Shopping Lately -- Fashion and Beauty

Astazi e ultima zi din weekendul lung cu ocazia Craciunului aici la noi in Canada, iar de maine cei care nu au vacanta in aceasta perioada se intorc la serviciu, si pentru ei urmeaza inca in weekend lung cu ocazia Revelionului, vineri pe 1 ianuarie. Nu este si cazul meu, caci sunt in vacanta pana pe 4 ianuarie, si maine tot acasa voi fi, pana la sfarsitul acestei saptamani. Pe 26 decembrie este Boxing Day in Canada, adica zi de mari reduceri, la fel ca Black Friday, cand e aglomerat prin magazine de n-ai unde sa arunci un ac. Eu n-am avut chef sa ies la cumparaturi in aceste zile de dupa Craciun, am preferat sa petrec acest timp liber acasa cu familia, dar in schimb Boxing Day mi-a facut chef sa scriu despre cumparaturile pe care le-am facut de curand, in perioada de dinaintea sarbatorilor, asa ca astazi vom vorbi despe shopping.

 Una din sedintele de shopping pe care le-am facut de curand a fost la Marshall's, un lant de magazine din aceeasi familie ca si Winners si HomeSense. Nu mai fusesem nicioata la Marshall's, ci doar la celelalte doua (adica la Winners si HomeSense), si eram curioasa cum este si acest magazin, desi intr-o mare masura ma asteptam sa fie la fel ca la magazinele din aceeasi familie. Si chiar asa si este, la Marshall's se vand haine, cosmetice, produse de ingrijire, si cam acelasi tip de produse ca la Winners si HomeSense. Am mers la un magazin Marsall's din centru, intr-o pauza de pranz. In departamentul hainelor nu mi-a atras atentia nimic in mod deosebit, asa ca am rasfoit mai mult in zona frumusetii si accesoriilor. Mi-am luat de acolo o geanta Steve Madden din colectia Madden Girl, doua perechi de ciorapi si produse pentru ingrijirea parului.

Nu aveam neaparat nevoie de o geanta noua, dar frumusetea asta inflorata mi-a placut atat de mult, inca n-am putut rezista tentatiei. :)

Am mai adaugat o pereche de ciorapi colorati colectiei mele de ciorapi mati, iar Hue este brandul meu preferat in materie de ciorapi pentru sezonul rece. Si, pentru prima oara, am incercat ciorapi OTK. I-am probat acasa, si iata cum arata.

Am purtat ciorapii OTK si la serviciu o data, in combinatie cu o rochie. Anul acesta avem o iarna foarte blanda la Toronto (am mai mentionat asta), ceea ce imi permite tinute lejere, fara sa trebuiasca sa ma incotosmanez.

In aceeasi sedinta de shopping la Marshall's am ales aceste doua produse pentru ingrijirea parului, balsam pentru par si descalcitor pentru par MOA (melaleuca, omega-3, argan -- ingredientele de baza ale produsului). Cel mai mult ma bucur pentru aceasta gaselnita -- descalcitorul, caci ma ajuta foarte mult cu parul meu care este high maintenance. Am parul fin si subtire, care se rupe repede si se incalceste la spalat, iar acest detangler este o minune pentru parul meu cand trebuie sa-l pieptan dupa dus -- mi-a redus timpul pe care il petreceam inainte pentru descalcirea si pieptanarea parului dupa spalat la jumatate. Sunt o mare amatoare de produse pentru par pe baza de ulei de argan si le am tot timpul in baie -- sampon, balsam, masca e par, detangler ca acesta, etc.

Balsamul insa m-a dezamagit, nu s-a dovedit a fi atat de grozav din pacate, si nu voi mai lua din acesta. L-am luat atunci pentru ca l-am vazut pe raft si m-am gandit hai sa mai incerc si alte balsamuri pe langa cele cu ulei de argan pe care le iau de obicei, dar nu m-a impresionat.

Raman in zona frumusetii, cu aceste doua sapunuri naturiste hand-made din gama Hugo Naturals care sunt disponibile la supermaketul meu local. Ador sapunurile naturiste, si imi iau ori de cate ori ajung intr-un magazin cu produse naturiste.

Mi-am luat de curand si aceasta masca pentru par Pantene.

N-am mai facut eu poza, ci am gasit aceasta poza pe Google Images. Inca n-am incercat masca, dar urmeaza. Desi e un produs mass-market, si nu unul din produsele de par naturiste cu ulei de argan pe care le prefer de obicei, Pantene e o gama de produse pe care o apreciez, si imi iau sampoane si balsamuri de par Pantene din cand in cand, iar acum mi-a atras atentia si aceasta masca.

Revin la accesorii. O alta geanta pe care am cumparat-o de curand este aceasta.

Am vazut-o prima oara la magazinul Villa Valise din Whitby pe care l-am descoperit in octombrie si despre care v-am spus mai multe in acest articol. Am cunoscut-o atunci pe creatoarea acestor genti deosebite, Tracey MacKenzie, si de atunci am pastrat legatura cu Tracey. N-am cumparat geanta Jasmine atunci cand am vazut-o prima oara, ca nu eram sigura daca o vreau sau daca ar trebui sa o iau, dar gandul mi-a ramas la ea, si saptamani intregi dupa aceea m-am tot gandit la ea. Luna urmatoare am mai trecut odata pe la magazinul Villa Valise, si atunci m-am hotarat daca geanta Jasmine mai este in magazin si daca Tracey o mai are de vanzare, o cumpar. Gentile disponibile in magazin in acea zi erau din colectia pentru sezonul de iarna, iar Jasmine nu era expusa. Am intrebat-o pe Tracey daca o mai are, si eram convinsa ca nu o mai are, din moment ce nu era expusa in magazin. Si surpriza, inca o mai avea, dar nu era expusa in magazin deoarece, dupa cum mi-a zis Tracey, cumparatorii o vedeau mult prea de vara si nu se potrivea cu noua colectie pentru sezonul de iarna. Tracey o tinea impachetata intr-un dulap, si a scos-o afara pntru mine. Youhoo, ce bucuroasa eram, de data aceasta nu o mai las, ci o cumpar! Ca daca o las aici si de data aceasta, mai tarziu sigur nu o mai gasesc, asa ca nu ratez sansa! :) In afara de asta, Tracey mi-a vandut-o cu o reducere de 10 la suta. :) Atunci cand iti place ceva dar nu esti sigura daca ar trebui sa cumperi acel articol, lasa-l in magazin. Daca mergi acasa si dupa un timp (o saptamana sau mai mult) inca te mai gandesti la acea haina sau acel accesoriu, atunci stii ca iti doresti acel lucru cu adevarat, si mergi sa-l cumperi. Asa s-a intamplat si cu geanta Jasmine de la Villa Valise, prima oara nu eram sigura daca ar trebui sa o iau, caci am deja destule genti in garderoba, mai ales ca tocmai imi cumparasem si geanta inflorata Steve Madden, dar avand in vedere ca e atat de iesita din comun si nimeni pe lumea asta nu mai are o asememenea geanta (Tracey le face intr-un singur exemplar), da, merita sa faca parte din garderoba mea. In acelasi timp, mi-am promis ca nu imi mai cumpar genti noi in urmatorii cinci ani. :) Sa vad daca voi reusi sa ma tin de cuvant. :) Am purtat geanta Jasmine toata perioada aceasta, de cand am cumparat-o luna trecuta si pana acum, fara sa o schimb, atat de draga imi este. Cand ma intorc la serviciu saptamana viitoare pe 4 ianuarie, o voi schimba, ca sa port si celelalte genti din colectia mea, dar de departe este si va fi una din gentile mele preferate.

Am o colega de serviciu care ma rasfata intr-un fel al ei aparte, ma cadoriseste cu diverse accesorii, pentru ca admira stilul meu si ii plac combinatiile pe care le fac si pe care le abordez in tinutele mele de la birou. De curand a fost in vacanta in Italia, si mi-a adus de acolo aceasta poseta de seara.

Mi-a spus ca s-a gandit la mine atunci cand a vazut-o, ca ma vedea purtand-o, si a luat-o pentru mine. Am apreciat gestul ei frumos si am acceptat cadoul ei cu drag. Tot din Ialia m-a adus aceste sosete de balerina.

Si ca sa va faceti o idee cu aceste sosete, iata cum arata atunci cand le porti.

Le-am purtat o data la serviciu in combinatie cu fusta mea tutu rosie pe care v-am aratat-o in acest articol, si cu acesti balerini. Numai ca atunci cand le-am purtat la servciciu, le-am legat nu de-a lungul gambei asa cum se poarta sandalele gladiator, ci la nivelul gleznelor, ca sa nu alunece de pe picior, asa.

Un alt cadou pe care l-a primit de la colega mea este aceasta poseta Guess.

Nu este noua, a fost poseta ei si o avea de ani de zile, dar nu o mai purta de foarte mult timp, si s-a hotarat sa mi-o dea mine. Ok, multumesc frumos. Bareta este detasabila, si tin poseta la serviciu, pentru cand cobor la cafeneaua de jos sa-mi iau o cafea, si imi pun banii pentru cafea in aceasta poseta; sau cand trebuie sa merg pe undeva aproape de birou si nu vreau sa car geanta dupa mine, si iau cu mine aceasta posetura Guess cu cateva lucruri esentiale in ea.

Asta a fost tot pentru azi. :)
Se apropie Revelionul, va doresc distractie placuta in noaptea dintre ani, si sa ne auzim cu bine. La multi ani!

Photo credit: Victoria West (cu exceptia pozei creditata Google Images)

Refashion -- No Before, Just After

In acest an v-am aratat un numar de reconditionari si transformari de haine din seria refashion, dar acelea nu au fost toate refashion-urile pe care le-am executat. Au fost mai multe de atat, dar aici pe blog am scris doar despre acele care aveau poze inainte si dupa. Unele refashion-uri de-ale mele pe care le-am executat si pe care le port acum cu placere nu au poze "inainte", din varii motive. Uneori pur si simplu uitam sa fac o poza hainei inainte de transfromare, alteori nu aveam chef sa scot camera, alteori eram atat de excited cu ideea pe care o aveam pentru transformare incat saream peste partea cu fotografiatul etapelor.

In orice caz, am cateva haine reconditionate "no before, just after" in garderoba mea si m-am gandit ca si acestea merita o postare, pentru ca rezultatul final merita aratat. Astazi as vrea sa va arat unul din aceste refashion-uri, fara poze "inainte", doar "dupa".

Aveam in garderoba un pulover bleu foarte deschis, nuanta baby blue, pe care l-am primit de la John de 8 Martie acum 10 ani. L-am purtat cat l-am purtat in Romania, si l-am adus cu mine in Canada. Ultima oara l-am purtat acum doi ani la serviciu, cu o zi inainte de Paste, pentru ca sefa noastra ne-a sugerat ca in ziua dinainte de weekendul lung pentru Paste sa purtam toti culori pastel, si eu am ales acest pulover pentru elementul pastel in tinuta mea de Paste de la serviciu, in combinatie cu a fusta neagra creion. Nu l-am mai purtat de atunci pentru ca intre timp nu imi mai venea (eram mai slaba acum 10 ani, duuuh), si de atunci a stat acolo uitat in garderoba. Si ca sa va faceti o idee cum arata acest pulover al meu in varianta sa originala, era comparabil (ca model si culoare) cu un alt pulover pe care l-am reconditionat in acest an, si anume acesta.

M-am gandit sa-l transform intr-un cardigan. L-am taiat la mijloc, si i-am cusut tiv de mana pe margini. Vroiam sa-i fac si cordon ca sa-l leg la mijloc. Mai tineti minte aceste tricouri, din care am facut o bentita de par, dar pe care le-am folosit si la alte refashion-uri pentru diverse detalii?


Inca mai aveam bucati din aceste tricouri in gramada mea de scrapuri textile, si am mai folosit o parte din acest material gri pentru cordon pentru noul meu cardigan. Am cusut la masina doua cordoane, le-am intors pe fata (cusatura in interior), le-am calcat, si le-am atasat pe fiecare parte de cardigan, ca sa le leg la mijloc. In final, iata ce mi-a iesit.


Am purtat acest cardigan in timpul vacantei mele din aceasta vara. Pozele de mai sus sunt facute la Tobermory in port, cand tocmai revenisem de pe un cruise cu vaporasul pe lac. L-am purtat si la serviciu de mai multe ori, in diverse combinatii.

Sa va spun cateva cuvinte si despre restul tinutei -- topul este White House | Black Market si l-am trhiftuit la Value Village anul trecut. Poseta este Baby Phat, thriftuita la Value Village in aceasta vara. Blugii sunt Gap si ii am de doi ani, iar colierul statement pe care l-am purtat in acea zi este LOFT si l-am primit de la LOFT la un eveniment monden de-al lor din acest an. Sandalele sunt vechi prieteni de-ai mei, ii am de 11 ani, si in fiecare vara ii port la greu in calatorii cum a fost cea de la Tobermory, pentru comoditatea pe care mi-o confera. Very slow fashion indeed.

Ce parere aveti de noul meu refashion?
Va astept cu pareri si opinii in sectiunea de comentarii de mai jos. :)

Photo credit: Victoria West

Refashion -- Pantaloni pentru Alex

Aveam in garderoba acest pulover pe care l-am primit de la John acum 10 ani cu ocazia unei sarbatori sau alta.

La fel ca si in cazul altor pulovere de-ale mele din Romania, nu il mai purtam, eram plictisita de el, si nu imi mai venea, caci eram mai slaba atunci cand l-am primit. Un candidat bun pentru refashion. Daca alte pulovere de-ale mele au fost reconditionate prin a le schimba si updata aspectul, sau au fost transformate in bolerouri, pe acesta m-am hotarat sa-l transform in pantaloni sweatpants / pantaloni de casa / pantaloni de pijamale pentru Alex.

Mai intai am taiat manecile si gulerul, ca sa lucrez cu corpul puloverului. Am taiat corpul la mijloc in doua, si am cusut cele doua parti pentru a forma cracii pantalonilor. Materialul de la maneci l-am atasat cracilor in partea de sus, pentru a forma bazinul pantalonilor, dar si pentru a crea lungimea potrivita pentru Alex, caci corpul puloverului era prea scurt. Am cusut tiv si am pus elastic, si iata ce mi-a iesit.

Alex poarta pantalonii astia prin casa pe post de sweatpants. I-a purtat o data si la scoala, cand a avut Ziua Pijamalelor. Dupa cum vedeti in poze, are sabia de la Halloween. Inca o are prin casa si se joaca cu ea, si a tinut neaparat sa o aiba cu el cand i-am facut aceste poze.

Ce parere aveti de noul meu refashion?
Va astet cu opinii si pareri in sectiunea de comentarii de mai jos.
Sper ca ati avut un Craciun minunat si va doresc in continuare sarbatori fericite.

Photo credit: Victoria West

Refashion -- The Before and After Show 2015

Totul a inceput acum un an, cand am citit cartea Overdressed a lui Elizabeth Cline despre moda rapida si impactul acesteia asupra economiei si mediului nostru. Cartea m-a influentat atat de mult, incat m-a determinat sa-mi schimb obiceiurile vestimentare si viziunea mea asupra modei. Astfel, am devenit o refashionista convertita si am inceput o calatorie pe care am numit-o "refashion" -- transformarea hainelor vechi in piese noi intru salvarea lor de la groapa de gunoi.

A trecut un an de atunci, si in acest timp mi-am luat masina de cusut, am invatat sa cos, si am transformat un numar mare de haine din garderoba mea care meritau sa mai primeasca o sansa la viata. M-am inscris si la un curs de croitorie pe care il voi incepe imediat dupa acest sezon de sarbatori, pentru a-mi perfectiona noul meu hobby.

In articolul de astazi voi face o recapitulare a tuturor reconditionarilor si transformarilor pe care le-am executat in acest an, de cand am inceput sa fac refashion. Pozele de mai jos sunt "inainte si dupa", adica hainele vechi pe care le-am transfromat in piese noi.

The Before and After Show 2015

Tricou transformat in bentita de par

Blugi transformati in poseta wristlet

Aceiasi blugi transformati in geanta ecologica verde

Bluza transformata in fusta

Rochie (partea de sus) transformata in bolero

Aceeasi rochie (partea de jos) transformata in top

Pulover reconditionat

Blugi transformati in blugi capri

Pulover transformat in bolero

Doua topuri transformate intr-un top nou

Pantaloni transformati in pantaloni capri

Pulover transformat in bolero

Rochie transformata in fusta

Top golf reconditionat

Rochie (partea de sus) transformata in bolero

Aceeasi rochie (partea de jos) transfromata in top

Pulover transformat in top

Pulover transformat in bolero

Pulover reconditionat

Pulover reconditionat

Pulover reconditionat

A fost un an frumos, un an in care m-am bucurat de refashion din plin, un an in care am realizat cat de important este felul in care purtam si pastram hainele din garderoba noastra, si mai ales ce facem cu ele atunci cand nu mai sunt purtabile sau nu le mai dorim. Va multumesc ca ati fost alaturi de mine in decursul acestei experiente, si sper sa imi fiti alaturi si in continuare, caci calatoria mea in refashion nu se va opri aici.

Va doresc in continuare sarbatori fericite si ne vedem la urmatorul refashion!

Cu drag,
Victoria West

Merry Christmas!

My dear friends and readers, I hope you all have an amazing holiday season this year, and may your heart be always full of joy, love and happiness. Thank you for being by my side here at Fashion Style, Beauty and More this year, and I hope that won't change in the years to come.

Merry Christmas everyone!
Yours truly, Victoria West

********************

Dragii mei prieteni si cititori, va urez tuturor un Craciun cat mai frumos, care sa va faca sa simtiti din plin spiritul magic al sarbatorilor de iarna, si care sa va umple inimile de lumina si bucurie! La multi ani tuturor celor care citesc acest blog, si va doresc sa aveti parte de sarbatori minunate! Va multumesc din suflet ca imi sunteti alaturi in fiecare zi, si sper sa imi fiti alaturi si pe viitor.

Sarbatori fericite!
A voastra, Victoria West.

Review: A Wellbeing Session at Olistica Centre in Toronto -- Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Reiki

Recently I was invited to try on a healing session offered by Olistica, a new concept wellness centre from Toronto that combines aromatherapy, reflexology and reiki. The invitation said Olistika would like me to come and experience a unique combination therapy that is non-invasive and completely balancing and energizing, using a combination of aromatherapy, reflexology and reiki by Filippo Conte, the founder of Olistika Inc., and intrigued, I said yes.

I scheduled my appointment with Filippo for a Thursday afternoon earlier this month, and in fact I took the whole afternoon off from work on that day, as I wanted to enjoy the session without being stressed or pressured by time.

Olistica Centre is located at 2 Carlton Street midtown Toronto (Yonge and College), so on the day of my appointment I took the subway to College Station for my Olistica visit. A very charming Filippo greeted me in the lobby of the building, which made me feel at ease and trust him instantly, so we proceeded to the Olistica office located on the 7th floor of the building without further ado.

We talked during the first half an hour of our appointment, and I conducted an interview with Filippo, asking him about what he does. He started working in this line of business three years ago, but became the owner of Olistica Inc. six month ago, in June 2015. The doors at Olistica from 2 Carlton Street are open twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, when Filippo's services are available to the public and when customers can make appointments with him at the centre. Filippo also makes house calls, but his services also include packages for corporate events that would take a whole day. 

Olistika is devoted to offering natural restorative and preventative solutions to support your overall wellbeing. These restorative and preventative solutions are active by curating and accessing your "holistic toolkit", empowering you to take control of your wellbeing, allowing you to live wholly, as your best self – balanced mind, body and spirit.

Filippo is a licensed holistic practitioner, and he has been granted license by City of Toronto. He is also a Reiki Master Teacher registered practitioner, member of Canadian Reiki Association; a registered Reflexology practitioner, member of Reflexology Registration Council of Ontario; and a certified Aromatologist professional, member of Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists.

Olistika’s powerfully healing Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Reiki, energy therapy and pure organic vegan products are offered individually and as part of integrated and special packages, supporting one's everyday life and targeting acute and chronic conditions. These vegan, organic, aromatherapy products are hand-made by Filippo himself, and they are based on essential oils. These products are custom-made, specifically for his customers' needs, and he makes them in two ways -- he either chooses the ingredients for his hand-made remedies and advises his clients about the ingredients of these essential oil products, or he lets the customers choose the main ingredients to create customized products.

Aromatherapy is Filippo's long-life passion. As a kid he liked to discover the healing power of plants and create healing mixes. When he was 18, he worked at The Body Shop and further developed his passion for aromatherapy and deepened his knowledge about this field, studying aromatherapy. At about the same age he created his own remedy for acne and cured his acne, which also helped him with his angst and anxiety. Now he can make mixes really quickly, because he has a deep knowledge of the healing power of each plant and of each ingredient that he includes in his hand-made products. For instance, rosemary, Filippo tells me, is great for fatigue and tiredness.

After the interview we proceeded to the session itself. First, Filippo described what it was that he was going to do next -- the session was supposed to be part reflexology and part reiki.

Reflexology is a holistic treatment that accesses the whole person (body, mind and spirit) through reflex points located on the feet, hands and head. By accessing these reflexes, the therapist gains access to parts of one's body that would otherwise be unreachable, allowing reflexology to deeply relax, balance and encourage one to heal. More specifically, each part of one's feet, hands and head is directly linked to each body part (from nervous to skeletal system) and each energy point (chakra). Using a series of techniques that release and stimulate, the corresponding reflexes are awakened, tension is released, circulation is improved and healing is induced.

From migraines to insomnia, reproductive issues to anxiety, reflexology is effective on a variety of ailments including: immune system support, colds, flus, allergies, stress, depression, sleeplessness, anxiety, high blood pressure, mental and physical fatigue, chronic and acute pain and related issues, headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia and menstrual pain, reproductive issues, cancer, stroke, leukemia, heart disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, rehabilitation, mental and emotional disorders and diseases, sports related injuries. Reflexology is gentle enough for infants to seniors. It can be performed on anyone whose feet and hands are accessible, making it a beneficial addition to western and eastern medical treatment plans.

Reiki is a natural hands-on energy healing technique that deeply but gently balances one mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually by releasing blockages one carries, removing obstacles and restoring one's depleted life force energy. By restoring harmony, reiki leaves you in a state of profound relaxation and optimal vibration, where your body is empowered to better heal and balance itself. Reiki can help you face your daily stresses, an impending winter of flus/colds, injuries (including sports and work related injuries), a busy work or school season, as well as unbalanced mental and emotional states, chronic and acute conditions. Reiki can be used to treat life changes and transitions (minor, major, spiritual); trauma, bereavement, loss, crisis; everyday conditions like colds, flus, allergies, burns, injuries; stress, depression, sleeplessness, anxiety, over worry, high blood pressure, mental and physical fatigue; lack of energy, focus, clarity, motivation; chronic and acute pain and related issues; headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia and menstrual pain; weight loss, reproductive issues, cancer, leukemia, heart disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, conditions of unexplained origins, rehabilitation, mental and emotional disorders and diseases, sports and work related injuries.

Before starting the actual session, Filippo told me that once he was done with it, he would share his feedback with me, that is the deciphered energy that my body revealed during the reiki part of the session. During reiki Filippo absorbs the energy that the patient reveals, interprets it, and then shares it with the patient. I became very curious about Filippo's healing abilities, and I got even more excited about this session. I could hardly wait to see what he would tell me at the end of the session. Filippo also specified that everything that's happening in the massage room between the therapist and the customer is treated as confidential.

So I lied down on the massage table and we proceeded with the session, and for the next hour I let myself immersed in Filippo's therapy. He started with the reflexology part and massaged my feet, while reflexology therapy is done fully dressed at Olistica (that is, I only removed my shoes and my blazer, and I kept the rest of my outfit). My feet lied down on a hot blanket, which made the entire thing that much more comfortable. I almost fell asleep on that massage table, that comfortable I was. I have a problem with toe cramps, due to imperfect blood circulation, so I got a few cramps while Filippo massaged my feet and toes, and he insisted on those sensitive points to ease my pain caused by cramps. Then the reiki part followed, and while it was in progress, I tried to clear my head of any thoughts and relax my body, mind and spirit completely.

So after an hour Filippo "woke me up" (because I was almost asleep in that room), to share his feedback with me. Through the entire session I was very curious what would he get out of me / my body, mind and spirit / my energy level / this session with me? How would he interpret it? He shared about my parents, about a previous profession that I had shared with my father in the past, about my father's disappointment when I had left that profession behind me and embraced a new line of business, and some other things. Some of those interpretations made sense to me, some of them didn't, and some of them made me think how am I supposed to interpret it myself? Also, Filippo told me that I am going to remember some of his feedback, and I will forget some other of it, and he was right; at the time when I am writing this, I don't remember everything he said to me after that session anymore.

We concluded our appointment with the aromatherapy part. Filippo gifted me with three of his aromatherapy blends -- a lavender mist, a skin and body blend for winter, and a special blend healer.

Olistica blends made by Filippo Conte of Olistica Inc. Photo credit: Victoria West

The reason why the list of ingredients are not listed on Filippo's blends is because they are customized for each person they are made for, and Filippo shares the ingredient list with his customers.

Olistika MIST Lavender

Spray it in your environment (home, office), on your body after a shower/bath, on your face after cleansing and before moisturizing, on your face to refresh, on your pillow and face at bedtime. 

Containing organic lavender, aloe vera gel and glycerin, Olistika MIST Lavender is antiseptic, bactericidal, anti-fungal and anti inflammatory, soothing and subtly moisturizing. Lavender oil is balancing, so it is soothing while also being an energizing tonic. It is healing and soothing for sinus and lung issues (coughs, various infections, congestion), skin issues (acne, leg ulcers, boils, wounds, burns) and the nervous system - balancing it, calming nerves. Used properly, this product is suitable for infants, children and adults of all ages.

Ingredients:

Distilled water
Organic glycerin
Organic aloe vera gel
Organic lavandula augustifolia oil

And I do like to spritz this mist in my bedroom as a refresher, specifically on my bed linen. I also like to use it after shower as a skin toner and energizer. I love that it can be used in so many ways! 

Olistika SPECIAL BLEND Healer

Apply one to five drops, on and around the wounded area. The goal is to apply gently, to cover the entire wound and surrounding area (0.5-1" around), to leave a light (dry) sheen of oil on the surface of the skin. In some cases, patting lightly to apply works best. Apply two or three times daily, depending on severity of wound.

Olistika SPECIAL BLEND Healer contains organic grapeseed, goiji, rosehip, seabuckthorn, argan, tamasu grapefruit, lavender, frankincense, bergamot, rosemary oils. This oil is gentle, but powerfully healing, nutritive, regenerative, soothing (slightly pain relieving) and anti inflammatory. It can be used on those over 7 years of age for cuts, wounds, burns, scratches, bruises, acne and bumps. The aroma of this blend is gentle, but deep, providing support and comfort when you need it. Olistika can customize a blend for eczema, psoriasis, sensitive and all skin types.

Ingredients:

Organic vitis vinifera oil
Organic lavandula augustifolia oil
Organic boswellia carterii oil
Organic cirtus paradisi oil
Organic rosa rubiginosa oil
Organic citrus bergami oil
Organic lycium barbarum oil
Organic hippophae rhamnoides oil
Organic argania spinosa oil
Organic callophyllum inophyllum oil

Love this blend. Two days before my appointment with Filippo at Olistica I fell down on the street when I was coming back to my office after my lunch hour. It was raining, the pavement was wet, and I slipped on the wet pavement and fell, and I got my knee bruised. I actually remember hearing women gasping around me when they saw me slipping and falling right in the middle of Adelaide Street. A couple of gentlemen came over to me to help me out. It wasn't a big deal of course, just a bruise. When I had my Olistica appointment, Filippo noticed my bruise immediately, as it still was raw and a bit painful. I used the Olistica Special Blend Healer for my bruise, and it healed nicely in a couple of days.

Olistika SKIN BODY BLEND Winter

Apply lightly on skin of the face, neck and forehand as a daily nutritive and conditioning treatment (at night or during the day) or under the nose, around the temples, upper chest and behind the ears as an inhalation treatment one to four times daily (depending on the severity of the issue).

Whether applied to the skin as a treatment or as an inhalation, Olistika SKIN BODY BLEND Winter was designed with winter weather and conditions in mind. Intensely conditioning (multiple vitamin, healthy lipids and minerals) and protective to the skin during the winter months, offering anti-bacterial, antiseptic protection directly on or around your face; it regenerates and soothes skin cells, improving the appearance of wrinkles/creases, scare tissues, conditioning dry skin and regulating oily skin; it has balancing effects onto the entire system, and it's mentally uplifting but also calming to the nervous system and to the body, mind and spirit (chakras).

Ingredients:

Organic simmondsia chinensis oil
Organic rosa rubiginosa oil
Organic boswellia carterii oil
Organic pelarggonium graveoleus
Organic citrus aurantium amara oil
Organic rosa damascena oil
Organic santalum album oil

I like to use this blend as an inhalator to keep me strong during the winter months. But what I love about all these blends created by Filippo is that they can be used in so many ways for virtually anything, and they are one hundred percent natural.

About the founder of Olistica Inc. 

Filippo Conte is a powerful healer who empowers those around him to take control of their wellbeing by taking loving positive action and using natural time honored techniques to balance and heal. His gifts of empathy and compassion, as well as his innate sensitivity and intuition, perfectly complement the reiki, reflexology and aromatherapy he offers, to comfortably and efficiently target the source of his clients’ mental, physical and spiritual issues. Intuitively balancing and healing himself using natural remedies since he was a teenager, Filippo’s lifelong devotion to holistic practices has instilled in him the custom of searching out the most successful, accessible and affordable ways to live naturally, healthily and wholly. Filippo’s qualifications and practice fully comply with the requirements and standards of Canada’s leading Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Reiki organizations and the City of Toronto, and allow him to use the designations as a licensed holistic practitioner, license by City of Toronto; Reiki Master Teacher registered practitioner, member of Canadian Reiki Association; registered reflexology practitioner, member of Reflexology Registration Council of Ontario; certified aromatologist professional, member of Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists.

Refashion -- Cum sa faci dintr-o baba doua neveste tinere (nevasta a doua)

Mai tineti minte acest refashion al meu pe care vi l-am aratat in septembrie?

Atunci va spuneam despre aceasta rochie-proiect pe care am luat-o de la Value Village cu scopul sa o reconditionez, si am folosit partea de jos a rochiei pentru a crea acest top cu bretele, pe care l-am purtat pe faleza Lacului Ontario intr-o iesire de weekend impreuna cu familia mea -- prima nevasta din cele doua pe care aveam de gand sa le fac din baba asta ponosita si demodata. Iar partea de sus a babei (pardon rochiei) am pastrat-o pentru un alt refashion pe care sa-l execut cu o alta ocazie, adica a doua nevasta.

Ce-am facut cu partea de sus? Am transformat-o intr-un bolero prin a renunta la gat si la nasturi, i-am taiat gatul si fasiile nasturilor pe ambele parti, apoi i-am cusut tiv dejur imprejur, si iata ce mi-a iesit.

Am purtat acest outfit la serviciu (pe care l-am recreat acasa cu scopul sa va arat acest refashion). Fusta o am de anul trecut, si a trecut si ea printr-un proces de refashion, dar nu executat de mine, ci de croitorul meu local, inainte sa incep eu sa cos -- nu-mi placea lungimea pe care o avea pana mai jos de genunchi si vara trecuta am scurtat-o pentru un aspect mai flatant. Cand am cumparat-o, am crezut ca imi place asa cum este, dar cand am ajuns cu ea acasa, mi-am dat seama ca lungimea ei nu ma incanta. De altfel, imi sta mult mai bine in fuste care au lungimea usor de-asupra genunchiului sau o palma de-asupra genunchiului, decat sub genunchi. Cand am vazut acasa ca nu a fost chiar o alegere buna, ma gandeam ce naiba a fost in capul sa o cumpar, dar pana la urma problema a fost rezolvabila la croitor cu doar cativa dolari in plus. Acum imi place mult mai mult cum arata, este perfecta pentru birou, pot sa o port in cele mai diverse combinatii si a devenit una din fustele mele preferate.

Topul pe care il port in acest outfit este Zara si il am de anul trecut; siragul de perle il am de sase ani, de la un magazin independent de bijuterii din Vestul Toronto-ului; iar cureaua este vintage, thriftuita la Value Village anul trecut. Ciorapi cu model Walmart, pantofi Spring (brand canadian), inele H&M, bratari H&M si Nicola Finesse (brand canadian).

Ce parere aveti despre acest refashion?

Va astept cu opinii si comentarii mai jos.

Sa aveti un weekend frumos!

Photo credit: Victoria West