beauty must-haves: winter edition

with winter in full swing, i'm relying on my go-to beauty products more than ever. dry skin always seems to be a symptom of winter and finding ways to combat it can be tricky. no matter how hard i try, carrying a moisturizer in my purse is a must...along with the following daily skin care regime.

1. philosophy's purity one-step facial cleanser. $22. made for all skin types. honestly, the most gentle facial cleanser i've ever used - highly recommened.

2. clinique's clarifying lotion. $23. clinique never seems to fail, a sturdy toner stong enough to remove flakes and refine pores yet gentle on sensitive skin. win win.

3. bliss' triple oxygen instant energizing mask. $54. bless the day i found this mask. instant results. they suggest using this product 1-3 times per week, but i cannot get enough. the only downside, of course, is the steep pricetag.

4. clinique's dramatically different moisturizing lotion. $25. i have my husband hooked on this product as well. they have a more compact 1.7 OZ version which is pefect for carrying around in your pocket or your purse. you will not be disappointed.

5. dr. brandt's pores no more vacuum cleaner. $45. another pricey one, but well worth the cost. within two weeks of using this product, my pores were barely visable.

6. clarisonic's plus sonic skin cleaning system. $225. i know what you're thinking - ridiculously expensive, but i promise you - it's well worth it. it's also fully waterproof and you can go nearly 50 washes without charging. amazing.

7. neutrogena's makeup removing cleansing towelettes. $5-$7. last but not least, well least expensive but most important - the greatest makeup remover in existence. incredibly fast and effective - leaving you no excuse to take your makeup off before bed.

now that you're skin is on the right track, we proceed to our next order of business - makeup. i lose so much colour in the winter i feel like i belong in an episode of true blood. with bronzer in retirement from november to april, it's really hard to work any kind of glow. using the products below i manage to get by.

1. lancome's powder pencil for the brows in sable. $23. in my opinion, there's nothing more classy than a strong brow on a pale face. i've tried all sorts of brow products and this has to be my favorite.

2. dermologica's treatment foundation. $37. strong zits on the other hand, make me feel like i'm in eighth grade all over again. this foundation really lets you breathe easy. great coverage plus clear skin!

3. nars' illuminator in copacabana. $30. hello, you. this product seriously changed my life. a little bit on the tip of your nose, cheekbones and chin can really do a world of difference. i strongly recommend picking this up in all 4 colours.

4. too faced's better than false lashes nylon lash extension system. $35. it's a mouthful, i know. i love this system and swear it's the best substitute for false lashes. my only advice? apply carefully or things will quickly turn twiggy.

5. nars' duo eyeshadow in pandora. $34. a splash of white shimmer on the lid and brow bone (and i mean a small splash, this white is intense) followed by modest use of matte black on the lash lines creates the most perfect go-to look. (i tend to use product number six between step one and step two).

6. smashbox's love me paint pen eye liner in jet black. i hate 95% of all liquid liners, i find them so hard to use. the tip on this liner is shorter than most and quite sturdy. fyi - you'll need product number seven from my skincare faves - this sucker is hard to get off.

7. too faced's la creme in divine wine. $21. an afterwork go-to. at first i thought this colour would be too dramatic and truly drive the vampire point home. but i was very wrong. a major plus? drink all the red wine you want, no one will ever know...until you smile (don't smile).

8. sephora's double contouring cream blush in apricot sheen. $16. if you've never contoured before, i highly recommend watching this tutorial before you attempt it. you could opt for a more expensive product, but i prefer sephora's version. plus you can play around with multiple colours.

talk soon!





decorating and olives, my two favorite things.

 

as mentioned previously, we recently moved into our starter home. a lot of work to be done but we are slowly chipping away. as we want to give charlie at least a year to settle into his new home (and welcome franklin), beginning our renovations on the main floor is not an option. that being said, a second level overhaul is not out of the question. i've provided our complete (condensed) renovation plan below. don't you feel overwhelmed just reading it?

 

table of renovation contents:

 

main level - new hardwood floor throughout, wall demo between dining room and kitchen, new mudroom built-ins, new kitchen (cabinets and appliances), corrected fireplace, new doors and new windows. (projected completion - early 2014).

second level - replace carpet (lay throughout), update tile and vanity in bathroom, his/her closet built-ins and linen closet built-in. (projected completion - mid to late 2013).

lower level - replace carpet (lay throughout), update tile in bathroom, lay laminent flooring in the utility room, rebuild laundry platform and drywall throughout. (projected completion - late 2014).

outdoor space - rebuild shed to allow parking for two, close off the back with fencing, plant an herb garden, overhaul of present landscaping and a ton of decoration. thank goodness the deck is in good shape! (projected completion - summer 2014).

 

twenty-five things to do before i'm twenty-six.

i love lists. i love goals. i love to combine the two. i've set the bar high this year. but i do know if i work hard and make time for what's important, i'll be able to knock these off in no time.

1. get another rescue. one that's at least two or three years old and loves charlie. name him franklin. take both on a doggie photoshoot. 2. look into refinancing our first mortgage. 3. find part time work in addition to my fulltime job. perhaps bartending. 4. continue post secondary education. create an education plan. work towards mba. 5. create a downpayment fund for a second investment property (see three).

6. run in a race. work towards a half marathon in my twenty-sixth year. try to love the running part as much as the fashion part. 7. read as many books as possible. ten months, fifteen books? 8. finish redecorating our upstairs living space. (expect an upcoming post outlining details). 9. join a recreational volleyball league. 10. run a successful etsy store - invitations, announcements, thank-yous, etc. 11. plan at least two events. open website dedicated soley to event planning. 12. find the time to hike at centennial park once a week in the spring and summer with my boy (and maybe his brother). 13. buy one quarter of my williams sonoma wishlist. 14. organize, organize, organize. ensure all documents are filed, properly organized...and pretty. buy a neatdesk - i think it will change my life.

15. create a pantry in the basement with extra supplies. re-organize existing storage. 16. in addition to our mac desktop, invest in a new macbook pro. 17. sign up for apple tv and netflix (see sixteen). 18. re-decorate my new office (pinboard, utensil holder and three framed printibles). 19. have my car detailed and those two pesky scratches removed. finally purchase this backseat protector. 20. travel. go to boston with the girls in the spring and tuscany with the family in the summer. love every moment of it. 21. always make time for dateline: real life mysteries. or any other crime show for that matter. 22. properly decorate for every single holiday this year. christmas shopping, crafting, baking and decorating done no later than november 30. 23. keep in touch. phone calls, cards, gifts, etc. i mean it. 24. celebrate my first anniversary with thoughtful gifts and a weekend away. 25. love myself more.

until next time.

all the best,

leah xo

belated christmas crafting.

warning: christmas has passed, but i'm not ready to let it go.

 

what do you get the guy that has everything for christmas? need a last minute hostess gift? after some pinspiration i whipped up these reinbeers in minutes and they were such a hit!

 


what you'll need:
- your desired six pack. bottles only - although if you got creative you could make cans work.
- pipecleaners in various shades of brown.
- cottonballs of all colours. just make sure you have red!
- googley eyes in different shapes and sizes.
- a hot glue gun. i only went through one stick for five cases.
- a extra bottle of beer for yourself. you deserve it, you're working hard.

i picked up a combo pack of "nature-themed" pipecleaners, cottonballs and googley eyes from toys r us while i was out browsing for my nephews. only $5.99 a package. you'll only need one and will have tons to spare...just make sure your dog steers clear. i learned that the hard way.

 

total investment: $10-$15 per case. depending on your beer of choice, of course. alternatively, you could buy one case and wrap each bottle individually for further savings!

steps by step:
1. wrap the pipecleaner around the neck of the bottle like you're tying a shoe. no glue necessary.
2. select two matching (or not matching) googley eyes and glue them underneath the pipecleaner.
3. sip your beer.
4. select your cottonball nose of choice. secure with glue.
5. repeat five more times.

voila! a ten minute diy project with a ton of impact.

 

a belated merry christmas, blogosphere!

 

all the best,

leah xo

new year's resolutions.

the past year has been so incredibly busy. with a new job, three weddings, a new house and a puppy - we've had very little time to focus on self-improvment. hopefully, 2013 will be a quieter one and give us the time to appreciate the little things all over again.

i always love the new year, an excuse to buy a new notebook and pens, make a big cup of chai tea and sit down dreaming of the future (until the puppy needs to be let out).

so without further adieu, my goals for the new year:

1. be consistent. i really believe this is the basis for all worthwhile achievments. my stepdad always preaches the importance of consistency because at the end of the day, all you have is your word. and he couldn't be more right.

 

2. save save save. i have a hard time saving money. what's the saying? "you won't be buried with it." yes, that is true - but there's something to be said about a nice security blanket should anything go wrong (knock on wood). 2013 is our year to start saving for additional renovations, a nest egg and perhaps a vaction or two. live on a budget and love it.

3. date night, once a week...for under twenty dollars (see goal two). with the craziness of this past year, i'm looking forward to having some time alone with my boys. can't wait to start researching inexpensive date ideas - i love a challenge.

 

4. have charlie trained. make use of the resources offered to us from the humane society as well as splurging on more regimented training. ideally, we'd like better crate behaviour, proper response to the command "settle" and the ability to walk off leash. all this should come with age and a little bit of discipline (on the other end of the leash). 

 

4a. one last charlie goal - throw him the best first birthday "pawty" ever. perhaps by then we'll have found him his best friend (we're actively looking for a well-mannered - two year plus - rescue).

 

5. get back into a routine. i don't know about you but when the winter hits i have no desire to do anything but watch lifetime on the couch with a tub of ice cream. this winter and spring i vow to keep moving even when my brain says no. regular workouts, healthy meals and a consistent (a-ha goal one) schedule.

 

6. detox followed by bootcamp. thank you pinterest and bodyrock for making this so easy.

 

7. i vow to take vitamins everyday. especially b12 and biotin (let's hope i fix extension damage and cure my nail biting habit with this miracle pill).

 

8. give myself more time for my hobbies. i love to experiment in the kitchen. baking and cooking are two of my favorite things to do. i vow to make one new meal and one new treat every other week. a close second? experimenting in the craft room with my cricut. my goal here is to create one scrapbook documenting our day-to-day activies each season. count em, that's four. i know i can do it. and of course - continue to plan events, maybe turn a profit.

 

9. an extention of goal eight - open my own etsy shop. time to start selling invitations, thank you cards, birth annoucements and so much more.

 

10. work hard (then sleep). continue to plow full steam ahead at work, giving it my all. and maybe decorate my new office.

wishing everyone a very happy new year my little family to yours!

 

all the best,

leah xo

hello new year, hello honey bunch, hello three weddings.

such a clean way to start a blog - new year, new start. i've always been a list maker, scrapbooker and journal writer - which is what i hope to capture in a less tangible way here. so here's to a brand new year and a brand new blog. i hope relatives near and far will enjoy - perhaps even fellow bloggers! with that out of the way, i'd like begin my first post - a look back at my year of weddings!

 

 

i got hitched three times this year. i'll start by letting you know that my family takes a vacation every year. it was decided back in 2011 that france was our destination for 2012. little did we know come january, provence was a very real option. in order to get married in europe, particularly in france, there are a few small (large) matters you need to take care of first. for starters, you and/or your spouse need to stay in france for over 40 days prior to the wedding. in a perfect world, we'd gladly oblige, but we were trying to save and this was not an option. second on the agenda - a blood test. needless to say, we were strongly advised to tie the knot here first.

 

so our wedding(s) looked a little something like this:

 



 

wedding #1: april 21, 2012 / city hall / thirty guests / reception: rented out the second floor at our favorite bar betty's - which coincidentally, is right around the corner from our first condo. we drank and danced the night away.

 

we probably could have stopped there - wedding #1 had all the elements we had hoped for - a small and meaningful gathering with only our closest friends and family. but what was about to transpire - i would not trade for the world.

 



(for full size pictures, please select link below)



wedding #2: may 8, 2012 / provence, france / sixteen guests / ceremony and reception: la loubiere, the most beautiful villa (and coach house) i have ever seen. a wonderful setting, run by an even more wondeful couple - alec and deb. we were even featured in a french blog! we are so fortunate for our families, friends and most of all each other.

 

so far so good - wedding #1 and wedding #2 were exactly what we wanted. but we missed out on sharing this with our friends and extended family, so we had arranged for a big party when we returned.

 



wedding #3: june 16, 2012 / toronto / one hundred and fifty guests / reception: waverley cottage (my mother and step father's pride and joy). i worked hard for this one. in an attempt to reduce costs i made everything. guestbook, centerpieces, invitations, programs and favours. this reception had my personal touch all over it and i couldn't have been happier. we even played a slideshow of the wedding for all to see.

 

expect a post solely dedicated to my diy projects coming soon! consider this a teaser.

 

my homemade invitations and thank-you cards.

 

as each anniversary approaches expect a vivid explanation of each day's events and what made it so special. and the best part of this story? because we saved so much having a wedding that was uniquely ours, we were able to purchase our starter home, keep our condo as an investment property and add a furry little member to our family.

 

three anniversaries, three gifts?

 

all the best,

leah xo