 

Interested in finding out how I enjoyed these products, as well as how you can score free stuff from other awesome brands?! Well, you've come to the right place, because this is the post for you! 

The products came in an adorable pink box, filled with hot pink tissue, and an info card on each product. Two of the items in the package came as full-sized products: ka-BROW! (valued at $32 CAD) and they're Real! (valued at $31 CAD). The other two products came as "Miniature sized", which can actually be purchased in retailers like Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart. The miniatures were: the POREfessional face primer (valued at $16 CAD) and Hoola Matte Bronzer (valued at $20 CAD). 

Now that we've got the product names out of the way, let's get into a brief review shall we?

they're Real! lengthening mascara: This might be a new favourite for me. Although I don't have the longest of lashes, this mascara did a wonderful job of separating each and every lash on my eyes. I also noticed quite the difference in length and curl. My only complaint? There wasn't a major difference in thickness of lashes, however, I'm not a big fan of thickening mascaras, as they can get clumpy over time. This one is a solid 9.5/10.

ka-BROW!: This product is a little power tool for the eyebrows. It comes with a pot of brow gel, and an applicator brush on top. It's great for travel. I barely had to dip into the product to get colour-payoff (compared to other brow pots I've used before). The consistency is very smooth, but has enough tack to it that it won't slide off throughout the day. The colour match was also perfect for my brows (#2 light). Overall, I give this a 10/10.

Hoola Matte Bronzer: The perfect bronzer for that "sun-kissed glow" look. I've been using a slightly more subtle bronzer for the past year, so this was definitely a change for me, however this is just the right shade to give me that warm touch without looking fake. The product itself is so pigmented, so I barely have to dip my brush into the pan to pick up any powder. It blends beautifully. I'll definitely be replacing my old bronzer with this one! 9/10.

the POREfessional face primer: Last, but certainly not least. I'm so glad this product has been introduced into my life. This is a great primer to use specifically on the t-zone. I use one of my more moisturizing primers on the outer areas of my face, and focus this one towards the centre where my pores are more enlarged. I noticed a huge difference in terms of the size of my pores, and smoothness of skin. My makeup looked flawless overtop. This is a definite 10/10. 

Will you be adding any of these products to your Christmas wish-list? I would definitely recommend it! 

Now, how exactly can you earn yourself some complimentary products from companies like this? All you have to do is click the link below, and sign up (totally free), and start reviewing products and earning badges towards amazing rewards! 

www.influenster.com/r/2900470

**If you sign up before November 30th using this link, $1 will be donated from Influenster towards the Prostate Cancer Foundation**

Have a Tinsel-filled Tuesday,

Tis The Season - Holiday Rice Krispies Recipe

After some very eventful fall outings these past few weeks, we've finally had our first snowfall in my area. For me, that's definitely a sign that winter has arrived. And after Halloween has come and gone, and we've taken the time to respect our veterans, the holidays have finally arrived! 

What better way to kick off the holiday season, than with a super yummy (and super easy) holiday-themed Rice Krispy treat recipe? My family and I grabbed some of the staple ingredients needed for this classic treat, and I got my baking hands ready for action as soon as the time was appropriate. 

Check out the awesome recipe below:

You will need the following ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup of Unsalted Butter
• 5 Cups of Miniature Marshmallows
• 6-7 Cups of Holiday Edition Rice Krispies Cereal

Step 1: Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a large skillet pan on medium-high heat (lower heat as the butter melts further to avoid burning the butter)

Step 2: Once the butter is almost fully melted, add 5 cups of miniature marshmallows

Step 3: Once the butter and marshmallows are evenly melted, remove the pan from heat and mix in 6-7 cups of the cereal (whichever amount you feel comfortable with)

Step 4: Once all of the above ingredients are evenly mixed, empty everything into a lightly greased casserole dish, and firmly press everything down until it's packed flat into the dish.

Final steps: Place the uncut mixture (in the dish), into a refrigerator to cool down for 2 hours. Once 2 hours has passed, take the dish out and cut into whatever squares or rectangles you desire :) !

Hope you all enjoy the extra sprinkle of holiday cheer!

Have a Snowy Sunday :)

Beautiful Fall Colours in Dorset, Ontario

Dorset, Ontario was a sight to see on the 20th of October. The colours hadn't quite started changing yet where I lived, so my boyfriend and I decided we needed to travel to a cooler location to find the best fall colours we possibly could. I'd say we definitely hit jackpot that day. It was finally starting to feel like fall, but not cold enough that my cheeks were rosy from the air. 

As we were driving to our destination, we were in awe from all the beautiful bright trees along the sides of the road. As if the actual area wasn't astonishing enough, the lookout tower view was breathtaking. We could see amber-coloured trees for miles. I'm a sucker for fall and all the colours surrounding the season, so this day trip was definitely a treat for me.

Jacket: American Eagle (Similar) || Shirt: Kohl's (Similar) || Pants: Lululemon || Shoes: Adidas ||

Now that we've hit the end of the October, the weather has seriously changed. It's so much cooler out, and there's even possible snow in forecast in the next few days! I'm grateful for all of the exciting fall/halloween themed outings I was able to go on this month, and I'm looking forward to what the winter months bring! Stay tuned for a more festive theme coming soon. 

Have a safe Halloween and a "Terrifying" Tuesday!

Pumpkin Patch Style (a series), Part Three

Could there possibly be more pumpkin patches in my area to visit? The answer is yes, definitely yes. If anything, you can count on this girl right here to find them. 

This time, the adventure took place at Watson Farms, in Bowmanville Ontario. Much like the other pumpkin patches I've visited so far, this one had an area filled with a wide variety of pumpkins to choose from, a cute little gift shop with: crafts, baked goods, apples grown right on the farm, and other delicious goodies, there was a kids area called "Watsonland" with a petting zoo and play area, and there were wagon rides offered (to take you apple picking). 

It was such a great set-up overall, I loved the Halloween decor as an added touch as well. However, the icing to the cake of my visit had to be the goats and sheep in the petting zoo. There's something about the noises that sheep make that just send me into a fit of laughter, it was a great way to brighten up such a cloudy day. 

Check out the photos below from my visit:

Sweater: American Eagle (similar) || Jeans: American Eagle || Purse: Roots || 

Boots: Stitches (similar) ||

Could this be it for pumpkin patch adventures? Who knows! But the Halloween and fall festivities are certainly not over, stay subscribed for more!

Have a Spell-bounding Sunday everyone!

Soph x Makeup Revolution Palettes - Worth it?

Over the past couple of weeks, I was noticing a bit of a buzz in the makeup community over an extremely affordable eyeshadow (and highlighter) palette. I'm a sucker for a good eyeshadow palette, especially if there are tons of colours I can work with, and if it's fall themed? Bingo! This palette seemed like it was right up my alley. 

Youtuber/Beauty Guru sophdoesnails collaborated with a UK based cosmetics company called Makeup Revolution to create both an eyeshadow palette and a highlighter palette. Both palettes were created to express Soph's true individuality, as well as cater to the rest of the makeup community. 

The eyeshadow palette ($16.38 CAD) features rich and warm tones, perfect for the cooler seasons, as well as a pop of more fun and experimental colours to play with towards the middle of the palette. 

I was a little hesitant to start playing with these shadows, as this brand is considered "drug store", and I was worried the quality wouldn't hold up to my usual Modern Renaissance standards (who doesn't love that palette?!). However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that these colours were actually extremely easy to use and blend on the eyes, even the dark shades! 

Here's a simple, everyday "fall" look I created, using the shades: Iced Coffee and Cuppa Tea in the crease, Peaches and Tiramisu blended towards the outer edge of the crease, Danger blended in the very outer corner towards the centre, Grow Old (finger patted) all over the lid and blended out with a brush to remove excess glitter at the top, and Fairy Lights in the inner corner. I used Nightmare as my eyeliner (look at that pigment!), and blended the matte colours into my waterline as well.

As for the highlighter palette ($13.12 CAD), I was a little less enthusiastic about it, but still very pleased considering the price point.

The first thing I noticed about this palette was how "pretty" the colours were. That's literally the best word I can use for it. Its simply pretty. In terms of "glowability", these shades give off a subtle to medium glow, so if you're looking for something utterly blinding, stick to those Becca ones! But for a daytime look, I think I'll definitely enjoy using these. One thing I noticed about these shades was that they do not fare well with a fan brush, so I'll definitely be using a more dense brush to pack the pigment on. I especially loved how these highlights showed up under my brow bone and cupids bow.

Now it's time for the 1-10 scale! 1 being poor and 10 being excellent.

Eyeshadow Palette

Colours: 10/10

Theme: 10/10

Matte-Shimmer Ratio: 10/10

Blendability: 10/10

Pigment: 8/10

Fall-out: 8/10

Stay Power: 10/10

Overall, the shadow palette is a solid 9/10 for me. I'll be reaching for this almost daily!

Highlight Palette

Colours: 8/10

Theme: 9/10

Glow Factor: 7/10

Blendability: 8/10

Pigment: 7/10

Fall-out: 10/10

Stay Power: 7/10

Overall, the highlight palette gets a 7/10 for me. Above average considering the colours fit my fair skin tone nicely, and the quality performs well for the price point. 

I would definitely recommend these two products to anyone looking for budget-friendly and fall appropriate colours, that perform with high-end quality.

Have a Thrilling Thursday everyone!

Pumpkin Patch Style (a series), Part Two

And we're back at the Pumpkin Patches! (did you think it would take me long?) This time I hit up another local pumpkin farm called: "Knox Pumpkin Farm", located in Clarington, Ontario. It was $5 admission per-person ($7 on weekends).  The farm was so big, I've never seen so many pumpkins growing in all my life. I ventured around the property and enjoyed all the cute little scenery, as well as the barn area where several animals were happy to interact with me. Other activities offered at the farm were wagon rides, a corn maze, and face painting on weekends. 

Check out the photos below of my casual and comfy outfit during my visit:

Shirt: Meijer (similar on Etsy) || Pants: lululemon || Boots: Roxy (similar) ||

Thanks for going on this adventure with me! Stay tuned to see what I'm up to next,

Have a Spooky Saturday,

Pumpkin Patch Style (a series), Part One

Judging by my blog theme, one could only assume that I'm a fan of fall (and pumpkins) right? It's an accurate assumption for sure. I've always been a major fall/autumn enthusiast, but the basic girl in me has come out even more-so with age (probably due to the obsessive latte drinking and the social media craze that our society is currently going through). All that aside, we can't deny that autumn brings about the most beautiful colours and scenery than any other season does. I can't pass up an opportunity to throw on some seasonally appropriate attire and take photos at a pumpkin patch now can I? 

I call this "Part One" of my pumpkin patch series, because I'm certain that I'll be making several stops to the patches until the end of the month. 

Here's the first look I've created for my trip to Pingles Farm Market, in Hampton, Ontario: 

T-Shirt: Kohls || Skirt: H&M (similar or similar) || Boots: Stitches (similar) ||

See you on my next pumpkin pickin' adventure!

Have a Wicked Wednesday,

Fashion in "The Town of Derry"

If you're like me, and you're a sucker for a good horror movie, then I'm sure you've seen the latest It remake from Stephen King. In light of this new release (and after seeing the film), I decided to travel to one of the filming locations from this movie (Port Hope, Ontario). This quaint little town was transformed into the town of Derry, a town from the Stephen King novel It. I was amazed to see how many things from Port Hope I had actually recognized in the film itself. It was exciting to see somewhere so close to me in such a highly anticipated movie. 

Here are some photos featuring the look I created for my visit:

Choker: Forever21 (similar) || Blouse: Kohls || Skirt: H&M || Purse: Roots ||

That's all for now, until next time! 

Have a Magical Monday :)