Nail Care Potions

Keeping with a bit of a Halloween theme by calling these oils, balms, and drops potions. They are quite magical at keeping your nails in shape. A lot of these products I have been using for a long time, but I have discovered a couple of new products I wanted to highlight-have a click around!

Bath & Body Works Hemp Hand Protector

NCLA So Rich Cuticle Oil

Julep your cuticles look thirsty

Julep Essential Cuticle Oil

Julep Vanish Cuticle Softener & Remover

Julep Ta Da! Quick Dry Drops

What are some of your favourite nail care products?

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Lushoween

Spooookyyy! On a cold, fall night, with the wind howling, the prospect of a warm, comforting bubble bath sounds all too perfect. Especially, when you add in a couple of new Lush goodies- then it basically becomes a reason to celebrate. Of course, I had to check out the Halloween items as it is October, and I found a couple of treats I am really excited to try.

Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar This little, glittery pumpkin is so cute. I tend to only buy bubble bars if they are ridiculously adorable as they don't pack as much of a 'wow' factor as the bath bombs do. This one might might be a wow with all the sparkles though! I love the cinnamon stick center. It smells amazing-juniperberry, grapefruit, and lime.

Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb I have heard so many great things about this bath bomb, but since I have been unlucky with Halloween items in the past, I haven't had a chance to try it. First things first, it's huge! It smells amazing as well (patchouli and black pepper oil-though I'm not picking up on that as much as the vanilla and gardenia), it can be a bit overpowering, but I'm going to break this bad boy into quarters, so it won't be an issue. I'm excited to see the changing colours-the deep wine shade should make for a spooky looking bath.

Did you get Lushoween items?

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Cuyana Classic Leather Tote in Stone

I treated myself to this here handbag as a birthday present, so I thought I would do a little review. I had been looking for a take anywhere and fit everything leather tote for awhile. In my search, I stumbled across the brand Cuyana. I fell in love with all their super simple yet luxurious designs.

Gray just might be my favourite colour, so I went with the shade Stone. It's a medium gray, just a touch on the warm side. It seriously goes with everything. The classic design allows it to easily translate from workwear to casual-wear, and it's durable enough for both those roles as well. You can fit a million things in it, so you might want some little bags to help you organize it all as it will get lost in the roomy tote. There is a pocket along the back that has a zipped compartment and an envelope-like pouch-perfect for your phone and a pen.

For a high-quality leather tote, I think the price is amazing. I love that you can add on monogramming as well. I have quite a few more items on my wishlist. You can't beat when something is gorgeous, functional, and going to last forever.

Any handbag currently on your wishlist?

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New In | Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit

Ahhh! It's so beautiful. As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to have it. I love the Ambient Lighting Palette and have been wanting to try the blushes, so the Ambient Lighting Edit was a perfect match.

The palette comes with three highlighting shades, two blushes, and one bronzer. Starting from the top left...Dim Light is a peach/beige shade to blur imperfections. This shade is the only one I have from the previous palette. I love using this one for just about everything. Iridescent Strobe Light is a rose pearl powder and new with this palette. I don't know all about that 'strobing' trend, but I have been using it as a traditional cheek bone highlight for extra emphasis. It's a lot more bold than the other ambient lighting powders, but it still has a lit from within, not from make-up, appearance. Diffused Light is a yellow-toned powder for concealing redness and brightening. I have really wanted this one, so I am super happy it is included in this palette.

I have never tried the blushes, so I was excited to test out these marbled beauties. Mood Exposure is a plummy blush with mood light. I had wanted this blush since the blush line was first released. I love plum blush shades. It's perfect for an everyday fall cheek colour. Luminous Flush is a rose blush with luminous light. Another blush shade I gravitate towards and feel like you can use everyday. I have mixed both blushes too and really like the blend. Luminous Bronze Light is a medium tan bronzer with luminous light. I am a bit apprehensive with non-matte bronzers; however, this one is gorgeous. The finishes of Hourglass powders just make everything seem natural even though the differences before and after are dramatic.

Now, how does it compare to the Ambient Lighting Palette? The amount of product per shade is smaller. There is one overlap with Dim Light, a shade I get a lot of use out. If you have the Lighting Palette and the Blush palette (or a lot of singles), you might feel like there are too many dupes for your collection. The colour of the packaging (gold vs. violet/gunmetal)  is different but the same concept. The Ambient Lighting Edit is more expensive for the six shades, and a pretty pricey palette overall. The only positive with the price was I hit VIB status at Sephora...See I'm looking on the bright side! I love everything about these palettes though. I think of them as my grown-up make-up. The packaging is sophisticated and the results of the powders is gorgeous.

Did you fall for this palette? What are your thoughts?

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October Filofax Weeks

Hello again! My blogging everyday has gotten a bit harder after I lost this weekend to being awfully sick. There always has to be a brick to shatter your plans. Though being under the weather gave me time for some filofaxin'. I have to admit I haven't decorated in what seems like forever.  So I re-peaked my interest with some new glittery orange & black tape.

My version of a 'glam' fall spread. (Oops- I left my temporary meeting note on there!)

I really love how this cozy coffee theme turned out. My favourite planner colours are kraft + black + white.

Halloween! I have so many themed tapes I tried to incorporate them all in little flags.

I am really excited for this month! I have a whole lot of fun things coming up. I haven't written much in my planner pages yet, but it's coming. I'm glad I am feeling much better so I can actually enjoy one of my favourite months of the year. 

Do you decorate your planner?

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Nars Sheer Glow Mont Blanc & Audacious Lipstick Anna

I bought a couple of Nars items to up my fall beauty game. Technically, they were birthday presents to myself. I haven't been holding back using them since September (see my September favourites), but I definitely foreshadow even more use this fall.

It took me forever to try the cult classic, Nars Sheer Glow. It's definitely a splurge for me, I'm a cheap foundation kind-of-girl (especially when you add in the cost of the pump). The coverage and texture though are great. Full coverage and contrary to the name, I would says it's pretty matte. I apply it using a BeautyBlender. 

Another product line I have been wanting to try was the Audacious Lipsticks. I decided to start out with a neutral, but a little different shade. Something that I would wear often, but would still feel special. I decided to go with Anna. It seems it's a very popular shade-I kept hearing its name come up across blogs and reviews. It's a rosey-mauve, but I have seen pictures where it can look quite different. The texture is true lipstick, opaque and thick. It's easy to apply and non-drying. The packaging is super classy in matte black with magnetic closure.

What are some Nars products on your wishlist lately?

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the life-changing magic of tidying up

This little book is quite popular. As someone whose room feels cluttered daily, I thought it was definitely one to look into. You may be questioning how hard can it be to clean up, but as addressed in the first few pages, we are never really taught how to tidy up, and the temptation of miraculous storage devices are prolific and never as miraculous as they claim to be.

The overall message is to keep what you love and donate what you don't. As a sentimental person, this can be difficult for me. The most useful tips for me were the rationalizations of why it's okay to get rid of something, even if it's a gift or something you used to love. To thank the item for serving its purpose, and move on. To have a house with only the things you love the most, things that spark joy, and you will never have to tidy again. It may seem like a lot of 'throw things away', but I actually read it as the converse-to consciously decide what you want to keep.

I haven't started the method yet, but I am excited to go through it. There is a certain order of what to go through, a lot of practical tips, and examples from her clients. It's like a capsule wardrobe, home, etc. but without arbitrary rules of how many of this or that to keep. The only criteria-keep what you love.

Have you read this book? What were your thoughts?

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Beauty Favourites | September

Happy October! The weather is so cold and rainy-I think more a reflection of the hurricane than of autumn. Here are a few beauty products I have been loving this past month. A lot of new discoveries!

There have been two mascaras I have been loving this month. A new discovery, Nars Audacious Mascara, and a recent classic, Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara. I love both these big brushed mascaras that give different results despite the similarities of voluminous, lengthening lashes. Nars has the rubberized wand that gives distinct big lashes, while Too Faced gives your lashes that fluffy appearance. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette has been on high rotation lately, especially YDK and Busted for a metallic rusty eye. Two PopSugar Must Have items have been new dailies- Too Faced Brow Envy and Briogeo Rosarco Milk Leave-in Conditioner. I have an upcoming blog post on the Brow Envy, so stay tuned. My leave-in collection is growing-and my hair is much shinier, healthier. Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anna and Nars Sheer Glow Foundation are some new to me Nars products I fell in love with this month (post on this coming soon too!) A random but awesome find, were the Muji Eyelash Curler Refills. Having a fresh rubber pad has brought life back to my eyelash curler and curl to my lashes. A whole lot of new skincare products in my arsenal. I seems to have run out of everything at the same time. I picked up a couple of items from Burt's Bees. The Burt's Bees Peach & Willow Bark Exfoliating Face Wipes have made toning an easy one-step thing. Plus, they smell so nice and have a bit of exfoliation. Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser is a giant model of super sensitive face cleanser. Definitely a great drugstore find. Finally, a couple of skincare samples, Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Cream and Ole Henriksen Empower Featherweight Moisturizer are perfect light, but hydrating, moisturizers. The eye cream smells like cucumbers. I really love the texture of these two. 

Any cool beauty finds?

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Zoya Nail Polish | Focus & Flair

I can't help being addicted to Zoya. Their polishes are too pretty. I'll save the 'my favourite brand spiel' as I've rambled on in every Zoya haul I've done-and there have been a few. Roughly one per season...which brings us to Fall 2015. All but one of these polishes is from their new Focus & Flair collections. The exception is Autumn, which is from last fall's Entice & Ignite collections. Let's get onto the swatches!

Aggie | Bronze to olive metallic duochrome.

Charli | Army green creme. Light in direct sun (as pictured), darker indoors.

Cinnamon | Warm brown-bronze metallic. (Sorry for the tip wear, this is after a week!)

Sia | Royal/cobalt blue creme. Similar to Essie's Butler Please.

Autumn | Fiery burnt orange in Zoya's foil finish.

I am definitely more of a cool-toned polish kind of girl, but something about these warm bronze shades for fall got me. Of course, I still throw in a true blue and a steely green.

What are some polishes that you picked up recently for fall?

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Embrace Change

Hello October! October is always an exciting month. It's a time of change. The summer has officially ended, the weather is starting to match the season, and winter is right around the corner. It's a time of change and transitions. Simply from the weather to deeper aspects of your life.

At least for me, this time of year tends to focus me. I realign with the routine the summer madness tangled up. I like having my pattern back. I'm also a perpetually future-focused person, to the point it's probably my tragic flaw. Fall, for me, just brings that sense of change; it’s time passing in a picture. It grants me lots of time to self-reflect, the days are shorter and schedules less sporadic. And since I just celebrated my 25th birthday, I admit I have been doing a lot of the self-reflecting lately. Who am I kidding, I’ve been doing it since I was six…

Autumn only lasts a few weeks at its fiery peak, so you have to be ready for it- and for what's next. So in that sense, it’s transient. Quite the perfect balance for my mindset actually. You can see the future passing through the changing leaves, yet you have to enjoy the moments as it will be gone in the blink of an eye. To help me with keeping my time-wandering mind grounded, I am planning on embracing a few fall traditions.

Of course, fall is also just fun. From fashion to food, to those traditional fall activities-pumpkin patches, apple picking, Halloween. Bring on the blanket scarves, boots, and berry lips. Don’t forget the #psl. With regards to the blog, I have an ambitious goal set. Everyday. Yup. I’m diving right in. I took a lot of time to plan it out (you should see my crazy calendar), so I think I can handle it. Even on top of my new job that’s just starting to pick up speed. It will be good to get in the routine again. Summer comes with ebbs and flows of inspiration and productivity-the essential combo I need to have the motivation to post, but fall is a little more consistent with the crisp air being a perpetual pick-me-up.

I am so excited for the future and the now. I hope to share many of these moments #ontheblog.

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Fall Candles

It's the most wonderful time of the yearrr. Well, the best time for cozy, warm candle scents. Usually, I stick to Bath & Body Works; however, this year I loaded up with these soy candles from Target. I love that they are soy and their huge size. I wanted so many of their fall scents, but after many sniffs, settled on these three.

Cabin Retreat

Heritage Pumpkin

Be Thankful

Cabin Retreat is cozy and comforting, while still being clean and crisp. I've been lighting it as it's the perfect transitional scent, when you aren't quite ready yet for something too warm, like Heritage Pumpkin. Heritage Pumpkin is the quintessential pumpkin pie baking scent. Sweet, but not sickly and true pumpkin. I love pumpkin, but am not overly fond of baked good scents, and for me, this strickes the right balance. Be Thankful is a cozy scent, cloves & cinnamon, that still maintains a lightness to it. Love the pretty fall wax colour and the copper lids. Very sophisticated.

What's your favourite fall candle scent?

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Birchbox | September 2015

A week of subscription posts! It's fun to have a bunch of new surprise packages awaiting. Birchbox is continuing with the fancy boxes it seems.

Box Breakdown

100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

Helmut Lang Cuiron Perfume

Rene Furterer Asbolue Keratine Sublime Renewal Leave-in Cream 

Tocca Esfoliante da Corpo-Bianca

ModelCo Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick Smitten

I feel like every month I have been getting a perfume sample despite having checked the reduced perfume options. I'll have to look back on my previous posts to calculate it! The Helmut Lang Cuiron perfume is perfect for the cooler months. It reminds me a lot of a fall day with crisp leather notes. One sample I have received before (another not-supposed-to-happen event) is the 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream. I really liked it, so it's not too disappointing to get another sample. Plus, it's in a legit container, rather than a foil packet, so it will last awhile. I mentioned always being up for a leave-in hair treatment, and it seems the universe decided to grant me that with this Rene Furterer Renewal Leave-in Cream. I love a good body scrub and this Tocca Esfoliante da Corpo in Bianca is a gorgeous scent and texture. Definitely happy I received this in my box. Finally, another product I am excited about is the ModelCo Lipstick in Smitten. The shade is so gorgeous, a perfect fall burgundy. I've been really happy with the mix of beauty products in my Birchboxes. I think they got their algorithm right-despite the repeat product & too many perfumes. 

What did you get in this month's Birchbox?

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PopSugar Must Have | September 2015

Every once in awhile a PopSugar Must Have box catches my attention. Usually it's a scarf, but of course, a beauty product does the trick as well.

Box Breakdown

Hudson + Bleeker Labyrinth Onyx Travel Trio

Too Faced Brow Envy

Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray

Kris Nations "XO" Stud Earrings

NCLA So Rich Vitamin-E Enriched Cuticle Oil

Nourish Snacks Almond to Cherries

Love Too Faced and love a strong brow, so I really wanted to test out Too Faced Brow Envy. Review coming soon! Lots of beauty products in this month's box. Leave-in conditioners are another beauty item that I can't try enough of. This one by Briogeo has a nice texture and scent. My nail care routine needs to get back into full-swing with the cooler weather. The NCLA So Rich Cuticle Oil is in the cutest bottle and is rich as the name suggests and smells super sweet. I love how tiny and simple the Kris Nations studs are. Unfortunately, I don't have any big vacation plans on the horizon, but when I do, the Hudson + Bleeker Travel Trio will come in handy. Clear pouch for the toiletries, and pretty printed bags for shoes & delicates. Finally, a little snack of almond and cherries from Nourish Snacks. 

Are you subscribed to PopSugar?

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ABM Happy Mail | September 2015

 I am in love with this month's theme. Coffee & Fall. All the cards have a fall colour scheme or orange, golden yellow, burgundy, and kraft paper. It's making me wish for cooler weather and a foamy latte.

My favourite cards were the iced coffee & hot tea card, the latte picture, falling leaves, and the fall coloured 'Congrats'. I love the patterns of the washi stickers, especially the little mugs and burgundy 'life is beautiful'. The emoji flags are super cute and will be perfect for planning. I am thinking up ways to use the cut-out coffee wrappers. I think maybe a monthly goal list for October & November.

What did you think of this month's Happy Mail?

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The Weekend | Battery Park, NYC

The air is getting a bit chillier with the coming of Autumn. We decided to head into Manhattan and walk around Battery Park/Wall Street/Tribeca. We rarely are in this area. It's more of a tourist destination or work place.

If you are around, stop by the Museum of the American Indian. It's part of the Smithsonian, so it's free!

We took the drone with us to get awesome views of the city. We succeeded. I kept trying to take pictures of the bees with my new lens.

I love being in the city by the water. I love the views, no matter if it's the NYC skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park or the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Even Jersey City... (I'm joking I love Jersey.)

We followed a walk up the west side to the formerly known World Financial Center, now Brookfield Place. It's basically just a fancy mall. Preston and I love it for the palm trees, a reminder of home. It was also a memory for when I first visited New York. It was our senior year field trip. I remember getting off the tour bus and everyone lining up for Starbucks. It's kind of amazing to think that one 3-day trip was the only time I had been to New York before moving 3 years later. And now I have been here 4 years! Time flies.

My favourite discovery of the day was this floral ceiling. It was in the process of being created when we stumbled upon it. I could look up at it all day-it was like it was raining flowers!

How was your weekend?

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