Staying Cool - Afternoon in the Park

The temperatures in Toronto have been hitting extreme HOT levels. Daily temps staying firm around the mid to high 30 degree Celsius - and with humidity feeling more like low to mid 40s. In the evenings there has not been much relief with temperatures only dipping to high and mid 20s - and humid most nights. Skirts, shorts and sleeveless tops have definitely become the days go to wardrobe pieces, for trying to beat the heat.

 For those who follow HHL on Instagram you may already know my treat of choice for staying cool has quickly become GELATO!! and I even discovered a place that offers a little kick in their gelato choices - with a Tecquila Mojito gelato, which I may or may not have indulged in ...

What I wore : sleeveless blouse - Pink Rose  : skirt - Lilly Pulitzer; sandals - Lilly Pulitzer: accessories: watch - Lucien Piccard; tote - Louis Viutton; sunglasses - Gucci

What are your go to wardrobe pieces when the heat is on full blast?

You are the curator of your life so make it luxurious,


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In Search of an Affordable Standard Pedicure ...

Am I the only one who is feeling "cheated" when it comes to her pedicure? A standard pedicure should consist of foot soaking, foot scrubbing with a pumice stone or foot file, nail clipping, nail shaping, cuticle care, foot and calf massage, moisturizer and nail polishing. The whole pampering, maintenance and evaluation of the health of your feet process should last around 50 -60 minutes (not including drying time). So why is it that I'm in and out of most Toronto nail salons within 30-45

image via google

minutes for BOTH a mani & pedi combo?

Nail Salons helped move mani/pedi from a special occasion or treat to mainstream regular maintenance.  They use to be a great alternative for getting regular professional manicures and pedicures at a fraction of the cost of a spa experience. Sure you didn't get some of the perks offered by spas such as: a glass of bubbly, cappuccino, tea, delectable goodies, a posh environment and good conversation - but you got your standard pedicure - you left feeling relaxed, somewhat pampered and with perfectly coiffed feet.

Well ladies it looks like things they are a changing! Like most major cities Toronto has an abundance of nail salons - but it seems they have become more interested in turning a buck than actually caring for your feet (and hands). They lured us in with $25-$35 mani/pedi combo "specials" in the beginning for a standard pedicure - getting us hooked. Once we were hooked, they started to slowly cut back. 

Since my accident giving myself a mani/pedi has become a challenge and I rely on the "professionals" to keep my feet and hands healthy and groomed. Over the past almost 9 years I have seen and experienced a huge decline in the service offered by these nail salons (and I can assure you in almost 9 years I've tried countless places). Here are some of my personal experiences: your feet barely soak before they are being plucked from the water and cuticles pushed back with no pre-softening cream used; and the scrubbing of your heals is as light as a feather - unless you say yes to the scrapper (which I would not recommend - if your feet require a blade go to your doctor or podiatrist); the hand and foot massage lasts all of 1-2 minutes if you are lucky to even get one aside from the motion of applying what you hope is body cream/oil; base coat is often omitted; some places try to give you the impression you are being pampered by using a hot towel to wrap your feet or hands (which is more often luke warm or cold); polish is applied while the nail technician is busy paying more attention to her colleague's conversation than your toes. While these experiences varied from nail salon to nail salon - the one thing that was consistent was " My name is (fill in the blank) - you tell them at cash". And while the service has gone down (and don't get me started on the lack of cleanliness) the average mani/pedi combo has risen to $35 - $45. 

These nail salons have become nothing more than mass-service. They want you in and out.  Whether out of need (like myself); habit or not wanting to be left out when your friends/colleagues are getting regular mani/pedi, you are lured in by the $35 - $45 mani/pedi combo. And within 30 - 40 minutes you are at the counter paying. You don't feel pampered, you certainly are not relaxed and know that you did not receive a proper standard pedicure. But "getting" a mani/pedi has become the norm and you can't possibly go against the norm?

Well for those of us, who for whatever reason have the need to utilize nail salons I'm happy to say there are still some gems out there: providing excellent service (a standard pedicure) that won't empty your wallet. I was pleasantly surprised to discover SheaCoco Beauty Lounge - after walking by numerous times I finally took a chance - and am happy I did.

I was pleasantly greeted and once seated I was offered magazines that were current!! And for convenience they even have a charging station for your technical devices. I love this charging station for various reasons - aside from the obvious of being able to charge your devices; it kinda of encourages you put your device on silence and sit back and enjoy your ME time.

All pedicure tubs at SheaCoco are made out of stainless steels and disinfected with ACCEL TB surface disinfectant spray after each use.

My nail technician was Kay ... very pleasant and friendly. After removing the polish , she actually looked my feet over. Every step was carried out with care and attention to detail.

All nail files, buffer blocks are single use - All foot buffers, callous removing tools are single use - All gloves, waxing spatulas,examination table paper cover are single use - All tools are stainless steel, one set per client and disinfected with ACCEL HLD5 chemosterilant and high level disinfectant instrument soak after each use 

And Kay is the only ONE to date (in 9 years) that has taken extra care to remove the callous that develops between my baby toe and the next toe on my right foot, without me having to point it out! (I kid you not). My feet received a massage during the salt scrub and a luxurious massage was completed on both feet and calf just prior to polish.

An hour and 10 minutes later (and only $49)... I had pretty well groomed feet and beautiful  manicured hands.

If you are in the Toronto area you will find SheaCoco at 9 Hazelton Ave. in Yorkville. You can check out their website here.

And I was still able to treat myself to a quick lunch at Nespresso !!! Gotta love that.

ACCESSORIES I WORE: white sandals: Lilly Pulitzer ; orange bracelet - Hermes; pink Mala bracelet - Glam & Tease ; tote to salon - Louis Vuitton ; green messenger bag  - Paris market find 2010

Benefits of a Pedicure...

APPEARANCE

Having nice groomed feet and polished toes is always a mood lifter. You can't help but smile when you slip your feet into an open pair of heels or sandals.

LYMPHATIC & BLOOD FLOW

The foot massage helps to stimulate circulation in your feet. Like wise the calf massage helps to stimulate circulation in your legs. This stimulation helps with lymphatic and blood flow. Your body has lymph nodes all over which are the tiny factories that help process and clean the toxins from your lymphatic fluid (lymph) into the blood which then gets taken back through the veins to the heart to get cleaned. Lymph nodes are also known as glands which in our legs are situated behind our knees. A leg massage can help the lymph to flow more easily up to the knees for better and more efficient drainage.  TIP: Drinking a glass of water after massage is also helpful as it helps to flush these toxins out of the body which then get expelled through your urine.

SOFT FEET

The removal of callouses from your feet can help prevent the formation of pressure points from uneven weight distribution. Removing dead skin and callouses leaves your feet looking great and feeling baby's bum soft.

TIDY CUTICLES AND TOE NAILS 

Having your toenails trimmed by a professional can help prevent ingrown toenails, and we all know how painful ingrown toenails can be. Overgrown cuticles not only look messy they can become quite dry and the skin easily tears. 

EARLY DETECTION OF FOOT OR NAIL PROBLEMS

Your nail technician should be able to recognize a skin or nail condition, disorder or infection while washing your feet. Then would be able to refer you to a doctor or podiatrist for the correct medical attention your feet or nails may require.

Where do you get your pedicure - spa or nail salon? 
Would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

You are the curator of your life so make it luxurious,


Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...

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Creating A New Style ...

Most people are aware the clothes they put on each day silently speak volumes to the world, about their personality; how they see themselves; lifestyle; where they are in life and the social group they are (or want to be) part of. So, each day they are careful and meticulous about there wardrobe choices, regardless of their economic standing. This is of course "assuming" they are living life with no major detours, crisis or drama in sight.

Click here for outfit details

Looking back on my days working in the corporate world; I would be considering these options for my autumn wardrobe update. With a change of shoes and accessories this outfit would easily transition from day to an evening out, for cocktails or dinner with friends.
This outfit however, is totally impracticable for the daily life I now live and have lived for almost 6 years.

I can't speak for everyone going through a life detour, crisis or drama filled life... but I can tell you that my wardrobe went from the look above to this:

via

... day in and day out with little if any care for how people saw me. Yes in the early months post my accident this may have been understandable ... but this look was only up graded by sweat pants and t-shirts with runners for the following few years. Attending functions that required more than what I had become comfortable in, became a nightmare of anxiety, which only added to my already depressed outlook of life and this kept me in the catch 20/20 - until I found the strength to create a new wardrobe style I was stuck in my new "acquired style" and until I created a new wardrobe style, the strength just wasn't coming.

Via 
Lilly Pulitzer website click here

When I started blogging I was introduced to Lilly Pulitzer dresses which were a great help for creating a summer wardrobe of more than sweats. Being a dress no thought was required to match and upper or bottom piece; and they were super comfy.Unfortunately, not so practical for our Canadian autumns and winters. Being out of sweats, gave a little lift to my flat shoe wearing days.


It would take a couple more years before I would start creating a style that would better fit my new life. It than took me another year to actually transition to it. And this my friends is the  inspiration look I've designed to be my practicable look :

Click here for outfit details

I may no longer require clothes for a corporate career ~ but I still have the need to look polished and presentable for myself. Coordinating pieces of my wardrobe remains a challenge for me ~ my brain can become exhausted, quickly trying to figure out what goes with what. To make getting dressed easier with the help of loving family, friends and a devoted care team, we have come with strategies to help me put my best foot forward in the wardrobe area. I'll be sharing these strategies in future posts.

For now I just hope to inspire anyone who finds themselves lounging around in their pajamas or sweats day in day out, to see how with just a pair of khaki pants, white shirt and loafers they too can give their day a lift.                               

Looking at this inspiration outfit I created, I  think I would  add a scarf! 

Would you add a scarf?

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My Friday's Fancies * Fashion Friday * What Inspires Me Friday

Home Made Chocolate Frosting ...How Divine!

image credit

Remember the days of waiting patiently as mom frosted a cake hoping that there would be a least some left to lick off the spoon.

What a treat!! When was the last time you made chocolate frosting? This recipe is so easy - even if you don't have children who will want to lick the spoon ~ I'm sure Hubby will be diving in!!

Made with Love ~Chocolate Frosting

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions
In a large bowl, combine butter and cocoa; beat until well mixed. Add in the milk, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until frosting is smooth and creamy. Add more milk if you want a thinner consistency

Don't forget to enter My 1st Give~Away - click below to enter

Click~Here

Lilly P… I’m the newest Fan & 1st Give-Away!!

To think only a couple of months ago I had no idea what a Lilly dress was or who Lilly Pulitzer was. I was soon informed, the reason I had not heard of Lilly was that it was only sold in the USA. After a long pause the bearer of this news said “but they have a website and deliver to Canada!” Well that’s all I needed to hear to be on my way to ordering my 1st Lilly dress.

The choices were overwhelming and once again my BlogFriends came through – by helping me to choose my 1st Lilly dress, to see post click here. To see what dress became my 1st Lilly dress click here.

After receiving and wearing my Lilly dress, I knew I was in trouble, not only did it fit great it, was so comfortable. Well today I received my 2ND Lilly dress and after trying it on and asking Mr. G what he thought – his response “It’s a great dress, it looks great and you could wear it up north, when we go south or out to dinner – its casual to wear but still looks elegant”. Well ladies if I wasn’t hooked before – after that statement I instantly turned into a Lilly for life fan!

As many of you know I'm working on creatig a new life post accident and re-inventing me. Part of this re-invention is updating my wardrobe from career focused to smart casual -Lilly represents this elegantly! I choose the Stephanie Shift ~with Koi. Japanese associate koi with perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Because of its strength and determination to overcome obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals, so I thought how appropriate to kick -off my re-invention.

Since, my wonderful BlogFriends have brought so much excitement into my struggling wardrobe image by introducing me to Lilly, I thought it was only appropriate that my First Give-Away be a Lilly gift. 

With everyone leading such busy lives and always sharing great finds, recipes and tips for everything one could possibly need –

A Mini Lilly Agenda & Note book, should keep you well organized!!!

Give-Away Rules 

1 Entry

Be or Become a follower of this blog , leave a comment

(be sure to let me know you are a follower in your comment)

1 Extra Entry 

Write a post on your blog about this give-away with a link back to this give-away.

1 Extra Entry

Place agenda/note book photo from this post on your sidebar with a link back to this give-away.

All entries must be separate.

Winner will be chosen at random.

Give-Away Ends August 21, 2010

My 1st Lilly Pulitzer Dress - Has Arrived!!!!!

Thank you my sweet BlogFriends for helping me choose the print for my 1ST Lilly dress! I'm so excited to share this with you ...

image credit: zazzle

 My order from Lilly Pulitzer!!!!!!!

Everything was carefully packaged...love the pink tissue!!

I had wanted 2 dresses - but they were out of my size for the Kelsea Dress Printed, in both prints :(

So of course being the cup half is always full kinda Gal, I thought ..hmm... I guess it's a sign to get some sandals to go with my new Lilly dress in the Worth Shift 50s Poplin print. I choose the McKim Sandal in white.

I could hardly wait to try on my new treasures (I had been worried about the size - I had been torn between the 6 and 8 on their size chart.) I went with 6 as I was worried the 8 would be too big around the waist. To my surprise the 6 fit amazing (even up top)! When I slipped my feet into my new sandals, it was literally like walking on air. Why had no one told me about Lilly before? It was you my BlogFriends that introduced me to Liilly and I'm hooked. --- Since Lilly agendas start in August (how clever) I took it as a sign that I must have one to kick off - the creating of me and my new life!!!

Now I have to go off and find some accessories to go with my new Outfit!!!!

Did I mention I was hooked??? The New Fall Collection was just posted ... what should I get next?

Lilly Pulitzer website

Lilly Pulitzer - Help me choose my 1st , TWO Dresses

Ok my Lovely Blog Friends and Lilly  lovers ... I'm going to be ordering my 1st Lilly dresses ( I have choosen 2 styles)  and need your help to decide which pattern from each.  I have olive skin tone, chesnut brown hair, hazel green eyes.

Thank you Megan at Lilly customer service for helping me set up my account for shipping to Canada!!!

images credit:  Lilly website