Cute Makeup Tips

The other day I was waiting in line at the grocery store and was horribly embarrassed at how dry, and scaly my hands looked. I quickly paid and shoved my hands back into my coat pockets. Lesson learned: never leave home without your hand cream! For soft, youthful looking hands try out some of these hand and feet skin savers!

1. Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve ($12.50 US): Heavy duty creams usually mean greasy and sticky. Kiehl's version is anything but! You can expect all day care and protection with this hand cream. It absorbs quickly into the skin so you won't have to wipe the excess off onto your pants (yes, I've done that before!). It creates a "glove-like" protective barrier against moisture loss and can stand up to even the harshest conditions.

2. Green by Nature Hand Cream ($8.99 US): It just makes sense to go all natural. Green by Nature is an all natural bath and body care line, created with you and the environment in mind. All their products are over 95% natural, and free of parabens, sulfates, DEA, petroleum, propylene glycol, sacchrine, dioxin, and phthalate. I've fallen in love with this line and the price point! The hand cream in Almond Cocoa is just delicious and quickly soothes and moisturizes your skin. Enriched with vitamin e and and aloe with a luxurious blend of jojoba, almond and avocado oils your hands will be looking beautiful in no time!

3. Kiehl's Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer For Dry Or Callused Areas ($22.50 US): On the most driest and coldest days your hands and feet will need a little more TLC. During the holidays, I did a lot of dishwashing (darn large pots that don't fit into the dishwasher!) which as a result cracked and dried my hands to the core. As someone that doesn't frequent the spas for pedicures, you don't even want to know what state my feet were in! Kiehl's Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer is exactly the product you need for areas that require special attention, a.k.a crusty elbows or callused feet! On some nights I've slathered the cream on my hands and feet followed by gloves and some warm socks. My skin just soaked it up. The next morning I awoke to super soft skin! Do this for a few nights and you'll for sure see a difference. Works great as a cuticle cream too!

I'm a sucker for packaging especially around the holiday season when beauty brands go all out in the most exquisite packaging. These scented lovelies are for the friend, mother, co-worker, who enjoy sophisticated elegance.

1. Tocca Florence Bagno Da Viaggio Bath & Body Gift Set ($48 USD): A perfect gift for the woman who loves to travel. Included in this cream coloured box set inspired by old Italian candy boxes are travel-sized Florence shower gel, body lotion, and candelina. The luxurious lotion is very moisturizing and will help sooth dry, sensitive skin. The shower gel gently cleanses the skin while leaving the skin soft and smooth. The popular Tocca Candelinas will fill your room with a beautiful aroma. She'll be able to enjoy the fragrance of the orris rose scent of Florence wherever she goes. The boxed set makes gift giving easy especially for those last minute gifts!

2. Jo Malone Tasting Kit ($110 USD): Want to introduce a fragrance junkie to Jo Malone colognes? The Tasting Kit is a fabulous introduction set for the Art of Fragrance Combining. Jo Malone designed her scents to be layered with one another or worn individually. This kit comes with Pomegranate Noir Cologne (30 ml), and a tasting of three of its notes: Raspberry (9 ml), Casablanca Lily (9 ml), and Guaiacwood (9 ml). Pomegranate Noir is a sophisticated sensual scent that is spicy, woodsy, yet fruity. I usually love a combination of spicy fruity scents, but I'm on the fence with this one. It's a rather strong scent (the husband is not a fan) that sometimes makes me sneeze, but I'm still giving it a chance. The upside is that you have the option of mixing with the other 3 fragrances. Raspberry is just lovely on its own and my fave out of the set. Fragrance lovers will love creating their own signature scent. The leather boxed case alone makes a fantastic gift!

3. Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Radiant Powder Spray in Vanilla Noir ($12.25 USD sale price): Vanilla lovers will love spritzing this on before an evening out. The Radiant Powder Spray will give your skin a kiss of golden shimmer and a sweet hint of Madagascar vanilla. It also leaves your skin velvety soft. My favourite part is the glamourous vintage bottle! How luxe would this look on your vanity?? Love!

Have you tried any of these products? Love 'em? Hate 'em?

My hands definitely need some hand relief! I am a huge fan of Aveda Hand Relief ($21 USD) moisturizer. I love slathering on this ultra-rich moisturizer. It never leaves my hands greasy, just softer and noticeably smoother. Hydrating plant emollients, humectants, exfoliating fruit acids and anti-oxidants—including vitamins A and E—help diminish signs of aging and provide optimal relief. With continued use, moisture levels and elasticity increase. The mix of citrus and cinnamon scent is also delicious!

Aveda will donate $4 from each sale of the Breast Cancer Awareness Hand Relief to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to fund environmental research to help find a cure, with a maximum donation of $300,000.

Have you tried Aveda Hand Relief? Love it? Hate it?

www.aveda.com




http://beautyblognetwork.com/

It's no secret that I have a healthy addiction to lip balms especially if they've got a lil' colour. I'm really excited because the mecca for yummy scented bath and body products, Bath and Body Works, has made its way to Canada (stay tuned for details on the grand opening event)! No longer do us Canadians have to go across the border or have relatives send care packages with our favourite BBW products.


One of my must-have products from BBW are C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tints ($7.50 USD). Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine is one of my favourite clear glosses to swipe on. The flavours are so intense and irresistible! I got to try the lip tints and I'm in love! I adore how it feels like a balm but gives you the high shine of a gloss. Infused with Peppermint Oil, your breath feels fresh. These squeezable tubes are portable and small enough to fit the whole collection into your purse! The slanted applicator makes a no-look-no-mirror application easy.

Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Bare Mint: This soft shimmery pinky-beige gloss is lovely for every day or paired with Fall's dramatic eyes. I haven't worn a nude gloss in a long time but this has become my new fave!


Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Coral Mint: When I squeezed this out I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a flat coral but instead got a pretty peachy-coral with a pearly finish. Seriously, so gorgeous!


Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Plum Mint: Plum can brighten and flatter just about most skin tones. Plum Mint gives your lips enough colour yet is still neutral enough to compliment any look.


Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Violet Mint: This gorgeous violet with a pearl finish is just so pretty on. Looks lovely against luminous skin.

www.bathandbodyworks.com

Available at Bath and Body Works and now in select locations across Canada: Erin Mills Town Center, Mississauga, ON, Stone Road Mall, Guelph, ON, White Oaks Mall, London, ON, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta, Yorkdale, Toronto, ON. Opening October 2008: Fairview Mall, Willowdale, ON.

I am a sucker for bath and body products especially ones that smell heavenly and have beautiful packaging. My latest love right now is Thymes Red Cherie collection! The scent is a mix of sweet and flirty scents of sparkling pomegranate, ripe red cherries, passion flower and jasmine with a twist of Asian lychee and a tease of fruity musk.

The Exfoliating Body Scrub ($30) slathers on rich and gently sloughs away dead skin leaving your skin glowing and healthy looking. Body scrubs are a must especially now that warmer weather is approaching and we're showing more skin. I little trick I like to do before I shave or wax my legs is apply the scrub on dry skin and then use a small towel and polish it up and down. This technique really exfoliates the skin and gets rid of in-grown hairs.

I love the light texture of Red Cherie AHA Body Lotion ($6). It's perfect for warmer weather when richer lotions can be heavy on the skin. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. My skin feels so soft after. The scent is sweet but not overwhelming. The light, fresh scent is perfect for summer. It's one of my new favourite scents! The 2 ounce bottle is perfect for traveling as well.

Happy shopping!

To see the complete Thymes Red Cherie Collection or to buy visit www.thymes.com.

Bobe (beyond ordinary bath essentials) is bringing back Totally Indie coupon packages! What's totally indie? It's a collective group of independent designers & businesses that have joined to bring our wonderful customers exclusive deals!

How do I get the coupons? All bobe orders over $20 will receive this package of 40 coupons for hip indie businesses (including bobebathessentials.com). They will be available all year until the supply has been depleted.

The fine print: Limit of 1 coupon package & usage of the savings code per customer.

Also check out bobe's newest fragrances! Happy shopping!

Gloves In A Bottle (such a clever name because it really does act like gloves!) is not only great for the dry winter season but anytime of the year especially if you suffer from chronically dry hands. It is a shielding lotion that will cure all your dry-cracked-skin woes away. What is a shielding lotion? It is a lotion that rapidly absorbs into, and bonds with, the outer layer of the skin that creates a protective layer while retaining moisture on the inside. I use it from time to time when my hands get really dry and it cures it right up especially those cracked areas around the nails. The texture is light and non-greasy and does not wash off (and when you have kids you're always washing your hands!). If you're not a fan of scented products this lotion is fragrance free. Another great thing about this is that you only have to reapply every 4 hours or so. Most regular lotions only temporarily alleviate dry skin, but a shielding lotion repairs lost moisture and over time helps build the production of moisture back to your skin. I'm addicted to my yummy smelling lotions so I like to use both together. This way I have a yummy scent plus moisturized hands that lasts for a long time! An 8 ounce bottle is $12.95 each - not bad for something that will last you a long time!

For more info please visit http://www.glovesinabottle.com

(apology's to Pete for the late review!)

Bobe you ask? No, it's not a typo. Bobe (pronounced beau-bee), is a fairly new Canadian bath and body line that has me swooning! The line was launched in 2006 by Marlese Sears, who has been so gracious to me. The story behind the name Bobe, an acronym for "beyond ordinary bath essentials", is just adorable. It started out as a funny family memory of a misspelled pet name. Their pet fish was to be "Bobby" but was misspelled "Bobe" and the name has stuck with her ever since.

You'll be tickled sweet with how many yummy scents her products come in. Bath and body products come in 50 scents and lip balms come in 70 scents! And would you believe that the products are made fresh at the time you place your order? That's definitely beyond ordinary. What's also beyond ordinary is that every month Bobe gives 5% of retail sales to a different charity!


I was excited when I received Bobe's Silken Cream in "Chai Tea Party, the Sugared Frosting Scrub in "Raspberry Lemonade" and Bobe Lip Balm in "Vanilla Soft Serve". I am a sucker for scented products and when I took a sniff of each I was amazed that they smelled exactly like its name! The Sugared Frosting ($8 CAD) is literally like rubbing sugar all over your body. Now that it's getting colder out and my skin is getting dryer, the scrub has been the best remedy. My skin is left feeling velvety soft. The smell of raspberry lemonade is intoxicating in a good way of course. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the scent when I first saw it but as soon as I opened the lid my mouth watered. Ok, what I'm about to admit is embarrassing but I've been known to do this. I took a little taste! It actually tasted pretty edible!


I don't think I've ever come across a chai scented body product and I was pleasantly surprised. The Silken Cream ($8 CAD) is soooo moisturizing and left my skin silky smooth and not greasy. It's a definite must for the winter season. The scent isn't overpowering but you can definitely smell the chai (although my husband thinks it smells like pumpkin).


I love anything vanilla scented so when I received the "Vanilla Soft Served" lip balm I was as giddy as a school girl! The scent is amazing and most of the time I find myself licking it off. It's pretty moisturizing but because I have really dry lips I find I have to keep reapplying every few minutes or so. Yah, my lips are that dry especially in the winter. It doesn't leave my lips as moisturized as my Rosebud Salve or Murad's Soothing Lip Therapy. But the heavenly scent is just too hard to resist that I don't mind reapplying! And at $3.75 (CAD) a pop you might as well buy all the scents!
*Tip: I buy a soft bristle tooth brush just for exfoliating the dead skin off my lips. Dampen the brush with warm water and exfoliate in a circular motion.

I'm really excited about this brand and I think it will have a strong following of scented bath and body fiends like me. It's Canadian, inexpensive, is beyond ordinary, unbelievable quality, gives back to the community, and has every scent you can think of! My kind of product. Oh, and Bobe has even adjusted it's Canadian price to reflect the value of our Looney! Next on my want list: Soy Fabulous Whipped Body Butter in "Frosted Sugar Cookie", Sugared Frosting Scrub in "Cupcake", and Lip Balm in "Carnival Candy Apple". So scrub up, slather away, and tantalize your senses with its yummy scents this winter season and any season! Happy shopping!

To view the entire bath and body line and sumptuous scents click here.

Check out Elle's June 2007 issue which is on stand now! Featured are Elle's "It" list for all the must-have beauty products and the top 5 self-tanners for the summer! I'm lovin' Clarins new Summer Fever lip gloss palette featuring high shine sunset coloured glosses. I shall have to check those out! In the top 5 list for self-tanners Dove's Energy Glow Daily Beauty Body Lotion takes a spot. I think I'll have to check this out too - I love body lotions that bronze your skin at the same time. I've been using Jergen's Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer but the smell makes me gag. To see the hottest in beauty products for the summer don't forget to check the June 2007 issue of Elle on stands now! Happy shopping!

I bet the majority of you all have tubs and bottles of body butters and creams stocked in your bathroom cupboards or overflowing on your vanity tables. I myself have a cupboard full of unfinished body creams from all different brands. Women are always in the search for that one product that will solve all their dry skin needs. We all want to have softer, smoother younger looking skin right? Skin MD's Natural Shielding Lotion is a face, hand, and body lotion that will cure cracked dry skin and much more! Here is what Dr. Lisa Benest, board of certified dermatologist says about the Shielding Lotion:

"Shielding lotions not only protect the skin's barrier but they restore the moisture to the skin and allow the skin to continue to moisturize itself, so that your skin does not become addicted to moisturizer and ultimately cures the dry skin."

Most body lotions only temporarily relieve dry skin and do not protect the skin's barrier. The Shielding Lotion literally acts as a shield protecting against mild soaps and cleansers and any other irritant that would strip away the skin's natural moisture. It lasts for hours and does not wash away like most conventional lotions. It is also good for people with eczema and psoriasis. The lotion contains no animal products and no animal testing, dermatology tested, fragrance and colorant free, hypoallergenic, paraben free and non-comedogenic.

Here's what I thought:
The lotion definitely acts as a "shield". It almost has a watered down gel texture and easily blends into your skin. My skin felt smooth and it really did feel like there was a barrier on my skin. When I washed my hands, they did not dry out right away. Over time, I did see a noticeable difference in the appearance of my hands. I'm constantly washing my them and washing baby bottles so my hands were becoming cracked and looking older beyond their years. I had asked a friend who has eczema on her face to test out the lotion but she was a little skeptical about being a guinea pig for fear her face would become worse. Fair enough and understandable.

When I asked my friends what they thought of the packaging, they thought it was a little boring and was a product that you would only see in a doctor's office. They said the packaging needs to be redone to compete with the millions of other body lotions out there. One of my friends, who is a true beauty junkie, said that even if the product has amazing healing properties she still wouldn't dish out $25 + based on the packaging. To appeal to lovers of the beauty industry it's got to have the whole package or the "it" factor. When asked about the scent half said they liked that the Shielding Lotion didn't have a fragrance and the other half would prefer a subtle scent.

Will I stop using my other body butters and creams? The truth is I haven't and probably won't. Reason being is that I can't resist yummy scented products and love how soft and supple my skin feels after. The Shielding Lotion makes your skin smooth but doesn't give it the same softness body butters do. I do think the healing properties that the Shielding Lotion offers is amazing. It's great for people that don't appreciate a good body butter or don't have the time to keep reapplying lotion. It's $25 (USD) for a 4 ounce bottle which should last you up to 1-2 months with daily use. I'd recommend it for people that have seriously dry skin. The packaging could be a little more interesting but I never judge a book by its cover.

All in all it seems to deliver exactly what it claims to do. I have a huge obsession with body butters and creams so it hasn't exactly won me over. What I've been doing when my skin is in need of some serious moisture is applying the Shielding Lotion first then applying my vanilla scented body butter over top to please my senses and make my skin feel as soft as my baby's bottom. If there is anyone that has been cured from eczema or psoriasis from the use of Skin MD's Natural Shielding Lotion, I would love to hear about your experience! Happy shopping!

*Special thanks to Pete for sending me a sample! For more information on the product or where to buy please visit Skin MD Natural.com

When you think of Mother's Day you think of flowers, a touching card and brunch right? My all-time favourite way of spoiling my mom when I was growing up was cleaning my room and the entire house. It's a nice thought (can you imagine what my room looked like the rest of the year??) but I'm pretty sure my mother would have enjoyed something a little more tangible that could possibly be found at say - a store! Don't get me wrong - she was always touched by our efforts of making the day special for her plus she never wanted us to spend money on her. I think every mother will tell their kids that but deep down they really want something spectacular (or maybe that's just what I want lol). This Mother's Day is very special for me and many of my friends that have had babies this year because we can officially celebrate it! All that fuss we used to make over our own mother's someone else will be doing the same for us! Oh how sweet it is!

If you want to stay on your mother's good side or want to make sure your significant other stays on your good side, here are some great yummy mummy gift ideas (I'd love to get) to show your love and appreciation. I think I'll have to pass this list on to my babes... ;)

1. For the mother who loves makeup and can't enough of it Sephora has a lot of great palettes like Nars' Artist Palette (#1 on my list!), Lorac's Picture Perfect palette which is a picture frame on the front and makeup palette on the inside (genius!), or Sephora's Summer Blockbuster Palette.

2. My mom has the smoothest skin I've ever seen on a woman of "wisdom". Skincare has always been an important part of her beauty regime and if you're mom is like mine she'll enjoy these wonderful skin care sets like Sephora's Sun Safety Kit which includes all the best sun products Sephora carries (a set I shall have to put on my list), Strivectin's 2 Step Mother's Day Set The Gift of Youth (who doesn't want to look younger?), or Philosphy's Skincare Essentials Kit which comes in their signature cosmetic bags.

3. When my brothers and I couldn't come up with something original we'd get my mom perfume. If your mother or you are a kid at heart and love sweet scented fragrances then Aquolina's Pink Sugar Luxury Set is the perfect choice. If timeless scents are more her style Dior J'Adore Gift Set or Bvlgari Pour Femme Gift Set are great classics. For the fruity and "delicious" DKNY's Be Delicious Mother's Day Coffret smells just like a yummy green apple or one of my favourites Fresh Sugar Lychee Gift Set. If she's a vanilla fiend like me all the Lavanila fragrances are sinfully wonderful. If she's a woman that loves exotic blends that remind her of a tropical island, try Island Michael Kors Hawaii. For the sensual and mysterious woman a favourite of mine has been Gucci Rush or Calvin Klein's Euphoria.

4. Do a spa day either at your favourite spa or something more cozy like at your home with a few other mothers! Have a girly day indulging in spa products like Bliss' Simply The "Zest" Lemon+Sage Spa-in-a-box, The Body Shop's Feet Treat Elite for those hardworking feet, or Cake Beauty's yummy scented Hand Treat Trio for those overworked hands.

5. If you really want to go over the top make a nice gift basket with all her favourite beauty products, music, books etc! Set up a mother's day brunch with her and her closet friends and have it catered. What a perfect way to spend the day!

There are many ways to make Mother's Day a special one so whatever you decide on give it your own twist and make it fabulous!

This post is all about body butters and hand creams! First up:


1. "Oh How I Love Me Some Cake!" Over the past few months I have bought a few hand lotions than the average person, but it's all in my quest to find the perfect one. Truth is, I think there are a few perfect ones out there and I just have to have all of them! I was so happy to find that the Sephora store in the Eaton Center carried Cake Beauty products. I had been told that it was being sold at Indigo but was disappointed when I went there and it was no where to be seen. I'm a hand cream fanatic so I decided to start out with Cake's Milk Made Velveteen Hand Cream. I wanted to snatch up the whole line but had to restrain myself - I'm a sucker for sweet smelling products! It's about $18 (CAD), but it's definitely worth it. It moisturizes my hands very well and lasts for hours. It's also not greasy and the smell is not overwhelming. It's a very subtle vanilla shake scent. A little goes a long way and comes in a decent size bottle. It also doesn't weigh your purse down because it's shape is almost flat rather than a cone-like shape which can be bulky. I think my next purchase will either have to be Desserted Island Creamy Body Buffer or Desserts On Me Whipped Body Spread. Don't the names make your mouth water??



2. "Your Body Butter Makes Me Feel Oh So Froosh!" I had gone to the One of a Kind Show with my friend a few weeks back and was delighted to see a few bath and body booths present. I had written a post about Froosh body products a while back and was excited to be able to feel and smell their products in person. I ended up walking away with Froosh Body Butter in Vanilla For Dry Skin. All the products are hand made and all natural. You can even go to the store and make your own bath products! I get very dry skin during the winter months and decided to give this one a go. I LOVE the way this lotion smells! It really smells like vanilla icing that you almost want to taste it! I still smelled like vanilla icing the next day! It definitely relieved my dry skin. It almost feels like real icing when you first touch it and is a little hard to spread on the skin. Don't be tempted to keep applying it because all you have to do is keeping massaging it into the skin. At first it feels a little greasy but once it's worked into the skin the greasiness disappears. They come in a decent size tub which will last you forever because again a little definitely goes a long way! And at $8 (CAD) you just can't go wrong! My next purchase will have to be the Lip Balm in a Tin which is only $4 a pop!



3. "It's a Love/Hate Relationship with Body Shop!" Most of the products I've bought or received in the past few months from Body Shop have been hits and misses. I've been a big fan of their Coconut and Shea Body Butters and Cocoa Butter Body Stick which I think they've discontinued. However, their Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick and Shea Lip Butter left my lips feeling more chapped than before I started using them and the scent of the Almond Oil Daily Hand and Nail Cream was too strong for my liking. Well, on my birthday a few weeks ago I received their Passion Frust Body Butter from a friend which of course I was excited to receive. I tried it a few days ago and was not impressed with the scent at all. The smell had an almost waxy scent to it with a subtle hint of fruitiness. I expected that it would have smelled a lot more like a, I don't know, passion fruit? The coconut, shea, and cocoa body butters scents were true to their names so I figured the passion fruit wouldn't be any different. Well, it still moisturized my skin really well but it's too bad I can't stand the smell.

Well that rounds out my body butter and hand cream reviews for now! I have another review of Skin MD Natural Body Lotion that I'm still in the process of testing out. Stay tuned for the results! Happy shopping!

A couple of weeks ago my two girlfriends and I decided that we would take time to hang out and have a girly spa day. It's been a while since any of us had been to a spa especially with each other. I was truly looking forward to relaxing and having someone else pamper me for a change. One of my friends surprised me for my birthday with a gift certificate from Spa Finder which I could use at any participating spa in the world. I was so stoked and went on the hunt right away for a spa in Toronto. There wasn't a wide variety of spas in the downtown core to choose from but my deciding factor was a spa that offered threading. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but ever since I got bangs back in January I have let my brows grow out of hand! I had never tried threading and had always admired how clean and precise my Indian customer's brow were.

Ambiance Day Spa at the corner of Yonge and Queen was the only spa out of my list that offered threading. I had never heard of it before but figured it wouldn't be bad since Fashion Magazine had given it a good rating. Last Thursday I booked a threading and manicure for me, my one friend a mani/pedicure and my other friend a 1 hr deep skin massage and manicure. They were very accommodating especially since I had called last minute. Trying to book a spa day right before the weekend usually never happens so I was quite pleased they were able to take all three of us.

Friday had finally come and I was so excited! My one friend met up with me earlier and my other friend would be arriving an hour later (they're both from the Durham region). When we arrived at the spa we were a little confused because Ambiance appeared to be closed. I started to panic a little on the inside, but then thought they were taking a break and would be back in a few minutes. I started to calm down but when I didn't see a notice or sign saying they'd be back I started to panic on the outside. We tried opening the door but it was locked. We finally looked to the side of the door and saw there was a notice. To our surprise and luck the spa had been shut down earlier that day because they were behind $10,000 + in rent! We were livid and could not believe this was happening! I called the spa and left a message venting my frustration about how no one had the courtesy to phone me and that there had better not be a charge on my visa. I also thought maybe the lady that booked my appointment the other day knew the spa would be shutting down and was trying to scam me out of some money (I think I watch too much tv lol).

After my angry message, my friend and I started calling every other spa we knew to see if they'd be able to take us last minute and of course everyone was booked. We even walked down Queen St. to see if Beauty Queen or Civello's would take us. The receptionist from Beauty Queen even laughed at us implying , "Nice try". To my amazement the owner of Ambiance Day Spa returned my phone call and apologetically explained that it was out of her control. The spa was locked before they had arrived to work and instead were called right away into a meeting. She said she would have definitely called me had she been able to get in the spa to retrieve my number. I was still a little annoyed but was trying to be empathetic to her situation. She assured me that if the spa will reopen at another location she will offer me 50% off on any service. First of all it was hard for me to feel sorry for her because if she or her management had paid the rent on time they wouldn't have been shut down! Secondly, thanks for the offer but I don't think I'll take my chances.

So, our spa day was officially ruined. I called my other friend and told her not to bother coming down anymore. I felt really bad because I had chosen the place but how was I supposed to know I had booked us with a shady spa?? We decided to do the next best thing which was to eat and drink! There's nothing like a few martinis and some tasty food to make you feel good again. After our dinner we checked out The One of a Kind Show which was cool but don't go if you're broke like I was! It's no fun walking around seeing things you can't buy. The upside was that there were a few bath and body booths there which I will review in a later post. I will also give you my review of Civello's Salon and Spa and my thoughts on Aveda's make-up and hair line. Stay tuned!

Have you had a spa day tragedy? Would love to hear it!

I'm a little overwhelmed with all the new beauty products that I've bought or received but I'm not complaining! Someone's gotta do it right? I just received a Sephora gift card for my birthday and I can't wait to go shopping! Stay tuned for my beauty reviews of Nars, Cake, The Body Shop, Froosh, Skin MD's Natural Shielding Lotion, and many more!

The springtime has got to be my favourite season of the year. I can't help but feel rejuvenated and renewed after a sluggish cold winter. The air is fresher, flowers are in bloom, colours are brighter, the temperature is just perfect enough to wear a light spring coat, and the days are longer. I'll be honest, when it comes down to it the spring/summer fashions and new make-up collections are what really get me going. Here are my spring/summer must-haves for fashion and make-up!


Beauty:

1. A good moisturizer with an SPF like Korres Suncare Set which comes complete with Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30, Yogurt Cooling Gel, and a Pomegranate Balancing Moisturizer. If you have redness try Murad's Redness Therapy Correcting Moisturizer SPF 15 and for oily/acne prone skin try Murad's Oil-Free Sunblock SPF 30.

2. Tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation with an SPF. Try Sue Devitt's Microquatic Pro-Marine Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 which is the first to come in a convenient compact that I know of. If you prefer something with more coverage try Smashbox's new High Definition Healthy FX Foundation SPF 15.

3. A golden based bronzer. Many people have a hard time finding a good bronzer. I've been using my Hoola bronzer by Benefit for the past couple of years now and it's never failed me. I like it because it doesn't have a shimmer and works on just about every skin tone. Darker skin tones I recommend using MAC's Bronzer in Refined Deeper Bronze. If you want a fool proof bronzed look try Tarte's Sunburst Beaded Bronzing Lotion. The bronzing beads burst on contact with skin and gives the right dose of a bronzed glow. It's oil-free and doesn't feel greasy on your skin.

4. Give your cheeks a pop of colour with fun spring hues. I love anything from gels, stains, creams, and powders when it comes to blush. Go with something sheer or go with something shimmery - whatever tickles your fancy. For fair skin go for soft candy pinks, medium skin corals or peaches, and for darker skin try deep apricots or if you're daring fuchsia pinks. Skip blush if it's not your thing and use your bronzer to give your cheeks a sunkissed glow.

5. Waterproof and smudge proof mascara!

6. Go with bronzy hues for your lids like Pop Beauty's new Lid Bronzer eye shadow palette. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions on how to achieve the perfect bronzy lids! I love also love sheer seafoam or turquoise shades for the summer time. Try MAC's eye shadows in Surreal or Shimmermoss.

7. Your lips need sun protection too. If you want a balm with a bit of colour my all time favourite is still MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15. For spring/summer trends try Soothing Beige for a nice nude and for a pop of colour go with Fuchsia Fix or Gentle Coral.

8. Gloss is a must-have for every season. I'm loving all the new spring colours from MAC's Plushglass glosses.

9. Since spring/summer is all about exposing some skin you want to make sure it's in the best condition possible. Exfoliate with a body scrub like The Body Shop's yummy Coconut Body Scrub.

10. Keep those feet looking soft and pretty especially during sandal season. No one wants to see your cracked, crusty, unpolished feet! Scrub those feet with The Body Shop's Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub and follow with The Body Shop's Peppermint Cooling Foot Rescue Treatment. Paint those toes in some vibrant shades like OPI's Brighter By The Dozen collection in Bright Lights - Big Colour, Atomic Orange, Totally Tangerine, and if you're daring Azure For Sure and Need Sunglasses?, a bright yellow (this would look great on fingers too!).

11. I'm not a big fan of fake and bake or self-tanners (I'm too lazy to apply a self-tanner properly). I like quick, easy, and natural body bronzers like Jergen's Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. There's no streaking or orange colouration and it keeps you moisturized at the same time.



Fashion:

1. A white spring jacket for those breezy days and nights like this military-inspired jacket from Old Navy or a belted trench for something dressier like this one also from Old Navy.

2. A white or tan purse like this inexpensive hobo bag from Old Navy or like my dream purse the "Tanya" from Marc Jacobs.

3. A really fun summer dress like this one from American Eagle.

4. Stock up on some flip flops from Old Navy for some fun in the sun at the beach or running day to day errands. I also love flats like these cute little peep toes from Urban Outfitters and wedge sandals like these ones from Aldo. For those hot summer nights out for drinks I like a hot platform sandal like this one also from Aldo.

5. Tanks! I love getting tanks in all different colours from just about anywhere: Walmart, Old Navy, American Apparel if I feel like splurging, but nothing beats good ol' Hanes wife beaters!

6. I'm a jeans girl and wear everything with jeans. A good pair of jeans are always a must-have. I love Citizens of Humanity jeans from Over the Rainbow and my jeans from The Gap for curvy girls.

7. A girl has always got to have jewelry. I love anything from beaded chunky jewelry to wooden bamboo inspired pieces. Right now I'm loving anything in yellow.

8. A hot pair of sunglasses. I love aviators like these ones from Gucci.

That rounds out my fashion and beauty list! What are you spring/summer must-haves? Happy shopping!

Now that you've gone through 24+ hours of labour (or 4 hours - damn you lucky ones!) and given birth to your precious little baby, you're exhausted, emotional, and thankful you and the baby made it out in one piece. During your pregnancy you were treated like a queen, never having to lift a finger, showered with compliments, and people never thought twice about you eating a whole pizza by yourself. Now your close friends and family members are pushing you to the side and fighting over who gets to hold the baby. The scenario may not be quite like that but that's what it feels like to you.

My first three months of motherhood was a roller coaster ride full of many ups but many downs as well. Some of you may have been lucky enough to not go through what is known as the post pardum "baby blues". About 85% of women experience some symptoms of "baby blues" like I did. There were a lot of days I didn't feel like showering let alone put make-up on to see people. It's a gross fact but it was true. I was exhausted every day and so irritable that any little thing would set me off. I would only leave the house when I absolutely needed to. Everything from cleaning my face to brushing my teeth took so much time and energy from me. I cried a few times because my old clothes still didn't fit and I was so sick of wearing maternity wear.

The great news is that you do start to feel like yourself again like I did when my baby was 3 months old. It was like I was in a trance and all of a sudden snapped out of it. I booked a hair wax mani/pedicure appointment, bought new clothes, new make-up, and new shoes right away. I wanted to be around people again. However, even at the 3 month mark I was still having to get up every 1.5-2 hours to feed him which didn't leave me much time for myself. Here are some tips that helped get me through those tired times:

1. Sleep when the baby sleeps - even if you have visitors over. They will understand you need to catch your sleep any way you can. By sleeping, you'll build up your energy to be able to continue a beauty routine and other important things like getting out of the house with the baby.

2. EAT and drink lots of fluids! I was always on a weird schedule and never ate at the proper times but eating is very important in helping sustain your energy. If you're breastfeeding, eating is also important not only for milk production but gives you the fuel you need to persevere through what can be a trying time for both baby and mother. Also, breastfeeding burns a lot of calories so you need to eat to balance it out. Even if an apple is all you can manage it's better than nothing. I was lucky enough to have my mother-in-law and mother bring or cook us food that we could freeze for later on. Eat foods that are quick and easy to prepare. Drink water or sugar free juices to keep your body and skin hydrated.

3. Always start your day with a shower or try to fit it in there somewhere. I cherished my showers because it was the only time I had to myself. It was soothing and calming. I always felt refreshed and energized after my showers. Yummy smelling body washes are great pick-me-ups.

4. Just because you've had the baby and your tummy is returning to normal size doesn't mean you can stop moisturizing. To help prevent or minimize your stretch marks you still need to moisturize. Since I was also breastfeeding, I was losing a lot of fluids so my skin was always dry. Moisturizing along with drinking fluids will help combat this problem.

5. It's understandable if you don't have the energy to put on make-up but it will make you feel better on the inside when you look great on the outside. Here is a 5-10 minute make-up routine that will get you ready before your baby's next feeding!
a. Even out your skin tone with a concealer or tinted moisturizer with an SPF.
b. Apply loose powder where needed.
c. Bronzer will give you a healthy glow. Apply where the sun naturally hits you: cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead.
d. For colour use 3 in 1 products that don't require a brush like Nars' The Multiple. You can use it as a shadow, blush and lip colour. If you're a neutral girl South Beach is a beautiful shimmering apricot that gives just enough colour without looking overdone. If you like a little colour try Maldives (pink champagne shimmer) or Riviera (sheer pink). There are other quick and easy products that don't require brushes like cream-to-powder-shadows, or cream-to-powder blushes, gel stains for lips and cheeks.
e. Curl lashes and apply mascara. It opens up your eyes and makes you look more awake even if you really aren't!
f. Swipe on some gloss or lip balm. I'm still addicted to tinted lip balms and creamy matte finishes or stains because they don't kiss off on my baby's face (and I kiss him about a million times a day!).

Voila you're done and looking damn good for someone that's just had a baby! Remember, taking of yourself will make you better at taking care of your baby. That was a hard lesson I had to force myself to learn. If the baby blues has caused you to lose touch with friends, family or your significant other make an effort to reconnect with them again. It will make you feel normal to engage in everyday conversations especially since all you can think about is the baby (and of course the baby should come first). Another important tip is to take at least an hour a day for yourself whether it be soaking in the tub, listening to music, watching tv, shopping, reading a good book or meeting up with a friend. And lastly, a happy mom makes for a happy baby!

I was looking on Toronto.com for a new venue to celebrate me and my friend's birthday in the next few weeks and I came across this fairly new bath and body shop Froosh located in Toronto. All the products are handmade and all natural! The coolest part is that you can book a "Froosh Spa" day with you and your friends where you can relax and learn how to make your own bath products! It's a great idea for a pre-wedding spa day or just for fun! The prices are also really reasonable. The Vanilla Body Butter for example is only $8! One of my obsessions are yummy lip balms and their's is only $3-4! Are those not great prices or what?? Happy shopping!