At home with KGMTL: Montreal’s most influential lifestyle guru

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To date, Katherine Garbarino — more widely known to her legions of Instagram followers as @KGMTL — is most proud of her online community called Girls Living Well. It’s one of her many initiatives to help women have fun and look great on their wellness journey. She’s also the proud author of a cookbook aptly titled It All Starts Here. Most recently, she launched her own clothing brand, Kasics, to help “make everyday dressing simple.” This unstoppable Montrealer sat down to talk fashion, holidays, and give us some of her best tips for living well.

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How would you describe your decorating style?

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My decorating style is definitely minimalist but fun. I love an overall monochromatic look with whimsical accents and colourful accessories.

To be honest, though, the world of decor is not my forte and can be a little overwhelming. And so, I tend to consult closely with my mom (who has fabulous taste). I’ll tell her what I need, she’ll make the selections, and then I’ll narrow it down. On top of that, my husband has an impeccable eye for design. I’m a really good picker once the initial selections are made!

What are your top fashion picks for holiday parties? 

For parties, I’m loving a long-sleeved midi dress paired with a cute boot, maybe patent or sparkly. I find it flattering and super comfortable but still dressy and warm.

On the beauty front, despite being more of a natural makeup kind of girl, I do love a sparkly shadow and good amount of highlighter on the cheekbones. One of my faves is the Disco Eye Highlighter Stick from RÓEN Beauty.

Where do you, hubby and fur baby, Maca, escape the world with hot cocoa and treats?

We’re definitely homebodies all year round but this is my favourite time of year because it is so cozy! We actually had the Christmas tree put up Nov. 1 in light of all the joy it brings. I love to just sit in front of it and bask in the calm and peace.

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What about entertaining? Care to share some tips on that front? Best recipes?

I love hosting, and host Christmas here for my husband’s family every year. I always plan the menu ahead of time and make sure to have an array of dishes for everyone. I’ll do two types of main dishes, either chicken and red meat or fish and red meat, along with a tonne of side dishes and lots of veggies. I’m not trying to plug my website but I do have over 200 recipes that I routinely use as my own resource!

On a more general note, it’s a heavy world, making wellness more necessary than ever. If you had to share three top wellness tips, what would they be?

My number one wellness tip would definitely be to always put yourself and your mental state first. If that means saying no to certain things that will drain you, then do it. Good sleep and good hygiene are also essential. Almost nightly, my phone goes on airplane mode as of 8 p.m. Finally, dry brushing (my skin) has been a game changer this year to energize and detox. I do it consistently, every morning.

RECIPE

COCONUT “ALMOND JOY” COOKIES

Courtesy of KGMTL’s cookbook It All Starts Here.

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If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this one’s for you. Indulge in freshly-baked cookies that are just as good as an Almond Joy bar, only much better for you.

Serving: Makes 12 to 15 cookies

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 14 mins

Ingredients:

½ cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled

1 cup almond flour

1 ½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut

2 tbsp coconut flour

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

½ cup dark chocolate chips

Almonds and roasted coconut to top cookies with

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, mix maple syrup, vanilla extract and the egg. Add in the melted coconut oil, then mix again until the mixture thickens.
3. Incorporate the almond flour, unsweetened shredded coconut, coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk together until combined.
4. Fold in the chocolate chips. If you have time, place the batter in the fridge for 20 minutes. Otherwise, scoop tablespoon-sized balls of the batter, placing the cookie dough on the cookie sheet.
5. Press down a little to flatten them, then top each cookie with an almond and a slice of roasted coconut.
6. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before serving or removing from the sheet.

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