Friday favourites

Happy Friday!

March has treated us pretty good thus far, over here in the East... even with the time change.  The sun has been shining (melting the heaps of snow) and we started the week on a high after having a lovely visit from my parents and their pup Rosie. Knowing another weekend is upon us brings a smile to my face. Weekends are a time to kick off your shoes, relax and enjoy the company of your choice. I love spending time with Adam and Oliver and not necessarily having anything to do. Here are a few things that brightened my week. 

Miss Rosie 

Tulips. Spring is just around the corner and flowers are a great reminder that sunnier days are approaching.

Flavoured water. As silly as it might sound, water is my favourite drink. Yes, you read that right. I love water and if it is infused with fruit or herbs, even better. 

Essence longlasting lipstick in Natural beauty. Nothing beats a nourishing, creaming lipstick with a price point of $3.49. #beauty steal

 


Quote.

The Liebster award ~ discover new bloggers

As you can see from the few posts I have, I'm a new blogger who started in late January of this year. With that being said, last week I was nominated by Holly from Hollyshousewifelife ( check her out) to participate in the Liebster award. The premise behind this award is to answer a few questions about yourself and your blog and tag other new-ish bloggers and award them as well.

So let's get the party started, shall we ...

1. How did you decide on the title of your blog?

It took me approximately 3 days to come up with a blog name. Initially I wanted " One of the Terrios" but that was taken, and then I was thinking on the lines of "Balance and Bliss" but after thinking about it, I found it to be to vague. So back to the drawing board where I was thinking about creating a name that might  have an abbreviation like PEI ... "prettiest Erins Island" ... nothing was really resonating with me so I thought, what about just something simple like "All Things Erin", and then decided to add the Leigh as that is my middle name. 

2. Why did you start blogging?

Honestly, the reason I started blogging was the accountability I wanted to provide myself when writing out my goals for 2015. Over the past 6 months, in preparation for moving I've come to realize that I have a lot of material things and I wanted to start using up the things I have. A mentality of "finish what you started" formed and I was able to place that thinking into a few aspects of my life. In June 2014, I started my weight loss journey and to date I'm down 64 lbs. I've bought so many makeup and beauty products and although I hardly ever wear makeup I love skincare goods, so it's a big goal of mine to work though the countless products I have. I go through stages of reading, and I've had books on the shelf going on months now ... I need to set out time to read and get away from Facebook.
Also, since moving away from our families and friends, I figured it would be a great outlet for me, considering I moved here not knowing anyone. Plus, it is a way to keep in touch with home, and in hopes that our beloved will see how much fun we are having here in PEI and want to visit. Selfish I know... but it's the truth. 

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

I would want to visit Africa. Ever since I was a little girl I always had a dream of going to Africa to help those in need. Not only the beauty of the people are intriguing, it's the landscape and the wildlife. I mean who wouldn't want to see Elephants in their natural habitat? 

4. What is your favourite food?

I love a good salad filled with greens, seeds, beets, goat cheese, chickpeas, figs etc. But my guilty pleasure is definitely a Margherita pizza from Pomodori in Rothesay, NB. Oh my, I love love love it. 

5. What is your favourite thing to do with your spare time?

There are a number of things I like to do, paint my nails, take a bath, take Oliver to the park, read, blog, bake and hang out with Adam. I usually seek out spare time within my week to accomplish these things. 

6. Where is your dream vacation spot?

If I've already taken the trip to Africa, then Europe it is. There are to many countries to name that I would want to visit, vacation and explore. If I could do it with Adam, all the better. 

7. Beach or mountains?

Ekks, that is hard. I mean I really appreciate the relaxing nature of a beach but now as I get older an adventure hiking a mountain sounds just as appealing. It's a tie!

8. Are you a dog or cat person?

           DOG DOG DOG ... this guy is our Best Friend !

9. A long lost relative gives you a large sum of money, what do you do with it?

I'd open my own shop, jewellery, clothing and art. With an open spot in the back to hold workshops (yoga, pottery, life drawing, etc)  or host a gallery on off hours. 
I'd invest the rest and take some to spend on experiences.

10. Where do you see your blog going in the next year?

I'd like it to grow a little bit and maybe if I have the nerve I'll start a Youtube channel to do reviews on. I enjoying the more "down to earth " blogs that aren't overly fancy and offer their viewers/followers some genuine input/information and entertainment. I hope to see more people comment on my posts so I can acknowledge their support. 

11. Where does your blog inspiration come from?

Really, this is just me being Erin. If anything my blog is more lifestyle geared and I look forward to posting about the things I do alongside my best friends, Adam and Oliver. My inspiration comes from knowing I have a charming yet simple life and I wish to share those everyday sparkles with others. 

Here are a few blogs I nominate and encourage you to read.

Cheers!

www.epiphanylane.net

ablissfulhaven.com

lovebirdlovenest.com

havenwayblog.com

blessedmamaslife.wordpress.com

Fresh start Monday

The sun is shining upon us, Spring is in the air, Here is a yummy treat, 

So bakers be aware!

(That's right... made that up on the spot)

The last few days have been glorious weather wise and I wanted to start this Monday off right. Oliver and I walked Adam to work this morning and on our way home I was pondering on how I could use the last of the Nutella in a cookie recipe.

                                                   Walking Adam to work ~ our routine

I searched the "web" and stumbled upon this recipe and thought "Perfect, 5 easy ingredients to chewy Nutella cookies, I'm in!". 


 In no time the cookies were ready. I skipped the sea salt (didn't have any) and instead placed an almond on half the cookies. The best part was not only the taste but it yield 12 cookies (okay, well now 10). I appreciate a recipe that doesn't output more treats than I need. I enjoyed my two with a glass of milk and the remainder will go in Adam's lunch bag for the next few days.

Go ahead, treat yourself ... and Enjoy. 

5 Things to do/try/buy ~ Tammy Wallace

If you have dabbled into the world of Pinterest then I'm sure you have come across a few simple and perfect hair do's by Kate from The Small Things Blog. I've been a big fan of Kate's for a number of years now. Her quiet demeanour is quite charming and she gives helpful tutorials on Youtube regarding beauty and hair. This past month she started a little series on her blog called "5 things to do try/buy ", where she asked fellow bloggers, friends and mothers to list their top five "must have " items. I thought this was such a unique way to learn a little bit about what others consider their "holy grail" secrets, that I've asked around and will be featuring some friends and family members on my blog.

So here we go...

5 Things To Do/Try/Buy with Tammy Wallace

Tammy is my sister in law (Adam's oldest sister) and lives in the Moncton area. She and her husband just finished building their dream home and reside there with their two daughters. Tammy has a passion for photography and knack for home decor. Needless to say their new home is nicely decorated and filled with loads of great photos. Here are Tammy's top 5 favourite things she would like to pass along...

1. Bar Keeper's Friend (Mildly addicted to this stuff). I've been buying at Target for when it's on sale for .99 cents because it's way cheaper than other stovetop cleaners, but it also works for cleaning stainless steel, sinks, bathtubs, diminishing cracks in porcelain sinks and dishes, soap scum, burnt on grease in pots and pans. LOVE IT. 

2. Dr. Jart Black Label Detox BB. I've tried many BB creams and foundations over the years, and this is one of my absolute favourites. It adds a youthful quality to my dehydrated, aging skin, while gently moisturizing and helping conceal skin discolourations. I wear it everyday, even if I'm laid up in the house all day, just to feel better about myself. That's saying something.

3. Dr. Bronners Castile Oil Soap. I've been using this stuff for a couple of years now and I love it. It's very gentle, smells great, is good for the environment and people. It's organic, non-gmo and made from 100% pure plant oils. We use it as a shower gel, bubble bath, shampoo, shave cream (when combined with coconut oil is THE BEST) and some use it to brush their teeth but I haven't it and won't. It can be used to wash dishes, mop floors, wash laundry and as a multipurpose cleaner. Some make insect repellant with it. There are probably hundreds of other uses out there I haven't tried but might. Personally I have used it for all these things except laundry. It's great stuff. 

4. DSLR Camera. Photography is not for everyone but for me it's been a bit of a God send. Living with chronic pain on a daily basis changes you. It's easy to see the glass as half empty. Photography not only allows me to catch simple candid moments of my family that I will cherish when my memory someday fails me, but it allows me to find beauty and wonder in the most mundane things. It reminds me how beautiful life is and not to take it for granted. 

5. Blogs. I've learned a tonne of time-saving, useful, penny-pinching ideas in blogs. DIYers really make you feel like you can do anything, and truthfully you can if you try. 
I've learned how to make no-sew grommet curtains and roman blinds (when I'm too lazy to sew- though I know how), how to get old grout looking like new, how to make my own decor hacks for significantly less and how to get perfectly buttery bokeh from my camera lens, etc etc. Yep! Possibilities are endless on the inter "web". 


~ I'm really interested in trying the Dr. Bronners soap - I love a product that has multiple uses (like the idea of using the coconut oil with it too). And I'm really digging the look of bokeh. Thanks for all the great recommendations Tammy!

The Power of Paper

Texting and instant messaging are common ways to communicate nowadays and as much as I love a quick "to the point" conversation there is a big part of me that loves the traditional effectiveness of a good ol hand written card or letter.

I take pleasure in bring a smile to someone's face and the simplicity of a friendly "hello" note creates a feeling of thoughtfulness that is sometimes hard to find in our everyday living. The power of the handwritten word can have profound impact on someone else, and will keep you fresh in their thoughts.

It is no secret that from a very young age I cherished school supplies and stationary and took pride in my "printing" skills. I vividly remember my grade 1 report cards and receiving an "H" for a printing grade. I could have cared less about all the other high achieving marks, I was beyond proud of my printing. Move on to grade 2 where I had a major melt down during class because the boy next to me had "stolen" my eraser I acquired in Cape Breton the summer before school started. I still remember the picturesque graphic on the eraser. It was a purple/blue expression of the "Highlands". I mean really, who else could possibly have an eraser from Cape Breton?!? Well Charles (eraser theft) could have because his grandparents also lived in Cape Breton and he too, spent a few weeks there each summer. At the end of the ordeal I think my dramatics over the bloody eraser convinced the teacher it was my eraser and not Charles' as he remained stunned during my whole emotional episode.

* Needless to say I hold stationary near and dear to my heart!

When Adam and I got married one thing I knew for sure I wanted to do was personally write notes to every single person who attended our showers and big day. I spent a great deal of time thinking about putting the meaning of "thoughtfulness and thankfulness" on paper, to express our gratitude to our guests! The thought of having so many individuals taking an afternoon/evening out of their important lives to celebrate "us" was just astounding to me and I needed to portray my appreciation, meaningfully and purposefully. The summer and fall of 2013 I spent many hours writing "thank you's" to all the special people in our lives.

                                                                Our guests, 2013

One person I love writing notes to is my Nanny. Growing up I've always lived a 7-8 hour drive away from all of my grandparents and as I get older I tend to miss them more and more. Adam and I call my Nanny at least once a week. Our conversations usually stem around the weather, the happenings of our islands (Cape Breton and PEI) and of course, sports. We are all huge Habs fans so during these chilly Canadian winter nights, P.K Subban, Carey Price and Gallagher are hot topics. Although there is much cheer in my grandmothers voice, I know she longs to have my papa alive. For the man she use to share her daily thoughts with, to yell at the T.V. with and to say "good night" too. I have a supportive family who visits with my Nanny daily. They take great care of her and I'm beyond thankful for them. As we all grow older we quickly realize the importance of family. I envy my cousins who grew up close to my grandparents.

Every month or so I find an excuse to celebrate my nanny. I seek out jokes and sayings that I can send along to make her chuckle and smile. During Thanksgiving I reminded her in a card to watch out for others "turkey farts" as it was the season for the lingering smell. And for her birthday I told her to " get lucky".

It's all in fun but I know the little time it takes me to write a few words is a day worth of happiness for her and that means a lot to a granddaughter who doesn't get to see her Nanny often.

Today I'll be sending another little note along to Adam's aunt. This past week their dog has been ill and they experienced some tough decisions. While Baylie seems to be on the mend I wanted to send a card to Baylie from our dog Oliver. I thought is we sent this card that maybe it will lessen their worrying and bring a sparkle to their day.

In 2015 we are all busy trying to make a living. Some of us take a moment to stop and smell the roses and find meaning in shared happiness. The pen is a tool of discovery and letting it sail across the stationary without an agenda is a fulfilling and simple pleasure, that can easily be shared. The power of paper and making someone smile when no one is around is a beautiful thing. I encourage you all to lighten the lives of your friends and beloved by handwriting purposeful worth on paper. 

The 30 something life

Last Friday night, yeah, we danced on tabletops, and we took too many shots and ... yeah it was actually Saturday night and none of those things happened ... but we all had a hella good time.

Adam and I started the day off by going to the gym , coming home and making lunch, picked up a chair off Kijiji then headed to Michaels with our home boy Ian. While home I was able to prepare a chocolate chip cinnamon swirl banana bread that left the house smelling delightful. This was my second attempt at this recipe. The first one turned out really well although it doesn't call for chocolate chips. It was a Pintrest "NAIL". I've started calling Pintrest attempts "Nail or Fail's". This time around I went easy on the cinnamon sugar and compensated with chocolate chips. Yummy.

      

       

              ^ ingredients                             ^ mixed in bowl                    ^ cinnamon sugar on top

          

                                                                  ^ warm out of the oven

I was really looking forward to our evening, and it panned out perfectly! At 5 o'clock Adam and I met up with 6 friends and went on a lovely sleigh ride. The sun was slowly starting to set so it made for a dramatic background as we entered the wooden trail. There were an abundant of horses on the farm and as we approached the trail there were two fox "horsing" around. They were rolling around chasing one another. It was pretty cute.

                                                             ^ Foxes

                     

                                         ^ Some beauties

                                                 Enjoying some hot coco after our sleigh ride

Our friends live a few houses away from the farm so we all headed back for some grub. April and Jason had two large pots filled to the brim with a meat chili and coconut curry soup. I revelled in the soup as I don't eat meat. I can't speak for Jason's chili, but April did a fantastic job on the soup. The crew was very eager to compliment the chefs. I could have easily had seconds or thirds but I knew I wanted to try the chocolate chip cinnamon swirl banana bread, so I held off on a second bowl.

Up next was the moment of truth ... everyone grabbed a piece of the bread and the result was "NAIL". I mentioned there might have been too many chocolate chips but that was quickly shut down. Days later I was still being told "that banana bread was great". So if you are in need of a simple banana bread recipe and need to please the masses check this one out.

* I wasn't able to get a picture of the bread sliced and ready as it was gobbled up to fast.

After dinner we played a number of games, some which included "Just dance" (Ian rocked this one), "Heads up" (we played girls vs guys and the winning reenactment was the guys giving "child birth" ... it was horrifying and hilarious), and "Cards against humanity" (were I crushed my opponents ... so does this make me a bad person or them because they picked my cards???).

One last game we amused ourselves with was "Bean Boozled". I bought two little packets of the Jelly Belly game from the Freak Lunchbox in Saint John. If you are unfamiliar with the bean boozed challenge you compare some of the tastiest flavours with some of the craziest ones. Examples: black liquorice looks exactly like skunk spray and buttered popcorn could actually be rotten eggs. Needless to say it is a wild ride for your tastebuds and a laugh and a half for your friends!

* Sidenote: while home in NB over New Years I brought the other package with me to play with our family. We have a niece and nephew who are 3 1/2 years old, born on the same day but not twins. Both of Adam's sisters had babies on the same day. Pretty freakin cool eh! Anyway, all the adults were having a hoot playing the challenge. A "booger" flavoured bean got spit out and our nephew Evan quickly grabbed it, ate it up and even replied "ummm yummy", We all laughed and gave him some "lawn clippings" which he was equally as satisfied with. We offered him one more, he started to chew and quickly made a face of disgust.

We all cracked up laughing ( I may or may not have peed my pants some) as he started freaking out and regurgitated the "vomit" bean up. Yes it makes us mean individuals, however it was extremely comical.

Last Saturday night we didn't dance on tabletops but at this point in my thirties a great homemade meal, outside adventure and board games enjoyed with super duped company is more my style. The best part was waking up the next morning and remembering all the shenanigans!

December 2014 Ipsy bag

After eyeing the Ipsy bag for about a year or so I finally took the plunge and decided to join a number of months ago. If you are unfamiliar with the Ipsy bag, it is a Glam bag with approximately 4-6 deluxe samples and full sized beauty products. The creator, Michelle Phan (who is quite the sensation on Youtube) decided that after being asked countless times daily "what products are good for me", envisioned a community where women could express their unique beauty interests and talents while trying new and cult classic products. When becoming a member you fill out a questionaire regarding your inspirations and interests. The result is a tailored makeup bag filled with products modified for your enjoyment.

What interested me, was the opportunity to try new products that I've never actually heard of, and some that I have but unable to acquire as they are unavailable in Canada. Also, being sample size allows the recipient to test the product without a major commitment. 

The cost is $10 USD a month with free shipping to the United States. It's an extra $4.95 to ship to Canada and you are able to cancel at an time. You can also collect points by reviewing the products you receive and in turn trade those points in for additional products. 

With all this being said I feel like I've used my December products enough to review... so here we go.

                                                            ^ December Ipsy Bag

Decembers Ipsy bag came in a black pencil case style tote. The shape is different than what I've recently been sent. It was cute, but a wee bit boring. The first product I was pretty excited about was the NYX Butter Lip Balm. I'm a big fan of NYX cosmetics and love that Target carries the brand (oh Target, how I will miss you). It is an affordable brand that has a huge following due to their quality and price. I was pleased with the balms pigmentation, feel on my lips and staying power. However the colour, Red Velvet, was a bust for me. I prefer more neutral colours when using a balm as I like to swipe across my lips a few times and not have to worry where the colour might have gone. Because there was so much pigmentation with this product I found that I needed a mirror to apply. After two swipes there was enough colour payoff that I needed to pay attention to what I was doing. I found it hard to get around my cupids bow due to the style of the product. Maybe a lip crayon would better suit this product. Overall I would rate this product/colour a 3/5.

                                           ^ before lip balm                    ^ after 2 swipes

The next product was a facial cleanser by the brand Beauty Without Cruelty. This was a sample size and it was a very generous bottle of product. I tested it while home in Charlottetown, then brought it to NB with me over the Christmas/New Years holiday. I used it over 10+ times and I still have a good amount left. I've never broken out by using a new face cleanser so I didn't hesitate to use this product. It was a decent cleanser, cleaned the gunk of my face and left my skin slightly tight. I don't mind a touch of tightness, it dries up those areas that need to be shut down! I paired the cleanser with my Boscia Konjac cleansing sponge and the duo did the trick. Is it a product that I would purchase? Probably not as I have a ton of facial cleansers that leave me with similar results. I appreciate that it is a cruelty free product and I really liked the portion size but it was just an average cleanser for me. 3/5

The next product I was really excited about as I've been eyeing this brand at Target but find them a tiny bit pricy. I have hazel eyes and find purples, coppers, warm nudes and medium brown shades to best suit my eyes when using shadows. Pixi fairy dust in the shade "brightening bare" was the next product. It was full size and retails at Target for approximately $10 CAD, so right there I'm almost at par with the cost of the Ipsy bag. I really enjoy this colour, perfect for a great easy, natural look. The applicator is somewhat strange. If you aren't careful you could easily dispense a lot of product accidentally. Because this is a more neutral shade you could easily use the applicator to apply the product all over the lid. I dab the product the product on my lid then use an eyeshadow brush to blend it out. It's a great base colour or you can leave it on it's own as I did in the picture. I had no issue with creasing or fallout. Thumbs up 4.5/5

I've never heard of Swissco but I'm happy with the bright metallic purple eyelash curler that came in my December bag. Those that curl their lashes often swear by certain curlers ... no idea what brands they are as I'm not one of those girls. I've had the same eyelash curler since 2002 I'm sure. I have no qualms but I'm happy to receive another one as I can store one in my makeup bag and the other in my travel bag. I don't have much to say other than it works. I must say that I believe the key to keeping a good curl is to not "crimp" your lashes and to use waterproof mascara. I tend to notice I loose the curl/lengthening effect when I apply regular mascara. Just a little tip. 4/5

And lastly, the push up bra for your lashes. Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. Aaaaaaah (sound the angles). This stuff is the BOMB. The applicator is perfect, the formula is spot on which results in lengthened, volumizing lashes. The only sad part to this story is that it's not waterproof, WOMP WOMP (or as my mother likes to say "Bomp bomp"). However, I don't always need waterproof, it's just when I workout this bad boy will have to be washed off prior! I'm happy to give this guy a 4.5/5.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised and happy with December's Ipsy bag. Tarte, Pixi and NYX are great brands and I'm satisfied giving this Ipsy bag a 4/5.

                        Before and after using, Swissco curler, Pixi fairy dust and Tarte mascara