Collaborations – SPEAKOFTHEANGEL

The Monos Large Check-In Review

Angel Zheng — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 00:42:17 +0000

A couple of months ago, Monos invited me to their launch event in Vancouver and gifted me their check-in luggage for review. It was the perfect timing since I was just leaving for my Europe trip to London, Berlin, and all around Italy. Having read up on their immaculate quality testing process and seen their beautifully designed luggage first hand at the event, I was super excited to be trying out their luggage on my two and a half week trip.

I picked out the storm grey check-in large and it was the perfect size for all the different climates I was packing for.

What I Loved

I loved the grey colour because it was still a light neutral, while not being so light that it looked old and scuffed up immediately. It’s made with a tough polycarbonate shell and has super quiet but nimble wheels, and I’m so glad I got to use this as my main luggage during my travels.

I was able to fit several jackets (a wool coat and a leather jacket), a bunch of sweaters and sweatshirts, TONS of little tops (like probably close to 12 tops), couple pairs of pants, some dresses, 5 pairs of shoes, toiletries bag, make up bag, 2 purses, 2 hair tools, and it still had space to be filled.

I know typically a normal person wouldn’t travel with that many articles of clothing, but since we were visiting cities with varying temperatures (freezing cold and rainy London to Rome which was 25-27 degrees everyday), it definitely made it a little harder to pack light.

Not to mention with the nature of being on Instagram and having a blog, I had to have options (I can feel the eye rolls).

Durability

I dragged my very heavy check-in luggage through several blocks of both concrete and cobblestoned streets in rainy and sunny weater. Seems like the wheels were super durable, and never did I have to question whether the weight of my baggage was going to be an issue.

The shell held up really well in all weather conditions and even being tossed around through the check-in process, actually maintained realtively clean.

As a part of the package of what you receive with the luggage, they actually send you a little sponge resembling a more cubular Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, which is supposed to help you clean off any scuffs and dings that you collect while you’re adventuring. I thought that was such a cute touch, and a great way for the brand to say “your luggage WILL get dirty, that’s INEVITABLE, but here’s a solution“.

Standout Features

Something that was pretty unique in the Monos luggage is the handle. Instead of having the push to unlock button for the extendable handle on the top of the handle like most luggages, it’s actually under the handle. Initially I could instantly see why this makes sense. When you’re going to pull your luggage, or extend the handle, instead of having to push down on the button with the palm of your hand while pulling upwards (two contradicting actions), all you have to do is reach under the handle and pull up in on swift movement.

While this was a very innovative idea, I quickly discovered that this cool feature didn’t always make sense. With their smaller check-in luggage or even their carry-on luggage, I can see this being a very useful feature to have. But with their large check-in packed full of stuff, the weight made the feature counter-productive.

With the handle extended and luggage tilted onto it’s back wheels for quicker pulling, I found that I often accidentally pressed the button while I was manuevering the very heavy luggage which would unlock the handle and allow it to detract. I found myself having to stop a couple of times, while I was trying to hurry somewhere, just to lock the handle at it’s extended position again.

With the smaller luggages, or just less weight in your luggage, I feel like this wouldn’t be an issue. But with the large check-in, it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

I also found that the inner organization and dividers were very useful, especially with the amount of stuff I was carry. All the straps and divders are adjustable which ensured that my things were secured into the luggage and I didn’t have to worry about things knocking around in there while I was travelling. This is a common feature in most new luggage brands, but it was something I really appreciated.

The Verdict

Overall, I’m super happy with my Monos check-in luggage. It really is super durable, and I love the minimal design of both the luggage and the brand. Everything feels really high quality and I’m super impressed with how well it lasted throughout my 2.5 week in Europe. I brought this check in, my Herschel carry-on, and my Herschel backpack with me on the trip, and it was the perfect amount of baggage for my needs. I was still able to shop a bit and bring back souvenirs with the extra room in my luggage.

I also have the Monos carry-on in the olive green colour, but opted for the Herschel carry-on for this trip since it was a little smaller (more on that soon). However, I’m heading away for a 2 week trip in May 2020 where I’ll be able to really test out the Monos carry-on so come back then for another review!

Even with the handle clasp/button being slightly counter-intuitive at times, I still think this is an amazing luggage overall and would highly recommend it to my fellow travellers.

They seem to be running a discount on the luggage right now, which brings the cost of the luggage to be $352 cad. Compared to one of it’s bigger competitors, Away, their large check-in luggage is $395 cad and is actually 2 inches smaller than this one. So between the two, I would choose the Monos luggage over the Away any day (especially since I’d be supporting a local Canadian brand!)

Have you head anything about the Monos luggage? What are your thoughts?

Productivity Tools: The BenQ ScreenBar Lite

Angel Zheng — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 18:59:09 +0000

This article may include affiliate links & codes, which at no cost to you, Speak Of The Angel earns a commission from if you click through and make a purchase.

Earlier this year, BenQ reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to try their new product, the ScreenBar Lite. They released their original ScreenBar in 2018 but have recently released a new, smaller version, called the Lite. Whereas the original ScreenBar is meant to fit over your monitors, the new one clips onto your laptop for a more portable experience.

With the working landscape leaning more and more towards remote working and working on-the-go, it can be hard to control the quality of your workspace when you’re abroad.

Cue the ScreenBar Lite. It’s flexible, lightweight, portable—all of the features you’d want in something to bring with you on-the-go. They’ve reimagined their first Screen Bar product to work specifically for laptops, but still provide the lighting options that the original one does.

I’ve been using the ScreenBar Lite for a couple of months now, so I think I can provide a pretty good review on how it works for me.

Design

Much like the original Screen Bar, the Lite version is also wrapped in a black aluminum alloy that’s sleek and quite aesthetically pleasing. Visually, the original ScreenBar is a little more beautiful with a rounded tubular structure that gives it a very high-tech look and feel. The Lite comes in more of a triangular shape that doesn’t blend as seamlessly into the look of my laptop set up as the ScreenBar would with your monitor. Especially if you have a black monitor, the original lamp blends right into the bezel and looks like it belongs there.

The LEDs of the Lite lamp provides ample light to illuminate my entire workspace, even when my laptop is propped up with a stand. You’re able to not only adjust the brightness of your lamp, but also the warmth of your light, which is pretty cool.

It also has an auto-dimming function that uses an ambient-sensor, which is usually the setting that I use it at. Although it does still illuminate my desk when propped up on a stand, I do wish that the lamp provided a bit more swivel for me to be able to customize the angle in which I want my lamp to shine.

Usability

An improvement from the original ScreenBar that the lite possesses is the organization of the buttons. To reach a certain level of warmth or brightness with the original lamp, you have to click the same button (either Brightness or Temperature) repeatedly until it cycles through the settings and gets to the desired mode. The Lite has a Brightness mode and Temperature mode. Once you select the mode, all you have to do is is press the down and up arrows to adjust the setting.

I love that the lamp reclaims some space on your workspace, which is why it makes for the perfect travel/remote work buddy. It comes in a plastic carrying case that protects it while you’re on-the-go, but if you wanted to save space, the lamp could easily fit in your bag or luggage without the case as well.

The lamp is also powered by a USB cable for you to plug into your laptop while you’re working. If you’re a power user, who uses all of their USB ports, this might pose an issue. However, even though I use most of my USB ports all the time, I usually have an adapter or dongle that gives me a few extra USB ports so it hasn’t been an issue for me yet.

Do I recommend it?

The BenQ ScreenBar Lite is a product that you can’t really judge whether you need it or not until you’ve tried it. I have noticed that this light is a lot easier on my eyes than a traditional desk lamp, and it’s super friendly for laptop or computer work since it provides no glare on the screens whatsoever.

If you are someone who’s always on-the-go, working in different spaces, and feel a lot of eyestrain because of it, the ScreenBar Lite is a great tool to invest in. However, with it’s $99 USD price tag, I do only recommend this to those who feel like having a portable lamp solution is exactly what they’re looking for.

Personally, although I never thought that I would need this product, I do really love it’s functionality and portability now that I have it, and will be taking it with me on business trips.

What do you think about the ScreenBar Lite? Is it something that you could find helpful in your day-to-day work life?

*This product was gifted from BenQ. All opinions are my own.*

My 3 Favourite Straw Bag Shapes For This Summer

Angel Zheng — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 06:29:29 +0000

This article may include affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Speak Of The Angel earns a commission from if you click through and make a purchase.

Ahhh, summer finally feels like it’s here in Vancouver, and I haven’t worn long pants in a week and it’s been great. While in previous summers, my focus has been in dresses, clothes, and all that, this year I’ve really started to hone in on growing my summer accessories collection—starting with bags.

Bags really do complete a look as well as dictate how functional your outfit is going to be that day. So here are my top picks for the ultimate summer bags this year.

Rattan Crossbody

This Amerii bag has been a go-to so far this summer. It’s the perfect size (fits my wallet, phone, keys, and even my mirrorless camera) and you can loop the strap around the bag twice for a mini bag look.

Ring Handle Bags

The ring-shaped handles have been making a big splash in the fashion world in the last couple of years, and with summer straw bags, it’s not different. I love the shape and structure of this one by Gap, but also love the functionality that the crossbody strap provides. Count on Gap to make a non-functional bag functional.

The Straw Tote

You KNOW how much I value functionality in a bag, and tote bags (no matter what material it’s made of) are usually my go-to’s. I think the straw tote is SUCH a cute summer look. Whether you’re headed to work, to the gym, to the beach, or just out for brunch…this bag will fit all of your essentials and more, and works great as a carry-all while looking cute. Love the leather straps on this one by J.Crew, and the price is pretty reasonable. I think when buying a tote bag, it is worth it to pay a little more for better quality because you’re more likely to carry heavier loads with this bag. Don’t want to purchase a flimsy bag that will break on you halfway through the day!

What are your favourite versions of the straw bag? Let me know in the comments!

The Shoreline Tofino: A-Frame House

Angel Zheng — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 22:42:01 +0000

Last week, I got to stay at the beautiful boutique hotel, The Shoreline. Although we personally stayed in Cabin Suite 4, they let us poke our heads into their stunning A-Frame House when it was vacant so that we could snap some photos.

I’m definitely leaning towards doing more travel content on the blog and I thought Tofino would be a great place to start. I have quite a few trips planned for 2019, and so I thought it was about time I got behind the camera more and started documenting my travels a little more religiously. Seems like most of my readers and Instagram family are pretty receptive towards travel content, which is perfect because I always have a great time creating it.

The Details

The A-frame house at The Shoreline, looks over a cute little dock in the Tofino harbour. In the back of the house, there are two private decks with one containing a stunning outdoor, ocean-view hot tub and the other a barbecue. There’s even a outdoor shower for you to rinse off in before you head back indoors.

The house itself has 2 queen bedrooms, 1 en-suite bathroom in the master bedroom downstairs, and a full bathroom for sharing on the main floor. It’s also got an adorable loft on top of the main living space which features 2 single beds.

In the middle of the living space, there is a cozy fireplace with spare firewood on the side. They’ve got the house set up to feel like a home, so it’s definitely perfect for families or other groups of 4-6.

The Photos

I went a little crazy photographing the place because it seemed like every corner of the house was photogenic as heck. I’m sharing a bunch of the photos below so you can get a good idea of what the house offers if you’re planning a trip to Tofino.

Kiehl’s x Mcmorris

Angel Zheng — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 15:00:56 +0000

Kiehl’s has partnered up with Canadian Olympic Snowboarder, Mark McMorris, to support the McMorris Foundation in creating a more affordable and accessible sport culture for kids in Canada. I’ve always loved Kiehl’s skincare—I use their Calendula toner and Masks religiously—so when they reached out to me to collaborate on this campaign, I couldn’t say no.

Kiehl’s and the McMorris foundation co-developed this exclusive limited edition version of their new ultra facial cream. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the McMorris Foundation!

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is their #1 worldwide best-selling face cream, and is uniquely formulated for all skin types.

It has a lightweight texture and provides lasting hydration. It’s formulated with Glacial Glycoprotein and olive-drived Squalane, which creates the perfect, non-greasy moisturizer that even works with sensitive skin. This is the perfect product for all your winter dryness—especially when you’ve just come back from being on the mountain all day. But the lightweight feel allows you to wear it all year round.

The Ultra Facial Cream in a 50mL jar costs $37, and 100% of those proceeds will go to the foundation.

If you’re looking for a new moisturizer for the year, definitely give the Ultra Facial Cream a try. And feel good purchasing it knowing you’re supporting a great cause.

Top 3 Beaches in Vancouver, BC ft. Vessi Shoes

Angel Zheng — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 16:00:46 +0000

In collaboration with Vessi footwear! Thank you for supporting brands that support Speak of the Angel.

I know it’s really not the time of year to be writing about beaches in Vancouver—but the gloom is really getting on my nerves and I need to think about sunshine, warmth, and tanning right now. I was looking through some of my old photos and oh man… do I miss the beach.

I caught Vancouver on a good day recently, and took a walk out to Wreck (read below for all the info on Wreck Beach and how to get there). Although I was definitely wishing that it was warm enough for me to get in a bikini and tan, it was nice just to be by the water again. Luckily, I was wearing my brand new Vessi shoes so I could walk along the incoming waves without fear of wetting my socks and getting frostbites on my toes.

GET 10$ OFF YOUR VESSI ORDER BY USING ‘ANGEL10’ AT CHECKOUT

If you guys haven’t heard of Vessi before, they are a new company that specializes in waterproof sneakers. They created a Flash Knit material that is breathable and comfortable while being completely waterproof. On top of the Flash Knit material, they also treat the surface of the shoe with repellent so that beyond water, your socks are also protected from sandy water. I really wanted to put these to the test, so I even walked along the sinking sand and splashing waves in the white cityscape shoes ?.

Luckily, both shoes passed with flying colours, and my socks remained dry and feet warm.

I’ve been missing the beach even more, ever since, so instead of just sitting in my cold apartment thinking about the beach, I thought I would share 3 of my favourite beaches in Vancouver. If you’re planning a trip to Vancouver, come in the summer and hit up these spots.

Kitsilano Beach

Kits beach is definitely the closest beach to where I live and it’s very lively in the summer. The crowd ranges from teenagers, to young adults, to families—it’s a very family friendly beach as it’s surrounded by parks as well, which is perfect for if you’re wanting to bring your barbecue to the beach. Along the middle stretch of the beach, there is also plenty of space for you to set up volleyball nets for a sporty beach day. You can even come and rent paddle boards and row yourself out into the water. Overall, Kitsilano beach is the perfect beach to go to for chill, active, beachy vibes.

Kits beach gets pretty busy in the summer time, so if you’re looking to make sure you get a spot on the beach, you’ll want to come relatively early.

Jericho Beach

Another super family friendly beach, Jericho beach is typically a little less busy due to it’s size. There is definitely still a grassy park aspect to it—again, great for bbqs, but there aren’t the volleyball net poles or the option to paddle board.

Jericho feels less busy during the summer, but because it is a small beach, there are also way less parking spots nearby. The parking lot fills up fast, and you’ll definitely need to park a couple blocks away and just walk over to the beach.

There is a dog park nearby as well, so if you’re looking for a place for both and your doggo to hang, this is it.

Photo by @brandimollicaphotography

Photo by @devonhayley

Wreck Beach

Wreck beach is still, by far, my favourite beach to go to in Vancouver. Despite being a nude beach, it’s got the chillest vibes and best crowd. The beach is quite secluded, you have to take a long stair trail down to it, which is one of my favourite aspects of it. It is going to be hard for you to find free parking, as it shares a road with the University of British Columbia, which means the spots will most likely have been snagged by students already. But because it is right on University lands, you’ll be able to find tons of paid parking on campus.

To get to Wreck Beach, you’ll have to trek down the infamous Wreck stairs. There are two entry ways to the beach: the main entry way down to the portion of the beach where everyone goes is Trail 6 which is on NW Marine Dr., right after you pass University Blvd going north.

The other way you could head down to the beach is if you take Trail 4, behind the Museum of Anthropology. This will take you to a slightly less busy area of the beach. But I’d recommend you at least check out the main part of the beach at least once.

Have you been to any of the beaches in Vancouver? Which one was your favourite?

Elk + Avenue in Banff

Angel Zheng — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 16:10:00 +0000

My recent trip to Banff was so beautiful in so many ways, but our hotel experience definitely stood out to me. We stayed at the Elk + Avenue, which is conveniently located right outside of downtown Banff on Banff Ave. Amongst the hotels on our block, Elk + Avenue definitely seemed the most modern, and newly renovated, which was a refreshing sight in this small mountain town.

Right when you walk in, you’ll notice the modern finishes in the bright, open concept lobby/check-in area. I absolutely loved the tones and textures that the hotel featured. The decor was simple but very beautiful, while still holding its Canadian, PNW feel.

The Hotel

Walking past the lobby, you walk into an inviting seating/lounging area which looks like a beautiful living room. I felt like this space was designed for me—from the blue accent walls and wood finishes, to the neutral colour palette and grey velvet arm chairs…everything in this space is exactly how my dream living space would look like.

The interior designer who did this space totally killed it and they created the perfect resting area for those coming back from skiing or even for you to lounge and read when you’re hanging out at the hotel.

Rooms

We stayed in a room with two queens on the first floor, and it was super cozy and cute. It had the same gorgeous modern wood finishes all though out, a glossy white night stand, and a wood media console.

The hotel also has loft suites, regular king rooms, deluxe king and queen rooms, and junior suites that have amazing lighting and are beautiful.

Amenities

Amenities include:

Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi
Underground parking
On-site restaurant and lounge
Full-size lockers for ski equipment
Explore Rockies activities and sightseeing desk
Coin-operated laundry facilities
Gift shop

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing après-ski sanctuary or a big night on the town, this minimal yet cozy Rocky Mountain-inspired hotel is the ideal accommodation choice for exploring the best of Banff. I absolutely loved our stay at the Elk + Avenue and would definitely recommend it if you’re ever in Banff.

Perfect Fall Crossbody | Le Parmentier*

Angel Zheng — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 01:53:40 +0000

With all the sunny weather that we’ve been getting lately, I’ve been more inspired to actually put on clothes that aren’t just leggings and a hoodie. There comes a point every fall/winter that it gets SO cold that I completely give up trying to look stylish. Even though it’s been exceptionally chilly here lately, it’s just been too sunny to not try!

Something I’ve been working on for 2018 is accessorizing more. I’ve always been the type of girl to use one bag for ages before I switch to another and stick with that. I always used to wear one necklace and one ring—and that was the extent of my jewelry collection. This year however, I’ve gotten a lot better at actually switching out my purses and jewelry depending on how I’m feeling or the outfit that I’m wearing. Pretty proud of myself!

One of my favourite purses that I discovered this autumn is the Ondina Mini Color Block Shoulder Bag from Le Parmentier. Forzieri reached out to me to collaborate and I was more than happy to style this bag with some fall outfits. I love the duotone colour blocking—all the options are stunning fall colours that it was actually a little hard to choose. I ended up picking this yellow and brown toned bag because I knew it would be the most wearable option, and would go perfectly with any neutral coloured autumn outfits.

I’ve definitely strayed away from my typical grey on grey wardrobe this year, which worked out perfectly because this bag looks amazing with warm neutrals. The gold coin buckle brings a great pop to simple outfits too.

Outfit Details

Outfit 1
Sweater: Aritzia
Jeans: Levis
Boots: Rag&Bone
Bag: Le Parmentier

Outfit 2
Sweater: Aritzia
Jeans: PacSun
Bag: Le Parmentier