SBD Girls Spring Essentials 2015

~ spring is officially here and we've been basking in its glorious sunshine the past week {we're secretly hoping it stays warm and breezy forever} and this makes us especially excited to wear light, breezy fabrics, invest in fun sandals, {flats and heels, of course} all while treating ourselves to pedicures with fun and playful colors {a must do to show off our pretty shoes}.  here at SBDgirls HQ, we always want to share some local shop love {along with a few of our favorite brands} to help fill your summer closets but also bring our beauty and skincare picks into the mix. because looking good from head-to-toe is fun! most importantly, we're sharing one of our favorite sun protection product which every beauty maven knows is an absolute must!

1. we have been majorly crushing on all that Shop Maccs has to offer and this new addition to their shop (the Sophie Playsuit ) is just YAAASSSS!  wear it with either of the sandals picked here for two totally different looks

2. we found these Schutz Juliana Cage Sandals on Shop Bop and fell in lust with them! not only do they come in many covet-worthy shades, but they are so versatile you can wear them with jeans, moto pants, or even to dress up a maxi dress or a high low skirt

3. you need new sandals for summer, you just do. these Rebecca Minkoff Sava T Strap Jelly Sandals are just too cute to pass up and since they are a VERY reasonable price compared to most designer sandals this summer we encourage you to give into the urge

4. new jewelry is encouraged at any time of the year and these new Olive and Piper Line Crawler Studs are no exception. treat yourself to something unexpected and sparkly {even better with an affordable price tag} this spring. i mean, you kind of deserve it.......just sayin. 

~ switching up your beauty products and skincare textures in the warmer months is key to avoiding unnecessary breakouts or wreaking havoc on your skin.  think about it, we change up our wardrobe to accommodate the warmer climate, so why not our skin? replace regular makeup formulas with water proof/long wearing and oil free or more matte textures.  skincare should also have a shake up if you're starting to notice a heavier feeling when wearing your moisturizer.  if you use a cream, switch to a lotion as the months get warmer and ALWAYS wear a sunscreen during the day! included above are our picks for some fun newness to your routine

5. Consonant 100% Natural Matte Finish Sunscreen {available at www.ecodivabeauty.com} is the perfect addition to finish off your skincare routine this summer.  not only is it all natural, fragrance and essential oil-free but it has a matte finish and your purchase supports a local business which is always a bonus! 

6. Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion {find on www.ecodivabeauty.com or at Kiss and Makeup Locations }  is a tried and tested beauty favorite! SBDgirl Tarah Kostenko picked up her first bottle a few years ago and uses nothing else on her clients or herself ever since.  this subtle, light  reflecting body lotion has a a natural emollient base that hydrates without feeling greasy, gives a GORGEOUS glow and conceals spider veins and evens skin tone. available in 5 different shades which makes it perfect for all skin tones

7. Flash Tattoos were everywhere last summer and we see no signs of their popularity slowing down.  their newest collaboration with the Rainforest Partnership {Illia, new with color 3 sheets per pack} is inspired by the colors and magic of the rainforest.  with every purchase of the Illia collection 5% of the proceeds is donated back to the Rainforest Partnership which protects tropical rainforests by partnering with people at global and local levels to create lasting solutions to deforestation.  now you can shop with a cause and look cool too! 

8. we admit it, we've neglected our pedicure over the fall and winter. so to get in gear we needed a colorful collection of nail polishes to inspire us and Essie's newest collection for Spring 2015 {brought to you by their new Global Color Designer Rebecca Minkoff} Floralista is perfection!  it includes 2 nudes, 3 grey to blue shades and 1 bright orchid, so really the perfect mix for us as we love our neutrals and have that pop of color when we crave it.  pick yours up at your local Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs or nail salon.

- we've linked everything for your viewing pleasure so be sure to check out these fun new additions and use the hashtag #sbdsummeressentials on Instagram or Twitter to show us what your must haves are! stay tuned for our #makeupmonday post about all our favorite Stila products!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

~ mother's day is soon to be upon us {Sunday, May 10th} and we've been thinking about what to get the most important lady in our lives. there's something about the comfort of a mother, her knowing exactly what to say, when to give a hug and when to back away and let you figure things out for yourself. experiencing motherhood is a whole other ballgame, one that Tarah is experiencing with her 2 yr old little man. needless to say, a mother is one of the most important, if not, THE most important privilege and we thank our moms for all the love and independence they've instilled in us ~

~ when it comes to buying a gift for my mom, i always struggle. my mom is the most selfless woman i know, never wanting anything for herself but always for others. even when my brother and i gift her money to treat herself, she always comes back with something for herself. tarah and i both try to treat our moms to things they wouldn't think of getting for themselves. personally, i think that's the best way to gift: buy someone something they wouldn't treat themselves to. it's always a pleasant surprise and they'll realize how much they needed the gift in their lives ~

~ we've put together a little gift guide for you all in case you, too, are struggling for what to by your mama with clickable links for you to shop with ease.  we're covered some basics as far as jewelry, skin care, beauty and some treats as well as some quality time ideas. we love to share local love on our blog so a few of the items are by local business women in Vancouver ~

~ cheers to moms everywhere and we hope you get to spend some quality time with your mamas ~

Leah Alexandra Fling Moonstone Gold Cuff

Olive and Piper Bellflower Studs

Poppy Finch XO Necklace

Daydream Floral Passport Holder by Indigo

Stelle Audio

Happy Plugs ~ Gold

Ilia Beauty Lipstick

Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence

May Lindstrom Skin The Youth Dew

Jo Malone London Perfume

Voluspa Macaron Ceramic Alta Candle

SS Print Shop ~ Love Print

Voluspa 2 Wick Candle in Tin

Anthropologie Dining Room Measuring Spoons

Royal Albert Confetti Tea Pot

Royal Albert Confetti Vintage Mug

Striped Garden Gloves by Indigo

Dauville Single Stem Bud Vase

Daydream Floral Pillow by Indigo

Holt Renfew's H Project partnered up with Burt's Bee and Canadian handbag line ela to create a clutch x burt's bees lip products with all proceeds in support of Pollinator Partnership Canada. the clutch is a perfect spring bag and Burt's Bees lip crayons are wonderful and super moisturizing!

~ we were lucky to visit Miraj Hammam last year had the most amazing body treatment of our lives. we've recommended it to our moms and friends and those that have gone in have sent rave reviews. a steam bath and a scrub down followed by a massage and relaxation is a sure way to relax with mom. treat your mom {and yourself} to an amazing Hammam & Gommage treatment at Miraj Hammam Spa.

~ a mother/daughter high tea is always a good idea and Soirette High Tea menu is a must try. a modern play on traditional high tea, Soirette's high tea menu changes seasonally and satisfies any and all cravings one might have during afternoon tea.

 ~ The Cross Design is one of our favorite places to shop for home decor and delights. Celsia Florists makes gorgeous blooms for all occasions. They've combined their decorative powers to host a 2-hour flower school on May 21st, 2015 that would be a super fun and creative way to spend some time with your mom or even grab some other girlfriends and their moms too!

Happy Mother's Day !!!

xoxo

Oz & Tarah

Throw Back Thursday: The Stephanie Lewis aka Miss Glam Launch Party

- as you all know i (Tarah Kostenko) am a glam girl at heart.  i love expensive shoes, glitter, lashes and champagne.  really anything that makes life a little more glamorous, so when i received an invite to the launch of Stephanie's new luxury mink lash line and Pink  brush line i had to be there, not only to support a fellow beauty blogger ( and old Holt Renfrew colleague ) but to check out the fantastic lashes and get a chance to wear pink (the dress code of the evening).  check out a few pics from the event below!

Greeted by this lovely Give Landeau rose bouquet and fancy frill balloon from The Confetti and Co

 - the event was hosted at the Frontier Luxury Flooring Studio on West 8 Ave in Vancouver, a great space actually which they rent out for events such as this pop up shop! as i walked in i was greeted by this lovely set up of party details, roses from Give Landeau and my favorite fancy frill balloons from The Confetti and Co ( i used these in custom colors for my son's second birthday).  no pink party is complete without a glass of rose as you walk in, so the night was off to a great start! great floral decor provided by Making Memories with Scrapbooking, cupcakes and macarons from Sweet Bake Shop and i FINALLY got to try the yummy organic cotton candy from Petite Puff! it's as delish as they say and i had the coconut with edible star glitter ( the 8 year old inside me was DYING). 

Three gorgeous ladies! SLMissGlam Stephanie Lewis (right) and Trina Durha (left)

- many a makeup artist, beauty blogger or fellow glam lover was there! there were makeup and lash applications by Jasmine Hoffman and Taryn Ronning, with makeup sponsored by Milani Cosmetics, even some fashion by local company Shop Maccs ( you HAVE to check out their amazing sunglasses collection and rompers).  olive and piper even partnered with Stephanie to create a limited edition rose gold version of their ever so popular Lucy necklace (get yours by ordering on their site www.oliveandpiper.com) which attendees received FREE when purchasing 4 pairs of lashes or a full brush set. 

- a peek into my gift bag from the event, you KNOW i had to pick up some lashes, I got one in every style and have received so many compliments on the Fluttery Glam style that it's my must have for anyone wanting to check out these lashes!  the band that holds the cruelty free mink is very thin so don't use too much glue, i love 'Shu Umeura lash glue or the small glue that comes with the Make Up Forever Lashes.  these Hugo's Churro's were amazing as well and i am so glad i got my hands on this limited edition Olive and Piper necklace! 

- thank you so much for the invite Stephanie, it was a pleasure to come and support your new business venture and your lashes are amazing! can't wait to try out the brushes next, stay tuned my avid glam lovers, i will definitely be posting a review of the lash styles i picked up and comment in the section below if you want to learn more about SLMiss Glam!

New Year's Eve Entertaining {with friends}

~ yesterday we had the good fortune of having our tips for NYE entertaining be featured on The EveryGirl. alongside Meghan Faye from Living Boldly, Bria Lear from Digital Darlings Creative and Nicolette Lang-Andersen from Coveting Chi Chi, we shared our easy entertaining strategies for a glimmering New Year's Eve party. while no party is complete without good eats, sparkling dresses and bubbly, we think the most important part of any party are the guests. these three girls made the party swing so smoothly for us and while they all know this, and we've thanked them endlessly, we wanted to dedicate this post to them as a special thanks *kisses* ~

 

 

 

 

 

  

Nicolette Lang-Andersen

 

Meghan Faye

 

Bria Lear

 Cheers to a wonderful 2015!!

{Photography: Matthew Burditt}  
{Makeup: Jasmine Hoffman/Hair: Mizella Alaparaque/Wardrobe: Mine and Yours} {Decor Styling: Delovely Creative/Food: Cotto Enoteca/Cake: Cadeaux Bakery/Stationery: LeLe Chan/Florals: Balconi/Shoot Coordinator: Cristina at Fluent Productions}

Holiday Gift Guide {For Her}: Last Minute Gifts

~ Christmas is coming!! if you are like me, you've likely finished all your holiday shopping. thank goodness for online shopping and free shipping! however, like many, work and life can get in the way and all of of a sudden it's Christmas eve and you've got to scramble looking for gifts. we've put together a few holiday gifts for the lovely ladies in your life and the best part is, you can find them all online with quick shipping! ~

 ** also, being a huge fan of pitch perfect, there's a reference in here. if you get it, bravo! you're my kinda person **

1. for the glam girl: these gorgeous Olive and Piper tassel earrings are so lovely and a perfect accessory to any holiday look
2. for any girl who loves to entertain: vintage gold rimmed champagne glasses from Chapters Indigo are perfect and so classy
3. show me a girl who doesn't love sephora: a fresh lip set is not only super pretty but also practical for the wear and tear of winter on our pouts
4. a classy girl needs a classy watch: a classic sheffield lady watch from Daniel Wellington would make any girl smile on Christmas
5. the girl who loves mani's: will no doubt own some Essie nail polishes. why not treat her to a few of the new collections?
 6. some hostesses are purists at heart: a gorgeous pen for the thank you notes she will no doubt send is a beautiful way to say thank you