Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Relaxation

Photo Credit: MyCamdenWedding.com

Weddings are stressful, no bones about it. Leading up to the wedding, you can go through a range of emotions that you didn't even know existed! You may be dealing with budget issues, guest list anxieties, trouble securing suitable vendors, DIY projects up to your eyeballs - all on top of your regular life which can cause stress. Your stress can lead to unwelcome visitors like neck and back pain, anxiety, fatigue, raised blood pressure and a number of other symptoms that don't lend themselves well to your wedding-glow.

Since I am going to the spa today with my sister to get a massage, it started me thinking about brides [and grooms! and bridal parties!] getting a stress-relieving massage on their wedding day or the day before. I have been working on a number of different events lately that have me working at all hours of the day and a massage is definitely what I need to help melt away some of my tensions. I am getting headaches more frequently and I know that even just a few minutes on the table make me feel infinitely more relaxed... I am looking forward to it, needless to say! The same can work for brides on their wedding day. It doesn't have to be a full body 90 minute rub-down, even just an upper back neck and shoulders massage for 15-30 minutes can ease the stress and prepare you mentally for your big day. It can be a wonderful group activity for the key members of the wedding party so that everyone has a clearer head and is a little more zen. You deserve to be pampered on your wedding day, so why not look into bringing a masseuse or massage team in for a treat? Many spas offer bridal and group packages, so be sure to inquire about the different rates available.

Photo Credit: GreenBliss EcoSpa

Bridal Yoga might also be a cool way for you to bliss out and connect with yourself just before your wedding. Inquire at your local yoga studio to see if you can arrange a private gentle yoga class the week of or day of your wedding for you and your wedding party.

Are you planning any relaxation treatments on or just before your wedding day?

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finding inspiration: Mother's Day gifts

Photo Credit: Rick Audet

Mother's Day is fast approaching and there may be many of you out there who haven't found a gift for your mom (or other mother figure) yet. Luckily, the internet is a wonderful place for last minute shoppers to find some creative inspirations!

Photo Credit: LoveLeeSoaps

LoveLeeSoaps is an Etsy shop specializing in colourful and adorable soaps in creative and quirky shapes and sizes. The Blue Bird Nest soap would be a perfect gift for mom! Look how the mama bird is bent down over her egg babies... so cute!!


The philosophy Best Sellers Collection (available only at Sephora) is a box of philosophy's 5 most-loved products: Purity Made Simple One Step Facial Cleanser, Amazing Grace Perfumed Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel, The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, Hope in a Jar and Hope in a Tube. A great introduction to the philosophy line of products.

Photo Credit: LCBO

Tempus Two Copper Wilde Chardonnay is a full-bodied wine with layers of citrus and apple, made by an all-female team at a boutique winery in New South Wales, Australia's Hunter Valley. If your mom is a wine lover, she is sure to appreciate this!

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn's Pendleton Merino Wool Throw (currently marked down to half the original price!) is a beautiful and incredibly soft luxurious blanket for mom to curl up in.

What will you be giving your mom for Mother's Day?

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sitting down with... makeupbyjill

Jill Reid

Jill Reid of makeupbyjill is my younger sister. I've blogged about her before when she did makeup for the POGO Gala last month in Toronto. Since makeup is a hugely important part of many celebrations, I asked her to be a part of my sitting down with... series to get the inside scoop on life as an up-and-coming makeup artist.

How did you start your business?
I took an interest in makeup after my prom make-up didn't go so well. It wasn't badly done, just didn't match my color. Then my friend Taylor asked me to be a model for her make-up class, and after watching her do it, I thought... 'hey, I want to do this too!'. Since then, I've just been improving my skills, and getting my name out there!

How would you describe your work?
Well first, I am a perfectionist! I would never let any of my clients leave the chair in some ridiculous, garish make-up (unless of course it was what they asked for). I'm a huge fan of the natural look, so I always try to make at least the face make-up look as natural, yet flawless, as possible... the eyes you can go a little bit crazier with, because they are the attention getters! I am all over the place when I do make-up, sometimes I'll start with eyes, sometimes I'll start with the face, it's all about where I find inspiration first!

Photo Credit: 39 Photography

Who are your main customers?
It's mostly for formal events like galas and parties and proms. I do a lot of night-on-the-town make-up jobs, which are the most fun!

What information from your customers helps you best envision what they are looking for?
I like to do an assessment before the actual make-up application, of skin tone, eye color, what they're wearing for the event, what make-up they normally wear; this lets me know what colors to use and how I can make them feel comfortable (if I know they wear little make-up on a regular basis, I will use less products, and if they are no stranger to make-up, I know I can use a few more products or try different things).


What is your typical day like?
Being a student, and only 19 years old, my life doesn't revolve around the business just yet, but I hope to be there soon! Lately it's been all about school, and when I get time, I check out the counters at the drugstore and Sephora to snatch up any cool new products. To test out the products, I usually use my best friends Emma or Natalie as a canvas (they are absolutely beautiful to begin with, so it's an added bonus for me!). I hope that my customer base will grow and I can devote more and more time to my customers, because this is what I love to do!

What are your five must-have products?
Gosh primer, bareMinerals bronzer, Joe Fresh Beauty blush sticks, Revlon Beyond Natural mascara, Revlon eyelash curler (just the basic one).

What has your business helped you do that you couldn't/didn't before?
I've learned so many new things about how to advertise, who to know, what to do, not to mention I've met some great new people! Just a few weeks ago I was doing make-up for friends of mine, Lauren and Jess (plenty of pictures of them on my website, absolute stunners!), and I was working alongside a hairstylist from one of the best hair styling places in British Columbia, blo blowdry bar! That was a really fun time, and I think I may see how the fashion scene is out in British Columbia soon! It's been a great experience so far, and I'm definitely looking forward to my business growing!
What is the most difficult part of running your business?
Starting up is hard, and a little disheartening when the client base isn't that large. But, now that I think about it, it only makes me work harder on my clients, because I can take my time, and do the best job possible, knowing I don't have to rush around going from client to client.


What is the most rewarding part of running your business?
Seeing customers be truly happy with the product...I can tell if they don't like it, I've looked at their face for the past hour, so I'll know if they really do like it! That's the best part of it, for sure. Also, I'm a really social person, so I love talking and getting to know the people I'm making up as I'm going along. It's really interesting to hear about, for example, how they got into modelling, what their event is about, etc. I love everything about my job!

You can visit the makeupbyjill website here. Jill is based out of Brampton/Toronto but can travel so please inquire!

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POGO Gala 2009

My sister is published! [well, sort of]. The picture above was taken at the 8th Annual POGO Gala which took place April 4th at the Liberty Grand in Toronto. My sister did the makeup for these lovely girls for this event and this picture was snapped as they walked down the leopard print carpet and posted on the Toronto Arts and Events website.The Gala is a fundraiser for POGO [Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario] and the girl on the right, Lauren, was a speaker at the event.

I was excited to see my sister's beautiful work featured on the event website and I'm sure there are many pictures floating around the interwebs of her two pretty clients from this event.

Let me know if you see any!

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