Tag: mental health

May is month to celebrate the coming of summer…

~ Emmie Reve ~ 2 Comments

I’d like to think I am pretty spiritual. I find happiness in rituals, I believe in things that can’t be seen, just felt. I like to think about Mother Earth and how she changes the seasons. May 2021 is especially wonderful, because after a winter of lock down in Toronto, Canada, any brightness and colour would easily excite me beyond words. It had been a cold, grey winter lockdown, but with spring finally warming up in this very Northern city, it’s sunny enough to get greenery growing all about. I see flowers blooming, cherry blossoms are on trees, the rains of April have stopped and nature is alive again. A rebirth. Very meaningful to me and joyful.

This particular winter has been very difficult on my mental health as I have posted about in my previous post about weight-loss and gain during the pandemic. Being trapped at home was dark and sunless, as are all winters in Canada…I struggled daily with anxiety and depression. Even now with the change of seasons, I still suffer a bit from a lower mood sometimes, but much less so. I wanted to do a post about celebrating and being thankful for this current pre-summer loveliness that is working hard to cheer me up. Being thankful for connections that can now be made as the weather allows people to go outside and just see, experience, maybe even frolic? I must admit I’ve never frolicked before, but this Spring going into Summer is more a good time than ever to start!

How I Celebrated this May-time Wonder:

I love flowers. I think they always look so beautiful. Flowers add elegance and happiness to anything and/or anyone they decorate and touch. See their work on Mother’s Day, at weddings, funerals, as table decor, patient gifts. Their magic is undeniable. So to celebrate their floral vibrancy I decided to make a simple flower crown and then go outside to model it in photos. I found some cherry blossom trees and could not resist using them as a backdrop for enjoying being in nature and being thankful.

So this is me, modeling my crown. Also modeling this white blouse with ruffle-y sleeves. I think it fit the general mood of May, and it’s themes of rebirth, freedom and enjoyment.

How I Made my Flower Crown:

The crown itself is actually pretty simple to make, First buy some flowers with stems that are delicate enough to wrap. Then grab some floral tape. I got mine from a craft store. Also find a base for the crown. I used a thin headband, but a circular wire, etc…could also work! Then clip off the individual flowers from the bouquet, leaving a stem 1-3 inches long. Then arrange the flowers by colour and shape on the headband, wrapping each stem with the floral tape to the head band in a spiral motion. And Voila; a gorgeous, simple crown that shines with the glory of nature awaits to be worn!

My flowers were a few days old when I made the crown, but a slight wilt makes them look more real. For my eye make-up I wore a vibrant violet shadow, as I was inspired by nature’s colourful florals…

What are some other ways to celebrate the outdoor nature around this time of year? Let me know in the comment section below….

Why biking during a pandemic is beautiful…

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

So I write about fashion and make up…yes. And I am only interested in that. I will not write about anything else.–NOT! I also write about how to deal with mental and physical health, which is connected to daily life and feeling happy and beautiful…It’s a lifestyle interest, just the way fashion and make-up is also lifestyle interest… So why is biking around where I live, the city of Toronto, a “must-do” for me right now? What does it have to do with the simple lifestyles I promote? It’s important now more than ever, because I heard that as major urban center with the hugest population in the country, Toronto has been in the longest lockdown of any North American city and I believe it. I am just so floored by the year long lockdowns since March 2020, just excluding the small brief windows in the summer months that saw city open up for patio dining and in person shopping. Now that has all been shuttered again until the end of May 2021.

Near the bike/walking path, West Toronto Railpath. It goes along the railway and there is nature and industrial buildings along its path. Here I am in my cute but functional outfit. make up, and hair do!

Boredom is now the norm as it was in the dead of the past Canadian winter. No seeing friends, no dating, no going outside, because it was too cold and everywhere was shut. But a life saver for me this Spring was getting back on my bike; I got transportation without relying on the crowded Toronto transit system. Biking was also an chance to exercise, get fresh air, and just see outdoor sights that were forgotten when I was hibernating in my apartment. Getting to view the cityscape, and the urban wildlife while riding. The sun and wind on my face as I whirled about bike paths and busy main streets. The exercise biking provides helps me stay slim and the mental health it gives me by being me outside and moving. Nothing about being trapped at home and eating was gratifying… Even though that was the message all Ontarians were told to do during lockdown. Gaining weight and feeling old was what the pandemic restrictions were prescribing. That was considered safe, but so much torture as well. But as spring hit Toronto and the weather became sunnier and warmer, out came my bike and all the urban exploring that it would bring.

Dutch braids keep my hair looking good and wispies in place under a bike helmet

Beauty tips for biking:

Getting outside is the most important thing to take from what I’m saying. But hey, I am a beauty blogger so here are my go-to tips for being gorgeous while out and about.

  • Wear sunscreen: the spring time sun is actually pretty fierce as the sun is closer to the earth than before, even though temperatures seem chilly.
  • If desired, minimal make-up is always nice: I have written many articles on no make-up looks. Here’s one of them. But the basic idea is foundation/powder. brows, mascara, and blush…super simple and easy.
  • Stay hydrated. The wind and sun can do a number on the face and skin. Drinking plenty of fluids keeps everything smooth and healthy. I usually pack cold water with a herbal tea bag and let it steep slowly during the ride.
  • Dress appropriately. Pants that are too baggy can get caught in the chains; tight dresses and non flexible wear just restrict movement. Long jackets and skirts are not welcome on bikes. The best thing to do is wear clothing that is semi wind repellant, stretchy, perform functionally and are stylish too. For example; Athletic leggings, bike shorts, rompers, sweatshirts and hoodies, t-shirt and looser jeans (not bell bottoms/flares), a short light jacket, windbreakers….etc…
Urban exploring: In front of the iconic Sterling building. I believe it was a car factory back in the day…now it is the new home of the Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art. (another huge interest of mine)

And the most important rule of all? Stay safe! Obey traffic rules, never go too fast, keep an eye on traffic, explore urban spaces safely without trespassing. And watch out for pedestrians (they still own the scenic paths more that cyclists do). The best way to have fun is to do it safely.

Staying motivated for weight loss/beauty during a pandemic…

~ Emmie Reve ~ 1 Comment

It’s been way too long since I’ve posted any cute clothes or make up tutorials on here, and I’m sad about it. It’s not that beauty and fashion no longer interests me, or that I’m too busy…far from it. It’s just been depressing during the quarantine this past year, making it difficult to be inspired. I also had a lot of personal problems right at the start of the pandemic last winter and feeling motivated to stay thin, to stay fashionable, or to follow the latest beauty trends has been far from my mind. Covid fatigue is a real thing but for me I was already tired of it from the beginning…

It all started when I lost my job as a stylist apprentice when hair salons shut down in Toronto last March. Shortly after that, I broke up with my “on again, off again” lover a second time, because he didn’t feel serious enough about us to date through a pandemic. I lost hope that I could be in a lasting relationship and doubted myself heavily… My career prospects had disappeared in a blink and just as fast, so did my love life die. And it all really hurt and stunned me. Nothing seemed important anymore and it was hard to keep my own identity. The world in shut down mode no longer made the need for stylish clothes or gorgeous make-up or hair looks in demand. The new routine for everyone would be comfy sweat pants and days of staying home unemployed. Add to that my daily break-up recovery routine and it was suicide. I would struggle daily for the next year to find ways to cope with the changes in my life.

This is in the summer of 2020 when I had more motivational goals for staying fit! I was biking daily and watching calories…lost about 5 pounds from the onset of the lockdown in the spring…I have now gained it all back.
With restrictions lifted temporarily last summer I got to travel and staying active helped me keep my physique. It was so important to get outside. Here I am infront of Niagara Falls’ river rapids.

During the first half of 2020, I was bored out of my mind, eating more and gaining weight. I had to force myself not wear sweat pants during the day because it made me feel too depressed and purposeless. I even stopped wearing makeup for a while. But then summer came and the pressure to go to the beach and wear bikinis was too great. I lost weight, got into fashion and beauty again. Things were kind of normal for a while. And in the fall, I was still active getting out, and even dated around a bit. Then came the holidays and New Years and another winter 2021 lockdown in Toronto. Any progress I had made came to a halt. Eating at home became a past time again and I am now 10 pounds heavier than what I usually am. I don’t feel pretty, and I don’t feel like myself. This is when I know I have to lose the weight again and get back to feeling like a beauty professional. Yes, there is a Pandemic going on, but no, I am not going to let it stop me from being myself!

Ending my Personal Pandemic: Goals

  • Self care is important, more so than ever. It’s easy to go days without grooming because no one is looking or caring, but a self care routine is connected to who I am. I will do it for my own sake and sanity. I am trying to put being lovely back into my daily routine.
  • Buy new pretty clothes: I have no where to go, and am already stocked in fab clothes from my years of working in fashion retail! But I recently found a gap in my wardrobe collection when I saw I had nothing to work out in! I then shopped online for cute work-out clothes. It helps motivate me to work out at home more often.
  • Find things to do daily to keep busy and not be tempted to eat out of boredom. I now have time to paint again (I went to art college), write and research new fashion trends. But even if I don’t do anything productive like the activities above, binge watching a show, playing video games, anything to pass time is still good. As long as it gets me through my unemployed day.
  • Stay away from alcohol or at least try not to have it regularly. I find it affects my energy levels the next day and makes me have very light sleeps.
  • Tracking my weight: It’s really hard to tell if I have gained weight and by the time I visually notice, I will already have gone off track. Using the bathroom daily scale seems like an anorexic habit, but it really helps me stay focused and not indulge too much.
  • Knowing why I want to lose weight: Skinny is not always beautiful, and not for everyone. But for me, I am the most happy, comfortable and confident when I am a few pounds lighter. My clothes fit better, my face is less puffy and round…and it just makes sense. Acceptance of my body also includes acceptance of my true goals when it comes to body image.

In conclusion: feeling pretty can be hard. I don’t think anybody wake up in the morning with birds chirping at their windows and bows in their hair. It takes a lot work that a pandemic and quarantine can thwart; but at the end of the day, it’s just another excuse for not living up to my standards of being. It’s never too late to turn around.