[bc_video video_id="6274434194001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Do you love to cook, but hate the clean-up? Sure, I’d like to make a smoothie a day, but do I really want to clean the blender? Well, worry no more, here are 6 tips to make those hard-to-clean kitchen tools shine in seconds. 1. Kitchen stains To get rid of kitchen stains I used regular household ingredients. Baking soda is my hero, plus it's environmentally friendly and it works. Salt, vinegar, and lemons are my other go-to's. Plus, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. People are using toxic chemicals that weren't made for eating, it's a huge no-no. Baking soda may take longer, but it's much safer.   2. Cleaning the kettle There is a difference between the kettle meant for boiling water and a teapot. You should not be pouring water from a kettle directly into a mug with a teabag- it’s a tea sin! Your kettle can have calcium buildup if you don’t clean it regularly, but it’s easy to clean with a bit of vinegar. If you use a strainer, – boil in a pot of water with baking soda and dish soap for 5-10 minutes, remove, make a paste of baking soda and dish soap and get a toothbrush to scrub all the stains away. 3. Teapots and teacups  Teapots and teacups – two tricks. My favourite is using baking soda, soak and then scrub OR if you have denture cleaner for mouth guards or dentures a tablet will do it.   4. Wooden cutting boards Odours like garlic and onions on your wooden cutting board? Scrub with lemon, or create a paste with baking soda and a bit of water. Similar to wooden spoons- scrub with a scrubber and wipe on baking soda to finish. 5. Blender To clean a blender, add dish soap and water and whirl away. It is very important to make sure that the water you are using is cold to prevent the blender from overflowing! Still yucky? Use a toothbrush! A similar strategy for your whisk: scrub in the sink with soapy water and use a toothbrush. 6. What doesn't go in the dishwasher? No wooden spoons or anything wooden for that matter, no whisks, and please no knives! Knives can be washed using a cloth with soap and rinsed under running water.

[bc_video video_id="6274435611001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] The Great Resignation Wave: the largest migration of people quitting their jobs in more than TWENTY YEARS. People aren't just shifting jobs; they are shifting what they care about too. This is a massive cultural event as 41% of workers globally are thinking about leaving their current job. It's a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon that people should be ready for because literally everyone will be impacted, whether they stay or go. It's already started in the rest of the World, and we can definitely see it happening here now, in Canada. Unlike the layoffs seen early in the pandemic, this is being driven by employees pulling the trigger themselves.   You might be asking, why is this happening now? The Pandemic has made a lot of us prioritize ourselves. Remote work changed hearts and minds. Many people (53%) want to continue working remotely (at least sometimes) and if their current employer won't offer that they'll go elsewhere. Workers who hung on and white-knuckled through jobs they didn't like during the pandemic finally feel safe making a change. “I’m hearing it a lot: ‘I’m going to go somewhere I’m valued.” But the biggest reason is there's a massive number of job openings coming, which means — ka-ching! — more power for job seekers! Plus, here in Canada government pandemic financial supports are expiring by October (so if you've been out of work or underemployed the heat is on). A survey by executive search firm Korn Ferry found that 94% of retailers are having trouble filling empty roles.  This is great news for job seekers. With so many companies scrambling to fill positions, job seekers will have the upper hand. Way more power to ask for more money and better perks & benefits. My #1 Tip: Do. Not. Settle. Negotiate for everything you want upfront (vs "let's discuss your performance in 6 months") and get it written in your contract. Not just salary, but also signing bonus, vacation time, flex time, gym memberships, retirement savings matching programs, and other perks and benefits. This window where you have the upper hand will settle sometime in the Fall once people settle into their new jobs. So strike while the iron is hot. A Microsoft survey of 30,000 people around the world noted that 46 percent of people have thought about a “major pivot” in their career. However, if you want to keep your current job there's good news and bad news. The bad news is it'll be a bit stormy for people holding down the fort while this shift happens. But that's temporary. The good news is you have more power too! Employers will be desperate to keep people so it's the perfect time to ask for a raise. What I would do: Apply for some external positions, secure an offer, take it to my current employer and use it as leverage to ask for a raise More importantly, the conveyor belt model of career is over (pick something, go to school, get a job and lock in for life). It's outdated and that's not how it works anymore. The younger generation has been raised to value balance and self-care. They're less willing to burn out and get sick from their jobs. This is good for all of us...it's forcing toxic work cultures to change. They understand that work is work, but they want to enjoy what they do and feel appreciated. That's making companies and leaders step up their game.

[bc_video video_id="6274024025001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Can you keep a secret? Specifically, a FASHION secret. There is a big secret the fashion world has been keeping from us... VELCRO. Velcro is not only inexpensive, but it is washable, strong, works well on all materials, and is sustainable. Velcro comes in two strips with an easy-to-apply peel-and-stick fastener. The best part is there is no gluing, ironing, or sewing required to apply it. You can buy velcro from any craft store, I got mine from Michaels and it retails for $8.99. Instead of buying a new belt, or spending money tailoring jeans, use my 4 velcro hacks next time you are in need of a clothing adjustment. Hack 1: Long Belt  When I wear a belt I have this extra part that looks awkward and bulky. I call it floppy belt syndrome, and I don't want anyone to deal with that. To fix this, I cut a 3-inch piece of velcro tape and put the sticky side on the inside of the belt, and then just aligned it on top of the belt. No sewing is required and it looks so clean and tidy! Hack 2: Jeans For denim or any pair of pants, velcro is a great option to adjust the length of your jeans. Here I have a pair of wide-leg jeans that I am going to use to create a statement cuff for when I wear flat shoes. I've used velcro tape to secure the hem on both sides to make sure that it doesn't fall out when I'm walking. A statement cuff is not for everyone. Alternatively, you can fold the bottom of the jeans inside and do a no-sew hem with the velcro tape on the inside. Hack 3: Hat Band Switch Up  Sometimes I look at hats and I love everything except for the band. The band is usually lightly sewn or glued, making it easy to take off with scissors or a tug. Here I used some animal print ribbon tape that I found at the local craft store to replace the band. I put the velcro tape at the front and on the sides and stuck the ribbon on top. One of the benefits of using velcro is that you can upcycle and revamp stylish pieces as I'm doing here. Hack 4: Jacket Lapel Elevation To elevate and add some interest to my fall coat, I am popping this faux fur collar on the lapel. To avoid it falling off in the wind I used velcro to secure it on either side of the jacket. You can use this hack with anything that has a lapel to add multipurpose use to your fall coat!

[bc_video video_id="6274023426001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] This season’s runways have been full of bold looks and even bolder colours. Here are the trending colours of fall 2021 and how to rock them. Indigo   This colour is all over the runways this season and is a great substitute for wearing black. In fact, I’ve been seeing a lot of grooms go the indigo route instead of wearing black or navy. So, I have two ways to wear indigo. The first way screams strong, and that way is the indigo monochromatic look. The trick to wearing monochromatic is to break it up with a pattern or a print while keeping it in the same colour or tone. Clay So, you know us fashion people have to come up with a new name for a colour. It’s what we do. The colour I’m going to speak about is Clay. Now personally, I would call this burnt orange or even pumpkin spice ‘cause this doesn’t look like the clay I know. Regardless, it too is one of the hot colours for fall 2021. Clay is warm and screams autumn. It can be paired with browns or even a red & blue tartan. We have this multi clay fringe knit sweater that I paired with these brown straight-leg pants and on my feet, I decided to go with a cute red shoe. Fuchsia This next colour seemed more of a summer colour because of its bright hue and that colour is Fuchsia. Yes, fuchsia is a 2021 fall colour. To make this colour look more fall-like, tone down the ultra-bright hue with neutrals in camel, grey, or ivory. Now anyone will definitely get noticed in this coat. This is what you call “flaming fuchsia” or hot pink lol. This coat is from "want boutique" and is the perfect addition to your fall wardrobe. Silver This colour I’ve grown to love, and I also love pairing this colour with gold and that colour is silver! Show off this colour on everyday staples like pleated skirts, blazers, and sweaters. Here I have this Sequin mini dress that I’ve turned into a top. I love mixing partywear with something a bit more subtle. I also have this beautiful silver knitted sweater from the "latest scoop" that I paired with leather pants.

[bc_video video_id="6273706045001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] With fall around the corner, here are 4 of the year's biggest nail trends that you will be seeing everywhere. Trend #1 Press-On Nails High-quality press on nails that are easy to apply yourself. Trend #2 Alternating Shades Taking one colour and wearing different shades of it on each nail (earthy tones work great for fall). Nail Inspo: @sherlinanym, @lolo.nailedit, @disseynails, @sherlinanym Trend #3 Wavy Abstract Nails Retro swirly nails that are a nod to the 60s and 70s. Nail Inspo: @disseynails, @amaka.hamelijnck, @disseynails, @nails.bab Trend #4 The New French Tip  The "new" French tip comes in a variety of colours and shapes. Nail Inspo: @amaka.hamelijnck, @disseynails, @heluviee, @selah_rest