My Little Secrets

A DIY and Lifestyle Blog

Outfit :: Business Casual

Red is not typically a colour I gravitate to when it comes to stocking up my everyday wardrobe. To me, perhaps coming from a Chinese upbringing, I’ve always connected red with Chinese New Year or getting married. In our culture, red is a symbol of good luck and celebration, and though I don’t consider myself a ‘traditional’ Chinese girl, I’ve always reserved this very vibrant and happy colour only for special occasions (remember that red Chinese dress from my wedding?!).

When LE CHATEAU handpicked this red cashmere-like belted trench coat for me, I was a little intimidated by it. I would have normally picked a safer color, such as the black or camel version but super glad it encouraged me to push my own boundaries by sporting it with a fun twist on business casual.

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Beauty :: Vichy 10 Day Cure Challenge to Brighter Skin

Does your skin suffer when you are stressed?!

I’d like to think that I handle stress well, meaning that I don’t typically ‘feel’ stressed out or overwhelmed easily but the truth is, whether I feel it emotionally or not, my body will react to stress physically all by itself, and well, often, my skin takes the first hit!

When I’m juggling between two full time jobs, inundated with multiple deadlines, hit with a busy travel schedule, and piles of laundry are awaiting, the first telling sign that my stress level is rising is the increase in acne and dull, aging looking skin.

Sure, the simple way to correct the problem is to take a trip to the spa or setting some time to relax, but let’s be honest, taking that extra time off just means more work will await and the stress cycle just never seem to end!

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Outfit :: Pleated Maxi

I find it always a challenged to dress appropriately during Fall when the weather hasn’t quite transitioned yet. I’ve stocked my closet up with cozy knits, wool pants, thigh high boots in preparation for the colder weather but looks like Fall just isn’t quite ready to hang around for good yet! But don’t get me wrong, no complaints here!

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DIY :: Removable Dry Erase Weekly Wall Planner (Whiteboard)

If it’s not written down, forget about it.

Having essentially two full time jobs means that I must stay organized. Between meetings, deadlines, running errands, and well, having a personal life, there is just too much going on to be able to keep track of every mental note. As much as I rely on my phone’s calendar to keep me in check, I find writing things down on a Post-it® sticky note helps me tremendously. Perhaps its the same theory behind taking notes in a meeting or making to-do lists. The act of writing and crossing off items creates a sense of accomplishment!

I’ve been thinking about setting up a message board where my husband and I can keep track of our errands and important to-dos for quite some time now, and when I discovered these genius Post-it® Super Sticky Dry Erase Surface Sheets, I came up with the perfect solution.

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Outfit :: Fall Pastels

I love that we’re experiencing a heat wave in Toronto which means that there is absolutely no shame when it comes sporting those light pastels a few days longer. In fact, I rarely stick by colour rules when it comes to fashion. Gone are the days of no white after Labour Day and truthfully speaking, I think whites and pastels, especially paired with chunky cozy knits are so yummy during the cooler season.

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Beauty :: Everyday Fall Makeup Looks with Quo Cosmetics

The change in seasons always urge me to try new cosmetics.

With Fall just around the corner (and sadly, my tan beginning to fade!), I’ve been drawn to darker eye shadows, soft peach face palettes, and matte lipsticks in nude and jewel tones. Quo, exclusively available at Shoppers Drug Mart, launched their super fun and affordable limited edition Fall collection and guess what? The packaging was inspired by the much sought after marble trend which clearly was also meant to be given my newly renovated marble bathroom!

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Food & Drink :: Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte {and a Nespresso Machine Giveaway!}

I love pumpkin spice but haven’t tried it in a latte.

The weather is getting cooler which means cozy and hot bevvies are making their way back! “Pumpkin spiced” everything seems to be quite popular during the Fall season and to be honest as much as I enjoy a delicious pumpkin pie, I’ve always been a little skeptical of infusing my coffee with pumpkin.

With the launch of Nespresso’s Limited Edition BARISTA collection which has been specially crafted to enjoy with milk, I obviously took the opportunity to attempt my very own homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte. And let’s just say… I think I’m hooked!

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Home :: Our Master Bathroom Reveal

Drum roll… I’m unveiling our newly renovated master bathroom!

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you would know that I’ve partnered with The Home Depot Canada and Delta Faucet on this renovation for quite some time now. I finally managed to pick up a few last minute accessories and voila, it’s complete! A few weeks ago, I shared a full post about the inspiration behind this room, and I’m pleased to share the final design and the inspiration that came to life!

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Outfit :: Fall Wedding Florals

I love attending weddings.

They are so full of love, laugh, and joy, and well, also gives me an excuse to dress up for the occasion! After attending four weddings over the last several weeks, I must say I’ve become a pro at dressing as a wedding guest!

First, comfort is key. I mean, let’s face it, there is much eating and dancing to be done after all! And secondly, dressing appropriately for the venue and type of ceremony is also just as important. If you’re attending a backyard garden wedding, you may not want to show up in super high stilettos because I guarantee you’ll have a hard time navigating across the lawn!

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From My Desk :: Three Effective Brainstorming Activities to Spark Creative Thinking with Post-It® Notes

Truth, we are all creative people.

The dictionary definition of ‘creative’ is someone who has the power or desire to create. And to create, is simply bringing something into existence. If that’s the case, don’t you agree that both you and I are creative human beings? Too often, the term ‘creative’ is misinterpreted as being ‘artistic’ and unfortunately, this has hindered so many of us (and businesses) from designing and establishing new ideas and initiatives.

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