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!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have you seen The Nutcracker?
Also, don’t forget to enter my Wen by Chaz Dean and Kiss lashes and nails giveaways!
Well, if you celebrate Christmas, you’re running out of time!
Have everyone done on your gift list except for a few? I’ve always said The Body Shop and bath and body products in general are the perfect “I didn’t know what to get you” gifts.
I always look forward to the offerings from The Body Shop every year because they always package up the yummiest products and house them in the cutest packaging.
There’s lot more in store, but here are some of my top picks.
In true Christmas spirit, the Strawberry Festive Cracker (C$10) is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Wrapped in their signature holidays 2015 packaging, crack it open to unveil the best-selling Strawberry Hand Cream and Gift Soap Heart.
Love sweet scents? The Glazed Apple Shimmer Mist gives you a delicious, sweet scent, complete with shimmer for a double whammy. Just be careful not to overdo it, you don’t want to overpower yourself in sweetness or in shimmer.
I blogged about this guy already on Wednesday, but the Lippy Star Wand (C$15) is perfect to give or split up amongst friends. This fun candy cane-inspired star wand contains five of The Body Shop’s best-selling lip balms in strawberry, raspberry, satsuma, watermelon, and passionberry.
Looking for gift sets? I love the Oils of Life skincare collection, so I naturally got so excited to see that there was a set available for the holidays. Known to give a silky-soft feeling to the skin (I’ve been using this stuff since the summer), the Oils of Life collection is infused with three precious seed oils from around the world. Included in this set (C$65) is the Oils of Life Facial Oil (30 ml) and the Oils of Life Cream (50 ml).
Want something that will include everything? The Strawberry Festive Picks (C$26) box includes a rich and creamy body butter and shower gel containing real strawberry seed oil. It also has their popular body scrub (50 ml), soap (100g) and red bath lily, all in the strawberry scent.
If you are looking for a great grooming set for men, the Modern Gent’s Post-Party Rescue Kit will give any guy a winter refresh. It contains the For Men Maca Root Energetic Face Protector and a mini of the For Men Maca Root Eye Rescue Serum, all housed in a hip red case (so barbershop-esque).
Finally, if you need one last small item for a gift (stocking stuffer?), then the Frosted Plum body care range is The Body Shop’s newest scent. An elegant blend of ripe plum, magnolia, and peony notes, this special-edition range will be sure to make anyone smile.
I also want to note that this year The Body Shop is partnering with international charity WaterAid to help transform lives through access to safe water. For every specially selected gift (including many in this post), WaterAid can provide a family in Ethiopia with one day of safe water.
Will you be purchasing any gift from The Body Shop?
Also, don’t forget to enter my Wen by Chaz Dean and Kiss lashes and nails giveaways!
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So with the holidays comes stress.
Planning, cooking, shopping, wrapping up things prior to the New Year, we all have lots of stuff to do! If you need a little time to unwind, or know someone who is in serious need of some TLC, here are five gift ideas to create some zen and balance in your day (or someone else’s!) whether its for a minute, an hour, or the whole day.
Escents Natural Wellness Blend Trio
Meant to be used in a diffuser (I have this one), add a few drops of one of these essential oils to ease tension, stress or relieve cold and flu symptoms. This trio of best-selling pure essential oil blends is the perfect gift for anyone who needs some TLC ASAP. When essential oils are combined, the therapeutic benefits compounded are more powerful than alone. This trio includes 10 ml’s of Head Aid Wellness Blend (peppermint and lavender), Breathe Easy Wellness Blend (eucalyptus, rosemary), and Stress Relief Wellness Blend (neroli, bergamot), all housed in a wooden box.
If you don’t have a diffuser, never fear, you can add some drops of these guys to an unscented product to create a custom product (maybe a custom body butter?).
$37.55 at Escents Aromatherapy stores and online.
Mettrum Originals
Planning on making your, or someone on your list, New Year’s resolution to eat healthier or lose weight? Canadian-brand Mettrum Originals can help you get there.
As the first hemp food brand in Canada, they introduced the baking industry to hemp seed flour, which you can sub into your recipe (just substitute anywhere from five to 25 per cent of the total flour called for in the recipe) to add a boost of healthy fibre and protein.
Other cooking favourites I love is the Cold-Pressed Hemp Oil, which provides a 3:1 Omega-6: Omega-3 EFA ratio and GLA and Omega-9. Hemp oil contains more natural occurring essential fatty acids than any other plant-derived oil. Use it as a dip with bread, or as a flavour enhancer (I add it to salmon before cooking). Also, check out the Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, which are an excellent source of essential fatty acids, including Omega 3, Omega 6, and GLA. I add them to smoothies or on top of plain oatmeal for an extra nutritional kick.
Mettrum doesn’t just carry food products. They have a variety of lip balms, a massage oil, and a deep moisturizing cream. If you are on the more creative side, try creating your own exfoliator made from sugar, vanilla, and their hemp oil, and then house it in a mason jar, complete with a cute label.
Yves Rocher Holiday Candles, Lotions, and Fragrances
Bath and body products are such standard gifts, but spice them up by throwing in candles and scents! I love Yves Rocher because of their affordable prices and the fact that it’s a European brand (always more luxurious!). I always look forward to the holiday collection, and although I already posted about the makeup, they have so many more goodies for the holiday season (in amazing, drool-worthy scents!). Scents include Candied Orange & Almond, Candied Orange & Cinnamon, and Spicy Vanilla.
My top picks are the Apple Delight scented candle (C$9), Apple Delight eau de toilette (C$7), Spicy Vanilla body lotion (C$6) and body wash (C$4), Candied Orange & Cinnamon bath oil, and Candied Orange & Cinnamon Liquid Hand Soap (C$5).
A blowout from the Aveda Institute & Academy
In need of some TLC? Get (or give!) an inexpensive zen experience at the Aveda Institute.
As much as I love doing my own hair, there’s nothing like going to the salon and getting them to wash and style it (plus, pick up some tips while you watch them do it!). The Aveda Institute Winnipeg offers a wash & style starting at $14 (for Institute students, Academy Level starts at $25). Regardless of who you go to (if you have a whole afternoon and not in a rush, book with an Institute student; if you are in a time crunch, book with the Academy Level), you’ll get the full Aveda experience. They start with a head massage using one of their signature Aveda oils, then take you to the sinks for a therapeutic wash. Next, they style the hair and leave you looking (and feeling!) so fabulous. Book for a special event, or just cause! There’s never a bad day for a blow out.
The Body Shop Lippy Star Wand
Good for kids (or for the kid at heart), the Lippy Star Wand (C$22) contains five Lip Butters in fruity flavours (strawberry, raspberry, satsuma, watermelon, and passionberry).
Chapped lips are a given with cold weather, so keep them hydrated (and kissable – hello mistletoe!) with this fun wand. Gift this together or split it up and share among five friends (also makes a great stocking stuffer). Also, this particular gift provides one day of safe water for a family in Ethiopia, courtesy of The Body Shop and WaterAid.
Plus one more…
The ultimate wellness gift is giving back (good for the soul!). Help a family in need, volunteer at a homeless shelter, or make a donation to your favourite charity. Some of my top picks here in Winnipeg are D’Arcy’s A.R.C. (we adopted Chase, our mini American Eskimo from there), as well as Manitoba Riding for the Disabled Association (MRDA), which is a therapeutic riding program for children with disabilities (in fact, it’s the only therapeutic riding program for children ages five to 15 years of age). MRDA receives no government funding and relies on donations to keep operational. You can make a donation here.
Whether it’s giving back, pampering, or creating zen around the home, there’s lots of gifts to give someone who is looking for a little TLC this holiday season.
What sort of wellness will you be gifting?
Also, don’t forget to enter my Wen by Chaz Dean and Kiss lashes and nails giveaways!
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