Happy New Year! Highlights and Recap of 2015

I can’t believe how quickly this year flew by! It has been a whirlwind of adventure, makeup...lots of makeup, new friends and fabulous memories!

Some of my 2015 highlights include amazing travel adventures and breathtaking views so here is a recap of the beautiful places I’ve explored this year and the photos I captured along the way.

The Italian Riviera- Sanremo Italy

Ville Franche Sur Mer (the South of France)
One of the most picturesque places on the planet!

Nice France
One my favorite destinations in the world...alongside Paris of course!

Monte Carlo - The French Riviera
One of the most unique & beautiful cities I've ever seen!

Marseilles France

Saint Tropez France

St. Maxime France

Istanbul Turkey

Dubrovnik Croatia
Ancient, historical and breathtaking!

Montenegro
A secluded, gorgeous oasis of mountains and sea

Munich Germany

Montreal Quebec

Chicago Illinois

I went to Chicago on a Press Trip for the Masters of Makeup cocktail party at the Crown Plaza and The Makeup Show's media event. I decided to turn it into a mini vacation and do some sightseeing as well!

Niagara Falls Ontario

Other highlights include covering World Mastercard Fashion Week, VIP lounges, many exclusive parties and the Toronto International Film Festival where I saw Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth while attending the premiere of The Dress Maker. I also had a great time at the Man From U.N.C.L.E red carpet premiere where the cast made a special appearance!

Kate Winslet on the red carpet

This year I indulged in a culinary spectacle of sweet treats and gourmet food trucks at the Canadian National Exhibition which is an annual tradition.

Spiral potato spuds with garlic Parmesan flavor 

Butter chicken poutine!

When I wasn't traveling or at press events I was downtown almost every day this summer enjoying the excitement of the Pan American Games which was hosted in Toronto. I attended outdoor concerts, sporting matches and had a great time exploring my city.

Royal Ontario Museum

I love spending time by the lake so I took many leisurely evening strolls on warm summer nights.

Port Credit Ontario

Being featured in Avon’s brochure and Verve Girl Magazine with Fifth Harmony on the cover were amazing opportunities!

I attended beauty and press events all over the city including spa time at the 5 star Shangri-la and a princess party at Casaloma with essence cosmetics!

There were many patio days with friends, lunches, dinners and more events than I can even recall! 

This year there was also a traumatic experience that harshly put life into perspective. A raging fire broke out just a few feet away from my home and my family and I had to flee in the middle of the night. 

Amidst the chaos there was a car fire at the end of our driveway and a nearby house began exploding sending debris fluttering down around us as we escaped through intolerable smoke. Many homes were completely destroyed so we were very fortunate. After experiencing such a frightening ordeal I was more thankful than ever to still have my home and loved ones. My heart goes out to all those effected by loss, heartache, disaster and tragedy this year.

With all the senseless violence occurring in the world the future can be very uncertain. I always make an effort to be open to new experiences and try to squeeze every last drop of happiness out of life. I have also learned to distance myself from negativity and not dwell on issues that are beyond my control. I am so fortunate to be able to explore the world, do what I love and share everything with all of you.

I know that 2016 will be brighter, better and more prosperous. I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog this year, traveling along with me and watching me try out all the cool makeup and beauty products that launched each season. Thanks for all your support and kind comments, I had a wonderful time and I wish you all a safe and happy New Year!!

~Erica

Photo credit: happynewyear2016-images.com

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Eye Shadow Palette Review

Kat Von D is known for her bold, edgy style and rocker girl artistic flare so it is no wonder that her unique makeup line has quickly escalated to popularity within the beauty community. The playful technicolor pigments in the Mi Vida Loca Palette are sensationally daring and inspired by bold electric hues and soft everyday neutrals which makes this collection quite unique!

The front portrait on the packaging was drawn by Kat herself and the pull-out palette is reminiscent of a vinyl record! It is also worth mentioning that the color tray tends to slide out on its own so you do have to be careful when opening, closing and transporting. 

This gorgeous wheel of striking pigment is not for the color-phobic! Although there are a few neutrals and some tame hues among the circle’s vividness, if you tend to shy away from eye-catching makeup you may find this range a tad overwhelming at first. If you’re like me and enjoy experimenting with dramatic, trendy hues you will love this! When I first saw it I was reminded of a painter’s palette or the color gradients from high school art class that taught us how to use pigment in complimentary combinations.

The wheel includes all of the essentials from cranberry, red and pink

To purples and blue

Greens

Yellow, orange and gold

And in the middle you have your neutrals including: cream, deep brown, silver and black.

The thing I love most about Kat’s makeup is the incredible pigmentation! Throughout her line the vibrancy and quality is among the best in the industry and just swatching the shadows is enough to prove that the color pay-off is totally insane! Most of these hues show up on skin as amazing as they appear in the palette and although using a primer does amp up the color to optimum saturation a base isn't needed to achieve incredible intensity. There are a few shades however that tend to go on a tad sheer at first and require more layering but the smooth, velvety texture is luxurious and applies easily with little to no fall- out. With many of the pigments you can achieve full-coverage in just one swipe or layer for show-stopping effects that last all day. I also like that some shades have a slight creaminess to them and there are a range of finishes from matte, satin, shimmer and metallic.

One way to transition comfortably into bolder color is to go soft on the lids using lighter hues such as lilac (Muse), shimmery purple (Love), a golden color like Harpsichorn or even the lime green- (Vinyl). Then go a bit darker in the crease with rich shades and blend well. These colors are also great if you are aiming for dark and bold, smokey and sexy or even light day looks if you use the hues in the middle which balances the palette with basic earthy tones. The combinations you can create with these shades are endless and with a little imagination every color is useable. You can even customize the shades by mixing and blending to make your own interesting hues.

This palette is a great addition to any makeup collection (personal or professional) because it is fun, versatile and you won’t need to reach for other palettes to satisfy your craving for color! If you can get your hands on one it is definitely worth the splurge for yourself and it makes a fantastic gift! It retails for $71.00 and you can pick it up at Sephora.

*press samples featured