I’m 27 and I’ve never seen The Nutcracker.

That actually all changed this past Saturday when I got the chance to attend opening night of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s The Nutcracker, something they perform year after year, around Christmastime. Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece has always been a classic, and unfortunately since I wasn’t taken to see it as a kid, that doesn’t mean that all the magic was lost on me even now as an adult.

For those unfamiliar with the storyline (spoiler alert!), when midnight strikes, young Clara’s Christmas gifts lead her into a wondrous world, with her trusty nutcracker at her side.  She defeats the Mouse King and his army of mice and then journeys to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets.

RWB’s version of this holiday classic was The Nutcracker with a Canadian twist.  The story starts off here in Winnipeg at a home on the corner of Grosvenor and Wellington Crescent (which, as RWB executive director Andre Lewis mentioned before the show started, is no longer there, however the wrought-iron gates still exist as you enter Munson Park), with two kids playing hockey. Soon the audience is transported inside as Clara and her family welcome guests for a Christmas party. We see the dazzling aunt from Montreal twirling around the stage before they bring in the Christmas tree and decorate it.  Other Canadian elements are the “RCMP Mountie” toy soldiers, however, to me they looked way more like Queen’s Guards than Mounties with the tall black hats.

My favourite part of the show was hands-down the little polar bear cubs, which came out right at the end of act one. Although I don’t think they were in the original Russian version of The Nutcracker, as soon as they stepped on the stage, the audience started “aww”ing because they were just so cute. I obviously went crazy because when you have two dogs that look like polar bears, you just go nuts.

Toys, sweets, polar bears, and amazing costumes, what’s not to love?  Inspired by the magic of The Nutcracker, this affordable look captures the youthfulness of fresh skin, courtesy of the Olay Regenerist Luminous Facial Oil, which is packed with nine enriched natural oils, including coconut, sunflower, evening primrose and apricot kernel oils. I kept the look easy on the eyes (which were painted lightly with gold shadow, courtesy of the CoverGirl eyeshadow quad in Go For the Golds), and a red lip to finish off the look (CoverGirl Outlast Longwear Lipstick in Red Rouge). For the hair, I did easy curls with volume (with the Herbal Essences Naked Volume Collection) and protected my locks and finished them with the Pantene Ultimate 10 BB Cream and Airspray hairspray, which is first-ever non-alcohol aerosol hairspray.

I finished off the look with this red lace dress by H&M (from the Divided line), black tights and black booties.

There’s a few things that are holiday traditions here in Canada and The Nutcracker certainly takes the cake. After finally seeing the classic, I truly feel like whether you’re five or 75, this beautiful ballet will never get old.

RWB’s The Nutcracker runs from December 19 to 28, 2015.

RWB principal dancers Jo-Ann Sundermeier and Dmitri Dovgoselets. Rejean Brandt Photography. Courtesy of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet

In celebration of The Nutcracker and the fact that it’s Christmastime, I’m giving away a P&G Beauty box filled with many of the products I used here, plus a ton of others. Included is the following (valued at $170!);

• Olay Luscious Embrace Cleansing Bodywash
• Olay Regenerist Luminous Facial Oil
• COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick in Red Rogue
• COVERGIRL Eye Shadow Quads in Go For The Golds
• Pantene’s NEW breakthrough styling product, Airspray
• Pantene Ultimate 10 BB Crème
• The Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo
• The Herbal Essences Naked Volume Conditioner
• Vidal Sassoon Salonist Colour Voucher
• Crest White® Whitestrips Luxe Supreme FlexFit

Contest is open to Canadian residents only; closes on December 30, 2015.

I hope you all have a happy holidays and good luck!

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Have you seen The Nutcracker?

Also, don’t forget to enter my Wen by Chaz Dean and Kiss lashes and nails giveaways!