BOOK CLUB REVIEW // GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND BY JOJO MOYES

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Hey hey! Remember when we started a virtual book club? Well today's the day we talk about the book! Ok take it away book club president Courtney...! (PS. my (Laura) responses are italicized!)

 

Welcome to the S.S. Heart Book Club wrap up!

As you know I am always so excited to get lost in a story. I feel that I have to be 100% honest with you but I have mixed feelings about this book. 

I enjoyed the 1917 storyline as that is one of my favourite time periods (Downton Abbey anyone?!) but I felt as though that part of the book was too short and the 2006 too long. I do however think Liv's struggle to decide what to do was interesting. 

I would love to pose a few questions to hear your thoughts. These are some of the questions i was left thinking of.... 

What were your thoughts on the book overall?

I kinda agree with Courtney. I did read this fast but I didn't EAT IT UP..ya know? I would have loved to have waaaaay more of Sophie's story...like their life after surviving the war!! Liz's life went on and on and on. 

Is the Sophie in The Girl You Left Behind the real Sophie?  

Yes! It's who her beloved husband painted her to be. Maybe she wasn't always "that" girl in the painting but he caught a version of herself.

What do you think of the relationship between Sophie and the Kommandant? He states that they're just two people. Do you think that is true?

UGH! I hated it. I understand I know nothing about war times but man I hated their whole relationship. I just ended up feeling sorry for both of them.

How did you feel when Sophie went to the Kommandant with the painting?  Do you think she went out of desperation or selfishness? 

AHHHHH....this part was SO SAD :( I believe she went out of desperation. She wanted nothing more than to be reunited with her husband...but at what price. This part made me sooo sad.

Do you think Liv should have just let go of the painting or was she right to pursue? 

For a lot of it, I was like gosssssshhh Liv is just being selfish in not giving up that painting. But I did enjoy the adventure in discovering the true owner of the painting. It did mean A LOT to her and was a great way for (oh gosh I can't even remember the other dude's name...) to prove his love for Liv.

Does letting go of the painting make her relationship with David any less real?  Is this the reason behind keeping the painting? To keep that memory alive?

I think a huge part of her keeping it was to remind her of David BUT as she worked through her healing from the loss she realized that the painting reminded her more of the girl she is when she is happy- a feeling that's not exclusive to David.

 

Can't wait to read your thoughts! 

 

Also stay tuned for our next book! 

 

Ok now your turn! What did you think? And we're also wondering, what books do YOU want to read??

xox,

s.s.♥︎.

NEW MUMFORD

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Is anyone else FREEEEAAAAAAKKKKKKIIINNNGGGG out that Mumford is releasing a new album in May!!?!?!?!?!? I saw them at Coachella back in 2011...one of the best concerts of my life. We really wanted to go to Squamish Festival this year but we just can't swing it :(  If they go to Van or Seattle, I'm SOOO going.

So what do you think of their new single? So crazy to hear electric guitars instead of banjos but I dig it. Stoked to hear the rest.

And speaking of new music...I'd love to start listening to some new tunes! Please let me know what you're currently loving!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday. I'm back to work after a couple days off...I'm very excited to get back in the swing of things but it's sure going to feel weird to wake up at 6 instead of 8 :/ !!!!!

Stay gold, 

s.s.♥︎.

ONE WORD BREAKFAST 2015

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One Word Breakfast

Hey! Remember when we gathered last year for a one word brunch? Well we did it again this year!!

Good friends + breakfast + opening up and talking about your life = THE BEST.

I made these waffles and all the girls brought over a dish to share. We had food upon food upon food...#booyah.

(All photos by the lovely, Amy Gary!! Be sure to check out her site!)

Um how stunning are my friends!!
And those bagels are from Mt. Royal Bagel Factory. The BEST place to get bagels in Victoria.

And that Sarah!! #bombshell
And my goodness...there's a sneak peek into my very un-styled living room/entry way. But it's coming along..still have LOTS OF PLANS!!!

Because all breakfasts including waffles need nutella, riiiiiight!! 

So Amy (the one who took the photos..funny story, there were THREE Amys at this breakfast party!!) had the brilliant idea of making our one words into a water colour. BRILLIANT. They all turned out incredibly!

It was such a great time together. We each shared the word that God had laid on our hearts for 2015. Again I am sooo amazed at how uniquely He spoke to each of us. There's something so special about gathering with intentionality with your girlfriends. Here's to building others up instead of tearing others down.

 I'll be sharing my one word SOON and then get ready for posts by these amazing women!

Got a question about one words? Basically it's listening or choosing one word to define your year! Here are mine from 2014, 2013 & 2012.

And now I'm craving waffles all over again......

Hope you have an amazing day!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

WARDROBE // 10

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Well friends, we have some exciting news....WE WON THAT MAYFAIR CONTEST! Thank you to all of you who liked and commented on our pics on instagram (and thanks for not unfollowing me while I put up way too many couple photos lol..) AND a HUGE thanks to Mayfair for picking us as 'Victoria's Most Stylish Couple'. We are THRILLED and can't wait to use the Delta package and of course, go shopping!!! Thank you sooo much!

So we decided it was about time to shoot another style post for you! We took these photos in our backyard (please don't judge our super long grass, we haven't had a chance to do anything back there!!) The lighting was just perfect!

And let me introduce you to my favourite leggings ever. I got them at Alt last June. At Alt you get a lot of free things. There are a lot of awesome brands and vendors who want you to try their products..it's a very fun situation.

I kept seeing people in these amazing leggings and they all told me they were given out by this awesome lady. I searched and searched for this "leggings lady" because I am all about amazing leggings. I was totally having no luck at all and then, at one of the workshops I attended, I happened to turn around. There I saw people lined up to chat to this lady..she took their info and in exchange gave them LEGGINGS. I had found her. *insert emoji hallelujah hands*

And boy was I ever blessed. The leggings are Agnes & Dora and they are my fave!! I'm legitimately thinking about having a leggings party because they are MY FAVE LEGGINGS EVER! So comfy and super cute patterns.

Her-
Blazer // Bag // Leggings c/o Agnes & Dora // Shoes // Watch // Charm Bracelet // Nail Polish // Lipstick

Him-
Jeans // T-shirt (from Topman in the fall but couldn't find it, here is a similar fit one in black) // Beanie // Coat- Shades of Greige (purchased from Four Horseman a while ago)

Past Wardrobes- 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

 

Well hope you had a great weekend! I'm now off for two days and am stoked to get some things done around the house! Maybe I'll actually find a PINK that I like for a small feature wall and maybe, just maybe, I'll do some weeding in the garden :I 

Happy Monday!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

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.♥︎.