[bc_video video_id="6254794546001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Proposals can be the best day of your life or the worst it all depends on how it goes and the planning put into it. The first factor in any proposal is the ring. More specifically, the ring box that holds the ring can make or break your proposal.

1. Choosing the ring

Don't: When choosing the ring don't pick a bulky/clunky ring box in your pocket. The big box could easily give away the surprise! Do: Choose a slim profile box that you can discretely tuck away. This way your ring box will be highly unnoticeable! There are a million ways to plan the perfect proposal. One of the best times to pop the question is sunset. If you love golden hour, you can easily Google what time the sun will set on the day you are planning to pop the question to make sure you get that perfect time.

2. Securing the perfect time

Do: Plan everything about 15 minutes earlier so if you’re running slightly behind, you still have time to catch those beautiful rays for the big moment. If you want your proposal to be the ultimate surprise, then you need to make a master plan of how you are going to distract your partner.

3. Be mindful of who you tell

Don't:  Avoid telling too many people about it! Big surprises can tend to unravel when too many people know. Do: When making this plan, think about your partner and how you may be able to get them out of the house to setup or to get them to the location you want. Get someone you trust to help – you need an accomplice who can help you not only keep your partner distracted but who can back up whatever story you’ve decided to tell. When it comes to the actual proposal, speak from your heart!

4. Deciding what you'll say

Don’t: If you try to memorize you may trip over your words. Memorization can be the thing that ultimately could ruin your proposal at the key part! Do: It’s better to write down points you want to say and then try to touch on those points organically. Just keep taking deep breaths throughout so they can understand you clearly and explain the reasons why you love them. Photographs on the big day freeze the memories in time!

5. Locking in photography 

Don’t: Capturing the moment is an expense, you can't do without. If you choose not to take any pictures you are preventing yourself from having memories to look back onto. Do: Hire a photographer or setup up a tripod with a clicker so you can take photos. It’s all about that Instagrammable moment these days, and these photos can also double as your save the date announcement. Putting in the effort to make your proposal special goes a long way in showing your partner that you care for them.

6. Put in the effort 

Don't: Take the proposal lightly and put in little to no effort for planning. Do: Research proposal methods or order creative aids in making the proposal special. you can order one of my Pop Boxes which have everything you need to setup a cute little proposal whenever the moment strikes you ____ If you are ready to pop the question to your one-and-only, we’ve got a contest for you! Write in and tell us why your partner deserves the proposal of a lifetime. Our proposal expert, Amber, will take care of all the details including a fabulous downtown location, and the perfect engagement ring! The proposal will happen LIVE on Cityline, so, get prepared to literally shout your love from the rooftops. Click HERE to enter to contest. The best love story wins! Click here to check out rings from National Jewel Creations.

[bc_video video_id="6254603381001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Everyone is trying to make the most of their outdoor spaces this Spring, and sometimes that means you need a little shade! Designer Tamara Robbins Griffiths, using her own south-facing backyard, shows practical and stylish options to keep cool and covered in a small space. Options for shade: If you have a big outdoor dining table that lacks shade, an umbrella might not be the best option for this small space, and retractable awnings can be prohibitively expensive because of the more complex mechanisms required. It’s also important to find something that offers enough shade from the sun to help protect and prolong backyard deck finishes. Shade Sail: A great option would be to use a professionally installed shade sail. This is a huge trend in Australia where they call it tensile fabric architecture, and the trend was driven by the importance of sun safety and UV protection. Shade sails are created by spanning tensioned fabric – it’s super taut - between posts. Use anchor points around the back yard to install; you can use house itself, or if you don’t have a sturdy fence, you can install posts into a lawn, but they need to have a concrete footing. This shade can withstand almost all wind and weather conditions, and only needs to be taken down for the winter, so it doesn’t hold the weight of snow and ice. It’s really important that the anchor points or posts are strong enough to withstand the tension and that they are installed at varying heights. This helps with water run-off, which you wouldn’t want dripping directly towards your house. The shade is made of high-density polyethylene yarns and it’s not actually waterproof, so a fine mist will come through the top while most rainwater will run over the edge. The other thing I love is that there is a zero-waste component from this family-owned business, where they take the leftover fabric from the shade sails and make tote bags and grow bags for plants! DIY Overhead shade sail for under $150!  There are other ways to achieve a similar type of temporary overhead shade. With some outdoor fabric and a few simple tools, you can create a shade cover for under $150. You can even use it as an outdoor screen for projecting movies, but the same principles will apply if you want to hang it overhead.

1. Hem a piece of outdoor fabric. If you don’t have a sewing machine, use hemming tape. However, stitching it would be more durable in the long run.
2. Fold over the corners and attach grommets to each corner, using a grommet kit, which you can find online for about $15.
3. Tie marine grade rope to each corner (at whatever length you need).
4. On the loose ends, tie a Bowline or Figure 8 knot to attach a carabiner. If you’re using nylon rope, you can melt the loose ends so they don’t fray.
5. Install eye hooks where you want to clip up the shade. Because we’re not relying on tension in the same way, and because this is simply outdoor fabric, I would use a shade like this for a sunny afternoon and then take it down afterwards to keep it in good condition!

[bc_video video_id="6254218155001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Jeans and a white t-shirt are an easy uniform many of us already have in our closets, but can feel a little stale at times. Stylist Janice Meredith shares some easy ways to elevate this classic look. There isn’t anything wrong with a good old faithful pair of jeans and your go to t-shirt. But there are some easy tweaks you can make within this simple combo to add some interest: Changing the 'fit Tucking up into your bra is something to consider especially for a pair of high waisted jeans and an oversized shirt, you are eliminating the bulk that would have otherwise gone into your waist band so it’s a flattering hack if you don’t want your belly exposed. A straight-leg jean in a light wash is great for Spring, but rolling the hem to play with length, trying a denim style with a wider leg or opting for some light distressing is a simple way to refresh your t-shirt and jean look as well. Adding a blazer Blazers are a strong go-to for a topper during this transitional weather. We’re quite familiar with the oversized men’s-style plaid blazer which absolutely still works but let’s try some other shapes for blazers. A cropped blazer is a newer shape to embrace in jackets. It’s the perfect piece for showing off a scarf as a belt. Fully tuck in the t-shirt to have a cleaner line between jeans and jacket. Necklaces add some interest. Strappy sandals dress up the look and embrace the transition to Spring. A gathered clutch is fun and playful over a traditional handbag. So many women have suit jackets as well in their closets, and we can easily play around with those. Switching to a black blazer but keeping the jeans on makes the blazer look less utilitarian. You can also switch up the type of belt used, for example a metal belt adds an interesting distraction. A men’s pocket square is the perfect size to tie a scarf around my neck and we can push up the suit jacket sleeves using an elastic to keep the arms up. Cute flats and a fold of the jean cuff will completely change the outfit. We can change the whole look from basic business to casual chic. Cardigans The cardigan has become a welcome staple in closets. Sexy shapes have replaced the staunchy old man vibe and now there are so many great options. Because most are knits means they bring great texture to the outfit and texture = interest! The shape offers an unusual neckline that regular sweaters can’t provide; a deep V or jewelled buttons or even a statement shoulder. Also playing around with HOW the cardigan is buttoned mixes up the lines. You can have one button or all the buttons. *For example, buttoning a cardigan all the way up does not require a belt as it would add some bulk to the waist band. But if we keep that bottom button undone, you can show off your belt with a hit of colour or print. A fun straw bag that screams summer and some easy slides would be a perfect addition to this outfit. Layered delicate necklaces also pair well with the shape and knit over a chunky necklace. Dressing up your t-shirt and jeans on a cold Spring day The best Spring topper is a trench coat! And it’s another great example of a fresh take on a classic item. You can pair your trench coat with a funky sneaker and then wrap a knit sweater as a scarf. A belt bag keeps as well keeps me hands free. This is the perfect running around outfit that is chic and not expected but still jeans and a white t-shirt

Today we're striving to provide the best new beauty launches to date. Get ready for the summer with a line-up of new beauty choices that will leave you smelling and seeming gorgeous for every occasion. Moschino Toy 2 Bubble Gum Starting out with the scent for your summer. Moschino Toy 2 Bubble Gum is a joyful fruity-gourmand scent for her that blends notes of bubble gum accord, candied citrus, juicy peach, and Italian lemon essence. Rotate 5 fragrances regularly so your nose doesn’t get accustomed to one. Coach x Sephora Collection Eye Pallets The best "kept" secret of the summer will definetly be this new eye pallet from Coach and Sephora. American fashion brand Coach has partnered with Sephora for a limited edition makeup collection starring a trio of amazing eyeshadow and face palettes. Choose from Sharky (the shark), Rexy (the dinosaur) and Uni (the unicorn). Don't forget that powder shadows typically last 2 years if kept in cool, dry place. Iconic London Cult British makeup brand ICONIC London has just arrived in Canada at Sephora. It features products to give you that bronzed, glowing, illuminated look. The star product is Ready Set Glow. Bronzer is the safest and quickest way to get that glow all summer long. Carolina Herrera - Bad Boy Carolina Herrera has come out with the new scent Bad Boy. This sexy amber-spicy scent for him boasts notes of white pepper, bergamot, sage, cedar, tonka bean, cacao and amberwood.  Estee Lauder Estee Lauder provides flawless makeup that doubles as serious skincare with the Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup SPF45. Products are breathable, skin-loving, and leave you with a 12-hour radiant glow. In addition, they soothe visible redness, protects against pollution, and hydrate all day. Sol de Janeiro Sol de Janeiro comes out with Bom Dia Bright Body Cream. This body bream is texturizing and nourishing with fruit AHAs and Vitamin C. The cream helps reveal visibly brighter and smoother skin. Geurlain Geurlain reveals it's new Kiss Kiss Shine Bloom Lipstick. This lipstick is meant to leave your lips glowing and hydrated. What’s remarkable about this luxurious lipstick is it is formulated with 95% naturally-derived ingredients including Winter Rose oil extract and shea butter. Prevage One of the most powerful environmental shields is serum. Prevage has brought out Daily Serum 2.0 to help skin glow within the summer. This new generation serum contains four times the antioxidants and helps visibly reduce dark spots and photodamage. Get ready for summer with skincare, makeup, and luxury fragrance. A gift pack valued at $1500 featuring Dave's beauty picks of the summer could be yours.

There are many different ways to apply blush that can lead to different, gorgeous results. Beauty Expert Tracy Peart is introducing you to four of her faves. NATURAL: Apples of Cheeks For this first technique you want to focus your attention on just the apples your cheeks where the sun would naturally hit your face. Try to make it look as though someone pinched your cheeks. This technique can make your face look bigger due to the points it accentuates. If you have a rounder face this may not be the best technique for you. Credit: Allure SCULPTED: Along the Cheekbones Your next technique is one that gives definition without requiring any contouring. The sculpted technique focuses on the hollows of your cheeks to give you that fish look. It essentially creates the illusion of a thinner face. If you have a long face, this technique can make your face look thinner and hollow. Credits: Makeup.com SUNKISSED: All Over Glow The sun kissed technique is where blush is placed on more than just your cheek area. Blush is applied on other parts of your face to make you look sun kissed. Make sure to use shimmer for this one to give a glowing look. Credits: Mented Cosmetics DRAMATIC: Draped The draped blush technique is a recent one that is favoured by millennials. When applying blush you want to focus on mostly the sides of the face. Try to have the blush flow from the cheekbones to the temples and then the eyes. Credits: Allure