contest

Sips, Sweets & Snacks

by

This post was a fun impromptu idea we had that somehow ended up sliding into totally perfect timing. For one, it’s Margarita Monday, which is always worth celebrating in our books. Second, Casamigos sent us some of their amazing tequila to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but we hadn’t had a chance to crack open a bottle for something fun yet. Finally, it’s really actually Spring outside this long weekend! With no sign of disappearing again! And if that isn’t a reason to dream up some crazy hot pink slushies then I don’t know what is.

After we’d already shot the images and worked out the recipe for this post, our friends at Vitamix decided to up the ante. That’s right, we’re giving away the best blender in the whole wide world (a Black 5200 model to be exact)!!! We’ve had ours since we moved into #ThePastelPalace and it has seriously changed our entire kitchen game, so we’re crazy excited to share a machine with one of you!

How’s that for a post-long weekend blues deterrent?

Basically you have one week (till next Monday morning to be precise) to enter as many times/ways as humanly possible… here’s what you have to do (it’s a fun one!)

MANDATORY //

1. Like the Vitamix Facebook page (here) and the RAOP Facebook page (here)

2. Follow both Vitamix and RAOP on Instagram.

BONUS POINTS //

-Follow RAO_P on Snapchat (note- there will be extra chances to get bonus points on Snapchat throughout the week!)
-tag a friend in my Instagram post who you think might need a new blender!
-Follow us both on Twitter (here and here)
-Follow us both on Pinterest (here and here)
-Comment on this post with a list of everything you did at the END of the week.

The more points you compile, the higher chances you have of winning the grand prize! So what are you waiting for?

Still thirsty? Scroll down for the recipe!

DSC_1540

DSC_1546

DSC_1548

DSC_1579

DSC_1582

DSC_1586

Ingredients //

Yields 2 large glasses

1 dragonfruit
1 handful of frozen strawberries
1 can of frozen limeade concentrate
1/2 cup ice
3 oz Casamigos tequila
Strawberry sugar (recipe here) for rimming

Recipe //

1. Rim your glasses with sugar (we used strawberry sugar that I picked up in France, but you can make your own like this)

2. Cut your dragonfruit into two halves. One half can be roughly chopped and thrown in the blender with the rind still attached, the other should be cut into slices for garnishes.

3. Blend all remaining ingredients on high in your Vitamix until smooth.

4. Pour, top with as many pink decorations as you can find, and serve with a side of Spring sunshine!

Sips, Sweets & Snacks

by

When we were visiting LA a few months back, one of our favourite meals was an all vegan Mexican feast at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood. The atmosphere was perfection and the food was incredible, but it was the snow cone/popsicle cocktails that really took the cake. When our friends at teapigs asked us to dream up a tea-infused cocktail creation, we decided popsicles were a non negotiable. After all, sunny Spring afternoons are just around the corner… right?

The key to this Mojito-inspired recipe is the peppermint tea simple syrup we made, and I promise, it really is oh so simple. We opted to use store bought popsicles this time around, but we welcome you to make your own with fresh fruit, juice, tea, or even a hint of your favourite liqueur to add an extra kick to the cocktail!

Scroll down for the full recipe + details on how to enter the BEST giveaway EVER!

IMG_2080

IMG_2145

IMG_2050

IMG_2066

IMG_2150

IMG_2058

IMG_2093

Ingredients:

teapigs Peppermint Herbal Tea
Sugar
White Rum
Lime sparkling water
Popsicle of your choice, homemade or store bought (we used both Lime Fruttare bars and locally made Augies Ice Pops)
Fresh mint

1. Make a tea-infused simple syrup by placing two teapigs Peppermint teabags in a jar. Steep in 1/2 cup of boiling water for 10 mins with lid on, stir in 1/2 of sugar until dissolved. Cool- You can leave the teabags in the syrup overnight for extra minty flavour!

2. Add 1oz cooled simple syrup and 1oz of rum to your glass.

3. Tear up some mint leaves and add a bundle to each glass.

IMG_2086

IMG_2104

IMG_2109

IMG_2140

IMG_2119

4. Add sparkling water until the cup is about half full. We used lime Pellegrino to give our cocktails a bit more flavour!

5. Here’s the fun part- add the popsicles! I used each popsicle to “muddle” the mint a bit, and topped up each drink with more sparkling water if the glasses weren’t quite full with the extra volume added.

5. Garnish with lime slices, stir and serve! Simple, colourful, and oh so delicious, these “Poptails” are sure to be a hit at every Spring party!

*Tea tip- you can also add the syrup to your favourite iced tea or iced latte for an extra minty kick!

Want to win some teapigs for yourself? You can score this amazing prize pack this week on Twitter (scroll down for details!)

IMG_2041

IMG_2046

The Prize Pack //

4 x marble coasters
2 x confetti glasses
1 x marble wine cooler
1 x gold cocktail shaker
4 x packs of teapigs tea!

The Rules //

1. Follow me on twitter
2. Retweet or tweet one of my pictures from this post with the tag #teapigspartea
3. Follow teapigs on Twitter!

For bonus points you can also like both our pages on Facebook (RAOP + teapigs)

Contest will run till the evening of Friday April 8th!

Good Luck!

This post was sponsored, but all opinions are my own. To inquire about sponsored posts, please email jess@shineinfluencers.com

Dear Diary

by

We received all sorts of magical surprise packages over the holidays here at The Pastel Palace, and one of our favourite deliveries was a box brimming with magical objects from Imm Living. From dancing swan cookie jars to tiny poodle stamps, this array of glittering goodies pretty much swept us off our feet, and we immediately started staging some fun pictures of each enchanting product.

We didn’t originally plan on posting this shoot as a set, but in the end we were so happy with how it turned out that we just couldn’t help it!

Want some Imm Living magic in your life? We’re hosting a giveaway on Instagram this week!

IMMLiving7

IMMLiving10

IMMLiving6Instagram

IMMLiving5

IMMLiving3

IMMLiving12

IMMLiving2

Dear Diary

by

So here’s a little-known fact about me: I have 12 tattoos and counting! Most of them are rather small and inconspicuous, but I consider the finished product a work in progress that will probably keep going until I’m at least 75. I’m all about covering your body in words and images that make you happy- after all, we’re all wasting away into wrinkly messes anyway, right? Why not have a little fun while we’re at it!

Now it’s undeniable that tattoos will eventually crease, fade, and lose their lustre over the years, but wouldn’t it be so lovely to have a special way to remember them just as they are? Perhaps painted on a canvas, captured in a photograph, or even better yet, printed on a limited edition wine bottle!

I know what you’re thinking- there goes Alyssa, letting her imagination run away with her yet again. In all seriousness though, this idea is totally feasible! Vintage Ink wine is launching their label, and to make a splash on the scene they’re asking fans to submit images of their tattoos for the chance to have their body art featured on a limited run of wine bottles! All you have to do to be entered to win is share a photo of your tattoo on social media with the hashtag #MyVintageInk, or upload an image to their site here. I’ll be sharing different pictures of my ink on Instagram over the next couple of weeks, and I hope to see your designs out there too!

DSC_1097

DSC_1136

Sounds fun, doesn’t it? If you’re thirsty for more you can also sample the wine itself and celebrate the launch at 99 Sudbury on July 11th! More information coming soon, so keep your eyes on my Facebook and Twitter feeds.

This post was sponsored, but all opinions are my own. To inquire about sponsored posts, please send me an email at alyssa@randomactsofpastel.com

Dear Diary

by

Happy Monday lovelies! Do I ever have a treat for you!

This past week something super exciting happened: I hit 10k followers on Instagram! For someone who had only just hit 1000 in January I think this is a pretty big deal, and what better way to thank all of your for following along on my sparkly adventures than to host a big 10k giveaway!

I’ve teamed up with a handful of my favourite makers to create a glittery magical giveaway, and there are a whole bunch of ways to win both on Instagram and elsewhere. Excited yet? Scroll down for details!

RAOP10kGIVEAWAY

Up for grabs: 

1. A Jordan De Ruiter Tulle Skirt in the colour of your choosing!

2. A magenta tote bag by Fieldguided

3. A Sherbet Love tassel garland by Studio Mucci

4. A hand made donut tee by Charziie

5. A mint and gold sequin camera strap by Sam and Kate Design

6. A $100 gift card for Bicyclette Boutique

7. Two tins of Sloane Tea sachets (Earl Grey Classic and Citron Chamomile)

8. A jar of Niagara Golden Plum & Lavender jam from Kitten and The Bear

The rules:

*Each prize will go to a separate winner, so there will be 8 winners total

*Contest open to Canadian and American addresses only

*Winners will be announced the morning of Monday the 1st of September both here and on Instagram

How to Enter: 

You must-

*Follow me and all of the makers who provided prizes on Instagram (links to their pages on my Instagram giveaway post from this morning)

*Comment on my Instagram giveaway post and/or here which prize (or prizes) you want to win

For extra points-

*Follow me on Twitter

*Follow me on Pinterest

*Tweet about this giveaway (with #RAOP10kgiveaway hashtag)

*Regram my Instagram giveaway post (with #RAOP10kgiveaway hashtag)

Best of luck!!!

And the winners are:

1. skirt- @tweevalleyhigh
2. tote- @paperpastries
3. garland- @elliesf
4. donut t- @madefromlovebylisa
5. camera strap- @alongcameadleigh
6. Bicyclette Gift Card- @vanessaortynsky
7. tea- @allisonfls
8. jam- @ashlions