Ella Adventures
- Alice Haenim in Wonderland, Ella Adventures, Lifestyle, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Uncategorized
My Tips for Travelling with a Small Dog | Flying with a dog, pet friendly hotels, dog carriers & more!
✈️ Travel With Your Dog! 💕🐾 New video is up and my dog, Alice Haenim @pawfectella and I are sharing our travel tips for flying with a small dog! We share everything you need to know, including flying with a dog, pet friendly hotels and air bnbs, what to pack, pet friendly activities, carriers, what to do for non-dog friendly activities & more!!! 🐾✈️✨
A huge thank you to those who requested seeing this video after my trip to Disneyland with Alice! It was so much fun to film. Please let me know if you have any additional questions! 💕✈️🐾
- DON'T GIVE UP | My Bead Design, Ella Adventures, Ella Style, Lifestyle, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Uncategorized
Thank You | Life Update | OHM Don’t Give Up
A few days ago, I posted this video on my IGTV. I decided to share it on here too. You can watch it HERE.
Sharing a life update and a heartfelt thank you to this community for getting me through this heartbreaking time.
@fashionstoryteller
It’s so crazy to me that my bead collaboration #OHMDONTGIVEUP with @ohmbeads is re-releasing on November 25th…. literally at a time where I need to hear the message, “Don’t Give Up” so badly.
In this video, I talk about that, share video memories of @pawfectella and also talk about what happened. ????✨ I also share my new bracelet design featuring the Poodle bead and two beads from @ohminaustralia.CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY IGTV UPDATE
- Disney Magic, Disney x Pandora, Disney x Pandora, Ella Adventures, Ella Style, Jewellery, Pandora, Pandora, Pandora 20, Pandora Bracelets, Pandora News and Updates, Pandora Reviews, Pandora Style, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Uncategorized
Pandora 20 | The Stars Charm | Wish Upon A Star
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this time.
I hope this blog post adds a smile to your day!This year, Pandora continues to celebrate their 20th Anniversary of the Pandora Moments charm bracelet. This charm bracelet was first released in 2000. To celebrate 20 years of collecting, Pandora is going through their archives and bringing back a vintage charm every month in 2020. All 12 of the charms will be limited-edition. Each charm will be available only until it has sold out, which makes all 12 charms an absolute must for a Pandora collector!
I am so excited to continue celebrating Pandora‘s special milestone! To celebrate Pandora’s anniversary, each month, I share a special story behind a charm in my collection, and reveal what the limited-edition Pandora 20 Charm is!
So, make sure to grab a cup of tea…and let me share this month’s charm.
* All 2020 Limited Edition Stars charm photos are provided by Pandora *
The 2020 Limited Edition Stars Charm
It’s November 20th! Today we celebrate the relaunch of the Stars charm! The original style number of this vintage charm was 790348 and was originally known as the Seeing Stars charm. It was made in both a 14 ct. gold charm, as well as a sterling silver version. The 20th Anniversary Stars charm is done in sterling silver. The Pandora 20 hallmark is displayed on the front of the charm, near the far left corner.
Prices from $35 USD and $40 CAD.
Each 2020 Stars charm comes with a certificate, confirming its authenticity.
The 2020 Limited Edition Stars Charm is available globally on Pandora’s estore and in selected Pandora stores. Very limited numbers are available, so it’s best to purchase today, November 20th, 2020…if its not already sold out!
Click HERE to shop (EN)
Click HERE to shop (FR)
*please note that these charms are very limited. Until supplies last.
This charm has to be in my top three favourites of the 20th Anniversary charms! This charm speaks to my heart, as it reminds me of a special Eskimo Proverb:
“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”
I have heard this proverb before and it has always made my heart smile. It has only been a few days since my dear miniature poodle Ella, passed away. This charm could not have been released at a better time for me. It will serve as a reminder that she’s looking down on me now, shining brightly. I would love to get two of these charms, if I am lucky. I want to add one to my “PawfectElla” themed Pandora Bracelet, inspired by her. I would also like to add it to my Pandora 20 themed bracelet too.
Celebrate #Pandora20 with me:
Each month, I celebrate Pandora’s 20th anniversary by sharing a special charm in my personal Pandora collection. For this month, I am telling the story behind the Inspirational Stars Dangle Charm. I have them on my When You Wish Upon A Star Pandora Bracelet:
Each charm on this bracelet represents going after your dreams and making the seemingly impossible, possible. It is also inspired by wonderful memories of visiting Disneyland.
My Story behind the Inspirational Stars Dangle Charm:
I have created a Youtube video to more personally tell you the story behind this charm! You can watch it HERE or down below:
The Details…
The Inspirational Stars Dangle Charm
The The Inspirational Stars Dangle Charm is a sterling silver dangle charm with shimmering blue enamel, as well as sparking cubic zirconia stars and bale detailing. On the back of the charm, it reads: Dream it, Wish It, Do it with a small star on the top. This charm is inspired by the night sky.
And that concludes this blog post! I would like to thank Pandora for the opportunity to be a part of their 20th Anniversary celebration! I am excited to share exclusive Pandora 20 content and moments with you, for the month of December! I cannot believe that the year is coming to an end! Pandora will be providing me with 3 of the 12 anniversary charms, in this celebration.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have a wonderful day.
- Afternoon Tea, DAVIDsTEA, Ella Adventures, Ella Style, Fashion, Fashion Diaries, Georgina, Guinea Pigs, Lifestyle, Making Tea at Home, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Tea, Tea Reviews, Uncategorized
Tea PAWty | Ella’s “Gotcha Day” Celebration
Hello everyone! I hope this blog post finds you and your loved ones safe, healthy and well, during this time.
#BlackLivesMatter | To learn more, click HERE.
Yesterday (June 28th, 2020), we celebrated Ella’s “Gotcha Day”. I had never heard of a “Gotcha Day” before adopting Ella. A “Gotcha Day” is like a birthday, however it is celebrated on the day you brought your furry friend home.
Ella’s “Gotcha Day” was so fun! I made sure the day was extra special for her. We have Ella some special new treats and bones! And I also had a fun virtual Tea “PAWty” for her. I filmed the Tea “PAWty” for my #TeaTimeTuesday IGTV series. If you would like to join in on the celebrations, you can watch the video HERE or down below:Have you heard of a “Gotcha Day” before? I think it is such a cute idea!
I had so much fun enjoying tea and treats with Ella and Georgina. I hope you did too! xo - Disney x Pandora, Disney x Pandora, Ella Adventures, Ella Style, Jewellery, Pandora, Pandora, Pandora 20, Pandora Bracelets, Pandora Friends, Pandora News and Updates, Pandora Reviews, Pandora Rose, Pandora Style, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Uncategorized
PANDORA 20 | Hearts Safety Chain Charm | My Disney Pet Themed Pandora Bracelet
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this outbreak. I hope this blog post adds some happiness into your day. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.
This year, Pandora celebrates their 20th Anniversary of the Pandora Moments charm bracelet. This charm bracelet was first released in 2000. To celebrate 20 years of collecting, Pandora is going through their archives and bringing back a vintage charm every month in 2020. All 12 of the charms will be limited-edition. Each charm will be available only until it has sold out, which makes all 12 charms an absolute must for a Pandora collector!
I am so excited to join Pandora in celebrating this special milestone! To celebrate Pandora’s anniversary, each month, I will share a special story behind a charm in my collection, and reveal what the limited-edition Pandora 20 Charm is!
* All 2020 Limited Edition Hearts Safety Chain Charm photos are provided by Pandora *So, make sure to grab a cup of tea…and let me share with you what this month’s charm is:
The 2020 Limited Edition
Hearts Safety Chain Charm
Hello June 20th! Today we celebrate the relaunch of the Hearts Safety Chain Charm! This vintage charm was also known as the “Chain of Hearts” safety chain charm. It was a two tone charm with 14ct gold accents on the hearts. The original style number was 790307. The updated version is available in sterling silver and has the Pandora 20 hallmark on the side.
Prices from $45 USD and $50 CAD.Each 2020 Hearts Safety Chain Charm comes
with a certificate, confirming its authenticity.
The 2020 Limited Edition Hearts Safety Chain Charm is available globally only on Pandora’s estore. Very limited numbers are available, so it is best to purchase today, June 20th, 2020…if its not already sold out!
Click HERE to shop (EN)
Click HERE to shop (FR)
*please note that these charms are very limited. Until supplies last.
Celebrate #Pandora20 with me:
Each month, I celebrate Pandora’s 20th anniversary by sharing a special charm in my personal Pandora collection. For this month, I am telling the story behind my Poodle Puppy Dog Dangle Charm on my Disney pet themed Pandora Bracelet. This bracelet is a design I started working on this year. It is a “work in progress”, but I love how it has turned out, so far!
I have created a video to more personally tell you the story behind the Poodle Puppy Dog Dangle Charm, as well as the bracelet theme and stories behind the other charms too! You can watch it HERE or down below:
The details…
The Poodle Puppy Dog Dangle Charm
The Poodle Puppy Dog Dangle Charm is so adorable. As soon as it released from Pandora’s Spring 2020 collection, I purchased it straight away! This dangle charm has beaded fur and a cute dangling heart tag on its collar. It is made of sterling silver and features black enamel detailing on the eyes and nose. Prices from $45 USD and $50 CAD.
This adorable charm represents adopting my miniature poodle, Ella. Ella (inspired after Cinderella) is my furry best friend and a dream come true. She has been a part of our family for almost a year. We adopted her on July 28th and she was born on May 26th, 2019.
She is a huge blessing in my life and has brought so much fun into my days. I don’t know what I would do without her! Do you have a furry family member?
Meet Ella
@pawfectellaIn addition to Ella, I am a guinea pig mom. Ella is a little “big” sister to them and loves taking care of them!
And that concludes this blog post! I would like to thank Pandora for the opportunity to be a part of their 20th Anniversary celebration! I am so excited to share exclusive Pandora 20 content and moments with you, over the next 6 months! Pandora will be providing me with 3 of the 12 anniversary charms, in this celebration.
I hope you have a wonderful day! Take care, stay healthy and spread love, especially during this time…praying for the world. <3
- Afternoon Tea, DAVIDsTEA, Ella Adventures, Lifestyle, Making Tea at Home, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Tea, Tea Reviews, Uncategorized
DAVIDsTEA Haul | Tasty Summer Teas
Hello everyone! I hope this blog post finds you and your loved ones safe, healthy and doing well, during this time. <3
In today’s blog post (and in honour of #TeaTimeTuesday), I am sharing my recent DAVIDsTEA* haul order (with the help of Ella the Mini Poodle). I needed to stock up on some favourites, but also wanted to try out some new teas too!!!
*As some of you know, I am a huge DAVIDsTEA fan and this past year, I had the amazing opportunity to become a DAVIDsTEA Affiliate. Some of the links, in this blog post will be affiliated links.
So, if you are ready: make sure to grab a delicious cup of tea and let’s get started!!!
The Matcha Teas:
I ordered three matcha teas from DAVIDsTEA. I am a huge matcha lover and enjoy it daily! It provides wonderful health benefits (check out my IGTV video to learn more), but also tastes soo so delicious too!
Raspberry Matcha
One of the teas I had to stock up on is Raspberry Matcha. You might remember seeing me review and talk about it on my IGTV videos, as well as my last DAVIDsTEA Youtube video.
On IGTV, I made it iced and in the YouTube video, I made it hot. I absolutely love both options, but if I were to recommend how to try it first: make it iced! It is a refreshing, satisfying treat!We’re taking energizing matcha to new heights. Fuel your morning with this fruity and invigorating blend of Matcha Matsu powder, pure cane sugar and the natural flavour of ripe raspberry. Whether you sip it as an iced latte or in your post-workout smoothie, this finely ground flavoured matcha is an easy & delicious way to enjoy the feel-good benefits of green tea.
– DAVIDsTEA
This time, I decided to purchase the limited edition tin of the Raspberry Matcha. This is a tea I plan to always have at home, as long as DAVIDsTEA has it in their collection!
You can also shop by gram below:
Shop Raspberry Matcha CAD estore.
Shop Raspberry Matcha USA estore.Blueberry Matcha
Another matcha tea I needed to re-stock on was Blueberry Matcha. I was long overdue to order some! Like the Raspberry Matcha, it tastes amazing iced or hot. I also like to add it to my vanilla protein smoothies or my dairy free/gluten free muffins.
Kick your summer vibes up a notch with our sweet and revitalizing Blueberry Matcha. Bursting with freshly picked blueberries, mega-healthy matcha green tea and pure cane sugar, it’s an iced tea latte waiting to happen. The best part? This deliciously fruity blend is packed with all the energizing and metabolism-boosting benefits of matcha for an instant pick-me-up. Good vibes all around.
– DAVIDsTEAI ordered 50 grams of Blueberry Matcha. But that was pretty silly of me! I regret not ordering more since I tend to go through it so quickly.
Shop Blueberry Matcha CAD estore.
Shop Blueberry Matcha USA estoreBubblegum Matcha
The last Matcha tea I ordered is one that I have been quite curious to try! I had attempted to order it, on my past DAVIDsTEA order, but it sadly was cancelled. This time, I got lucky and was able to get it!!!
Bubblegum Matcha does not sound like a drink I would enjoy hot, but as an iced matcha or popsicle, it sounded very appealing! Both Linda @LSN2 and I were so curious about it. I decided to order 50grams to try it out.
Blue bubble gum fan? Go retro with this cool novelty fruity matcha. It’s made with a lively base of finely ground green tea powder – hailed for its energizing & detoxifying benefits – plus a sweet hint of natural apple, pineapple & vanilla flavouring. Try it on ice or add to homemade ice cream or popsicles. No matter how you enjoy it, this one-of-a-kind matcha is the nostalgic treat your taste buds have been waiting for.
– DAVIDsTEAIt is available by the gram or inside a special limited edition tin:
I have not had a chance to make it yet, but I will keep you all posted! Have you tried it? If so, what do you think?
Shop Bubble Gum Matcha USA estore
Shop Bubble Gum Matcha CAD estoreThe Green Tea:
I also ordered another favourite tea of mine: The Countess of Seville. I tend to stock up on this tea quite often! It is a delicious blend of green tea with bergamot and light citrus notes.
This tea is an online exclusive. It does not always show up on DAVIDsTEA’s estore, when it is sold out. If you don’t see it right away, make sure to check back! As I write this blog post, it currently is sold out and it was harder to find! I ended up doing a google search to find a link for it!There are so many rumours about Earl Grey and his gallivanting ways. We like this one, about a trip he took to Spain. It’s said he fell for the Countess of Seville, a beautiful, dark-haired woman with a penchant for oranges. But did he really woo her with this green tea scented with bergamot, orange oil, cornflowers and orange zest? Either way, it’s a sweet, romantic twist on his original recipe. (MK Kosher).
– DAVIDsTEA
The Fruit Infusion Herbal Teas:
The last two teas I ordered were both fruit infusion herbal teas.
Unicorn Dream
A new fruit infusion favourite is Unicorn Dream! I ordered it in my past DAVIDsTEA order and I became addicted! I especially love this tea iced, but it is delicious hot too. This tea is quite sweet and very flavourful. Usually, I am not a fan of teas that have stevia added, but this one is an exception! I also think it would taste delicious as a popsicle too.
Warning: This tea will add some magic to your day. Our caffeine-free fruit infusion is filled with smile-inducing ingredients – from blue butterfly pea, yellow everlasting flowers & pretty pink hibiscus blossoms to unicorn & heart-shaped sprinkles. The result is an enchanting & addictive herbal tea that’s tart and lightly citrusy, with dreamy notes of sweet cotton candy and creamy marshmallow.
– DAVIDsTEANot only does this tea taste magical, it looks magical! It is very colourful and has adorable unicorn and heart shaped sprinkles, marshmallows and even glitter balls that add sparkles to your tea!!!!
You can watch my reaction to the sparkle in my IGTV video.Can you spot the unicorn sprinkle? Unicorn Dream is also available inside a limited edition tin, but you can also purchase it by the gram, like me:
Shop Unicorn Dream USA estore
Shop Unicorn Dream CAD estoreRainbow Lemonade
The last tea I have to share with you is one that is also packed with flavour. It is called Rainbow Lemonade.
I could not wait to make it! I made it iced first and it had a delicious tangy, but sweet vibe to it! I also think it is beautiful to look at!
I also enjoyed it hot and it was delicious too, but honestly…I think this tea is a great iced tea choice for your Summer afternoons!
Get your ice cubes ready – this next-level lemonade iced tea is about to add a mouthpuckering twist of flavour to your summer sipping. Think ripe and juicy citrus, a tropical splash of pineapple, and a sweet hint of raspberry. Tart and refreshing, this caffeine-free tea tastes amazing straight up iced or with a little extra somethin’ somethin’. Get ready to see some rainbows with this one. What makes it great With its fruity twist, this lemon iced tea is a fresh and delicious substitute for the classic store-bought lemonade. For those days when you’ve got company, cool off your guests by brewing up a big pitcher with ice and lemon slices. It’s caffeine-free so the kids can get in on the action too!
– DAVIDsTEA
Shop Rainbow Lemonade CAD estore
Shop Rainbow Lemonade USA estoreAnd that concludes this blog post! I hope you enjoyed seeing the selection of teas I ordered.
Have you tried any of these teas? If so, which ones do you love?
- Ella Adventures, Ella Style, Georgina, Guinea Pigs, Lifestyle, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Pawfectella Hauls, Uncategorized
Ella’s First Birthday
Hello everyone! I hope this blog post finds you and your loved ones safe, healthy and doing well, during this time. <3
This past Tuesday, we celebrated Ella turning one! She was born on May 26th, 2019. I had originally planned on having a Dog Birthday “Paw-ty” with family and friends, but with recent events, my husband and I planned a fun afternoon at home, just the four of us. It consisted of tasty treats, presents, walks, games and lots of cuddles!
In today’s blog post, I am going to share some photos from her special day, and the gifts we surprised her with!Happy Birthday to Ella!
I couldn’t help but order Ella a special birthday accessory to wear. I went with a cute clip on princess crown from Amazon. It had little pearl accents, pink frills and was a perfect size for a miniature poodle. Doesn’t she look so cute and regal with it on?
Ella was great at posing with this light-weight crown for photos, but for longer wear it was prone to falling off when she would shake her head. It has a small clip closure.Before Ella’s Birthday “Paw-ty”, I decided to take some cute photos of her and her sister Georgina. Ella took this as an opportunity to get a quick nap in, before the festivities started. At this point, she still wasn’t sure what “Birthday” meant. I think Georgina tried to explain it to her, in Guinea wheeks!
Georgina had a lot of fun snuggling into the shaggy white blanket, while I was taking photos. She was so happy and carefree.
Here is a video of Ella and Georgina together:
When my husband finished his last meeting, it was officially “Paw-ty” Time!!! We went outside to enjoy the fresh air (it was a sunny afternoon) and had Ella open her birthday presents! She was quite curious about the items wrapped in tissue paper. She remembered from Christmas that fun surprises are usually inside!
We had so much fun watching her open up the tissue papers and pull out her presents. She was so excited about her new toys and couldn’t wait to play with both of them.
The first gift she opened was her Zippy Paws Birthday Cake pink plush toy with a fun sounding squeaker. It has one candle detail on it, perfect for a first birthday! I also ordered this on Amazon (a few weeks before her birthday), since it was available for fast Prime shipping, as our mail service has been slower and I didn’t want to take a chance on it not arriving on time.
The second present was a Zippy Paws toy I got Ella, back in mid-February. It is an interactive burrow toy with a “three little pigs” theme. It has three squeaky plush pigs inside a “grey house”. I saw it at Winners and knew it would be a special birthday present for her. Ella is a huge fan of burrow and interactive toys.
Zippy Paws is my “go to” for Ella’s toys. She loves their interactive burrow toys especially. We have quite a few, including the Holiday Burrow Hot Cocoa and the Burrow Bunny n Carrot. She loves trying to get the adorable squeaky plush toys out and playing catch with them! They are well made. We also have a burrow “Pumpkin Spice Latte” that we got from Petsmart. It is so cute, it has three chubby pumpkins inside.
After spending a fun afternoon playing with Ella, we went for a car ride and picked up some bubble tea for us and a dog-friendly peanut butter treat for her. Later on, we went for a nice long walk and enjoyed the last bit of sunshine before it set.
We had such a fun day celebrating Ella. She is a huge blessing and gift in our lives and it was fun to have an excuse to extra spoil her. It is safe to say, she now knows what “Birthday” means.
- Afternoon Tea, Ella Adventures, Harlow, Lifestyle, Making Tea at Home, Pawfectella, Pawfectella Everything!, Tea, Tea Reviews, Uncategorized
Paragon Tea Room | My favourite place to get tea, in the city | BUT AKA: how tea makes dreams come true.
Left: WALL-E added an addition smile to my first visit…and every visit afterwards.
Right: We walked into the tea room, which shares space with a local coffee shop. I looked up at the logo…and instantly felt I had found some where special!
On April 10th, 2019…I did not realize I would be stepping into my favourite place for tea. One of my best friends, Tiara had been talking about this new tea salon that opened up beside her gym…and how I just HAD to go.
April 10th, 2019…it was a really hard and emotional day. I was waiting to hear back about Harlow’s (my late guinea pig) test results, going through an extremely “burnt out” period of life, frustrated with health issues and needing to make some big life decisions. Tiara was so sweet and spent that entire day with me. As a doctor, she knew the best medicine for me: she took me to, Paragon Tea Salon for my first cup of tea misto.Tiara and I waited in line and I gazed up at the menu. I wanted to try EVERYTHING!!!
When we got to the front of the line, we were greeted by Michelle, the owner of Paragon. She was a breath of fresh air and so welcoming. I was so impressed that she knew Tiara, by name…and you could just tell she genuinely loves her customers and takes time to get to know them and build a relationship.
She was equally excited that I was about to try, the paragon way for the first time. After some helpful recommendations from, Michelle…I decided to settle on the, High Mountain Roasted Oolong Tea Misto. Although…I was very close to ordering a matcha misto, haha!
When we were in line…I had to take a photo of the menu options! I wanted to be able to look back on it, to show my husband and talk him into coming back with me, haha. 
A smaller version of Paragon’s tea menu.
Michelle started to make our tea mistos and I couldn’t get over how she was making them!!! TEA-like espresso! It was the coolest thing EVER. I actually ended up take a short video of the experience of making a cup of tea misto. It was so fascinating for me! 100ml of strong and delicious tea…Michelle making my first cup from Paragon! My husband’s first cup of Paragon!
After our teas were ready, Tiara and I sat beside the window and chatted the afternoon away, as we sipped our delicious teas. She gave me sound advice.
But how was the tea?!!! THE TEA WAS SOOOO AMAZING! Perfect temperature, perfectly steeped. Perfect frothed almond milk (although…I ended up switching to oat milk afterwards, thanks to Michelle’s advice on my second visit). And to top the drink to perfection: the perfect cup to truly taste the aroma and essence of the tea!
I couldn’t wait to bring, Snowman (my husband) to try these teas!!! And I also couldn’t wait to go back myself.
My first cup of tea from Paragon.
During my conversations with, Tiara…I received a phone call from Harlow’s vet…that she needed to be brought in for more testing. The rest of this story, breaks my heart…as I didn’t know that only a few days later, my little Harlow would be passing away in my arms. Many of you know this story, so I won’t go into details here.Harlow truly loved her tea and loved to #HarlowApprove my tea of the day.
I had hoped to do this blog post, shortly after my first visit, but with Harlow’s passing and that crazy “burnt out” period…I just didn’t have the time or energy.
However, I continued to go to Paragon and fell more and more in-love with the atmosphere, teas and people! I also made sure to bring Snowman (my husband) and he instantly became a huge fan. He often joined my on these visits.My Husband’s First Visit. e
Harlow’s passing was a big wake up call to me, to start taking care of myself and my health more. Whenever I needed to take a break…I went to Paragon. It became the place where I started focusing on new goals and dreams; a place I could escape to and just “be”. I made some of my biggest dreams and goals there, while sipping tea and taking in the peaceful, creative atmosphere. I typed these goals and dreams into my phone, laptop or note paper. And the crazy thing is…every single one has come true, in less than a year. I still cannot believe that! It proves how magical tea can be…when you add it to your dream planning ingredients, haha. Oooh..and put those dreams and goals into action, of course 😉Some of the delicious teas I have tried since my first visit!
One of my dreams, popped into my head about 2 months after Harlow’s passing. I was sitting with my husband (at Paragon, of course) and I just had this thought and major gut feeling that I needed a dog. My husband stopped sipping his tea and just looked at me…”really? Are you sure the timing is right? Shouldn’t you just focus on your health, etc?” I explained to him why this was the BEST idea, BEST medicine (besides tea) and BEST dream ever.
In that exact moment, I was convinced and when I want something, I will not give up, (poor husband). I wanted to adopt my very own puppy! I have always been a huge dog lover, since I was a little girl. But I never had the time or lifestyle to be able to take proper care for a puppy. After some big “life decision making”, the timing was perfect…and I just had a feeling that Harlow would approve of this decision. My husband soon (willingly, promise!) agreed and trusted my planner instincts, haha.
Ella came into our life and I’ll never forget bringing her to Paragon for her first visit. It was like that goal/dream had literally come full circle. It was truly incredible and felt like the biggest, “God Wink”.Ella’s first visit to Paragon. Ella being the cutest Paragon model, besides WALL-E, of course!
And just before picking up Ella…another dream came true…and then another one and another one…it was incredible. And they just kept on blossoming, even after adopting Ella.
That’s the thing with dreams and goals…you need to make time to work for them. And having a wonderful place to escape to…and focus on them, plan for them and to achieve them…makes all the difference. I am truly grateful for discovering Paragon, through a very transitional and difficult point, in my life. It gave me that space I needed to focus and I will forever be grateful for that! AND…for the delicious cups of tea!!!
I now live in a new home (one of my goals)…where I have my own office/creative space to continue making my dreams and goals come true. I still love to go to Paragon, but I now have the opportunity to make their delicious teas, at home too!! Such a treat!!!
My personal favourites are: Hojicha powder, Genmaicha powder, Mango Hojicha, Genmaicha (matcha coated) and the High Mountain Oolong (but I still have more to try)!
Paragon also has an online store, if you would like to try some of their teas. They ship or you can pickup in-store, if you live nearby!My first time making Hojicha at home!
They also have a wonderful mini gift shop…and I was able to get a beautiful new matcha bowl, right before Christmas! I love it soo much!
Well, there you have it! Quite a long and personal blog post…that was suppose to be JUST a tea review…that turned into a much more personal story. But I feel right sharing it because that is one thing I get asked all the time:
How do you stay so positive? Well, that’s for another blog post topic, if you’d like to hear it. But as you can tell, through this blog post…that period was extremely challenging, but when life gives you heartache and gloom…you make tea and focus on the true and good things in life. -
What Ella Got For Christmas
Little Ella full of Christmas Excitement! Today’s blog post is about Ella, my mini poodle puppy and what she got for Christmas! This was our first Christmas with her and it honestly ended up being the best Christmas EVER! She just adds such warmth and fun into our days, and Christmas was no exception.
While we did go to Toronto, right before Christmas (to see our family and friends), I really wanted to be back home to celebrate Christmas in our new home with our Guineas and Ella! I am really happy we made this decision because it ended up being the most peaceful, relaxing and joyful Christmas morning I’ve ever experienced.
After sleeping in (we usually go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve), I got up and made some morning teas (Santa’s Secret* from DAVIDsTEA, of course) and got Snowman (my husband) and Ella out of bed. I was SO excited for Ella to open up her stocking filled with toys! “Santa Paws” had arrived late that night and filled up her fluffy stocking (Nicole Miller), with lots of surprises! I brought my tripod out, so I could film the moment, but be present and not distracted, as it recorded! It was soo fun to see Ella’s excitement as she stuck her head in and pulled out different presents! One of her favourites was a cute mini Santa I got from Petsmart, as well as a “Sniffany and Co.” blue bone complete with ribbon (by Dog Diggin Designs). She also liked the organic pink candy cane too (by Simply Fido)!
*affiliate link for DAVIDsTEA
These are a few of Ella’s favourite things! After that, my husband and I opened our gifts. Ella was curious and full of wonder, as we unwrapped and opened each one. And to her excitement, the last gift, under the tree was for her! We got her a “Miss Dogior – Barking Bouquet” perfume stuffy (by Haute Diggity Dog) and three delicious treats (Unicorn “poop”, Christmas “brownie” and Reindeer “cookie”). It was so fun seeing her unwrap her gift. I asked her which treat she’d like to enjoy and I must say, she takes after her mom! She chose the unicorn “poop” rainbow themed treat! I did take videos of this too. I think I will save these videos for my Pawfectella Vlogs (still debating if I should do one big long video or a few mini ones!).
I also added Ella’s “Chewy Vuiton” (by Haute Diggity Dog) to this photo because she loves this toy! She loves to carry it around by the handle, which is so adorable to watch.
Can you spot the Chewy Vuiton? I got most of Ella’s presents at a store called, Barking Babies. I love going there to find special and unique things for my little pup! This was the first ever store we took Ella too, right after we picked her up, to get her a harness. At 8 weeks, she was super small and the associate was so sweet and welcoming to us! I was really impressed with the level of service and it keeps me coming back time and time again!
Before Christmas, I also picked up a few adorable Christmas themed toys for Ella. I really love going to Marshalls/Winners/Homesense because they have a great pet section for Dog and Cat owners. I find great deals on such cute themed toys! One of Ella’s favourites is by Zippy Paws. It is an interactive toy that provides so much fun for Ella and I! The stuffed toy is a big red mug of “hot chocolate” with two large holes and “marshmallows” that can be pulled out from the holes. She loves finding and pulling out the squeaky marshmallows and we have fun tossing and throwing them around. I have some cute videos of Ella playing with this toy on her Instagram, if you’d like to see. This toy is Ella’s favourite and because of that, I ended up getting her a similar “Pumpkin Spice” toy from Petsmart too (not pictured). She loves this one too!
I also got one Eggnog “puppuccino” (by Fuzzyard) and one Gingerbread “puppuccino” (by Bow Wow Pet Products) for Ella from Marshalls/Winners/Homesense too! Her Daddy’s favourite holiday drink are Eggnog Lattes, while I am a huge fan of the Gingerbread Lattes! Oh, and I got her a cute red stuffy bone that says, “Puppy’s First Christmas”. I had gotten a similar one at Halloween and they are great for photos!
Look at all those puppuccinos!!! During the Black Friday Sales, one of my favourite online dog accessories stores, had a great deal and I stocked up on some pieces I had been wanting to get Ella! They are called, Pink Tail Co. and I absolutely LOOOOVE their designs, quality and service. I got her two adorable harnesses. One is the, “Aurora” to match Ella’s leash, bow and collar I purchased back in July. And the other was, “Disney in Pink“. I also got her an adorable gingerbread themed collar and bow!!! Too cute to resist! I regret not getting a matching leash.
Ella also got spoiled by our loved ones! She got a very Christmassy chew rope from her Aunt Angie (DailyCharmAddict) and an adorable Mickey Waffle from Aunt Nichol (MyPandoraCharmedLife). Aunt Jessica got her a unicorn coloured squeaky toy and two cute balls and she also got an hilarious gingerbread man from Aunt Tiara (TeaforTiara).
And there you have it!!! That is what we (and Santa Paws), spoiled our little Ella Bella with for Christmas. And don’t worry! Zooey and Georgina also got spoiled lots too. hehe!!! They just gobble their presents up so fast, so I didn’t get a chance to take photos.We spent the remainder of Christmas Day relaxing, watching Christmas movies and enjoyed a delicious holiday meal together. I hope you had magical holiday with your loved ones too!
Also, Do you have any pets? If so, what did you get for them?
Ella looking pretty darn pawfect in her Pink Tail Co. Collar and Bow.
