I’ve been on a major sweet potato kick lately! I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I go through phases with food — and right now I can’t seem to get enough sweet potatoes. My Roasted Sweet Potato Fries with Lemon Tahini Sauce couldn’t be easier to make and it can be on your table in less than 45 minutes! Ever since my New Year Detox Salad with Pink Tahini Dressing recipe I’ve been experimenting with tahini-based sauces and dressings and really enjoy them with roasted veggies and pepitas. Today’s recipe combines all of those things with one of my favourite spring herbs, thyme! The sweet potato fries are infused with fresh thyme and oven roasted — they come out crisp on the outside and soft and velvety on the inside. My Lemon Tahini Sauce combines tahini paste with lemon, maple syrup and a touch of cayenne power for a little kick, resulting in a bright, protein packed sauce. It’s incredible drizzled overtop of the fries and sprinkled with pepitas for some extra crunch! Try this recipe next time you’re looking for light, spring side dish with a fresh, citrusy twist!
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MARCH BEAUTY FAVOURITES
Welcome back, beautiful people! Today I’m sharing my March Beauty Favourites — where I gravitated towards cooler, purple tones on the eyes, pastel nails, luminous skin and peachy lips. Inside, you’ll find a stunning eyeshadow palette that’s especially flattering on green eyes, a great serum foundation for under $20, a blush that gives you a pretty spring flush, a natural looking, luminous bronzer, my favourite periwinkle nail polish and a pretty, cool-toned rose gold eyeliner.
I also chat a bit about gel polish at home (hey — I like to DIY it when I can!) and colour theory in beauty. If you didn’t know, I went to art school so that definitely translates into my beauty obsession — to me, makeup is an art form and just another way to express myself. I also mention my favourite peach lip, which has been on major repeat this month and I think would suit just about anyone. If you’re looking for some Sunday reading material, curl up with me and let’s chat spring beauty!
If you’ve been with me for awhile, you’ll know that I really love flowers! And if you’re anything like me you probably love looking at beautiful imagery to inspire you, too. Today I’m excited to announce that I’ve partnered with my friend and amazing flower designer Rebecca Dawn Design to bring you 3 free downloads on the 1st of each month to pretty up your digital devices! Welcome to our new collaborative series called Digital Blooms — where we’re teaming up to create some beautiful flower art!
Each month, our Digital Blooms will be inspired by seasonal flowers, foliage and a fresh colour palette. Now you can enjoy the beauty of flowers year round on the background of your computer, tablet or phone. These downloads are 100% free with no strings attached and I’m so happy to be able to share what we create each month with you. Click through to welcome the first month of spring and download April’s Digital Blooms!
I discovered tons of new music this month — my March Soundtrack is 101 minutes of pure ear candy! This month I’ve been loving Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlists. If you’re not familiar with Spotify, each month they generate a new, 30 song playlist specifically customized to you and what you like to listen to. It’s been a great way for me to discover new music! I also heard quite a few tracks I liked via Sirius XM this month. My March Soundtrack is an eclectic mix of happy, feel good, easy listening tunes!
I couldn’t be happier that spring is officially here, so today I’m sharing my top 10 spring style staples and beauty tips! Year after year, there are a few pieces and colours I always look forward to incorporating in my spring wardrobe and beauty routine. While styles change and we see updated versions of key items each season, my quintessential spring style and beauty staples are actually pretty consistent. That said, spring is also a time where I feel super inspired to branch out and try new things, and that definitely filters through into my personal style! My spring style staples are a mixture of tried and true pieces and silhouettes — freshened up with trendy details, colours and accessories. Here’s what’s on my hit list for Spring 2016!
Leith Floppy Felt Hat in Grey Opal | Floral Rimmed Sunglasses (similar) | Longline White Vest (similar, similar) | Elbow Patch Striped Shirt | Mystic Labradorite Spike and Dagger Gold Necklace c/o Chan Luu | Yellow Straw Clutch (similar) | Periwinkle Polish | Busted Knee Denim (similar) | Garnish Leather Tassel Court Shoe in Camel | Peach Lip
DRAGON FRUIT BUBBLE TEA SMOOTHIE
When I was at the Asian market last week, I was in awe of the bubble tea selection. There must have been over 50 varieties on the menu! Taiwanese bubble tea is something I love as a treat occasionally, but I know it’s full of less than desirable ingredients and tons of processed sugar. So I decided to create a bubble tea inspired smoothie at home with the beautiful dragon fruit I picked up at the market! My Dragon Fruit Bubble Tea Smoothie is full of healthy, nourishing ingredients, vitamins and antioxidants. I like to enjoy it post-workout because it’s also loaded with clean, plant-based protein. A delicious chia seed pudding base mimics the texture of the black tapioca pearls usually seen in bubble tea, while a spring-inspired combination of dragon fruit, banana, mango, strawberry and creamy Vanilla Almond Breeze gives the smoothie its natural sweetness and soft pink hue. If you’re in the mood for something exotic, try my healthy spin on bubble tea!
MY 1ST BLOGIVERSARY + 10 THINGS I LEARNED IN MY FIRST YEAR OF BLOGGING
Imagine a place where you could go to totally unleash your creativity. That’s what this blog has been for me for almost exactly 1 year. JustineCelina is my ultimate creative outlet and my happy place. I started my blog 1 year ago with an iPhone and an idea — and never could have imagined that it would grow and evolve into what it is today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single one of you reading this post. Your support in the largest creative endeavor of my life truly means the world to me!
I wasn’t going to make it a big deal, but I decided to throw JustineCelina a birthday party to celebrate this milestone! Today’s post is a very special 1st Blogiversary Party and collaborative shoot that I’ve invited some of Calgary’s very best makers, artists and creative professionals to be a part of — including Milton Photography, Rebecca Dawn Design, and Crave Cookies & Cupcakes. I’m also sharing ten things I learned during my first year of blogging. This is a very long post — so grab a cupcake and a glass of bubbly (or whatever you’re toasting with), get comfy and let’s celebrate! Cheers to going your own way and making your own magic!







