Little lotions and potions

Greetings from the Metterra Hotel in Edmonton. It’s my first week of training with Anthropologie and I am happily absorbed in the world of fashion and home design retail.

I don’t mind living out of a suitcase for a week or so, and there’s something refreshing about soft white towels, crisp sheets and coming home to a clean room every night. However, my fondness for a hotel is typically decided on by the brand of the bathroom amenities.

While staying at the 6 Columbus in New York, I “stole” the Kiehls products every day until the cleaning staff caught on that I wasn’t actually washing my hair that much. Here at the Metterra, they have a great selection of Pharmacopia, a fantastic line of organic bodycare products.


I’m pretty product-happy and always travel with an extended supply of my own, so the tiny bottles in the rented rooms can go unused. So I like to keep the surplus hotel products and set them out for overnight guests. (*Note – when I say tiny bottles, I don’t mean the ones in the mini fridge. Those aren’t free!).

When we host, I"ll to write a welcome note and leave out the mini amenities, fresh towels, a book or magazine, water, and other fun treats like chocolate or fruit. Guests always feel more at home when they’re greeted with goodies in their room.

We bought a couple of these bedside carafes from Crate and Barrel to leave water out for overnighters.


This cute idea warrants a shout out to my label-maker-lovin’ friend, Rachel, who on a weekend visit had these personalized cups waiting for my hubby and I in the bathroom. Adorable.



It's thoughtful to leave some local reading for guests to relax with. Avenue is a great Calgary lifestyle magazine about food, style, arts and culture.



An alarm clock is a practical addition to your guest room. I bought this little vintage inspired cheapie at Ikea.

Attention to detail can make or break a hotel stay and the same goes for hosting in your home. So make sure to take those little lotions and potions when you’re jet setting abroad and make your next visitors feel like they’re camping at the W.