The winds are changing

A few weeks ago I did another post for wellrounded.me which you can check out here.

I wrote my first guest post almost a year ago, and I have had an amazing  experience with them ever since. They have allowed me to start a series called ‘The Low-down on…’ where I periodically review beauty products and treatments at local Toronto salons. It has been really fun and a way for me to blog in a way I never have before. This blog used to be mostly personal, as a way for me to keep my family and friends involved in my life now that I live in another city. But it has turned into something much more!

I will be re-vamping the site in the next few weeks and the blog as a whole will be changing focus. Although I will still have info about my life, I will be focusing more on specific topics of interested to me.

Stay tuned….

<3

M

Tags: wellrounded.me

Be right back

Guest blogging at the moment.

New content soon. In the meantime:

Tags: Call Your Girlfriend, Robyn

More

Tags: Bon Iver, Calgary

So Much Music

Wow, I have been really MIA lately. Lots is happening and it will only be getting crazier as Christmas approaches. So many concerts lately! I have been lucky enough to see two  in the last month and another one is coming up soon. One of the best things about moving to Toronto has been the access to amazing concerts ALL THE TIME! Going to shows is what I imagine going out to a bar is like for normal people. I get all dressed up, wait in line forever and then dance, sing and have an all around amazing night

A few weeks ago I saw Lights at Sound Academy, which was an amazing show but (as you know) a terrible venue. And to top it off it was all ages…yeesh. But Lights put on a really great show! It was the first time I had ever seen her live and she did not disappoint. Then I got food poisoning from the poutine and ended the show in the lady’s room ralphing. Still fun!

A few days ago I saw Bon Iver and Massey Hall and it was probably one of the best shows I have ever seen in my whole lifespan. No Doubt reunion tour still takes the cake for the best show of my existence but Bon Iver was a close second. Going to Massey Hall for the first time taught me something. I really love sitting down at shows! It really helps me, you know, be able to see whats going on? Usually some Andre the Giant type always ends up standing in front of me and I end up looking at his sweaty back instead of stage.

If you haven’t heard of them here’s one of my favourites:

What’s the best concert/venue you’ve ever been to in Toronto?

Have a lovely day and don’t forget…..I love you!

<3

M

Tags: Bon Iver, Lights, Massey Hall, Sound Academy

A Very Bieber Christmas

Tags: Christmas, Justin Bieber, Mistletoe

Nailed It

As much as I would love to get a manicure every week, it’s just not realistic. When I heard about ‘nail foils’ on one of my favourite fashion blogs called Hora Confessions I knew I had to try them. When I started looking, it seemed like no one was carrying them. Finally a few weeks (and 3 Sephora stores) later I found them, but I was sadly disappointed. None of the patterns were are cute as the one’s on Laura’s Blog, plus they were $15 and said to only last a few days. But my quest was not over!!

At Walmart last week I came across a Sally Hanson line of nail foils for around $8! And the patterns were much prettier in my opinion. I came home and tried them immediately. I only had time to capture a quick camera-phone shot on the subway (my week was crazy!) so it doesn’t really do them justice.

They turned out pretty well! The parts that appear to be chipped are actually just the way the foil ripped when I applied it. Now they I know how to do it I’m sure the next time around they will have a more finished edge. The foils did bubble a little and weren’t as shiny as the pictures suggest, but I would attribute most of that to my first-time shaky application.

And they did last a lot longer than regular nailpolish. Normally  after a day or two my nails start chipping, but after a week the foils stayed on with minimal to no wear. It took a lot (A LOT) of remover to get them off, which is a small price to pay for long lasting nail colour

What do you think? Have you tried them? are they worth the time? Talk to me

<3

M

Tags: Nail decals, nail foils, nailpolish, sephora

The Low-Down on Lash Extensions

This is a post I wrote back in September as a guest blogger for Well-Rounded Me.

Sorry I am so late posting here. Enjoy!

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Have you ever looked at Kim Kardashian and thought to yourself ‘her eyelashes can not be real!”? That’s because they aren’t.

The best kept secret in Hollywood is available for you, and you and YOU! Eyelash extensions are the latest beauty trend, giving lashes the length, curl and thickness of a Kardashian in only one visit. My roommate always seems to be on the cutting edge of what’s up-and-coming and when she told me about lash extensions I had to try them out for myself.

Once I did a little research I decided to wait for a TeamBuy or DailyDeal to come up as the regular price for this procedure will run you between $140-160 depending on the skill level of the technician and the amount of lashes you want applied. And though I want lovely lashes I wasn’t sure I was willing to dole over that amount without knowing what the results would be.

Not surprisingly, coupon websites have caught on to this craze and they have promotions almost daily for lash extensions. The goal is to find one with a certified Xtreme Lashes consultant. You can learn more about them here. Their technicians are all well-trained and use bonding glue that is closest to what plastic surgeons to close wounds as an alternative to stitches. So basically it is the safest glue on the market and since the glue never actually touches your eyelids (only your lashes) any skin reactions are rare and unlikely.

I have to be honest; my experience was not totally pain free. There was a slight burning sensation while the lashes were being applied as a result of the glue fumes. But after speaking with several other people, not one other person had that problem. Perhaps the lady who applied mine was in a bit of a rush (I was her last client of the day).

The results:

I LOVE them. They were exactly the length and thickness I wanted, and you don’t need any mascara so it saved me time getting ready in the morning as well. The technician told me they generally last about 2-3 weeks before you need a touch-up. Mine lasted almost 4 weeks!

This is about 3.5 weeks later.

Words of Advice:

Regular eyeliner and mascara can aid in dissolving the bonding glue, so it’s best not to wear any mascara and look into eyeliner that is safe to use with lash extensions.  Lashes will bend and move, so be prepared to spend a little time very morning straightening them and brushing them back into place (you can see this happening in the photo above).

Overall I was 100% happy with my lash extensions and I would totally recommend them to anyone who wants to achieve a more dramatic look.

Tags: eyelash extensions, fake lashes, Kim Kardashian, xtreme lashes

Crazy Eyes

I like to change my look a lot. This is not something new. I have dyed my hair every colour of the rainbow. I’ve pierced my nose and my septum (sorry mom!).  I’ve rocked both super short and long hair and pretty much every length in between. My most recently adventure was lash extensions and LOVED them.

Call me crazy, but I like change!

Earlier this year I heard about Circle lenses. They are all the rage in Asia and are starting to become more common place here. A lot of Asian girls wear them to achieve that “doll eyed” look makes you look like a totally cute Anime character. And now I know their secret hee hee! They instantly make your eyes look much bigger and more dramatic as they are larger in diameter than standard lenses (between 14-15.5mm)

I have worn colour contacts before, but mostly just one’s that enhance my natural eye colour (green) rather than changing it. This is me with no lenses:

I was all about trying this new trend. The first pair I got were these green ones:

*As a side note, I will be making Duck Face in every photo henceforth.

So…most people seemed to think they were creepy, but I totally loved them and I wore them often.

I have light eyes so I wanted to try them in a darker colour just to see how I would look with darker eyes. Someone suggested getting the black since my eyes are so naturally light.

This was a mistake.

My natural eye colour ended up showing in the middle with the black only around the outside. Basically I looked like Vin Diesel in Pitch Black. Not my favourite look:

Lastly I tried the brown, which I just received in the mail last week. These are my favourite so far! Some people still think they look crazy but I still like them : ) They darkened my eyes but in a more subtle way.

So there you go, that’s the scoop on circle lenses. I should mention that I am blind as a bat and therefore need prescription lenses. Each pair is only about $25-$30 each (even with prescription!) and they ship within 2 weeks. This is the website I used, check it out dbeautyshop.com

Have a lovely day you little snicker doodle

<3

M

Tags: Anime, Bigger Eyes, Circle lenses, colour contacts, Dbeautyshop

Wolverine

Last night James and I went to see Drive. The movie was good. Really good actually. It took a seriously graphic turn about halfway through which would normally be the time I walk out of the theater. But there was so much that had already grabbed my attention, surprisingly I only screamed once and made it the whole way through.

The biggest surprise of the night was when we stepped off the giant escalator in Scotiabank Theater. There was a huge crowd and I assumed it was a lineup for one of the movies.  Being 5 foot 2 I couldn’t see a thing, and was shocked when James calmly stated ‘Oh it’s that guy from the fighting robots movie. You know…Wolverine?’

My jaw dropped. I immediately grabbed my cell phone and began furiously snapping photos.

James patiently waited for me to finish but I know he was silently judging me (I know he took a photo or two of his own. Don’t lie!) I am kind of obsessed with X Men and especially Wolverine so it kind of made my year. He is def the biggest star I have ever been within arms reach of.

Fun!

<3

M

Tags: Driver, Hugh Jackman, Ryan Gosling, TIFF, Wolverine

Premier

IT’S BAAAAACK!

Vampire Diaries premiered last Friday There are a ton of shows that I am uber excited about this fall. But I am a total cheese-ball for the vampire stuff and even though True Blood season 5 isn’t for a million years, I still have Elena and Stefan.

As he often does, Stefan cries during the premier episode. And as always, when Stefan cries, I cry.

And soon Modern Family, 30 Rock, Big Bang Theory and HIMYM will ALL be back on television. I’ll spend all my time catching up on my fav shows, which is perfect because I have zero desire to go outside once it gets cold. Actually zero.

You might find this helpful in keeping track of when all the shows you love premier.

What are your favourites? What are your guilty pleasures? Come on admit it!

Enjoy this lovely day and don’t forget…I love you!

<3

M

Tags: Crazy/Hot Scale, How I Met You Mother, Nina Dobrev, Vampire Diaries