I’ve been walking around the house doing random things knowing very well I should be writing my blog. I mean, I’ve been thinking about it for months but haven’t made the time. There’s something about writing for me; sometimes I sit down with a clear idea and it flows easily, today for some reason I’m procrastinating and not because I don’t want to share this with you but I think there’s just a lot on my mind.  So, I’ve written myself an email with a list so that I don’t worry about forgetting to do the things I’m thinking about. I’ve made myself a decaf and have lit a candle.  Something about candles represent “time to get down to it”. I never start cooking without first lighting a candle.

I try to do a monthly faves blog but was away for the entire month of June,  May was a busy month and next week is my birthday – I celebrate my birthday for a week so no time like the present.  Here are the things I’ve been loving (recently).

Sali Hughes In The Bathroom Series

Shopping At The Very First Gucci Store

Reusable Organic Cotton Wipes

I wear a lot of makeup (and skin care and sunscreen) daily.  One of the first things I do when I get home is take it all off.  The easiest way to remove eye makeup has always been a cotton pad soaked with Micellar Water. Recently I’ve been trying to make this process a little more sustainable.  I started using terry cloths but find them a little to rough for the sensitive eye area so I keep them for the rest of my face and neck.  I do like that I can use them over and over again. I just toss them in the laundry!  When I came across these reusable cotton wipes on Amazon I  found my answer.  They come in a pack of 12 and are made with soft organic cotton.  Now I remove my makeup, wash and re-use them.  No more packages of cotton rounds overflowing my bathroom bin.  http://www.amazon.ca

Kiko Mascara Twist Brush

Whenever I’m in Italy or Spain I like to stop in at Kiko Cosmetics. They are very reasonably priced and I’ve purchased some of my favourite makeup at their stores.  This time at the check out, the sales girl showed me their new mascara.  It has a twistable wand so the first coat is for lengthening the lashes then you twist the wand and it curls them.  I found it gimmicky but for $6 I said “why not” and threw it in my basket.  I really regret now not having bought like 4 of these.  I have so many mascaras in my drawer from Chanel to L’oreal.  This one is SO good.  Sadly they don’t ship to Canada.  Next time Kiko.

http://www.kikocosmetics.com

Centrum gummies

I’ve lost 4 nails in 2 years.  By lost I mean with the slightest bump off go my nails!  I stubbed my foot against a bench at work and lot my small toe nail.  I slipped in the shower last winter and cracked my big toe nail in half and completely lost my second toe nail.  Then I kicked a dumbbell someone left lying around under my desk at work and lost my other small toe nail.  Accidents happen I know but aside from my nails flying off willy nilly  I also shed more than my 2 cats. My poor vacuum.  I started taking these gummies by Centrum a few months ago. Made specifically for hair, skin and nails they have great strengthening ingredients like biotin and B and E Vitamins. They taste like candy so I never forget to take them. My hairstylist recently mentioned how barely any of my hair had fallen out while she was washing it.  I think they’re working.

http://www.centrum.ca  http://www.londondrugs.com

Birkenstock Arizona Sandals

For our honeymoon in June we took  a 9 hour flight to Paris. For long haul flights, comfort is key and I’m one of those people who like to get comfortable in my airplane seat, kick off my shoes, give myself a facial pamper session and drift off to sleep.  I use Pinterest as my go to for inspiration. Typing in “airport outfits” I came across pages of celebrities boarding their flights; in big sun glasses, wearing boyfriends jeans, track suits and…Birkenstock sandals…with SOCKS?  I thought the whole sandals with socks thing was reserved for old men touring around Germany paired with cargo shorts and bucket hats but nope, it’s a thing.  In the photos everyone from supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio to actress Jessica Alba were spotted at the airport in their comfortable flight outfits paired with the Birkenstock Arizona sandal.  So I bought them (as well as a soft tracksuit) and can confidently say this is what I’m wearing from now on when I travel long haul.  Plus they’re super easy to kick off at airport security and slip back on.  http://www.birkenstock.ca/

Alone – In The Arctic

There are only a few shows I wait for eagerly each year to start up again. These are: Vikings, Stranger Things, Alaska the Last Frontier and ALONE.   10 contestants get dropped off at different remote locations.  They bring with them 10 items (fishing hooks, a bow and arrow, a tarp, a ferro rod, etc) and have to survive for as long as they can in some of the harshest weather conditions, surrounded by wildlife and recording their entire experience on cameras provided for them.  This season they are at Great Slave Lake in the Canadian Arctic.  My husband and I start the season by studying each contestant then betting who will win. We’re very competitive.   https://www.history.ca/shows/alone/

The Ordinary – Caffein Infused Serum

I’m always on the hunt the the latest and greatest in skin care technology.  I’ve incorporated Led Light Therapy which I use 5 times a week (I’ll blog about that separately) and have been slowly upping my Retinol % over the years as my skin gets accustomed to retinoic acid.  I’ve been making myself an eye gel for years with Coffee essential and other essential oils. In many cases the simpler and the more natural the better and the skin around the eyes is so delicate I steer clear of retinol anywhere around this area.  The Ordinary is a Canadian skin care line that keeps things very simple.  Just a couple of ingredients in each of their products and a price point of $6 – $20, you just can’t go wrong.  I’m really loving the Caffein Solution 5% infused with green tea. It instantly de-puffs the under eye area and I’ve even noticed a difference on my eyelids.  I’ll post an update in a few months.  http://www.theordinary.com

The Saturday Night Ghost Club

If you love Stranger Things, Stand By Me and or the Goonies, you’ll love this story.  Based in the town of Niagara Falls Ontario in the 80’s,  a group of kids create The Saturday Night Ghost Club and  spend the summer investigating haunted locations and urban legends with Jake’s eccentric uncle Calvin, owner of the local Occult shop. As the summer progresses Jake begins to realize that the chilling stories uncle Calvin shares with them are actually memories buried so deep in his subconscious Calvin is unaware of them.  This book took me back to my own childhood, age 12 there was always at least one haunted house in the neighbourhood, stories about kidnapped kids and summers riding our bikes to the store to buy freezies and sour keys.  Heartwarming and heartbreaking.  I downloaded it on my Kindle and devoured this story in days.   http://craigdavidson.net/index2.htm

And this concludes the things I’ve been loving.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this post.  Please feel free to share anything you’ve been into recently: a product you’ve discovered and want to share with the world, a great book, show, movie.  I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time.

Love,

Jennifer