Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

I never actually realize how badly a space needs a makeover until I compare my before and after photos!

This spring I decided to spruce up my patio to get ready for summer, and although I liked how we had decorated our back deck, I didn’t realize how sparse it was until I took these photos.

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

We use our back deck in the summer to hang out with friends and have drinks while enjoying the view.

As you can see we had a bit of a nautical theme going on, but I really needed to spruce things up a bit! This is where Homesense came in!

A few of our accessories were already from Homesense (the decorative basket on the table, the single chair), but I knew that to do a refresh of my space Homesense the perfect spot to go. I didn’t want to do a complete makeover – I loved the furniture and pillows I already had. I just needed to liven things up, which is exactly what I think I did!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!
  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

I added in some additional pillows in orange and white to add more colour to the space. Each pillow was from the same brand so they were the same size, and priced at $24.99.

I also added a couple of colourful throws to keep warm on summer nights and to add even more colour to the space ($24.99 each).

I planted flowers into this bright yellow pot from Homesense, and it was an amazing find at only $16.99.

Our little wooden buoys were from a trip to Nova Scotia that I could never find a perfect spot for, but I thought they looked great in this corner.

The table was one of my favourite spots to decorate!

  


  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

Refreshing My Summer Patio with the Help of Homesense!

  

My favourite item on this table? This amazing pompom cultery holder! It was only $19.99, and HELLO it has pompoms on it! It was such a fun piece that I needed in my life and it was perfect for the table.

These blue cups are so ornate, but they are actually plastic so they are perfect for summer drinks and only $3.99 each.

I have to admit that I have a few more lanterns like this one on the table already in my home, but I needed ANOTHER one because it was perfect to add to the decor ($49.99). I really love my new ice bucket which has what I thought looked like nautical stripes, and it’s huge so it’s perfect for parties (only $19.99).

Finally I added a few more touches like nautical napkins ($3.99), a colourblock-style platter in yellow and white ($9.99), and I already had this cutting board from Homesense ($16.99) that I added to the table.

Overall I am so happy with my patio refresh! I really felt like my space was a little bleak without all of the colour I added to my patio, and I am so happy with the results!

For more information on one of my favourite places to shop – Homesense (you can find me at the one in Whitby almost every weekend!), you can visit their website here!

  

I was provided a gift card in exchange for this review, but all opinions are fabulously my own!

 
 Xoxo Mandy

 

 

Focusing on Florals

Focusing on Florals

 
 Focusing on Florals
 
 Focusing on Florals
 
 
Focusing on Florals
 
 Focusing on Florals
 
 Focusing on Florals
 
 Focusing on Florals
 
 

Every week I look forward to Friday, and not only because it’s the start of the weekend. It’s a pretty easygoing day for me – I get organized for the weekend, I run errands, and I always pick up some fresh flowers for our house at the end of the day.

These stems ended up matching so well with my outfit that I made them a part of this look! It’s kind of like an unspoken blogger rule – buy fresh flowers, have them wrapped in brown craft paper, and carry them with your outfit if they match. I really had no choice in the matter.

This peplum top (from Dynamite but sold out – here is a similar one) paired perfectly with these floral pants, and these nude heels (also similar).

This is the second pair of sunglasses I stole from my husband this past weekend, but what’s his is mine so he really didn’t mind. I’m always wearing this Tiffany stack, and I paired it with a Tory Burch wrap bracelet.

The focal point of my outfit is absolutely these I Love Tyler Madison Tyler pants. They are so comfy too! There are made without a top button or zipper, as are all of the I Love Tyler Madison pants. You just pull them on and go, and they are easy to wear for all body types. I love pants that are comfortable and have some stretch to them like these.

The Canadian-made label is designed in Montreal by sisters Jacqueline Harris and Charna Zucker, and the brand is vegan and cruelty-free. A percentage of their fashion label sales are donated to the ASPCA and SPCA!

You can shop I Love Tyler Madison at www.ILoveTylerMadison.com, or at select retailers across Canada.

 

These pants were provided to me for review, but all opinions are fabulously my own!

 
 Xoxo Mandy

 

 

Review of Vichy’s Ideal Body Spa Shower Gel-Oil and Gel-Cream

Review of Vichy's Idea Body Spa Shower Gel-Oil and Gel-Cream

 

 

Vichy products are already a part of my daily routine. As of late my favourites have been the Liftactiv Serum 10 Supreme, and Ideal Body Aqua Sorbet (which smells AMAZING!).

I’ve added a couple new products to my routine which have just launched, and they are both meant for the shower!

 

 

Review of Vichy's Idea Body Spa Shower Gel-Oil and Gel-Cream

 

 

First up I tried Vichy’s Ideal Body Spa Shower Gel-Oil ($16.95) which is a cleanser meant to replace your need for soap. It lather’s up with water, and it’s super hydrating! Although it has oil in the title, it actually doesn’t have an oily texture at all. It has a very light and sweet scent, and it was so much better to use than soap.

It’s enriched with Vichy thermal spa water with 15 mineral active ingredients and naturals oils, and it has no Parabens, hypoallergenic, and is safe for sensitive skin.

Vichy’s Ideal Body Spa Shower Gel-Cream (also $16.95) focuses more on hydrating and softening the skin. It’s a light pink colour, and it’s consistency is very close to the Gel-Oil.

 

 

Review of Vichy's Idea Body Spa Shower Gel-Oil and Gel-Cream

 

 
It did lather, but a bit less than the Gel-Oil. It’s also enriched with Vichy thermal spa water, and has a similar mineral and oil makeup. It’s also safe for sensitive skin.

Both products had a great scent, a great lather, and hydrated my skin well enough to add them to my daily routine.

For more details on Vichy’s Idea Body Spa Showers line, visit their website here!

 

 

These products were provided to me for review, but all opinions are fabulously my own!

 
 Xoxo Mandy

 

 

Colour Block Shirt Dress

TOBI colour block shirt dress
 

 Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove
 

 
Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove
 

 Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove
 

 Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove
 

 Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove
 

 Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove
 

 Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove

 

 
Colorblock shirtdress from TOBI sparkleshinylove
 

 

This long weekend had some pretty fabulous weather, so we made the most of it and spent every single day outside! I grabbed my hubby’s sunglasses and ran out the door in this cute shirt dress on Saturday.

This summer I will be wearing a lot of wedges because they are so comfortable, and usually go with any style. These ones were from Aldo last season, but I linked to a similar pair in stores now.

My earrings are my second pair of the same style from H&M, and my stack of bracelets are Tiffany and Tory Burch. My purse is a Louis Vuitton Speedy 30, my favourite style of purse!

This Tobi Two of a Kind Shirt Dress was so easy to throw on, and I loved the colour block style. I have been buying so much blue lately, and apparently I keep adding to my collection.

New Tobi customers receive 50% off their first order, so keep that in mind this week as you look through your closet and realize you have nothing to wear this summer! Tobi has so much for the upcoming season like graduation dresses, evening dresses, trench coats, booties, earrings, and outerwear!

 

 

 

 

This dress was provided to me for review, but all opinions are fabulously my own!

 
 Xoxo Mandy

 

 

Getting Summer Ready with my Own Pure Leaf Tea Cocktails!

Getting Summer Ready with my Own Pure Leaf Tea Cocktails!

 

 

I love a good challenge. Especially when it comes to being creative!

I’ve been invited to create my own summer cocktails with the help of Unsweetened Pure Leaf Tea, and it was really fun to put a few summer drinks together!

The unsweetened range of Pure Leaf Tea’s have 0 sugar, 0 artificial sweeteners and 0 calories. They were so easy to use as a base for some fun and fruity cocktails!

 

 Getting Summer Ready with my Own Pure Leaf Tea Cocktails!

 

 

My cocktails involve the things that remind me most of summer – fresh fruit! Pure Leaf Tea (which is brewed from real tea) has three different flavours – Lemon, Green Tea and Black Tea, so it was easy to mix and match different fruits to create new flavours.

Entertaining makes me happy, and having a signature drink with your summer soiree is a great way to create a fun theme at your party. All of my cocktails would fit in nicely with some of the parties I will be having this summer.

Here are my signature Pure Leaf Cocktails!

Getting Summer Ready with my Own Pure Leaf Tea Cocktails!

Watermelon Raspberry Summer Sipper
1 container of Pure Leaf Unsweetened Tea
1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice
2 sprigs of mint, broken into pieces
Half lemon sliced and one cup of raspberries
Sugar for rim
Slice of watermelon for the rim
Mix well before serving

 

 
 

 
Getting Summer Ready with my Own Pure Leaf Tea Cocktails!

Lemon Lime Tea Shaker
1 container of Pure Leaf Green Tea
1 cup of white Gin
1 tbsp of lemon juice
1 tbsp of lime juice
2 sprigs of mint, broken into pieces
One sliced lemon and one sliced lime
Shake well before serving

 

 

 
 

Getting Summer Ready with my Own Pure Leaf Tea Cocktails!

Fruit Salad Mixer
1 container of Pure Leaf Lemon Iced Tea
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup sliced blackberries
1 lemon sliced
Slice of lemon and sprig of mint for garnish
Mix well before serving

 

 

 
 

Give my recipes a try, and let me know what you think!

For more details on my main ingredient, Pure Leaf Tea, visit their website here!
 
 
 
 

I was compensated for this review, but all opinions are fabulously my own.

 
 Xoxo Mandy