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

New Year's Eve Reflections: Happy New Year!

2014 is here! For many of us a new year signifies a fresh start, a time to set new goals (whether we follow through with them or not), to start off on a positive note and be open to new prospects and opportunities. 

When I think of New Year's Eve I think of sparkles, glitter and glam. I think of hoards of people heading off to big parties decked out in high heels and sequined dresses, ready to ring in the new year with the popping of champagne bottles. 

Photos from Pinterest

Sometimes I go out for New Year's Eve, purchasing over priced event tickets and dancing into the night while clutching my drink of choice. Other times I stay at home with my family, watch the ball drop and the fireworks light up my TV while sipping champagne. A nice dinner at my favorite restaurant is also a night well spent; but however you choose to celebrate, 2014 is here!

New Year Reflections...

For me 2013 was a year filled with accomplishments, excitement and some sadness. In 2013 I lived out some of my dreams to travel to exotic countries and began the year with a trip to Phoenix Arizona; driving through the beautiful desert and then stopping at the Hoover Dam before having some fun in Las Vegas.

A few months after Vegas my husband and I went to London England on our way to the Middle East; where I saw Big Ben, London Bridge and Buckingham Palace. We then flew to Dubai where we feasted on local cuisine, took in the city from the tallest building in the world and rode camels in the desert. Dubai was an oasis of modern technology meshed with old traditions and I had an amazing time lounging at private beach clubs and traveling to Adbu Dhabi to see the Grand Mosque. It was an experience I will never forget.

London

 Dubai

Abu Dhabi

View from the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world

A few months after my breathtaking trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi my family and I rented an apartment three minutes away from the majestic Eiffel Tower in Paris France. Going to Paris was a dream come true and better than I ever imagined. As I strolled the beautiful streets with my baguette in hand I felt at one with the historical city. I am looking forward to visiting France again soon.

I finished off my travel expeditions with a trip to Miami and Fort Lauderdale in December and boarded a relaxing cruise sailing to Labadee Haiti and Jamaica. Lounging on the pristine beaches was a nice way to end the year before the holiday season.  

**(To see more of mt travels & photos visit my travel page by clicking HERE)**

I also made the most of summer here in Toronto, attending Rihanna and Taylor Swift's concerts, having barbecues at Niagara Falls, attending TV and makeup shows, sitting at outdoor cafes with friends and participating in the art and cultural events the city had to offer. I kept my calendar full of exciting festivities all year.  

**

The seasons here in Toronto were beautiful in 2013 but we did have some treacherous weather. There was flooding in the summer and a dangerous ice storm hit the city recently where many people were left without power. I tried to capture the prettier side of the seasons and explored my love of photography in the great outdoors.

This year also came with some bad news, my aunt was diagnosed with cancer and we also had some deaths in the family which encouraged me to live to the fullest and seize every opportunity available. I realized that at any moment life can change and that it is important to keep things in perspective, live in the moment and have no regrets. 

"In the end its not the years in your life that count, its the life in your years."

(Abraham Lincoln) 

I also learned a lot about friendship and how fragile they can be. Sometimes along the way you lose touch with people you always thought would be in your life; but I realized that not everyone is meant to be around forever. Even with the end of old friendships I learned to be accepting and open to the possibilities of new ones.

This year I worked hard to improve and expand Diary of a Trendaholic. I dedicated more time to redesigning and creating something that was helpful to others and that I can be proud of. I learned a lot, met a lot of wonderful people from around the world and worked with some great companies. I have now surpassed 131,280 views and  I thank you all for your support and encouragement.

I have a lot planned for the coming year and I would love it if everyone continued on this journey with me; discovering the latest and greatest products, trends and beauty finds.

Happy New Year!

~Erica