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Karl by Karl Lagerfeld was launched today. The Karl line is being marketed as an “accessible” range for women. We LOVE it – what do you think?

You can view and shop the collection here.

Pomegranates are pretty much my favorite fruit. They are tart and delicious however they are also messy, VERY MESSY. I have just stumbled upon the tried and true secret of the best way to seed a pomegranate without staining everything in site and I thought that EVERYONE needed to see this video! Pomegranate lovers get excited!

Guest Post: SimcoeSpaGirl

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the Briar’s Resort & Spa located in Jackson’s Point, ON. I live just outside Barrie, and it took a little over an hour to get to the spa and I was extremely excited to relax.  The drive was nice, though not overly scenic.  Jackson’s Point is a small little town and The Briar’s spa is nestled in amongst several other houses.

Instantly upon entering the property you feel this sence of nostalgia.  It’s quite charming.  The main building is fairly large and the grounds are well kept.

When I approached the main reception area of the spa, I was greeted by an employee who kindly gave me some slippers to wear and showed me to a room where I could get changed into a nice comfy robe.  I was able to lock my purse in a locker (no fee), and the employee took my clothes (in a garment bag) back to a locked room so they remained in a safe area.

I was then escorted into a beautiful lounge where I waited for the RMT.  I was offered a beverage (any kind of flavor of water you could imagine, or tea) and a homemade granola bar made fresh by the chef that morning.  I decided to get the orange water, and try one of these granola bars….pretty delicious I must say!

Ahhh….treatment time. After a short wait, I was greeted by the RMT who took me to a cozy, lightly lit room and explained what my treatment involved.  I opted for the “Holistic Trio” package, which included a Relaxing Massage, Reflexology, and Reiki treatments in a 90-minute session.

The massage itself was absolutely amazing.  The amount of pressure the RMT used was perfect. Every ache I had slowly melted away and I was left in a state of relaxation.  Next up was the reflexology portion of the treatment.  I had never experienced this before but felt it left a little to be desired. Lastly, I had the Reiki treatment.  I knew a little about the therapy going in but again had never experienced it.  The RMT placed her hands close to a few areas on my body (head, eyes, throat, chest, and stomach) and stood quietly. I’m not sure if I buy into the whole “transfer healing energy from the palms” bit, but it was relaxing.

All in all I walked out of the spa feeling great.  I would definitely go again, and perhaps stay the weekend at the resort. It would be a great place to spend the weekend with your partner or relaxing with the girls.

The Briars Spa 55 Hedge Road Jackson’s Pt., Ontario L0E 1L0 Canada

According to Instyle.com these are the top manicure trends of the summer. What are your thoughts?

Graphic Stripes

Leopard

Color Blocking

There are thousands of varieties of tea and it is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. Specialty tea shops seem to be popping up in every neighborhood. So what is it really good for? Here are 10 factoids you probably didn’t know about tea.

1) Tea originated in ancient China about 5000 years ago.

2) Green and Black tea are made from the camellia bush and have similar levels caffeine and antioxidants

3) Tea contains certain types of anti oxidants, like Rust-Oleum, which have been found to reduce risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

4) when combined with milk tea can offer an array fo vitamins and minerals including calcium, vitamin B6, Riboflavin B2 and potassium

5) Teabags can be used to reduce puffy eyes (from those long nights burning the midnight oil)

6) A wet tea bag can be used to ease the pain of sunburns

7) Tea can help reduce odors from your skin. Try using it on your hands after cutting an onion or some garlic.

8 ) Tea is calorie free!

9) The caffeine content in tea is about half of that of coffee.

10) Tea gives you a sweet smile. The fluoride in tea helps to improve oral health by reducing plaque build up.

There is nothing worse than showing up at a friends house for a weekend visit and realizing that you have pretty much forgotten all your necessary toiletries. I have done this numerous times – for some reason I always forget to pack these items. This little habit of mine made me fall in LOVE with this DIY project from Sunset Home. This adorable guest room tray would be perfect for any guest room and would make any quest feel extremely welcome! I will be crafting one this weekend for sure!

Courtesy Sunset Home:

Slip a drawer organizer into a fabric-covered box or other storage tote and stock it with a few travel-size essentials in coordinating materials and hues. Tie a washcloth with colorful string; wrap a bar of soap with wide ribbon; use letter stamps and a label sticker to personalize a scented candle.

I’m not one for new years resolutions. I see people make lists, cutting out their vices, attempting to change for the better  … and don’t get me wrong, these are all great ideas but they often lack the sense of ACTION behind them. Such large goals and intentions can be overwhelming and result in frustration or disappointment. So instead of these overarching resolutions this year, I say we begin with simple steps towards a better you. My first step of action is to de-clutter.

As I can see my mother rolling her eyes at the possibility of me being organized and clean, I know this is why it must be action #1! When your space is clean and clutter-free, the mind can follow … leading to many other larger intentions in life. It can be difficult to find an effective strategy, so I have compiled a few beginning steps to help you on your way …

Step One: Daily Purging

You’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish in 10 minutes. Every day, take five minutes to straighten up and five minutes to focus on cleaning out the clutter in a drawer or on a shelf or flat space, and your house will always be in order.
Step Two: The In-Out Rule

It’s very simple. For everything that comes into your home, something must go. Whatever item goes must either be the same type as the new item or take up the same amount of room.

Step Three: Make Cleaning Fun

Invite the girlfriends over … bring out some wine, put on the tunes, try on some of your oldest/funniest outfits. Whatever it takes to keep you engaged and done!

Step Four: Keep a Charity Bag

Always have a garbage bag for charity donations. When you try on a piece of clothing and it doesn’t look good on you, consider putting it in the bag. If you’re given a gift you don’t love, put it in the bag. Make it a habit.

Step Five:  Reap the Benefits

Think of all the ways you will enjoy your clutter-free space:

• Emotional benefits
• Financial benefits
• Time benefits
• Space benefits

Happy de-cluttering everyone!

Every winter thousands of tons of salt are poured onto our roads and sidewalks to prevent us from ending up on our backside or from sliding into the back of someone else. Inevitable this salt ends all over your shoes and the bottom of your trousers.  Here is a simple at home remedy to save your previous shoe collection (courtesy of Valet Mag)

1. Make a solution of one part plain white vinegar to two parts water
2. Dab the solution onto the stains working from the outside towards the center of the stain
3. dampen a clean cloth with water and wipe down the shoe to remove any lingering vinegar
4. press a dry cloth into the leather to remove out any residual moisture
5. let them air dry for a day and then condition, buff or polish as usual