MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

---

It's time to show your mama some love! I'm especially excited for mother's day this year and I may have been sending some not so subtle hints to my hubby for the past few weeks, ha!

Here are a few products that I think any mama would enjoy...

1. Soap (made on Vancouver Island!)  //  2. Mama Bear Bracelet  //  3. Mom Life Tee  //  4. Mama Bear Mug (just ordered this one for myself lols)  //  5. Dream bag  //  6. Floral Notebook  //  7. Tassel Keychain  //  8. Perfume (this one is on my gift list lols)

Happy Monday everybody!

XO,
laura

MAMA BEAR BOX APRIL REVIEW

---

In April I received my first Mama Bear Box and you guys, it was so sweet. I subscribed for three months, so I'm already eagerly checking the mailbox daily in hopes that the May box will arrive lols.

You select the gender and age range so it's customized to your babe and the best thing is- there are treats for you as well! Another amazing thing about these boxes is that for every box sold, $2 goes to the Joy Smith Foundation, which is a Canadian foundation that is fighting human trafficking!

Here's what came in my April box:

1. Dinosaur Rattle by Petitloulou- I love the design of this rattle and Luca loves it too! I'm all about those cute, trendy toys that aren't bright and made of plastic, ha.

2. Tee by Everly After Creations- Ok, this is my new favourite shirt of Luca's. How stinking cute is that leather pocket! It's a bit tight on the arms for him but maybe that's cuz my boy is a chunky monkey lols. It looks so cute on him and I want to dress him in it errrrday.

3. Baby Body Butter by Duckish- I just opened this one yesterday and applied it to Luca, post bath. His skin definitely felt soft and smooth. It didn't really have a scent to it, which probably most ppl would love but you know me, I'm all about that scent, ha.

4. Dirty Girl Face Mask- I actually haven't used this one but I'm gonna tonight. I love masks so I'm definitely excited to see how it leaves my skin feeling!

I would definitely say this box is worth it and would make a beautiful gift for a mama or mama to be! And ps. use the code mbb10 to save 10%!

XO,
laura

5 BEAUTY PRODUCTS YOU NEED THIS WINTER

---

Nothing says winter is coming, like super pale skin and the sun setting at 4:30pm.....I KNOW RIGHT...it's so cruel but praise the Lord for Christmas music and beauty products that make you look alive. Thankfully Sephora had their annual VIB sale (20% off) over the weekend and this mama went on a little shopping spree aka I used gift cards I had been saving since my birthday (budget life LOLZ) to stock up on some old and new favourites to get me through the dismal winter.

1. GOOD MASCARA If I could only wear one beauty product for the rest of my life, you know I would choose mascara. I obviously went with my good ol' faithful who has never let me down (Benefit Roller Lash, by far THE BEST mascara out there!)

2. BLUSH & BRONZER I wear SPF 40 almost everyday so that being said, my skin needs some COLOUR. I had used this one from Nars for ages. I loved it but wanted to try up something different. I picked up Urban Decay's Naked Flushed Palette and I'm happy to report that it goes on great! Way cheaper than Nars AND has a light pink highlighter. The bronzer doesn't have any shimmer in it, which is defs a win for me. 

3. LIP BALM My lips get SO dry during the winter so I am always in need of a good lip balm. Fresh's Sugar balm is my absolute favourite. Trust me, you will love it.

4. SELF TANNER/MOISTURE MASK I finally bit the bullet and bought Vita Liberata's night moisture mask and I'm sooo glad I did. It's an overnight self tanner/moisture mask that leaves your skin mega moisturized along with a non-orange glow (which also doesn't stain your pillow!) It takes me from "you look tired and deathly" to "ohhh, your skin looks so nice". It's a bit on the pricier side but you don't need much (this bottle should last me at least 6 months!) 

5. GOOD CONCEALER And lastly I picked up concealer to hide my massive dark circles. I was a little sad to see that Smashbox had discontinued the one I had been using for years BUT the replacement is just as good, if not better. It's waterproof, and seemed to last a bit longer than the old smashbox one so my dark circles don't need to show their lovely selves anytime soon, ha.

I wasn't in need of moisturizer but my go to one is this one by Clinique and also I started using this cleanser from the drugstore (I know righhhttt!!) and I am loving it!!

What are you winter beauty must haves?? let me know in the comments or on facebook!

XOXO,
laura 

MY CURRENT BEAUTY FAVOURITES

---

My love for Sephora runs real deep. It's a beauty playground that I could spend hours in. I have often said to James, "Sephora is to me what Home Depot is to you." HA.

They had their spring sale (everything is 15% off for VIBs, 10% for regular folk) last week and I took full advantage. I didn't go crazy because #budgetlife BUT I did buy a few things I was running low on/would be running out of at some point soon because you might as well get it at 15% off! (Can you tell I have a background in sales? :) 

I haven't shared my beauty favourites for awhile, so I thought I'll give you an ol' update. My beauty routine is pretty much the same most days (foundation, concealer, blush, contour, eyebrows, eyeliner and lip chap) but some days I like to change it up (eyeshadow or brown eyeliner instead of liquid).

MY CURRENT BEAUTY FAVOURITES:

1. MAKEUP FOREVER HD FOUNDATION- I just started using this one and I am a HUGE fan. I was using this smashbox one and I loved it but I'd heard so many good things about this one so the girl at Sephora put the two on either of my cheeks and I gotta say, the Makeup Forever one defs had a smoother finish!
2. SMASHBOX HIGH DEFINITION CONCEALER- I started using this one last year and it does a pretty good of covering up my dark circles without being super heavy on my skin! It goes on smooth which I love but it doesn't last all day...which is fine because it would probably have to be thicker to do that so if I'm going out after work, I usually just apply a little bit more and I'm good to go!
3. ESTEE LAUDER PURE COLOUR INTENSE EYELINER- I received this one in my first TOPBOX (Rip Birchbox Canada :( !!!!!!!!) and I love it! It came with half brown and half black and I've been using it on days I can't be bothered to do liquid. It does run a bit but it goes on very dark and very smoothly so if you plan on wearing this day and night, be sure to stick a few qtips in your bag to clean it up before you go out at night.
4. BENEFIT ROLLER LASH MASCARA- This my friends, is my most favourite mascara EVER! I've tried A TON of mascaras and I have to hand it to Benefit because this one tops them all. It lengthens, separates, thickens AND curls. I tried this Two-Faced one last year after I'd heard so much about it and I was so disappointed (way too thick and ran down my face!!) Roller Lash actually stays on my eyelashes all day and isn't insanely hard to get off either. I 100% recommend this mascara! It's a bit pricey but so worth it.
5. STILA LIQUID EYELINER- Courtney introduced this liquid eyeliner to me last year and I am sooo glad. It's one of the easiest, most fool proof liquid liners to apply and it stays on almost all day (unless I rub my eyes or have a nap lols).
6. BENEFIT GIMME BROW- I purchased this with my Birchbox points last year and to be honest, I didn't really use it much. But recently, I've started to use it if I'm going for a more casual look. It thickens the brows you already have and also helps keep them in place. If I'm going for a more dramatic look, I use MAC Brun eyeshadow for brow powder then shape the brows with Gimme Brow.
7. VITA LIBERATA SELF TANNING NIGHT MOISTURE MASK- I've noticed that on days I get the comment "Oh you have such a pregnancy glow!", I've used this self tanner the night before. heehehee! You apply it at night before you go to sleep, miraculously, it doesn't come off on your pillow and when you wake up you have a gorgeous glow! I received this as a sample in a Birchbox last year and am so glad I did because it's lasted forever and I absolutely love it. I will definitely buy the large size when I've run out.
8. CLINIQUE SPF 40- This has been my staple sunscreen for years! It's light enough to wear under makeup and it protects my face from all those horrible UV rays! I haven't strayed from it, because it works so well for me!

Well there you have it, my current beauty favourites. I'm always up for trying something new so please tell me what beauty products you can't live without!!

XO,
laura

SPRING FEVER

---

image via

Spring is coming and I need a little inspiration to get through this last week of winter. The daffodils in my yard are in full bloom (have been since February ha) and the tulips are still on their way...cannot wait to see them emerge! Oh, Spring come soon! 

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

1. Mint Bowl   //  2. Peach Clutch   //   3. White Skinnies  
4. Floral Tumbler  //   5. Nude Nail Polish   //   6. Lavender Nikes

Happy Spring shopping :)

XO,
laura