Quick Update

I just recently got a new laptop and am working on setting it all up! Shouldn't take me too long but it does take some time to get your laptop to your liking when you first get it. I have to transfer all of my fonts over and it's a serious pain in the behind!

VS Yoga!

I went shopping a last week and I'll slowly get around to posting the photos of all the items I purchased. I love VS Pink yoga pants. They are by far the comfiest and they really don't cost that much. Since I only had one other pair that was looking pretty worn in, I decided to buy some new ones. I went with the boot cut yoga pants with a pink band. They're pretty simple, but I'll probably end up wearing them all around my dorm in the Fall.

What I love about these yoga pants is mostly the material. It's not see through like the material you get from some places (Aerie for example) and it stretches really nicely. Great for working out but that's what they're supposed to be! They cost 39.50$ CAD. I'm not sure what the prices are like in the States but most likely a little bit cheaper. 

Not even going to lie, this little free dog that you got with purchase was the main reason that I ended up buying something. I'll probably go back and pick up some undies and various other t-shirts. What are your dorm essentials? Yoga pants? Shorts? 

21 Days to a Better You!

With the beginning of the school year only 4 short weeks away, it's time for me to start getting back into shape to tackle the upcoming year not only physically, but mentally as well! 21 Days to a Better You is simple. For 21 days you follow the diet regime below and add in a some working out whenever you please. It's not a strict diet but you will need to have some willpower to complete it! 

Let's start off with the tough stuff. The items listed below are the things that you're going to need to cut out of your diet for this to work. This is where the will power is needed. These are those little treats that you reach for when you're sitting watching television. They're the treats that are usually the impulse buys. 

• No Candy (Chocolate included)
• No Cake/Cupcakes
• No Donuts (Say no to Tim Hortons and Krispy Kreme)
• No Muffins (This one makes me cry)
• No White Bread (Opt for whole wheat or tortillas)
• No Chips (No brainer)
• No Fast Food (Say bye bye to McDonalds!)
• No Ice Cream
• No Pastries

Essentially you're cutting out junk food. Also avoid processed sugars. They're hiding in a lot of  foods so be sure to read the labels!

Replace the items above with:

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
• Whole Grain and Whole Wheat Bread
• Green Tea
• Water
• Hummus and Guacamole 
• Vegetable Chips
• Unsweetened Apple Sauce (Make your own by microwaving apples and puréeing them with some cinnamon)
• Greek Yoghurt
• Granola (Watch out, make sure it's the healthy kind and not sweetened)
• Your favourite fish and shrimp
• Leafy green salads (Use spinach)
• Almond Butter

Combine this healthy eating regime with a little bit of working out:

• Yoga (Here is a YouTube playlist filled with awesome videos)
• Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred (on YouTube)
• P90X (For the ultimate fitness people)
• A simple walk or light jog
• Swimming
• Whatever else you like to do!

Since working out is not the main aspect of this 21 days program, you don't need to devote all you time to it. However, if you do choose to work out, you'll most likely see better results sooner. Mix in some weights and strength training to get the ultimate back to school body. 

They say that it takes 21 days to break a habit or to gain a new one. Try eating healthy and cutting the above items out of your diet and sooner or later, you won't even crave them any more! Follow along on my blog to see how I'm doing! 

Latest Instagrams

I've been totally caught up with Olympic fever! Canada has been doing so well and it was a great feeling for our country to have attained our first gold medal yesterday in trampoline. Unlike the United States, Russia or China, Canada only has around 35 million people. One thing that I have been paying close attention to is Oscar Pistorius. If you don't know who he is, I highly recommend that you look him up! Not only is he the most amazing athlete that you will ever watch (and sure winner for the most amazing Olympian of all time in my books) but he is pretty easy and nice on the eyes. Definitely my Olympic crush. 

I managed to get some shopping in last Wednesday and I came out successful. Something that hasn't happened in a long time. I'm going to a Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan concert in a few weeks and was in dire need of an outfit. I ended up with a nice floral dress from XXI and some super cute hats that add to the country feel. 

I also picked up Sephora to use up the last bit of my gift card. Since I'm a Philosophy addict, I grabbed a Fudge Cake body wash and this eye shadow by NARS. It's a pale colour and really doesn't show up on the eyes too much but it is filled with glitter and looks great in the corner of your eye. I love it and it looks great on. 

Lastly, I was going through some old books and came across this collection of mine. Back when I was in grade four or five, I used to love Captain Underpants. I'm pretty sure I have the entire collection somewhere. Looking back and reading them now I can only think to myself how the heck did I manage to read this? 

Did you read Captain Underpants as a kid? 

Dorm Chic Day Two: Desk

A desk is a very important space. In university/college, it's where you spend the bulk of your time. With all that late night essays and assignments, you need a space that is not only comfortable, but productive at well. These products make your life and schooling a little bit easier. 

1. Giant Tiger Framed Cork Board or DIY 

2. Ikea 'Dokument' Magazine Holders  (Great for holding assignments and various papers)

3. Lilly Pulitzer 2013 Agenda 

4. Enjoy Lighting Flameless Silver Iced Candles (Calm your atmosphere without burning down your dorm)

5. Jonathan Adler Scales On the Go Mug (For those late night cram sessions)

6. Dormify Optical Mouse

The Average Blonde Bracelet Giveaway (Closed)

Just letting everyone know that the winner for my bracelet giveaway was announced today! Congrats Abigail! You've been emailed and have 48 hours to respond with your address! Thank you all for entering and there will definitely be another one in the near future. Over 100 entries were received!

Healthy Life!

Losing weight can be tricky. For me, the hardest part is finding a diet and sticking to it. I'm not a picky eater and I have no issue trying new foods and eating healthy. In my case, it's saying no to all the sweet things that are placed in front of me. 

For most, heading off to school in the Fall and living on campus can be difficult in the weight loss department. They constantly have fast food placed in front of them and are able to grab a quick snack in the cafeteria. This doesn't have to be the way that you eat every single day. I'm fortunate enough to have a suite at university that comes with a full kitchen. I'm able to prepare my own meals all the time and choose what I like to eat. Not all dorms are this way. You're still able to make healthy choices even though you don't have space to prepare food! Buying fresh fruit and berries to eat for breakfast instead of heading to the cafeteria. Buy a case of water that you and your room mates can share instead of sweet pop. It's the little things that make healthy eating easier. 

I love grocery shopping by myself. It allows for me to pick the foods that I want to eat and that I will eat. My grocery list usually consists of the foods that you can find on the outside of the grocery store. 

• Fruits and Vegetables: raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, premixed salads, spinach, grapefruit, avocados, onions, garlic, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, alfalfa sprouts etc. 
• Meats and Fish: pork, boneless/skinless chicken breast, salmon (my favourite), shrimp, sushi
• Dairy and Eggs: omega-3 eggs, lactose free milk, margarine (be careful with this one, look for margarine that is low in fats and calories and use it sparingly), chocolate milk (my weakness although I'm lactose intolerant), greek yoghurt
• Grains: whole grain fresh bread from the bakery and flax seed bread
• Other: almond and peanut butter, tortillas, granola, low fat muffin mix, frozen berries and vegetables

Instead of heading straight for the aisles in the middle of the store, head to the outside. This is where your foods with the most nutritional value are housed. The inside is usually just all the junk (with a few exceptions). 

You don't have to stick to a diet to lose weight. Weight loss is 80% healthy eating and 20% working out. You can lose weight simply by changing your diet - believe me! A change in your diet makes you feel amazing inside and out. 

Dorm Room Chic Day One: Bedding

I'm going to be headed off to university in a few short weeks and I'm going to be staying in residence for this year. I was lucky enough to have gotten a suite complete with a small kitchenette and dining area. I'm starting a little mini series for a little while called Dorm Chic! Like you, I hate those stereotypical dorm rooms with the cinder block walls and plain colours. Throughout the weeks leading up to university/college move in, I'm going to be showing you how you can spruce up your dorm from the bedding, to the desk area over to the walls! Your dorm will definitely not be a dull space!

Chances are, being a university/college student, you'll be spending a lot of time in bed. Sleeping will most likely be your best friend. In some cases, sleeping may be hard to come by. Ensure that your bed is comfortable by bringing a mattress pad. Dorm beds are notorious for being uncomfortable. A mattress pad will ensure that your back doesn't ache when you wake up in the morning to head off to class. 

1. Xhilaration "Bed in a Bag" Black and White Damask 59.99$ (Twin/Single)

2. Ikea Britten Nummer Fabric 3.99$ p/ meter

3. Ike Emmie Blom Cushion 7.99$

4. Xhilaration Black Fur Pillow 19.99$

5. Xhilaration "Bed in a Bag" Scroll 39.99$

The Ikea fabric above is a totally reasonably priced way to add a personal touch to your bed area. Consider making your own pillowcases or throw if you're crafty. You can save yourself a lot of cash and ensure that no one else has the same thing! 

Larger body pillows are great replacements for those hundreds of pillows you have on your bed at home. You shouldn't be moving your entire room with you to university/college. Just what you need for the time being! 

The Average Blonde: Bracelet Giveaway!

Win this gorgeous white and gold bracelet from my Etsy shop! All you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter instructions below to enter! You will receive one white and gold arm party bracelet. Bracelets are made using aluminium chain which is lead and nickel free, very hypo-allergenic! Giveaway is also open worldwide! Winners will be chosen via the Random Number Selector on Random.org. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recent Instagrams!

I've actually been doing a lot lately but haven't been taking my camera with me everywhere I go. However, having an iPhone proves to come in handy when I need to snap a few pictures. 

I've (finally) set up my Etsy store and started listing items for all to purchase. You can visit it by clicking here! My business cards which go in with every order are super cute and they came out beautifully! The front looks like pictured, the inside has jewellery care instructions and the back has all of my info and a neat way to visit my web page. All you have to do is download "ScanLife" on your iPhone, Android or whatever other platform you use and scan the back of my business card! 

Found myself at the mall again this past week. I think my car is programmed to automatically take me there and have me buy things. This time I had some restraint and only purchased this Brett Lawrie Blue Jays shirt. I love him and the Blue Jays so to me, this was a necessity. 

Lastly, the other day I had Starbucks for lunch. It was the first time in a while that I've actually indulged in a full lunch from Starbucks and it was totally worth it. I had a mozzarella panini, some sweet potato chips that were to die for and a strawberries and cream frappuccino made with soy! The drink is perfect for summer! 

Essence + Organix Haul

So I have this problem. When I'm bored, I immediately head to either the mall or the drugstore because chances are, you can always find something that catches your eye! My latest haul comes courtesy of Shoppers Drug Mart (for American readers, it's like Walgreens). 

In total, I ended up with seven items. They were all priced under 5$ with the exception of the shampoo, but that was even on sale! Totally rare and unusual with the brand and Shoppers! 

First off, the shampoo. Not going to lie, I bought this based on the colour of the bottle and how cute it looked. I'm a sucker for pretty packaging and light pinks (as you can probably tell by my colour choices). It smells awesome, something that is really hard to fathom considering it's made with ginger. Plus, I was looking for something to repair my dull hair! Hopefully this one works out well! 

These two Essence XXXL Shine glosses were the first products to find their way into my shopping basket. The one on top being Nude Candy and the one on the bottom, Timeless Beauty. Nude Candy is a pale pink (nude) super shiny gloss. Now I'm not a huge fan of nudes. I think that they make my already fair skin look immensely washed out, but this gloss is a really sheer nude and compliments my skin. The bottom gloss, Timeless Beauty, is sheer as well. This one has some added sparkle and looks great over top of a lipstick or just on it's own for an everyday gloss. They both smell divine and don't have any icky tastes to them. 

Next up, I grabbed this lipstick in Frosted. Like the glosses, it's a sheer pink. It really goes great with the Timeless Beauty gloss over top. I'm not a fan of lipsticks that really add a lot of colour to your lips. I know that sort of contradicts the point, but there are times when I want to get the colour without the stickyness of a gloss. If you're looking for a cheaper version of the Revlon lip butters, try this!

After searching forever, I've finally found a nice neutral eye palette that went well with my blue eyes. I don't wear heavy eye makeup but I do love to do a smoky eye every now and then. This Essence Quattro is in called Over the Taupe and it features a light off white, a light taupe, an almost silver taupe-y grey and a dark grey, perfect for the crease of your eye. I also picked up a white eye liner for my inner eyes. White against the light blue of my eyes really makes them pop. The eye liner may seem like a hard pencil at first but once you've worked in the pencil a bit, it turns into a soft, easy to apply liner. 

Lastly, the 1.49$ nail polish! This one is in the shade A Lovely Secret. It's a fairytale purple with some really light purple, barely noticeable glitter strewn throughout. It takes about two coats to get a nice coverage but it dries immensely fast and is perfect for a quick polish change. The thing that I love about Essence's polishes, is that they are not overpriced and they are not in large bottles. How many of you have honestly finished off a bottle of nail polish that cost you something like 8$? These ones are perfect because they're easy to finish and produce less waste. Plus their line of colours is amazing and the polish beats out a lot of the bigger brand name polishes (in my opinion). 

If you haven't checked out Essence at your local Shoppers (in Canada) or Ulta (US), you might want to. They're a great European brand who have finally (and thankfully) broken into the North American market. I've been a loyal supporter of the brand since I visited Germany two years ago and now I just can't get enough! 

Michael Kors and Wrist Wear

I decided to go to the mall today just to look around and I ended up finding this watch by Michael Kors that I could not pass up. It's a black chronograph watch with dark Swarovski crystals surrounding the face as well as crystals on the face. I actually remember looking at this watch a while back and lusting over it. Finally, it's mine! 

The watch goes perfectly with my wrist candy that I create! Even the lady who sold me the watch said that she was jealous of my arm candy! For those of you who are asking me when these will be avaliable for purchase, the answer is whenever I get my shipment of chain in! None of them will be over 15$ and prices will vary depending on the chain that is used on the bracelet. 

I'm not sure if I'm going to be selling them via Etsy or just through my Instagram but if you'd like to follow, you can find me on Instagram @wonderfullifee! 

Newest Addiction

Making these bracelets has slowly become one of my latest addictions. I'm also madly in love with the way they sit and look on my wrist. You're able to stack them with any outfit and they always manage to look good. I'm going to be selling them once I get my chain in the mail for 15$ on the left and 10$ on the right. 

I'm still struggling on how to close them without making the strings visible but eventually, I'll get it. 

On a side note, look at the crazy amount of bacon that was on my salad the other night. I swear they put a whole pig on here! It was extremely tasty nevertheless. 

Latest Instagrams

My laptop is nearing the end of its days. Thank goodness I'm going to be getting a brand new one (perhaps a MacBook?) in the upcoming weeks. My life as of late has been fairly boring. It's summertime and I've been doing some serious relaxing. 

The other day, I went to some outlet malls and came out with a brand new pair of Sperry Top-Sider's. They are super cute but right now, not so comfortable. You really need to work them in before you're able to wear them without socks. For now though, I've just been wearing some super low cut, thin Lululemon socks. I also tied the laces using barrel knots! 

After shopping, we headed out to a local Italian restaurant which is so good. I had a bottle of San Pel, caesar salad and some stuffed shells. The meal was so big and it lasted me a good two days. It was so good and definitely beats the heck out of going to the Olive Garden. 

Today I stopped by Starbucks to pick up my free Refresher. I decided to try the Cool Lime Refresher. It almost tastes like a mojito minus the alcohol! Tasty! I actually went into my herb garden and grabbed some mint and crushed it up to toss in the drink to make it taste more mojito-y. If you're looking for a virgin alternative to one of my favourite drinks, definitely try this one by Starbucks! 

(Source)

I've been seeing these cute little Helloberry bracelets all over the place and decided that there was no way that I was going to dish out almost 30$ for some plastic lace bracelet. Sorry, but they really are not worth that much money. Me being the DIY'er that I am, I headed out to Michaels and picked up some craft lace and chain and started to tinker around myself. The end result was a modest, somewhat Helloberry looking bracelet that cost a fraction of the price. Since yesterday, my skills have already started to improve and now I'm looking into selling them for around 10$ once I get more supplies in! 

P.S. If you really want to go and laugh at some ridiculous prices, check out Bfrend bracelets! I am honestly just going to warn you now! Do not spend this kind of money for these bracelets! The most you should spend is 15$, not even!

What do you think? Would you buy some of my Helloberry inspired bracelets? 

Room Revamp (In Progress)

Once again I find myself apologizing for the lack of posts on this blog. For a few moments, I thought that I'd be moving back over to Tumblr but then I realized that they removed the option to code a theme using the original style and that really threw me for a loop! Life has been pretty busy at the moment. In between work and all sorts of other little things that seem to be taking up my time I've barely been paying any attention to my blogs. Right now, both of them are feeling seriously neglected. 

Currently, I'm working on revamping my room. If you follow me on Instagram (@wonderfullifee), you would have seen the photo I posted of the disaster that was my bedroom. I had shopping bags strewn all over the floor and my desk was covered in heaps of clothing. After a whole day, I managed to rediscover my desk underneath all of the junk and my vanity area. 

As of right now, everything is a work in progress. I have this hideous carpet in my room that I'm planning on pulling out next week. It's seriously driving my allergies crazy. The copious number of shopping bags that I hoard have found their way into these cute and cheap frames from the dollar store. Also, I invested in some simple storage containers that stack and hold all of my hair brushes and extra hair products that I don't use on a daily basis. They also serve as little shelves to hold perfumes and body sprays!

These DIY glitter brush holders have got to be my new favourite thing! I can't stop making them! They are made using the glass container that houses candles. Plus, they are beyond easy to make. The tutorial was done by Miss. Glamorazzi on YouTube and they have become a staple in my room. I'm constantly burning all of my candles to try and use them up so I can make more. 

My room is definitely still a HUGE work in process. I have pictures to hang, walls to paint and carpet to pull. I'll probably end up pulling my hair our however, from all of the stress that this is going to cause me! 

What To Wear: Concert Chic

With the arrival of Summer, comes the arrival of the outdoor concerts. Whether you're heading to your favourite bands show or the Warped Tour, you should never be struggling to find the perfect outfit to keep you looking chic and stylish all day long. 

When I head out to a concert, I almost always wear a sleeveless top. Some prefer to wear their favourite bands t-shirt, but my theory is if it's boiling hot out, I don't want sweat to show up all over the place. A plain white flowy tank top is perfect to pair with a cute pair of pastel coloured short shorts. Pastel shorts, or any coloured shorts for that matter, add a pop of Summer colour to any neutral outfit. If you're on a budget, check out Hollister's selection of vibrant shorts! 

Footwear is very important at any concert. Blisters are the worst thing that can happen to you when you're standing for hours on end. Also, you never want to leave with only one shoe on. I usually look for a gladiator sandal. They stay on your feet and are usually pretty durable. If you find yourself on the shoulders of someone else or surfing the crowd, the last thing you want to worry about is losing a flip flop! 

I usually skip the purse. My fear of people grabbing it off of my shoulder is far too great and they're also not comfortable sitting on your arm all night. I opt for a stylish backpack. They're larger but still maintain the level  of comfort that you're seeking. Also, they're perfect for housing some makeup to touch up your skin. My must have product for any outdoor concert is a pressed matte powder to keep shine down. 

Lastly, you can accessorize your outfit with some bangles and sunglasses! Outdoor concerts do not have to be difficult! Looking good and stylish can be accomplished by keeping a few staple items in your wardrobe!

Current Wishlist

I haven't done one of these in a while and there are a few items that I've been lusting over for a little while now.

• Bond No. 9 New York OUD Scent. Bond makes scents that match New York neighbourhoods. Their high class, high quality and highly addicting. I love this scent and it's red plum flavour with hints of saffron and and orange zest. 
• This cuff by Lanvin features large jewels of various colours and is definitely a huge statement piece. 
• I've also bee into purple lately and I figure this cute YSL clutch is the perfect way to add a touch to any outfit. It really isn't too dressy and can be worn either way. Plus, I'm a huge fan of anything that has gold hardware.
• These spiked Louboutin heels are not only fashionable, but they double as a weapon too. 
• Lastly, I've been lusting over this Balmain jacket for ages. It's totally something that I could integrate as a staple into my wardrobe. 

Emmanuelle Alt wearing a similar jacket to the Balmain one above. I seriously wish I could just raid her closet and take all of her clothes. Her style is the perfect example of laid back chic! 

And of course, as I was perusing through Net-A-Porter, I stumbled upon this absolutely stunning cuff by Erickson Beamon. The silver and the rhodium go perfect together and the fuchsia and Swarovski crystal elements add that extra pop. This is definitely a need on my list. 

DIY: Subtle Ombre Nails

To start off, you're going to need to gather 3-4 polishes that come from the same colour family. Arrange them from darkest to lightest as that's the way you're going to be putting them on your nails. The three shades that I'm using are Essence's Ultimate Pink, Chanel's Rose Insolent and Revlon's Sweet Tart. I chose to keep the first two shades similar while opting for a brighter pink for the top of my nail. You're also going to need a good base coat (Revlon's Quick Dry Base Coat) and a top-coat if you so choose (recommended). 

Along with your polishes, you're going to want to have handy some makeup sponges. The ones above are by Quo and were 3$ at my local drugstore. A few Q-Tips come in handy as well to clean up the edges of your nails when you are finished. If you don't have Q-Tips, you can just use paper towel to clean up the edges or to prevent mess all together, grab some plain scotch tape and tape off the area around your nails. When you're done, peel the tape off and your skin should be clean! 

Start off by applying a simple base coat to your nails. I prefer to use one that is quick drying. This polish by Revlon works wonders and prevents your nails from yellowing and the polish from chipping off too soon. 

Next, paint the lightest colour in your polish trio on the base of the make-up sponge. You don't need to use up the whole bottom of the sponge, one corner should do. Follow by painting the second colour and then paint the last colour on top. Be sure to use a fair bit of polish since the majority of it absorbs into the sponge. Also, try to avoid using quick dry nail polishes. You want to allow yourself some time to work with the polish on the sponge. I've painted my three colours on the paper just to show you how it should look. 

You can dab the sponge on a piece of paper prior to dabbing it onto your nail if you'd like. Sometimes this helps to ensure the polish blends nicely but I find you can get a gorgeous ombre effect without doing this. 

Once you've applied the polish onto your sponge and are happy with the way the colours look together, begin to sponge the polish onto your nail. I usually use a rolling action going from left to right to ensure that I get the best coverage possible. Try not to pat the polish on too much because it starts to look speckled after a while. It is sort of hard to tell from the image above how the ombre looks, but I find that you can really begin to see the ombre effect once the polish begins to dry. Do this as many times as necessary. Just ensure that you allow the polish to dry in between. 

Your finished product should look something like my nail above. You can add a top coat to add extra shine and to try to hide the speckled effect that sometimes occurs. This was achieved with around three coats of polish. 

Personally, I prefer a more subtle looking ombre nail. You are able to do a more stark and noticeable ombre. This is a great way to get some use out of the polishes you have and work them all together. 

If you don't have polishes that match each other, the New Black makes gorgeous polish sets and colour combinations that make ombre-ing your nails super easy! You can find them online @ eBeauty for 24$ / 5 shades of polish!

Crazy Over Essie

Essie's latest collection Bikini So Teeny managed to catch my eye in the drug store the other day! Bikini So Teeny consists of six shades that are guaranteed to make your nails pop for summer. I ended up purchasing only one from the collection and a second that was on sale.

In Canada, Essie prices range anywhere from $8.99 to $10.99 depending on where you go. Personally, I'd rather splurge on a $26 Chanel polish that I know will be great no matter what. For me, Essie is a hit or miss.

Some polishes that I have purchased from their line (Mojito Madness and Cute as a Button) have been a great consistency. What polish should be. While others (Meet Me At Sunset) seem runny and horrible to apply. I'm a two coat kind of girl. Anything more and I find myself wasting time. 

Meet Me At Sunset was one of the shades released in the Braziliant collection a while back. It's super runny and I'm honestly not a fan of applying it. The colour however, is fantastic. It's a gorgeous deep orange with red hues. If only It didn't take so many coats to apply. 

Mojito Madness was recently released in Essie's Bikini So Teeny collection. I've yet to use it on a full set. Essie calls it a 'fun loving lime green'. It might be a little lime, but it's definitely not the lime I'm used to. It really doesn't remind me of a mojito at all. Maybe a different name would have suited the colour. The formula in this polish is thick, unlike the one mentioned above. It's great to apply and usually takes two coats (sometimes one) for full coverage.

Lastly, I picked up Cute As A Button. I don't think It's from a specific collection but I do know that it was released in 2009. It's a peachy coral against my skin tone and it's definitely one of my new favourites. Once again, the swatch on the Essie website proves to look nothing like the actual product. It's a bright pink yet on Essie the swatch makes it seem like a deep "persimmon" like colour. Not even remotely close!

Application wise, like I said, it depends what you get. They are all different. Try before you buy with Essie.

I do love the colours that Essie puts out. They're all cute and they definitely have something for everyone. However, I'm stumped when I constantly see different swatches on the website, on beauty review sites and in stores! Everything is different! It makes it hard to plan ahead to buy a colour and when you get to the store, the colour is not what you expected at all. Definitely do not go by their website swatches. Go into the store and look yourself!

What are your thoughts on Essie polishes? Do you think they are hit or miss? Have you had a bad experience with their polishes in the past? 

Bad Blogger and Mini Haul

First off, sorry for the extreme lack of posting! I'm in the middle of my exams and my graduation is next week so I'm a little tied up and focused on doing well on my exams! Wish me luck! 

Moving on, I went shopping a little while ago because I needed to pick up a few things and well, I ended up picking more than what I had hoped on buying. We actually ended up at the mall until 9:45. Totally lost track of time!

Victoria's Secret was having their semi-annual sale. I picked up two undies from their VS Pink line. The leopard print ones are just basic bikini style but if you know me, you'll know that I love leopard print! The second pair is a bright yellow and made specifically for wearing underneath a yoga pant! They're great because they don't give you an underwear line and if you're like me (a thong hater), these are the perfect alternative! These were practically a steal at 3$ each. 

Next up was Sephora. I still had 60$ remaining on a gift card from there so I picked up a few things. I was sort of unimpressed with the makeup but then again, I really do not need any more makeup. The smell of Philosophy's Pink Frosted Animal Cracker body was is divine. I don't know if it smells like animal crackers, but the pink frosting is definitely evident. I've also never seen this 'flavour' before. 

P.S. A little tip. If you want to substitute this stuff as shampoo, do it! Your hair will smell amazing and it surprisingly gives a great clean! I do it all the time!

Lastly, was LUSH. Once again I had difficulties picking something out. I ended up with one bath bomb and one bubble bar that I refuse to take a picture of because it is FILLED with glitter. The one above is Mrs. Whippy. Scent wise, it was awesome. The entire thing smelled of strawberry ice cream. When you first pop it into your bath, you think it's going to be quite dull but out of no where, this bright pink inside pops out and changes your bath water into a neon pink! I was quite disappointed with the fizzy power of my bomb though. I think perhaps I got a bad batch! Nevertheless, it worked wonders and made my skin feel super soft.

I promise everyone that I will get back into the blogger mood shortly! I just need to finish this last exam! 

Caviar Manicure Without the Price Tag

I've been fascinated with the idea of a caviar manicure for a while now. A recent trip to Sephora showed me how expensive the set was. For 25$ you get a simple black nail polish by Ciate, a bottle filled with tiny black microbeads and a little funnel for you to put the beads back into the pot when you're done. 

My caviar manicure cost me all of 8$. The nailpolish is a plain black by Essence and the microbeads are from Michaels. You get double the amount of beads that you would get in the Ciate kit and there are loads of colours that you can choose from. 

So what is a caviar manicure? All you have to do is paint your nails a base colour. I really wouldn't recommend using a fast dry nail polish. Look for one that takes a little while to set and fully dry. After you've applied however many coats you need, begin to sprinkle the microbeads on your nail and gently press them down. Do not apply a top coat when you're done. It's super easy and simple and can definitely be done for a fraction of the price!

Neon Nine Ways

1. HAIR / Emi Jay $6.50
2. SHIRT / Miss Selfridge $26.00
3. NAILS / Barry M $4.79
4. BRACELET / Juicy Couture $33.90
5. PURSE / Rebecca Minkoff $250.00
6. DRESS / Topshop $96.00
7. FLIP FLOPS / Melissa $50.00
8. HIGH HEELS / Jeffrey Campbell $150.00
9. EARRINGS / nOir $58.00

Fathers Day 2012: Easy Gifts for the Outdoor Dad!

1. If your Dad is a man who enjoys the outdoors, chances are he goes through his fair share of gas! He will surely appreciate a gift card that gets him some free gas! Usually available in a variety of denominations at your local gas station.
2. The perfect stainless steel grill set by Cuisinart is sure to please Dad by helping him make those perfect steaks on the BBQ! $34.99
3. Most Dad's are not so pro golfers. Give him some special golf balls for those days when he's on his game. Titleist Pro V1x golf balls are sure to make his swing look way better than it actually is. If your Dad is a bit better than average, you can personalize them with a little message! $53.99
4. Some Dad's prefer the lake over the putting green. If your Pops is one of them, grab him a kit filled with all the lures he'll need to catch the perfect fish. Bass Pro Shops has many kits for you to choose from. Each one with different lures to catch a different fish. From salt water to fresh water, there's always something at Bass Pro! $26.99
5. Beer is usually a hit with outdoors Dads. If he loves his Budweiser, he'll love the sauce. In four tangy and tasty flavours, these go perfect with his new grill set. Available at your local grocery store or online at Amazon! 

Review: got2b Powder'ful Volumizing Styling Powder

I have never heard of using powder to style my hair. When you think of styling products, you don't think of using powder to get the look and hold that you're looking for. Last week, I ordered TIGI Candy Fixations Sugar Dust Root Powder after seeing it on Annette's blog (Nettenestea) Since I'm so impatient, I also decided to grab this got2b Volumizing Root Powder from their Powderful line. 

First off, I found this powder at my local Shoppers Drug Mart on sale for $4.99. However, the regular price won't break your bank at $8.99. One tube comes with 10g of product inside which is a fair amount. Don't be alarmed at the light weight of the package. It's filled with product and you do not need a lot to get the job done!

The back of the package boasts that this product is weightless and creates maximum volume at the roots. Also, that you can apply it anywhere for an instant transformation. Sounds good right? Well, I managed to find some flaws. The instructions say to sprinkle a small amount into your palm and rub your hands together. However, when you do this the product becomes sticky and turns your hands into glue like magnets. I've adapted the instructions to just sprinkle into palms and pat onto my hair. 

Once the product is on your hair, you need to work it throughout your roots. You won't be able to run your fingers through your hair as the product feels like glue! My roots were so sticky after I applied. The product did last the entire day and my roots were more voluminous than natural. The root boost is definitely not instant as the instructions say. You almost need to let the product sit for a while and then go back and work your roots. 

After you've finished applying, you are really going to need to wash you hands. So the idea of it being able to be applied any time is not a good one. If you're somewhere without a sink, forget about it and deal with some flat hair. 

While the product does add extra oomph to your hair, it really is a bit of a burden to apply. You do get what you pay for though and if you're on a budget, this product does work. My hair remained voluminous for a while without any hair spray. However, my roots felt sticky and almost gritty. 

I'm looking forward for receiving my Sugar Dust in the mail shortly and will definitely be comparing the two. I'm really disappointed in the Sugar Dust already though! The bottle itself only contains one measly gram of product! That's like, a 1/4 of a teaspoon! For the price I paid, Sugar Dust better be made out of gold!

PRODUCT - 8/10 ● LONGEVITY - 9/10 ● APPLICATION - 2/5 ● PACKAGING - 5/5

Jewellery on Demand

I've never been a big jewellery wearer. Although I have my ears pierced, I just find wearing earrings horribly uncomfortable. So instead of wearing the jewellery for myself, I just make it for others. It's really more of a hobby than anything but it really comes in handy if you're looking for that specific piece that you just can't find anywhere else!

The ring above features a medium sized white rose cabochon which is made of a sturdy resin. These little flower cabochons are perfect for this kind of thing. They have a flat back and no hole so you couldn't use them for stringing. I set this little rose on top of an antique bronze adjustable ring base. I think these little things would be perfect for small bridesmaids gifts of favours for your party of some sort.

More recently, I've been making earrings for my friends who just want something to match an outfit that they're planning. I'm not quite sure what the flower above is, but nevertheless, they're super cute. These earrings are cute little dainty cabochons, set on a silver post. They actually sit quite nicely in your ears and they are not overly large, which is something that I'm not a fan of. 

Making jewellery is just one of the many things that have found it's way into my spare time. I've managed to collect a fair number of cabochons and keep them in a small little container. Once you start buying these things, It's hard to stop!