Saturday, February 28, 2015

Target OneSpot Spring 2015

[Note Cards]

So, I went a little crazy with the new Target OneSpot Spring Collection. This is not to say I don't go crazy every time, but this was a personal best on the most stuff from one haul. I was just in the right place at the right time as they had just stocked up this and the Easter goodies. Everything is so pretty, full of pastels, watercolours, and ombres. I am looking forward to an office space revamp and some new spring decor. Hit up those Target stores, these items are sure to go fast!

[Stamps]

[Note Pads]

[Stickers & Clipboard]

[File Folders]

[Pens & Pencils]


[Burlap Decor]


[Straws]

[Candles]

[Cup & Clips]



[Little Storage]

[Cork Board & Wall Organizer]

[Easter]

Have you picked up anything from the new Target Onespot collection?
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Thursday, February 26, 2015

A Beautiful Mess Happy Mail | February 2015

My favourite subscription, Happy Mail, is here. Lots of cute cards and stationery. A Beautiful Mess does such a great job going through each card, I feel like I don't have much to say about it. If you want an in-depth breakdown watch their video.

I love the spring vibes going on and the gold foil, of course. The 'Just Because' card is so pretty- floral + gold = good combo. The latte pun card is also another favourite as are the phrase stickers. I like how there is a good mix of straight-up pretty cards and some humourous ones for more casual occasions, like the 'You Da Best' and 'Oh Hey Girl'. It makes it easy to find the perfect card for whomever you will send it to.

Have you subscribed to ABM Happy Mail yet? Do it!
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Sunday, February 22, 2015

The Weekend | Winter Adventures at Brooklyn Bridge Park

This weekend started off with a Girl's Day on Saturday. I trekked up to Queens for brunch, painting, and a bit of gossiping. There are a couple of pics on my Instagram. The whole day was a consistent downfall of snow. It wasn't as cold as it had been though, so to me, it was quite pretty. When I woke up Sunday morning, it sounded like a down pour, but really, it was all that snow melting. Seems like spring may just be on it's way.

Since it was significantly much warmer than it has been, Preston & I decided to spend the afternoon at Brooklyn Bridge Park. One of our favourite places- you may remember seeing similar pics (but with leaves) in this post.

And of course, we decided to bring Djiggy (a.k.a. the drone) as the battery would not instantly shut off from the cold like it did on a trip to Prospect Park.

I love this stained glass house art piece.  It's so colourful against the city backdrop. I hope it's there for awhile as I have now seen it in fall and winter and would love to continue that in spring and summer.

I kind of got obsessed with all the different kinds of pods on the trees. These are so neat looking, like little polka dots, very Dr. Seuss.

Yup, more pods. And the Brooklyn Bridge, of course.

We got some awesome footage from the drone trip. Though, it seems something always goes a bit awry, and this time it was the camera dying after 1.5 minutes. At least it was an amazing one and a half minutes. I am trying to think of a good way to share some of the footage. The drone vids on their own are gorgeous, but I feel it needs more context to fill it out. Perhaps, some vlogging is in our future...

What were you up to this weekend?
Will winter ever end??
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PopSugar Must Have | February 2015

This month's PopSugar Must Have box was definitely themed up for Valentine's Day. Too bad it got here a bit later than that. Even so, all these products are perfectly fine for any day of the year.

Box Breakdown
U.S. Apothecary Rose Water Bubble Bath
BaubleBar Mini Arrow Pendant Necklace
Chuao Chocolatier Ravishing Rocky Road Bar
Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in True Love
Sally Beauty FingerPaints Nail Color
Figs & Rouge 100% Natural Balm in Pomegranate
Acme Party Box Company Bamboo Heart Cutting Board & Cheese Knife

I didn't mean to stay subscribed this month, but I am happy I did. I heard this box was quite popular, and I can see why. BaubleBar & Tarte are a couple of my favourite brands for jewelry and makeup, respectively, so it's automatically a win. I love how delicate the Mini Arrow necklace is. You can never have too many Tarte blushes, and since I don't have many to begin with, I am happy to add True Love to the collection. It's a lovely natural flush shade-great for transitioning from winter to spring (crossing my fingers on that one). I haven't tried anything for Figs & Rouge before, but I am really loving this lip balm. It's super hydrating and the pomegranate flavour is nice and bright. I haven't tried the bubble bath yet, but until then it currently looks pretty in the bathroom. The bamboo heart cheese board is so cute. I think I will use it as more of plant stand-I just don't have the heart to chop on it. Finally, a Chuao chocolate bar. I loved the caramalized almonds, but I wish there had been more of them. I am also more of a dark chocolate fan.

Did you get this month's PopSugar? What did you think?
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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette | Dry vs. Wet

As you saw yesterday, I got a new eyeshadow palette-Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow palette. I knew immediately what look I wanted to do. There were a couple of shades I wanted before the palette was released, so I was excited to finally get to try them. And then I had to test the waters (literally) by trying the same look wet.

The whole eye look is done using only the Dual Intensity Eyeshadow palette. It's surprisingly versatile. I am usually one for needing matte and shimmer shades when doing a look, but when switching up dry and wet application, you can get different textures with the same shadow. On my lid is Himalia, a shade I heard a lot about when the singles were released. I love burgundy shadows, so I used Subra for my outer-v area. Ursa Major when used dry is a great transition shade. I used a bit of Europa and Andromeda for an inner corner highlight and brow highlight. Finally, I set my liner with Sycorax. For the first look (rose lipstick), all shadows are worn dry-as usual. For the second (berry lipstick), I used both the lid shades, Himalia & Subra, wet, by spraying my brush with some water.

When worn wet, the shadows are a deeper colour-more true to what's in the pan, and have a metallic finish. It's subtle, and I didn't really notice it when I was applying it, but looking back at these pictures you can see the change. At first, I didn't know what to think of this palette, but I really love how the shadows wear and how well they go together. My biggest tips are to use synthetic brushes, and for wet application, have a spray bottle with a fine mist.


What do you think of the dual intensity eyeshadows? 
Can you see the difference between wet & dry?
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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Review | Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

I can't say no to an eyeshadow palette. Especially one this pretty. I have been wanting to try the recently release dual-intensity eyeshadows from Nars but couldn't justify picking up singles at that price. So, I was excited to see that they released a palette of the new formula.

Europa | Pinkish Champagne
Andromeda | Frosty White Highlight
Himalia | Gold with a hint of taupe
Lysithea | Silver with a hint of olive
Ursa Major | Medium Ashy Brown
Giove | Deep Sapphire Blue
Subra | Dark Blackberry
Sycorax | Deep Charcoal

The shadows are titled dual intensity as they can be worn wet or dry for different looks. Above are swatched dry. Tomorrow, I'll post an eye make-up look comparing dry vs. wet. At first, I really couldn't tell a difference but looking at the photos, it's there. Nars shadows are a bit different than my usual Urban Decay or Too Faced picks, and this palette took me some time to get used to. The colours are pigmented but not as buttery as UD or TF. They blend very seamlessly which makes for a gorgeous overall look but makes you feel like you aren't applying enough (if that makes sense...) If you are used to Nars shadows, though, it won't throw you for a loop. Even though these are a different line than their regular shadows they remind me of them. I did find that using a synthetic brush, like the one that comes in the palette, is the way to go-especially when using wet. 

I don't know if I am one-hundred percent sold on this palette. If you know you are Nars shadow fan and especially if you are already a lover of the dual intensity eyeshadows, then this is a great value and must-have. For me, I am still trying to figure out where it fits in my collection. I am excited to keep playing around with it! Check back tomorrow to see the palette in action and then maybe you can see what I mean or at least let me know if I am crazy....

Is this one on your wishlist?
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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Birchbox | February 2015

I have to admit I am not too excited about February's box. I was guessing I wouldn't be as none of the sample selection picks caught my attention. Then, I saw a few people got BeautyBlenders with a sample of the solid cleanser. Though I was crossing my fingers for that, I didn't get so lucky.

Box Breakdown
Davines Minu Shampoo & Hair Serum
Harvey Prince Ageless
Laura Geller Beauty GlamLASH
Paula's Choice Clinical KP Treatment Cloths
theBalm Read my Lips Lip Gloss in BAM!

I think it's just that the brands and products aren't too exciting. I have received Davines samples so many times, and I actually really dislike their products. They had a very strong chemical smell and made my hair feel very dry. It seems others like their products- I just don't get on with them at all. I don't really know what to do about the Paula's Choice Clinical KP Treatment Cloths. They seem like a very specific product for a concern I don't have. I am also not the biggest fan of Paula's Choice as a brand. Laura Gellar Beauty is another brand I am just not into. The colour of theBalm lip gloss looks like a very pretty coral shade, but again lip gloss isn't a product that I use much-I am more of a lipstick or stain kinda girl. The only product I will end up using is the Harvey Prince Ageless perfume this spring or summer but that seems weeks away. 

Looks like most of this box is going to be given to friends. It doesn't bother me too much as that's the deal with sub boxes, sometimes they are on and sometimes they are off. Birchbox also has a great points system so after reviewing I will get $6 back to spend in the shop. My points are rising up there, so a #birchboxbrag will probably be coming around the corner!

What did you think of this month's box?

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Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! I have been so busy this week, so I am definitely looking forward to this long weekend. I wish I had a few more V-day related posts up, but time just caught up with me! I am using the holiday to relax and spend time with my little family. Isn't that what the holiday is about anyway?

A V-day Lush bath is definitely in order. If you are still in search of valentine's nail art ideas here is a link to my favourite little hearts, some conversation hearts, and a bouquet of roses.

What are your plans for this Valentine's weekend?
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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Bed Head with Casper

Good morning! Today, I am talking about bed head. When I wake up I'm never sure what I am going to get with my hair. Usually I have the bangs sticking up at weird angles and definitely some knots with the long hair. My hair is naturally a bit wavy and super thick, so it can be hard to manage in the morning. I thought I would share some tips and products that have worked for me to simmer down that bed head.

This post is in collaboration with Casper for their 'Own Your Bedhead Project'. Casper is a new start-up with easily delivered latex & memory foam mattresses. If you are in NYC, you might have seen their ads in the subway. Definitely check out their website if you are looking for a new mattress-they also have a really interesting design & manufacturing story. They can't promise their mattress won't give you bed head, but it will give you a better night's beauty sleep.

 Before Bed
When tackling on my morning do, I have two rough strategies. One-start before bedtime. I use a couple of products after my nightly shower to keep my hair moisturized and a little less tangled. I love the Beauty Protector Protect & Oil  . It smells amazing and makes my hair more manageable. I am also a big fan of detanglers/leave-ins-like the Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner. After applying those products to damp hair, I will brush through it with the Tangle Teaser.

After Bed
Now usually, I don't have much time in the mornings. I'm lucky if I am able to actually brush my hair. I do always have to straighten my bangs though-they can get pretty crazy. For that I use a mini flat iron by Sedu. It's the perfect size. If I do have time for a style sesh, I do a bit of heat styling. Today, I decided to straighten my hair, more for the shine than being pin straight. I start by spraying a heat protectant all over, making sure to get all the layers of hair. My favourite is Ogx Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray. Then, I go through my hair in layers with my Chi (it's the original one, I have had for years.) Finishing touches include some hairspray, currently I'm using Oribe Super Fine Hairspray, and the Macadamia Healing Oil Spray-it gives the perfect amount of shine. If my hair is looking a bit flat or if I'm working with second-day hair, I'll spray some dry shampoo, like this adorable Perk Up Dry Shampoo by Amika.

And now to put on a winter hat and brave the weather while simultaneously giving me hat hair to ruin all that work...I'm just kidding. It actually hold's up pretty well to the hat. Bringing along some dry shampoo can help too, if you do find your hair feeling flat. I also love using those elastic-style hair ties, so when I do inevitably throw my hair up in a pony, I don't leave behind any creases and reduce some breakage. 

What are your key tips & tricks for combating bed head? 
Is it all about the before bed prep or morning styling?

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