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The Urban Umbrella

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About Me

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The Urban Umbrella is a Canadian beauty, lifestyle, and style blog. This online destination focuses on helping readers discover their unique sense of style, celebrate their individual beauty, & embrace the joys of simple cooking. 


Hey there! I’m Bree, the blogger behind The Urban Umbrella.

I live in Vancouver, BC with my husband, Jeremy, and our two cats – Ollie & Holly. Stop by my Instagram and hit follow to see where we’re at now!

  • SO, WHAT'S THE UU'S STORY?

    Back in 2012, I began The Urban Umbrella. At the time, I was working a job that looked great on paper, but wasn't fulfilling me at all. I always considered myself a creative person - in school I love projects (shh, nerd alert!), I painted during my free time, and I loved creating comic books.

    Once I moved on from school though and jumped into the "real working world" I found myself feeling intensely bored with my day to day life. If I'm being honest, it was a low point in my life. I felt really sad with where I was at, and I felt discouraged about my future.

    It was during this time that I discovered blogs. And, I became hooked on them. 

    After months and months of debating, self-doubting, tossing and turning on the idea of creating my own blog, I finally took the plunge. Since blogging wasn't really a "thing" back then, I didn't really get the concept that you needed a "niche" or that there were beauty focused blog, fashion-centric websites, etc. I just thought blogging was basically an online diary (so with that being said, don't bother reading most of my early 2012 content).

    Choosing the name "The Urban Umbrella" actually came surprisingly easy. Since I didn't know what my blog would be about, I thought it would be about an umbrella of topics. The umbrella also resonated with me because I live in Vancouver - also known as the rainy city. And yep, you guessed it, "urban" struck a cord because, well, I live in a city.

    Since then, the UU has been my outlet for creativity and to connect with people around the world. It's been an amazing journey.

  • IS THIS YOUR FULL-TIME JOB?

    Nope - but with the blog, youtube channel, and Instagram... Sometimes it feels like it is! When I am not blogging, I am either working as a Social Media Strategist, or freelance writer. I do love blogging though and would love to see where it takes me.

  • ANY ADVICE FOR NEW BLOGGERS?

    Absolutely!

    First of all, always be yourself. Don't ever feel pressured into changing your personality, your reviews, or your content. That is absolutely the most important thing. Be authentic to who you are, what you like, and what you don't.

    Second, focus on the quality of your content. Edit and re-edit your written work, and constantly look to improve your photography (and videography if you're on Youtube). I am completely self-taught when it comes to my photography and videography and I promise you - there are tons of amazing guides out there! I personally love turning to Youtube when I need a bit of guidance. (Also, I do have a blogging category! If you don't find answers there, send me your Q's and I'll be sure to create a post to help you out!)

     

 

My glam smokey eye makeup tutorial is officially u My glam smokey eye makeup tutorial is officially up on my channel! Visit the link in my bio for the video! ❤️ And, please remember to subscribe - it helps my channel out SO much! I really appreciate your support 💕💕💕💕

Products Used:
@Farmacybeauty Honey Halo Moisturizer 
@clarinscanada Total Eye Lift 
@Diormakeup Forever Skin Correct Concealer  
@LauraMercier Setting Powder 
@anastasiabeverlyhills Soft Glam Palette
@stilacanada Huge Extreme lash mascara
@toofaced.canada Born This Way Foundation (in Pearl) 
#anastasiabeverlyhills Stick Foundation (for contour) in Fawn
@inikaorganic Brow pencil 
@ctilburymakeup Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Palette
#charlottetilbury Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush in Talk Intense 
@kissnypro Luxe Creamy Lip Gloss in Baileys Vanilla
Kind of obsessed with simple skin + minimalist mak Kind of obsessed with simple skin + minimalist makeup lately 🥰 Recently reviewed the @stilacanada Lingerie Soufflé Skin Perfecting Color on my #YoutubeChannel - have you seen the review yet? Visit the link in my bio to check it out 😘

Products used:
@stilacosmetics Lingerie Soufflé Skin Perfecting Color in shade 1
@diormakeup Forever Skin Correct Concealer 
@urbandecaycosmetics X @kristenxleanne collaboration Dream Eyeshadow Palette
@makeuprevolution liquid eyeliner
@stilacanada extreme huge lash mascara
@clarinscanada bronzer
@tartecosmetics blush in sweet cheeks
@inikaorganic brow pencil
@ctilburymakeup Collagen Lip Bath in pillow talk
Freckly ✨❤️ Tried a new faux freckle techni Freckly ✨❤️

Tried a new faux freckle technique today and I’m kind of obsessed. They were super easy to apply, look very natural, and they are supposed to last up to 3 days 😱🤩 who wants a tutorial?
2020 was a year full of lessons. Some good, some b 2020 was a year full of lessons. Some good, some bad. We made bread. Joined tiktok (maybe tried to learn a dance or two). We started home projects. We got outside more. We missed our families and friends and learned the importance of connection - even if it has to be done virtually. 👩🏻‍💻 💞

I don’t know what 2021 has in store but I’m excited to get started and I hope it has all the good that we embraced in 2020 (if I’m not a full blown baker by the end of 2021 I don’t want it - jk 😂 ) and hopefully includes more of the things we missed, too. ❤️And I hope that we can say goodbye to most of the bad from 2020 cause wow - that was one hell of a year. 😷💉🤒😬👋🏼 

Now I’m off to make a 2021 vision board cause I think this year needs as much positivity focused on it as possible 😂  anyone else making a 2021 mood board???
Me last night vs me today 😂 spent this rainy da Me last night vs me today 😂 spent this rainy day being very very lazy!

Tonight’s plans: I’m about to play some Azul and then perhaps start a movie marathon. 2021 has started off very cozy 😂 

how did you spend the first day of 2021?

#happynewyear2021 #happynewyear #2021 #2021calendar #lazyfriday #lazyfridays #newyearseveoutfit #newyearsevemakeup #nyemakeup #nye2021
Kind of can’t believe it’s New Year’s Eve bu Kind of can’t believe it’s New Year’s Eve but here we are 🤷‍♀️ 🍾 will you be dressing up and staying home or staying in pjs and staying home? 😂 ⠀
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Products used: ⠀
@smashboxcanada Photo Finish Foundation Primer ⠀
@ilmakiage Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation ⠀
@tatibeauty Texture Neutrals Palette ⠀
@tartecosmetics Shape Tape Concealer ⠀
@shiseidocosmetics Controlled Chaos Mascara Ink ⠀
@patricktabeauty Blush in She's Seductive ⠀
@rodialbeauty Bronzetour ⠀
@lauragellerbeauty Dripping in Gold ⠀
@elizabetharden Lipstick in Passionate Peach⠀
@emanicosmetics Brow Pomade 
@benefitcanada Gimme Brow Gel⠀
@amika Hair Straightener 

#smashboxcosmetics #smashboxcanada #ilmakiage #ilmakiagefoundation #tartecosmetics #tarteshapetape #sparklyeyeshadow #shiseido #patricktabeauty #patrickta #rodialbeauty #rodialmakeup #elizabetharden #laurageller #lauragellerbeauty #emanicosmetics #benefitcosmetics #benefitbrows #amikahairproducts #amika #amikahair #glammakeuplook #glammakeupvideos

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