[bc_video video_id="6273407191001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Like many of us over the course of the pandemic, I bought plants to help me cope. At the beginning of the pandemic I had 57 plants, now I have 17. But then I realized that plants have taught me not to overcomplicate things and pay attention. Once I started paying attention to what the plants actually needed and not what I wanted them to need, my relationship with them changed. I started to pay more attention to what they needed and not what I thought they needed. And some of them…a lot of them…didn’t need to be in my house. Choosing a plant can be intimidating if you’ve never bought one before. Obviously, plants don't need the same amount of attention as pets or human children. You don't need to take them for walks, and you can leave them for more days than you can a pet or human child. But they do need some attention in order to thrive and flourish. Here are my 4 tips to new plant parents to help you make mindful decisions about the plants you buy and ensure they flourish in your home. #1 Research  Before you start buying all the pretty plants you see on social media; I want you to do some research first. Be mindful of the plants that you invite into your home. Ask experts at the greenhouse, use Google or even an app to see if the plant you want can fit into your home, lifestyle, and level of commitment.    #2 Sunlight  How much sunlight does your home get? Is your home full of hot afternoon sun? Or is it dim and drafty? #3 Other living beings in your home Do you have partners, kids, and pets? Some plants are not pet-friendly. You also need to consider plant size and how big they could potentially get. Do you have the space to accommodate a 6ft rubber tree? #4 Parenting Style  Are you a helicopter plant papa? Or a 'bought it and forgot it' plant mama? You need to be mindful of the plant's needs and carve out some time in your schedule to take care of them. Some plants take 5 minutes on a Sunday morning. While other plants require fancy bottled water kissed by the sun gods. See what I mean? There is so much to consider besides having a pretty-looking plant. If you're not ready to be a plant parent, be a plant aunt or uncle and stick to flowers! If you have done your research and considered sunlight, living beings in your home, and parenting style, here are some easy plants for beginners that have been thriving in my home.

• Aglaonema aka Chinese Evergreen: this plant is very popular at the mall and comes in a wonderful variety of colours.
• Pothos: fun fact, this plant doesn't have to be planted in the soil! They do well in a container with water too. Just be aware that if you do decide to go from water to soil, it may not be too happy. Plus there are so easy to propagate!
• ZZ plants: this is my 'bought it and forgot it' plant. I water it once a month and it just flourishes.
• Some of my other favourites are multipurpose plants like Aloe Vera for skincare or Basil for cooking.

I have two final hot tips for after you have become a plant parent: Hot tip #1   Name the plant after you. So, when you talk to it when you feed it love, water, and light, you will also be telling yourself the things you need. Hot tip #2 I use leftover water from when I was my rice or let my banana peels marinate in a jar of water and use that as fertilizer. It's organic and sustainable!

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[bc_video video_id="6273305887001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"]   After all we have been through in the past 16 months – we certainly do need a re-set – both emotionally and physically! So many people have an increase in stress and anxiety levels during this time and have experienced poor sleep which can lead to fatigue, inflammation and brain fog. It's time to reset the brain and body and begin a new season of health. Steps to lower inflammation  Take a “Food First” approach.  So many people have been emotionally eating or drinking during COVID. In order to re-set – we have to eliminate foods such as refined flours and sugars and other processed foods. Most of these foods are depleted of nutrients and contribute to poor health, weight gain, blood sugar fluctuations and cravings. I strongly recommend doing a cupboard and fridge audit and getting rid of any foods that do not contribute to your health.  I would also recommend being a label reader. Even foods found in various health food stores or labelled gluten-free can be very high in refined sugar or flour.  Keep in mind 1 tsp of sugar = 4 grams. To put it another way, 16 grams of sugar in a product is 4 teaspoons of granulated sugar.  So, you do not want to go double-digit when it comes to added sugar. As a general rule – if it is made in a factory vs. a farm – it is not as good for you. So as much as we can, we should be filling our diets (for our weight, our immune system) with colourful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins (such as fish, chicken, eggs, tofu, yogurt), essential fats such as nuts, seeds, oils and avocados and a modest amount of whole grain. Check out my meal plans and recipes on the Cityline website to see how delicious healthy eating can be. Supporting the nervous system  Stress management and taking care of our nervous system are a huge part of our health. When we are in fear mode (which most of us have been off and on for all these months) our body releases a variety of chemicals that can actually weaken the immune system response.  It is called a sympathetic nervous system response (i.e. the bear is chasing me). The body can tolerate short bouts of stress, but it is when the stress becomes chronic – that is when it starts to deteriorate health. In order to switch into a parasympathetic nervous system response (calm) – movement is key. Changing your state always helps – whether it is cycling, walking, running, stretching, yoga – it all helps. Now you do not have to commit to 1 hour each and every day. Research shows that the frequency (i.e. 20 minutes daily) is more important than the duration. The more you can do, the better. Breathwork is also key to help support your nervous system. There are now fantastic apps that can take you through 5 or 10 minutes of breathwork in the morning to set the tone for your day. Of course – talk to your health care provider– but certain adrenal support supplements, B vitamins or herbs such as Ashwagandha and Rhodiola, can all be beneficial as well.  Omega 3 supplements are also vital to brain health support. Other ways to re-set to feel best The truth is– little steps to health can go a long way.

• Stay hydrated – make sure to drink 2 litres of water per day. I make my water interesting by putting in a little kombucha or lemon/line, chlorophyll or vitamin C powder.
• If you are feeling more anxious than usual – avoid all caffeinated beverages and switch to herbal blends. Dandylion tea is a good substitute for coffee.
• While it is good to be informed – careful of all the “noise” you are letting in from the news and internet. Try to minimize your screen time and focus on what brings you joy such as reading, music, fresh-cut flowers in your house etc.
• Stay in the moment as much as you can. When you are cleaning the plate in the sink – focus on cleaning the plate in the sink. The “what ifs” scenarios tend to create unnecessary stress and anxiety.

[bc_video video_id="6273308196001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] September is here and while the temperatures are not too cool just yet, the fall pieces are already flooding our stores online and in IRL. Here are your must-have statement pieces for the new season.  White After Labour Day I get so excited about a crisp white combo but the season goes by so quickly I don’t feel like I’ve had enough opportunity to wear all my whites! We're here to say that yes, it's okay to wear white after Labour Day— time to break the rules of fashion! The old school rules are out the window, this chic white suit is timeless and powerful. The white vest, blazer and long-short combo are all from Aritzia, we paired this set with a nude heeled sandal.  Cozy Vibes  Knit! Textures and hues bring this outfit all together; the proportion is key in this combo. The cropped jacket allows for the outfit not to be heavy while scaling and balancing the bottom half. The monochromatic colours go hand-in-hand in making you feel comfortable but classy. This outfit features an H&M knit wide leg pant and tunic. We paired it with a classically comfy faux fur slide.   Split-Leg Legging Next up is the split leg legging. These funky pants are from Zara, along with the knit vest and basic T. The leggings are a key staple as the flare created from the split lengthens the legs. For now, you can style this outfit with a great sliding shoe, then you can transition into chunky sneakers. Modern Ruched Dress  This flattering ruched dress is a modern take on the fitted jersey dress we have seen before. This one is from Hillary MacMillan, styled with a plaid jacket overtop and booties from Winners. For this outfit, we continue to play around with the textures and balance, as shown with the different necklaces and cropped jacket. 

 

[bc_video video_id="6272833968001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] [caption id="attachment_243947" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Hairline before and after following Michelle's tips and tricks.[/caption] Grooming and filling in your hairline is no different than grooming and filling in your brows! The hairline is the frame to the face, so shaping and filling it in is more common than you think - and it’s what celebrity stylists have been doing for years! Source: Elle, Getty Images  The most common opportunity to groom and perfect your hairline is when wearing hair up and away in a tight pony, scalp braids or any other up style - to even out thin areas, create the illusion of fullness and even contour the face shape. But also, for hair down styles the biggest struggle can be not enough length or fullness in the front for the style you want due to a fine or weak hairline. Hack #1 – Use Matte Eye Shadow or Brow Powder For updos – use matte eye shadow or brow powder (also helps contour the face shape and forehead!) This hack is great for when your hair is pulled back tight in a pony or updo, and is a known hack done in professional photoshoots all the time! Hack #2 – Use a Brow Pencil  Another option for updos – use brow pencil to create individual hairs. Great for tight braids or more individual strands of hair. Hack #3 – Use Clip-In Extensions Fill in hair down - use clip in extensions for fullness to rock any style! Great for the lob or bob you just did not have the fullness for. Expert Tip: Protect those hairs! They are just babies! Be gentle and limit exposure to hot tools, pulling, pinning brushing, bleaching and coloring. Use a densifying scalp spray, like the ALTERNA Clinical Densifying Scalp Treatment, to bring nutrients to the root bulb and help these fragile hairs stay strong.