Jenn Hildebrand

How To Style: Wide Leg Jeans

OH MAN! If someone would have told me that I’d really dig wide leg jeans I would have said you’re crazy. There is no way I’m moving away from my comfortable skinny jeans. Well, I’m now eating my words because I really, really, REALLY dig these New Look jeans.

I picked these jeans up over the summer on a whim. It was close to midnight and I was scrolling through ASOS – as one does. On the model they were cropped- but because I’m standing at 5’3 they’re not quite cropped on me. But because they do have a raw hem, I could trim them easily if I want.

How I like to style them…

Because they’re not fitted jeans – and are REALLY high waisted, I like to tuck in a tank top and then a loose cardigan to give it a super relaxed vibe.

For accessories, I normally throw on a long necklace and then a belt… and for shoes, I either opt for a pair of sandals OR I’ll throw on some white tube socks and a pair of sneakers. I’m all about socks and sneakers these days…

Stepping out of your comfort zone when it comes to fashion can be daunting. But once you get over the “I don’t think I can pull it off” bump and realize that you CAN pull it off, you’ll be so happy you did.

–

What’s one fashion trend you’re scared to try? Let me know!

J. x

My Journey into Natural Wellness

Over the last year and a bit, I’ve been making the switch over to a more natural lifestyle. I’ve been holding back on using prescription medicine, opted for natural based products (Natural deodorant anyone??), and have even changed my diet to being more plant based (except fish. I love fish). Not only that, but I’ve been diffusing a whole heck of a lot more.

Here’s a bit of a back story… If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may know bits and pieces of my mental health journey. In 2012 I had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety and had been on anti-depressants for years. I felt like those small pills were the only thing to help me from going into a panic state, or have a mental break.

Boy was I wrong.

I have to disclaim something. This is what worked for me. I had tried every type of anti depressant and nothing worked. That is why I made the switch into using essential oils to help with my anxiety and depression. If you are planning on making a switch or have any other questions, talk to a natural path or a health practitioner.

In October of 2017, I purchased my first diffuser. I picked up this little guy from Saje Natural Wellness (which you can find here). *non-spon*

The AromaOm is an ultrasonic diffuser which has a motor and a little disc inside. Each motor vibrates the disc, mixing water and essential oils together and creating a mist. The mist is cool (no pun intended) and pushes out negative ions. Negative ions are molecules with extra ions which cling to dust particles in the air and bring them down – cleansing and purifying your air. Which in turn, helps you breathe better!

What I use… 

There are so many essential oils and blends that I love to diffuse. But the blend that has helped me a lot with uplifting my mood has been a mix of bergamot and grapefruit. Bergamot is fab for helping with depression and grapefruit for anxiety. Plus they smell DIVINE together. Right now as I type this, I’m diffusing the Saje blend Goddess which is a blend of orange, jasmine and rose. What I love to do, which I have going ATM, is add a few drops of bergamot. Try it! You’ll become OBSESSED.

Why natural…

The question is, why not? Going natural makes sense. Why use things with chemicals when you can use items that you actually know what’s in it! That’s why I’ve been going natural. It just makes sense.

–

I’d love to hear what natural products you enjoy using! Are you diffusing?

J. x

Winter Skin Care Routine (’17)

Starting of #blogmas with something I’ve been asked a lot lately- my go to skin care routine. I’ve been super lucky (aka, blessed) to have reasonably unproblematic skin. I think the biggest factor to that being the amount of water I drink. I try to drink at least a litre of water a day to try and stay hydrated. I also love to moisturize like crazy. But, I also try to be diligent with my skin care and actually wash it.

So, with that being said, here are my current skin care picks:

Cleanser: My ride or die for skin cleansers is normally the REN cleansing milk… but lately I’ve been trying out the Saje Zen Cleanse. I started working at a local Saje store and figured it might be a good idea to try out their skin care products. And I must admit, the Zen cleanse is a pretty close second to my trusty REN cleansing milk. It’s super gentle on the face. It’s 100% natural. It’s made with avocado… and I love it.

Toner:  Rose Mist by Saje has been my new favourite find. It’s only made with water and rose oil. Rose is SO good for your face. It’s incredibly hydrating and what I love about this product is that I can use it as a final “toner” after I’ve finished my skin care routine AND I can also use it on top of my make up to bring  a bit of extra hydration. Win-Win.

Moisturizer: My skin is like the sahara desert in the winter time. I have flaky dry patches around my nose and along my scalp. I think most of it is due to my own health issues (yay bad thyroid… not), but I think it’s also because of the weather change. I’ve been using a BioDerma Hydrabio Moisturizing Serum. I love it. It’s not your typical serum meaning it’s not liquid-y. It’s thick and leaving my skin feeling extra moisturized. I love to use this under my makeup too and I’ve noticed that it lasts a lot longer with it on. It’s also great if you have super dehydrated skin like myself.

Eye Cream: Kiels Midnight Recovery eye cream has been my current find in terms of eye treatment. I never really know what the eye cream is doing to my skin, but I have noticed that my concealer has been applying better since using an eye cream. So – I’ll take it!

Night Cream: LiftActiv Supreme Night by Vichy was gifted to me by my mom after she realized it wasn’t doing much for her own skin. I have found it to be wonderful for myself. I love night creams and I wake up the next day with soft skin – so.. obviously that means I love the product more.

These are my current go to winter skin care products. I’m curious to hear what some of yours are?

J. xx

10 Christmassy Goals

It’s hard to believe that November is coming to an end. With December right around the corner, that means we’re closer to Christmas. If you know me, you know I’m big on Christmas. I love love love the holidays! But something I noticed is that every year I come up with a mental list of things of I want to do (with friends, family, or by myself) and never follow through with it.

SO! This year, I decided to write them all out, throw in out into the web-iverse, and actually accomplish some.

2017 Christmassy Goals…

  1. Go to a Christmas Market – Every single year my bestie and I talk about going to the Christmas market that happens in Vancouver. We always say we will, try to make the plan, but end up not going. But this year I want to actually do it. Christmas markets have vendors who sell all things holiday (gift giving ideas??), yummy food, and all the hot apple cider you can drink. What could be more festive than that?
  2. Buy a REAL Christmas Tree – I still live at home (it’s not uncommon for 20-somethings to live at home OKAY?!), and last year the fam and I decided to ditch the fake tree and buy a real one. We are going to definitely do it again this year (followed by decorating, hot chocolate, and christmas music!). There’s nothing more festive than the smell of a real christmas tree.
  3. Ride a Christmas train – My little nephew, his parents (my besties), and I normally go to the pumpkin patch every year… however, this year we decided to switch it up and go to the Stanley Park (Vancouver) Christmas train. I’m mostly adding this to my list so I can have an excuse to look at beautiful lights and snuggle my nephew.
  4. Finish all my Christmas shopping EARLY – Tbh, I’m doing really well with this. It’s mid-November as I write this and I’m proud to say I’m almost done. The plan is to have all my gifts bought and wrapped by the first week of December so it’s out of the way and I don’t have to do any last minute Christmas shopping.
  5. Watch all the Christmas movies – I love Christmas movies and every year I plan which ones I want to watch and never follow through with it. My mom and I are suckers for a good Hallmark Christmas movie so this year we plan on DVR-ing all the good ones with the addition of the classics (Love Actually, The Holiday, etc).
  6. Take a Picture with Santa – You’re never too old to see Santa… and did you know you can take a picture with Santa AND your dog? Yup! My 4 year old German Shepherd and I have done it for the last two years and you betcha we’re going to do it again this year!
  7. Catch a Christmas Show – I can’t remember the last time I’ve been to the theatre, but I want to see the Nutcracker this year!
  8. Send Christmas Cards – We’ve kinda lost touch with how meaningful sending a Christmas card can be, what with the internet and e-cards. So I want to bring that back and send them to my friends. Plus, everyone loves getting mail!
  9. Take in every minute  – It’s SO easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. This year, I want to take in every minute of it… to not get lost in the business of the holidays, and to enjoy. I want to turn off my phone and be present, especially when I’m with my family. These moments are precious and I think it’s so easy to get lose track of it in such a fast paced society.
  10. Remember the reason for the season – Christmas isn’t just about the beautiful lights, spending time with family, or catching a Christmas show. Yeah it’s fun and there’s totally nothing wrong with it! The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, cherished and spent with those you love. But –  It’s also about Christ. It’s about his birth and why he was born – to save us. I want to appreciate that… and ultimately praise God for sending his Son.

What are some of your Christmas goals?

J. xx

Let’s Style: Jean Jackets

I’m OBSESSED with this jean jacket. I bought it from ASOS over the summer and have been wearing it non stop now that it’s colder. What I love about it is how easy it is to throw on over any outfit. Being super casual? Throw on a jean jacket. Wearing a dress? Throw on a jean jacket. Going to the pumpkin patch? Throw on a jean jacket!!! The best part is that it’s crazy comfortable and I’m all about comfort.

Whatever the occasion may be, a jean jacket is totes okay. Even in November (especially in November – ummm, layers?!) I’m a big fan of layers. I’m the kind of girl that get’s really warm and would rather layer with a sweater, jacket, and scarf.

So pull on your favourite pair of skinny jeans (black or blue – Canadian tuxedos are cool, k?), a comfy sweater, sneakers and your favourite jean jacket and you’ve got yourself a comfortable, yet stylish, autumnal outfit.

I’m still on the hunt for a cute jean jacket with a (faux) fur lining. If you know of any good ones, definitely let me know!

OUTFIT DETAILS: 

Jean Jacket – ASOS CURVE
Jeans – OLD NAVY (You heard me! They have the comfiest jeggings)
Sweater – EVER NEW MELBOURN (Last season, but here‘s one that is similar)
Shoes – Converse (I forgot how much I love the original black converse)

How do you like to style jean jackets?

J.xx

 

Pumpkin Picking

Autumn has officially arrived and I couldn’t be more excited about it! I love everything about this season – sweaters, London fogs, blanket scarves, halloween, pumpkin pie, pumpkin candles, pumpkin spiced lattes… okay let’s me be real, pumpkin EVERYTHING. I love it!

This past weekend, my bestie Liz Mannegren (from MommyMannegren  – check out her blog if you haven’t already), her family (husband, son, sister) and myself went on our traditional pumpkin picking adventure. The Pumpkin Patch in Richmond, British Columbia (Canada) has been our pumpkin patch of choice for the past two years. It has everything! Dancing vegetables, goats, roosters, fresh apples, a train ride, mini donuts and pumpkins galore. They even take you on a tractor ride with one of the workers performing songs for the kiddies to sing along to as you travel the short way to the patch.

Each person is allowed one pumpkin. This year there were tons of great options! It was also a treat to watch little Alistair walk amongst the pumpkins and pick his very own. It’s even more adorable when he tries to lift them up! Ah! I can’t wait until I have my own husband and little one to bring along. I already know I’ll be an emotional mess if I have a kid, and Liz and I’s little ones go off and find pumpkins together. I cry.  (Disclaimer: I am definitely no where close to having my own little family, but it sure does pull my heartstrings when I think about the potential of it. If the good Lord wills it, of course.)

Moving on!!

One thing that Liz and I learnt from last year is that you need to bring rain boots. If you don’t, your favourite white converse will turn a nice shade of brown. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience. Now because I want to start talking more about fashion on this here blog, let me tell you about my outfit of choice. I like to stay comfortable. Jeans, rain boots and a trusty toque is my go to choice! Outfit details can be found on the left hand side under photos.

Pro Tip –  The pumpkin patch is a great activity for all! But if you have a little one, little siblings, or want to become nanny of the year, I suggest going early (right as it opens). It’s less busy and you will get a great parking spot. Plus this way, you can make a day of it. Pumpkin picking in the AM, followed by lunch. We like to go to The Old Spaghetti Factory afterwards!

All in all, this is probably one of my all time favourite autumnal activities to do!

What activities do you and your family enjoy doing during the fall season?

J. xx

 

Shauna + David

There is something beautiful and intimate about a beach wedding, and Shauna and David’s late August ceremony is no exception.

I hadn’t met Shauna and David before their wedding. In fact, they had booked me only two weeks before their big day. I had been corresponding through their wedding planner (something I hadn’t done before), and was super curious to meet them. Normally I like to meet up with the couple before hand so I can learn a bit about their love story, and get a feel for them and their style. I was a bit nervous going into it, but I have to tell you – these two were an absolute delight to work with!

Their energy was vibrant and their love is so contagious. They had me swooning and smiling the whole time. The way that David would look at his bride – it’s how every bride wants to be looked at. Full of love, adoration and joy.

They had arrived at the beach together, taking away from the traditional “first look”. But everything about this wedding wasn’t traditional. (And that only made them even more fun to work with!) Shauna rocked a short, lace dress, David – an effortless, rockstar attitude with a simple black suit, and their guests were dressed casual. I mean it is a beach wedding after all!

The ceremony was short and sweet, full of love and laughter. The sun was beating down on us, but that didn’t matter at all. I mean, Vancouver is extra gorgeous in the sunshine.  It was the perfect weather making for a perfect day!

Here are a few shots from their beach ceremony.

Enjoy!

J. x

       

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis