Friday Favs ~ March 4th

Friday ... it's a wonderful thing. I enjoy my weeks but come Thursday evening I'm always like ...

Over the past couple of weeks I've been fond of a few products and wanted to share. 

Maybelline "the skinny"

The "master precise skinny" gel pencil by Maybelline is a newer purchase. I bought it two weeks back as I was looking for a pencil liner that wouldn't smudge or transfer. I've been wearing it on my bottom lash line as well as tight lining my top lashes. I have it in the colour "defining black" and I'm happy with it's lasting power. The fine point glides on smoothly and doesn't flake. I'm not one to touch up my makeup so this is exactly what I was looking for. It retails for approx $9-12 depending on where you buy it. 

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Baci

I've had my eye on the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks for a while now and thought I'd use my Shoppers Optimum points to buy one, once I picked out a colour. Sadly, my Shoppers didn't have "Baci" and that was the one I was lusting over. While in NB I stopped in Sephora and was lucky enough to snatch up the last one. The formulation dries down quickly to a matte texture that rests of the lips all day ... no joke! Baci is a nude/pinky/mauve colour that even has a grey tint to it. While looking at all the colours, Baci was something different that can be worn during any season and if I'm forking over $31 for a lipstick, I want to be able to wear it whenever I want! A little product goes a long way so it's reassuring to know I'll have this for quite some time. 

Lip and Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus

I received this Lip and Cheek Stain by The Body Shop from my friend Karen for my birthday and I've been loving it for both options! I have fun using it in the middle of my lips for an easy ombre, natural look. I have the colour, pink hibiscus which is a bright red/pink, however the pigmentation is not as vibrant when applied. The product doesn't last long on the lips but has great lasting power on the cheeks. 

The Look

Shea Eau de Toilette

I picked this up over Christmas as I've always been a fan of "nutty" scents and when I saw the Shea fragrance I thought it would be worth a try. It has a clean nutty smell that is light and a little sweet. It's not overpowering and lingers more like a mist than a perfume. I really enjoy it for the everyday and hope to try their other scents when I'm done this bottle. *Currently on sale online for $7.50 Cdn. 

Sephora sheet mask

I may have mentioned this before but I love these sheet masks! I woke up early the other morning just so I could apply one of these for 30 minutes before getting ready for work. They are unbelievably refreshing and moisturizing!!! Adam always comments that my face looks so much brighter after I use one of these and I couldn't agree more. I usually get 2-3 uses out of one sheet but I've been applying them for a longer period and using up all the serum in one shoot. My skin feels and looks so fresh after using these masks that I which I had a plethora of extras to use daily! They are a must try .. do it ... now!

I'd love to hear if you've tried these products and if they work for you or not. Have a great Friday and a large weekend!

Cheers.

Cute Winter Wear (For Colder Climates)

Living on the East Coast can pose a challenge for those of us with a fashion conscious mind. Specifically during the winter. As much as we'd like to, we can't wear heels, wedge boots or cute knitted headbands. It's pretty much a snowstorm everyday, all-day- for 4 1/2 months ... thinking of joining us? Ha ha 

Socks, hats, mittens, cozy underwear and lots of hand cream are necessities at this time of year ... to weather the picturesque white fluffy stuff.

Together we've curated a list of our top-drawer must haves for the winter season. Below is a list of items we currently own and wear! 

Erin ~

Hat ~ I'm a collector of hats every Fall. They just seem to come out with the cutest/simplest creations and I just can't keep my head hands off them. This hat is from Old Navy, I bought it a few years back and I love the pop of maroon it brings to my wardrobe. I'm a wearer of the "bauble" ... but it has to be  a fitted hat for the bauble to work for me. I never pay more than $20 for my "toques", and I'm enjoying the homemade versions that you can find at craft stores/fairs.

Scarf ~ I purchased this blanket scarf 3 years ago at American Eagle. Over the years I've been favouring plaid and couldn't help picking this up as I can seriously wear it as a blanket ... that's saying something for a 6' tall female. Because it is a versatile blanket/scarf I tend to use it often and love that not only is it "trendy/cute" but it's warm too.

Leg warmers ~ I'm a kid of the 80's so leg warmers are ingrained ... or at least I tell myself that. My mom gifted me these a few years ago. They are from Roots and are old sweater sleeves ... cute right? ... Pinterest worthy too! You can find me wearing these all Fall and frolicking around my house too, pretending I'm a dancer. Ask anyone I know, I'm always freezing, so these help warm me up without having to turn the thermostat on and sweating out my husband.

Boot ~ I have a hard styling my size 12 feet!!! Trying to find stylish footwear is not so easy when you have "canoes" for feet. So needless to say, I usually end up paying a higher price tag for the boots/shoes I do end up getting and with that, I get better quality too. One pair is from LL Bean, I bought these last year and wish I could wear them all year long. They only came in a size 11, but reading reviews everyone mentioned that they ran big so I took the plunge and ... obviously they fit perfectly. The other pair I bought 6 years ago at the ByWard Market in Ottawa. They are beyond comfortable and keep my feet warm, whether I'm hiking with the family or shovelling the snow. 

Natalie ~

Jacket ~ I've always been a Pea coat kind of girl. They look nice and seem to be warm enough - for a quick trip from the house to the car or the car to a store. But when I got puppy last Fall I knew that if I was going to enjoy long, blustery walks, I was going to need to find a coat that would keep me warm on the coldest of days. That's where this Columbia coat comes in. I'm LOVING it. It's a super-warm, down filled coat that is long enough to cover my thighs and bum. Nine times out of ten, I find myself having to peel it off after a walk because I've stuck to it due to the heat. It's got this neat technology called Omni-Heat - which basically looks like tin-foil in the lining of the coat! It's so warm that I tend to wear a tank-top or a short-sleeved shirt underneath! This was definitely a pricey purchase, but so, so worth it!

Boots ~ A few years ago (before the Sorel trend) I saw the Sorel Tivoli boots on display in a local store and knew I had to have them. They are the most comfortable, waterproof, warm winter boots I have ever owned. They are perfect for walking with Huey, hiking through the snow or shovelling out after a big snowfall! The particular pair I have do no have removable liners and are beginning to show their age, but are still warm and waterproof, nonetheless. I've been on the hunt for my next pair of Sorel boots because I don't think I'll ever need to find another brand. 

Scarf ~ Because I tend to wear fairly neutral outwear, I find myself drawn towards bright, colourful scarves and accessories. This particular scarf was a gift to my mom (from a client) and I immediately fell in love! I like that the purple is still "wintery" while bringing a touch of personality to my taupe coloured coat. I have a number of scarves that I rotate throughout the season, so my look is constantly changing.

So there are some of our favoured items that keep us looking "cool" while staying "warm"! The photos were taken this past weekend and usually by now we would have snow and I would not be wearing a vest, however the sun has been out and warm temperatures too so we took advantage of what we had to work with. I'M NOT COMPLAINING, I wish our winters were less white if you know what I mean. 

By December, I feel like we are in winter but I can't believe we will be out of 2015 in less than 3 weeks. Hope you are enjoying our first "Blogmas" and remember to click on nathennessey.com to follow Nat on this December journey too.

Cheers, 

Erin 

Favourites week wrap up and GIVEAWAY!!!

I hope you all enjoyed favourites week and caught Natalie's posts over at nathennessey.com. We wanted to end on a high note and decided what better way than to have a giveaway. Check out the two videos below for further details.

Natalie and Erin's Favourites Video

Natalie and Erin's Favourites ~ Giveaway

To enter the giveaway you need to follow both Natalie and I on Instagram. Then leave a comment on one of my photos and one of Natalie's, suggesting blog posts you would like to see in the future.

If you have any further questions feel free to get a hold of us. The contest runs from Oct 2-16, 2015.

Erin

Jewelry Favourites

Jewelry is such a great way to accessorize. For as long as I can remember I've always worn jewelry. When I was just two, a friend of my parents was watching me and took me out to get my ears pierced without my parents consent... back 30 years ago you could do such a thing. My parents were shocked and probably grateful in hind sight. I don't remember that day but I do remember being 4 years old, playing tee ball and telling my coach to be careful putting my helmet on/off because I had pretty earrings on... sometimes boys just don't understand!

Growing up I admired my mother's jewelry collection. I loved opening up her jewelry box and delighting in all her jewels. The stories she would tell about heirlooms caught my attention and further intrigued my interests. I'd stare at my baby bracket and open the wee box that held my "chewed" baby ring. 

On special occasions I've receive meaningful pieces to add to my very own collection from my parents and grandparents. Over the years Adam has also caught on that I love simple, special pieces and he also treats me to some wonderful gifts that hopefully someday will be passed along to our daughter.

Before my grandfather married my nanny, his previous girlfriend gifted him this watch. My nanny only let him wear it for so long before he had to put it away for safe keeping. It's over 60 years old and still works. I've had it for about 7 years and love wearing it with modern straps. The hands are made of paper and are slowly disintegrating, which gives it tremendous character. Every time I wind it up, it reminds me of my Grampy and my love for him. 

The ring on the left was a gift from Adam. I admired this ring by Jonathan Corey of Masterworks Jewellery for a number of months. Something about the two tone (gold/silver) and the pearl, really caught my eye. I love the added detail with the gold drops on the pearl and the thickness of the band really appealed to me. This ring is called "Heaven and Earth 2" and I now have my eye on this one !!!

Chocolate pearl ... yes please!

The ring on the right I had made. As a baby I had an initial ring but as I stated, I chewed it, oops! So while in St. Andrews, NB, I stopped at a little antique/trinket shop and found this stirling silver ring for $10. It was my size and I knew a written "E" would jazz it up perfectly. I wear it on my ring finger and I adore it's simplicity!

Both sets of earring are by the artist Tori XO. The ones on the left were a gift from Adam for our 1st wedding anniversary and on the right were a birthday gift from a friend. The pieces are handmade with stirling silver and embellished with vintage French lace. I really appreciate the uniqueness of these earrings and enjoy that the artist lives in Nova Scotia. Support local.

I'm someone who feels naked if I don't wear earrings or a watch daily. So a big portion of my collection is earrings. My parents gave me the hoops for Christmas one year from W. Smith and Co and what's really neat is that they are white/gold so you can change them around depending on your mood. They are also great for travelling, because it's like having two pairs of earrings in one.

The other two pairs my mom gifted me and they both came from a second hand jewelry store. Mom and I love visiting this shop because there are some really unique pieces. The first pair she bought are stirling silver studs with pearls inside. They are great because they are a classic design and can go with anything. And the other pair are vintage etched stirling silver are great for everyday wear as well.

My last favourite is a necklace that is a legacy piece. My great grandmother gave my mom the round jewel which holds a mustard seed in it. The seed is to be one of the smallest in the world but can survive in many climates. If a mustard tree is cut down to the truck, it can still grow back again. The seed represents that even in the hardest times, you can still bloom. 

The silver dollar was my grandmothers which she had it gold plated and the purple amethyst was my mothers. Amethysts are known to bring balance, peace and patience and although unconventional I love wearing all three pieces together. 

There you have some of my favourite jewelry bits. I'm often found with out makeup and its these simple, timeless pieces that make me feel feminine and beautiful.

Don't forget to check out Natalie's blog, and continue to read as we have a special surprise coming up.

Erin. 

  

Favourites Week with Natalie: Favourite Face Masks

This week my neighbour and fellow blogger Natalie and I are doing collaboration posts on some of our favourite things. Natalie will post Monday and Wednesday and I'll be posting Tuesday and Thursday. On Friday, we have a special treat for you all so stay tuned while following along. 

I'm a big believer in skin care and I love to paper myself when it comes to taking care of my face. I love to dabble in makeup but could easily give it all up, however I'd never give up my skin care products. I've always had pretty decent skin and I chalk some of that luck up to not exposing my skin to a lot of sun, drinking plenty of water and taking care of cleaning my face on a regular basis. Over the years my routine has incorporated many face masks and I'm here to share some of my favourites. 

 Two of the major reasons I reach for a face mask on a weekly basis is because I'm either looking for additional moisture or I'm in need of a deeper cleanse. I have normal skin that tends to get a little dry in the cooler months so it's essential in maintain radiance all year, I continue to listen to my skin and give it what it needs.  

I've been using sheet masks for approximately 2 years. They are a great alternative to a moisturizing mask as most sheet masks are easy to use. You apply, wait the allotted time then walk away. No need to rinse off and because they are dripping with serum, you can get away with not having to apply additional moisturizer. I must warn you, you will look extremely scary as they only leave your eyes, nostrils and mouth exposed. So warn those around you or try one out on Halloween. Sephora makes some great sheet masks but you can also find them in the beauty sections at drug stores. 

 First Aid Beauty makes a marvellous, deeply hydrating instant oatmeal mask that only takes 10 minutes to use. This mask restores dry, rough, dehydrated skin, leaving it smooth, soft and revived. The oatmeal scent is calming and I really enjoy using this in-between the days I use a mask that is a bit more abrasive. 

I'm a big fan of Origins. They are a great skin care company and I thoroughly enjoy their "clear improvements" active charcoal mask. This mask has activated charcoal that acts like a magnet to draw out deep dwelling pore cloggers. As the charcoal dries it increases circulation making my face appear more rosy than normal. I make sure to moisturize really well afterwards as my pores are de-clogged and looking for a drink. 

Mask on Magnaminty by LUSH is a holy grail product for me. It has a scent of minty goodness (hence the name) and works wonders on my skin. As it sits on my face it gives off a slight tingly sensation and when I wash it off my face feels so damn clean. It truly is a wonderful product that will leave your skin feeling calm, soft and refreshed.  

Face masks are a staple in my routine and I enjoy mixing them up. When traveling I always bring along a "Montagne Jeunesse" mask as they are cheap ($2) and easy to pack. I love trying out the different types as they all have the same results... an additional juicy boost of moisture. These are some of my favourites to always have on hand when I run out of my other staples. 

So there are some of my favourite masks when it comes to removing excess dirt, oil and dead skin cells and revealing, fresh, soft, glowing skin underneath. I'd love to hear what you favour and if you have any further questions please send them my way.    

Enjoy,

Erin