Marc by Marc Jacobs Sunglasses

First of all, I want to apologize for my lack of blogging lately! I've been a little busy lately and just haven't had any ideas that I wanted to blog about. So sorry about that, but I can say that my inspiration is back and I will back to blogging much more frequent now! 


Now off to what this post is really about! So on Sunday my boyfriend Chris and I went to Grand Bend, it's about a 40 minute drive to this beautiful beach town! We went up and met with some friends and just enjoyed the sun and the beach, it was so much fun! There was a small strip with tons of small stores and restaurants, we were especially drawn to the sunglasses store though. Chris has never owned sunglasses before; I know so crazy, how can one be without!? So ever since he bought a pair of Diesels a couple weeks ago, he's been on a major sunglasses kick . He had really been eyeing a super nice pair of Carreras, so he picked those up for himself! I on the other hand have always had sunglasses, but never had a really nice pair, I never spent more than $30 on one! So I absolutely fell in love with these Marc by Marc Jacobs aviator style sunglasses! 

I've always gone for oversized sunglasses, so this was really different for me! They were a bit pricey at $135, but I figured since my birthday is less than two weeks away I would count it as my birthday present to myself! I've been wearing these all the time, it's safe to say I'm obsessed!!

Happy Living! 

St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse Review

I am seriously in love! I will never ever let myself be without the St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, honestly it's my holy grail at the moment.

Before we moved to London, back home I started getting mystic tans at the salon, it gave such quick and good results! But in London mystic tans were much more expensive than at home, so I couldn't quite justify it. Especially since it really only lasted about 3 days. I'd been eyeing the St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse for a couple of months and I finally convinced myself I had to try it! I bought it on Saturday, but since we ended up going out that night for drinks I decided to apply it Sunday night after our workout. I was so excited, that I almost forgot to take a before shot haha but I remembered right at the last moment! It's not the best quality picture, but you can tell I was pretty pale before to say the least! My boyfriend even asked me to even out his golf tan, which was perfect so I could test it out and see how it applied! It was super simple and easy, I used the St. Tropez Tanning Mitt which made the world of difference. I do recommend still wearing some gloves under the mitt, since it can seep through the mitt. It blended so well and because of the color guard you could see where you were applying and what spots you missed. It took me about 20 minutes to apply it all over my body and face. I used the latex gloves and some triangle makeup sponges to apply it to my face, I put it on just as if I was applying foundation. I let it dry for about 15 minutes and then put my pajamas on and went to sleep. Easy peasy! When I woke up I could definitely see the tan had developed but I knew that the color guard would wash off in the shower. The color turned out so nicely and it definitely looks really natural, it gives you more of a brown look rather than orange, as some self tanners can. The flash distracts from the color in the after shot but I think you can still see the difference!

Before

After

There's still tons of product left as well! In order to preserve the color I've been applying the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer as an everyday lotion, after my shower and before I go to bed. Just to keep my skin moisturized, too prolong my tan and to add a little glow as well! I'm so impressed with St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse and my only regret is not purchasing it sooner! It's a bit pricey as it was $49.50 and the Tanning Mitt was $7.50, but comparing it to most spray tans that run for about $30. It's a pretty good deal, since you'll get many applications from the St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, not to mention the ability to do it whenever you want, in the privacy of your own home! I definitely give St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse a 10/10! I would never go back to getting spray tans now that I have St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, and I will continue to repurchase this for sure! If you want me to do another post going in more detail exactly how I applied it, especially to my face, feet and hands just let me know in the comments! 

Happy Living!

Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart Haul

Today I set out to pick up a few things on my wish list and a few things I needed. I just went out to Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart so here's what I picked up!

1. St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse - This is what I was most excited to go out and pick up! I've had my eye on this for a couple of months, and I finally decided to go for it! After weeks of research and seeing other's experiences with it I just couldn't not give it a try! I will definitely be doing a review of this and letting you guys know what I think and will include some before and after shots! So be on the lookout for that soon!


2. St. Tropez Tan Applicator Mitt - I bought this to go along with the bronzing mousse (of course!). Everything I read about the process said the mitt helped a lot and made it so much easier to apply and blend!


3. Life Latex Medical Examination Gloves - I bought these to use with the St. Tropez self tan, I know when applying my feet and face these will come in handy. Since it would be difficult to get to the small places with the mitt, and I don't want orange hands!


4. Quo Cosmetic Spade Sponges - I picked this up to apply the St. Tropez self tan to my face, I read that this is the easiest way to get a precise application! And tanning the face in my mind is one of the most important places!


5. Certified Organic Cotton Pads - I just picked these up as I ran out a couple days ago, and have been using toilet tissue to remove my eye makeup and it's just not as gentle! I definitely needed to pick these up again!


6. Balea Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - I also am about to run out of this as well, so I picked up a back up, and I don't want to be without. This works so well to remove my eye makeup so easily and quickly!

Happy Living!

Grand Bend Beach!

This post today isn't beauty related, but I love being able to incorporate little snippets about my life and what I am up to. So hopefully you guys can get to know a little more about me, besides my thoughts on beauty products! My boyfriend surprised me on Tuesday with an impromptu small road trip to Grand Bend! It's about 45 minutes to an hour drive from where we live in London. It's a small beach town right on Lake Huron and it's beautiful! It wasn't the warmest day and my boyfriend had some work to do in the area so we just enjoyed the scenery and took in the beautiful beaches and stopped for a nice lunch and dinner at the Works later on! I took a few pictures that I'd love to share them with you guys! 

View of Lake Huron from the road

Grand Bend Beach

BLT and Potato and Leek Soup at Sunbaked Cafe and Bakehouse

Cracked Canoe and Moosehead Beer at the Works 

Happy Living!

AG Color Care Sterling Silver Toning Shampoo Review

Two years ago I had a bad experience getting blonde highlights in my dark blonde hair. My hair had a brassy-orangey tinge to it, which I absolutely hated. Every time I looked in the mirror I would cringe, it was horrible! I ended up switching hair stylists, to a friend of mine I told her my problem and she said it was most likely the hair color that my previous stylist had used. However she recommended I add a new product in my routine to prevent that from ever happening again. She recommended AG Color Care Sterling Silver Toning Shampoo, it's a purple shampoo for blonde hair!

It claims to polish out brassy tones and bring out the brilliance in blonde! It can be used for silver, blonde or highlighted hair. This stuff is the best! I still regularly get blonde highlights, and I use the shampoo about twice a week; the same day I use my hydrating treatment. Since the toning shampoo can be a little drying on your hair, I like to use a super conditioning treatment to counteract it! I've been using this for about a year and a half and it has become one of my staple hair products! The days I use this I notice my blonde definitely looks brighter! I would recommend this to any blondes, especially if you dye or highlight your hair! Another thing I love about AG Hair Cosmetics is that they are cruelty free as well! I rate this product a 10/10!! I picked mine up at my hair salon, and they also can be found at Trade Secrets! Check out their website www.aghaircosmetics.com to see where you can pick yours up! 

Happy Living! 

Sorry I've been MIA!

Hello! So I feel the need to explain my absence from blogging for the past weekend! My boyfriend and I headed back to Ottawa for the weekend. I haven't said it on here before, but a month ago we moved from Ottawa, Ontario to London, Ontario and got our own apartment together! So we headed back to spend time with friends and family and it was so good to see everyone! We won't be back there for a little while so we had to make use of the time we had! Hence no new blog posts! We're back home now and I've got a few posts in mind so look forward to seeing those soon! 

Happy Living! 

June Julep Maven It Girl Unboxing/Review

I finally received my June Julep Maven Box and I was beyond excited! Never thought I would get so excited over nail polish, but it's like getting a gift every month! Granted it's from myself, but lets not dwell on that! This is only my second box from Julep Maven, but to say i'm impressed is an understatement. I got the standard email saying what would be coming in the June It girl box and I got the option to either change my box, gift it or skip the month. I liked the colors it advertised so I decided to keep it. I was under the impression I would be getting three nail polishes and I was happy! However when I opened up my box I was so surprised! 

First I saw the card that tells you a little about the nail polishes and give a little idea/tip. Then there was a smaller card with a quote "I you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun" - Katharine Hepburn. I thought this was fitting for the theme of the It Girl box this month which is "It's time to be bold." Next I saw a gift voucher for one free nail polish from the Maven Boutique! I was so surprised to see this and can't wait to pick out another nail polish for next month! I loved this little addition to becoming a new member! 

Then I spotted the lip balm, which I also didn't expect to receive! This smells amazing, it's Vanilla Mint daylight defense with SPF 15, which is perfect for summer! Along with this I also received two pixie sticks, which I haven't had since I was younger! My boyfriend and I had one each, such a cool surprise! This was all before I even opened the nail polishes! 

They come wrapped so nicely in wrapping paper with a bow, and also in bubble wrap inside that. The colors I received this month were Morgan which is a "frosty grape purple", Sasha which is a "fresh cantaloupe creme", and Sandra which is a "friendly, frosty magenta." 

Morgan - Sasha - Sandra

To be honest, I was most looking forward to Sasha, as I've never had a color quite like this! This is definitely what I will be wearing first! And like I said in my first Julep Maven post, the nail polish quality is excellent, I'm very impressed! I do find even without a top coat it lasts at least 3 days! Julep Maven went beyond my expectations and I couldn't be more satisfied! I can't wait to try out these new colors and add them to my collection. And I'm already excited for July's box!! If you're interested in trying out Julep Maven's subscription they are offering it for quite the steal at the moment, only a penny for the intro box! All you have to do is follow this link  http://www.julep.com?r=21045268  and enter the code "penny" at time of purchase and you're on your way! 

Happy Living!

I.C.O.N Transformational Infusion Review

Last year I never gave much thought to the health of my hair. I would torture it daily! Washing, blow drying, straightening or curling it every single day. I never did any kind of deep conditioning treatment to at least try to counter act my damage. On top of all this I do put blonde highlights in my hair as well. My hair and I weren't on especially good terms! A friend of mine was my hair stylist and she regularly scolded me on damaging my hair, and it would take me forever to grow it out if I was always trimming the dead ends! That is when she suggested I try out I.C.O.N Transformational Infusion! 

This product is a hydration treatment that claims to reverse damage, renew health and add body. All things my hair would benefit from! I use this about twice a week in place of my everyday conditioner in the shower. It's a thick cream and it smells amazing! It smells almost a bit like a cologne or aftershave, but it is oh so good! The days I use this in the shower I'm constantly smelling my hair all day! I put it on the bottom half of my hair and leave it to soak in for about 3 to 5 minutes, and then rinse it out. I find if I put it on my roots, it can weigh my hair down a bit as my hair is fine, but thick. It makes my hair so soft and I can definitely see results since I've been using it, which has been for about 5 months. It was a bit pricey, it was around $30 but one container will last me a while, I'm only about half way through so far. I would rate this product a 9/10, just because I need to be conscious to avoid my roots, but everything else about the product I love! I definitely recommend this to anyone who's hair needs a bit of extra care! 

Happy Living!

OPI RapiDry Top Coat Review

About a year ago, I was on the hunt for a product that would make my nail polish last longer than two days without chipping. However, working as a waitress I was always constantly washing my hands and my nail polish never survived more than one shift! So I decided to try out the OPI RapiDry Top Coat. 

It was a bit pricey for my taste at around $16, so I hoped I wouldn't be disappointed. It claims to offer quick drying protection for your nails. All I can say for this product is that I noticed the quick drying, but I didn't feel like it provided all that much protection. It did create a nice shine and glossy look to my nail polish, but that's about it. I won't be repurchasing this product again, basically in my opinion it is simply an overpriced clear nail polish! I still have tons of product left, however I don't use it every time I paint my nails. I would rate this product a 2/10, I'm hesitant to give it a 2, however I did like the way it made my nail polish look right after applying it. If you have a favorite top coat that you love, let me know, as I'm on the hunt for something that works! 

Happy Living!

My Everyday Face Makeup

As most of you may know it can be a gruelling process trying to find the perfect face products for your skin. I not unlike most have gone through many, many different foundations, tinted moisturizers, concealers, you name it! After many bad makeup days, and countless money spent I believe I've finally found my perfect routine! The most important thing to finding products is to make sure they match your color, skin tone and complexion. Whether you are fair, tan, dark, have pink or golden undertones there is definitely a color out there for you, the obstacle is just finding it! The best thing you can do is go to the store and ask for a sample. This is what I found to be the best, that way you're able to test it out and apply it at home. Seeing how it wears throughout the day and how it looks it different lights! I'm going to share with you my everyday face makeup routine, bear in mind this is what works for me but may not work for everyone!


First thing I do before I start applying my face makeup is to moisturize! I cannot stress how important this is, to have a nice smooth surface, makes the world of difference! I use Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme for face, body and hands. I have a normal complexion, so it is a thicker moisturizer and I've never had a problem with oily or dry skin! However I believe this moisturizer would work well for dry skin as well! I just apply this all over my face with clean fingers!

Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme

My next step is to apply a primer to my face. I never used to use a primer but after getting my first sample size a couple of years ago, I always use one! I find it just creates the perfect canvass for any kind of face makeup, and allowing the makeup to stay put all day long! The primer I use is Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer! I love the way it glides over my skin and makes it so soft! I just apply this all over my face with clean fingers as well!

Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer

Then I apply my tinted moisturizer. Personally for my skin type, I don't need that much coverage on a day to day basis. Therefore I find that a tinted moisturizer evens out my skin tone and brightens it up. I use Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Spf 20, oil free in Porcelain. It doesn't have much coverage, for example, in the summer I do get a few freckles and they are still visible. However, you are able to layer for more coverage if necessary. I apply this with a clean foundation brush all over my face, focusing on my nose, chin and forehead and blending it out! I find this lasts all day and looks the same when I put it on as it does at the end of the day!

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Spf 20

After I apply my tinted moisturizer I use a setting powder to finish off the look. I personally find a loose translucent powder works the best for me, as a pressed powder can end up looking cakey in the end. I use Cover Fx Translucent Setting Powder. I apply this using a large fluffy brush and apply it all over my face! A little bit of this goes a long way, my last container lasted me at least a year before I ran out!

Cover Fx Translucent Setting Powder

Happy Living!

May Favorites

Today I'm going to share what I've been loving and using all month long! I reach for these products almost every single day! 

1. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, Eau de Toilette - I bought this perfume at Sephora in October, and I've been using it as my everyday perfume, and I still have tons left! The scent is noticeable, but not overpowering at all! I love this, and I always get compliments on this scent whenever I where it! 

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue - $84

2. Nars Laguna Bronzer - This bronzer has been raved over countless times by other beauty lovers, and I always thought it would be much to dark for my skin tone, as I'm very fair. However, when I asked the sales girl at Sephora for a new bronzer, she suggested this one! It gives such a nice glow to the skin and I was so happy to finally be able to try it out! I've been using it everyday as part of my makeup routine and it doesn't go on too dark, but has the ability to build up a darker color if desired! 

Nars Laguna Bronzer - $39

3. Mac Speak Louder Lipstick - This lipstick has been my holy grail ever since I bought it early this month. It's a hot pink color and I adore it! I have been wearing this everywhere, I love it for everyday and for out at night. I've gotten so many compliments when I wear this lipstick, it is definitely very eye catching! It's the perfect lipstick to add a pop of color to a neutral outfit!

Mac Speak Louder Lipstick - $17.50

4. Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Treatment - This is a leave-in treatment, that I apply right after I get out of the shower and comb through my hair. It is designed be a heat protectant and prevent against breakage and split ends. I definitely noticed the ends of my hair look much nicer and after I got my hair cut my ends are still well maintained! 

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Treatment - $21.99

5. Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen - I just repurchased this eye pen and I love it, it makes applying liquid eyeliner so much easier! It doesn't smudge and it definitely stays on all day, until nighttime when I take my makeup off before I go to bed. I use this to create the perfect winged eyeliner or just a nice simple definition to my eye. The first one I bought lasted about a month, until it started to run out! It is a bit expensive for an eye liner but I definitely think it's worth it! 

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen - $11.99

6. Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer - I bought this gradual tanning lotion to give my skin some color as it finally feels like Summer has arrived. It definitely doesn't give the same color pay off as a spray tan would, but it is much more affordable! After using it for three days you could definitely notice the color, and my skin had a nice glow to it! I used it for 5 days in a row and then just maintain the color by using it twice a week after that. The only drawback is having to wait for it dry before getting dressed in the morning, but I find I only have to wait about 5-10 minutes and I'm good to go!

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer - $12.99

I hope you enjoyed my May favorites! 

Happy Living! 

Julep Maven Intro Box Review

A couple weeks ago I was aimlessly watching videos on YouTube, and I couldn't help but notice Julep Maven's advertisement. What actually caught my eye was the 1 cent coupon! I don't normally buy all that much online, but I couldn't see how I could pass up such an amazing offer. I was hoping it wasn't too good to be true. I'd heard about the company and their program before, but never was intrigued enough to fork over $19.99 a month for their subscription. But a penny I without a doubt could justify! So I signed up and with free shipping and the coupon COLOR2012 all that was charged to my credit card was $0.01. Best penny I've ever spent! I was so excited to get my Julep Maven Box that when It finally arrived I was ecstatic! It came in this nifty small black box, with little black confetti-like paper, super cute! 

Two cards came inside the box, welcoming me to Julep Maven and it had a couple nail polish tips on it as well. The other card had the information about the nail polishes! I also received a pair of pedicure toe-seperators.

I received the It girl box and I loved the colors! They came wrapped in pink tissue paper. There was Jessica, which is a "soft and sweet baby blue creme"; Mandy, which is a "fresh and bright deep coral-pink creme"; as well as Brooke, which is a "sheer shimmery purple".

Jessica - Mandy - Brooke

The colors are so pretty, I'm more of a fan of Jessica and Mandy as they're opaque colors and only need one coat to be true to the bottle! Brooke is more of a color that I would wear on top of another color to spice it up and add some shimmer! I'm also very impressed with the formula, these nail polishes are the most expensive I've ever tried going for $14 a bottle. But I can definitely see a difference. It goes on a lot smoother, and isn't streaky, and one coat has lasted me two days so far, even without a base or top coat; I'm currently wearing the Jessica (obviously)! My June Julep Maven Box is on the way now, and I am beyond excited to get it! I already know what I'm receiving in it, as Julep Maven sends you an email telling you what you get, and gives you the option to change it, gift it, or skip the month! You do lose the element of surprise, but you know you're going to like what you get! It's safe to say I definitely rate this a 10/10, and would recommend it to anyone who loves nail polishes and is willing to spend $19.99 a month, free shipping to receive $40 worth of product! If you'd like to sign up and get started just follow the link! http://www.julep.com?r=21045268 

Happy Living!

Bath and Body Works Wallflower Review

Last night I popped into Bath and Body Works at the mall, in search of something to give my new apartment some spicing up. I love having scents fill up a room! However after only being in our new apartment just under a month, my boyfriend wasn't the biggest fan of having open flames; at least not until we get renter's insurance! Bath and Body Works wallflowers seemed to be the perfect compromise. You get these cute holders that plug into your electrical outlet and the bulbs plug right in the bottom and almost instantly you can smell your new scent! You can easily switch out new bulbs whenever you want to change it up. They even come with a cap, so you can save it for later, without having to waste it. The plugs come in a variety of designs, some simpler ones or some cute girly ones, really something for everyone. The bulbs came in a variety of scents, there weren't as many options as there were for the candles but they did have all the seasonal scents! The plugs were $8.50 while the bulbs were on special, 3 for $10! Whereas the bulbs are normally about $7.50 each! It was quite the steal!


The plug I picked up was the beige flower, which I love! It blends in so nicely with our taupe/beige walls.

The bulbs I picked up were; coconut water, warm vanilla spice, and beach cabana!

Coconut Water

Beach Cabana

Warm Vanilla Spice

Currently my apartment smells of coconut water, and I love it, even my scent conscious boyfriend doesn't mind it! I will definitely be buying more bulbs! However I believe I'm set for at least a couple months with the three bulbs I have now! I definitely recommend the Bath and Body Works wallflowers to anyone who doesn't want the hassle and worry of a candle, with just as much scent payoff! I rate this product a 10/10, with the only drawback being the smaller variety of scents!


- Also Bath and Body Works is having their big semi-annual sale, 50% selected styles, starting June 13th!

Happy Living!