Valentine’s Day Essentials

So what are everyone’s thoughts on Valentine’s Day?  People seem to have some very strong feelings about it.  Like they hate it because it’s a highly commercialized, Hallmark holiday and technically you should be showing your loved ones how much you care about them, more than once a year.  I can understand that.  And then there’s those that love it and go all out and get the flowers, chocolates, candlelight dinner, teddy bears, etc.  I get that too because it’s kind of fun.

Personally I’m a little indifferent to it.  D and I have been together for a long time and there’s been years where we buy each other expensive gifts and go for an expensive meal and others where we do absolutely nothing.  I tend to like something that’s somewhere in between.  This year I think we’re going to keep it simple and just go for a nice meal on Friday or Saturday, instead of Sunday, so we can avoid the crowds, higher prices and fixed menus.  And we’ll probably skip the gifts this year.

Despite that, I thought I’d put together a collection of my favourite Valentine’s Day things, in case you needed some inspiration for the big Day:

1. Grower Direct Vibrant Dreams Arrangement:  I love getting flowers any time of year, and I don’t depend on D to buy them for me – I’ll happily buy them for myself!  I love this arrangement – classic V-day colours but a little more understated than a dozen red roses.
2.  Pier One Pink Champagne Ombre Filled Candle: Could there be a more perfect Valentine’s Day candle?  With notes of grapefruit, citrus and strawberry you really can’t go wrong (not to mention the beautiful ombre jar).  Plus let’s be honest, real champagne is over-rated.
3. Nova 7 Benjamin Bridge Wine: Wine wouldn’t be my drink of choice…unless it’s this one.  This is my favourite wine ever – it’s sweet, sparkling but not at all dry.  And it’s from Nova Scotia!  #whoknew
4. Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipstick (Firebird): No better day to break out a bright and bold fuchsia or red lip!
5. Purdy’s Cinnamon Hearts:  Whenever I see these hit the stores, I am instantly reminded of my childhood dog (RIP Twinkle) who ate an entire bowl of these in one sitting.  She was home alone and we had left a bowl on the end table.  We came home and they were gone.  Still makes me giggle to think about it.
6. Kate Spade ‘One in a Million’ Initial Pendant Necklace: Okay I know I have a bit of a Kate Spade problem but I’ve been eyeing these for years.  I think they’d make a really great gift, especially for V-Day!
7. Cookies by George Junior Cookie Box: Have you ever had a Cookies by George cookie?  If not, you’re missing out (highly recommend the M&M ones)!  These little boxes make great gifts for anyone and they deliver all throughout Canada and the US!
8. Remy Olivier Cast Iron Fondue Set: If you’re planning on hanging out at home, may I suggest a fondue party for 2?  We fondued on NYE and it was really fun (and delicious!) and it was nice to do something a little different!
9. Tokoyo Milk Tainted Love No. 62:  I have a mini bottle of this from a set I bought on Black Friday from Sephora and I think it makes a great V-day fragrance – warm, a little mysterious and a little musky.
10. PS, I Love You:  I can’t remember how many times I’ve watched this movie, nor read the book.  It’s a tear-jerker, comedy and romance all mixed into one.  If you’re looking for something along those lines to read, I’d recommend this (it’s usually on tv at least once a weekend as well 😉 )
11. Brooklyn Brew Shop Home Brew Kit: I hate buying D presents, he’s always disappointed in whatever I get him.  He’s definitely not into the sappy gift thing so beer is a safe bet, even if he does have to make it himself.
12. Ricki’s Heart Intarsia Pullover: I’m a bit of a geek and like to wear holiday-themed things, whether it be jewelry or clothing on holidays.  I like that I could wear this sweater after Valentine’s Day as well.
13. Purdy’s Peanut Butter Hearts: Valentine’s Day 101: Chocolate.  Add peanut butter and you’re golden.
14. OPI’s Hello Kitty Collection Nail Polishes (Small + Cute = ❤ & Charmmy & Sugar):  I picked up a few of these polishes from the Hello Kitty collection a few weeks ago and these two are my favourite and couldn’t be more perfect for Valentine’s Day.  I like using Charmmy & Sugar for an accent nail.

Thanks for reading!

Fall Essentials

Links: one; two; three; four; five; six; seven; eight; nine; ten; eleven

Today I have a quick post on my essentials for Fall.  We’ve had some unseasonably warm weather here which I’ve really enjoyed because usually we have a month of Fall and then it’s winter for six straight months.  It’s definitely nice to ease into cooler weather for once!

I’ve put together a collection of things that I feel are essential for the season.  Some of these I own or a own a similar version, and some of these I wish I owned (or may own soon…shhhh 😉 ):

Classic Trench Coat: A good trench coat never goes out of style and I’ve definitely made good use of mine over the last few weeks.  It goes with absolutely anything and mine is light enough that I don’t overheat on the way home, but keeps me just warm enough for the crisp morning air.

Super Soft Scarf: I’ve seen this scarf in store and I’m waiting for it to go on sale because I love, love how soft it is.  They have this in various colors but I like the combination of the pink, white and gray in this one.

Suede Ankle Boots; Given the climate here, suede is probably not the most practical material for boots; taupe suede in particular.  But sometimes you have to throw practicality to the wind and just buy what you love.  I’ve been eyeing up several versions of beige ankle boots for a while now and these offer everything I’m looking for.  Plus they are Tom’s so I’m feel like they should be comfortable. I also love the stacked, wood heel.  These will be mine at some point!

Cozy Plaid Shirt: There’s nothing cozier on a cool day than a plaid shirt.  I love pairing one with leggings and a tank and boots.  It’s pretty much the uniform of Fall in my opinion.  I like the orange and blue hues in this version, plus I appreciate that it’s a little longer in the back!

Woodsy Scented Candle: One of my favorite scents ever has to be the smell of a burning campfire/wood fireplace, especially during fall/winter. I never thought I’d find a candle that actually mimics that scent without smelling fake or overpowering but I did!  Having a real wood burning fireplace is a dream of mine, but until then, I’ll just have to burn this.

Monogrammed Mug: I’m not a coffee or tea drinker, but in the cooler months I definitely crave something warm to drink.  Hot chocolate is my go-to drink and drinking it from a large mug, especially one with my initial on it, makes it that much better!

Neutral Nail Polish: Essie’s Merino Cool is my top fall nail polish.  The shade is a greyish purple and it just goes so well with everything!  Two thin coats of this and I’m done, plus it lasts quite a while before I start seeing any wear or chips.  I always get compliments on my nails when I wear this!

Versatile Eyeshadow Palette: This is an oldie but a goodie for me.  I love the versatility of this palette – I can do a really neutral, natural eye or an all-out, dramatic smokey eye depending on how I’m feeling.  These shadows are a great quality and last forever.  Definitely worth the high price tag!

Hydrating Hand Cream:  Hand cream is a staple for me no matter what the season, but as the weather gets colder and the air gets dryer, I definitely need a thicker cream to help with my chronically dry hands.  Cake makes my favorite version with the perfect hint of coconut and vanilla.  It’s thick and creamy, and I usually only have to apply this twice a day to keep my hands feeling soft and supple.

Moisturizing Lipstick: Okay, I know matte is all the rage but meh, I like to break the rules.  My lips are naturally quite dry and matte lip products only intensify my dryness so I prefer moisturizing formulas.   I have a limited edition shade of this Bite Beauty lipstick and I’m so impressed in how moisturizing and creamy it is, while still providing long-lasting, pigmented color.  The shade I own is a very intense magenta so I’d like to add this more neutral, toned-down version to my collection.

Comfy Throw: What is Fall without a warm, cozy blanket to snuggle up on the couch in?  I usually gravitate to the faux fur versions, but this cable-knit version reminds me of a well-worn sweater.  Plus the fur accent can transition into winter/Christmas easily.

And those are my essentials!  What things do you need to get you through the season?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

Favorite things – Summer 2015

 

Happy Sunday!

It feels like the summer is just flying by – I can’t believe next week is the last week of July!  August always feels like the wind down of summer to me, which is sad!  In the spirit of summer, I thought I’d put together a list of my favorite products of the season.  Some of these products I actually own and love and you may remember seeing in some of my previous posts!  Others I either want and intend to purchase before summer ends, or I have something similar.

1) LeSportsac Hailey Tote (Joy Print): I’ve been eyeing LeSportsac’s bags for a while and I’m absolutely in love with the print on this one.  I”m in need of a new beach bag and while I feel this is a bit pricey, I feel like it would be worth it.  So pretty!

2) Margaritaville Fiji Frozen Drink Maker: We “invested” in one of these a few years ago and have had absolutely zero regrets.  I love the convenience of making restaurant quality slushy drinks at home….something which can be a blessing and a curse! #glugglug

3) Zoya – Lola Nail Polish: This polish is a bright neon pink with a hint of a blueish/purpleish duocrome and its absolutely gorgeous.  This is my go-to polish for my toes for summer as I love how bright and fun this is.

4) The Angel Sleep Tee by Victoria’s Secret: I tend to get really hot at night, especially in the summer, so light sleepwear is a preference of mine.  I own at least a half-dozen of these sleep tees because they are so soft, light and comfortable, and perfect for those hot summer nights!

5) Sun Bum SPF 30 Coconut Lip Balm: I’ve mentioned how much I love this previously – this is my go-to summer lip balm for the beach or pool.  It smells amazing and is super moisturizing!

6) DL Denim 1961 Florence Cropped Jean: I purchased a pair of DL Denim cropped jeans from Winners a few months ago and I’ve been in love with them ever since.  They are the only pair of jeans that I’ve ever owned that are stretchy without stretching out and are so comfortable.  I paid a lot less for them than the ones I’ve linked here, but I honestly could easily justify the full price of these because the quality is just so great.  Also I love cropped denim for casual Fridays at the office; shorts fall outside of the dress code so these are a great alternative, plus they keep me a little cooler than just regular old jeans.  A summer staple for me for sure!

7) Fossil Everleigh Cat Eye Sunglasses: I’ve purchased many a pair of sunglasses from Fossil because they take a licking and keep on ticking!  Plus they always have great classic styles like these!

8) Bobbi Brown Beach Fragrance: This smells amazing and exactly like summer!  I’ve seen the rollerball version at Sephora and it’s on my shopping list for my next trip in!

9) Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Heel of Approval Cracked Heel Treatment: I’m prone to dry, cracked heels, and they get particularly bad during sandal season. I’ve been using this on my heels at night and I wake up seeing a definite difference!  Now if only I could remember to do this on a consistent basis!

10) Lake Louise Breeze Poured Glass Scented Candle: Indigo always has such a great selection of fun seasonal items and their candles are no exception.  I love how these candles are designed with some notable Canadian locations in mind and given that I’m an Albertan, I can’t help but desire the one named after one of the most beautiful places in the world. ❤

11) Vaseline Spray & Go Cocoa Radiant Moisturizer: I’ve used the cream version of the cocoa moisturizer and I loved it.  The spray version seems like it’d be a great time saver on weekday mornings!

12) Reef Twisted Stars Flip Flops: I never get as many compliments on my shoes as I do when I wear these.  The little bit of sparkle in these really makes them stand out and appear fancier (as fancy as flip-flops can be) than they are.  And they are so comfy!  Reef is my go-to for good quality, comfortable and stylish flip-flops.

13) Express Blue Floral Cami Sundress: This is the perfect summer sundress and I have 2 of them (one black and the other in this blue floral print).  The cut is super flattering and it looks great topped with a denim jacket or cardi as the nights get a little cooler.

Thanks for reading!