HI LOVES!

I have so much to tell you/show you!  I currently have a vlog video processing/converting and it will be up on YouTube soon! :) 

Adam and I just got back from vacay, and it was such an awesome trip!  The weather was just beautiful .... and I just love the boy so much, spending a week with him makes my heart melt and collapse in a heap of happiness .... 

On a beauty related note ... I picked up these goodies at a Flea Market while away: 

I am just in love with the watch!  It's by GENEVA.  The bracelets are also super cute! :)  I've seen quite a few girls on YouTube sporting them, and the person I bought them from was offering "One for $8 or Two for $10" ... don't really think we need to think twice about that one LOL.  I also needed a new wallet, and this Coach one was only $15.  Real or not, I'm not that concerned....

I feel like this is such a random post, sorry guys! haha

Last night, I made a super yummy dish for Adam and I.  It was called "Farmhouse Chicken Dinner."  (Recipe can be found here).  Instead of using whole chickens, I bought the frozen, pre-cooked chicken slices and kinda skipped some of the steps as a result.  The end result was pretty good!  Adam couldn't stop licking the leftover sauce! (Note: I also made a side of green beans ... gotta have them veggies!) 

And that will be all for now, friends.

Talk to you soon! :) 

Steph

xxoo

First NYX Product! (And Other Goodies) 

My regular drugstore does not carry NYX products, however, I just so happened to browse another store (just yesterday) that did!  I was in search of a single white eye shadow, as palettes tend to be quite awkward and illogical to travel with.  As soon as I saw the NYX emblem above the display, I became rather excited and enthralled as I have yet to see what the products look like in person.  Silly, I know!  Anyways, I decided to go with the following: 

 

There is very little sparkle to the eyeshadow, but I don't mind.  It's white.... it will pick up the light regardless.  It seems to be a very pigmented eyeshadow, something I noticed when I rubbed my finger in it before swatching :) I'm excited to test it out! 

Other Goodies worth mentioning... 

Urban Decay's "De-Slick" Setting Spray 

I picked this up at Sephora with my gift card :)

So far, I am IN LOVE with it.  I have only used it twice, but it really seems to do the trick! 

Hard Candy's Blotting Papers

I needed a quick fix the other night, as my face gets terribly oily as the day progresses.  I think it's cute that the package includes 3 sets of colours.

Revlon's Scented Nail Polish in "Gum Drop"

Yes, yes I am obsessed with this stuff.  It was on sale and I just couldn't pass up the offer ;) 

Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream and Revlon's Colorstay Foundation

This is my new foundation duo.  What with summer and the need to apply sunscreen, I felt the BB cream was appropriate.  That, and I had wanted to test out a BB cream to see what the hype is all about!  I also picked up the Colorstay as my old foundation, while great for acne prone skin, oxidizes WAY too fast for my liking.  My previous foundation had been a lot cheaper, and I figured (perhaps) a more expensive foundation would last a lot longer. 

Forever 21 Jewelry

One of my obsessions this summer has been jewelry!  I have not worn earrings for two years, and at first, thought that my holes had closed up.  Well, I thought wrong!  I'm so happy to have rediscovered the joys of earrings.  There are so many out there!  So much selection to chose from!  I have also fancied a lot of bracelets.  Provided that they are cute ;) 

Lush's "No Drought" Dry Shampoo

I reached my wits end with the dry shampoo dispensed from an aerosal can when my THIRD FULL bottle decided to stop spraying.  Three times in a row does NOT cut it for me.  This shampoo, comparatively, is in powdered form and does not require spraying.  It has a lemon fresh scent, and so far, seems to work just great! :) 

Pink's "Pretty Cool" Fresh Vanilla Body Mist

So, the best friend and I have become completely and totally enamored over this product.  Out of the three in the Fresh Vanilla line, I think this is the best one (by far!).  I am a lover of warm scents, and this is definitely a warmer scent (in comparison to something entirely sweet and fruity).  This is a definite, MUST-HAVE summer item :)  

  

Lush's "Trichomania" Shampoo Bar

You guys, this shampoo bar is a heavenly scent of creamy coconut!  What else says summer then coconut?!?! I was intrigued by the idea of a shampoo bar, and wondered how it worked.  Basically, you can lather the soap in your hands and then run it through your hair OR you can simply lather the bar throughout your hair.  I have only used the product once, so I am speaking as a VERY short time user, but it doesn't lather up THAT much.  I don't think I would use the shampoo bar after having used a lot of hairspray or product.  But for an, otherwise, simple cleaning routine, I think it's great :) 

So those are all my goodies, accumulated in the late weeks of June and early July.  NOTE: Some of the items were purchased for me by my loving boyfriend <3 

Steph

xox

Long Weekend :) 

Hi friends!  Just thought I'd update you on my weekend ... but first things first: 

I FINALLY MADE A YOUTUBE ACCOUNT :) I will finally be making/editing/posting videos.    And I have SO many ideas to spew out there ... I even made a list (...several) so as to contain all my thoughts and organize them nicely :)  I have bought so much for summer lately, so I want to hurry up & do a vid before I start to forget things lol! 

Moving on .... so this weekend was a Long Weekend because of CANADA DAY :)  (I think it's quite fitting that I made my YouTube account yesterday, as my username is both patriotic and related to Canada Day!).   

THURSDAY

Thursday night was spent with family ... my Aunt was with us for a few days ... Lils made us the following dinner (SO DELISH) :

Steak and a Sweet Potato Casserole dish (Twice Baked Sweet Potato with leeks, gruyere cheese and other goodies) - SO FREAKIN' GOOD! NOM NOM NOM. 

Please note: Auntie wanted me to be her food model LOL

FRIDAY

Adam came over for dinner and spent the evening with us :) ... 

LOL My rendition of "Sound of Music" when the children sing "Coo-Coo" ...

Saturday

Quite the eventful and long day ... Adam & I did a bit of shopping, picked up a few items we may need for the upcoming week among a few other things ;) 

We also went to my favourite restaurant, Earls, where I had my Naples Margarita pizza with the infamous parmesan dip ... YUM!

Dinner was then followed by a movie, we went to see Ted.  It was hilarious and all-around awesome! 

I had a really nice day-date :) xoxox

Sunday

Sunday was Canada Day!  I spent mine with family ... Had a shot of this delicious drink: (White Cake Flavoured Vodka)

 It was, honestly, just a fun and relaxing day!

Now it's finally Monday, and hopefully I can get around to those videos I had planned! :)

Steph

xxoo

Natural Daylight Satin Nickel Mirror

Newest and most favourite addition to my bathroom ... ! 

This Conair mirror is double sided (one side is 1x magnification while the other is 8x) and is surrounded by florescent lighting.  This lighting has HONESTLY and SERIOUSLY made a difference in my make-up application.  Some days, I wouldn't blend so well, I'd use too much etc. and my mom would either point it out or start rubbing my neck to blend it LOL.  Whenever she did it, it always put me in a bad mood.  Not that I was ever mad at her.... I was more frustrated and self-conscious.  The problem, here, is the lighting in my bathroom.  While my makeup application looked flawless there, it was far from flawless in direct sunlight.  Ergo, I would walk out of the house not knowing the difference because in my own mirror, it looked well blended etc.  

I then decided to test out my mom's mirror (the one pictured above) and I just LOVED how my make-up looked after.  Both in direct sunlight and my own bathroom lighting, it looked really nice!  So I asked her where she had purchased the mirror, as I was interested in it and really liked it.  She then told me I could put it in my bathroom since she rarely ever uses it! :) Ask and you shall receive?  Not on every occasion, but some.  Thanks mom! 

For those who might be wondering, this can be purchased at: Costco ($49.99 CAN)

Interestingly enough, she had bought it at a Costco in Maui (LOL OF ALL PLACES) so I can then justifiably say that our Canadian Costco's aren't the only carriers of the product!

Seriously, test out different lightings!  Many of you already know that natural light is the best for make-up application, and this mirror (or any mirror that produces natural light) is a real helper!  

That's my little story... :) 

Ta-Ta for now!

Steph 

xoxox

Importance of Keeping Fit: 

As of late, I have been a total fitness nut.  I've cut down on certain foods and have incorporated some type of workout/exercise into my daily routine.  The more extreme details can be found on my Weight Loss Blog - but I figured it was important to talk about here as well, as exercise and the foods you put into your body have an effect on your well-being and skin.  


If you think about it, exercise promotes healthy circulation.  Increasing blood flow will then carry away "waste products" such as those nasty bacteria cells that cause acne in the first place!  It's kind of like this: blood rushing through your system will flush away the dirt cells in your skin.  (Source)


Keeping active also promotes healthy eating.  Who really wants to eat a Big Mac after sweating your butt off?    Not I!  I feel as though that would only diminish all the hard work I have just performed.


Lastly, exercise releases those happy endorphins that we all could use a little more of in our day-to-day lives.  That's why going for a walk or a run is always recommended when you are stressed or need to just walk away from something.  Creating more and more of those happy surges is simply something we could ALL benefit from - common sense! 


Within the past week, I have purchased the following fitness items: 

1) A pair of good Running/Walking Shoes: 

Brand: Champion Performance.  This particular shoe is a member of their "Activelite" Line. 

Price: $15 at Payless (Reg. $47.99 but I snagged this pair on sale!) 

Benefits: Their lightweight quality allows for flexibility, the shoe is EVA cushioned (meaning that it's cushioned in both heel and toe so as to absorb impact and pressure on my feet), it contains breathable mesh, & the heel was constructed in such a way so as to provide stability for my Achilles tendon.  

I cannot remember the last time I bought myself a pair of runners.  And, to be honest, up until now, I didn't really own a pair.  I figured, now that I walk on the treadmill every other day, it is important to invest in a pair of shoes that will provide support and NOT harm my legs in the long run.  Just because I don't feel it now, a continuous use of improper shoes can lead to foot/leg problems in the near future and I would much rather avoid that at all costs! 

This shoe, as the name might suggest (ActiveLITE) is super lightweight.  Something that instantly drew me to them.  They are also quite comfortable.  I think it was a $15 well spent! :)   

2) Workout Shorts: 

Brand: Garage

Price: 2 for $18.00 

I think it is important to designate specific workout shorts, apart from your everyday shorts.  Not all shorts may be ideal for working out in.

The above pair are very light, soft, and made out of breathable material.  Not to mention they are adorable, right?! LOL.  When I first laid eyes on them, they looked just perfect for the job; and so they are! 

Anywhos, that ends my little bout on exercise.

Just wanted to share my two new fitness items. 

Now go out there and get a good workout into your day!  It can be a 15 min workout, a 30 min workout, an hour workout .... any type of movement that increases your heart rate is better then no movement at all :) 

Take care, 

Steph

xxoo

A Scrumptious Vegetarian Dish: 

I was really craving some asparagus and cherry tomatoes this evening.. odd haha, so this is what I threw together: 

Basmati Rice

Asparagus

Cherry Tomatoes

Garlic Expressions * 

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Fresh grated Parmesan Cheese 

* Garlic Expressions is a delightful vinaigrette, limited to only a few grocery stores.  I believe we have it here in Denningers and Fortinos.  According to the website: Garlic Expressions is a "100% natural, classic vinaigrette perfect for salads, meats, vegetables & pasta made with fresh, whole garlic cloves, no preservatives or additives & cholesterol free."  I really enjoy this product!  It's a great base when you want to cook something on the stovetop in oil and garlic.  This is like an all-in-one, ready to use product!  It's also a great salad dressing base as well.... 

1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan (this will be used to cook the asparagus).

2. Basmati can be cooked on the stovetop, but I generally like to cook my rice in the microwave, so I measured out my rice/water/butter ratios and threw that baby into the microwave for about 18 mins. 

3. Cut asparagus into small bite size pieces.  Also, slice the tomatoes into quadrants of 4 (or any which way you desire!) 

4. Throw the asparagus into the boiling water, cook to your preferred texture.  I like really soft asparagus, so I let them sit in the water for about 20 mins. 

5. In a fry pan, heat up the Garlic Expressions and a little bit of Olive Oil.  

6.  Add cherry tomatoes to the pan, and allow them to heat up/simmer (they usually become quite watery and make a bit of a sauce) 

7. Once asparagus is cooked, drain and add to the fry pan - let them sit in there for a few mins so as to soak up the garlic flavour. 

8.  Add parmesan cheese to the pan, mix in. 

9.  In a separate bowl, transfer the basmati rice and then pour the sauce/vegetables overtop.  Mix well. 

10.  Voila!  This was the finished product: (so yummy and simple!) 

        

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

I will be back with more (hopefully frequent) posts soon :) 

Steph 

xoxo

BIRTHDAY POST

I just celebrated my 21st birthday this past Sunday (June 3rd) and I felt like making a blog post.  I was spoiled, spoiled, spoiled!  I have the best family, friends and boyfriend!  :)  My day was so special.  

So, it actually began the Saturday night, as my best friend and I got together for a little celebration.  She also gave me my present(s) that night: HOW AWESOME IS SHE?!?!?!?! 

Aren't those tanks adorable?  I wore the navy one out Sunday evening :) 

All of these gifts were just so "me."  I love her dearly and I know she'll read this post - and when you do, know that I am thankful a million and one times over!  We're usually pretty good at picking up the hints we each drop throughout the year LOL.  I have been lusting after a set of rings for a while now!  (The above came in a package of 7 from H & M).  Scented nail polish is an obsession of mine.  And the beach hat is superb!  She has a matching one in beige.  The cheetah bow, seriously, is the cherry on top of the cake :)  

The Day Of

My baby really made the "day of" special.  It started off with flowers :) 

And then we headed down to the waterfront.  The weather was a tad bit questionable, so instead of walking around (like I had wanted to do) - we stayed inside Williams Coffee Pub and conversed over coffee - Mama loves her some coffee LOL :) 

Outside the shop - he can always make me laugh! 

Adam just had regular coffee, I, on the other hand, had a Vanilla Bean Latte :) 

From there, we headed to my (current) all time favourite restaurant: Earls.  I had Chardonnay Lemon Butter Salmon that came with gnocchi and green beans.  Adam had a chicken cream sauce dish.  Both very very yummy! :) 

Birthday girl and her drink - a White Peach Bellini !

From there, we went back to Adam's house.  Both of his parents and sister bought me gifts, they are too sweet and kind: 

The candle is a bit of an inside joke.  They also frequently buy me candles that smell like fresh laundry, which has always been associated with our trip to Sauble.  His mom stuck this sticky note on the top of the candle - I LOVE HER. 

This scarf is from Roots.  They know I love my scarves! So thoughtful.... :) 

Jill and Tim also got me a little something: How lucky am I?  She knows that it's my fav store, as I never stop talking about it LOL

Adam's Prezzies:  So, not only did he pay for my dinner, he also did all this for me.  What a sweetheart... I really am so lucky.  He knows he doesn't have to do this for me.  His love for me is incredible on it's own.  So, I liked the sentimental gift he gave me: 

HE WROTE ME A SONG (YES THOSE ARE LYRICS AS WELL) AND GAVE MY RING BACK :):):):):)

I WAS SO HAPPY I CRIED.  I love him so much.  So sweet.

Apart from that, he also bought my "Suit-Bag" (as I like to call it) and a little toiletry case.  I've wanted to purchase a smaller suitcase, as I ALWAYS overpack.  If I have a bigger suitcase, I figure "I have room."  SO my goal this year is to pack lighter.  I also wanted a bigger bathroom bag/toiletry case as I normally bring a million smaller bags.  This way, everything is encased in ONE small bag that I can bring in and out of the bathroom.  Simplicity!  

My "Suit-Bag" - it has wheels on the bottom like a suitcase.  There is also a handle that extends, much like the ones on a suitcase.  However, it's a duffle bag style :) 

My toiletry bag!  Includes some small, travel size containers.  Another handy thing that will help me cut down - as I usually bring my big/bulky shampoo and conditioner bottles. 

This is makeup related, so I figured I'd include it LOL.  Adam also bought me this, as it had been out of stock at Walmart for a bit.  My colour is the "Light Pale" shade.  

The following 2 pictures show a gift I received from my grandmother.  This has got to be one of my most favourite and treasured presents.  She is very sick and in a lot of pain.  Her time with us is probably short and this gift just had me in tears.  In the second picture, you can see something engraved on the inner band.  It says: "My Dear Granddaughter: You are always in my heart."  My grandmother is like a mom to me.  I love her so much, and this present just sums up our relationship so well <3 

Last, But not Least....

I guess you could say this was an early Birthday gift.  We ordered the book about a week or 2 ago.  And on Sunday evening, just before Adam dropped me off at home, I asked him if we could stop in at the mailbox.  I really only wanted to see if this book had come in.  I really wanted it to be here and so, before I opened the mail door I said "Pride and Prejudice, I willith you be in here" LOL well, don't I open the door and it's there?  I was so happy :) - it's from my baby as well. 

So that concludes my birthday celebration/presents.  A family dinner is yet to be had, as some members live out of town and we figured we would wait for them to be here :) 

PLUS - the bestie and I still have a trip to T.O to shop :) 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Lots of love,

Steph.

xxoo