MY FAVES // MAKE-UP
Story time.
When I was a teenager I applied for this thing called 'The Bay High School Council'. I can't remember much about it, except that the interview was terrifying (I performed a monologue from Erin Brockovich in front of 20 grade 12 students), we got to be in a parade and a fashion show (where I wore REALLLY ugly clothes) and we got a job at the Bay. I lucked out and was placed in cosmetics and fragrances.
There, in my seventeenth year, I gained a love for fragrances and more importantly, makeup. I helped out on a few makeup counters throughout that year and a few years after that I worked for Clinique. I absolutely love makeup and still do some freelance work on the side (I'm excited to be working on some of the models in the upcoming you & her Vancouver event!)
So I thought it was about time, I'd share some of my favourite beauty-related things…get ready for my favourite fragrances, skincare products, hair products and (today's) makeup products!
I use almost all of these products everyday. On a normal work day, I'll usually take about 10 minutes to do my makeup (15 if I do a cat eye, ha!)
So here they be, my favourite makeup products (in clockwise order):
1. Naked 2 Palette- This is my absolute favourite palette. It has the perfect mix of warm and cool tones. Naked 3 just got released at Christmas but it's a bit too pinky for my liking. Honestly, you can't go wrong with Naked 2.
2. Mac "Hip n Happy" Lip Liner- The best way to get your lipstick to last longer is to completely cover your lips in lip liner. I love the light pink pigment that this one produces. It's strong enough to wear with just a gloss on top.
3. Balm "Bahama Mama" Bronzer- I use this everyday. It's absolutely perfect for contouring. It's a tad dark, so just use a bit and be sure to blend, blend, blend.
4. Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Foundation- For years I searched for a foundation with actual lasting power. My search was over when I found this one. It's a bit pricy but I only use it for my nose and chin so it lasts me forever.
5. Mac "Blankety" Lipstick- I've been hunting for a good nude lipstick. This one takes the cake. It's not crazy nude-y where it looks like concealer on your lips. It has some depth and pink undertones. So pretty.
6. Mac "Brun" eyeshadow- I use this guy for filling in my eyebrows. It's the perfect brown and works on just about everyone.
7. Smashbox "Pout" lipgloss- This is the perfect pale pink. I usually pair it with Mac's Hip n Happy to make it stay extra long.
8. Lancome Hypnose Mascara- The best mascara ever. Nuff said. Seriously, I've tried a bajillion mascaras. This gives the best drama without mad clumping. I love it, I love it, I love it, booyah.
9. Mac Prep & Prime- I always use this before applying lipliner. It totally preps your lips making them silky and smooth! I bought it a few years ago and I still have it, so that tells you how long you'll have it for, ha.
So there you go, my favourite makeup products! I'm excited to let you know that I'll be pumping out some makeup tutorials every once in awhile!!! So if you have any questions or any requests, send them my way!
xo,
s.s.♥.
WORRYING ABOUT IT WON'T CHANGE A THING GIRL.
Did Monday sneak up on you too? I had a pretty packed weekend followed by a rather annoying stomach ache that I woke up to this morning. The week ahead of me is looking quite full. I'm faced with two choices. 1. Stress out and worry that I won't get anything done. OR 2. Pray and trust God will give me the strength I need. I'll take the latter. It's a tough one though because worrying about it is my natural reaction. If I'm not careful, I get carried away with stressing and worrying and sooner or later, half my day is eaten up.
Sometimes I need to give myself a pep talk. It goes like this... Break it down and really look at it. Worrying won't change a thing girl. Not a single thing. Stop stressing and pray. Go read Philippians 4...you know the verses...
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-8
and breathe.
SEATTLE WEEKEND
Last weekend I had the privilege of accompanying my friend, Kristy to Seattle for her birthday weekend. The main point of the trip was JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE (which was INNNNSSAAAANNNNE!!!). We left early Friday morning, checked into our hotel and then took the monorail to downtown Seattle. I hadn't been to Seattle in years, so everything was pretty new to me. We spent the afternoon downtown checking out the famous, gum wall and of course, Pike Place Market.
I don't watch football but after being in town for the weekend I am a SEAHAWKS fan!! The buzz of the city was incredible! Starbucks was giving out 12cent drinks if you were sporting blue or green and so many people were wearing jerseys. I was a tad bit confused at the concert when they kept talking about the "12th man" being in the house. Every time the DJ would announce it, the crowd went crrraaay. Eventually, I leaned over to the girl beside me and asked her who this "12th man" was lol.
We went to Portage Bay Cafe the next morning for breakfast. There was a bit of a wait but it was delicious and had sweet vibes. After some shopping for clothes and a much needed stock up trip to Trader Joe's we headed back to the island.
until next time,
s.s.♥,
COMFORT CLOTHING
When it comes to January fashion, I'm drawn to cozzzzy. Who am I kidding? Most of my clothing year round is all about being cozy. My go to comfort outfit is leggings (if I'm at home, it's my lulus..if I'm going to see people other than James and Coco, it's my zara leggings...and yes I referred to Coco as "people"), a long t-shirt and an oversized cardigan. I recently read someone referring to these as coatigans but that word kinda freaks me out. I bought one of these oversized cardigans last June and it has been a dream. Oh, you are as cozy as a robe AND are fashionable? Sign me right up. I may have purchased the striped one in Seattle over the weekend. You can never have too many oversized cardigans, riiiiiggght?
Do you have a go to comfort outfit? I'd love to know!
over and out,
s.s.♥.
WINTER FITNESS TIPS
Welcome to the second post in my winter fitness series! As I mentioned before, usually winter and fitness never come out of my mouth in the same sentence…Winter usually is for baggy clothing, over consumption of chocolate and carbs and hibernation BUT this year, I'm making some changes…yeeeehaw.
Ok, so if you're like me, you may need a bit of inspiration and something practical to hold on to. I'm a type A planner freak so I'm all about getting all my ducks in a row BEFORE my workouts. Sometimes that can bite me in the butt as I will put off working out because I haven't planned out what fitness routine I want to do (my lazy excuse). So here are a few tips that are working for me (side note- I am not a professional trainer, nutritionist, anything fitness related…)
1. Have everything ready BEFORE you go to bed.
This is one that I HAVE to do. Even if I'm working out on a day off and it only takes five minutes for me to gather my stuff, if it's not ready the night before, I'm most likely going to put off my workout or waste a good hour as I contemplate everything I need to gather before my run (this actually happened on Sunday, I was supposed to go for a run but instead did a measly at home workout because I wasted too much time thinking in bed lols). Put your runners by the front door. Have your pants, sports bra, tank, hat, jacket, (etc) all ready to go. I usually will hang my running clothes over the heater (slipping on warm running pants at 7:30am makes a world of difference). Make sure your ipod/iphone is charged and your headphones are good to go. Also make sure you know what you're going to do which leads me to tip #2...
2. Make a plan.
Maybe this won't apply to everyone, but I need a plan. Whether it's as simple as, I'll go to the gym Monday and Wednesday or I'm running 5km tomorrow or even, I'm running to the breakwater and back. I'm preaching to myself here, I need a plan, I need one. If I don't plan out what days I'm working out on AND open my schedule for it, most likely I won't get around to it. Laziness is a strong opponent and he will win if i'm not properly prepared, ha. In February I start my half marathon training plan and I'm actually looking forward to it (I told you I thrive on planning). I'm doing the plan through run keeper which motivates me even more and leads me to tip #3...
3. Get some apps to help you.
There are SO many amazing apps to help you but here are my favourite.
Run Keeper- Tracks your run (or walk or other workouts if you manually enter it) and lets you know your pace, calories burned, distance, etc. I have found this one HUGE for motivating me to run faster and longer.
Nike Training Club- If you're afraid of the gym, this one is great to do! If you have dumbbells, you can do most workouts. They have a ton of workouts which you can customize to what you want to achieve (get lean, get toned, get strong) and they have 15 minute workouts which focus on a specific area. I love to pair these up with cardio at the gym. The great thing about this one is it doesn't lock you to the gym. In the summer you can do it at a local park!
Blogilates- I've been doing Casey's videos on youtube over the past few years and she is amazing! She's so energetic and encouraging that it's actually fun to do. She created an app which organizes the videos so well.
My Fitness Pal- This one is a calorie counter. I know for some people, this does not work. But again, I'll reiterate that I'm sharing what has worked for me. Normally I've been an all or nothing girl when it comes to dieting. I've gone off sweets for a month and then went on sweet overload for two months. This app has helped me find balance. I actually learned that I can eat in moderation. And the great part is this links up with run keeper, so if I went for a long run, those calories would be added to my daily total and I would make sure I'm eating enough for the day. This one also helps me be accountable to what I put in my body…when you know you have to put it in, you're more likely not going to devour the entire bowl of icing.
I hope these tips have been helpful to you. I'm only an amateur athlete so please, comment below what works for you and keeps you on track!!
xo,
s.s.♥.