Mug Life: Organic Hojicha Green Tea

Organic Hojicha Green Tea is a tea you drink more for the feeling than the taste. This tea makes me feel relaxed, and tends to calm my nervous stomach.

I bet you’re wondering what the heck hojicha is. Don’t worry, I was too when I first picked up this tea! Hojicha is a Japanese green tea that is distinguished because it is roasted, not steamed. The roasting process gives the tea a nutty-aroma, and a bit of a flavour, too (it reminds me of brazil nuts).

The roasting process lowers the amount of caffeine in the tea which makes this tea the perfect after dinner/before bed tea.

As always, let me know what are you drinking by tweeting me @natalieivory with #muglife to let me know!

Also, please follow the new blog here!

Best and Worst: March 1

It is the end of the week, and March break has just started! Robin’s father is arriving for a one-night stay at our flat, and whenever he visits, it gives us a chance to visit our own city.

Best: Receiving from Robin on our anniversary a Brita Water Bottle. Yep, that’s right. They exist. It’s awesome. I’m someone who needs water at all times, so this was a super sweet gift. He also bought me a sample set by Bleu Lavande that includes body milk, shower gel, bubble bath, and shampoo. They all smell delicious and I love using them!
Worst: Missing family brunch on Sunday because I was so tired from my terrible week last week. I love smoked salmon on bagels…

Best: Buying electric pink nail polish from Essie!
Worst: A very persistent headache on Sunday.

Best: Receiving my daily planner. I feel like my life is a little bit more in control.
Worst: The mother of all pimples that took up residence on my jawline.

Best: Discovering a new favourite tea – Afternoon Darjeeling.
Worst: The neighbours playing dubstep very loudly at odd hours of the day.

My neighbours like to blast dubstep and yell at random points during. I picture a ritual like that of Shark Bait from Finding Nemo.

— Natalie Heather (@natalieivory) February 27, 2013

Best: Catching up with a close friend during a much needed lunch date.
Worst: Trying to figure out what to buy my father for his birthday. What do you buy the man that has everything?

Best: The feeling of accomplishment of doing living room yoga with Tara Stiles.
Worst: How sore my upper body was following yoga.

Happy weekend!

Daily Dishonesties

I figured that for the next few weeks I would post on both blogs, though I do recommend you move to the newer blog.

I feel a bit late on the bandwagon with this, but I couldn’t help but share. Daily Dishonesty are every day lies made into really lovely prints.

Warning: this is a photo heavy post.

I love them! You can buy the prints from Society6 for about $18.

Please check out the new blog and follow!

A Room with a Better View

I have exciting news! You may have noticed that I didn’t post what I wore last night. Well, that’s because I posted it somewhere else. Yes, that is right – I bought a domain name! You should go check out the new blog!

I’ve added some of the past posts to help the move for you, but you should definitely subscribe to the new blog. I wish I knew how to transfer the blog, but I don’t. My most sincere apologies, and I really hope you make the move with me.

So if you want to see what I wore last night, go to the new blog!

Much love,

Natalie

P.S. I’ve never been good at blackmail, but if you do not subscribe to the new blog, I will haunt you ever night with this look of disgust.

xox

Dressing for Saint Valentine

With Valentine’s Day on our doorsteps, I thought I would share with you what I was planning on wearing. On Valentine’s day, we are going for dinner with my parents, my sister and a family friend at our favourite Indian restaurant, Le Taj.

As with every special occasion, I spent some time thinking about what I would wear. Is the the time for the sequinned skirt? Is all black appropriate? Should I focus on eyes or lips when doing my makeup? Do I have to wear red? How will I do my hair? Maybe I’ll paint my nails…

Jacket – Smart Set
Brooch – Vintage
Skirt – Dynamite
Shoes – Aldo
Bracelet – Ralph Lauren

This photo didn’t turn out exactly as I had planned, but you can definitely get the idea. On Friday, I’ll share a picture of me actually wearing it! How exciting!

This is actually one of my favourite outfits, and I think it’s because I finally get to wear the little black jacket I bought ages ago. I find that it’s an extremely boxy jacket, and not uber flattering in most situations. It’s amazing what doing up the front can do (as you will see on Friday!) Sadly, I won’t actually to be wearing heels since the weather outside is atrocious. Instead, I’ll be pulling on my winter boots. Darned!

Robin and I actually celebrated our Valentine’s Day on Monday evening. Imagine Lady & the Tramp, re-enacted. In your living room. Yep – Robin made spaghetti and meatballs, picked up a bottle of wine and lit so many candles that our apartment was a fire risk. I have the say, the meatballs were absolutely delicious. Robin made them himself, and I’ll be sharing the recipe soon. Mhmm!

As you can see, Robin also picked up some flowers! On his way home, he said that many people were smiling at him, and one person even honked and gave him the thumbs up!

Robin also picked us up a pet cactus (photo to come!) whom I named George. He’s currently residing on my bedside table, but I am thinking of moving him to my desk because there is much more sunlight.

We often have “date nights” at home. Sometimes we’ll stay in our pyjamas and watch movies, something we’ll get dressed up and buy a (cheap) bottle of wine. I love when we get dressed up because it gives us both a chance to wear our fancy clothes. I hardly ever get the chance to wear heels (especially in Canadian winters), but our date nights are the perfect opportunity. On Monday I opted for my royal blue Calvin Klein sheath dress with black heels. It was a very lovely Valentines.