Nails for the Holidays!

I am a HUGE fan of the perfect Mani/Pedi! I have my favourite salons but sometimes I like to try out some nail art for myself!
This weekend is the best time for get in your Christmas Mani while finishing your shopping.
Here are a few ideas I have tried in the past. Some worked, some not so much!

If your a fan of the classic french tips here is some alternatives

Santa Hat: This is fun easy nail art that you can do yourself. If you want to add a gem then I suggest to use a dab of crazy glue for a good strong hold. The crazy glue will come off with salon grade nail polish remover.

Snowflakes: Just a little pop of the holidays. Use a tooth pick to paint the snowflake.







When full nail paint application is best, here are some of my favourites!

I love these natural colour bases and the pop of Christmas on top. Glitter is always to key during the holidays! I love the red and green glitter.

The Christmas trees are super cute and can be done at home!

Snowflakes and Snowman can always pull you through the rest of the winter!






Red is always a classic!! You can never go wrong with this stunning nails!!!

Bows and Glitter and Santa OH MY!!

I rocked these Santa suits last year! It was harder to do them it looks. Mine my not have been this neat and clean but if still looked fun.

Have the prefect red you just have to wear? Just add a bow with some crazy glue and a top coat over the whole nail and you ready to go!

Or if you are in love with a few colours and can't chose, DON'T! Wear them all!






If you have your favourite aesthetician and a little time I would get any of this looks done in the salon with Shellac or Gel Polish and you know this will last all 12 days!!

Let me know if you have a tried any of these looks or if you have new ones too share!

OX Liz

All photo in this blog post where found on Pinterest

High Five for Friday

Hello!

This week has been crazy! With major construction happening in both my new condo and my mom's house, my mom and brother temporarily moving in, feeling under the weather, and working like crazy, I haven't had the chance to blog.

That being said I am making my addition to High Five for Friday. 

1. As mentioned above constuction has continued in my kitchen. My new counter top went in yesterday which is extremely exciting!! My uncle and I will have to do the plumbing this weekend and get the backsplash started so I will put up pictures at that point. 

 

2. Cookie Exchange 

My department at work did a cookie exchange this year and I made truffles :) unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of how I did it but I will eventually for you. 

 

3. Secret SantaThis year I have been blest to be apart of two secret Santas. One with my amazing group of friends and another with my department at work. This is what I received :) 

This year I have been blest to be apart of two secret Santas. One with my amazing group of friends and another with my department at work. This is what I received :)

4. My little condo is looking quite full with me, Holstein (my dog), my mother, my brother and AJ (his dog). Construction is going well in both homes and it's exciting having them stay with me :) 

5. Christmas decorations

Because of the craziness going on in my home I have been slacking on my decorating (also I didn't want them all dusty with the kitchen renos) but here I what I have so far 

Enjoy!

Steph xoxo

High Five for Firday!!

What a great week I had!! Here are some high lights in my #HHF

1: This week was the kick off to Advent!!! I love this time of year! Preparing my heart and mind of Christmas get me so excited! I made this wreath out of old wine bottles! 

2: We got our boxes out and started decorating! Not done just yet but I get to put out a little more everyday!  Here is a preview of my mantel.

3:I bought one of my favourite Christmas treats is PC Candy Cane ice-cream!! BEST THING EVER!!

4:Thursday night, Carrie Underwood stared in The Sound of Music Live on tv! I love this show! I remember watching it as a little girl and it has brought back some happy memories.

5:Planned an Ikea trip with Steph for Monday!!! Can't wait to see what we find!!

Tell me what the BEST part of your week was!?! Leave a comment!

XO Liz
*Linked up with www.thelaurenelizabeth.com

Christmas Candles!

Hello!

If you follow me on Instagram then you already know of my love of candles! Christmas is another excuse to increase my candle collection. My favourite brand is Bath and Body Works. This weekend had Black Friday/Saturday sales so I had to get a few. 

Red Velvet Cupcake

Frosted Gingerbread 

Buttercream Mint

Snow day

I love my condo smelling like I have been baking all day even if I haven't. I typically chose scents that are sweet smelling but the Snowday smells like a fresh Christmas tree. My condo building does not allow real trees because it is a fire hazard so burning candles (safely away from the tree) is my next best thing :) 

Enjoy! 

Steph xoxo 

High Five for Friday

Hello!

Another week down which means it's FRIDAY! 

1. If you read the polar bear tutorial post then you already know that my mom and I donated 2 cakes to the United Way Auction at Fanshawe College. Here are te two cakes completed 

2. Birthday celebrations! My cousin Amanda turned 24 Friday so we had a great night celebrating :) Here are some photos from the night 

3. Babies! My friends brought a beautiful baby boy into the world on the 21st. For a present I made a diaper cake...Tractor!! 

4. Blogger: The Small Things Blog

Kate is well known as the Pinterest Hair girl and it all started on her blog! I have been following her for a long time (that is how I found laurenelizabeth and high five for Friday). Check her out for hair tutorials, everyday fashion inspiration and she is currently pregnant so lots for a soon to be mom! 

5. YouTube: keeping with the British Vlogers theme, Tayna Burr is an amazing beauty YouTuber that does looks that are wearable day to day. She is a professional makeup artist that enhances beauty without making people look fake. 

Enjoy! 

Steph xoxo
*Linkin up with Lauren from Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday.

Fondant Polar Bear Tutorial

Hello!

This Thursday, Fanshawe College is doing a cake walk fundraiser for the United Way. This is the second year my mom and I have donated cakes for the event. This year I am doing a winter theme :) 

Here is a photo tutorial of how I did the polar bear that will be on the cake.

You will need:

White, black and brown/pink fondant

Small rolling pin

Small fondant mat 

Tooth pick 

Gum glue/ water

  First, make a cone shape with your white fondant

Make a U shape with your fondant and use some gum glue or water to tack it on top. Once that is balanced you can use your tooth pick (cut down to size, leaving enough room to stick on the head).

Next you want to make the legs. I am having my polar bear sitting so I have made two legs this shape.

Using a little gum glue, tack the legs to the sides of the body. 

Next you will want to use more white fondant to mild the head. Ensure that you pinch the top of the head to make hears and your finger tips to make the intendant for the eyes. Apply the head with a little gum glue and carefully stick into the tooth pick.

Next you want to put on the nose. I used a brown/pink skin colour for the nose and used a little gum glue to attach it. 

Finally, add the black eyes, mouth and skin colour (to make nose) for the bottom of the feet. 

Isn't he a cutie? 

Note: For any figures, I use premade fondant and I think it holds up best. This fondant allows me to make the figures without a long drying time between parts. I purchased this specific fondant (as seen in the background of the photos) from Bulk Barn.

Enjoy and Happy Christmas baking! 

Steph xoxo 

High Five for Firday

It's Friday! So here is the Liz installment of High Five for Friday!!!

1: Celeb Crush: J-Law showed off her NEW pixie cut at the Catching Fire Primer in LA this week! 

I love it! She just can't do anything wrong this days. 

2:Weekend Beauty Tip: I am loving the Aveda Holiday line. This video is a great tutorial to add some hollywood glam to you this Christmas party season

3:Christmas Goodies: Loosebutton and Essie have come together to make my kinda of Advent Calendar. No stale chocolate for me, this year I will be counting down the days to the birth of Christ with pretty nails!

4:Friday Funnies: Buzz Feed is always good for a laugh! A Typical Day for a High Schooler in 2005 brought back so many memories! I may have been in University by 2005 but I totally had a pink Motorola Razor!

5:Music on Repeat: Ed Sheern is my new fave. My sister (& co-author) posted his video for I see Fire which is the theme to the new The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug movie. I fell for his hauntingly smooth voice and quite acoustic guitar right away. I had to hear more!! I Highly recommend his album Metascore.

Well there you have it!! Have a Beautiful Weekend!
XO Liz

Photo Source:1:fashionbombdaily.com,2:Aveda Makeup Tutorial: Create Holiday Glamour on YouTube,3:loosebutton.com,4:Buzzfeed.com,5:

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Ed Sheeran "I See Fire" on YouTube

Red and White Christmas

It's that time of year again!! We like to start putting up our decorations on Dec1st, so I have started to think of a how to decorate our new house this year.

I am being drawn to red and white lately. I love real Christmas trees so I will incorporate some fresh green as well. Since this will be our 1st Christmas in our new home, I want our decorations to be very warm and inviting, a place where you can curl up in a blanket in front of the fire.

I put together a few ideas to reference when I'm at the stores.

I can't wait to start my planning!! Leave a comment below and let me know how you are decorating this Chirstmas!

Photo Source: (from left to right) www.loveliegreenie.tumblr.com, www.easy.com, www.duvetandpillowwearhouse.co.uk, www.makinghomebase.com, www.pinterest.com, www.houzz.com, www.shopterrain.com

Chocolate Covered Oreos

Hello!

Christmas baking season has begun and I wanted to try something that would be quick and easy for holiday craziness. 

Chocolate covered Oreos are super easy and only take about an hour from start to finish. 

Supplies: 

Coloured chocolate melts

Sprinkles

Candy pops

Oreos 

Start by heating the Oreos in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. This will make it easier to seperate the two sides. 

Next stick the candy stick into the icing side and put a dab of chocolate to hold the cookie together.

Lay them all down on a cookie sheet and put them in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. 

Melt the chocolate in the microwave until melted, approximately 1 minute but check on it every 20 seconds or so. 

Put the bowl in a pot of simmering water to keep it from hardening. Ensure the water level is low because getting any water in the chocolate will cause it to seize.

Cover the Oreo in chocolate and shake off the excess chocolate. 

Lay them back down on the cookie sheet , making sure they are not touching.

Now for the fun part! 

Decorate as you wish! Doesn't need to be fancy as long as your enjoying it.

Put them in the fridge until hardened all the  way through. I left mine for 1/2 hour.

Enjoy! 

Steph xoxo