Today, I am sharing a round-up of my favorite things for the month of January. But first, I am starting with a little recap of Steve’s birthday celebration- a little, private affair with family and friends.
It was a small celebration but full of lively conversation, lovely memories and of course, great food. And you know me, food always plays a major role in my life and in this blog! We drank way too much bubbly, and then ordered a most delicious Sushi spread from our local Roncesvalles restaurant. To highlight Steve’s birthday and personality, we had the most fun and emblematic custom birthday cake prepared by the @sugarfairykitchen – my favorite Toronto custom cake bakery.
LINKS AND LOVES
This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience*
LIFESTYLE
This Christmas, mom gifted me a NESPRESSO VERTUO NEXT COFFEE MACHINE. Although I still love my French press coffee system, I was ready to try something new. And I have to say that Nespresso delivers a great tasting coffee experience- that silky crema atop the coffee is heavenly! Easily one of my favorite gifts ever. The range of blends is super varied and the ones I have tried are quite delicious. The VERTUO NEXT brews 5 cup sizes, from single espressos to a 14 oz alto. I also love that the coffee pods are fully recyclable, with different recyclable solutions depending where you live.
FASHION
We are still going through winter here- and are a long way from Spring. I love to walk everywhere- be it to run errands or just to mosey around my neighbourhood’s cafes and boutiques- even with snow on the ground. So a most comfortable and trusty pair of boots is always essential, right? Enter the utilitarian inspired ALEIA COMBAT BOOT by Sam Edelman. It is probably the most comfortable combat boot I have ever owned… my new favorite!
With a military-inspired design, the Aleia boot’s high-traction sole will keep you grounded whether you’re blazing snow trails or city sidewalks. Rugged yet stylish, it is so versatile to wear. The ALEIA has a smooth leather upper with a subtle shine that gives off a very high end look. It also has a concealed zip closure that allows you to avoid re-lacing your boots with every wear. Brilliant! I have enjoyed them so much so that I will be ordering another pair in a different colour/texture!
WELLNESS
If I am not paying attention to my immune system, I find that my energy levels, joints and skin all feel depleted. And consequently I don’t not feel and look good. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I am a firm believer in taking daily supplements and collagen. Recently, I switched to VITAL PROTEINS ENHANCED COLLAGEN POWDER and my body is loving it very much. I have noticed such a visible difference in the way my body moves and the way my skin looks. One scoop daily in your coffee, tea, smoothie or yogurt is all it takes! Heck, I have even added it to my soup!
This single origin collagen powder is flavourless, odourless, dairy-free and gluten-free, with no added sugars nor sweeteners. Even better, I love the fact that it is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine to ensure high quality. If you are looking for an alternative to bovine sourced collagen, there is MARINE COLLAGEN available, too. Whichever you choose, there is no denying that collagen is full of benefits for your overall health, so give it a try!
For my Canadians, you can purchase VITAL PROTEINS Enhanced Collagen Powder here and here. Marine Collagen available here and here.
For my USA readers, you can purchase VITAL PROTEINS Enhanced Collagen Powder here and here. Marine collagen available here and here.
BEAUTY
If you follow me on INSTAGRAM, you may have seen my campaign with @vichylaboratoires for the new LIFTACTIV SPECIALIST B3 DARK SPOTS SERUM. It is formulated with 4 highly concentrated hero ingredients that when combined correct and reduce dark spots and give you a radiant complexion. The added bonus is that this serum also targets fine lines and wrinkles. After using it twice daily for a full month now, I am thrilled to report that my skin is responding very well to this serum. Very radiant, indeed…It is definitely a new favorite! If you are over 35 or suffer from dark spots, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, then this serum is for you, too.
Canadians: you can purchase the serum here and here.
USA: you can purchase the serum here, here and here.
And remember, the best way to use this serum is in combination with a daily SUNSCREEN – whether you stay indoors or go out in the full sun. A list of my go-to, dermatologist approved sunscreens can be found in this post HERE.
FOOD AND DRINK
Yes, we have a new favorite in the bubbly department: We are loving DURAN, a Cava Gran Reserva Brut from Spain. It is smooth, easy to drink and perfect for all occasions. And if you love bubbly, then you must add this CHAMPAGNE CORK to your bar. It keeps your bubbly fresh and fizzy. Tried and true!
I craved freshness and salads the whole month long, so my MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS SALAD was on heavy rotation. Perfect as a side dish with basically any meat- or just on its own when you need a light and refreshing meal.
January was also perfect for nibbling on cheese and charcuterie boards. We visited our local Farm Boy Foods and happily discovered a new compote to accompany our cheeses. The CARAMELIZED ONION AND BALSAMIC COMPOTE is very tasty and a perfect partner for our hard Italian cheeses. If you live in Ontario, head to your nearest Farm Boy Foods and try it out.
We also had nachos quite often… fully loaded with a new Tex-Mex meat mix I am still perfecting. Keep an eye out for the recipe in the months ahead!
And that’s it friends, all my favorites for the month of January. I hope you discovered new products today. Let me know if you try them out.-
Thanks for stopping by! Have an awesome day!
XO, Lala
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*This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your shopping convenience. This simply means that if you click on one of those links and then make a purchase, I may earn a small commission from the sale. This does not result in extra charges to you- or cost you anything additional. As always, I only recommend products I truly love. Thanks for your support!
I really enjoyed your post! Lots of great info!!!!