Lace & Pearls Test

A Seattle Life + Style blog

Victoria Trip

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Last weekend we went to Victoria, British Columbia. It was our first time visiting and the weather was perfect.

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We stayed at the amazing Abbeymoore Manor (bed & breakfast), located in the beautiful Rockland Mansion district. From the moment we arrived we were swept away by good service and excellent food. They accommodate dietary restrictions and kept me dairy-free for our stay.

Our suite had a private entrance, patio, full kitchen, bathroom, and sitting room. The bathroom was beautiful with a sea foam glass sink, Tiffany blue walls, and the shower had the prettiest pale green tile. We could have stayed a few weeks.

On my birthday, they surprised me with a delicious dairy/gluten-free cake. It was so sweet.

Abbeymoore bday

Up the street from the Abbeymoore is the Government House. We took a stroll through the gardens and were surprised to find black tail deer at one of the lookout points. I was thrilled!

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As mentioned in my previous post, we made the drive to the Butchart Gardens. It was absolutely stunning.

Thebutchartgardens

We did a lot of walking and eating during the trip. On the last night we had dinner on the water at the Blue Crab. Before leaving we took the harbour tour to see the marina, float homes, and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Victoria Water Tour

Afterwards we ventured to Red Fish Blue Fish for fish and chips. We waited in line for about 30 minutes, but it was totally worth it.

Red Fish Blue Fish 1

Say Goodbye to Oily Skin

Milk of Magnesia
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Last week I wrote this Beauty Haul post and asked if anyone knew of a good primer for oily skin. Marae from The Always Fabulous recommended Milk of Magnesia as a skin primer. If you’re not familiar with this product it is typically used for occasional constipation. I found this article and watched a slew of YouTube videos for application techniques.

It should be noted that I have tried countless skincare products and have not found anything to keep my oily skin at bay. If you have dry or combination skin this product may cause issues with dryness and tightening of the skin. It should only be used on oily skin.

With a foundation brush I applied a thin layer over my entire face around 6:30 am. I let it dry for about 5 minutes. Once set, a white residue appeared on my face. This is normal. I then proceeded to apply my foundation using a foundation brush and finished with powder.

The end results was a gorgeous porcelain matte finish. Twelve hours later I was still shine free! I did have a glimmer of shine on the top of my nose, but other then that my makeup still appeared fresh. I can’t believe I’ve gone through life without this product. It is 100% amazing!

Check out this fun video for a product review and tips on application.

Disclaimer

Due to the ingredients, this product should only be used occasionally. 

Plant Based Diet – First Steps

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Today I am going to share some of the changes I have made to transition to a plant based diet, along with a smoothie recipe. Since I am lactose intolerant, eliminating dairy seemed like the easiest thing to start with.

  • Dairy is Not Your Friend – In the past, I would occasionally eat cheese or have cream in my coffee. I’ve subbed the cream for almond milk.
  • Say No to Eggs – I used to eat eggs every day for breakfast. This change wasn’t half bad since I now get my protein fix from plant based smoothies (see recipe below).
  • Goodbye Red Meat – I enjoy eating meat, but it’s not a must-have. I have eliminated red meat from my diet but still continue to eat chicken.
  • Sweet Treats – instead of doing store-bought treats, I opted to make my own. Making desserts at home is easy and delicious. I have made these No Bake Flax Energy Bites and the No Bake Muesli Nut Bars. Both recipes take very little time to prepare.

Since I’m no longer eating eggs, I needed a solid breakfast option. Everything I read suggested a smoothie. I did a search to find the perfect smoothie and found this article.

Breakfast Smoothie

  • 1 banana
  • 2 small handfuls of frozen fruits (e.g., strawberry, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries)
  • 1 scoop of plant protein powder (I use PlantFusion in Vanilla Bean)
  • 2 tablespoons of flax meal
  • 1 tablespoon of chia seed
  • 1 tablespoon of almond butter
  • 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil
  • 10 oz of almond milk
  • 2 large handful of greens (e.g., spinach, kale, or both)

If I want to change things up, I swap it out for a piece of Ezekiel bread with almond butter and Chia Strawberry Fruit Spread.

If you missed the first plant based post be sure to check out Starting a Plant Based Diet.

Starting a Plant Based Diet

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After hearing Jessica Murnane’s interview (episode #2) on The Lively Show, I immediately wanted to change to a plant based diet. I have always tried to eat clean and avoid processed foods when possible. Changing my eating habits to plant based would be a natural progression. I am lactose intolerant and I also have a sensitive stomach. My main goal with this diet would be to reduce my stomach issues.

For those who are not familiar with a plant based diet, it consist of the following components:

  • Fruits: mangoes, bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, cherries, etc.
  • Vegetables: lettuce, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, carrots, etc.
  • Tubers and starchy vegetables: potatoes, yams, yucca, winter squash, corn, green peas, etc.
  • Whole grains: millet, quinoa, barley, rice, whole wheat, oats, etc.
  • Legumes: kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, lima beans, cannellini beans, black beans, etc.

A plant based diet incorporates whole foods and excludes or minimizes meat, dairy products, eggs, and highly refined foods like bleached flour, sugar, and oils.

(Fork Over Knives)

To make the transition easier, it is best to make gradual changes and not try everything at once. I don’t know if I will change my diet to be completely plant based, but I am trying to slowly incorporate most of the elements.

Eating like this requires you to cook everything. I don’t cook. But I have found that preparing these meals is simple and doesn’t require a lot of time.

Eating out can be challenging. Depending on your location, it can be difficult to find menus that fit this lifestyle.

Next week I’ll share some of the changes I have made, and the breakfast smoothie I’ve been drinking.

Great resources to get you started:

Do you follow a plant based diet or something similar? Share your experience in the comments.

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