Sweet Almond Mint Wen by Chaz Dean: Review

Aloha everyone! 

My mom mentioned this product to me years ago when it first hit the infomercial world and I was a complete skeptic as most tv products are garbage. She, however, was convinced that it would help my dry, crispy, gross looking bleach blonde hair because all the hottest celebrities swore by it. It wasn't until about 6 months ago that I finally gave in and bought the 60 day set, as it was on sale for $30.00 at a ShowCase store in a local mall. Okay, I kid you not... It took ONE use to make me fall head over heels for this stuff. My hair has never felt so nourished, so silky, so soft and so "repaired." Despite the products outrageous price tag, I will NEVER go back to "normal" shampoo.

This is the Cleansing Conditioner, which I use as my every day "shampoo." To use this, I soak my hair at the beginning of my shower, pump 8-10 pumps into my hand and massage it into my hair and scalp, but I really concentrate on the ends as they are the driest part of my hair. I leave it in until I'm ready to get out of the shower, then I comb through my hair with a wet comb (specially designed for wet hair, although Wen provides a comb with the 60 day package supply), theeeeeeeen I rinse my hair out. This is not a "shampoo" per say, so it does not sud or lather as it does not contain any sulphates. Wooooo!

I do not follow up with an additional conditioner after using the Cleansing Conditioner, but I do use the Re- Moist Intensive Hair Treatment at least once a week and it is seriously the best hair mask I have ever used. It is thicker than most hair masks, which is one of the things that caught my attention because it stays on my hair even when water falls on it, where as most masks I have used drip right off. I tend to concentrate the mask more so on the ends of my hair as I am currently growing it out, so my ends are very brittle and need some TLC these days. It says to leave the mask in for like 45 minutes, but I have a 7 month old son.. I don't have time to leave it in for 45 minutes; however, the 5-10 minutes I do leave it in is suffice and my hair feels moisturized, soft and refreshed. I've tried plenty of hair masks before and have never found one as amazing as this.

When it comes to the Styling Creme, it's not my absolute favourite but I do use it before I blow dry my hair sometimes to give me more volume. I had high hopes for it to help me create a natural be achy look, but it didn't really work... Now, I'm not saying it's the styling creme, as my hair just sucks, but I wish it worked better.

As for the Texture Balm, ohhhhh my gooooddddd, I love this product so much. I like using it when I straighten my hair, when I curl my hair, when I wave my hair, and when I do nothing to do hair. This is one of my all time favourite hair balms, because it actually does what it is suppose to do. I'm not a girl who likes having prim and proper hair - I like it looking messy and natural, so using this and a sea salt spray works wonders on my hair styles. It doesn't make my hair crispy, it doesn't weigh it down and it doesn't leave a weird waxy residue. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Mommy Moments!

Aloha everyone! :D

My little boy just turned 6 months old and I can't even begin to explain how much of a mind f*%# that is . . . It feels like just yesterday that he was this completely helpless, unaware little boy who couldn't do anything for himself and now he's so independent! I am so excited for what the future has to offer us, but it's a little sad watching my little boy - my whole world - growing up so quickly.

In the matter of 3 days he learned to sit up by myself, say "dada" and "daddy," and he cut his first tooth. It was just a couple weeks ago that I was complaining to my boyfriend that our son would never be able to do anything by himself and now my head is spinning. Now, I'm not going to lie: I hated the new born stage . . . Probably because my son had super bad G.E.R.D. so he was hospitalized, he didn't eat well, and he got up ever hour at night, but now I would do anything to have one more day with him as a new born. I go through his clothing from the month he was born and I can't believe how much he has grown.

If someone told me two years ago that I would be living this life, I would have laughed in their face. If someone ever told me that I would give up drinking, give up smoking, transfer universities, be in a relationship with Andrew, live back at home, and be a mother at the age of 19 . . . I wouldn't have believe them. At all. However, I would not change my life for the world. It may be difficult to live with my parents, to be a young mother, and to give up my social activities, but this feels right. This life is what I have been longing for for so long without even knowing it. I always wanted a sense of belonging, I always wanted to be a mother and I always wanted to be with Andrew . . . Now I have all three of those things and I finally feel complete.

I wish we were financially stable enough to move out of my parents house and get our own place, but that's nit realistic at this time. Of course I appreciate everything my parents have done for myself, Kaysen and Andrew, but it is hard on everyone to live in such a small house, have conflicting schedules, conflicting ideas on how a house should be run, etc. Perhaps this is the best thing for my family for the time being, because it gives us a chance to establish ourselves financially and give Kaysen a sense of stability, but I am definitely excited for the future - I am excited to have my own house with just my boys.

I love my little family more than words can explain.

Marc Jacobs: Eau So Fresh

Aloha everyone,

If you loved the original Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume, I highly recommend going to your nearest The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart or wherever you can smell this scent and go there quickly. I liked the smell of the original Daisy, but I never purchased it for myself because I felt like it would get used for a week or so, then put in a dusty drawer. I tend to really love a perfume for about a week or so then get super bored of it. With this scent, however, I have been wearing it every single day since I purchased it. It is the most gorgeous, fresh, girly yet sophisticated scent I have smelled in a long time. Usually floral scents really turn me off, but this has a certain quality about it that completely suckered me in.

This isn't my typical scent "type" if you will, but I am so in love with it. I'm more of a Soap&Glory girl, or Twilight Woods from Bath&Body Works, but now I swear by Eau So Fresh. This perfume is limited edition, as it is the summer scent of Daisy, so I paid a pretty penny for it but it was definitely worth it. I'm pretty upset that I won't be able to get my hands on another bottle once mine runs out, so here's to hoping they bring it back next season.

Can we just talk about the packaging for a moment? Marc Jacobs always has the prettiest perfume lids out of any company I know of, and that's one of the main reasons why I get sucked in. Eau So Fresh has to be one of the most brilliant and beautiful bottles I have ever seen:

So pretty. I can't even handle it. The colours of the flowers and the scent just make you think "summer." Everything about this perfume screams hot sunny days, blue skies, tanned skin, short shorts and flip flops. 

Marc Jacobs, you are amazing. 

20 Things About Me

Aloha everyone :)

1. My ambition in life isn't to make a ton of money, or to have the nicest clothing on the market, or have my name be known . . . It's simply to be happy. No matter what I'm doing, where I'm going, I just want to be happy and satisfied with the choices I make for myself and my family.

2. It's almost sick how much I love triscuit crackers.

3. I got pregnant with my son at the age of 18 whilst in university. I was in the top 3% of my whole degree program, I had an amazing opportunity to do my practicum with the John Howard Society at the local prison, I had my own apartment, a job I enjoyed and I was the happiest I had ever been. For the first time in my life I felt like I belonged. I felt at home at the university. Despite all that, I wouldn't change being a mother for the world. I look into my son's beautiful blue eyes and know that everything will work out.

4. I have been in love with my boyfriend since I was 13 years old.

5. I would do anything to live in a place where it was summer all year long.

6. I suffer from an anxiety disorder and I wouldn't wish a panic attack on my worst enemy. When I feel an attack coming on, I tend to find a way to get outdoors and practise breathing. If there's no way for me to get outside, my attacks tend to be worse, because I start feeling like the walls are closing in on me. It really is the worst feeling in the world.

7. I am one of the most reliable people to come to if you have a problem, because I tend to get way too attached to people's issues and go out of my way to make it right. Some say it's one of my down falls that I drop whatever I'm doing to help people in need, but I think that's why I'm going to make a difference in the field that I want to be working in.

8. My weight fluctuates from one extreme to another too often.

9. When I'm nervous, anxious, upset or thinking I chew on the left side of my bottom lip. 

10. My favourites are purple, pink, and yellow.

11. I'm super picky when it comes to the perfumes I wear, because I hate floral scents, which is super odd considering I love receiving flowers. The only "floral" scent that I do really enjoy is the limited edition Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs (the summer edition to Daisy).

12. I wish I could pull off Peter Pan collared shirts.

13. I know every single word, of every single episode, in every single season of The OC. That will always be my favourite show in the whole entire world. However, I still hate that Ryan and Taylor dated. Ugh. I don't care what anyone says, him and Marissa were soul mates -_-"

14. Birthdays are my favourite days of the year. My birthday always lands during Stampede week, but my son will still be too young to enjoy Stampede and rodeo, so I plan on taking him to the Zoo for my date of birth. Woooo!

15. I should never purchase Halls Breezers, because I eat them like candy when I'm not even sick. Don't judge me, I know you do it too.

16. Wonderwall by Oasis will be incorporated into my wedding somehow.

17. Everything important that my boyfriend has even given to me hangs on a "memo board" in our bedroom. We've known each other since we were 12 and 13, so there's a few things. Also, everything else that has been important to me throughout my life is in a heart shaped box in my bedroom.

18. I miss Dawson's Creek more than I can express to you.

19. Hot chocolate gives me a terrible tummy ache every single time I drink it, but I still insist on drinking it pretty regularly.

20. I want my son to be happy, healthy and honest with me. I want to have a relationship with him like Rory and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls or like Lucas and Karen from One Tree Hill.

Impulse Buys and Justifications

Aloha everyone! 

Let's be serious, we all do it . . .
I can say with 100% certainty that I am not the only person who walks into a MAC store or a Sephora with good intentions and then completely drops the ball, making excuses for why your hands are grabbing makeup products you probably don't really need.

Yesterday my girlfriend Abby came down to Calgary to see the Anberlin concert with me (which was absolutely amazing in every way, but that's a story for a different day) and she mentioned that she needed to make a pit stop at Chinook Mall . . . That could only mean two things: she needed to hit up MAC and Sephora. UGH. Damn you, Abigail, damn you. Right when she said that, my mind was already stirring up excuses to buy makeup and I'm currently broke as fudge! I knew if I came home with makeup, my boyfriend would tell me I was an idiot, because I already have too much and because he knows I'm broke, BUT little did he know, these items are complete necessities in my every day life. Right, ladies?

Alright, I don't think anyone could argue with me that I didn't need these shadows. First of all, Satin Taupe should be a staple colour in every girl's makeup collection and as for Era, well . . . It looks nice with Satin Taupe. If you're not familiar with these shades, stop what you're doing right now and get your bum over to a MAC store. They are so pretty I can't even handle it. Satin Taupe is a frosty taupe colour (a mix between a grey and brown, with a hint of purple through it) that works with basically any makeup look you are trying to accomplish. It is MAC's best selling eye shadow if I am not mistaken, and I cannot believe I have lived with it for this long. Shameful, really. As for Era, it is a mix between a beige, a champagne and a nude brown. When you apply it on your eye lid, it comes out as a very subtle, but gorgeous colour.

Hello you beautiful, beautiful YSL lipstick. I have never loved a lip product so much in my entire life. Although YSL products are super expensive, I believe every girl deserves a lipstick from them because they are SO gorgeous. They apply beautifully, they smell delicious and they taste yummy! Not to mention, the packaging is absolutely stunning. This is my very first YSL lip product and I don't regret how much I spent on it at all. It is the most gorgeous barbie pink colour with shimmer in it, and it applies quite sheer but you can still see the colour very well. Usually I hate reapplying lipsticks throughout the day, because I feel like it doesn't look as good the second time around, but I'm sure I will be reapplying this product all the time, even when I don't need to. I didn't really need an excuse to buy it, but I used one anyways: this is going to be my purse lip product, because it moisturizes as well as colours my lips. Therefore, I'm being super efficient by only having one lip product in my purse. BOOM.

Lastly, I bought Clinique's bottom lash mascara. I am way too excited to try this out today, because I have actually been having such a hard time finding a mascara that doesn't smudge on my face lately. I don't know why I'm having such an issue now as apposed to earlier, but I have heard wonders about this stuff. The packaging is so cute and the brush is even cuter haha. My boyfriend couldn't even argue with me about this product, because he knows first hand that mascara and I aren't friends when it comes to my bottom lashes. 

Customized "Wire Name" Bracelet

Aloha everyone

If any of you follow Zoella on youtube and on her person blog, you will know that she suffers from a severe anxiety disorder which had led her to say no to a lot of things in her life time. In order to combat her disorder, she has decided to say "yes," to more and more things in her everyday life. She mentioned in one of her blogs that she ordered a rose gold wire bracelet with the word "yes" on it to remind her of her goals every day. When I read her posting about this bracelet, I immediately wanted one as well. I, too, suffer from severe anxiety and knew automatically what word I wanted on mine.

My anxiety stems from not being able to voice my emotions. I have a huge problem telling people if something is bothering me, if I want something done differently, or if I need help. I don't like asking for help even when I know I need it. I tend to listen to my heart instead of my head and that always screws me around in the end. I can also admit to being a huge hypocrite in the sense that I can give out good advice, but can never take my own advice. All my life I never wanted to listen to what other people had to tell me, because I always wanted to be right even when I knew for a fact that I was wrong.

Now that I have a son of my own and a boyfriend that I plan on starting a life with, I have decided to change that side of myself. First of all, I need to start listening to the people around me. I need to step being so stubborn and take constructive criticism as something positive, instead of viewing it in a negative way. I tend to be very self conscious, which leads to me being paranoid, which then leads to me having horrible panic attacks. If I would just listen to what other people had to say and let them actually explain themselves instead of just getting mad at them, my anxiety levels would take a huge nose dive. Next, I need to start listening to myself. I know that I am not a stupid person - I have good morals, I know right from wrong and I know what I like and what I do not like - but I seem to make poor choices based on my heart and not my intelligence. I'm going to start listening to myself, listening to the red flags that I see, and listening to the little voice inside my head.

I'm usually not a jewellery type of girl - I only wear my family ring and a necklace - but this bracelet means the world to me. I'm excited to be able to wake up every single day and see it hanging on my wrist. I truly believe this is the first step in my battle against anxiety and panic attacks. I'm determined to be able to combat it by myself instead of taking medications that just make me feel numb.

The website that I ordered this bracelet from is:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/wiremajigs?ref=shop_sugg
I paid a total of $21.85 which I thought was very reasonable considering it had to be shipped to Alberta, Canada from America. The only thing I am worried about is my son bending it out of shape when he's playing with me, because although it's pretty it isn't all that durable. However, if that were to happen I would just repurchase. :)

MAC Mineralize Rich "Lady At Play" Lipstick Review

Aloha everyone!

So I found myself in a MAC store the other day and of course I got sucked into looking at all their lipsticks. As many of you will know, I usually steer towards nudes and pale pinks, but I have wanted to expand my horizons and go for something a little brighter, a little more noticeable and a little prettier. When the sales associate approached me I mentioned that to her, and she automatically brought me to Lady At Play. Now, I have never ever ever owned a tangerine coloured lipstick . . . Mostly because they terrify me. I'm VERY fair skinned, so this colour really make my lips pop. However, I was determined to get over my fear and make it work. I don't want to be wearing nudes during the summer months - I want to be able to feel comfortable wearing pretty, girly pinks, tangerines, reds, etc. 

I won't say that these are the most moisturizing lipsticks, nor will I say that they  stay on for as long as other MAC lipsticks that I own, BUT I love them nonetheless. I find that if I pair them with the MAC Prep+Prime they work just wonderfully. If you are not familiar with the Prep+Prime, it is essentially a lip primer that also acts as a lip liner.

As you can see from the swatch on my hand, Lady At Play leaves a very matte finish to your lips, so I will also apply a clear gloss or a balm on top to make my lips a little more . . . Attractive? I don't know. Perhaps it is just in my comfort zone to do that. Perhaps I'm just not risky enough to wear a bright matte colour on my lips. Nevertheless, the colour is pretty with and without a gloss. Even my boyfriend said that the colour is pretty, and he is brutally honest about the way makeup looks. He knows I'm afraid of bright colours, and he told me the matte colour looks nice on pale skin. Maybe he's just trying to win browny points . . . Hahah.

I realize that this colour doesn't look outrageously bright in this picture, but I assure you it is noticeable in person. Also, you can tell that my lips are a little dry and that is probably the only complaint I have about this line of lipsticks. I find that if I don't apply the Prep+Prime before I wear this lipstick, my lips tend to bleed the colour sooner, get super dry sooner, and the colour does not show up as well.

When you apply this lipstick, it definitely is not sticky, nor is it an uncomfortable "tight" feeling that some lipsticks can leave on your lips. It also doesn't leave a weird residue, and it is super easy to take off. I find that with other lipsticks, such as ones from Wet'n'Wild, my lips are left with this awkward feeling. I can't really explain it, but it just isn't something I enjoy feeling on my lips lol. On a side note, I've been really loving my Elf Cucumber Melon Lotion wipes and I have even been using them to take off lipsticks if I'm not at home - yes, weird, but they really do take lip colours off well. 

Now, a lot of beauty bloggers have complained about the packaging of the Mineralize Rich lipsticks but I was actually so excited about it. I LOVE the magnetic cap, I love the shape of the tube, and I even think the matte top with shiny bottom is pretty. Actually, to be completely honest, I never noticed the colour difference until reading other people complaining about it. I would absolutely throw this lipstick into my bag and go, because I trust the magnetic lid; however, I always put lipsticks in a little baggy before putting them in my purse, because I have had awful experiences with lids coming off and staining the material inside.

I don't know if I would go back to MAC to purchase a different shade from this line of lipsticks, but I would consider it because they came out with some super gorgeous colours. They do not compare to the Lustre lipsticks in any way, in my opinion. The Lustre sticks are my all time favourite lipsticks, so I don't believe anything will stray me away from those.

Have any of you used these lipsticks? If you have, please tell me what your thoughts are on them!

"There are six billion people in the world - six billion souls - and sometimes all you need is one."

Aloha everyone!

So we all know that I am obsessed with makeup and beauty products, that I am a mother of a beautiful baby boy and that I have made a lot of stupid decisions in my life time. We know that I am an absolute geek when it comes to schooling and education and we know that I would do anything to help someone succeed. We know that I am clumsy, I have tons of insecurities and I get attached to people way too quickly. But, did you all know that my entire life can fit on to this "memo board"?

My boyfriend has been going through some tough times lately, so I decided to surprise him with this collage of our history in the hopes of cheering him up. It includes things I have collected ever since we were in grade seven, things to do with our son (although he is not the biological father, he IS my son's daddy), song lyrics that reminds me of him, notes and little things he has given to me, and pictures that only he would understand the underlying meaning of. I have loved him since we were 12 or 13 years old and although our history has been up and down, up and down, up and down . . . Then up some more and down some more . . . I am thankful every single day of my life that we have gotten through everything together. We have not been together since we were that young, but we were best friends. Although I always wanted to be with him, he wasn't exactly the nicest person, but now he is everything I wanted him to be back then.

Our son is honestly so lucky to have a man like him in his life. He never complains when little man is screaming and grumpy. He never lets frustration get to him when in and out of bed 4 billion times a night when he has to get up early to work the next morning. He takes the time to learn little details about our son - like his certain cries - so he can feel comfortable taking care of him when I'm not there. He doesn't complain when little man pukes all over his clean clothes; nor does he freak out when our son slobbers all over his face. He takes the time to open car doors for me, to write me notes every chance he gets, to make me feel beautiful every single day, and he always makes sure I know he loves me. I'm excited to see him start a career and succeed in every way possible. My son deserves to have an outstanding male in his life and I am so glad it is my boyfriend.

I love you. Always have. 

Boyfriend Does My Makeup Tag

Aloha everyone!

So my boyfriend and I were watching the Boyfriend Does My Makeup Tag done by Jenna Marbles and MaxNoSleeves and decided it would be a fan-freakin-tastic idea to recreate it ourselves haha. I couldn't get a good picture of my finished face, because the makeup he used was a little too light so it looked like I had no makeup on, on camera, but I'll show you guys what products he used.

For foundation he used Smashbox Studio Skin in the shade 1.1
For a setting powder he used Revlon Aqua in the shade translucent
For eye liner he used Maybelline Unstoppable Eye Pencil in the colour black
For eye shadow he used the shade Lavender from the Smashbox Studio Pop Eye palette
For mascara he used Maybelline's The Rocket in the colour black
For blush he used Benefit's Bella Bamba
and finally for lipstick he used Mac Lovelorn

The eye shadow he used is in the second row, third one over. We tried to take a picture of his "good" makeup skills, but the lavender colour he chose is not very pigmented . . . Which was probably a good thing for him since he couldn't exactly screw that up haha.

He had a really hard time spreading the foundation on my face, as he didn't use a primer, so my left cheek and forehead felt like they were packed with mud. My eye lashes were clumped together and the eye liner wasn't on my lash line . . . BUT he said I was still pretty haha.

Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream: Review

Aloha everyone!

I have tried out tons of night creams before and have never been completely impressed. I always had the expectation that the cream would literally make my skin feel repaired and moisturized by the morning,  but it never happened. My biggest issue with night creams is that they are a) generally expensive and b) don't do anything more than my daily moisturizer could. However, my opinion has forever changed once purchasing the Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream: Special For Dry Skin.

I wasn't even looking for a night cream when I went on a little shopping haul the other day, but I couldn't resist putting this product in my cart when I seen the price tag. Where I live you'd be lucky to get a Clarins cream for less than $80.00 and I snagged this one for $35.00 at Winners. I didn't even open the package to see what it looked like, what the consistency was, or what it smelled like . . . I just kind of threw it in my cart and ran. Now, I'm almost 100% sure that this cream is supposed to be for women over 45 years of age, but I'm not ashamed to preach this product at 19 years old. It is a miracle treatment in a glass jar.

The packing is super appealing to me, because it is a heavy frosted glass jar. I don't know why I enjoy products more when they're in glass, but I do. Perhaps it's because it makes me feel fancy for some reason, but it just does. That's just the way she goes. Although the packaging is amazing, I'm not blinded by it . . . I really do swear to you that the product is simply amazing.

This night cream is thicker than I'm used to, but I was very impressed with the consistency because I'm so sick of night creams that are thin, runny and garbage. It is a super soft, buttery texture which almost reminds me of the fresh frosting on a birthday cake. I literally only use a tiny bit of this product, because it smoothes all over your face so easily and yet it does wonders on my skin with just a tiny bit.

I don't exactly know how to describe the scent other than saying it's subtle and rather delightful. I'm really glad it doesn't have a scent to it, because I feel like I get turned off of really good products sometimes because I can't stand the way they smell, especially in a face product. Maybe it's just because I have super sensitive skin and my face breaks out if I'm not careful of the products I'm using or maybe it is because the smells just suck. Who knows.

When I wash my face at night I find that my skin is very dry and sometimes even flakey, so when I look for night treatments I look for something that is going to quench my skins thirst and keep it moisturized all night long. The last night cream I was using was the Aveeno night cream and I found that it didn't do anything for my skin. It was too runny, it didn't really sink into my skin, and it didn't last until the morning time. This product, however, surpassed my expectations by a million miles. I literally look forward to bed time so I can use this night cream. Not only does it moisturize my skin and keep it moisturized all night long, it soothes my dry and damaged skin. I have found that since I've been using this, my redness and dark spots along my t-zone have settled down quite a bit and my skin actually feels firmer. Perhaps that's just a psychological thing to think, but I honestly believe this product is the cause of it haha!

I've been switching up my skin care routine a lot, as I've mentioned to you guys time and time again, but I can guarantee that this night cream will forever be my holy grail night cream. Now that I have fallen in love with it, I'll be afraid to shy away from it and I will be afraid to go without it. I'm usually afraid to venture off to different brands with my skin care routine, but this cream seems to compliments my other products perfectly. To be honest, my skin hasn't looked this good in a very long time. Now, I have no idea if I'll be able to find it at Winners when I run out of this jar, but I will totally pay full price for it at Shoppers just because it is so good.

If you guys are interested in hearing about my updated skin care routine, let me know and I would be more than happy to share it with you! Also, let me know what your holy grail night creams are!

Urban Decay: Limited Edition Oz Theodora Palette.

Aloha everyone!

If you haven't gotten your hands on Urban Decay's limited edition Oz palette, minimize this screen . . .  AND RUN BEFORE YOU CAN'T GET IT! There are two Oz palettes available: The Glinda Palette and The Theodora Palette. The one I purchased is the Theodora, because the colours will make my blue eyes pop more than the Glinda colours. Both palettes are supposed to capture the essence of each character in the movie, which will make experimenting with these colours so much more fun.

When I was at Shoppers Drug Mart yesterday I was actually looking at creating my own palette when one of the sales associates turned my attention to this palette. Honestly, I didn't fall in love with it right off the bat, but for some reason I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. Every time I look at this palette, my heart melts a little bit haha. The top 3 colours: Broken, Beware and Bewitch are the most matte shadows in the palette, although Beware is the ONLY matte shadow. The other two do have some shimmer in them, but it is not completely noticeable. The bottom three colours: West, Spell and Jealous are all very shimmery and pretty.

The palette also comes with a 24 hour Glide On Eye Pencil in black and the Theodora coloured lip pencil, which is super creamy. Actually, both of these products are very creamy - it's like applying butter to your lips and eyes haha - but they also last for hours and hours. Usually I'm afraid of a red lip, but I couldn't resist with this colour  . . . And it's GORGEOUS.

So, for $58.00 you get the limited edition palette, a lip pencil and an eye pencil. That's not it though, because instead of throwing out the whole palette when you're done with the shadows, you are able to take the pots out and repurchase more individual shadows to create your own palette! Woo! If you're like me, this palette won't overwhelm you when you first look at it, but I promise it's worth it! GO OUT AND GET IT. 

3 Body, Face & Hair Essentials!

Aloha everyone!

1. Jergens Natural Glow

"3 Days to Glow Moisturizer"

This product has been repurchased over and over and over again and used religiously. I have a ridiculous time trying to get a nice bronzed tan in the summer time, because all my skin does is burn super bad, blister, and peel... So I'm always that one person in the summer time who could direct planes at midnight with how white my skin stays.

BUT NOT THIS SUMMER, SUCKAS!

I was actually pretty hesitant to use this moisturizer at first, because I've used other self tanning lotions before and I was left with an awful orange hue to my skin, but I decided to try this anyways and fell in love instantly... Well not instantly, but after about 2 days. I didn't tell anyone in my house that I was using a tanning lotion, but they literally all noticed my skin going a little skin kissed after about 2 days.

It doesn't have that typical self tanning smell to it, either. The odour is honestly pretty nice, but definitely not noticeable unless someone was literally sniffing you.

If you have a hard time tanning like I do, or even if you just want a head start before everyone else starts tanning, I would definitely give this product a try. 

It's so much better than ANY other tanning product I've used before, so much easier, and so much cleaner.

2. Garnier 24 Hour Deep Moisturizer

for Dry and Sensitive Skin

I've been playing around with my skin care routine - mainly my moisturizers - quite a lot lately, which is really out of character for me considering I have to be careful with face products. I had been using the Aveeno Positively Radiant moisturizer for ages, but wanted something different. I felt like the Aveeno moisturizer didn't keep my skin satisfied all day, so I was on the hunt until I found this Garnier one. I'm not going to lie, the only reason why I bought it was because it's for dry & sensitive skin and because it was on clearance at my local Walmart... But I'm super duper glad I bought it, because I haven't been impressed with a face moisturizer in a loooong time. Usually I'm not fond of putting fragranced lotions on my face, but I don't mind this one at all. It smells really fresh, but not over powering. The packaging is correct when it says "deep moisturizer," because my face feels satisfied, it looks healthy and moisturized and even my make up lasts longer!

I'm hoping I can still find this moisturizer at my local walmart, even though it was on clearance, because I really don't want to go back to the Aveeno. If you know of any other really good moisturizers for dry/sensitive skin please let me know!

3. Wen Re-Moist Intensive Hair Treatment Mask

If you are looking for a hair mask that will actually do something for your hair, please take the time to order the Wen mask. Before using Wen products, I had NEVER been really impressed with any hair treatment masks, because I felt like my hair stayed soft for a day then went back to being dry and gross. I stopped purchasing the Wen hair cleanser and such, just because the cost got to be too much, but that line of hair products seriously lives up to everything the advertisements say it is. Now, with this hair mask it says to leave it in for nearly 30 minutes, but I don't have time to be waiting 30 minutes for a hair mask, so all I do is wash my hair at the beginning of my shower, put the mask on and tie my hair up. At the very end of my shower I comb out my hair and then rinse it and that's all it needs! I maybe leave the mask in my hair for 15 minutes and my hair is soft and hydrated for days upon days. I notice a huge difference in the way my hair styles and falls after using Wen, but because of how expensive the products are I only use the mask when my hair is grossly dehydrated and in need of some serious lovin'.

The only thing I HATE about this mask is the scent... I cannot stand the smell of lavender, but I suck it up because the product is so fabulous.

Ipsy Bag: March 2013

Aloha everyone!

This is probably my favourite bag I've received from ipsy. No, not my favourite products, just my favourite bag design. I don't know what it is about the sailor/anchor theme, but it gets me every single time. Moving on to the products we received this month . . . They suffice, but this month definitely didn't tickle my fancy by any means; however, all the products will get used!

I'm not going to go into detail about each product like I normally would, because I actually want to rant about one of the products instead . . . But here is what we received:

GlamRX shadow palette compact with mirror

Two eye shadows with magnetic bottoms to go in the compact

(I didn't receive a yellow shadow, it's actually a really pretty nude sand colour)

Juicy Beauty hydrating face and hair mist

La Fresh Makeup Remover Wipes

GARBAGE, GARBAGE, GARBAGE

Usually I don't bash the products I receive, but I really took a strong dislike to this one. I think I had such high hopes for these wipes because I've been trying to find something comparable to Bioderma, but this definitely did not cut it for me. It says that it will dissolve face, lip and eye make up. Welllppp, it did none of the above . . . It was seriously like grabbing a tissue and patting your face with it haha. I don't know if it is just the sample sizes that suck the big one or if it is just this brand of wipes, but I will not be repurchasing the full size. I will use the rest of the wipes, although they do absolutely nothing, but gaaaaah! Did anyone else hate these?!

Spring Hair: Beachy Waves!

Aloha everyone!

In spring and summer I hate having my hair straight. I have no idea why, there isn't a rhyme or reason for it, but I just cannot stand not having my hair waved or curled in the heat. I know a lot of other girls are like this too, so I thought I would share how I get my messy wavy hair style!

So first off, I blow dry my hair with some heat protectant on it. After my hair is completely dry, I use my conair 1.5" curling iron (although I have no idea how to use a curling iron, I use it as a wand) by splitting my hair in half horizontally, then I grab random pieces of hair (thicker parts, thinner parts, etc) and wrap it around the wand. I don't like my waves looking identical and clean so sometimes I leave my hair wrapped around it for 30 seconds sometimes I leave it for a minute. I never worry about how the waves look until the very end. Once I have all my hair done, I comb through with my fingers very gently, use any type of hair spray, and then to finish it off I use my Sea Salt Spray from Lush to give it more texture and "wave like" features.

The more I play with my hair during the day, the more "beachy" it looks. As you can see in the picture, the bottom layer of my hair doesn't look very wavy, but when I apply the salt spray and use my fingers to twist and twirl the hair, it ends up looking like I just stepped off a boat after a day out on the water. So pretty!

How do you get your hair to have that sexy beachy look to it?!

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary

Aloha everyone!

So if you follow my blog, you'll know that I am a single mom of a beautiful 4 1/2 month old baby boy. Although being a single mother is really difficult and at times very draining and frustrating, I wouldn't change it for the world and I have a ton to be thankful for, so I thought I would share all my thanks with you and my most recent "mommy moment" that I experienced today!

First of all, I am thankful that my parents are so helpful and generous when it comes to my son and I. They allowed me to move back home when I was pregnant so I could have time with my baby before I go back to school, to save money, and to ensure that I do finish my university education. Now, my parents are not wealthy people by any means, so for them to move myself and a newborn into their home was a huge deal. I am thankful that they bend over backwards to help me in any way they can. Although we have our differences, I'm not too proud to say that they have made parenting way easier than most single moms have it.

The second thing I'm thankful for is my boyfriend. He is not the biological father of my son, but he sure as hell takes the time to be a dad. It cannot be easy to date a woman who has a 4 month old baby, because it's not as if I pawn my child off on my parents any time we want to do something fun. It's not as if we can go for drinks whenever we want and just have fun with out friends. Any time we go somewhere, my son is pretty much always with us. Now, bringing a 4 month old anywhere can be a chore when you consider all the things you have to pack, all the things you have to bring just in case, and all the stops you have to take if the baby is tired, bum needs changed, etc. My boyfriend doesn't complain . . . Even when my son is crying and grumpy, he tries his hardest to make him happy. I appreciate that. He doesn't complain when the monitor wakes him up all night, he doesn't complain that his feet hang off the edge of my bed and he doesn't complain when I look like crap because I'm sleepy and stressed. We haven't been together long, but he's really impressed me, my parents and even his parents with the maturity he has shown towards taking on a girl with a baby.

The third and most important thing I'm thankful for is my son. He has changed my life in every single way and I am so glad for that. Before my son came along I dedicated all my time and effort to my university education, because I hated everything else in my life. I don't want to come off as sounding depressed and angry, because I did keep up with my social network and what not, but I really just wasn't happy with who I was. I struggled with depression and bad anxiety, I didn't know who I was really, my weight fluctuated in an unreal way, and I just didn't feel like I had a lot to live for. The moment I found out I was pregnant was the moment I knew my life was about to change for the better. Although being a parent can be stressful, tiring and draining, it is the single most rewarding thing in the whole entire world. To see that little boy grow, learn and develop a personality makes me wake up with a smile on my face every single day.

Mommy moment: Today my dad agreed to babysit for a few hours this afternoon so my boyfriend and I could go to the city and have some time together. So, we get ready and we're just about to walk out the front door when my son just starts freaking out. I look back and his little body is twisting and flailing and his arms are reaching towards me. I grabbed him and he stopped crying and snuggled right into me so I told him that mommy was going to be back soon so he had to be a good boy for papa, and I handed him back. He got his bottom lip pouted out and started crying again and arms stretched right out again. My heart sunk into my stomach and stayed there all afternoon - I was overjoyed to see how attached my son is to me, but so sad to see him upset that I was leaving. I love my son so much!

What are you thankful for these days?

What are your most recent "mommy moments"?