OrganicTan Edmonton

This is a sponsored post however all opinions are my own.

When I was approached by Alitta from OrganicTan Edmonton to try a SunnaTan spray tan I was super skeptical. As a red head I am used to staying out of the sun and have grown to like my very fair skin. I really was scared to try a spray tan at first because I thought I’d look unnatural or at the worst like a carrot. Besides, I’ve never had a spray tan before, so I was certain I would pass on this opportunity.

But then I saw on Instagram Stories Alitta’s lovely personality and the spray tans she had done on other Edmonton gals. They looked fabulous! Every person she airbrushed with her magical formula looked even more beautiful, healthier, with the perfect color every single time. So I got my courage up and booked an appointment with her.

I’m so glad I did! From the moment we chatted on the phone, I started feeling at ease with Alitta. She is one of those women that is so much fun, you feel comfortable with instantly. And that’s always a great thing if you actually decide to “bare it all” as I did during a spray tan session. But we’ll get to that later. ;-D

A couple weeks ago I visited Alitta at OrganicTan Edmonton located at Lipstick Empire, a local laser spa that also offers other services including micro-needling, eyelash lift and tint, facials, microblading – the list goes on! And I must mention it’s also a beautiful place to hang out. I mean look at the decor:

So onto my experience. At first Alitta told me why OrganicTan came to be. Established in 2011 in Calgary, Canada SunnaTan was born from a desire to provide a safe alternative to harmful UV tanning, and to prevent the permanent and irreversible damage it has on skin. Because it’s based here in Alberta, the tanning colours are lighter and meant for us naturally pasty winter women who have no sun for eight months of the year unlike our Californian counterparts who are blessed with year round sunshine. An OrganicTan is also hypoallergenic, paraben-free and alcohol- free, has no chemical ingredients, and is packed full of organic skin nourishing ingredients including sunflower oil, bark extract, gotu kola, echinacea and green tea.

Then Alitta assessed my skin and decided to go with medium-light so we could start subtle and work towards darker later on down the road if need be. She also mentioned the tan should last for 7-10 days, I leave it on my skin for 24 hours, then I rinse off in my shower and I’m my new “golden self”. Then I asked her the most important question – “Do I get nekkid for this?” She said it’s entirely up to me, but she explained I might want to leave my underwear bottoms on to so there will be a tan line to show the difference in colour. I thought that was a great idea! So in the end I went topless and was so glad I did as it was nice to not have bra strap tan lines when I wore an off-shoulder sweater to an event later on.

Now for the tanning part. Alitta does the spraying via airbrush so the tan is applied evenly – no automation here! Now I am super scent sensitve with an ultra powerful nose so I could slightly smell the tan as it was being applied. I wanted to eat it because to me it smelled a bit like coconuts – soooooooooo goooooooood! And it felt invigorating.

So here’s my before and after:

Unfortunately the lighting in the tanning room made it difficult to really show how perfect my tan is. After the 24 hours was up and I washed the excess bronzer off it looked lighter and so perfect! And the great news is my tan looked awesome for the whole 10 days! This is one happy gal right here. 

So do yourself a favour and check out Alitta at OrganicTan Edmonton. You can also follow her on Facebook, and Instagram.

This is a sponsored post however all opinions are my own.

Tuesday's OOTW - Falling In Love

Fall is my favourite time of year. The leaves are gorgeous, the air is crisp, and I can wear all the hats and boots and sweaters and scarves AND…. Okay gotta control myself here. Deep breath. 

Okay as I was saying I really love fall so much I got married in the fall and years later had my daughter baptized in the fall on our wedding anniversary. I love fall colours so much I thought I should wear them proudly and rock out a “Hey you! Yes you!! Fall, how you doin’?!?” look. Yes that is what this is. And also an opportunity to show off my new awesome scalloped white booties which I have wanted for a very long time. I thought it would be tough to style white boots, but I’ve found that they look great with basically everything. I chose a dark floral dress because I like the contrast and also because it has some white running through it. If you’re more conservative and not print addicted like me, they also go well with jeans and a chunky knit sweater. Since school starts in fall, I buy my daughter the best girls school trousers in fall colors.

So do you like fall? What’s your favourite season? Shout it out in the comments below.

 

Monday's Meme

James here. My Mom is still under the weather so please send prayers, good vibes, and well-wishes! Luckily she had some posts ready for you this week, but I’ll start first with today’s meme. After that maybe I’ll take my toys out of her room. I said maybe.

Friday's Faux Paw

Denim jackets are very stylish. A denim jacket can be worn over a girlie sundress or with cargo pants to make it more casual. Actually the possibilities are endless. Jeans are another item that never goes out of style. But the the colour or cut does – remember the acid wash jeans of the 80’s? However when you combine these two closet classics in the same colour wash, the end result is that you look dated and dumpy, you can also try the trending christian athletes shirts. It looks like you never even tried to put any effort into your outfit. Men are the worst offenders of this fashion crime. If the denim jacket is the same colour as the jeans, it is called a Canadian Tuxedo. The people who Jeff Foxworthy now makes fun of started this trend in the 80’s and it needs to go by way of the dodo bird. Others try to wear contrasting pieces of denim, for example a light denim jacket with dark jeans. At least this looks better. And don’t even think about wearing a denim shirt with jeans that are the same colour for the same reasons listed. If you are truly interested in looking great please wear a denim piece with a non-denim piece so your neck doesn’t get red. If you insist on looking like a lumberjack, then this rating is for you:

My Ten Favourite Pins I've Pinned On Pinterest

Are you on Pinterest? What a coincidence – so am I! I thought it would be fun to share with you some of my favourite recent pins I’ve pinned and a write up on each. If you want to pin the original pin to your collections, then just click on the pic and it will take you to it on Pinterest. So, without further adieu…

One of the things that both Tim and I share is our love of the autumn season. The colours are beyond fantastic and are inspiring! Unfortunately the fall season is too short here in Edmonton but I always seem to find wonderful pictures of places that I hope one day to visit in September or October when the colours seem to be at their peak.

My first PinPic therefore is this wonderful lakeside scene. I can just imagine chilling out with a blueberry tea, warm sweater and loads of relaxation time. Just looking at this picture calms me down and puts me in a cheery mood. Ahhhh….serenity now!

I also know that the fall season also gets me more in touch with my spirituality. Seeing all the glorious colours reminds me of God’s splendour. For those of you who follow me on a regular basis, you`ll know that I`m a big fan of essential oils. Here is an oil blend that will help you tune in to your spiritual side….perfect for getting you into the mood for “all that is fall”.

Now here is a dog that is simply in the moment. Taking in the sun, enjoying the pool and happy to be alive. We can all learn something from dogs! While this isn’t Zeke, I love this photo because I’ve seen Zeke be this Zen like. Huuuuummmm.

Pinterest is great for finding recipes and I was looking for a great bunch of munchies for my upcoming birthday party. This should fit the bill nicely!

Last year I saw these cute ornaments at a craft sale and thought, I should make my own! This tutorial should have me making these cute reindeer ornaments in no time!

I have always loved peacocks so I made a special board on my Pinterest for all things peacock. Isn’t this photo beautiful?

This shirt totally makes me laugh. Maybe If I wear it, it would cheer me up so much that I could actually become a morning person. Naaaaaaah.

I am currently in the process of decluttering, and organizing our home. I have created a great organizing board on Pinterest to help me on my daunting quest for house organization. Not as difficult as world domination but close.

Scarves intimidate me. I guess it’s because I only had two ways of tying them. Twelve different ways might make me feel just a bit more scarf savvy. 

Another diffuser blend? Why yes, because I want my house to eventually go from smelling like fall to smelling like Christmas. And this looks like a good one!

So, these are a few of my favourite pins! What have you pinned lately that you’ve found Pinteresting? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday's OOTW - Bootielicious

The first time I saw these blush, velvet, lace-up booties I knew they had to be a part of my shoe collection. I snagged them off of JustFab and on a great sale to boot! 😉 If you don’t have a JustFab account, then I have linked three other options if these are a must have for you as well. And this fall is all about camo. The great news is that if you’re not a fan of the usual green blend camo, there are lots of options with other colours blended into the camo including this cute camo cardigan with some pink mixed in. So literally anyone can grab some camo this fall! 

Many people think they can’t pull of a hat. Well I say you just haven’t found the right yet! I’m lucky because I can pull of pretty much any hat – at least that’s what they tell me. If you are unsure of what hat is right for you, try on all the hats! I believe a simple black fedora looks great on anyone. In this look I brought out my floppy hat to give a more laid back feeling to my look, then added a pink tank top, one of my handmade brass chevron necklaces, and my favourite black pants.

Soooo, are you hat shy? Let me know in the comments below!

Hat // Sunglasses // Necklace // Cardigan // Tank Top // Pants: Similar // Booties: Similar, Similar, Similar 

 

Monday's Meme

But Mom and Dad always take me with them. Don’t they? 

Friday's Faux Paw

May both my Canadian and American friends take a moment tomorrow to remember those who have selflessly paid the ultimate price so that we may live in freedom.

Today’s faux paw is very important to me. It is wonderful to wear a poppy to honour fallen veterans and those who have passed on since the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean Conflict, Iraq, and Afghanistan. But it is completely disrespectful not to wear it properly. The correct way to wear a poppy is on the left hand side of the body over the heart – not on your hat, back jeans pocket etc. I searched the internet to find someone wearing their poppy incorrectly to post it here. Thankfully I couldn’t find one. So please wear a poppy and wear it in the right place! If you don’t, then you’re…

My Fall Lust List

Even though there is now snow where I live, it’s technically still fall. I am loving lots of the fall textures, colours, and styles and have lots of new items in my closet and on my wish list that I want to share with you. To shop any of the items, just click on its photo.

So let’s dive in!

I’ve been living in my black fedora. Hats aren’t just for bad hair days, but also for elevating your look! There is something so chic and mysterious about a black fedora. They are also less intimidating to pull off than a floppy hat and look great on anyone. It’s a great time to try one out as they are on sale.

I just got this knot hem t-shirt and love it to pieces! And for $12 with an additional 30% off you cannot go wrong! Even though it’s in the activewear section, it can be worn every day. It is so comfortable and flattering. It’s on the large side so order one size smaller than you usually wear. It comes in navy, grey stripe, and black.

Velvet is everywhere this fall and I am loving it! I broke down and bought this velvet shirt in every colour (except black and the dark steel because they didn’t have my size). I thought when they arrive in the mail I’ll decide which two I’ll keep. I’m dying over here because I love all of them. ARRRRRRRGH! I went one size smaller and I’m glad I did as they are a generous fit. And they are under $25 US people!

A chunky knit sweater in a neutral colour like cream, grey, tan, black, or navy is a great addition to your fall wardrobe. When going through my fall and winter clothing I couldn’t believe I didn’t own one so I grabbed this cream one on sale. The great news is that it’s still on sale for $28 US (With 30% off on top of that!) and also comes in wine, green, navy, red, mustard, and grey.

Blanket scarfs and Buffalo print are still going strong so I had to scoop up this baby. I love how the print is bigger squares than the usual Buffalo plaid. Paired with a chunky knit sweater, leggings, and and ankle boots, this scarf is the perfect accessory to pull together your look.

This cardigan is super long and lightweight enough to layer. It comes in three colours – black, wine, and light grey. Shorter gals might find it a bit too long for them. However, if you’re on the taller side (5’7″ and up), you might find it’s great option for you. It is an open front, but that won’t stop me from belting it and wearing it as a dress.

I can’t quit wearing this vest. It will be on repeat until it gets colder then I will break it out again for spring. It has fleece on the inside, fits true to size, isn’t too bulky, and has pockets! Plus camo is very hot right now. If camo is not your thing, it also comes in solid colours – pale pink, tan, fuchsia, off-white, and black. This vest is on sale so get yours before they are all gone!

I seriously live in these jeggings so I had to share them with you. I honestly don’t know why they call them a jegging as they are jeans. You can get them on sale even lower than $15 US! They come in black, white, dark denim, and light denim and are mid-rise which is now my favourite style of jean. I find low-rise not flattering on me any more (muffin-top much), and I don’t wear high-waisted because I have no torso to begin with, so why make it even smaller? I am not joking when I say I live in them. When they are in the wash, I just stand lost in the middle of my room. And if you’re into the distressed jean look right now and don’t want to drop $40+, why not grab a pair of these, some sandpaper, and make your own? There are plenty of YouTube tutorials that will help you out. 

Okay, I’m not buying these as I have gloves coming out of my a$$, but if I needed mitts I would run to the store and grab these cute Buffalo print ones. They are fleece so here in Canada they are great for running errands but not for hanging out on the toboggan hill when it’s -30 (F or C). I love the fact that the index finger has a patch so you can use your touch screen while wearing them. They also come in leopard, white plaid, black plaid, grey, and black. 

If you love plaid half as much as I do, then these cute pumps need to find a home in your closet STAT! I have been looking for a pair of plaid heels and these are a steal at $35 US! For those picky people out there, the plaid pattern doesn’t match on each shoe. But I love that it doesn’t. I feel it makes each pair unique and quirky! And for the price and the fact that they are super comfy, I’ll shut off my OCD for these babies!

Over the knee boots are big on the fall fashion scene but I didn’t want to drop a lot of money on something that is a trend. I scored these babies for under $30 US and I am completely happy with them. They stay up great on their own but even have ties in the back if you’re worried about them sliding down.

What are you adding to your wardrobe for this fall/winter season? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday's OOTW - Where Am I?

The title of this post actually makes sense because I’m wearing my favourite camo vest. Camouflage makes one blend in so I know it’s hard to see me the the following photos. 😀 I love this vest so much because it has pockets, is lined with cozy fleece, and it fits just right. It’s not too bulky so you don’t look like The Michelin Man. Perfect for those chilly days. The best part is that I snagged it on a great sale that is still going strong. My pants are pretty old, but I’ve linked some similar ones. And I’m so happy I bought these boots. At first I thought I should take them back because I never wore them, but now I can’t quit wearing them. They are the perfect olive green, so comfy, and very affordable. 

I am totally in love with the camouflage trend this fall! What is your favourite fall trend? Let me know in the comments below.

Hat // Sunglassses // Vest // Sweater: Similar // Pants: Similar // Boots

Monday's Meme

So that’s where Mom puts the candy! Maybe I’ll have to start eating “vegetables”.

Friday's Faux Paw

I am very surprised that I need to write about today’s Faux Paw. I feel the urgent need to do so as I have a great sense of smell. What I wish to discuss is bad breath – especially from coffee or tobacco. We all have vices. I get it. I love a good cup of joe every morning while I peruse the Wall Street Journal. But I make sure when I’m done to get out a toothbrush and toothpaste and scrub my canines. When I drink coffee later on in the day, I brush my fangs again afterwards. If I’m chasing my brother James around the house and don’t have time, I chew some minty gum. Yeah, I’m a dog and I don’t tolerate dog breath – even from humans. Now for all you smokers out there, please do the same. You co-workers will like you better. And who knows, you just might finally get invited to social gatherings more often or get that promotion you’ve been wanting. If you continue on with your stinky breath, then this rating is for you:

My Goals For November

Is anyone in shock as I am that it’s now November?!?! I don’t think I’m the only one. At least I hope not. As it is getting closer to the end of another year, I thought I would share my monthly goals each month with you until the end of the year. 

So every New Year I create a vision board with all my goals for the year on it. I haven’t looked at this board for some time now so I thought I would take it out and see if there’s anything I would like to add to my list for this month. After checking it out and coming up with a few new goals, here’s my list of goals for the month of November:

1. Get every product up on our new business website The Rear Gunner Clothing Company.

2. Make a monthly schedule for blogging and get ahead with my posts.

3. Start walking on the treadmill three times a week.

4. Finish organizing and cleaning my house.

5. Get my first spray tan ever.

6. Get my hair cut.

7. Clean the garage so we can fit an actual car in there.

8. Plan out my Instagram photos.

9. Do a bunch of OOTW shoots so I don’t have to do them when it’s freezing out.

10. Go to bed by 10:00pm every night and be asleep by 11:00pm.

So there’s my list! What are your goals for this month? Please let me know in the comments below! Now goal get them! 😉