Pool-Perfect Beauty and Style

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Alyssa

Our Pool Party might have been this past Sunday, but that so doesn’t mean the fun is over! We’ve got a few more recipes, DIY’s and printables up our glittery sleeves, and of course we have a bit of advice concerning the most important part of every party: what to wear!

Paige and I spent so much time meticulously planning this event that we almost forgot to figure out our outfits (almost). We were lucky enough to have our hair done by Amanda, a colour magician at Blyss Salon, and we wanted to play up the amazing raspberry and blush hues she created in our locks.

We knew that a lot of pink had to be involved, and of course some party pieces by Ban.do (also known as the most fun company on earth.) We also wanted to work in our new favourite celebration piece, the Party Skirt (an adorable Canadian brand that just became available at Bicyclette! Yay!) With all of those guidelines in mind, we put together a few colourful ensembles that would be perfect for a summer bbq, a rooftop soirée, or even a pool party!

And of course I couldn’t just leave out pool party beauty now could I? There are so many wonderful mega-cute products that work so well for summer events, and you might be surprised by how many of them are waterproof too!

Pool Perfect Products//

*I’m having a serious love affair with Fresh’s Sugar Tulip lip treatment. It’s moisturizing, SPF 15, and gives my lips the perfect hot pink summer glow!

*In the world of liquid eyeliner, nothing beats Stila’s stay all day waterproof formula. I wear this product daily whether I’m swimming or not and it’s always perfect!

*Add a bit of colour to your cat eye with Stila’s smudge stick waterproof liner

*Get some seriously glorious mermaid lashes with Pacifica’s vegan, all-natural Aquarian Gaze water resistant mascara

*Nothing says summer party like Mermaid perfume, a sweet orange blossom scent for for any pool party princess!

Pastel Pool Party // DIY Glitter Utensils

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Alyssa

Hooray, we did it! The Pastel Pool Party was a huge hit last night, and though we were terrified it might thunder shower, we managed to escape the rain! While we (im)patiently wait to see photos, we’ll be posting a whole bunch of posts relating to the party with instructions for how to throw your own! Here’s one of my favourites:

With the Pastel Pool Party only days away, things were getting a little crazy around Studio B! To give you an idea of what was going on in our daily lives, we had to rent a van to pick up a massive number of balloons, we’re spent our Saturday making party favours, and there was glitter and confetti everywhere all the time. Basically we were living in a vortex of crazy busy magic making, and though it was a bit stressful, it was mostly just exciting!
We decided pretty early on that glitter and gold would be strong “colour” themes at the pastel pool party, so the next logical step was to figure out that we could glitterize. We decided to paint my bar cart from Ikea and add some gold table setting touches, but we strongly felt that more glitter was necessary. When we came across perfectly milky pastel utensils on a party store road trip, Paige and I immediately knew what we were missing!

Adding some gold sparkle to your party utensils is super easy and fun, and even if things get a little messy they look adorable all the same.

What You’ll Need //

*Plastic party utensils and cups
*Spray adhesive
*Martha Stewart gold glitter

1// Spray each utensil and cup with adhesive and wait until the glue is quite tacky. If you’re planning on actually using the utensils, make sure to cover rims of cups and eating ends of forks with plastic so the adhesive doesn’t touch those areas!

2// Carefully pour the glitter over the areas where you sprayed the adhesive and shake to remove excess

Ta-da! You’ve got yourself some super fancy cutlery and cups that just can’t wait to party!

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Pretty Pinspiration: Shades of Blush

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Alyssa

Summer is already halfway gone, can you believe it? I’m a little terrified by how fast this season has flown by, and I’m doing my best to get the most out of what I’ve got left. That being said, I’m the kind of girl who can’t help but look to the future, and I’m already planning my outfits and beauty looks for Autumn. I mean I’m not quite ready to dive into knitting scarves and big cream sweaters yet, but I’m totally on the lookout for great transitional pieces and Fall colour inspiration. This week, that means I’m obsessing over blush, my favourite multi-season pastel. I just can’t get enough of this muted, powdery shade of pink!

All images via my Pinterest

Feeling Lucky? (Giveaway with Leila Jewellery!)

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Alyssa

There’s nothing like starting off your week with a whole bunch of excitement right? Since I’ve got my Monday covered this week (Katy Perry tonight!!!) I figured I’d help you all out with a super cute new giveaway!

I’ve teamed up with Leila, a San Diego based jewellery line, to give one very lucky winner one of these adorable mini clover cutout necklaces! I’m a big believer in luck, and ever since my necklace arrived in the mail (modelled in these photos by my perfect-necked bff Sarah) I’ve worn it constantly. I mean really, all horse shoes, ladybugs, and wishbones aside, we could all use a bit of extra luck, especially if it means something as simple as wearing a cute new gold necklace every day!

Want to make your Monday extra magical? All you have to do to win is follow these simple entry steps in my handy Rafflecopter template below. The winner will be announced here next Monday the 28th. Best of luck lovelies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two Tiki Cocktail Recipes

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Alyssa

We firmly believe that cocktails are a must for any soiree, but something simple like gin and tonics or vodka waters just won’t do! Making themed, fancy drinks and dressing up a bar cart is one of our favourite parts about throwing parties, so figuring out cocktail recipes was the first order of business on our list when it came to planning our Pastel Pool Party!

Poolside lounging is pretty synonymous with cute tropical drinks, and we really wanted to bring some fun elements into these cocktails to channel that pairing. We teamed up with BYOB, an amazing cocktail accessory shop down the street from Bicyclette, and they provided some amazing syrups and mixes for us to experiment with. We also picked up a few bottles of gin from Dillon’s, a local distillery that makes wonderful spirits, plus some fruit, sparkling water, and of course pink champagne. Here’s what we came up with when we put everything together for our tiki cocktails!

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Gin Tiki Twist //

Spicy and refreshing, this drink is perfect for hot sunny days spent in a bikini with a couple of your closest friends.

1 shot Dillon’s Gin

1 shot Lab Sirop Artisinal Tiki 1930

1/2 shot White Whale ‘The Filthy Liar’ Mixer

1 shot Pineapple Syrup

Sparkling Water

Tropical Fruit to garnish

Stir the gin and syrups together in your favourite cocktail glass, then top it off with sparkling water (to the rim) and garnish with tropical fruit of your choosing!

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Cotton Candy Colada //

Sweet and pretty, this bubbly cocktail’s garnish slowly melts into the drink, sweetening it as you sip!

5 shots Owl’s Brew Coco-Lada Mixer

Pink Champagne

Cotton Candy

Measure out the Coco-Lada and pour it into your favourite champagne glass, then top it off with pink champagne (to the rim) and garnish with a fluff of cotton candy!

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photos: Paige Boersma

Wishin’ and Hopin’: Pastel Pool Party

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Alyssa

You may have noticed there’s been a whole lot of talk about something called a “Pastel Pool Party” on my social media over the past few weeks, and as Bicyclette and I release more and more details, I find myself getting more and more excited! Of course that excitement has started to translate into shopping (as it almost always does), and I find myself with a growing wish list of magical pool party items. Here are some of the things I’m swooning over this week:

1. I have this image in my head of turning up at a beach or public pool with this giant swan floatie in my arms, and it’s sort of my favourite daydream at the moment. I mean, we are heading up to my friend’s cottage at the end of the month… it’s an essential, right?

2. I am all about the Beverly Hills Hotel banana leaf print trend right now, and this adorable onesie from Topshop might be my favourite interpretation yet! It’s the perfect piece for days spend sipping strawberry daiquiris at the poolside.

3. No one wants to spill their margarita in the hot tub! This little pineapple party cup is the perfect way to keep your drink safe while looking tropical and adorable.

4. It wouldn’t be a pool party without a party skirt, and I’m loving this hot pink “wild strawberry” shade from their summer line (pssst, it’s on sale right now too!)

5. Flamingos are basically a staple this summer, and Klear Klutch’s flamingo purse is the perfect way to channel your favourite pink bird. Fill it with sunscreen, lip gloss, and a spare pair of undies in case you unexpectedly get thrown in the pool!

6. The perfect California Girl scent, Juicy Couture’s La La Malibu is a refreshing, sweet blend of sparkling mandarin and pink sugar, and I pretty much want to swim in a pool of it these days!

7. There are few things I love more than gold-dipped fruit, and I think this pineapple necklace by Louise Wade definitely fits the bill.

8. No party is complete without a Studio Mucci tassel garland, at least not in my books! This “Island Love” design is the perfect combination of glittering metallics and peachy pinks, and I think it’s just made to reside alongside a tiki bar.

You’re Invited To Our Pastel Pool Party!

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Alyssa

After months of working, planning, and dreaming, we’re finally ready to let you in on our big secret. In case you haven’t worked it out already, we’re throwing a Pastel Pool Party!

Okay, so no, unfortunately we don’t have the resources to have you all actually attend (we’d need a really big pool!) but we will be keeping you updated on all of our plans and adventures, and Scarlet O’Neill will be capturing the actual event at the end of this month so we can share it with you online. Best of all, we’re going to be providing recipes, DIYs, decor ideas, beauty inspiration, and printables so that you can throw a pastel pool party of your own! You can even use this adorable invite by Alex Perlin, which will be available to download with the rest of our printables soon, and mail it out to your guests (like we did this morning!)

We don’t want to give too much away right now, but we’ve got some pretty amazing sponsors and collaborations set up, and we’re so excited to celebrate with them, our friends, and every one of you lovelies! Here are some of the amazingly talented people helping us make our pool party dreams a reality:

Photos by Scarlet O’Neill Design and Printables by Alex Perlin Flowers by Blush & Bloom Treats by The Wedding Cake Shop Custom Confetti by The Confetti Bar Spirits from Dillon’s Distillery Syrups and Mixes from BYOB

… and a few more super magical contributions that we’re not quite ready to give away yet!

Farm Fresh

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Alyssa

Every summer I have a bit of a love affair with farmer’s markets. Toronto is lucky to be surrounded by so much fertile farmland, and though the city itself can be hard to grow a large amount of produce in, so much can be brought in from so close by. It’s pretty magical to see all of the beautiful veggies, flowers, and dairy products on display at the farmer’s markets here, and it’s undisputedly my favourite way to grocery shop.

These photos are from a recent trip to the Evergreen Brickworks Market, a massive gathering of local food producers that takes place just east of the city in a beautiful abandoned brick factory. Each week there’s a food court with delicious local offerings, a bike station to tune up your ride, and all sorts of amazing wares for sale. It’s by far one of the best ways to spend a Saturday!

Local Love: Kitten and the Bear

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Alyssa

This week’s local love is a new Toronto spot that I might even call my favourite cafe in the city. Specializing in tea, coffee, house-made confiture, and the fluffiest, butteriest scones you’ve ever tasted, Kitten and the Bear is the perfect place for an indulgent afternoon tea alone, a romantic outing, or just catching up with friends. Due to extremely limited space, expect to take your goodies to go, and be pleasantly surprised if a table is available (don’t worry, a picnic in High Park is just a few blocks away!)

Owned and run by Sophie and Bobby, two of the cutest folks you’ve ever met, the shop offers scones and mini servings of jam to-go if you’re in a hurry. They also sell tins of Sloane Tea, hand-picked vintage tea ware, and their fresh, handmade, local-fruit-filled jams in adorable jars to go (in case you’re ever planning on getting me a gift, look no further.) They’re always dreaming up something new too- in fact last time I visited there was talk of jam parfaits with local yogurt, and I got to sample some not-yet-released jam sweetened ice tea (which, in case your wondering, is the best thing ever!)

I could go on and on about banana jam that tastes like heaven, and pots of Perfectly Pear tea, but just take my word for it: stop by Kitten and the Bear next time you’re craving something sweet. I promise you’ll leave will a full belly, a smile on your face, and most likely a shopping bag full of jam, tea, and tea ware to take home!

New York Diary Pt. 3: Playland Motel

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Alyssa

Though New York is known as “the city that never sleeps”, and draws millions of people in each year to see shows on Broadway, the big lights of Times Square, and all the yellow taxis racing around, I’m much more interested in the quiet bits when I visit. I love Williamsburg, the side streets of Soho, and the High Line mid day when everyone else is at work, but for my most recent trip I wanted to experience something totally new. After a little bit of digging, Em and I found the Playland Motel in Rockaway Beach, and decided to book a night.

The Playland Motel is a beachy paradise located just an hour away from downtown NYC, and it’s totally worth the trip. A restored building, this tiny boutique hotel has only 11 rooms, each uniquely designed and decorated by a different artist. Downstairs there’s a pizza shop, a bar with amazing tiki drinks, and a massive sandy “patio” yard complete with kiddie pools and rainbow lawn chairs (sadly it wasn’t open yet when we arrived).

Though Rockaway Beach is teeny tiny, the combination of ocean breeze, the amazing taco shack, and Playland Motel’s sandy “patio” make this place feel like a slice of heaven (aka L.A.) We spent our days devouring “cukes” on the beach (a delicious snack which I’ll be DIY’ing and posting about here soon), and our nights jumping on the bed in our hotel room and drinking local beers. It was a totally perfect ending to our busy NYC trip, and I can’t wait to head back (maybe sooner than you think…)