I was recently gifted this @tocobo_official produc I was recently gifted this @tocobo_official product line from @stylekorean to try out and I’ve been really enjoying using them in my nighttime skincare routine!

🥥 COCONUT CLAY CLEANSING FOAM
• Deep, gentle cleanse without drying out the skin, reduces sebum and dead skin cells
• Leaves your face feeling soft and clean, lathers well and is hypoallergenic 
• I’ve really enjoyed using this as my morning cleanser

🍋 AHA BHA LEMON TONER
• Vitalizing and brightening
• Exfoliates and cleanses pores
• Thick and viscous consistency compared to other toners, but absorbs quickly
• Recommended for nighttime due to AHA and BHA

💧 BIFIDA BIOME ESSENCE
• Helps strengthen skin barrier
• Balancing and calming, anti-aging
• Non-sticky, lightweight and absorbs quickly
• Good morning or night, I prefer using it at night

🤍 MULTI CERAMIDE CREAM
• Strengthen moisture barriers, protects the skin and deeply moisturizers 
• Thick and creamy, great as a night cream
• Great as a night cream

🌿 BRAND HIGHLIGHTS
• Vegan-certified and hypoallergenic
• High-quality products and a fair price

I would honestly purchase each and every one of these products again!

#KBeauty #TryMeReviewMe #StyleKorean #SkincareCommunity #Tocobo #SkincareRoutine #SkincareProducts #BeautyBlogger #KBeautyProducts #SkincareReview #TryMeReviewMe_Tocobo #TorontoBlogger #OntarioBlogger  #CanadianInfluencer
Pyjamas all day, please 😌 @arrowitforward rece Pyjamas all day, please 😌

@arrowitforward recently sent over some goodies for me to try, and I am hooked. 

Their candles and wax melts are made with soy and coconut wax in small batches with premium quality fragrance oils – and that’s it! The candles also use natural cotton wicks.

They all smell sooo good, but pyjama day candle might be my fav of the bunch. It smells like fresh bread. The entire household thought I had baked something when I was burning it. 😅🥖

*gifted products

#ShopLocalON #OntarioBlogger #OntarioSmallBusiness #OntarioMakers #TorontoBlogger #CandleAddict #ShopSmall #BuyLocal #OntarioBlogger #DiscoverUnder4K #SoyCandles #HomeDecor #TheHappyNow
Ruffi’s daughter, Rory, stayed with us for the p Ruffi’s daughter, Rory, stayed with us for the past few weeks for a little pup-cation! She’s bouncy, full of love, and will always wake you up with her toy donut in your face 🍩😆. 

She went back home to @embee_cavaliers today and was the perfect (paw-fect?) house guest and cuddle buddy. 💕
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#CavaliersOfInstagram #CavalierKingCharles #CavaliersOfToronto #TorontoBlogger #OntarioBlogger #EmbeeCavaliers #TorontoCavaliers #CavalierCollective #TheHappyNow #FlashesOfDelight  #DiscoverUnder4K
Relaxing and recharging with @drteals. 🛁🌿 S Relaxing and recharging with @drteals. 🛁🌿

Self-care looks different for everyone. While it’s so much more than just a relaxing bath, a deep soak is an important part of my process – it helps me disconnect and decompress at the end of each week.

I was #gifted these products to try out, but I think they’ll become a repeat purchase. The blend of stevia, thyme, cedarwood and bergamot essential oils is so relaxing. 

If you want to try out this new scent for yourself, you can find it at @shoppersdrugmart!

#SelfCareTips #DrTeals #SelfCareSaturday #OntarioBlogger #SelfCare #RelaxandRechargewithDrTeals
Did you know that most Canadians drink more coffee Did you know that most Canadians drink more coffee than any other beverage? I can’t function without a fresh cup in the morning, and I also usually have a cafe latte or a cup of decaf later in the day too, so this came as no surprise to me! ☕️

Unfortunately though, this does add lot of waste to our landfills. @preschoice recently launched sustainable packaging that is estimated to offset hundreds of metric tonnes of waste to our landfills per year – even if you’re not a coffee person, I think that’s something everyone will love! 🙌♻️

What’s your go-to brew?

#Sponsored #HeyPC #HeyPCpartner #PCCoffee #CoffeeAddict
Is it wine o’clock yet? Asking for a friend. #Cr Is it wine o’clock yet? Asking for a friend. #CricutMade 🍷🍷

I made these cute #valentines themed wine glasses using my @Cricut and Everyday Vinyl a few years ago, and I still love them. The full tutorial is still up on the blog (link in bio).

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#ValentinesInspo #ValentinesDIY #Cricut #CricutCrafts #CricutValentines #OntarioBlogger #DIYBlogger #SmallBlogger #WineLover #WineTime #BeWine #CricutCanada
Can’t stop, won’t stop making cute latte art s Can’t stop, won’t stop making cute latte art stencils with my @Cricut Maker 💁‍♀️💖. Step-by-step instructions are on the blog! (Link in bio)

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•
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•
#CricutMade #Cricut #DIYBlogger #CricutCrafts #ValentinesCrafts #ValentinesInspo #OntarioBlogger #SmallBlogger #CanadianInfluencer #DiscoverUnder4k #LatteArt #ILoveYouALatte #CricutCanada
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on here It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on here! Every winter after the holidays I like to take a little break from content creation for a few weeks to rest and reset. 

This year’s break was a little longer than I had originally intended, but that’s ok. I was feeling a little overwhelmed and just needed a bit of extra time before diving back in. 💕

I have started to work quietly behind the scenes and am super excited about some things that are in the works for this year! I’m looking forward to creating content for you again, and I have some fun brand collabs and giveaways headed your way. In the meantime, here is an old photo because it’s cute and I’m still editing some of the new content 🙈🙈.

How has your 2022 been so far?

#ontarioblogger #torontoblogger #mystyle #smallblogger #canadianinfluencer #discoverunder4k #lifestyleblog #valentinesinspo #valentinesday #thehappynow #valentinesoutfit #livecolorfully #flashesofdelight
Forever matching my phone case with my stationary Forever matching my phone case with my stationary 💁‍♀️. @casecoinc

I was recently #gifted this phone case from Caseco. I’ve been using it for a little over a week and am truly impressed with the quality of it 🤩. It’s also eco-friendly and made from recycled material!

(P.S. if you’re in the market for a new phone case they also gave me a code for 15% off! It’s “Kaitlyn15”.)

#ontarioblogger #torontoblogger #mondayvibes #phonecase #mystyle #smallblogger #canadianinfluencer #discoverunder4k #lifestyleblog
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Everything Else, Lifestyle, Shop local, Shopping · November 28, 2021

2021 Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide

If you’ve been around here for a while, I’m sure you all know how passionate I am about supporting local communities and how much I love shopping local. While I know this isn’t something that I can always do, I do try to shop local as much as possible and when I can’t I try to make a conscious effort to purchase from Canadian retailers and brands and advocate for others to do the same.

During the holidays, I make an even bigger conscious effort to shop local when I’m gift buying. For me, shopping locally for presents truly is the gift that keeps on giving. There’s something so special about being able to give someone a gift that is unique and that they can’t find anywhere else because it came from a small, local business or was made by a local maker. Not only that but when you buy a gift from a local business you’re also giving back to your community.

I’m so exited to finally share my 2021 Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide! I have personally purchased from all of these local makers, artisans and small businesses in the past.

This year, I’m also so excited to announce that I’m teaming up with some of them to host a 12 Days of Local holiday giveaway on Instagram! The giveaways will be running from December 1 to 12, with a new giveaway each day, so be sure to give me a follow so you don’t miss out on the fun. I’ll also be launching a second guide later this week on things to do in Durham this holiday season to help you get into the festive spirit – stay tuned!

1. Northern Lites Co.

I first met Teri and discovered Northern Lites Co. at a local holiday market about a year ago – I’ve been hooked on her hand-poured soy candles, wax melts and room sprays ever since. Her candles are hands-down my favourite and I almost always have one burning. Teri’s products are natural, eco-friendly, and phthalate, paraben and free. You can shop Northern Lites Co. online, shipped to your home or local pick-up at Markets Ontario at the Bowmanville location, where you can also shop in person! If someone on your list is a candle nut like I am, they’re going to love Teri’s.

2. Aide Bodycare

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about Aide Bodycare on here, so it should come as no surprise that they’re on my list this year! I first met Michelle at the Toronto One of a Kind Show 7 years ago and was really excited to learn that she was from my neck of the woods! Michelle creates the most beautiful, high-quality soaps and body products and has spa kits that make the perfect gift. She also carries products from other local makers and small businesses too, so you’re bound to find something for anyone on your list. Aide Bodycare has a storefront in Oshawa, ON and also offers in-store pickup and local delivery if you purchase online.

3. Panda & Co.

Panda & Co. is an online pet bakery and they specialize in baking healthy treats made with only natural, organic, human-grade ingredients for your beloved four legged friend. All of their treats are sugar-free, contain no preservatives, additives or artificial colours/flavours. They also cater to all dietary needs offering dairy-free, wheat/gluten free alternatives and everything in between! You can shop their products on their website or in-person at Markets Ontario at the Bowmanville location. Ruffi is a huge fan of their treats, we recently picked up an advent calendar for her! Their treats are a great gift for anyone on your list who is a dog-parent. 

4. Falcon Rub

Falcon Rub offers hand blended artisan spice rubs and other delicious fare-made BBQ products. They’re products are all created in Brooklin, ON and they offer plenty of KETO options.If you have someone on your list that loves to cook or barbecue, their rubs make for a great gift. You can use them on grilled meats or veggies, and even add a bit of excitement to eggs! You can shop their products in person or online at Markets Ontario (all locations). Note: while most of their spices don’t contain gluten, they do use a gluten-shared kitchen.

5. Mellona Prodcuts

I first discovered Mellona through a collaboration I did this past spring with Shop in Durham, and I’ve been hooked on their products ever since. They’re a family owned business and offer all-natural honey and fine food products including honey-infused beverages, oils, bbq sauces, jams and much more – there’s something for everyone on your list! Their bee farm sits on 20 acres of land and is local to Durham Region. Their products are chemical and antibiotic free. You can purchase their products directly on their website and they offer free local porch-pickup. (Fun fact, did you know that consuming local honey can reduce seasonal allergies?)

6. Hartley Press

I’m a big fan of sending hand-written Christmas cards and giving them to all my friends and family. Hartley Press is a brand new small business that offers punny hand-made cards. It’s actually owned by one of my friends and fellow bloggers, Samantha of Pearls and Polkadots. She draws all of her designs on her iPad Pro, prints them herself and then cuts and scores them using her Cricut. They’re super cute and if you love a good pun like I do, I know you’ll fall in love with them. I’m probably a little biased, but her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Christmas cards are my favourite. She offers free shipping on most orders and has porch pick-up for local customers.

7. Heirloom Heather

Heirloom Heather is another small business that was created by a friend of mine. Heather and I originally went to college together and quickly became friends over our mutual interest in design and k-pop. Heather’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and during the pandemic she started gardening as a hobby and let me tell you, she has a natural talent for it. A year later, Heather decided to take her hobby to the next level and launched her florist farmer business. All of her flowers are hand-grown herself, or locally sourced. She creates beautiful bouquets, centrepieces for every holiday, and new to this year are her holiday wreaths which make for a perfect gift for anyone on your list who loves home decor. You can purchase her arrangements online through her website or via Instagram, where she posts limited drops.

8. Pink Lemon Decor

I first met Amber, the owner of Pink Lemon Decor, many years ago at a local markers market. Pink Lemon Decor offers unique prints, digital download prints, wooden signs and vintage art-prints. All wood signs are handcrafted using Canadian lumber and assembled in-house in Bowmanville, ON and make for a great gift for anyone on your list who loves home decor, decorating for the holidays or is a new home owner. You can shop directly on the Pink Lemon Decor website, or in-person at one of her many pop-up markets or at Markets Ontario at the Bowmanville location.

9. Infused Handcrafted

Infused Handcrafted offers beautiful, handmade natural bath products including shower steamers, bath bombs (my personal favourite) soaps and more. Their products are all made with organic, chemical free, food grade ingredients. Every product is infused with the highest therapeutic grade essential oils you can find and make for great gifts for anyone who loves a little “me time” and regularly practices self-care – they even offer gift sets! You can shop their products online through their website or in-person at Markets Ontario in Bowmanville.

10. Madera by Joe

Madera by Joe offers custom live edge charcuterie boards (I’m a firm believer that everyone needs a charcuterie board in their home), coasters, home decor, furniture as well as custom pieces. The owner, Joe, is a woodworker with years of experience and is based out of Bowmanville, ON. Every single piece is unique and absolutely stunning. You can shop Madera at Markets Ontario at the Bowmanville location, or message him to inquire about custom creations. Joe also offers local pick-up/drop-off. I really love using the coasters as a candle charger and they also make for the perfect gift – you could gift a full package, or split a package up and gift them alongside your favourite local candles for a nice gift.

11. Twenty 1 Desserts

Twenty 1 is dedicated to all natural, vegan and gluten-free hand-made desserts. All of their products are free from refined sugars, preservatives and processed ingredients. They offer a wide-range of products including charcuterie boxes, treat boxes, holiday desserts, KETO friendly treats and more. With so many options, they make for a great gift for foodies on your list or anyone who has dietary restrictions (e.g. vegan or gluten-free). You can order online through their website or in-person at their storefront in Bowmanville, or at Urban Markets in Oshawa, ON.

12. All Things Stamped

All Things Stamped offers 100% handcrafted and hand stamped jewellery that is made in Bowmanville, ON using high quality stainless steel and aluminum materials. All of their products are hypoallergenic, non-tarnish, and nickel free — a must for those of us with sensitive skin. They use positive and encouraging words throughout their designs to help influence the way we think, improve our overall well-being, and promote positivity in all aspects of our lives. Their products make for great, personalized and thoughtful gift. I’m a huge fan of their zodiac constellation necklaces personally. You can shop their products online through Etsy, or in-person at Markets Ontario at the Bowmanville location.

 

 

In: Everything Else, Lifestyle, Shop local, Shopping · Tagged: Christmas, durham region, Holiday Gift Guide, Home decor, Local, Products, shop local, Shopping

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Hi! I'm Kait (pronouns she/her), a Canadian lifestyle blogger from the greater Toronto area living life gluten-free. I'm passionate about supporting local communities and collecting teacups.

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Shop Saje: Premium diffusers and essential oils from true, natural sources

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Follow @misskait

I was recently gifted this @tocobo_official produc I was recently gifted this @tocobo_official product line from @stylekorean to try out and I’ve been really enjoying using them in my nighttime skincare routine!

🥥 COCONUT CLAY CLEANSING FOAM
• Deep, gentle cleanse without drying out the skin, reduces sebum and dead skin cells
• Leaves your face feeling soft and clean, lathers well and is hypoallergenic 
• I’ve really enjoyed using this as my morning cleanser

🍋 AHA BHA LEMON TONER
• Vitalizing and brightening
• Exfoliates and cleanses pores
• Thick and viscous consistency compared to other toners, but absorbs quickly
• Recommended for nighttime due to AHA and BHA

💧 BIFIDA BIOME ESSENCE
• Helps strengthen skin barrier
• Balancing and calming, anti-aging
• Non-sticky, lightweight and absorbs quickly
• Good morning or night, I prefer using it at night

🤍 MULTI CERAMIDE CREAM
• Strengthen moisture barriers, protects the skin and deeply moisturizers 
• Thick and creamy, great as a night cream
• Great as a night cream

🌿 BRAND HIGHLIGHTS
• Vegan-certified and hypoallergenic
• High-quality products and a fair price

I would honestly purchase each and every one of these products again!

#KBeauty #TryMeReviewMe #StyleKorean #SkincareCommunity #Tocobo #SkincareRoutine #SkincareProducts #BeautyBlogger #KBeautyProducts #SkincareReview #TryMeReviewMe_Tocobo #TorontoBlogger #OntarioBlogger  #CanadianInfluencer
Pyjamas all day, please 😌 @arrowitforward rece Pyjamas all day, please 😌

@arrowitforward recently sent over some goodies for me to try, and I am hooked. 

Their candles and wax melts are made with soy and coconut wax in small batches with premium quality fragrance oils – and that’s it! The candles also use natural cotton wicks.

They all smell sooo good, but pyjama day candle might be my fav of the bunch. It smells like fresh bread. The entire household thought I had baked something when I was burning it. 😅🥖

*gifted products

#ShopLocalON #OntarioBlogger #OntarioSmallBusiness #OntarioMakers #TorontoBlogger #CandleAddict #ShopSmall #BuyLocal #OntarioBlogger #DiscoverUnder4K #SoyCandles #HomeDecor #TheHappyNow
Ruffi’s daughter, Rory, stayed with us for the p Ruffi’s daughter, Rory, stayed with us for the past few weeks for a little pup-cation! She’s bouncy, full of love, and will always wake you up with her toy donut in your face 🍩😆. 

She went back home to @embee_cavaliers today and was the perfect (paw-fect?) house guest and cuddle buddy. 💕
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•
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#CavaliersOfInstagram #CavalierKingCharles #CavaliersOfToronto #TorontoBlogger #OntarioBlogger #EmbeeCavaliers #TorontoCavaliers #CavalierCollective #TheHappyNow #FlashesOfDelight  #DiscoverUnder4K
Relaxing and recharging with @drteals. 🛁🌿 S Relaxing and recharging with @drteals. 🛁🌿

Self-care looks different for everyone. While it’s so much more than just a relaxing bath, a deep soak is an important part of my process – it helps me disconnect and decompress at the end of each week.

I was #gifted these products to try out, but I think they’ll become a repeat purchase. The blend of stevia, thyme, cedarwood and bergamot essential oils is so relaxing. 

If you want to try out this new scent for yourself, you can find it at @shoppersdrugmart!

#SelfCareTips #DrTeals #SelfCareSaturday #OntarioBlogger #SelfCare #RelaxandRechargewithDrTeals
Did you know that most Canadians drink more coffee Did you know that most Canadians drink more coffee than any other beverage? I can’t function without a fresh cup in the morning, and I also usually have a cafe latte or a cup of decaf later in the day too, so this came as no surprise to me! ☕️

Unfortunately though, this does add lot of waste to our landfills. @preschoice recently launched sustainable packaging that is estimated to offset hundreds of metric tonnes of waste to our landfills per year – even if you’re not a coffee person, I think that’s something everyone will love! 🙌♻️

What’s your go-to brew?

#Sponsored #HeyPC #HeyPCpartner #PCCoffee #CoffeeAddict
Is it wine o’clock yet? Asking for a friend. #Cr Is it wine o’clock yet? Asking for a friend. #CricutMade 🍷🍷

I made these cute #valentines themed wine glasses using my @Cricut and Everyday Vinyl a few years ago, and I still love them. The full tutorial is still up on the blog (link in bio).

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•
#ValentinesInspo #ValentinesDIY #Cricut #CricutCrafts #CricutValentines #OntarioBlogger #DIYBlogger #SmallBlogger #WineLover #WineTime #BeWine #CricutCanada
Can’t stop, won’t stop making cute latte art s Can’t stop, won’t stop making cute latte art stencils with my @Cricut Maker 💁‍♀️💖. Step-by-step instructions are on the blog! (Link in bio)

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•
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•
#CricutMade #Cricut #DIYBlogger #CricutCrafts #ValentinesCrafts #ValentinesInspo #OntarioBlogger #SmallBlogger #CanadianInfluencer #DiscoverUnder4k #LatteArt #ILoveYouALatte #CricutCanada
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on here It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on here! Every winter after the holidays I like to take a little break from content creation for a few weeks to rest and reset. 

This year’s break was a little longer than I had originally intended, but that’s ok. I was feeling a little overwhelmed and just needed a bit of extra time before diving back in. 💕

I have started to work quietly behind the scenes and am super excited about some things that are in the works for this year! I’m looking forward to creating content for you again, and I have some fun brand collabs and giveaways headed your way. In the meantime, here is an old photo because it’s cute and I’m still editing some of the new content 🙈🙈.

How has your 2022 been so far?

#ontarioblogger #torontoblogger #mystyle #smallblogger #canadianinfluencer #discoverunder4k #lifestyleblog #valentinesinspo #valentinesday #thehappynow #valentinesoutfit #livecolorfully #flashesofdelight
Forever matching my phone case with my stationary Forever matching my phone case with my stationary 💁‍♀️. @casecoinc

I was recently #gifted this phone case from Caseco. I’ve been using it for a little over a week and am truly impressed with the quality of it 🤩. It’s also eco-friendly and made from recycled material!

(P.S. if you’re in the market for a new phone case they also gave me a code for 15% off! It’s “Kaitlyn15”.)

#ontarioblogger #torontoblogger #mondayvibes #phonecase #mystyle #smallblogger #canadianinfluencer #discoverunder4k #lifestyleblog
Merry Christmas, friends! ❤️🐶 I went back Merry Christmas, friends! ❤️🐶

I went back and forth between getting this sweater from @cavologybrand in the black & tan version to match Ruffi, or the tri version to honour our sweet girl Kodee (which is what I ended up doing!) – she always “helped” with wrapping by sitting on top of the paper whenever you tried to roll it out and loved to nap under the Christmas tree post present opening🎄.

#uglychristmassweater #cavaliersofinstagram #cavaliercollective #christmas2021 #christmasvibes #canadiancavaliers #christmastime #merrychristmas #cavaliersoftoronto #cavology

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