5 REASONS WHY I’M SIGNING UP FOR THE HSBC +REWARDS MASTERCARD #SPONSORED

Did you know that I am a travel points master?

When it comes to collecting travel points and maximizing every dollar that I spend, I’m an absolute all-star!

In the last two years alone I have earned and redeemed enough points to attend two friends weddings, go to Europe with Adam, and fly to Las Vegas for my friends bachelorette party. With all that travelling, using points to cover my flights definitely helped shave off a substantial amount of out of pocket expenses I would have otherwise incurred. Being the savvy travel points collector that I am, when I heard about all the benefits of the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard I couldn’t help but get super excited! Want to know why?

Here are 5 SOLID reasons why I’ll be jumping to sign up:


1.     2x the points on every dollar I spend on dining and entertainment - currently I don’t get this with my primary card and it sucks. As someone who doesn’t usually leave the house unless its to check out a new restaurants and grab dinner with friends, or go out on date nights to the movies with Adam, most of my expenses are definitely spent on these two categories. The fact that I can now maximize every dollar that I spend and continue to hang out more with my friends makes getting this card a no brainer!

2.     I can use my points to redeem on travel (no restrictions or black-out dates) - Unlike most travel credit cards that utilize rewards systems like Aeroplane or AirMiles, this reward system gives you more flexibility! I can go on a trip when I want, where I want, and don’t have to worry about any black-out periods or whether the airline even flies to that specific destination. I just have to go online, book the easiest route with whatever airline I want, and get packing! It doesn’t just stop there though, you can also redeem points against a car rental, hotel stay or even a train ticket!!

3.    It has a low annual fee of $25! - This is definitely unheard of when it comes to travel credit cards with good points systems. Believe me, I’ve looked!! Two years ago I got so frustrated with my current card because I was paying an annual fee of $150! Sure, travel medical, trip cancellation and all that was including but still, now comparing my current primary card with the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard I feel slightly ripped off given how often I DON’T use those benefits.

4.    You can add Emergency Travel Medical Insurance and coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption and Baggage Delay or Loss for $69/year - even with the cost of adding this on to the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard I am way better off than I am with my current primary card, and if you travel as much as I do for work it’s better to have it and be safe than sorry. Furthermore, in the past I have purchased travel insurance from a provider not associated with my credit card and it wasn’t much cheaper than this, nor did it last an entire year. So once again, the HSBC +Reward Mastercard is just the most viable option.

5.     You get 5000 bonus miles for signing up before Oct 31/19 - who doesn’t want free points!? Another no brainer if you ask me. When it comes to using your points you also don’t have to spend it all on travel, in fact there are many ways you can redeem points like redeeming towards your HSBC mortgage, on your credit card or your savings account! Want some new clothes for an upcoming trip or maybe a new camera? You can pick from a list of retailers and gift cards available via the HSBC +Rewards program and use your points the way you want! The possibilities are truly endless.

So there you have it, 5 solid reasons why the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard is an amazing travel credit card and why it will be a no brainer for a travel junkie like me to make the jump! Who’s with me?!

Although this post has been generously sponsored by “HSBC”, the opinions and language are my own, and in no way do they reflect “HSBC”.

ROAD TRIP TO THE NEW FARM WITH FORD - GUEST POST BY @STYLEMAJEUR

Hey everyone! Guest blogger @stylemajeur here sharing our awesome road trip from Toronto to the New Farm Festival - a Farms for Change fundraiser.  Thanks again to Soheila for having me contribute to her blog!

One of my favourite things to do is to take road trips!  I'm a big advocate of road trips for so many reasons.  The pressure and anxiety of airports is non-existent, it can be super cost-effective when splitting gas with your friends or when driving a hybrid, it's a fun way to thoroughly discover new areas while also having the flexibility to be spontaneous!  When Soheila asked me to join her and some fellow blogger friends on a road trip with Ford Canada  to drive up to The New Farm for the Farms for Change fundraiser, I jumped at the chance!  Farms for Change is an incredible fundraising initiative that raises money to purchase locally grown organic produce for Community Food Centres Canada in an effort to increase access to healthy foods.  Several top restaurants from Toronto set up shop for the day at The New Farm and give the opportunity to try delicious dishes from each!  I can’t forget to mention there was also ice cream and other tasty treats.  I buy organic and support local businesses whenever I can and thought this was a great way to get to know a lot of the restaurants in the city that buy organic produce from Ontario farms.

The biggest component of a road trip is obviously the vehicle you drive.  Don’t underestimate the importance of a comfortable car with adequate space, otherwise you’ll find yourself needing to stop frequently to stretch! The back pain could surpasses the length of your trip.  Trust me, I’ve had less than stellar road trips with tiny cars!!  My first ever car was a Ford Explorer Sport Trac, and I have so many fond memories of it reliably getting me to and from London, Ontario when I was in University, taking my friends and I to Montreal for a weekend trip and getting me to the mountains with my snowboard gear in the cab.  I feel a lot of nostalgia for Ford Canada and they were awesome in providing us with two vehicles for the road trip.  Both were very different but completely suited our needs.  I had the opportunity to drive the Ford C-MAX Energi SE the whole way up north.  Before this road trip I had never driven a hybrid but the concept had always interested me, so I was super excited to get the chance to test it out.  To me, hybrids are the perfect vehicle that offer the best of both worlds.  Eco-friendly and incredibly efficient on gas, you feel great knowing you are making a smaller footprint but you have the security of knowing you can rely on the gas if you don't get a chance to re-charge!  I can tell you this is a huge factor especially when driving long distances because electric cars are totally reliant on finding charging stations and when taking a road trip through the country, that isn't something I'm willing to gamble on.

The drive over to The New Farm was smooth and with a huge windshield giving us unobstructed views of the country, it felt like we were driving a convertible.  The hands-free texting feature was one I had never used before and actually was quite ‘handy’ (pun fully intended).  Since we were simultaneously driving up with a larger group of friends in two separate vehicles, it was neat to be able to easily communicate our locations via text message with just the sound our voices.  But I think my favourite feature had to be hidden compartments under the backseat floor mats for valuables!  This feature actually blew my mind because anyone who knows me, knows I am always paranoid about leaving anything valuable in my car and go through semi-crazy lengths to conceal any valuables.  This feature would give me the peace of mind to leave my watch, wallet or cell phone locked in the car without an iota of a worry that my car would be targeted because of exposed valuables.  And it felt so cool to know you have hidden compartments in your car!

On the way back from The New Farm to the resort, all 6 of us were more than comfortably able to fit in the other vehicle Ford provided us, a 7 seater Ford Flex.  The sunroofs (yes that's plural for the 4 sunroofs found on the Ford Flex) gave us unparalleled views of the sky and we all enjoyed singing along to the Sirius XM satellite radio.  It was the perfect vehicle to allow us to share a single car when needed. 

The road trip was a total success!  We got to and from without a hitch and came home with our pockets heavy and our stomachs full!  That’ll happen when you stuff your belly with amazing food and barely use any gas in the Ford C-MAX Energi SE!

Although Ford Canada provided the vehicles and experience, opinions are all my own!

 

 

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND HOW I BECAME EMPOWERED! #pHabulouslyMe

Although this post has been generously sponsored by “pHemme”, the opinions and language are my own, and in no way do they reflect “pHemme”

Although this post has been generously sponsored by “pHemme”, the opinions and language are my own, and in no way do they reflect “pHemme”.

Everything I have gone through has led me to be the super empowered woman I am today. By overcoming my past mental and emotional challenges, by taking control of my anxiety, knowing my triggers and the base of all negative inner thoughts I am able to not only empower myself but others around me. My ability to be open and vulnerable, to feel energized and motivated, encourage and support others, be poised and emotionally in control, and be daring to try new things empowers me.

When I was young my eldest sister committed suicide. As you could imagine this changed my family dynamic forever. It felt like everyone in my family split in a different direction like an atom in an atomic bomb. Her passing led me to be filled with a lot of anger that I didn’t and couldn’t deal with for a long time. Without even knowing it, I grew up over night. I was dissatisfied with my life because as much as I felt emotionally and physically independent I was angry at what was taken away from me (my sister, my idea of a family, my care-free childhood). I didn’t know it then, but I would later battle with depression and a ton of anxiety.

I am not a psychiatrist. I cannot tell you how to overcome your own emotional and mental issues. I can tell you what empowers me so that maybe you can change your perspective, feel good about yourself and your relationships and maybe start to be super empowered and motivated as well!

I don’t like to be vulnerable and I think most people can relate. It’s hard to put yourself out there when you know that the world will instinctively judge you for it. I think we have all heard someone say it’s hard to love someone and be open to love if you don’t love yourself. Allowing myself to be open and vulnerable and sharing personal information with you takes a lot of courage. At this point in my life I have accepted my past, I have developed the tools to deal with my anxiety and depression and I know that I am a strong person. My strength and courage comes from knowing that there isn’t really anything negative you could say about me that I haven’t already said to myself. I have been on dark and stormy self-destructive seas, but I am a seasoned captain now.

Although fully accepting who I am was one of the hardest steps to empowerment for me, and took a long time to do successfully, it was so emotionally cleansing that it made all the challenges I faced worth it.

Being physically strong also empowers me. Taking care of myself through physical exercise pumps endorphins into my brain and body making me feel invincible. Eating healthy, and making sure I am getting enough protein and vitamins helps my body function so that my brain can function. This may sound like a ‘no brainer’ but it’s important because if I’m physically not well, it takes a big toll on my emotional wellbeing and my ability to be motivated and productive. Take care of your body, treat it like a temple. You may even be surprised how physically exhausting yourself can actually help you deal with anxiety and stress and leave you more energized, motivated and help you think clearer.

Empowerment also comes from surrounding yourself with authentic people who truly care about you. I have a good core group of friends who support me emotionally and who I equally support. My boyfriend once said to me, “Not everyone is going to like you, and if they do it’s because you are boring” - and he makes a good point. So, I spend my time with women who are like minded and encourage and support me like I do them. If I can contribute to their success and not feel threatened by their achievements but instead celebrate their hard work and allow it to motivate me to work on my own goals - I become even more empowered.

What I love about Sophia Amoruso, is that “#girlboss knows when to throw punches and when to roll with them.” I am 100% a #girlboss but what sets me apart from many others is how I get things done. I don’t need you to like me or see things my way or force my opinion onto you to feel empowered. As I said before, part of being empowered is knowing yourself. Walking away from an explosive situation can be even more empowering then engaging in one. And, you can save yourself from the added anxiety and stress of dealing with the aftermath.

Push your boundaries and take some risks. My daring nature has allowed me to try new things and learn about new hidden talents I never knew I had. I feel for people who have anxiety when it comes to doing things alone or being placed in situations where you know nobody - it can be really hard. But some of my solo missions have led to some of the most empowering self discoveries of my life. When I went to university in Australia at age 18, I didn't know anyone! Introducing myself to people all over again allowed me to make my ‘realized self’ work in tandem with my ‘idealized self’ until it became the same. You want to feel empowered? Work through a fear or try something new, you may just discover something you never knew you were good at… in any event, it’s empowering.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, empowerment comes from within. If it wasn't for my tough past, the challenges I had to overcome, and the tools I developed to battle through my depression and anxiety I would not be the super empowered woman I am today. That is why when I was approached to take on this assignment from a sponsor whose product many may not openly talk about using, I knew I had an opportunity to talk about how being vulnerable, being honest with yourself, and being supportive of others can lead to empowerment. So I took this assignment on and fully embraced it with the main purpose of empowering others. That is why I am donating all of my earnings from this post to Indie 88 and Lana Gay’s ‘Up All Night’ campaign in support of CAMH. I hope this post will empower you to say yes when it comes to talking about mental health or any taboo issues because although its hard it will always get you to a better place.

To find out more about pHemme® Fresh and how to be a bold and confident woman, visit pHemme.ca ! Follow the pHemme conversation on Facebook and Instagram.