A big thank you to Sinead from Life of Sinead for nominating me for The Liebster Award.

The Liebster Award was created as a way for people to recognize and discover new bloggers.

The other day I wrote a post on my Instagram about how people, the world over, are slaves to consumerism. One of the intentions I set for myself this year (which you can read about here), and ultimately for the rest of my life, is to live a much more simplistic lifestyle than what I currently enjoy. So combining those two thought processes, I thought I'd elaborate on them here.

Please keep in mind that I am by no way trying to impose my beliefs onto others or judge the lifestyle that many people lead. I am merely discussing my views on how I believe I can have a happier experience in this amazing gift of life.

The Power of Consumerism

Taking a step back, and looking at how we humans interact and live on a daily basis, an outsider may describe us as zombies. The majority of us are stuck in the same routine. We spend most of our time indoors, surfing the internet or watching re-run after re-run on t.v., consuming so much garbage that we ultimately forget how to think or act for ourselves. Instead of living our own journey, figuring out for ourselves what makes us happy, we've essentially been brainwashed by mainstream, corporate messages that tell us how to live our lives. And that's just the mental clutter. Think of all the excess we have in our lives - at least one McDonalds in every town, a Tim Horton's or Starbucks on every corner, sure the convenience can be nice on occasion, but when did we get so busy that we couldn't feed ourselves or brew ourselves a cup of coffee in the morning? What about the 10 pairs of jeans you have hanging in the back of your closet? What about everyone's rush to get the latest iPhone, even though the one you bought only 12 months ago was the most powerful computer system this world has ever seen? In my mind, these things are simply unnecessary and are a major cause of the overall unhappiness of the world. We've created a culture of always wanting more but the fact of the matter is, we really don't need it. So what if you have last year's iPhone!? Look around you, compared to millions of people on this Earth, you live an extremely privileged life. You've got it good my friend!

It's easy to blame it all on politicians, the economy and big corporations, but the problem with that is there'll never be a resolution, corporations will always want you to buy their products so they'll always push that message on to you. The power to change has to come from you. You are free to make choices that affect how you live your life. If you're willing to change your mindset, then you may realize that you already have all you need to live a happy and fulfilled life.

You've heard it time and time again, that money can't buy happiness, and yet we all still continue to go down this path. But what if you did the opposite? Instead of filling your life with more and more 'things' to make you happy, what if you tried to eliminate the overabundance of 'things' you already own from your life. You bought them to make you happy in the first place, and yet you're still in the exact same situation now as you were then, craving more material things to fill a void in your life. Why spend your money on things that you have to work so hard to afford and then never have time to enjoy them because all your time goes into your work so you can afford these things in the first place? It makes no sense. So maybe consumerism isn't the answer to your happiness, maybe it's minimalism.

So what is minimalism?

Minimalism is essentially removing all the clutter from your life so you're left with very few personal possessions. I've heard people say you have to own less than 100 things, or less than 60 things to be considered a minimalist, but I don't think there's really one set definition of minimalism that suits everybody. We're all different and this is something we have to interpret in the face of our individual lives. I see minimalism as a way to relieve ourselves from the burden of consumerism, a way to find happiness without the need for possessions. There's so much more joy in life that passes us by each day because we're simply too busy or too greedy to notice it. I want to rediscover that joy.

It wasn't until very recently that I started to introduce this concept into my life, however I became aware of my need for it years ago. In 2010 I moved to England for a year as part of a law exchange program with my university. I ended up bringing 4 suitcases plus my carry-on of stuff with me to England and returned home with 6 suitcases. (To put this in perspective, my best friend just moved to Australia for a two year law program and she only brought a carry-on and one suitcase - that was smaller than any of my 6). It was ridiculous. But I felt like I needed to bring all of my possessions with me to feel comfortable and be happy. Looking back on it now though, I didn't even use half of the things that I had lugged half way across the world with me. It was a colossal waste of effort and money. What I thought would make me happy, actually caused me unhappiness in the long run by costing me so much money and eating up a good chunk of my savings.

"Minimalism is about getting rid of the things in your life that don't add value so you can focus on the things that do." - - Colin Wright

The benefits of minimalism

Acquiring a minimalist lifestyle is not easy, and I've barely made a dent in eliminating some of my unnecessary belongings, but I'm already starting to feel a sense of happiness and empowerment over my own life. Physical clutter leads to mental clutter and by reducing the amount of things sitting around on shelves collecting dust, my mind has started to free up because it has one less thing to worry about. My goal in life is ultimately to be a full-time traveler, so having less possessions makes me happier as it's easier to see that dream come to fruition knowing that I don't have as many things to pack up or leave behind. It's really amazing how one small action can make such a huge impact on my dreams.

After deciding to switch career paths and focus on my creativity as opposed to the law, I was worrying myself crazy with how I was ever going to support myself financially. But after adopting a minimalist mindset, I've found peace in realizing that I only need to make enough money to sustain my lifestyle, so by living a simpler way of life, I won't have as many financial burdens weighing me down. What good is it anyway to work so hard to afford to be able to live but never have the time to actually live? That realization did wonders in terms of my level of happiness.

The important thing to keep in mind though is that it's not the act of minimalism that makes you happy, it's the opportunities that you gain because of living a minimalist life that ultimately contribute to your happiness. Getting rid of all your possessions is not the key to happiness. But by getting rid of all the extra clutter in your life, you begin to realize what is truly important to you - you may spend more time outdoors, strengthening relationships with your friends and family, improving your health, pursuing your passions, and these are what bring happiness into your life!

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Despite the -30°C weather we've been having lately, I desperately needed to get outdoors and shoot some outfit posts for you guys. Nothing beats natural light, and I was really getting fed up with the dull, yellow light in my house, not only in terms of photography but just in general. I hate being cooped up inside, so sometimes I just have to brave the cold! (Even if I only make it as far as my front door).

I'm absolutely loving cute patterned leggings recently and right now these ones from Roots would have to be my favourite. Not only do they look adorable, but they're perfect for winter as the inside is lined with warm, fuzzy fleece. They're so cozy I even wore them to bed one night because I simply could not take them off!

I also love how well these leggings pair with this cardigan from Target. The colours really compliment each other and it makes for a stylish yet comfortable outfit that you can wear out and about, not just around the house.


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Getting enough good quality sleep is one of the most important things we can do to improve our health and wellbeing. There's tons of research out there proving that getting at least 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, reduce your stress, and improve your memory and overall cognitive functioning. But in a world where technology has become our best friend and success at work seems to be people's number one priority, getting a good night's rest is becoming ever so rare.

I, like many people I know, seem to suffer from bouts of insomnia. I lay awake in bed for hours, tossing and turning, my mind thinking up a storm, before finally dozing off at two or three in the morning. Sometimes sleep eludes me entirely, or I'll only drift off for a few minutes here and there, leaving me exhausted and unproductive the following day.

I've learned a few tricks over the years to help me fall asleep (and stay asleep) so I thought I'd share them with you...

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10 Ways To Help You Fall Asleep At Night

Avoid the little blue light. Light in general, but especially blue light, (that one that comes for your t.v., laptop, and cell phone) suppresses our body's production of melatonin, which is the hormone responsible for regulating our sleep and wake cycles. I made a rule for myself to turn off all electronic devices by 8:30pm every night so my body has time to adjust before bed. But I know sometimes that's easier said than done, so I've also downloaded a free app on my phone called Twilight that dims the light on my screen according to the time of day, adding a red filter to my screen instead of the harsh blue light. Twilight is for Android devices but there's a similar app for iPhone users called f.lux.

Set up a bedtime routine. Go to bed at the same time every night. Read a book or write in your journal before bed. By following the same ritual night after night, it's like training your body to know when it's time for bed. Eventually when you do these things, your body will respond by being tired, helping you to fall asleep faster.

Take a hot bath. The heat itself will make you tired and the relaxation will put your mind at ease.

Avoid caffeine and other stimulants. Drinking alcohol may cause you to pass out, but we all know that the quality of sleep we get after drinking is terrible. Also, the caffeine in coffee, tea (especially black tea), chocolate and soda pop will keep you up at night. So stay away from these things at least 5 hours before bed (as caffeine can stay in your system for up to 5-6 hours).

Exercise. We all know exercise is good for your health in general, both physically and mentally, but it also tires you out (in a good way) and improves the quality of your sleep.

Don't nap! I know it's tempting sometimes, but napping messes up your body's normal sleeping cycle, causing you to be more awake later in the night when it's time for bed.

Keep your bedroom cool. For some people, this may not seem like a very pleasant option, especially in the winter, but I promise you if you turn your heat down before you go to bed you'll have a much more pleasant sleep.

Use your bed only for sleeping. I'm terrible at this one, I don't have a desk and I like to be comfy when I work, so I'm constantly propped up in bed working away on my laptop. But when it comes time to sleep, I seem to end up out on the couch more often than not, simply because my body can't relax in the same environment it's been working in all day. So only use your bed for sleeping, and ... well ... you know ;)

Have a hot drink. Remember, no caffeine, but other hot drinks, like warm milk, soothe you, making it easier to fall asleep, especially some herbal teas like chamomile which actually have natural properties in them that help you sleep.

Create a bedtime playlist. I find I fall asleep easier when I have soft music playing very quietly in the background. Make a playlist on your iPod of your favourite slow songs and listen to it as you're laying in bed. Chances are you'll be asleep before the playlist is over. What's on my playlist? Lots and lots of Ed Sheeran!

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I can't say I'm one for really indulging in luxury. I hardly ever wear makeup, I haven't done anything with my hair in over two years, and I've only ever had one mani/pedi in my entire 25 years on this Earth. That being said, I absolutely love a good spa day, and there's no where better than the Scandinave Spa at Blue Mountain, especially after a long day on the slopes!


One of my good friends is Finnish and she would always talk about the power that these baths had on her physical and mental relaxation. I was so intrigued by the idea, so when my boyfriend surprised me with a trip here for my birthday, I was over the moon excited!

Walking into the spa, you truly feel like you've escaped from all the activity that Collingwood and Blue Mountain has to offer. The spa is nestled right in a forest and offers an authentic Scandinavian bath experience. The setting is so natural and serene and allows you to take a step back from your busy life and enjoy some relaxation time in a beautiful outdoor environment. I try to be as connected to nature as possible, so being able to breathe the fresh air and hear and see all the wildlife around me really put me in the most tranquil state I've been been in.

What Does The Spa Do For Me?

The Scandinavian bath experience uses a technique known as hydrotherapy which focuses on the healing properties of water. The hot and cold stimuli helps to remove toxins from your body, reduce inflammation, release endorphins that help reduces stress, soothe your muscles and stimulate blood circulation.


How To Use The Spa

To truly take in the full benefits of a hydrotherapy spa like this one, you really need to use each element of the spa, and in the appropriate order.

First - spend some time getting hot and sweaty in one of three hot tubs (each set at a different temperature so you can choose whichever your prefer) or in the eucalyptus steam room - my favourite!

Second - take a (quick) dip in the one of three cold plunge pools (also each at a different temperature), use the nordic shower, or if it's winter, roll in the snow!

Third - relax in one of three room temperature cabins - take a nap, read a book - so your body can reset to it's normal temperature.

Fourth - do it all again! Over and over as many times as you wish until your skin is so pruney you decide enough is enough.

I know the cold plunge sounds absolutely terrifying, and unfortunately I've seen many people not use it, but I strongly urge you to take advantage of it to really get the whole experience. And I promise it's not as bad as it seems. It's cold, that's for sure, but after going through the entire cycle I can honestly say I've never felt more clean, pure and refreshed in my entire life.


While you're here, I also suggest you go the extra mile and indulge in a massage. Combining a massage with the hydrotherapy was really an out of body experience for me.

If you're not in the Collingwood area, the Scandinave Spa has sister spas located at Whistler, Mont-Tremblant and Montreal.

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It's been a while since my last post. Don't worry, I didn't forget about you, I just took time to practice what I preach. The holiday season is the time to slow down and connect with your friends and family, so I took a break form blogging and social media and instead focused on me. But now that all the celebrations have ended and people are headed back to school and work, I figured it was time for me to get back at it too!


The New Year has always been seen as a time of change, a time to commit to bettering yourself. Each year people make a list of resolutions that often include things such as going to the gym, eating healthy, quitting smoking, etc. And after about a month, we get too busy in our lives and forget these resolutions were ever made until the following December when we feel bad for forgetting about them and scramble to meet all our goals before the year is over.

Instead of resolutions, I, like many of my fellow yoginis and boho babes out there, prefer to set intentions. So what's the difference?

Resolutions seem to be based on 'wants' or 'needs'. They give off an "I'm not good enough" vibe and so the focus of them seems to be on fixing yourself - assuming that there's a problem with you that needs to be solved.

Intentions on the other hand are about embracing who you are. They focus on the inner you, your soul, and they help you find a way to let your natural light shine through. Intentions are all about self-awareness. They reflect who you are on the inside and allow you to change yourself from the inside out, not 'fix' yourself from the outside in.

By setting intentions for ourselves, we can create a sense of balance and alignment within our life. Intentions help you to rid your mind of negative thinking patterns and behaviours and replace those with habits that add some focus to your life. They help you to align who you are at the present moment, with who you truly want to be by finding harmony amongst your dreams, goals and passions.

So what are my intentions for 2015? 

Recently I've been trying to organize all my thoughts, ideas and dreams in my head into some kind of life plan. I've been trying to eliminate a lot of the stressors in my life and ultimately work on finding peace and happiness. So my main intention for 2015 is to be the creator of my own life. I want to follow my own path without feeling like I have to live up to other people's expectations. I want to be truly myself (a person who has become lost over the last few years) even if who I am isn't recognized within society as who a 25 year old Canadian girl should be. My intentions to help me along this journey are to be present at all times, to learn to forgive, to accept what is and to create a deeper connection with nature. Some activities that will help me achieve these are practicing yoga daily, journaling and finding the time to incorporate more travel and adventure into my life.

The New Year is a time of rebirth. Set some intentions to guide you along your journey, just remember to be gentle with yourself.

Slippers are from Marks.

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