Beauty Favorites: The 5 Best Self Tanners

~ happy friyay everyone!! with the sun being so amazingly beautiful and powerful, we all know that sitting out in the sun for hours trying to perfect our tans is a great big NO NO, especially after Wednesday's sunscreen post. fret not, we've got your tanning needs covered! you can still look amazing and tan this summer without harming your skin! we've rounded up our 5 favorite self tanners, from gradual to instant and everything in between, there is something for everyone's budget and skin tone.  we may have also thrown in a DIY exfoliator recipe for you too.....just cause we love you, and want you to glow with us!

~ gradual self tanners are something we love, especially if you're a lotion girl, and by that, i mean the kind that never forgets {or is too lazy} to lotion up after a shower or bath. gradual self-tanners allow you get the sun-kissed glow all year round, from subtle to " hey, did you go on vacation?" type of tan.  St. Tropez Tan products have by far the largest line of gradual tanning products we've come across. they range from lotions for body and face in 2 color options, as well as a gradual mousse, and easy to use sprays.  as ladies with fair skin, we love the way the natural looking tan that develops with this line of products.  the beauty of this line is there is never any nasty, orange looking tinge, and the gradual line goes on un-tinted ~

~ Jergens Natural Glow and Protect combines the recipe of self tanner, moisturizer and sunscreen all in one easy step.  offering SPF 20, in its fair - medium or medium - tan color options, you can develop as light or dark as tan as you'd like, while keeping your skin protected and soft. we recommend starting with the fair and building up to the medium to get a more natural look, however if you're looking for a quick tan, the next selection are for you ~

~ as makeup artists and beauty bloggers, we like to look for self-tanning products that have little-to-no smell, are never orange, streak as little as possible, are paraben free and have a fast drying time. a personal favorite of SBDgirl Tarah Kostenko for it's natural look and streak free finish is St Tropez Mousse.  it comes in a 200ml and 400ml size,  and is infused with Vitamin E to protect and repair the skin with a 4-8 hr development.  St Tropez also has a new Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse with a 1 hour development. both self-tanners provide for a natural tan on all skin tones, especially fair ones due to the green neutralizer in all their tanning products to eliminate any orange under tones after development ~

~ Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster for the face is another SBDgirl favorite because haven't we all been faced with the dilemma of when to put on moisturizer and when to do the self tanner? {no? lol ok just us} add 3 drops to any moisturizer {doesn't have to be Clarins} for a gorgeous glow all year long!

~ we are also loving the new Vita Liberata Gradual Self-Tan Lotion, as it is fast-absorbing self-tanner with absolutely no smell as there is no DHA or added perfumes. it nourishes the skin while maintaining a tan that can last up to 2-3 weeks. with 3 different intensities , so you can build up a to a true deep tan or being with one from the beginning. we do wish there was a guide find Vita Liberata online or at Sephora.

~ as with all self tanners, you need to do a really vigorous exfoliation where you'll be applying your self tanner.  this will help extend the life of your self tan, and allows it develop evenly without streaks. you can do this with a loofah, scrub mitts or with a body scrub.  now we all know you could go out and buy one, but that can be pretty expensive, and why when you can make one quite easily from ingredients you most likely have at home! try your hand at creating your own sugar scrub from our recipe below:

Brown Sugar Scrub

makes: 4 (1/2 pint mason jars full)

1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
(coarse seas salt can be added for stronger exfoliation)
seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp pure vanilla extract

~ place all sugars, vanilla bean, { and salt if adding } into a large bowl.  mix together, pour over olive oil over and let sit for 5 mins to let it soak into the sugar mixture.  finish by adding 4- 5 tbsp pure vanilla extract and mixing everything together.  scoop into jars, making sure to press down the edges at the bottom to eliminate air bubbles. when using it in the shower it will leave a residue on the skin, if you don't care for that just follow with your body wash and the residue will come off ~

~ also make sure to moisturize chronically dry areas such as knees, elbows, under arms and bikini line.  we like to use coconut oil or shea butter.  application can also be messy so to avoid orange palms, apply a good amount of moisturizer to your hands, use a cloth or try out a tanning mitt.
now get your glow on and enjoy that warm weather! Stay tuned for our Makeup Monday post featuring our favorites from Laura Mercier!

Skincare Favorites: Best Sunscreen for Your Skin

~ the weather in Vancouver has been incredible the last week. the glorious sunshine has been basking us with its presence. given the temperament of Mother Nature, especially in BC, we would never complain about the sun {its been HOT though!}. rather, we thought to talk about how to protect the skin you're in while enjoying the beautiful sunshine ~

~ for us here at SBD HQ taking care of our skin is rule #1 year round. however, caring for your skin during summer months when the rays are stronger and free-radicals can wreak havoc on your skin is of utmost importance.  if you live in beautiful Vancouver, you know we take advantage of sunny days as often as we can and that means being outdoors, exposed to the gorgeous sunlight full of vitamin D. it also means that our skin can be sensitive to the powerful rays of the sun. while daily exposure to the sun is essential for our vitamin D intake, burnt, red looking skin is not. the solution? sunscreen ~

~  nowadays, sunscreen can be found in your daily moisturizer, in foundations and even in some primers. the likely-hood of re-application of either of these three products is not going to happen. therefore, it is essential to add an sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to your face {and body parts exposed to the sun}  in those sparkling summer months. if only to prevent lobster face from occurring!  not to mention, over time, unprotected skin exposed to the sun can cause premature aging {fine lines, dull, rough skin and those brown spots, which we have just started to notice *sad face*} ~

~ if you are anything like, you don't like the feeling of a heavy sunscreen on your skin. one of the reasons why you may feel the heaviness of a sunscreen is likely due to the wrong sunscreen for your skin type. different climates and weather changes call for different skin type needs so we've broken down and recommended the best sunscreens for different skin types that will work all year round ~

~ DRY SKIN means your skin feels dry and tight everywhere, from your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. the size of your pores are quite small if at all visible and there may be some roughness to the texture of your skin due to a buildup of dead skin cells.  if you fall into this type during the summer months these are the sunscreens we recommend:

~ Aveeno Protect and Hydrate Lotion SPF 30 contains  ACTIVE NATURALS® Colloidal Oatmeal to deliver superior broad spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection while hydrating skin to keep it soft, smooth and feeling healthier than before you went in the sun. great soothing ingredients for dry or sensitive skin and can be used of both face and body
 Lakme Sun Expert is a bit of a thicker formula, hence why we recommend it for dry skin.  it provides skin with vitamin rich ingredients such as cucumber and lemongrass extracts meant to calm and hydrate skin. this product is harder to find, you can purchase it online here, or at www.indianproductsonline.com 

~ COMBINATION or COMBO DRY Skin means you feel tight and dry in one area {usually the U-zone: cheeks, temples, chin}  and the T-zone {forehead, nose and chin} is a bit oily. with this skin type, you want a balance between both skin zones. these are a few sunscreens that will give you that perfect balance:

~ Consonant The Perfect Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 can be found on Eco Diva Beauty's website and is one of our favorite all natural sunscreens.  this broad spectrum spf 30 is formulated with micronized (non-nano particle) Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide mineral, along with aloe vera, grape seed and rice bran oil to hydrate the skin leaving no white residue behind
~ Tarte's Tarte Guard SPF 30 is another lotion-like sunscreen that can be used as a moisturizer and is a personal favorite of SBDgirl Oz Zandiyeh. it contains maracuja and vitamin c to firm and brighten the skin, soybean and honeysuckle extract to fight signs of aging and calm skin. find your Tarte Guard at your local Sephora or online.

~ NORMAL, COMBO OILY and OILY Skin.  none of these skin types are usually dry {lack of oil} but are actually dehydrated {lack of water} and can be a bit rough in areas even it's oily.  if your skin feels rough and/or tight but you still experience breakouts or an oily shine, most likely you have one of the 3 types above and sunscreen can feel heavy or greasy if it's the wrong texture.  here are a few guaranteed to whisk away oil, leave no heavy residue, all the while protecting your skin:

~ La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50 may take forever to say but rest assured the product won't take as long to absorb on oilier skins.  it's fast absorbing formula is matte finish, fragrance free, paraben free and water resistant
~  Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50 is an award winning sunblock. along with a light weight, oil free, matter finish it protects and prevents against up to 90% of skin aging. pick yours up online, or at a Kiehl's store in Metro Town, Robson St or Holt Renfrew and The Bay locations.

~ we had to include these two new products below as a "something for everyone" because these two can be used on all skin types. as makeup artists and diligent users of makeup, we've always wanted a company to come up with a sunscreen you could mist on throughout the day without disturbing your makeup.  Amore Pacific has answered our prayers! their new Resort Collection Sun Protection Mist in a broad spectrum { meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays } SPF 30 is a super fine mist that leaves no white residue to rub in. just a perfect re-application of sun protection.
~ Lancome's new Miracle Cushion Compact provides wearer's with a liquid foundation in a compact form, a Korean skincare technology brought to North America by the legendary company this Spring.  use it with a foundation brush or the sponge provided for a sheer, exceptionally lightweight coverage and SPF 25. it comes in 6 shades ( at the Lancome counters) or 11 online.

Beauty Favorites: Make Up Forever

~ happy #makeupmonday everyone! we hope you are enjoying the sunshine!! with the forecast full of beautiful, albeit very warm weather, we wanted to share a beauty favorite of ours that is perfect for its long-wearing, waterproof qualities. MAKE UP FOR EVER is a favorite of makeup artists worldwide. a no muss, no frills brand that has a wide range of products perfect for any kind of event, be it bridal makeup or Cirque du Soleil, you can find something for everyone. we love the AQUA line as its perfect for those hot summer days where we want to look cute but take a dip in the ocean also.  check out our favorite products below!! ~

~ Face and Body Liquid Foundation is a do everything foundation that you can find in almost any makeup artist's kit, especially if they do a lot of body work such as swim suit photo shoots or lingerie.  it's light weight, water based formula means it's great on any skin type at any age and can be built up in layers to achieve a full coverage look. it's water based formula adds hydration to any skin type, it's best applied to the face or body with a damp sponge, and if you want to waterproof and sweat proof your complexion , spray some Mist and Fix on the sponge, est voila! 

~ NEW Artist Plexi Gloss has just arrived at your local Sephora, this gloss is something we got a preview of at the Vancouver IMATS this year and we were impressed! the shade range is spectacular (35 Shades) and also has a selection of pearly and non-pearly finishes to sheer and opaque colors.  the  wear-ability is up to five hours of color impact with 360-degree, reflective shine beads maximize shine, try one on yourself today at your nearest Sephora! 

~ it's all about the brows and has been for a while now, gone are the days of tad-pole thin eye brows and in place we've embraced a fuller shape.  cosmetic companies are bringing out their version of a liquid or cream brow product but this one has been around the longest! Aqua Brow is a full pigment liquid/cream brow color that's waterproof, oil proof and sweat proof.   it comes in 7 different shades and ranges from light blonde to brown almost black and all the shades in between. most artists have 3-4 shades and mix to match their clients needs.  to use, we recommend to use a small amount, about the size of a grain of rice with a thin angled brush (if your brows are sparse) or a dense coarse bristled angled brush (if your brows are fuller) and apply from the outside of the brow inwards to avoid applying too much to the front part of the brow. pick up your Aqua Brow individually or in a kit at your local Sephora or online ~

~ HD Cream Blush is another of our favorite brands of cream blush, it's one of the only ones that can be applied under AND over the HD Powder.  formulated with the perfect balance of silica powder and synthetic mica, HD Blush has a soft focus effect that diffuses light for a radiant finish. Its blend of waxes and oils creates a lightweight texture that easily glides on the skin for a flawless result, and it's studio-tested with an HD camera. it comes in 16 different shades that can be used as blush, bronzer, contour color and lip color, a perfect multitasking product ~

~ Full Cover Concealer is another favorite that both Oz and I use in our personal and professional kits.  it comes in 12 different shades and is perfect for concealing the most extreme flaws, such as scars, severe skin damage, beauty spots, pigmentation or birthmarks. it's full coverage formula can even hide tattoos. waterproof and long lasting, it holds even under extreme conditions, on a blemish it actually reduces swelling, taking away the inflammation around the breakout.  we DO NOT recommend it for use under the eyes, as it's a oil absorbing formula it can cause the eye area to look drier, highlighting any fine lines or wrinkles.  perfect for use on face and body, just avoid the eye area and use either the HD Concealer or the Liquid Lift ~ 

~ Aqua Black Cream Liner is another personal favorite of ours as it's one of the only cream liners that we have found not to dry out as fast in the tub, it stays put in the waterline when you want to create that perfect smokey eye and you can blend it out with a dense shadow brush.  apply it with a liquid liner brush or a thin angled brush for a precise, dense line;  or with a precision shader brush ~

~ Mist and Fix with O2 complex is a waterproof makeup setting spray that has a TON of different uses.  spray it onto your makeup sponge with applying any liquid or cream products and voila, your makeup is now waterproof.  it was one of the first to be created with no alcohol, so no drying out your skin, and the O2 complex hydrates and plumps any fine lines.  spray it on after you've finished your makeup, and even wet your eye shadow or eyeliner brushes with it to waterproof any of your eye shadows! it comes in a full size and a travel size as well and is definitely a Sephora favorite ~

~ Aqua Rouge long lasting liquid lip color is formulated with a combination of high molecular weight polymers and volatile oils, Aqua Rouge locks color on the lips for a waterproof result that will not transfer or fade. Its intensely pigmented formula provides immediate, opaque color with extreme shine, and its creamy, non-sticky texture glides effortlessly on the lips for comfortable wear.  apply the color direct from the applicator for an opaque, full color or with a brush for a sheer finish.  the clear gloss sealer on the other side is a must even if you want a matter finish.  apply that once the color has set to add a little moisture and to seal the color, if you like a more matte finish, just blot off the excess ~

 find these and more Make Up Forever products online or at Sephora!

Summer Essentials

~ happy friday!!! rumor has it, Vancity will be experiencing summer weather this weekend and it got us thinking about beach essentials! we always like to be prepared when lounging on the sand, basking {safely} in the sunshine, enjoying some downtime with our friends and family. we fill our beach bags with essentials that protect us, hydrate us and educate us {we must learn how to be Parisian}. we cannot wait for the longer days of summer and are already preparing our beach bags for summer bbq's and picnics. we've put together our must haves for everything beach and hope it inspires you to go to all your summer gatherings prepared! ~

~ we've been lusting after these 'livnow' sunnies from Shop Maccs, and at $49.95 we can totally be stylish without worrying we're going to sit on them {because getting another pair wouldn't be so bad....}

~ let's face it, when we're on the beach the last thing we want is a face full of heavy glam! now, we still want to look impossibly fresh looking so we love these Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Balms with spf 15.  since the skin on our lips is 10 times thinner than that of our face, it's really important to make sure you have sunscreen on them when out in the sun. these lip balms take your pick from 10 different shades plus two clear treatments ~

~ speaking of sunscreen, you will definitely need some for your face and body this weekend if you're in Vancouver! this new one from Tarte, the Tarte Guard SPF 30 Sunscreen, is a non-chemical sunscreen in a lightweight, non-sticky formula meant to moisturize and protect for the perfect all in one moisturizer.  it also has tons of good for your skin ingredients, part of its Skinvigorating formula, such as maracuja, red algae, soybean, apple and honeysuckle extracts to nourish, tone and retain moisture while helping to combat signs of aging for a firmer, brighter, smoother appearance~

~  while at the beach or just in hot weather in general it's best to stay hydrated and what chicer way to do it than with this glass BKR Bottle. we all know glass is better for us and the environment and since these cute as can be bottles come in 2 sizes (500ml and 1L) and 33 different colors you can even match them to your ensemble....just sayin.  get yours at your local Holt Renfrew, or online ~

  ~the camera of the summer is here, Polaroid's Instamax Mini is perfect for the beach and small enough to fit in with your summer essentials. available in 4 colors, it features instant printing, analog camera, produces 2.1x3.4 color photos and it's compatible with PIF-300 Instant Film. get yours at your Photo Express, Best Buy or London Drugs ~

~ be original this summer and pick up a Roundie towel! we stumbled across these unique towels at Privilege Clothing Boutique but you can get them right from the source! the Beach People developed the Original Roundie towel  and it now comes in 4 different prints that are Aztec inspired. be the chic one one the beach this summer with your new Roundie!~

~ nothing says beach ready like a new beach tote! this eco-friendly woven tote by Mar y Sol ( the Caracas tote) is woven with responsibly sourced agave leaves. the sale of Mar y Sol tote bags enables families to gain economic independence and reserves the traditional craft while promoting environmental conservation.  that makes the $162 price tag seems reasonable when you're supporting a cause such as this one! we found ours at Nordstrom but you can also shop them online and at Shopbop ~

~ a relaxing day in the sun isn't complete {in an SBDGirl's eyes} without a great book.  nothing relaxes us more than sitting down with a good book and this one (from the title alone) intrigues us.  courtesy of our friends at Chapters Indigo, How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, and Sophie Mas is a book from four stunning and accomplished French women giving a fresh and spirited take on what it really means to be a Parisienne: how they dress, entertain, have fun and attempt to behave… promising to be a great book on the beach this summer! ~

~ rounding off our summer must haves is this stunning swim suit by Ted Baker. the Ralinda swim suit balances coverage with shape definition and style.   this plunge front suit has an adjustable neckline and cut out detailing it's outer is made of nylon and elastane for the perfect fit ~

- from us at Style x Beauty Department we wish you a lovely and stylish summer filled with perfect reads, beautiful breezes and a few cocktails!

Summer 2015 Book Club

~ now that it's summer time, all we can think about is how we are going to relax and enjoy the sunshine. both Tarah and myself like to enjoy some downtime and do some reading. personally, i am a voracious reader and have been since my youth. i go through many, many novels a month and nothing calms me down as much as reading does.  i'm as old-school as it gets when it comes to books. i, must, need, have to have a book in my hand. not an e-reader, kindle or kobo. i've tried and failed miserably. i love the smell of books, the way the pages tear by the lightest of pulls, the wrinkles of saved pages and the curves of the bind when it bends. my collection of books that i've read in my lifetime rivals a bookstore. i've had to par down so every time i move i don't schlep an obsessive number of novels with me. they're an accomplishment for me, a part of my forgotten youth and they bring me as much joy as my furball of a dog does. i can't imagine a day or a world without a book and i hope i don't have to ~

~ we've joined up with Chapter Indigo's reading initiative and are encouraging everyone to #GetCaughtReading. there are so many amazing novels, fiction, non-fiction, young adult and more available at Chapters Indigo. to make it a bit easier, we've put together a selection of books from our summer book club {it's just me and tarah at the moment but if you'd like to join ;-) }. we're both excited about reading while resting, getting some sunshine and drinking some delicious bevvies! the selection covers fiction, non-fiction, young adult and more. each novel is different. some are light-hearted and others are heavier reads. some may take you the whole summer while others are a good weekend book. i've just started reading The GoldFinch and am very excited about delving deep into this amazing writen, Pulitzer Prize winning novel!~

~ we'd love to hear your suggestions on your favorites and what is on your book list for this summer!! xoxo Oz

Beauty Favorites: NARS Cosmetics

~ happy #makeupmonday everyone!! today's beauty favorites is the incomparable NARS Cosmetics . Francois Nars's eponymous lines carries some of the most recognizably-named products. if you walk into any store that sells NARS and say, "i'd like Orgasm, Laguna, Copacabana and Dolce Vita" i promise, all the beauty advisors would know exactly which line you were asking for. NARS has something for everyone. whether you're a minimalist or prefer a full coverage type of makeup, you'll find something at the NARS counter. and the beauty of it is, the line works for a wide demographic, ranging anywhere from a 15 year old's first black eyeliner to a more mature client who might want a long-wearing product. we both use the line on ourselves and on our clients and have likely spent much more money than we needed to on the various palette's for eyes and cheeks from sephora {please stop making palettes...they take all our monies}. check out our favorites below, you'll be sure to fall in as much obsession as we are ~

~ Larger Than Life Long Wear Eye Pencil {$25} comes in 17 different shades for your {and our} indecisive minds.  rich, creamy color that glides on smoothly with a completely budgeproof finish. Incomparable 12-hour wear with no smearing and no caking. deeply dramatic shades named for the most iconic streets in the world. the twist up packaging means no need for a pencil sharpener!

~ Velvet Matte Lip Pencil {$26} a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design! use it as an all over color or as a lip pencil when paired with another lip product.  enriched with vitamin e and a blend of silicone's to give lips a smooth, non-drying finish for hours.  check out one of our favorite shades, and the color you get in your Sephora BDay Gift, Cruella!

~ Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita {$27} is SBDgirl Tarah Kostenko's go to lipstick for her bridal clients or when she's creating a natural makeup look for herself or on camera. this sheer soft rose brings out the natural color of any clients lip. NARS patented blend of of conditioners and antioxidants hydrate while providing translucent color. grab yours in any one of their 15 shades

~ The Multiple in Copacabana {$39} is a multi-use product that can add just the right amount of radiance to any area of the face and body. when The Multiple first made it's appearance on the cosmetics market, it had already wowed makeup artists backstage at the world's fashion week's. on counter, it can sometimes confuse clients as to what it's for, this was before the days of beauty vloggers and beauty bloggers, but it's an easy solve, it's for anything you want it for! use it along cheek bones, under brow bones and on to of the cupid's bow for an incomparable glow, mixed with body oil for an all over shimmer on arms and legs in the summer, as a cream eyeshadow....the possibilities are endless!

~ Bronzing Powder in Laguna {$39} is a cult favorite for a reason.  one of the first neutralizing bronzing powders, Laguna never looks orange on any skin tone.  beautiful for an all over warmth, as an eyeshadow or to naturally contour the face, this award winning bronzer is a must for any makeup kit

~ Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder {$36} this paraben free, and fragrance free pressed powder is a colorless dream for setting your complexion makeup. the nice thing about colorless powders is that you never need to update your color throughout the year.  this powder incorporates NARS photochromic technology which diffuses light and adjusts to different light sources throughout the day, making fine lines disappear and pores look invisible.  unlike other colorless, light reflecting powders you can reapply this throughout the day to absorb shine with out what we makeup artists like to call flash back {when the powder shows white on the skin in flash photography}

~ Body Glow {$59} is the a cult classic and one of the first luxury body oil's on the market. it's rich, chocolate shimmer gives the skin a beautiful (never orange) warm glow and the lightweight Monoï de Tahiti oil is composed of pure coconut extract macerated with the bud of the tiare flower {Tahitian gardenia}, which infuses the oil with nutrients as well as a delicate, natural fragrance. not only does your skin look fantastic but you smell like everyone's dream vacation! nothing better than that

~ And God Created the Woman Palette {$59} is a personal favorite of SBDgirl Oz Zandiyeh.  A staple in her makeup bag, this new take on a neutral palette gives you a ton of options to play with.  along with their award winning eye makeup primer (for crease free, long wear) you also get the signaature blending brush to press and blend to perfection! pick your up today online or at your nearest Sephora

 

~ check out all the NARS Cosmetic products listed here at your local Sephora, or Holt Renfrew in Canada.  go online if one of these stores isn't available to you and for all our artist friends, check out their artistry discount program!

Around Town: High Tea Favorites

~ i'll let you in on a little secret: i think i should have been British. i'm a bit obsessed with afternoon tea, also known as high tea. introduced to Britain in the 1840's, afternoon tea stemmed from the need to fill any hunger pangs before eating dinner {which was done much later in the evening than nowadays}. traditionally, the upper class would have 'low' or 'afternoon' tea late in the afternoon {around 4pm} before the fashion promenade in Hyde Park and the middle and lower class would have a 'high' tea later in the day {5 or 6pm} {via afternoontea}. composed of small sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, pastries and cake, afternoon tea originally belonged to the upper class ladies who would have private social events for other ladies of the higher echelons of society. nowadays, high tea is enjoyed for bridal showers, birthday celebrations, mothers day and simply because you love high tea {like me, so pretty much anytime} ~

~ i can't tell you exactly why i became obsessed with high tea. it just sort of happened. a few years ago, i started collecting vintage tea cups. one of my besties, Julia, her mom had this amazing collection of mismatched tea cups and i became so enamored by them, knowing they were a part of her life, something she'd collected over the years with every one telling a story of where and how she got it and they'd become family heirlooms, passing down through generations. i knew i wanted something like that in my life as my family doesn't really have anything like that. rather, they were forced to leave their valuables behind when then first emigrated 32 years ago. and so it began. everywhere i go, i'm looking for antique shops and flea markets so i can get my hands on gorgeous tea cups. i'm kind of obsessed with all things antique now also. i even make tiered cake stands with vintage plates i find that can be used to serve high tea on {among other things}. my little shop that could is opening up soon on etsy. i'll be sure to share it with y'all!

~ i've always been partial to smaller bites, mini versions of foods of all kinds and i do love my tea {i'm Persian, we likely drink as much tea as the British, if not more}. combine those two and we've reached a place where obsession has met madness. i like to to call happiness ~

~ i've yet to experience a traditional English afternoon tea in the UK. one of my besties, Grace, went to London last year and went for High Tea and said it was an experience unlike she'd had here. the food was served on trolleys with the portions much larger than most places here. it's definitely on my bucket list of places to go to in my life time for high tea! luckily, the popularity of high tea has increased in the last few years. there are so many ways one can experience high tea now, whether traditionally or more modern. i've definitely been on a quest to experience the best of high tea that Vancouver has to offer. i've also been trying to bring all my girlfriends to the sweet side, basically forcing them to come to high tea with me. my bestie Courtney and I started celebrating our "bestie high tea" birthdays about two years ago. we treat each other to high tea for our birthdays, just the two of us. we go to a new place each time so we can experience different ones ~

~ at the moment, my most favorite high tea is at Secret Garden Tea company. maybe i prefer it because it was the first place i tried and have gone back many, many times. also, thus far, it seems to be the most traditional of all i've experienced. they change their menu seasonally and even has special ones for Valentines day or Mother's day. another first i experienced is my favorite tea flavor, Creamy Earl Grey, that i purchase in tea bags and loose leaves all the time! ~ 

~ another i've tried a few times, and most recently took Courtney to, was Soirette. while it's considered high tea, and has all the elements of high tea, the menu is definitely not traditional. but that's why i liked it! their menu changes seasonally and its the first menu i've tried where the variety is more gourmet like. they have this adorable potato pancake with a pink quail egg on it! it's just the prettiest! ~

~ a few years back, Groupon had a deal for Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Airport Hotel. we, my friends and i, basically went crazy and bought a bunch. i think i bought 3. i remember going with my mom and then two days later, again with Courtney. i had the same server. she totally recognized me and said, "don't worry, you're not the first'. that made me feel a bit better. my most favorite small bite was this curry chicken salad they served on a small baguette. i don't really like curry but it was fantastic ~

~ Butter Baked Goods is known for their delectable desserts. luckily, their original location in Dunbar was turned into a tea room with a gigantic portion for a very reasonable price! i remember Courtney falling in love with their Butter Cream tea. just take a moment and think about that. Butter. Cream. Tea. ~

~ Courtney took me to Little White House & Co. last summer in Fort Langley. while its a bit out of my way, it was the most adorable little place. a very french-inspired menu with the most amazing croissants we've ever tasted along with a creamy earl grey that was unlike anything we'd tried. you can even have champagne with your afternoon tea! i did love how french it was and how different the decor was. the salon looked like a barn that been treated with a lot of love and it was such a delightful experience ~

~ i've still got A LOT of places to try in Vancouver and surrounding cities as i can't imagine this obsession dying down anytime soon. if anything, its gotten worse and will likely continue to get worse and i'll eventually be speaking with an affected accent and asking everyone who comes into my home if they'd like some biscuits with their tea. served in my vintage tea cups of course. i'm pretty sure i'm converting Tarah also {who shares my love of tea} so much so that we're putting together something super special to share with you guys very soon!! ~

~ got some Afternoon/ High Tea places you think we should try? let us know if the comment section!! ~

xoxo

Oz