2015/01 January Favourites

I'm back with a new favourites post after a long time of being dormant on finding new products.

Bath, Body & Hair
Escents Almond Latte Body Butter
Lush Porridge Soap
Batiste Dry Shampoo in Dark/Deep Brown
Nivea Cashmere Moments Shower Cream Oil in Orchid Blossom

Makeup
Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in 73 Black
ELF Rosy-go-Round lipstick
NYX Thalia & Paris lipsticks
Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey
EcoTools Flat Eyeliner Brush ((super soft bristles))
Physicians Formula Super CC+ in Light

Fragrance
Bvlgari Rose Essentielle
Escents Breeze Essential Oil

Skincare
Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia
Philosophy on a Clear day retinol clarifying lotion

Accessories

Steve Madden Tortoise Print Sunglasses
Fossil ES3077 Watch
Fitbit Flex

Places
South Granville Galleries, Shops & Cafés
West 4th
Sun Yat Sen Gardens
Downtown Vancouver

Books
Soul by Tobsha Learner
The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais
The Continuity Girl by Leah McLaren

2015/01-04 Boxing Week Haul

Hello Everyone,

I'm back with a Boxing Week Haul post. I was a keener this year? Or should I say last year, on boxing day morning I checked the sales online and they were not that good. Must I say it seems like the sales were better before Christmas than after Christmas. Finally, after a week or week and a half long search for all the things that I wanted new or wanted to replace. I found a new winter jacket that I could wear for snowboarding as well as every day wear. The Columbia Peak Insulated Jacket in Blue. It has not arrived in the mail yet, but I'm sure going to love my bright blue coat. Columbia makes excellent quality clothing, I don't see why I wouldn't like this jacket, when I've loved many of their jackets in the past. I got this jacket for 50% off $75 CAD marked down from MSRP $150 CAD.

Also I wanted a pair of casual comfy boots for everyday wear so I went for the Firefly Suede boots, sort of like the Uggs but doesn't have the price of them. As I know I would wreck the Uggs from going snowboarding in the mountains. Something less expensive was the route I was going for. This was also 50% off for $45 CAD.

Also, found a new favourite sweatshirt from Vero Moda, it's got some interesting quilted paneling on the side of the hips and two zips at the front for esthetics purposes, you could unzip them, but I think it looks weird when you leave them unzipped. But that's just my opinon. I got this top 70% off for $20 CAD marked down from MSRP of $69 CAD.

Those were the only 3 items I purchased in the Sales of Boxing Week. Let me know in the comment box below what great "Buys" you got during the Boxing Week sales. Until next time, stay sharp and have a wonderful day :)

Cheers,

Vivian

2014/12-25 What I Got for Christmas

Hello All,

Long time no blog. I apologize as life has been hectic. But the good news is that I'm back with a What I Got for Christmas post.

Please note this blog post's intention was not intended for bragging. More for sharing what items I received as an inspiration to others and also to introduce and reviews the products. I am not being paid by the manufacturers, everything was purchased with my own money and/or was gifted by friends and family.

Not in any particular order but placed in groups:

First up is food & beverage. I received a bottle of Fat Tug IPA,

Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee Beans,

Adorable Animal shaped Macarons

 & Chocolate Covered Fruit.

 Also a lovely Owl mug from Starbucks.

 I was also gifted two gift cards to Tim Horton's,

I gotta have my Joe! As well as my favorite STASH Double Bergamot Earl Grey Tea.

2) Fashion & Accessories. I was gifted a Fossil watch that I have wanted for some time now. I was super stoked when I opened the present. Thank you, it was very generous of the gifter.

I also purchased an Art Deco diamond ring for myself, as it has been a long year.I also received a pair of black Chelsea boots that are so gorgeous and comfortable to wear.

Also, a nice long sleeve retro Roots shirt in maroon/grey; super cute & old school with the beaver logo on it.

I can't find the correct photograph of the shirt. But it's like this one except the sleeves are maroon and the body is a medium grey.

I bought myself a black cable knit touque for the winter season.

My BFF also got me a pair of pink Argyle knee high socks from the Gap, she's keeping up with tradition I see. I received a pair of Argyle trouser socks from the Gap a couple years ago. I still have them. I'm excited to put on the pair of pyramid stud earrings from the brand nOir, they are so pretty.

3) Beauty & Fragrance. I went a little overboard with "self gifting" this year and also my BFF was very generous with her gifts too. Thank you ❤. I received a baked eye shadow palette from the Sephora Moonshadow collection in In the Tropics; it has beautiful shades of gold, green, peach, plums & deep purples.

 I bought myself 3 perfumes  but I must say I had to have them! First one is the Bvlgari Rose Essentielle,

 then it was the Zara Nuit

 and a solid jasmine perfume from Song of India by R. Expo India.

4) Gadgets & Tidbits. I really wanted to get back into a fitness routine. So I decided on getting a fitness tracker/pedometer of some sort. I got a Fitbit Flex and I'm loving it. I track my calorie intake, water consumption, it's got a pedometer and it even tracks my sleep pattern. Must I say it has a silent alarm? Come on now, what's not to love here? ❤

 Lately in the winter months my office has been very dry, so I bought a mini desk top humidifier that has a USB plug for myself. I think it works great. My skin feel less chapped.

5) Fitness & Gear. I bought myself a few things to get back into the fitness routine. A yoga block from Balance Collection,

Marika Resistance Tube

& a Balance disc.

I'm guessing my Fitbit Flex also falls into this category.

Let me know what you got for Christmas in the comments below. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year's.

Cheers,
Vivian

October/November 2014 Favourites: Beauty & Lifestyle

It's been a long time coming. I haven't had anything new to share, hence the lack of posts. Due to recent weather changes in British Columbia. Causing multiple changes in lifestyle and festivities. Here are some of the goods that I've fell in love with this Fall/Autumn season.

Clothing:
Lululemon Scuba Hoodie in Black

H&M Army Jacket

DKNY Draped Vest

Hand Therapy:
L'Occitane Roses et Reines Hand & Nail Cream

Skincare/Makeup:
Origins GinZing Moisturizer

Origins GinZing Mineral Makeup

Avene Clean Ac Cleansing Cream

Elizabeth Arden Brow/Eyeliner Powder

NYX Blush in Pinched

Music:
Marilyn Manson - Cupid Carries a Gun
Colbie Caillat - Try
Meghan Trainor - All About the Bass
Birdy - Birdy (Album) & Fire Within (Album)
Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour (Album)

Lily Kershaw - Midnight in the Garden (Album)
Lykke Li - I Never Learn (Album)
Coldplay - Ghost Stories (Album)

TV Shows:
Constantine
Elementary
Forever

Gotham
Agents of Shield
Salem

Satisfaction
Scorpion
Stalker

Witches of the East End

Places:
Stanley Park & Coal Harbour

La Taqueria Pinche

Heirloom Restaurant

British Columbia - Your Neighbourhood Farmers Markets 2014

One of my favourite things to do while growing up was going to farmers markets and flea markets with my parents on the weekend. This was a tradition when I was young, we loved seeing one of a kind things and trying new things. As a child, I was exposed to great imagination and creativity. And for that I am thankful.

Here are some of our local farmers markets:

Abbotsford Farm & Country Market |afcm.ca|

Open every Saturday 9AM to 1PM (February to December)

Montrose Ave at George Ferguson Way

Cloverdale Market & Flea Market
Open every Sunday year round 6AM to 4PM
Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 176th St (Hwy 15) & 62nd Ave

Fort Langley Village Farmer's Market |fortlangleyvillagefarmersmarket.org|

Open every Saturday 10AM to 3PM (May 3 - Nov 22)

St. Andrews Church, 9025 Glover Road, Fort Langley

Port Moody Winter Farmers Market |makebakegrow.com|

Open every Sunday 10AM to 2PM (Nov 2 - Apr 26)

Port Moody Recreation Complex, 300 Ioco Road

White Rock Farmers' Market |whiterockfarmersmarket.ca|

Open every Sunday 9AM to 1PM (Oct 19 - Dec 14)

The Elks Hall

Check out the BC Association of Farmers' Markets website for additional markets across BC at bcfarmersmarket.org

2014/05: May Beauty Empties

It's near the end of the month and it's time to do a blog post for some new empties.

Bath & Body Works Sleep Lavender Vanilla Body Wash & Foam Bath - I can say that it helps me sleep. But it does smells lovely.

Marc Anthony Morocco Argan Oil Conditioning Treatment - this smells like a dream and makes my hair less frizzy and extremely soft.

 

ELF Daily Brush Cleaner - works like a dream but I don't like the perfume in the cleaner.

Dr. Bronner's Lavender Castille Soap - subtle lavender scent with great cleaning power. I love using this to clean my makeup brushes.

Bausch + Lomb Re-Nu All Day Moisture Contact Solution - does a good job in cleaning and disinfecting my contact lenses.

 

Avon Smooth Minerals Pressed Powder in Sand Beige - my budget alternative to the Bareminerals powder. Same type of coverage but a fraction of the price.

Nars Skin Purifying Foam Cleanser - now that I've been using this cleanser for a while. My skin has changed and has some dry patches. This cleanser is a little too drying for me now. Hence, I have switched cleansers.

Origins Super Spot Remover - a staple product of mine. Good thing I recently bought a backup from Sephora.

John Freida Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Shampoo - an old favourite back when I had a lot of blonde in my hair. Well now that I have peekaboo blonde highlights I went back to my trustworthy old favourite.

Calia Eucalyptus Essential Oil - I used this as a brush cleaner and disinfectant with the help of some unscented baby wipes. This is great for quick spot cleaning.