Here is a piece that ran in four different spots about beauty products with sustainable ingredients: BELLA LA, RESIDENT Magazine, Tease Tea.com and co-authored on Huffington Post Canada Lifestyle.
ELENA:)
Overall I’m a big accessories fan. Statement necklaces and earrings are my favorite. Kara Yoo Jewelry is the quite the opposite – its more understated chic. Nevertheless, I’m a fan of her stacking rings, which have tiny ridges making the sparkle subtle yet effective.
So happy to share a few Kara Yoo rings with my favourite friends here in NYC. Here is 5 minutes 5 questions with the sweet, talented Kara Yoo
1. How long have you lived in Vancouver?
I’ve lived in Vancouver since 2001. I was born in Edmonton, and grew up in Oakville, Ontario. Vancouver is home!
2. When did you start your jewellery line?
I started Kara Yoo in 2012 at the end of the 2-year program I took in jewellery making and design.
3. Are you gold or silver?
Definitely gold, although I do like mixing metals and wearing a combo of yellow gold, rose gold and silver.
4. What is your favourite piece of jewellery?
My favourite every day piece is the Single Neck Cuff in yellow gold. I wear it every day and it goes with virtually everything from a t-shirt to a formal dress.
5. What are the top three characteristics on your Love List (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or current mate)?
Humorous, Caring, Genuine
Make sure you follow Kara on IG and Twitter: @karayoojewelry and ‘Like’ her on FB.
ELENA:)
I give a Gold star to Matthew and Adriana from Product of Science and Art because they know where Wetaskiwin is 🙂 (my birthplace!). These two are definitely working their magic in the soap world, the design of each bar is a work of art and smell is amazing! I have wildflower and lemongrass green tea in tow for this trip.
Here is 5 minutes 5 questions with the fun, sweet duo of Product of Science and Art, Adriana and Matthew:
1) How long have you lived in Vancouver?
We moved to Vancouver on Halloween close to three years ago.
2) How did you start Product of Science and Art?
(A) – P.S.A. was founded in the early 2000’s by Matthews mother (Judy), when she grew tired of the lack of local skincare for sensitive types. Using her education and experience in the realm of Horticulture, (specifically Medicinal Herb Plant Health), she began to study the interaction of plants and skin.
3) What is the best part of your soap?
Our Signature Organic and Vegan formula, We purposely use 8 different Vegetable Oils and Butters to increase plant diversity and not rely on a single Mono crop. Our Formula is sourced for sustainability and sensitivity, so no matter which soap you get it is purely awesome!
4) Describe your favourite scent in a sentence.
Nothing beats a West Coast Forest Bath, walking deep in the forest with Fir resin and Cedar in the air.
5) What are the top three characteristics on your Love List (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or current mate)?
M – chill , centred and outgoing.
A – Fun, real, sweet.
Don’t forget to follow Product of Science and Art on IG: @productofscienceandart and ‘like’ them on FB!
ELENA:)
I first learned of Woodlot from Melissa at Old Joy Gift Boxes ages ago. And after months of Instagram conversations, I finally met Sonia at a pop up shop at West Elm. Because we are both pretty busy people, I feel like the only time I get to see Sonia is at an pop up event – so I was happy that Woodlot was able to participate in the Summer St. Soiree.
Although I have yet to purchase a signature candle, the body spray and the bath salts definitely have my endorsement! Can’t wait for my friends to try them.
Here is 5 minutes 5 questions with the lovely, talented busy bee, Sonia from Woodlot:
1) How long have you lived in Vancouver?
My entire life! 🙂
2) How did you start Woodlot?
My partner and I wanted to share toxin free products for home and body with friends and family. We both had recipes that were passed down to us and started to make + share them. We worked with a good friend on design, and started to get some interest from shops locally and internationally.
3) If you could advise a new business owner of something, what would it be?
Launch before you think something is perfect. We’ve learned a lot about packaging, design and our customers by launching earlier. Things can get $$$ with printing minimums, packaging minimums, so I think it’s best to get your product out there and into peoples hands. Get people loving your product, and then focus on other details when you have a better understanding of who your customer really is. Also, focus on sales, sales, sales.
4) Describe your favourite scent in a sentence.
Petrichor is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil.
5) What are the top three characteristics on your Love List (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or current mate)?
Communication, Affection & Trust
Don’t forget to follow Woodlot on IG and Twitter: @shopwoodlot and ‘like’ on FB!
ELENA:)
Let it be known that I can’t be trusted with reviews about food. Especially anything that contains sugar, as my sweet tooth makes things biased. So I look to people with incredible palates and have constructive foodie thoughts to aid in such reviews.
Meet Gillian: New mom, wife of Meat & Bread mogul, boxer, baker, nurse, friend and food blogger. I can’t think of anyone who is more qualified to give me a honest opinion on cookies. And these aren’t just any cookies!
FattyCakesNY offers a multitude of scrumptious cookies all available in full cookie cakes which is a huge win-win. Keep her in mind for your next event as owner, Jennifer Taylor Miller can also can assemble mouth watering dessert tables and customize your very own FattyCake.
Shipping is usually only available to the US, so I jumped at the chance to have this unique taste test opportunity north of the 49th parallel. And once the cookies arrived from their home in Brooklyn, NY to Vancouver (Thanks Jennifer and Heather!) I split them up and we handed out the awards….
Note: I must say that’s its kind of odd that last summer I was introduced to Fatty Sundays, also from Brooklyn. Coincidence? Perhaps.
Drumroll please! The FattyCakeNY Awards…..
The Betty Jo (Red Velvet cookies with white chocolate chips & cream cheese fudge filling).
Gillian: Winner of the best all-around cookie. Great cookie filling ratio.Nice cookie.
Elena: Winner of best cookie to claim that you baked on your own. Can you really go wrong with Red Velvet anything?
Build me up, buttercup (Peanut butter chocolate brownie cookie with peanut butter cups).
Gillian: Winner of the best in show cookie. Delicious. Guilty Pleasure cookie. Love the crumbly texture and good with a cup of tea.
Elena: Winner of best cookie to get rid of the Monday blahs. So wonderful. I wish I had another!
The Original Fattycake (Chocolate chips, oats, oreos, pretzels, & potato chips with peanut butter).
Gillian: Winner of the best cookie to eat when you are stoned. The pretzels and chips become stale and chewy (not in a good way).
Elena: Winner of the best cookie to eat on a long 8 hour flight. It’s like the everything bagel (but better). And there is a certain time on a long flight where you crave everything at once. This cookie will help.
The Chipwich (Salted chocolate chip cookies with beer caramel and vanilla cream filling).
Gillian: Winner of best cookie to cure a hangover. Too much salt and vanilla in the filling.
Elena: Winner of best cookie to eat after Bikrams yoga. Yup, the salt will help with your pH Balance.
Dark-n-Stormy (Ginger molasses cookies with Sailor Jerry rum cream filling and a hint of lime).
Gillian: Winner of best present for a drunk uncle. Too much cinnamon and too sweet.
Elena: Winner of best cookie to give someone who actually likes molasses. Molasses reminds me of the part in To Kill a Mockingbird when the kids invite a friend over and he pours syrup all over his dinner. Unnecessary.
The Drunken Piglet (Maple cookie with bourbon bacon brittle, Brooklyn Blast! beer caramel, finished with maple, brown sugar & sea salt).
Gillian: Winner of the cookie you will immediately regret eating. Maple is overpowering.
Elena: Winner of the cookie to eat if you miss Sunday Brunch. A little less maple and a little more bacon.
Thanks again for allowing us to review:)
Be sure to check out FattyCakesNY and share your thoughts on social. Follow FattyCakesNY on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @Fattycakesny
ELENA:)