Volunteering in South Africa

Now that June is well on it's way and my birthday has come and gone, I've had time to reflect on some of the major milestones that have taken place in my life this past year. In addition to having gotten engaged (Eeeek! Yay!), Ryan and I have also lived in three different Canadian cities over the year (Vancouver, Kingston, and Ottawa). On a more personal note, it's also been over a year since I graduated from UBC, an achievement I celebrated by going to volunteer in South Africa for two weeks. Looking back, I feel so profoundly grateful for all the love and support in my life, and I am humbled by the generosity and kindness I've been shown time and time again. 

When I decided that I wanted to volunteer in South Africa for two weeks last year, I remember feeling a powerful urge to do something selfless and productive. There are so many incredibly important causes worth supporting in the world, and it can certainly feel overwhelming when you're trying to decide what to do. For me, I felt that my efforts would be best employed by helping nurture animals. I wasn't specific about where, or what kind of animals I wanted to volunteer with, I just knew that I wanted to connect with, and be immersed in nature. 

*Edit: May 2014

I ended up getting offered a position as a volunteer at the Bambelela Wildlife Reservation, located in Bela Bela, South Africa. The reserve works with all kinds of wildlife, although they are most recognized for their work with vervet monkeys. Interestingly enough, before I went to South Africa, I have to admit, monkeys were probably my least favorite animal. However, it didn't take me more than a few hours after arriving at the reserve to change my mind for the better! 

Volunteering in South Africa was a challenging prospect for me. As someone who doesn't enjoy flying (at all!), going from Vancouver to Johannesburg was the longest trip I've taken to date. As I previously mentioned, I was set to work with monkeys, an animal I wasn't especially fond of until my trip. Then there were the usual challenges involved with going half way around the world to a completely new destination, entirely by myself; I was nervous, excited, and very anxious.

Going to South Africa and working so closely with the wildlife (specifically the vervet monkeys) was an incredible experience. The full-time workers at the reserve were some of the most generous people I've met, with an incredible passion and respect for nature. The work we did every day always left me dirty and exhausted by the time the sun went down, but it was always worth it. Having grown up in Canada with so many luxuries, there were many times when I struggled to fully comprehend and process much of the suffering I saw in South Africa. Animals who were horribly disfigured and emotionally compromised as a result of human maltreatment, sprawling slums, and visibly sick and weakened people. These were all things I knew to expect, but was still shocked and saddened by when I encountered them first hand. Despite this, I remember feeling uplifted by the hope and joy I encountered from people proud of their land, and the tireless work of those striving to make it a better place for people and animals alike. 

If you're considering going to South Africa, whether it's for work or pleasure, I highly recommend it! While you're there, be sure to stop by Bambelela to see the monkeys! 

Outfit of the Day + VS Body Sprays

Happy Wednesday! 

It's been a pretty great day so far, complete with sunshine and warm weather! Ryan and I went downtown this morning and he bought me a few Victoria's Secret body sprays. We didn't linger in the store for too long, but I did get to test out almost every scent they had on the shelves. The three body sprays that I picked out are: Love Spell, Love Addict, and Pure Seduction. A lot of the other scents I tested were either way too strong (like sniffing a bottle of acetone! No thank you!), or smelled like sunscreen. Everyone has different preferences, and even if it smells nice in the bottle, it might sit differently on your skin. In any case, those are the three that I selected and I couldn't be happier! You can buy them all online here!

Love Spell: A flirty, floral fragrance. Hypnotize in Love Spell, a vibrant, irresistible blend of lush cherry blossom and juicy peach. 

Love Addict: The fruity fragrance you can't get enough of, infused with conditioning aloe vera and calming chamomile.

Pure Seduction: A flirty, floral fragrance. Entice in Pure Seduction, a passionate romance of succulent red plum and sweet freesia.


And here's the outfit I wore today! I didn't want my look to be too casual, so I opted for a light and airy dress in a modern geometric print, paired with a denim jacket, and a few accessories. 

Dress: Old Navy / Jacket: American Eagle /
Belt: Anthropologie / Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren

The simple elegance of a print dress in a neutral color (in this case, black and white), is effortlessly complimented by classic accessories in different textures (like denim). 

The crescent moon necklace I'm wearing was a birthday gift from my parents and it has a beautifully engraving with the words: "I love you to the moon and back". Thank you again for such a beautiful gift! 

Hope everyone is having a great day! 

Weekend Recap: Birthday Edition

Hello! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! 

I turned 24 on Sunday, and got to spend it celebrating with my family and friends in Kingston! Ryan and I left Ottawa first thing in the morning on Saturday, and arrived at our destination just before lunch. We were only there for 2 days, which flew by far too quickly, but we still had a really great time! I feel so blessed to have such amazing friends and loving family. 

Ruby with her stick!

So after we had lunch at my parent's house, we got a chance to stretch our legs a bit more when we took the dog for a walk. Ruby isn't the first dog my parents have owned, but she's far and above my favorite! I just love her so much! 

After having a quick dinner, we all headed out to see Jurassic World, which premiered on Friday. Oh. My. Goodness. It was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole film! I don't want to give up any spoilers by discussing the movie too much, but let me just say, as a devout Jurassic Park fan, you will not be disappointed by Jurassic World! It has been, by far, the most entertaining movie I've seen in a very long time! If I get my way, Ryan and I will hopefully be seeing it again before it goes out of theaters.

On Sunday, Ryan and I woke up fairly early to make bacon and eggs, and have some of the raspberry danish at my aunt's house. After getting ourselves organized, we walked over to my parent's house, and then headed downtown to one of my favorite Kingston restaurants, Phenom Penh. I had number 19, which is a tofu and rice dish with a mildly spicy peanut curry sauce. My other favorite is number 10, which is a mildly spicy dish with shrimp and chilies. From what I saw and sampled of Ryan and my family's selections, you really can't go wrong with anything you choose! 

Unintentional coordinating outfits + a beautiful pink centerpiece! 

After eating, we headed back to my parent's house for a bit of down time, while I met up with two of my oldest friends, Jennifer and Patrick. We got free drinks at Starbucks (completely unexpected!), and spent an hour walking around downtown, catching up, and talking about my engagement and wedding plans. It was so great to see them, and I really cherish our continued friendship after so many years!

My mum had the table set up beautifully in pink and gold (the color scheme I'm leaning towards for the wedding), with a lovely rose and peony centerpiece. We had chicken, sausages, mashed potatoes, and salad. Generally speaking, I tend to prefer pie instead of cake, so we had three options for pie: coconut cream (my mum's own recipe!), lemon meringue, and my current favorite, strawberry rhubarb! My aunt Elizabeth also brought a really decadent lava cake that everyone thoroughly enjoyed! We also got to enjoy a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, courtesy of my aunt Brenda! After dinner and dessert, I opened my gifts (all so lovely and thoughtful!), and spent the rest of the evening relaxing and spending time with family. As it was a Sunday night, we didn't stay up too late, especially since Ryan and I had to catch the train back to Ottawa first thing Monday morning. 

Thank you to everyone involved in making this weekend so wonderful, and to all my family and friends across the world who shared their love and birthday wishes!

Color Profile: Pink

Pink! Few colors are nearly as notorious or controversial! For some, pink invokes feelings of excitement and femininity, while for others, it only serves to repulse them. I won't get into a lengthy discussion of colors and gender association, but I think it's fairly well understood, that pink has been (and continues to be), for the most part, associated with girls and women. 

The color itself, is quite beautiful, blending the purity of white with the intensity of red. There are a number of incredible shades of pink to choose from, including everything from blush to magenta. The more bold the look, the brighter the pink! One of the things I personally enjoy about the color pink, is that (depending on the shade), it is highly versatile when it comes to accessories. For instance, if you're wearing a light pink shade like rose, I would recommend wearing silver or pearl jewelry. If you're wearing a brighter pink shade like fuscia, I would recommend going with yellow gold or turquoise jewelry.  

Much like purple, the color pink is versatile and can be worn dressed up or dressed down. I tend to opt for soft, light shades of pink if I'm looking for a more dressed down look, while going with brighter, more vibrant shades of pink for a more dressed up look. Generally speaking, the more the color is featured in the look, the more dressed up it will be. For example, wearing blue jeans, a neutral top, and bright pink heels, looks more casual than a bright pink dress with only a few accessories. In terms of coloring, pink can be flattering on warm and cool toned skin, as well as women with blonde, or brunette hair. There are underlying tones in every shade of pink, that determine whether it's warm or cool. Being able to identify between the two will help determine which shades will be the most flattering.



If you're looking to incorporate the color pink into your outfit, but you're not quite sure how to style it, I would suggest keeping things simple. Start out with a few pink pieces that you can pair with soft neutrals like white or ivory. For example, try pink shorts with a simple white t-shirt for a pretty take on a classic look. Alternatively, denim and chambray offer a cool textural contrast, while stripes provide a unique complimentary addition to your look. Considering pink is such a beautiful color to play with, the most important thing to keep in mind is to have fun with it! 

How To: Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Something that most of us tend to neglect, is brush care. We use our makeup brushes (nearly) everyday, and yet they often don't get the proper TLC they need. 

After frequent use, makeup brushes become caked with makeup residue, oil, and dead skin cells, which create a breeding ground for bacteria, that you, in turn, end up putting right back on your face. Gross right? Well that's exactly why you're going to want to step up your brush cleaning game!


The general consensus suggests that on average, you should clean your brushes once a month. However, if you use your makeup brushes quite often, I would recommend increasing the frequency to bi-weekly. 

There are a number of brush-specific cleaning formulas out there, as well as many DIY or multi-use products that also do the trick. Here are my top three recommendations in each category: 

1. Brush-specific 

BlenderCleanser by BeautyBlender $9.95 

2. DIY 

In 1 warm cup of water, mix 1 tbsp of vinegar, and 1 tbsp of dish soap.

3. Multi-use products

Johnson's Baby Shampoo $3.95

No matter what kind of cleanser you decide to use, it's important to take into consideration the delicate nature of the bristles, which require special care when being washed as to avoid changing their shape. Once you've got your formula set, let your brushes soak for about 5-10 minutes. Gently run them under warm water to help wash out any residue, followed by cool water to settle the bristles. Avoid the barrel of your brushes, since if it gets wet, it can cause the bristles to loosen and fall out. If the brushes are extra cakey, a drop of olive or almond oil will loosen things up. Some people suggest gently blow drying your brushes to dry them, but I would strongly advise against this! Instead, place your makeup brushes flat on a sheet of paper towel, in a cool, dry place. They should be clean and ready for use in about 8-12 hours.