Storing Fragrances

So the snow has already threatened to flurry – or perhaps it’s already fluttering down where you are – which means you’re firmly in the winter-woolly mindset. Or at least you’ve started to wear socks again. You’ve also moved into a new fragrance: perhaps an eau-de-parfum version of your favourite summer floral, or a completely new spritz that’s rich and delicious and more in ine with your want-to-sit-by-the-fireplace-all-evening head space.

Q: So how best to store those favourite warm-weather scents so they’re fresh for next spring?

A: Store them in the fridge. Yes, in the fridge. It will prolong the life of your scent, and it’s a great solution if you like to switch up your fragrance with the season, but keep your scent stockpile in tip-top shape. 

Originally published on The Whale and the Rose

Pikolo

My newest discovery is a cute, little, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop called Pikolo Espresso Bar. This café is on Sherbrooke and Parc, conveniently located right across from the Provigo grocery store! I first heard about it through a friend and decided I had to drag my next coffee-loving victim, Alan, to try it with me!

Pikolo has a laid back atmosphere but is quite small. When we went, we noted that it was very cozy - and by cozy I mean ridiculously warm. The staff must have had the heating on full blast because I was dying from the heat in there! Regardless Alan and I both ordered warm drinks but ironically, neither of us chose an espresso.

Alan ordered a cappuccino, which he enjoyed. I can’t seem to break away from my coffee comfort zone, and not so surprisingly ordered a mokaccino. I’m not going to complain about not being adventurous because I was really happy with my choice! We noticed a lot of people studying there but the shop wasn’t very big and seemed a little too squishy to use as a study spot. We were really lucky to even find a place to sit. 

The best part of our drinks had to be the coffee art, which seems to be a trend everywhere I go! Despite the intense heat and tight quarters, I would recommend Pikolo as a cute date spot. It’s not overwhelmingly large and it is fairly quiet so you can hear what the other person is actually saying! For all you espresso lovers out there – don’t miss a chance to try Pikolo! 

Special Post: CASCO

The Commerce and Administration Student Charity Organization (CASCO) is a student-driven initiative that raises money to support the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. This was my first year being a part of the CASCO committee, and it was an absolute pleasure to work closely with so many philanthropic youth, truly dedicated to making a difference.  

 Every year the students on CASCO organize a Charity Fashion/Dance Show and a Silent Auction. This year, the 12^th annual show was held at L’Astral, a beautiful theatre downtown and featured performances by Dance Pack, Mosaica, Urban Groove, Brosaica and of course the CASCO Committee themselves! Each performance took the audience through different parts of the world in collaboration with this year’s theme: Coast to Coast.

 The dancers modeled clothing from some of Montreal hippest boutiques and designers including: Dom Rebel, Kollontaï, Top Belle Pour Toi, Billie, Valérie Dumaine, American Apparel, Annie 50, & Lustre Atelier + Boutique.

  The show was a huge success. With over 300 people in the audience, we managed to raise just over $10,000 through ticket sales and the silent auction; we’re still working towards our initial goal of $12,000. None of this would have been possible without the endless hours of work put in by the co-chairs, execs and of course the committee members as well as the generous donations from all of the sponsors which included but was not limited to Aveda, Desjardins, Ernst & Young and Etiket. 

Thank you to everyone who came to the show and supported us! Stay tuned for more events coming your way! 

Starbucks Secret Menu: Chocolate Pumpkin

If you remember from my very first post, I talked about my favourite coffee - the White Mocha from Starbucks. I never branch out and try new drinks because I'm worried I won't enjoy it. I stumbled upon a Secret Menu on Pinterest with a bunch of specialty drinks at Starbucks that you will not find on the menu.

Today, the barista made me a Pumpkin Spiced Latté and added in a pump of Chocolate Syrup. I’m not usually a fan of pumpkin but the chocolate syrup added the exactly what was missing. Perfect for a fall day, this drink reminds me of Thanksgiving. Too bad the fall season is basically over but I’m sure the barista would be happy to make this for you if you ask! 

LaLicious Love

I've decided to cheat a little bit this week and not talk about a new fragrance. I'm still very much enjoying my TOCCA fragrances and am not on the hunt for anything new at the moment. Instead, this week's post is about a number of delicious smelling products from my favourite line at Etiket - LaLicious.

LaLicious is an all-natural bath and body line that began in California. The entire line includes body soufflé scrubs, body soaps and body butters. The scrubs use natural ingredients and are created by a special whipped technique. Coconut and almond oil provide minerals, vitamins, and proteins that are essential for beautiful skin. The oils also penetrate skin easily while locking in moisture without leaving a greasy feeling. Almond oil relieves itching, dryness, inflammation, burns and thread veins. Vitamin E oil soothes and conditions as honey helps soften. Pure cane sugar is a less abrasive exfoliant than salt and won't sting cuts on the skin. LaLicious helps exfoliate, condition, moisturize and smooth the skin.

The first LaLicious product I bought was the Sugar Reef Scrub in the summer. This scrub made my skin feel amazing and I quickly became obsessed with the smell. I looked for every excuse to take a shower simply because I wanted to exfoliate…my roommates thought I was insane! My next addition was the Lily Mango Body Butter. This moisturizer was perfect for the summer months and reminded me of being in the tropics. Next I received the Passionfruit Lime Body Soap. This uniquely created whipped soap lathers nicely on your skin and leaves it smelling delicious! My current obsession is the Coconut Cream Body Scrub and I recently added the Coconut Cream Body Butter to my collection. Each scent leaves your skin silky smooth with a lingering scent that stays with you for a while so you don’t even need to use another fragrance.

On a fun note, celebrities like Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, Eva Mendez and Kate Hudson can’t seem to get enough of LaLicious. I love this line and have to constantly remind myself that these products are not edible! Even the packaging says, “no tasting please!” 

Special Post: Movember

November 1^st marks the beginning of Movember – a worldwide philanthropic effort to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer. Gentlemen all over the world grow a mustache for the entire month and collect donations for this great cause.

Growing up with an incredibly smart and inspiring older sister and many female cousins, I was always raised with the mindset that girls could do anything and everything boys could do, if not more. I also went to an all-girls school between the ages of 11 and 18 so I guess you can say I’m a bit of a feminist. My parents always supported our ambitions no matter how ridiculous they may have been.

As I’ve grown up and entered the co-ed world in university I've met many people who challenged my feminist views simply to get a rise out of me. For this reason, I sometimes struggle to maintain the mindset that girls can do everything boys can do. That being said, I thought joining the Movember movement with an incredible team of women would be a great way to show female power while supporting a great cause that is usually dominated by males. Even though we can’t grow a mustache we still have the ability to make a change. If you’d like to donate to the Etiket Mo Sistas please visit our Mo Space and support this great cause. We had a fun photo shoot at Etiket and even lost a few articles of clothing along the way. When we reach our goal of $2,500 you will get to see our risqué photos!