Work it work it!

Photo Credit: Google Images

So lately I've been a bit obsessed with attempting to be healthier, change up my lifestyle.  Thanks to good genes I have been blessed with a high metabolism and thus far the effects of my late night snacking haven't had much ill effect however, I am a believer of the importance of exercise and a good (better) diet.

I gave the 30 day vegetarian challenge a go and I will say it was not an easy feat! But it was a nice challenge to attempt all the same.  Perhaps it was a result from all the tumblr's I've been browsing through of late but I was overtaken with the desire to get in better shape and joined both a local gym and an online one by Zuska Light.  I've come across Zuska before when she was still with BodyRock TV but never really spent much time with it.

 For those of you who are too busy to keep up a gym membership and just can't be bothered with all the extra equipment required with other workouts I highly recommend checking out Zgym, the routines are at most 30 minutes and use very little of any gym accessories, not to mention it costs only 10 dollars a month and you can complete them in the comfort of your own home away from curious eyes.

 I wasn't aware of how effective Zuska's routines were until I finally went for some cardio about 2 weeks ago and found myself able to run for a good 30 mins and a fast recovery rate at that! Of course donning some cute workout wear is also a plus and I'm rather a fan of the Lululemon tops and shorts, but please remember that yoga pants/shorts are not proper pants for everyday wear.  I have seen one too many yoga pants being worn as dress pants, it is about time something is done about that!

Gotta Have Dreams...

Photo Credit: Google Images

It seems this summer we've been blessed with incredibly good weather which I have been enjoying most profusely.  As the title would suggest we all have those dreams and goals that someday if the fates allow will come to fruition and while I have my long term aspirations that I hope to achieve in the next few years there are some shorter material goals I've been having lately.  

Cue the glamglow mud mask which promises "super sexy super radiant skin."  Now I've always been a believer that skin care is something worth investing in because hey you only have one face (usually) and it is what you present to the world so of course you should present your face the best it can be.  I generally dislike foundations liquid or otherwise because of the heavy mask sensation/ tendency to rub off on everything factor, this coupled with the fact I have what Elaina and I like to refer to as "weenie" skin (a.k.a extreme sensitivity) not many products have been suitable.  Not to mention it being the summer and warm weather the addition of foundation just feels unnecessary and I do hear mud touts incredible benefits...

Wen in Rome...

Photo credit: Google Images

It has been a busy couple of weeks and as a result we have been unable to do much of any posting apologies everyone!

Lately the weather in Vancouver has been a bit up and down but it is expected of the season and the city.  I am counting my lucky stars I don't get frizzes in muggy, rainy weather however my hair does tend to tangle quite often.  After my many bouts of hair colouring my locks were beginning to feel stressed (re: feeling dry and extremely tangled in the shower) and thus spurred my search for a hair mask or treatment to help calm things down.  Enter Wen hair care line.  

Now I had come across these products in the past and hadn't bothered to research it further figuring I didn't really need it and honestly with hair on the oily scalp side the idea of slapping on loads of conditioner even ones labeled "cleansing" wasn't altogether appealing.  But as fate would have it I found myself drawn towards Chaz Dean's products and decided on a whim to give it a try.  It was a miracle! My hair felt restored, smooth, luxurious and no tangles hallelujah!

The price not er so much, the cleansing conditioners range from $32 for a 16 oz bottle, $58 for a 32 oz to $210 a gallon. In order to properly cleanse the hair and of course depending on length, type of hair and so on you're looking at about 20-30 pumps of conditioner per washing to get the desired results.  As much as I loved how my hair feels I can't possibly justify spending that much.  

After some further digging on the interwebs I found that as long as you're using a silicone free conditioner, you can get similar results with any old brand.  A popular alternative is the Suave naturals line, I've also tried using the Live Clean line with promising results as well.  So lesson learned here kids, a heftier price tag isn't always better and it's important to know what else is out there before settling down.  

Arched

Photo credit: Google Images

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the brows are the drapes that frame them and I must say some drapes I’ve seen are in dire need of a revamping. Roots and unruly brows are on top of my pet peeves (I’m sure there are other things on there too but I don’t want to get ahead of myself). As a teenager I grew to be fascinated with eyebrows and the difference they can make for a person’s face.  

 

Properly shaped and groomed eyebrows will lift and balance your features almost instantaneously. There is a golden ratio to go by when attempting to find the correct shape, too far apart between the brows will make the nose look enormous as well as the forehead.

It is always a good idea to see a professional before attempting to tackle that gnarly brow on your own. Plucking less = more is definitely key here, we all fall victim to over plucking every now and then but it takes months to repair a mistake so tread carefully.

 

 

Photo Credits: Google Image

Angled faces with sharp features should go with a rounder softer eyebrow to balance out the edges, round or curved faces should go for angler brows, and long faces look best with flat eyebrows, shorter faces look best with high arched eyebrow, smaller eyes look best with a lower arch, and big eyes look their brightest with a high arch.

Tangled

Diamonds certainly are and will always be a girl’s best friend. Of course my jewelry collection is not crammed full of Harry Winston, Cartier or even Tiffany’s (a girl can dream right?) so ladies you have to agree with me that we all need to fake it until we make it. What girl doesn’t enjoy a sparkle here and some kind of rock on her finger…wait correction fingers?

Slowly my costume jewelry collection has been growing, I spot cute pieces here and there and they simply need to come home with me. This creates the dilemma of organization. How do I organize all of the accessories so that I can see them (to remember to wear them) and keep them safe from turning into a tangled messed?

I took the route of saving my money; it seems rather silly to overpay for the containers that HOLD the jewelry and not the jewelry itself. I searched high and low for affordable and functional containers; even looking at containers that don’t necessary say“jewelry storage”; sometimes we need to see things beyond what they are.

Earrings

Tackle boxes: Canadian Tire 5 each

Some might say that I am a late bloomer; one aspect of my lateness was getting my ears pierced. As I saw on TV girls begging for the ever-so-important process of girlhood, I could not care less. Finally giving in and just in time for prom, I suddenly found myself obsessed with finding that perfect pair of earrings; resulting in a massive amount of the perfect pair…

Tackles boxes: a clear plastic box with divided little compartments originally created for the dad favorite activity of going fishing, it gives each pair their own home, easy to stack and $5-$8 per box. These boxes also come in a range of sizes, depending on your space and how many pairs you have.

Bracelet and Necklace Storage



Plastic storage boxes: Daiso 2 each





Plastic Storage boxes: Daiso 2 each

I'm not a huge fan of hanging all my accessories out as room decoration; I rather have them stored away for easy access. I found these perfect pink and SPARKLY plastic containers for $2 each that have dividers to help separate my goods and also keep them from tangling into one another. These take up very little room and are stackable.

Rings

I use to love looking at jewelry boxes, but now I usually reserve those for my fine jewelry. As I may be borderline OCD when it comes to organizing, I dislike boxes that have no dividers. It seems silly really things just don’t have their own home, and just bangs into one other. I found these cardboard dividers at my local dollar store. They come in a package with multiple pieces for just $2, the best part is that all you need to do is measure out the length and cut it to make your own customized fitting. Then ta-da! You got your own customized jewelry box giving a home to each of your awesome rings.

Room Decoration



Glass décor bowl: Gift| Ice cream dish: Daiso 2| Glass candle holder: Bath and Body Works mini candle

Jewelry is a very pretty thing. It can take an outfit to a whole different level, but it also makes for great room decoration. I know that I mentioned that I’m not one for putting my jewels out for display, but a girl’s gotta put out a little sparkle for the finishing touch. I throw my most worn items into delicate display cases or just some inexpensive dinner ware. Next time you pass by something pretty and inexpensive, take a second look at it and see what kind of outside of the box potential it may have.