• Beadmas | #BeadmasStories,  Guinea Pigs,  Harlow,  Jewellery,  Lifestyle,  Ohm Beads,  Ohmily,  Ohmily,  Pawfectella,  Uncategorized

    Harlow’s Adoption Birthday | Beadmas Day 10

    Happy Beadmas 2020! I hope you had a great week. Today, we are celebrating Harlow’s Adoption Birthday, as well as Day 10 of Beadmas!

    In today’s blog post, I am sharing some of my favourite facts about my very special guinea pig. Many of you came to know Harlow on my Youtube videos. She often co-hosted with me and was a great little jewellery model. She was also (and still is) one of my very best friends. She is now a Guardian Guinea Angel. She went to heaven in the Spring of 2019.

    So, if you ready! Make sure to grab a delicious cup of tea (Harlow would recommend, Buddha’s Blend from DAVIDsTEA, that was her favourite) and let’s get started!

    This post contains some affiliate links.

    Many people described Harlow as more like a dog, then a guinea pig. She loved being by my side. She would come out of her habitat to find me. She also loved exploring around our home and going on adventures with us outside. She came on picnics, short nature walks (we would carry her) and once she even came to a waterfall with us! Check out my Youtube Video “In-Loving Memory” for a photo.

    She was also washroom trained. So much so, that she would let me know when she would have to go and I would bring her back to her habitat.

    Her favourite foods were kale, arugula, apples and strawberries. Oh, and of course Timothy Hay and her Oxbow Support treats!

    Harlow also loved “tea time” with me. She enjoyed taste testing all the different herbal teas. She loved “Harlow Approving” the “tea of the day” during DAVIDsTEA 24 Days of Tea too.

    Harlow was extremely affectionate and loved cuddle time. She also loved to take naps with me and would gentle wake me up when she got hungry or had to go to the washroom. I would drop her off and not long later, she would be “wheeking” for me to come back and get her.

    She would also “purr” a very affectionate sound, all the time! This is one of the sounds I miss hearing the most.

    I think one of my favourite things about Harlow was how compassionate and loyal she was. Whenever I was having a tough day or not feeling well, she would never leave my side.

    Harlow’s personality was confident, compassionate and courageous. She was the leader (or Queen, as we like to say) of our two other guinea pigs, Zooey and Georgina. She loved bossing them around and “setting them straight”! Harlow enjoyed both Zooey and Georgina’s friendship, but she was extra close with Georgina.

    Harlow also loved meeting new human friends, especially if they gave her treats! She was very social for a guinea pig

    Harlow was an Abyssinian Guinea Pig which means she had beautiful rosette-like fur. It would grow in different directions and would grow out in “circular like” shapes.

    The colour of her fur was a mixture of colours: red, gold, blonde and white. I also liked to say her fur was a caramel colour.

    And that concludes some of my favourite facts about Harlow! She was a very special guinea pig and a best friend I will never forget.

    The bond with a pet can be so strong and special, no matter their size or species! Do you have any special pets that you hold close to your heart?

    The Giveaway:

    Day 10 of #Beadmas2020 #BeadmasStories 

    One winner will win the OHM Guinea Pig Bead.

    Here’s how to enter:

    1. Leave a comment down below and include your Instagram Handle, also answer the following questions in the same comment section below:
    2. What was Harlow’s favourite tea?
    3. Name one fact you learned about Harlow, from this blog post.

    4. Answer the following question in the COMMENT SECTION, on my INSTAGRAM POST: What breed of guinea pig was Harlow?

    5. Follow @ohmbeads and @fashionstoryteller on Instagram (if you are not already).

    This giveaway ends on December 11, 2020 at 11:30 am EST . 1 random winner will be drawn. Winner must follow all instructions correctly to win. Winner must answer ALL 3 questions correctly.

    Winner will be contacted through Instagram Direct message and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. If I have not heard back after 24 hours, a new winner will be drawn. Winner will be announced on my Instagram Stories.

    This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or sponsored by Instagram, DAVIDsTEA or WordPress. 

  • 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:

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDM07Xvjsy3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    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

  • 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:

    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.

    – DAVIDsTEA

    I 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.

    Bubblegum 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. 

    – DAVIDsTEA

    It 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?

    The 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.

    – DAVIDsTEA

    Not 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:

    Rainbow 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

    And 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.

  • Ella Adventures,  Ella Style,  Pawfectella,  Pawfectella Everything!,  Pawfectella Hauls,  Uncategorized

    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.
  • Georgina,  Guinea Pigs,  Harlow,  Jewellery,  Lifestyle,  Ohm Beads,  Ohm Reviews,  Ohm Style,  Ohmily,  Pandora,  Pandora Style,  Zooey

    Ohm Beads + Pandora Bracelet Design With Me | Meet My Guinea Pigs

    In this Pandora Bracelet “Design With Me” video, I incorporate three special Ohm beads charms onto a new Pandora Bangle Bracelet design. I also ended up personalizing a few of my charms for this bracelet. I also introduce my three adorable pets. You will get to meet my guinea pigs as I share some cute facts about each of them. This video is in loving memory of my dearest best friend, Harlow. Kristella, thank you so much for letting me know about the Guinea Pig charm from Ohm Beads! @chocokittypie on Instagram

    Ohm Beads + Pandora Bracelet
    Ohm Beads Guinea Pig Charm
    Ohm Beads Guinea Pig Charm
    Ohm Beads Guinea Pig Charm
    Ohm Beads Guinea Pig Charm
    Furry Family:
    Harlow (left), Georgina/”Georgie” (middle), Zooey (right)
    Comments Off on Ohm Beads + Pandora Bracelet Design With Me | Meet My Guinea Pigs
  • Georgina,  Guinea Pigs,  Harlow,  Lifestyle,  Zooey

    Harlow | In Loving Memory

    Before, we were looking over you, Little Love. But now you are looking over us.

    Harlow was my furry best friend and a beloved family member. This video was very special and therapeutic to make, although….quite difficult at times. Harlow always use to lay on my lap when I was editing videos…and would steal licks from my tea. It was strange to edit a video without her. But I have the sense she was still very close by.

    This video was made for my husband and I, her two sisters, Zooey and Georgina…and anyone who knew and loved Harlow. She was very unique and special…she was more like a little dog than a guinea pig. She was extremely talented, intelligent, empathetic and unconditionally loving. Whenever we miss her terribly, wish we could stroke her, hold her or give her a treat…we can look back on some of our special memories and moments with her.

    Harlow became a real life angel on April 13th 2019. She passed away in my arms, with my husband (her daddy) and her sisters, Zooey and Georgina beside us. We said a prayer over her, as she was passing and told her how much we loved her and blessed we were to enjoy 6 beautiful, perfect years with her. I am so happy I was able to spend all day and night with her…the last night she slept inside our bed with us, surrounded by love and support through out the night, so she never felt alone in her pain. I didn’t sleep, I just wanted to hold her and to look after her. It was so hard seeing her in pain. So hard. She didn’t want us to make a decision on how to help her, she chose for us…we had just found out the day before and the vet gave us the option of surgery or to let her live out her life, since (at that time) she was still eating and was doing okay. I’m so happy she will no longer feel any pain from the cancer/tumor, arthritis, etc. and I will treasure every memory forever. She was one in a million.

    I miss you, Harlow… But I’m so happy you are in heaven and I’ll see you again, one day! ???? promise. Before, we were looking over you, but now you are looking over us. I know you are close by, even though we cannot see you.

    Harlow, my furry best friend and beloved family member.
    The cutest little guinea
    The best little model <3
    You filled our world with joy.
    Forever in our hearts.