Rich Hot Blog

Booking Travel When You Have Anxiety

March 11, 2019 No Comments

To make a long story short: I have anxiety. My s.o. And I hit some major setbacks financially last year but we managed to turn it all around within the year. So I’m ready for a vacation, ya feel me?

So I did what we all do, the first step to booking a vacation, deciding where to go. That’s when my anxiety ran me the fuck over – every place I even thought for a moment that I might like to travel to, my anxiety immediately told me that if I went there I was going to die. It wasn’t a specific fear based on recent news stories from any particular area – it was just an overlying feeling of dread that made my chest feel tight and my heart hurt.

It felt like I wouldn’t be able to go and do something that I truly wanted to do just because I had this giant, irrational weight sitting on my chest keeping me from even choosing a destination.

But we did choose a destination – we booked our tickets to go back to Japan and Taiwan in May!

I managed to get past (not over) my irrational feeling of impending doom regarding choosing a destination in a couple of ways. After all, it wouldn’t be a very fun vacation if I spent the whole time assuming I was about to die.

Remind Yourself that Sometimes Anxious Feelings are Just Excitement

I was talking to my therapist (obviously my number one solution for all things) about this particular episode of anxiety and she spat some straight wisdom. She told me that the centers in our brains that process excitement and anxiety are really close to each other and that sometimes when you’re excited, your brain can process that as anxiety instead.

My mind was blown.

I evaluated my feelings of anxiety – was it just excitement? A large part of it was! When I start feeling anxious about my holiday I take a moment to sit with that feeling and ask myself: is this just excitement? If the answer is yes, just remind yourself each time that feeling comes back that you’re actually really really excited for your holiday and it’s manifesting as anxiety.

See Your Therapist

I know we don’t all have access to a therapist or counselor – so even just talk it through with a friend or trusted family member. It can be hard to talk about, but the outside perspective can often offer a lot of insight that you might have missed because you’re just too close to the issue.

My therapist asked me, well, do I really want to travel to a new destination, or was I just feeling obligated to? The answer was that I just felt obligated to travel to a new place when I seriously just wanted to go back to Japan. It really relieved a lot of the anxiety I felt choosing a destination to get that affirmation that IT’S OKAY TO REVISIT A PLACE YOU ENJOYED!

Make a List and Research the Shit out of your Potential Destinations

I, personally, do not relish doing research and scrolling painstakingly through hundreds of travel websites but it was a necessarily evil in assuaging my anxiety about choosing a destination. Plus, it’s something you’re going to have to do anyway.

I recommend making a list of all the things you want to do or see or get out of this vacation. Do you want to relax on a beach? Great – write that down. Do you want to climb mountains? Also great – write it down. Are you there for history? Food? Culture? Whatever it is, write it down. Then narrow this list down to a few key points that are most important to you on your holiday – this list is going to act as your litmus test to see if a destination is truly somewhere you want to go.

Then you can start researching. Time for another list! Write down what each destination can offer you in your budget and the area you want to visit. Check that against your first list. If it doesn’t meet most of your most necessary criteria, give it a pass this time. Do this until you found the location that meets the most of your vacay checklist.

Voila, you’re done! You found your ideal vacation destination AND got a bunch of research out of the way early on.

I really hope these tips help you and if you want to talk about it, you can always DM me on instagram! Travel can be really draining for someone with anxiety and I just wanna have a good time and help y’all have a good time.

What are your top tips for choosing a holiday destination?

Uncategorized

Styling a Wicker Shelf

December 1, 2019 No Comments

As I’m sure all of you who live in apartments know, any piece of furniture that comes into the house needs to be two things: beautiful and most importantly, functional. That’s why when styling this gorgeous shelf from Vintage Hut Furniture, I was determined to really make it work for me and my space while also remaining a beautifully styled focal piece.

This shelf is more than just a book shelf – it’s a place to store my extra makeup, it’s a book shelf, it’s a display piece, and it’s also a bar cart. I kept the color palette neutral by choosing a couple of beige vases to sit next to my makeup organizer – they’re currently empty but I’m thinking of popping a little bit of dried pampas grass in to add some texture. By not choosing accessories that are too loud, I think it really keeps the shelf itself as the main focal piece rather than a bunch of distracting tchotchkes.

I also wanted to make sure that things didn’t look too crowded or cluttered so I made sure to leave a little bit of empty space on a couple of the shelves just to help things breathe such as the gap I left beside our little whisky collection. I think it lends a nice airiness to the piece and doesn’t make my brain go crazy looking at clutter all the time. I am, however, thinking of replacing the bar shelf with a record player instead as style and home decor is a constantly evolving thing.

I was really excited to be gifted this piece by Vintage Hut Furniture to bring in some vintage vibes and warm texture to our otherwise pretty bland living room. I cannot recommend shopping from them enough as they have loads of gorgeous vintage pieces at an astonishingly low price point. I’m constantly lurking their Instagram for the perfect nightstand or bedside table.

You can check out Vintage Hut Furniture’s current pieces on Instagram and DM to purchase but keep in mind things go FAST so if you want it, get it. They’ve also recently started carrying some gorgeous Moroccan rugs which have got my heart fluttering!

Share your decor tips with me below

Travel, Uncategorized

How To Pack For a Trip – Carry On Edition

September 22, 2019 No Comments

Packing for a trip is hard enough when you have a full size suitcase – I would know as I am a self-identified over-packer. My suitcase is always full to the brim. It’s a real problem. With the price of flights and checked baggage costs these days, I’ve challenged myself that when I fly, I’m going to pack ONLY a carry-on piece of luggage and nothing else. I call it a challenge because it’s absolutely one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.

Since setting this challenge for myself, I’ve been following three main rules to help me stick to my carry-on only challenge. Read on to check them out.

My first tip is to pack all your toiletries in a cute little plastic pouch. I’m sure you already know that airlines have some pretty strict rules about liquids which I find is the most difficult part of taking only a carry-on bag when you fly. I got this little pouch as a gift from a purchase at Sephora and it’s perfect to fit all of my 100 mL or less toiletries. The trick here is to keep your toiletries in your personal item until you’ve already gone through security as you’ll need to take them out anyway. Once you’ve breezed through security, you can just pop them into your carry-on suitcase.

A little bonus tip is that this is the PERFECT way to use up all of those sample sized products I know you’re hoarding in your bathroom but never find the time to use. This way, you don’t have to go out and buy travel size products or spend time funneling your regular sized products into little travel sized bottles and then back again once you get home. Sample products are key, you’re welcome.

Secondly, I know it’s really tempting to bring your one piece wonders on a trip – your favorite dresses, jumpsuits, and rompers that are just so cute – but girl, leave them behind. Bringing a piece of clothing that can only be worn in one way is, quite literally, a waste of space! The best thing you can pack to really maximize your space are lots and lots of separates that can be worn in a bunch of different ways. Take a look at what you’re packing and ask yourself – how many different outfits can I make with these pieces? Drop anything that you can only wear one way. Such a simple tip but such a space saver!

My final tip is to make sure that you wear your bulkiest clothing (including shoes) on the plane. In my case, it’s these giant Fila Disruptors and this chunky sweater. I can fit so much more in my bag if I wear these on the plane – bonus if your bulkiest items are also the comfiest!

And voila – you’ve magically packed for a trip (albeit a short one) using only a carry-on. Enjoy that $60 you saved by not checking your baggage, you earned it.

xo Teagan

The suitcase featured in this post was gifted by Monos. Monos suitcases are beautifully and thoughtfully designed for travelers everywhere. I love that they include lots of soft travel bags for your shoes, straps to hold your items in place, a gorgeous luggage tag, and a Magic Eraser to scrub the scuffs off of your light colored suitcase and all at an affordable price point.

Gift Guide, Uncategorized

Gift Guide for Your Best Guy

December 24, 2018 No Comments

The Classic Duffle Bag

Seriously though I don’t want to make assumptions but most men I’ve met have had one duffle bag for their entire lives. They took it with them in high school and now they take it with them on work trips and it’s nasty. (Sorry if you’re above this, dudes). It’s time to get them something that’s classic, well made, and, importantly, doesn’t smell like feet.

Fancy Pants Accessories

I know this seems cliche – everyone who doesn’t know what to give the male in their life falls back on getting him a tie or socks or cuff links but I’m here to argue that these are the staple gifts because they’re GREAT, not because you don’t know what else to give. A fun pair of socks is perfect for that guy who likes a little bit of flair with his office wardrobe. A new tie can refresh a whole wardrobe!

A Subtle Candle

Do I really have to say more? These smell AMAZING and this way he doesn’t have to go through the trouble of picking out his own candle. Plus, the understated and elegant packaging looks perfect paired with a classy bottle of whiskey.

Locally Made, Reviews, Uncategorized

Sugaring Hair Removal

November 25, 2018 No Comments

Have you ever seen someone look so happy after getting a Brazilian wax? No? Me neither – and I swear this was actually taken AFTER my service, not before. No sneaky tricks here. I had the pleasure of getting a Brazilian sugaring treatment from the Lily Bar Body Sugaring salon and left smiling.

Sugaring is a hair removal method, like waxing, but sugaring uses an all natural combination of only three ingredients – lemon, sugar, and water. You could actually eat the sugar if you wanted to! The sugaring solution will only adhere to dead skin cells and not your live ones which eliminates the possibility of painful removal of live skin cells. Sugaring also goes on the opposite way that waxing does, and is removed in the direction of hair growth which can reduce the amount of breakage and thus reduce the amount of ingrown hairs you experience.

In all honesty, I didn’t find that it was much less painful than getting a wax BUT that being said, I hadn’t gotten a Brazilian in about six months which is probably why it was so painful. Those root systems had a lot of time to grow and take hold! However, what I did find was that there was significantly less irritation to my skin afterwards and I didn’t suffer as many ingrown hairs. Thus far, I actually haven’t seen a single ingrown hair, which is ideal.

And if that’s not enough, the Lily Bar Body Sugaring salon is actually one of the most aesthetic hair removal salons I’ve ever stepped foot in. Their waiting area is gorgeous and the treatment rooms are super spacious and relaxing. The Lily Bar also carries their own brand of aftercare products to keep your sugared skin happy!

What’s your preferred method of hair removal? Let me know in the comments below.

Autumn Style, Fashion, Winter Style

Send Nudes

November 15, 2018 No Comments

skirt // sweater // shoes

As you all know – I love neutrals! I’m obsessed with all things minimalist even though I’m not very good at following through with my minimalist dreams. My favorite way to rock the perfect minimalist outfit is to K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid – for those of you who didn’t read those DIY books in the early 2000s) with a co-ord set in a neutral color. Bonus points if it’s a snuggly knit fabric too!

I bet you’ve noticed that I’ve been rocking these sneaker mules almost all the time now – they’re super comfy and they add a little bit of fun to an outfit! I’m so much happier when I’m in flat shoes, to be honest – and when you’re 5’10 you don’t exactly need heels.

sweater // skirt // shoes

Now sadly I couldn’t find this exact set to share with you guys since I’m notoriously slow at taking outfit photos, so by the time I’ve shot a look, the styles have gone out of stock. HOWEVER, I’m going to link the same set, but in yellow (fun!) and a similar set in an off white. Taking outfit shots in a timely manner is definitely something I’m trying to work on.

Autumn Style, Fashion, Trends, Uncategorized

Casual Autumn Look at the Vancouver Public Library

October 2, 2018 No Comments

Look everyone, I don’t want to say it, I don’t want to think about it, and I certainly am having a hard time getting into dressing for it, but fall is here. I can tell because as I look out my bedroom window, it’s pouring rain – classic Vancouver weather. So let’s do it, even though I don’t want to, let’s talk fall style.

Every time the seasons shift I have a mini-meltdown because I suddenly hate all my clothes for no good reason – my favorite way to combat that feeling is just to throw on a big cozy sweater and call it a ~look~. On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending the Vancouver Public Library’s media opening of the new rooftop garden and I seized the opportunity to dress in the coziest outfit possible.

Sorry-not-sorry but everything in this outfit is from last season or earlier – however, I linked some similar items for you guys to shop that are currently available.

This look is actually a maxi dress from H&M with a big ol’ sweater from Zara layered over top. I was doing my best to emulate the trend of sweaters layered over midi or maxi bias cut skirts that’s really big right now. I don’t have any skirts in a silky or satiny fabric, as that’s what seems to be trending right now, but I took my best swing at the trend. I love that this maxi dress has slits up the side so I can walk more easily and so that my outfit looks a little less block-y. I think this look would be better served with a slightly more cropped sweater, but this one is cozy, cuddly, and perfectly oversize so I’m not too mad at it.

To finish off this very fall look I tossed on a very very dark red lipstick by Too Faced – which looks black in literally every photo I’ve ever taken while wearing on it – and my very under loved Matt & Nat backpack. Voila – a fall ~look~ that I already had in my closet.

Gift Guide, Locally Made, Reviews

Discover Lifestyle FV Subscription Box

September 23, 2018 No Comments

Subscription boxes are everywhere these days – there’s one for every niche interest you could imagine, including plenty of subscription boxes touting locally made goodies. Discover Lifestyle FV is one such subscription box which sources only the best health and wellness goods from, you guessed it, the Fraser Valley! I was so excited to get my hands on the fall sampler box to review for you guys!

What Is It?

The Discover Lifestyle FV Subscription Box is, at its core, a box to connect you with locally and ethically made goods, that not only support local artisans, but are also truly beautiful and unique. The creator, Christina, started making the Discover Lifestyle FV box because she wanted to share these stunning finds with like-minded people who might not be lucky enough to have such great products easily available to them. When a brand is truly passionate about their mission – to share beautiful, ethical, natural goods with everyone – it really shows. This subscription box is carefully curated so that each product goes beautifully together.

With these niche boxes, it’s less hit or miss when you receive a box where you don’t get a say in what’s inside – you know that you’ll love everything because they’re all great, locally sourced lifestyle goods. The boxes are valued at $140 CAD each with the seasonal subscription price ringing in at $89.95 or an annual subscription price of $319.80 for four boxes sent out seasonally. Locally made goods at a discount, who doesn’t love that?

What’s Inside?

Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside! If I was to describe the vibe of this box I would call it “quintessentially cosy” which is perfect with fall rolling in. As soon as it’s September, all I want to do is bundle up and drink hot tea. This box features the perfect essentials for enjoying a cosy autumn.

My personal favorite items are the Harvest Blend Herbal Tea made with 100% organic herbs from New Moon Tea Co. and the super cute knit toque from Strings & Things, made locally in Abbotsford BC. Toques are one of my autumn and winter staple pieces – you’ll rarely find me with a bare head between October and March – and I just love the chunky knit and fluffy pom pom on this one! Plus there’s the cutest knit bookmark made by Knot Your Granny’s Stitches to coordinate with the toque(if you check out their Instagram page you might just find the cutest crochet pumpkins too). Perfection!

The box also includes a candle from The 6th Scent Candle which is absolutely divine. These soy candles are like little tins full of yummy-smelling joy – no over powering chemical-y and perfume-y candles here! Plus, burning soy candles (or other alternative wax candles) are so much better for you. The size of this candle is just perfect for burning in your bathroom while you’re getting your pamper on!

There are two pieces of jewelry included in this tester box – a pair of earrings created in Maple Ridge by Sweet Caroline Creative and a lovely bracelet by North Pacific Co. and inspired by the Chief in Squamish BC. I’m not really one for jewelry myself, but I find myself falling for the lovely, dainty floral pattern of these earrings. They’re also nickel free which is really important as my ears are extremely sensitive. The bracelet is a classic beaded bracelet that is honestly perfect for the Lower Mainland’s laid back and outdoorsy vibes. It’s beautiful without trying to hard, with lots of lovely greens and earth tones.

Lastly, we have a couple of bath and body goods for an extra relaxation factor. The lip balm from Dual Peaks Soap Co. is the perfect size to slip into even the tiniest of purses or clutch bags – trust me, you’re gonna be reaching for it all winter long! Also from Dual Peaks is a great little bath bomb (you know I love a good fizzy bath) which smells just divine – seriously, when I opened up this box I couldn’t wait to figure out where the gorgeous berry scent was coming from. And from True Products comes the most gorgeous and ALL NATURAL perfume in a sweet, sunny scent. For me, an all natural perfume means NO SNEEZING and NO ITCHY FACE from whatever chemicals are in traditional perfume. Who knew I was so sensitive?!

Now, I would LOVE to keep all these goodies for myself and shoot endless cute and cosy photos for the coming fall and winter season, but I wanted to give back to all my Canadian followers! So check out my instagram to win this fall sampler box! Good Luck!

Fashion, Summer Style

Dreamy Day in White Rock

August 16, 2018 No Comments

shop the // dress // shop similar // bag // hat //

There’s nothing better than spending an afternoon by the ocean – whether or not you’re on the beach. White Rock is one of my favorite places to go for a little getaway by the water – it’s not too far from where I am, and it’s really picturesque. Honestly, I rarely go to the beach when I’m there, I’d rather go for a walk along the promenade and grab some nachos at Zapoteca’s – sitting on the patio there is just as good as sitting on the beach.

Like I mentioned in my last post, it’s hot with a capital H here in BC at the moment and White Rock was absolutely scalding. My white dress kept me as cool as it possibly could – it’s really breezy and light so the sea breeze was definitely cooling me down. I wore this dress with no bra because of the sheer back and because bras are just the worst. While I can definitely recommend wearing this dress with no bra (comfy and not scratchy at all) please do yourself a favor and wear nipple covers! No, they don’t feel great, but the front of this dress is super low cut and prone to flapping open in the wind. Consider yourself warned.

Not only is this dress keeping me cool in the summer, but it’s super inexpensive as well – only $30 CAD but it looks like $75 CAD. I like to look cute but on a budget because ya girl has financial goals to meet. I’ve been following Colette of Colette Prime for some time now and finally snagged some of the pieces she recommended. It’s a little trickier since I’m ordering from amazon.ca not amazon.com but well worth it in my opinion! I’ve seen many dresses like this one at a much higher price point – and for a piece that will probably only be trendy for one season, I don’t want to spend a ton. 10/10 can recommend this dress as a one-season wonder.

I paired this dress with a these (above) sneakers from Nine West that I got from DSW at an amazing price ($30 hello!) because sneakers and dresses are the dream team. I’m cheap, what can I say. There’s nothing like the thrill of saving money.

If you want to shop smart and cute I recommend you check out Colette Prime either on Instagram or her blog! You can shop my specific look below, or on my liketoknowit profile.

Let me know in the comments what your favourite ways to save on fashion are!

Gift Guide, Make Up

Cohorted Beauty Subscription Box Review

August 7, 2018 No Comments

Beauty Box subscription boxes – we know them, we love them, and there always seem to be new ones popping up. I’ve always wanted to try a beauty subscription service but with all the choice out there, I didn’t know which one I wanted to test out.

That’s why I was so excited when Cohorted reached out to me to try their luxury beauty box subscription service! And now I want to share that excitement and my thoughts with all of you!

What Is It?

Cohorted Beauty Boxes specialises creating a luxury, hand-crafted experience for you every month. Each step of packing the box is done by hand, right down to the perfectly tied bow. Their packaging is elegant and is made of really luxe materials. The products in each box are carefully selected and curated so you can be sure that they’re going to be beautiful, high quality products. The only drawback is that the boxes are not specifically curated to your particular tastes so you don’t have any say in what you receive. If you love surprises, however, it’s great!

Each box costs £35 or about $60 Canadian and they offer worldwide shipping. I received six products in the June box so each product was about $10 Canadian which is so reasonable for the quality of the products!

The June Box

The June box was a collaboration with the brand Doucce Cosmetics – a French brand that I had never heard anything about until this box showed up at my door. The packaging of the products is really sturdy, well made, and sleek. I received six products total: an eyeshadow palette, a mascara, an eyeliner, an eyebrow pencil, a lipstick, and a lip liner.

The lipstick is really buttery and pigmented – they supplied a pretty neutral shade that would look good on pretty much anyone. I prefer my lipsticks bold but there’s always room for a good nude lipstick.

The lipliner is pretty basic and unfortunately didn’t match the lipstick well – unfortunately, it really missed the mark for me.

Now, I don’t wear eyeshadow a lot so I’m certainly not the expert on reviewing it but I can say I really like the palette provided in the June box. Firstly, it’s such high quality – all the individual pans are stuck to the palette with super strong magnets and they come covered with little individual plastic tops to protect them. I’m kinda obsessed with the highlight shade provided – it’s just the right amount of shimmer to make your cheekbones glow.

The mascara and eyeliner are your basic black, and the brush for the mascara is super fluffy and coats every lash. The formula of both is really nice and the eyeliner applies smoothly.

Last, I was a little let down by the brow pencil – it’s a good shade for me, but definitely not for everyone! It’s also really stiff and that makes it hard to apply precisely. The spoolie is great but on a whole, the brow pencil was a miss from me.

Overall, though, the box was really great value for all the products you receive and the quality of the products. If you’re looking for a little bit of a different beauty box experience than the really popular ones on the market, Cohorted is a great choice, especially if you love surprises! If you like a more curated box that’s made just for you, you may want to look elsewhere.

Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite subscription boxes are or which ones you want to try the most!

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