PRETTY MAIL // FEBRUARY BIRCH BOX (CANADA) REVIEW

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So just a little while ago I shared why I signed up for Birchbox Canada and showed you the February box and today I'm reviewing the products. I've had some time to try them all out, so I have some feedback for you! 

You're probably thinking..."Was it worth it?" and let me just put it out there..YES! First of all, receiving a pretty box in the mail is THE BEST THING EVER! Secondly, I got to try five different products, some which I've never heard of. I'm already looking forward to the next box!

Ok, now onto the products!

1. FLORENCE BY TOCCA PERFUME

From working in the fragrance industry I have A LOT of fragrances and I LOOOOVE smelling new fragrances. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed trying this fragrance. It has a ton of pretty notes including bergamot, grapefruit leaves, apple, jasmine, white musk and tons more! It's light but has some substance to it. It's a large sample size so I still have a ton left and it will take me awhile to go through.
It's not James' fave. He liked it but wasn't like OH. MY. GOSSSSSHHHHHHHH. and I'm all about wearing scents that make him like that ;)
So would I buy it? Probably not, but I'm excited to wear it this Spring.

Click here to find out more about this fragrance!

2. DERMA-E ANTI-WRINKLE VITAMIN A GLYCOLIC SCRUB

I love a good scrub every now and then. In the winter I like to self-tan (this is MY FAVE). So pre tanner application, I need to scrub off my dead skin cells. There's apricot seed powder and papaya in this to de clog all them pores. You think with ingredients like that in this, it would smell great but honestly the smell was my least favourite thing about it! I liked the scrub but I didn't love the smell.
So would I buy it? If it smelled good I would but no dice on that one.

Click here to find out more about this scrub!

3. N 4 CLARIFYING SHAMPOO

This shampoo claims that it will "restore health and shine to overworked tresses." Honestly, I LOVED IT! My hair definitely felt real clean after I used it. It had a really subtle scent which I totally dug.
So would I buy it? Probably!

Click here to find out more about this shampoo!

4. CYNTHIA ROWLEY BEAUTY CREAMY LIP STAIN IN HEART THROB

As much as I love trying new fragrances, I love EVEN MORE to try new lipsticks/glosses/stains! I'm on the hunt for a new stain so I was PUMPED to try this one. It's vegan, cruelty free and paraben free. Sweet right? But not so sweet when it means a lip stain that DOESN'T LAST! I guess you need chemicals to make that magic happen...ha. I loved the colour but I felt it came right off.

Pretty shade right? That's a #nofilter selfie right thurrrr.

So would I buy it? I like it as a creamy lip gloss but not as a stain...so probably not if I was looking for a stain but yes if I was looking for a new creamy lip gloss!

Click here to find out more about this lip stain!

5. WHISH THREE WHISHES BODY BUTTER IN POMEGRANATE 

Last but not least, we have the body butter! I used this after the shower and really liked it. It moisturized great and had a yummy pomegranate scent. It wasn't to die for but it was great! I'd be interested in smelling the other flavours.
So would I buy it? If I didn't have a billion other body butters, I would buy it.

Click here to find out more about this body butter!

 

SO much fun right!! Any other Birch Box Canada subscribers out there? I'd love to know what you thought of last month's products. Oh and if you want to sign up ($15/month) then CLICK HERE!

 

Happy Friday!!! I'm off to get a massage at Oak Bay Beach Hotel...ohhhh yes it's a #TREATYOSELF kinda day...heck yes!!!

 

xoxo,

s.s.♥︎.

SPRING THINGS

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Well while the rest of Canada is experiencing -20 degree weather, we in Victoria, BC are not. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and I'm running in a t-shirt. SPRING IS HERE CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!!!! So naturally my mind goes to spring fashion....pastels and trenches and new nail polish collections...yes please.

 
Spring wish list!
 

1. Floral Phone Case   2. Grey Hat   3. Peach Nail Polish   4. Arrow Tote Bag   5. Ripped Jeans

 

Don't you just want everything?!?! I'm totally into that Arrow Tote bag but I'm on the hunt for some new jeans so those will probably take priority....oh budgeting....speaking of, I'll be back next week with some more budgeting posts!

Spring, I love you and all your sunshine and pastel fashion.

Stay gold,

s.s.♥︎.

 

 

ILLUMINATE 2015 ♥︎

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*insert emoji hallelujah hands* WHAT A WEEKEND!!!! Seriously, Illuminate 2015 was out of this world! I still can't stop smiling. Over 300 girls and volunteers gathered and man oh man did we ever PARTAY!!!

First of all, I want to thank the incredible team of volunteers who worked their butts off!!! We could not have done what we did without you! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

This year's theme was BRAVE! God was calling His daughters to step out and live the BRAVE lives He has called them to. We were BORN TO BE BRAVE!

So many highlights!! But here's a few:

  • Seeing 46 girls make decisions for Jesus on Friday night (I will never ever get tired of that!!!)
  • Seeing our team just KILL IT!!!!
  • Hearing from my friends Jenna Liesch & Kim Moran and also testimonies from so brave women...love you Kristy!!
  • Hanging out with my new friend in ministry (& our first official house guest) Lindsay....love ya girl!
  • CONFETTI!
  • Seeing pure JOY on the girls' faces as massive balloons were dropped and we all celebrated what God has done!

 

There were lots of other highlights but I'm way too tired to type them all out! I'm looking forward to hearing the testimonies & seeing the fruit that will come out of Illuminate 2015...already I'm SO pumped for Illuminate 2016...yeeehaaaaaw!

FYI- I'll be back to regular blogging now (3x or maybe even more each week)! Thanks for letting me take that little break and thank you for following along!

Love you to the moon & back,

s.s.♥︎.

HAPPY MAIL // WHY I SUBSCRIBED TO BIRCHBOX CANADA

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Probably, my least favourite store in the world to go to is HOME DEPOT. James could spend hours and hours in there. I, on the other hand, get anxious and want to leave as soon as I arrive. We joke how Home Depot is to James as Sephora is to me. Sephora is my happy place. I could hang out in there for hours on end...seriously.

I worked in cosmetics for a number of years and it left me with a great obsession for all things makeup and skin care. I love trying new products and seeing what works for me....which is why I was sooo pumped to start subscribing to BIRCHBOX. I've seen this monthly beauty boxes and I've always thought they've looked awesome.

I researched a bunch and settled on BIRCHBOX. BIRCHBOX just started a Canadian box last winter. I really liked their packaging and brands that they work with. So how it works is I pay $15/month and they send me an awesome box with deluxe size samples! You then use the products and if you want, you can review them on their website. The awesome thing about it is you get points every time you review..those points add up to $$ off their online store...aka free fullsize products if you have enough points!

Every month I plan on reviewing the box and let you know if it's worth it. I really liked this month's! 

It included a shampoo, lip stain, body butter, face scrub and perfume...and don't forget the super cute box it came in!! Can't wait to try it all and let you know how I like the products!

I'd love to know if you subscribe to any of these beauty boxes. If you do, let me know which one and tell me how you like it!

Oh and if you're interested in getting BIRCHBOX click HERE!

Can't wait for March's box!!!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

HELLO

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Hiiiiii!

Sorry I've been so M.I.A. lately...February has been extremely nutty for me with all the Illuminate prep and a bajillion other things! BUT I have many more exciting posts that will come once the craziness has subsided...

  • more on budgeting- on what is tithing all about, and how to budget when you're married!
  • ONE WORDS!!- I've been holding out on these because just last Saturday I had my annual one word breakfast so now I have pretty photos to accompany the one words...and oh my goodness, every lady came with an inspiring story so get PUMPED!
  • Wardrobe posts- Spring is here in my city so after Illuminate, James and I are planning to take some more photos!
  • Book Club- Have you finished Jojo Moyers, The Girl You Left Behind? We're going to discuss it next week!

Hope you have an amazing weekend! This afternoon James and I will be attending our church's marriage retreat...so excited for a night in a hotel and to hear from the amazing John and Helen Burns from Relate Church...and to hang with other couples in our church...it's going to be so FUN!

xoxo,

s.s.♥︎.