Monday, April 30, 2012

Product Review - Benefit They're Real Mascara




I have had this product for a while and I didn't want to review it until I had used it for a good length of time. It was one of those things that I really wanted to test before I gave an opinion. Now that I have officially used it up I decided to give you guys a review.

Price:  $28 (Canadian) at Sephora

Pros: I really love the brush, because it has the bristles on the end it really reaches all of my lashes and makes application on the bottom lashes a breeze. The formula does give your lashes a boost and makes them stand out.

Cons: It is a little pricey and I personally find that it doesn't do any better of job than a drugstore mascara.

Final Verdict: I did like the mascara, but I naturally have long lashes and once I curl them I don't notice much of a difference when it comes to mascara. It does give them volume and does do what it claims so if you have difficulty with your lashes not being long or voluminous it's perfect. I personally will go back to buying drugstore mascara's and saving a few bucks.

Have you given this mascara a try? Tell us about it on our Facebook or Twitter. 
-xx
Kelsey

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Product Review : Biore Pore Strips


The other day while watching Anna Saccone's Question and Answer Video (which you can watch here), she mentioned the Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips for a black head cure.  I used to use these all the time when I was in high school and for some reason stopped using them.  However after watching the video I decided to try them again.  And I have to say I was not disappointed at all.  They work amazing and aren't that expensive!  So I thought I would do a quick product review on them for all of you.

Product : Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

Price :  $8.50 (Canadian) for 8 strips

How to Use :  Simply wash your face and then wet your nose area (important so that the strip will stick to your nose).  Peal the strip from the backing and place on your nose.  Wait for 10 - 15 minutes before removing!

Good : The strips are a fairly good price and work very well!  Also they are simple to use.

Not So Good : My only complaint would the wait time (because I'm not a very patient person) I would like to see the strips work in about 5 minutes, but that is really my only complaint.

Would I buy it again? : Yes I would buy it again and recommend them to anyone!

I hope this quick review has helped you guys.  If you'd like to see us review any products in particular or have any questions you contact us on Twitter, Facebook, or Formspring. Have a wonderful day and enjoy the lovely weather.
-xx Sally

Saturday, April 28, 2012

DIY - tea cup candles


Hi everyone!   Today's blog post is going to be a DIY kind of post.  A while ago while browsing Martha Stewart's website I came across a how to make your own tea cup candles (which you can view here). I thought that was a really clever way to use up your old candles, I personally love candles and over the years gotten quiet a few.  However I was never really sure what to do with the candles once the wick was all burnt but there was still some wax.  This seemed like a perfect simple solution!  

Now onto the project!

What you'll need :
Two pots - one small and one larger
             *for the smaller one use one you don't mind getting covered in wax 
Candle wicks with a small stand on the bottom 
            at my local Michael's I got 12 three inch ones for $5 
Old tea cups 
            I found 4 tea cups at Value Village for $3 
Old burnt candles 
            I have quiet a few lying around my house 

How to do it :
1.  Fill your larger pot with water and bring to a boil 
2.  Fill your small pot with your old wax and place inside the larger pot to melt the wax
3.  Once the wax is melted dip a wick into the wax and stick to the bottom of your tea cup 
4. Simply pour the melted wax into your tea cup careful not to burn yourself
5.  Let dry for over an hour before using 

The whole thing took me about 30 minutes from start to finish - not including drying time.  This is great way to use up old candles and with Mother's Day around the corner, this would make a great gift!  Now you don't just have to use tea cups, you can use any container you wish to.  And the best part - besides having new candles was my total cost for this project was only $8! 

What do you think of these cute candles?  We'd love to see photos of your tea cup candles!
-xx Sally 




Thursday, April 26, 2012

OOTD - Bows & Stripes


Top: Old Navy $18
Pants: H&M $20
Flats: Payless $15
Watch: Market $10
Bow Earring: Clair's $20

Nails: Joe Fresh Onyx
Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti 015

**price is in Canadian dollars**

-xx
Kelsey

Summer Reading

Summer is just around and for most of us that means more time for reading.  For this post I'd like to briefly talk about my top choices for summer reading.
*Note none of these are in any particular order.

1984 by George Orwell
This book is a classic and a must read for me.  I love the combination of sci fi and romance in one!  It's a great read, however at times it may seen a bit more dense.

The Book of Negros by Lawrence Hill
I first read this book two years ago and I seem to always come back to it.  It's an amazing story of one girl's journey from the plains in Africa to slavery in America and finally to freedom in England.  The book however does have some graphic descriptions and violence in it.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The movie for this book came out this year - which I have not seen but the book itself is very lovely.  It's a book based on how the after math of 9/11 effected families in New York.  A very well written and heart warming book, also an easy read.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Like 1984 I find this to be a classic and a must read.  The romance and family troubles Jane Austin wrote about are still relevant in today's era.  I absolutely love this love story and find it to be my favourite love story of all times.  It's a great book to curl up with either on a rainy day or out in the sun.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
This is the first book in the series and has become very popular in the past year.  The TV show I hear is also amazing.   I have not read this book yet, but I figured I should include in this list as I will be reading it shortly.  All of the books in the series (5 novels in total) are currently out and I look forward to reading them all!

I hope this short list has given you some ideas for reading material for either a vacation or just for your spare time.  I any of you wish to have a full review of any of the books you can contact us on our Twitter, Facebook, or in the comments.
Happy reading!
-xx Sally

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Prom Series: The Perfect Prom Dress

Welcome to our Prom Series. For the next month we will be putting out videos that will help you get ready for your prom. Prom is an exciting experience and we want it to be a special day for you.

Finding the perfect dress is always a daunting task so we gathered some trends and tips to how you can dress for prom. Down below is also a link to the video for this blog post if you would like to watch rather than read. We hope this helps. Please feel free to leave any suggestions for tutorials or tips videos and posts in the comments below or on our facebook/twitter page.


We have gathered some of the trends for prom 2012 and this is what we discovered. We will go through each trend starting with the top left.
Bling: Anything sparkly and bedazzled is in this year, so don't be afraid to shine on your prom night.
Cut Outs: Cut outs are very in, whether they be in the back or along the side, it's that little bit of extra skin without being 'trashy'.
High Low: This is an asymmetrical bottom with the front shorter than the back. This really shows off your legs without exposing too much.
Polka Dots: A classic trend that can be worn in many ways makes it's appearance at prom.
Sleeves: It's sexy to cover up for this prom, sleeves are making there way into the prom trends.
Lace: Lace has been in for a few seasons now and is very timeless. The subtle detail can really make your dress stand out.


Dressing for your body shape can be a daunting one but here are some tips for you to look fabulous.

Hourglass: An hourglass shape is just that. Your waist cinches in and your hips are roughly 10 inches larger than your waist. This body type really benefits from wearing a dress that hugs the body and shows off your curves. We chose the blue high low dress because the sweetheart neckline will draw attention up while your legs still get in on some of the action as well.
Pear: A pear shape is when you have a heavier bottom half to minimize this affect create a defined waist and draw attention to your bust. We chose the cream dress that features an empire waist and a v-neck cut which is a very Marilyn Monroe look for prom.
Rectangle: Rectangle shape is very straight down without any major curves, the nice thing about this body type is clothes tend to hang on the body nicely. We chose this elegant maxi dress (which is our personal favourite one) for this body type. The embellishments on the chest create the illusion of curves and the bottom of the dress flows out nicely, draping around the body.
Triangle: A triangle body type is very top heavy and often has broader shoulders. With this body type we chose a dress that was heavy in details around the waist so that the details would draw the eye away from the shoulders and into the waist line.

When choosing a dress for your skin type you have to ensure the colours really compliment you. Here are some tips for various skin types.
Fair: Pastel colours such as lilac and coral compliment your skin well. Just never be afraid to wear reds and purples, these colours can brighten up your appearance. The colours you do want to stay away from are peach tones since they are too close to your natural skin colour and will wash you out.
Medium: Richer tones such as golds and reds look amazing on you. So don't be afraid to wear a deep red dress that is shimmery, this will really make you pop. Try and stay away from muted colours because they will make your skin look duller than it is.
Olive: You're lucky! Almost any colour looks amazing on your skin tone. So don't be afraid to wear lemon yellow, emerald, sapphire and even ruby!
Brown: Like Olive you are a lucky one! You can wear any colour and look stunning. Try a gold colour with a black overlay, this will really make you stand out!
Black: You don't have to be afraid to be bold. Aqua, Turquoise, Fuchsia and Tangerine look amazing on you. Try and steer clear of grey tones because they can dull down the beauty of your skin tone.

Flats, Flats and more flats! Flats are in for prom which is an amazing trend. There are so many to choose from and they are an excellent investment!


Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have and share your prom attire with us on twitter!

Happy Shopping!

-xx
Kelsey & Sally

A Bit Of Glitter - Nail Tutorial


Hey Everyone!
Here is a quick nail tutorial that you can wear anywhere you'd like. I will list the polishes I used but why all means use any colour you'd like to create this look!

1. The polishes I used to create this look were; Joe Fresh Onyx, Sally Hansen 140 Rockstar Pink and Essie Good To Go Topcoat.
2. Start off with painting your nails your base colour. Depending on how good the polish is this may take one to two coats. Let each coat dry thoroughly before applying another.
3. Take some tape, I just use Scotch but any tape you may have will do and cut into small strips.
4. Place the strip in a desired angel that you would like to create. I just chose to do a diagonal going from left to right.
5. Once you have applied the tape to each one of your nails put your glitter polish on the exposed nail. Let set for a few moments.
6. Slowly peel off your tape so that no polish is pulled off as well as preventing any drips of glitter polish on your base. Apply your topcoat and voila! You're done and ready to take on the town.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and happy painting!
-xx
Kelsey

Monday, April 23, 2012

Spring Cleaning!


Today I thought I'd do a post about spring cleaning because I've recently moved home for the summer and spent the entire day cleaning and organizing my room.  I spent the morning throughly cleaning my room up and getting rid of any items or clothes I no longer use - I donate all of my old items to my local charity shop.  After going through all of my things I started to organize my room, which is where this post comes in!

My room at home is currently blue and I have all white furniture so I chose to create a soft feminine look for my room.  Above you can see a few photos of details in my room.  The top left is of my curtains, I didn't have a tie for them so I found some ribbon and used it!  It looks great and is way cheaper than any ties they sell in stores.  The top right is of the pussy willow branches I have beside my bed.  I love having fresh flowers and plants in my room and I find this adds a nice finishing touch.  I already had the vase and my family had some extra branches I could have so I didn't spend a dime.  The bottom left is a close up of my bed, over Christmas I bought these white lights and decided to weave them through the bed frame to add a soft glow to the room.  The final photo is is a close up of my jewellery stand. I got this for Christmas a few years and absolutely love it! Its a great way to organize your jewellery and a way to show off your jewels! 

These are just a couple of small ways to enhance your room without spending a whole lot of money or time!  Have a wonderful evening and be sure to tweet us your spring cleaning plans! 

-xx Sally 

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Happy Earth Day


Happy Earth Day! To celebrate we've decided to make a quick tips blog on some simple things that you can do to be more environmentally friendly as well as save yourself some money.

1. When doing the laundry wash your clothes in cold water. Most of the energy used to wash your clothes goes towards heating the water and this process can cost you 5 to 10 times more than just simply washing in cold water.

2. By reducing the amount of meat you eat you can reduce the amount of factory emissions and slaughter. I am not saying go vegetarian but try to eat less red meat or even have a meat-less monday. This can also improve your health, which is a nice bonus.

3. Turn off any lights when you leave a room. I know it seems simple but it is a task that we often forget to do. This can save you loads on your electricity bill and will help the environment.

4. By switching from bottled water to filtered water you can save a lot by not spending that extra money and in turn use the water that comes to our homes for free. Although it seems as though the bottles would be able to get recycled, most of the time they aren't and are left as waste in the landfill.

5. We decided for the last point we would list a few companies that offer environmentally friendly products and leave a link to their website so you may check them out:
Tarte: the company creates components that are made from recyclable or post-consumer recycled material and can often be re-used to help reduce environmental waste. Visit their site here.
Pandora's Make-up Box: a Canadian company that prides itself on it's 'eco-chiq' brand. Each of it's products are eco-friendly and easy on the wallet. Visit their site here.
Burt's Bees: this UK company prides themselves on their natural standard, making their products 100% natural. They also believe that their packaging should hold the highest in environmental standards. This company is doing all it can to be eco-friendly while making a great product. Visit their site here.

What are all of you doing for Earth day? Leave us a comment!

-xx
Kelsey & Sally

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Garnier BB Cream


So I have recently jumped on the bandwagon of this latest trend which has been popular in East Asia for years now, the BB Cream (or beauty balm cream). I haven't been using any heavy foundations lately, mostly a tinted moisturizer and I figured I'd give this a go!

I will give you a brief description of what Garnier likes to advertise for their BB Cream. They claim it is the miracle skin perfecter with 5 benefits. "It corrects, brightens, evens, is a UV protector and hydrates." I got the shade Light/Medium and it retails for about $18 at Walmart.

My first impression of the cream was it had a pleasant smell. I can't describe it too much but it does slightly remind me on a floral soap scent, but it isn't too strong and disperses fairly quickly. Straight from the tube it looks too dark, which made me slightly worried that it wouldn't match my skin since I am quite fair but once blended into the face it matches perfectly.

I have recently figured out that my skin type is more normal to dry and I find that this helps a lot. It makes you look really fresh, and I have often had people tell me I look flawless when I am wearing it. I have noticed that lately my skin has also looked brighter from using it and it doesn't clog my pores, which is a huge bonus for me.

All in all I would suggest giving it a shot! I absolutely love it and it has made a nice home in my daily makeup routine.

What are your thoughts on BB Creams? Leave me a comment.
-xx
Kelsey

Friday, April 20, 2012

My College Story

This may be a boring post to most but it is something that has been in my life for the past three years and I really want to share this experience with you. This past Monday I officially finished my degree in Graphic Design at Conestoga College in Canada. It was a three year program and was one of the most intense and time consuming things I could of done. Through this post I am going to break it down year by year and explain my experiences throughout that year.

FIRST YEAR

I cant tell you I was ready for first year because I wasn't. I went to a high school that truly valued the arts and I am thankful for that, but it did not give me a sense of what was to come. Around grade 11 I found I had a talent for graphic design but it wasn't until grade 12 that I truly realized the potential of my talent. In May of 2009 I entered and won Skills Canada for graphic design for Ontario, the highest you could go in the competition. This truly made me realize that I had to pursue this profession. Sadly I was discouraged by the college after applying and being put on a waiting list. The program was very small, they only let in around 35 people and were raved about for being an excellent school to go to, to study design. I really wanted to get in. Shortly after I won Skills I got a letter in the mail saying I was accepted in Conestoga College's Graphic Design program. I was overjoyed.

So it began, my graphic design journey. The first year in the school was all hand rendered. You did layout by hand, type by hand, EVERYTHING by hand. It was an interesting experience to say the least since I was never very talented at anything hand rendered, my hands tend to shake slightly and it made my life really difficult for a while. I tried my best, but they wanted absolute perfection, if something was off by 1/32 of an inch (this measurement is not on most standard rulers) it was considered incorrect and therefore a failed attempt. Hand type must look as though it was the exact font, all the serif's correct (a serif is the little part of a letter that sticks out so on this font for example is the little arms that hang out underneath this "N") and the x-height (the height of a lower case letter) must be perfect. It was difficult and resulted in many tears and a swift kick in the butt. They wanted you to appreciate design not just for something slapped together but an experience. 

However my experience with first year made me detach myself from a lot of the work that I did, graphics is difficult in the sense it is art but it's not art for yourself its art for the general public. You don't have to like everything you do, but if it works and it gets a message you wanted to achieve across then it is successful. It's all about communication.

SECOND YEAR

Second Year wasn't an overly exciting year and not a whole lot really happened or changed. It was our first year on the computer and the year started out slow, that way they could ease us into technology, I however had worked with the programs before so it was a very slow time for me. I took this opportunity to work more. Through first and second year I work as an assistant manager at McDonalds so that I could pay my way through school, sadly I wasn't able to have any financial help.

With a trip to New York and other exciting experiences our class just continued to grow closer and many said our bond wasn't normal. We all got along and we treated each other like family. I still do and forever will consider them my family and I love them all very much. 

THIRD YEAR

This was it, our final year, and it was quite the roller coaster. The final year's goal is to build a portfolio so that you would have a collection of your work to take to employers. Building a portfolio isn't an easy thing to do either. You have to really know yourself and your style. Build an identity, refine all your work to perfection and learn how to talk design with industry professionals. Through this year I also balanced working at Futureshop to finish up paying through school. Allowing myself to graduate debt free! It's truly a proud feeling.

We continued to be 'us' and help each other through this journey, guiding each other and finding who we were as designers. It is truly a bittersweet end. With in our last week, we had a year end show that showcased who were and the talent we possessed. We were all so happy yet sad that it had came to and end.

Thinking about it lately it has made me realize that I followed my dreams, I pursued what I was good at and stuck it out even in the hard times and it's an amazing accomplishment. I am going to miss it, I can tell, but I am glad to be finished. Plus our crazy bunch is going to have many outings together and the occasional family reunion.

Please feel free to leave your college experience or even any questions you may have about going to college or even graphic design.

Hope you all have a wonderful day
-xx 
Kelsey 

Monday, April 9, 2012

Beauty Haul

Hi everyone!  Recently I cashed in some of my visa points and went a little bit mad buying beauty products!  So I thought I'd share my recent purchases with all of you and give a quick little review with each one. Hope you enjoy!




I finally decided to spend the money and buy a Mac foundation, and I have to say I'm not disappointed!  I have both sensitive skin and skin that is prone to break outs, so I've very cautious when trying any new foundation.  However I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't break out from my sample the lovely Mac lady gave me.  I also love how you can have this foundation fairly thin or you can built it up for days when you want more coverage.  And as an added little bonus it has SPF 15.









While in Mac I picked up this finisher.  Ever since I saw Sprinkle of Glitter's video featuring it I decided to try it out!  The lady who was helping me at Mac told me a bit about it and how it's great for finishing off your makeup, but also soothes "angry skin" (her words not mine), and so far I've really enjoyed it.








While at shoppers I picked up my usual baby wipes.  I know that some people use actual wipes designed for makeup removal but frankly I don't see the difference and I even broke out from those wipes.  But using the sensitive baby wipes I haven't had a problem, and their a lot cheaper too!



I recently got a coupon in the mail for 1000 bonus points from Shoppers when you buy any Simple products, and so I thought I'd check out this UK brand that is designed for sensitive skin.  After looking at their creams and washes I settled on a face scrub.  I tried it as soon as I got home and I have to say it's really good.  I found it was refreshing and the little "beads" in it didn't hurt my skin like some other scrubs do.  It's only been a few days and I've already noticed an improvement in my skin, so I'd say this product is a win.  I'm looking forward to trying more products from them.  






During my beauty splurge I picked up the Revlon Lip Butter that I've been meaning to get for a while now.  It was actually Kelsey who told me to get them because they're so good!  And I can't agree with her more.  I love how they moisturize my lips as well as adding colour.  I also love how you can have it on fairly thin or you can really pile it up, the shade I got (65 Creamsicle) is great for spring.   A must buy!







For a while I've been looking for a brown eye shadow that would compliment my green eyes, and I think I've found one I like and that won't break the bank (I usually grab a Mac eye shadow but seeing as funds are tight I had to skip that).  It looks the same in the pot as it does on your eye so you know what you're going to get and you can easily build it up.  The eye shadow also has a little bit of sparkles in it, which adds a little a twinkle to your eye.








I've been using this eyeliner for almost a year now, and I still love it!  It's a crayon liner which I find really easy to apply.  If you're like me and don't like regular pencil liner or you're hopeless at liquid liner, then this is for you! It comes out really black and doesn't smudge too badly, and if you're worried about teary eyes they also have it in waterproof.





Just as I was about to go to Shoppers to pick up some beauty products I noticed that I had gotten a coupon in the mail for a free John Frieda Hair Colour kit, from their Precision Foam line.  And since it was free I picked one up!  I tried it that night and I have to say I wasn't overly impressed.  Yes the foam is easier to apply, but it's also a long process. Also I had picked out "Dark Chocolate Brown" and instead what came out was more of an Auburn.  So would I purchase it again?  Probably not.







My Marc Jacob's Daisy Perfume (which I have to say is my all time favourite) is almost running out so I thought that I would pick up a different perfume and try that out.  After looking around for a while I chose this new Coach one.  As soon as I smelled it I knew that was the one I wanted to get, it's fresh and has floral undertones which aren't overpowering.  I would even go as far to say that it's the perfect perfume for Spring / Summer.









Finally I got some more nail polish remover.  It's important to have a good remover when doing your nails and I've come to love this Quo one.  And it's not overly priced either, which is always a winning factor in my mind!


I hope you all enjoyed my beauty haul!  Have any of you tried theses products and loved or hated them?  Do you have any suggestions for great beauty buys?  Be sure to let us know in the comments or you can tweet us.  Hope all of you have a lovely spring day!
-xx Sally



Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Manicure Minute

I am a huge fan of doing lots of creative things with your nails. But lets face it, doing a lot of those designs on your dominate hand are tricky so why not start small? I change my polish probably once a week and own over 25 nail polishes. I hate when my nails chip so when that happens I take all the polish off and either repaint them the same colour or change it up a bit. Lately I have been trying some cleaver designs and I gave this one a go today. A simple ombre-esque polka dot design really makes your nails pop!

The colours I used were:
Teal: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 480 The Real Teal ($3)
Silver: Borghese Rapide B040 Chroma ($11)
Top Coat: Essie Good To Go ($8)

If you'd like me to do a little tutorial on how to get this little simple but cute manicure let me know and I will post one as soon as possible!

Pamper yourself and have fun while doing it.
-xx Kelsey

Monday, April 2, 2012

Weekly Tip - Cork Board



Hi everyone!  I’ve decided to start doing a weekly tip post, each week Kelsey or I will let you guys in on little tips, wether they be about Life, Beauty, or Design. If you have any requests be sure to tweet us here

For our first weekly tip, I’ll be talking about how to give your cork board new life, for a great price!  I don’t know about any of you, but I really hate just having a plain cork board, so I took it upon myself to give it a new life but covering it with some fabric.  I went to my local fabric shop and picked up some fabric with a pattern I liked, and cut the fabric to just slightly larger than the cork and folded over the ends and glued them down with a glue gun.  I then glued the fabric directly onto the cork to finish it off!   And there you have it, a new cork board without having to spend very much time or money!! 
Has anyone else done this? If you have we’d love to see your photos! 
-xx Sally 


Sunday, April 1, 2012

March Playlist

I decided that it'd be a neat idea to share my monthly playlist with all of you. I have always loved music and I love finding new music as well. Every month I will post a list of my month's most played for all of you to have a listen. I'd love this be an open discussion, so feel free to leave some music so I can check it out! Enjoy!

Lost In The Light by Bahamas
Wild Ones by Flo Ride Ft. Sia
Come Away To The Water by Maroon 5
Abraham's Daughter by Arcade Fire
Dark Days by Punch Brothers
Rumour Has It by Adele
Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift ft Civil Wars
Just A Game by Birdy
Without A Word by Birdy
We Are Young by Fun
Kingdom Come by Civil Wars

I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!
-xx Kelsey