[bc_video video_id="6263035402001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] As much as we love enjoying the summer months for pool time and getting that Vitamin D from the sun, there are some downsides when it comes to over exposure to sun and chlorine when it comes to our hair. Sun exposure can dry out hair and cause it to become brittle but it can also do crazy things to our hair colour. I thought it would probably be a good idea to share a few tips and hair hacks for everyone to keep in mind as we live it up in the sunny month! Pool Time  Well for those who love their pool time, there are a few issues to keep in mind. Sometimes those with blonde or very processed hair can actually wind up with a bit of a greenish hue from the chlorine. Now while I’m no pool cleaning expert, apparently, it’s the combination of chlorine and copper in the water that latches onto porous hair that causes that green tone! Crazy right? Often times water has traces of copper and other metals or minerals in it that actually causes this green problem. In fact, copper is known to help clean against algae and some pools will use an algaecide to clean it that contains copper, so it can be in there without even realizing. And just when you think you’re safe with salt water pools, apparently there can still be copper and chlorine in salt water pools and so your hair can still go green! Via: Lunocet  Luckily, there is a solution for this- that is to of course first try a swimmer’s shampoo that will help clarify the hair. See if that does the job. If it doesn’t, you can also use the juice of a lemon diluted with water. Let your hair soak in it for a few minutes and then shampoo. The green should come out because the acidity from the lemon juice will help remove the chlorine/copper build up. One thing to remember though is that lemon juice can make your hair feel dry so you definitely want to follow that with a great moisturizing mask afterwards to help calm the hair back down afterwards. Via: Self The other issue with pools is that the water can leave your hair feeling really dry and brittle so we want to be aware of that as well. To prevent this, before going into a pool, wet down your hair in the shower with ‘fresh’ water.  The reasoning here is that hair can only absorb so much water and if you’re about to jump into a pool, your hair will actually repel a lot of the chlorinated water because the hair is already wet. Now as an additional barrier, it’s never a bad idea to coat your hair in a hair mask and then put it up into a bun or under a swim cap to create an extra barrier from the chlorine. The more porous your hair, the more it will allow for that build up to latch on and be absorbed. Preserving the Hair  We know that the sun is going to bleach out hair colour and make it go a little brassier, that’s because the UV rays are oxidizing the melanin pigment in our hair causing the hair to go lighter. As a hair colourist, I always suggest to clients to start the summer off a touch darker or toned down from than their regular go to hair colour. This just helps because over time the sun will for sure lift out your hair colour a little. It’s also really important to remember to wear hats if you’re going to be out in the sun for a long time and scarves a great options as well to protect the hair from going too light. Via: Vogue  Another option is to go with what is known as "sunscreen" for the hair. Sun can lighten hair colour and dry it out. You want to use products that have UV filters or resistance. So I always suggest some kind of extra summer protection routine for your hair to protect against the strong sun rays. Now for those who wear their hair in braids or space buns or any hairstyle that exposes their scalp in some form, it’s important to use UV protection on their scalp to avoid your scalp from being sun burned. In the summer time, hairstyles that expose scalp (like space buns!) can be vulnerable to having the scalp be burned, so light weight products that have UV protection are important to keep in mind. Via: L'Oréal   For Curly Textured Hair For those with naturally curly textured hair, we want to always lock in moisture to protect from the harsh sun and heat to avoid breakage and dryness. Products that contain coconut oil or avocado oil will help bind the water molecules to the hair keeping moisture in, and products that contain aloe and Shea butter not only help with moisture but are said to have some UV protection. Long story short, we want to remember not to over wash your hair in the summer months and while there may be humidity in the air, it’s still the sun that can dry out the hair so we want to always focus on locking in moisture. Easy Summer Hairstyle Beach waves are always a great go to hairstyle for the summer months and I just wanted to remind everyone that keeping your hair in braids over night can actually reveal a very cool textured hairstyle. The looser the braids, the bigger the waves, so here we have our model who I’ve just very gently braided her hair. She slept in it throughout the night. I sprayed a little texture wave spray, but as you can see, once we loosely unravel her braids, she has these beautiful summer waves. The idea here really is to remember to sleep in braids to maintain your hairstyle. If your hair creates a lot of natural oils at the scalp, don’t be afraid to absorb those oils with a little dry shampoo in the morning and then freshen it back up with a little finisher and she’s good to go!

[bc_video video_id="6263034387001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] This is the summer to really let loose and enjoy ourselves. We’ve been through a lot over the last year, and if we have learned anything, it is life is too short to worry about the small things. We deserve to feel good and look good in anything we wear, especially a bathing suit! Let the beach be your runway this season! If not the beach, then the side of the pool, or your even your backyard! Trend #1- Belted Bathers  The first trend is belted bathing suits.  This trend I love, it has such an elegant look, and it also has a bit of vintage vibe going on a la Ursula Andress Bond girl feel. Via: CNN  This swimsuit trend is amazing because the belt is designed to sit at the smallest part of your waist giving you more of an hourglass shape. Here’s the best part,  you don’t have to buy a belted bathing suit, you can add a belt on to any bather you already have – such a great way to give last year’s suit a fresh look. I’m wearing this one-piece suit from H&M, which is made from recycled polyester, I've paired it with a thrifted woven belt. I am also wearing this sparkly cover up, very palm springs, with my hat! Trend #2- Sculpted Underwire  Next is one of the biggest trends in bikinis – the underwire trend. What is so great about having underwire in your bathing suit, is it provides great support! The bikini tops come in bra sizing – so not just a small med and large, but cup size – so important for a perfect fit! Carley (pictured below) is wearing an underwire top paired the top with high waisted bottoms. Carley has a long torso so we’ve given high waisted bottoms that elongate the leg and shrinks the torso – also note  that the top and bottom don’t match – OMG!  I love mixing and matching your bikinis – it is such a great way to have variety without having to over-purchase bathing suits. As a modern play on a cover up, I’ve given her a sheer puff sleeved top.   Trend #3- Ravishing Ruffles  Next up we have is one of this season’s most fun trends – the ruffled bathing suit. This trend is so great because, it is playful, girly, and can be worn by anyone. Who looks bad in ruffles? But we have seen this trend on full piece bathing suits – like the one Sejal is wearing – from H&M and their sustainable line - and we have seen the ruffles on bikinis too. The ruffle placement can be anywhere – neckline, straps, along the bottom. The ones on this suit are around the neckline, just offering a little more coverage for Sage, and bringing our attention to the shoulder area. I’ve paired this blue and white stripe suit with the Preloved Cora white wide legged pant, which you know a lot of people don’t think of wearing pants as a cover up, but it showcases the swimsuit trend – ruffles, and Sejal feels ready to take on the beach! Trend #4- All About Asymmetry  Our next model is Mandy – Mandy is wearing my favourite bathing suit trend – the asymmetrical/one shoulder trend.  We are seeing this everywhere from tops to dresses, to sweatshirts and it has finally arrived to bathing suits! This is one of the easiest trends to wear, it is so flattering on all body types.   The one asymmetrical line really brings the focus to the shoulders.  It’s like the unexpected bathing suit! You will see this trend in bikinis like the one Mandy is wearing (it also comes as a full piece), it can be sleek with clean lines or more dramatic with flounces. The asymmetric full piece and bikini tops are great multipurpose pieces because the trend is not just in bathing suits, so it can be worn out – not just for the beach or pool. I have paired the top with a matching high waisted bottom, and a classic black cover up!  Sheer, timeless and effortless! Trend #5- Cool Cut-Outs   And last but not least, we have Tiffany – a Cityline producer/casual supermodel! Tiffany is wearing this season’s must-have bathing suit trend: Cut-outs.  The cut-outs are so popular right now, and I think it’s because they’re a really fun way to show some skin – especially in a full piece. You don’t have to commit to a bikini to show a little something-something – but this little ‘itty bitty yellow bikini’ from Urban Outfitters that Tiffany is wearing – the cut-outs are on the bottom, so they are there but really not over the top. With some of the cut outs on some bathers, you are really going to have to consider what your tan lines are gonna look like! This bikini is ribbed material which stretches with your body. I love the sporty top on this bathing suit great for Tiffany’s active summer life. She looks perfect with her summer vacation bag – and the perfect Pokoloko Turkish towel!

[bc_video video_id="6263035660001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] It’s the best season of all—barbeque season! And this year, we’re grilling green! What does that mean? We’re going to look at what we grill, how we grill, how we serve and clean up! According to a UK study a typical summer barbeque for 4 people will release more carbon dioxide than an 80-mile (129 KM) car journey. Kind of crazy when you think about it in those terms. But you know me, I’ve got some tips and tricks to help lower our carbon footprints. Grill  Let’s tackle the grill! There are gas, charcoal, electric and even solar grill options. Nothing says BBQ like an old school charcoal grill with lighter fluid and your dad burning the burgers. As fun as that is and as many memories it brings back, it’s the worst option out there! A charcoal grill will generate 3 times the amount of greenhouse gas compared to a natural gas grill. The most eco-friendly option is a solar-powered grill that uses the sun’s energy instead of charcoal. The issue is that they’re pretty hard to find, so your next best bet is to get yourself an outdoor electric grill. Now I know, some hardcore BBQ fans that are married to charcoal grills—I get it, I get it! Might I suggest an alternative charcoal? Look for lump charcoal—it burns longer, and you will use less of it. Lump charcoal will also produce less ash! One of the best on the market is, Big Green Egg lump charcoal. 100% natural product contains no filler, no chemicals or petroleum! And it’s naturally Canadian! Food  My next tip is to make plants the star of the show because emissions from meat consumption are 50% higher than from vegetables. Everybody wants to come over for a steak, and they’ll get a steak – my famous cauliflower steak. Portobello mushroom steaks are so 2020. Here's how to make it!

1.  First, you’ll want to cut your cauliflower like this—you want it to be about a few centimeters thick.
2. Vegetarians and vegans always struggle a little during BBQ season, but not this year! This is the easiest plant-based hack—I use salad dressings as a marinade. I take this it’s a plant- based Grapefruit Ginger salad dressing and let it marinate for about 15 minutes because with a veggie steak it’s all about the flavour.
3. Once they are all marinated, pop them on the grill for about 20 minutes.

Salad dressing as marinade is my favourite cooking hack. I’m not a chef, but I’m a busy mom trying to save the planet one veggie at a time! Serving  Let’s take a look at how we’re serving. I don’t understand why eating outdoors always means plastic or Styrofoam! There are great compostable plates, glasses and cutlery options out there. I’m a thrifter, so I keep a set of thrifted dishes, this is a set that I won’t miss if there’s an accident. Things happen, we move on! I’ve got plates, glasses, and silverware, and to top it all off – cloth napkins! No single-use plastic in sight! But really,  it’s just about having fun, trying to make as many little changes as we can and just really enjoying the BBQ season—because we know it goes by too fast!

[bc_video video_id="6262927158001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Trend #1: Graphic Eyeliner The first trend is colour graphic eyeliner; it's beautiful, bright and bold. After this lockdown, that's exactly what we need! A lot of us are still wearing our face masks, which means that the focus is on the eyes. There are a lot of modern spins on this look. This first look is best if you do not have as much experience using eyeliner. Take a bold pencil colour and line the top lash line, layer more colours on top of the line to create a rainbow effect. If you do have more eyeliner experience, this next look is perfect. Instead of a pencil liner, use a bold liquid eyeliner colour to line the top lash line. Create a line over the crease of your eye and attach it to the wing on your upper lash. The point is to have fun! Trend #2: Brush-Up Brows  We're seeing this trend a lot this season. It's possibly due to the fact that a lot of us have not had the ability to get our eyebrows done, therefore we are left with some full brows! This is a great new feature to emphasize, and also gives your eyes a lift too! Via: Ipsy A great technique to get full brows is using the 'soap' technique for an extra laminated look. Simply wet a spoolie brush, with either water or setting spray, take a soap bar and coat the spoolie with soap. Apply this onto the brows by starting on the opposite side, going against the hair grain. Next, use a windshield wiping motion, this time going with the hair grain, and brush the hair upwards. Instant full brows! Since you’re leaving it on your face, you should be careful when choosing a soap to use. Don’t use just any old soap lying around! Try: Moisturizing soaps that contain ingredients like glycerin, ones that are PH-balanced and ones that are transparent (so it doesn’t leave white film on your eyebrows). Or you can try a soap brow kit. Avoid: Soaps that are super drying and highly fragranced, so they don’t irritate your skin. If you don't want to use soap, you can use any type of makeup eye gel! Trend #3: Sunkissed Glow  This is a healthy, lit-from-within type of look. Everybody wants to have a little bit of that golden, goddess glow- but that UV damage is not the greatest! Via: Makeup To start, use some bronzer (either liquid or powder, whatever your preference is) and apply to the face. Apply bronzer onto your cheekbones and around the face, wherever the sun kisses you. Next to add some "glow" use highlighter (whatever highlighter medium you prefer) and apply right on the top of the cheekbones and the temple, remember to blend. Trend #4: Glossy Lips Glosses have made a huge come back since 2002 and have changed a lot over the last decades from overly sticky to super hydrating and high shine. Lip gloss grew up, and so did we! They are completed re-formulated, pick from sheer colours to high pigmented hues. Via: Allure We're headed into a summer humid summer, so remember to choose lip glosses that also have hydrating qualities to them.

[bc_video video_id="6262936910001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] We’ve been indoors this past year more than we anticipated. And with virtual school keeping the kids inside, I found some fun apps that the whole family will love…. and they’re FREE! Geocaching  Geocaching is back in! What's it all about? Via: Geocaching Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.  Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location. Endless fun! All trails and Naturalist  Discover new trails in your neighbourhood with ALLTRAILS app.  Access 200,000+ trail maps.  AllTrails has the largest collection of detailed, hand-curated trail maps. Via: All Trails  Learn more about the nature around you with iNaturalist - snap a photo of an organism you want to identify and using AI on the app, you can learn more about the species, facts, etc. Via: iNaturalist Sky view  This one is a favourite.  You can learn more about the stars with SkyView - Point your camera at the sky and learn more about constellations, satellites, and more. SkyView app is a free augmented reality (AR) app for both iOS and Android devices that uses your smartphone's camera to uncover different stars, constellations, planets, star clusters and other celestial bodies in the night sky. Using SkyView app, you can also discover coordinates and facts of planets, comets and asteroids, which if you have kids, can turn your stargazing into an educational experience. SkyView Free is a stargazing app allowing users to explore aspects of the night sky and learn more about astronomy. Skyview app download is available for iOS (iPad and iPhone) and Android devices as well as on desktop (PCs, laptops and Mac computers). Roadtrippers Plan your roadtrip and explore your own backyard: Roadtrippers app. Roadtrippers is the world’s #1 road trip planning tool, with more than 25 million trips planned to-date covering more than 16.9 billion miles. Discover the most incredible people, places, and experiences worth a detour. Share and collaborate with friends. Plan your next weekend getaway, spring break road trip, or cross-country adventure. Via: Roadtrippers