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!