Wake Up Wednesday Linky #49 + $50 PayPal Cash Giveaway!

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Welcome to the 49th week of 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

************************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party.

Last week we had  266 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

A Year in Review | 2014 Beauty and Lifestyle Change Roundup!

Can you believe 2015 is knocking on our doors? I'm actually in awe of how quickly this year has flown by! I have to say, 2014 was such an amazing year in many aspects of my life, and of course blogging takes up a big chunk of it! It's hard for me to believe that it's been over two and a half years since I started sharing little bits and pieces of my life (and what the average person would call a little too many beauty products) with you all - and I would not have it any other way. I ended last year by sharing My Most Loved Beauty Products and also My Beauty Wishlist for 2014 (with many of the mentioned products now crossed off my list!). I thought I would do something a little different this time and share a yearly recap post because they are always fun to read. Hopefully you enjoy!

My Everyday Essentials | Natural Beauty Haul

For this month's Contributing Angel post, I'm sharing a little haul of some recent purchases I made at one of my favorite online stores! Head over to Sew Crafty Angel's blog to find out what natural beauty products I ordered by clicking here.

Any products from the bunch that tickle your fancy?

Aveeno Fresh Essentials Skin Care | Review and Giveaway!

The one place where I can spend a little (ahem) too much time browsing the aisles when it comes to beauty items is the drugstore. Whenever I'm shopping with someone at the pharmacy, this is where they inevitably get dragged to, or where I sneakily make my way to while they are looking for other items. I remember when I first started buying skincare, this is where most of my "mula" damage was done, and I remember one of the first brands I ever tried is Aveeno. It's been a while since then, but today I have a few products from the line to share with you after testing them for the last few weeks, namely the Aveeno Fresh Essentials Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30*, Hydrating Night Cream* and Daily Exfoliating Scrub*. Read to the very end to know how you can win these three products from Aveeno!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #48 + $50 PayPal Cash Giveaway!

Tweet #wakeupwednesdaylinky

               

Welcome to the 48th week of 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

******************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party.

Last week we had  310 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Amie New Bloom Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes | Review

While I normally just reach for a liquid or creamy cleanser to remove my makeup, sometimes there's just so much to remove that I need a little extra help from a facial wipe beforehand. I've recently been using Amie's New Bloom Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes*, and considering how much I love all of the products that I've tried so far from Amie (which you can read more about here and here), I have to say I had really high expectations with regard to these facial wipes. But do they deliver?

Home Shopping Diva: Lessons, Lyrics, and Lipstick by Meg Flather | Book + CD Review and Giveaway!

One thing you may not know about me is that I love a good book. Of course I love reading in general (*hint* blog reading consumes a LOT of my time), but there is just something about losing myself in a fictitious or real-life story that always captivates me on so many levels and helps me see life from a different light. My love for writing actually grew from reading dozens upon dozens of books in my early childhood. Many evenings were spent visiting the local library and perusing the shelves for a gripping story. I've accumulated quite a few favourite books over the years, and one that has recently been added to my book shelf is Meg Flather's Home Shopping Diva: Lessons, Lyrics, and Lipstick*. This memoir not only shares Flather's love for the beauty industry with funny and uplifting stories, but it will also make you reflect on the journey that is life and how important it is to take every opportunity as a new challenge, work hard, and never give up on your dream or passion. I wanted to share Flather's great life story with you, because not only did I find it very inspirational, but also, in many ways, very relatable to some of my own experiences. If you have watched my most recent video, you might already know that I've been planning a little giveaway, so if you would like to win a copy of Meg Flather's book, as well as her accompanying musical CD of the same name, keep reading because there will be a giveaway at the end of this post!

OMG Nail Strips in Santa Claws & Pink Cow | Review

I love staring at pretty nail designs on social media (Instagram and Pinterest are my weaknesses), although I rarely re-create them on my own nails because 1) I am not that talented when it comes to nail art and 2) I lack the patience required for drying time. I know nail strips are a thing right now, but I just never got around to trying them out, thinking they were probably too complicated to work with. I was a little apprehensive when I received two sets of OMG Nail Strips*, since well, the challenge of making them look nice on my own nails was on. Thankfully, they turned out looking much better than expected!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #47 + $50 PayPal Cash Giveaway!

Tweet #wakeupwednesdaylinky

              

 Welcome to the 47th week of 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

************************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party.

Last week we had  456 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

What's In My Handbag ft. Matt and Nat

It's been ages (or more like a year) since I've written my last fashion post, so I decided that instead of just sharing pictures, I'd also film what I keep inside my handbag for you to see! I've been on the hunt for a new handbag since the one I've been wearing for the last couple of years is literally falling apart, and I've had my eyes on the brand Matt & Nat for a while now. I love that they are designed in Montreal and that all of their bags are made with vegan leather using recycled nylon, and that the interior lining is made of 100% recycled plastic bottles. Fun fact: I work in retail for an accessory brand that specializes in handbags (and no, not for Matt & Nat - I wish!), so handling bags for hours on end during my shifts has taught me how to tell if a bag is well-made. This one is by far one of the nicest, high-quality bags I have come across. It is called the 'Alter' Tote Bag and it is part of their Vintage Collection. I went for the shade 'Caramel', and I just love it! If you need a new bag, I would highly recommend you check out Matt & Nat's website. They have so many styles and colours to choose from - I might already have my eyes on a few other models!

Guest Post: Could Your Skincare Use a Makeover?

Audrey is a skincare nut turned blogger who’s leaving skincare in every stocking this season. She specializes in personalized skincare during the day (and bad reality TV at night.) See her bust the 5 most popular skincare myths on her blog, Vain Pursuits!

Any beauty junkie will admit the best part of beauty is experimentation. Lipsticks, shadows, liners and blushes come in every shade under the rainbow, and there’s nothing more fun than trying each one on for size. Sure, you have your go-to products for a ‘no-makeup makeup’ or ‘big night out’ look, but that doesn’t mean you won’t throw in a new product every so often to see how it works. Everyone knows that beauty is an ever-evolving process. As a skincare lover, I wish more people felt that way about their skin products too.

Landeva Organics Skin Care | Review

I love discovering Canadian brands, especially when they promote natural ingredients. I've been trying to incorporate more plant-based products into my beauty routine since transitioning to a plant-based diet, and so far I have come across some really great finds. I've been using a few products from Landeva Organics for the last few weeks, and I will be sharing with you how they have been working for me. The brand's name was inspired by the town of Landava, Slovenia, which I think is pretty cool since I am part Slovenian! All of their products are cruelty free and sustainably handmade in small quantities in Calgary, Alberta, to ensure freshness without the need for artificial preservatives. Something I love to hear!

Easy DIY Spirulina Face Mask for Problem Skin

When it comes to skincare, it's important to give our skin a break once in a while from the various concoctions that we apply to our face on the daily. I have been dealing with quite a few flare-ups lately (thank you university-related stress due to finals), so instead of dwelling on the current state of my face, I saw it as an opportunity to try a new do-it-yourself face mask recipe! Some of you may have heard of spirulina, a blue-green freshwater algae, as being a great dietary supplement since it is packed with many essential nutrients. This superfood is popular for its high antioxidant, protein and chlorophyll content, the latter which gives the powder its forest green tint and is especially beneficial at cleansing the skin while soothing redness and inflammation. If you deal with acne and sensitive skin like me, or are prone to rosacea, this mask will really help soothe, clear up and moisturize the skin.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #46 + $50 PayPal Cash Giveaway!

Tweet #wakeupwednesdaylinky

               

Welcome to the 46th week of 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" 

************************************************************

We are so excited to have you all party with us.

Thank you so much to all those who participate in our party.

Last week we had  368 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

 The hop is hosted and posted on these different blogs!

ArteStile Soft Touch Dragonfly Tweezers | Review + Giveaway!

Getting those unruly eyebrows plucked is something I used to dread in my early teenage years, but I knew it eventually had to be tackled. I still vividly remember the first time I got them groomed. My sister insisted she do it for me, and so I let her. Blood, sweat and tears ensued. Yes, I really cried like a baby, and I remember thinking "this is what the saying beauty is pain really means". It took about a day for my inflamed skin to calm down, and I thought to myself "is this pain really worth it?". I guess I convinced myself that it is, because today I cannot go too long without plucking my eyebrows. I've only ever owned one pair of tweezers, so trying the ArteStile Soft Touch Dragonfly Tweezers* in Cobalt Blue was a great way for me to discover what else is out there. If you would like to win a pair for yourself, keep reading because there might just be a giveaway at the end of this post!

Glo Minerals Luxe Liquid Foundation SPF 15 and Luxe Foundation Brush | Review

I am a creature of habit when it comes to foundation, and when I find one that I really like, I stick to it for months on end. While in the summertime I prefer wearing powder makeup, I gravitate toward liquid foundation during the colder months because my face tends to be on the drier side. Although I have my drugstore favourites, going the high end route also has its benefits, especially in terms of ingredients. I've recently been trying a couple of face products from Glo Minerals, namely, the Luxe Liquid Foundation SPF 15* together with the Luxe Foundation Brush*. These products, used together, promise an easy application and flawless finish. I had heard of the brand before and read good reviews, so I was really looking forward to putting some of their products to the test!

My Top 3 Multi-Tasking Makeup Products

I think you can pretty much call me a bargain hunter. I'm always on the lookout for the next best deal, and that includes categories like food, clothes, books, and yes, makeup too! When I look back at my receipts, I always get so much satisfaction knowing how much I have saved. Of course, splurging on some luxury items happens once in a while, especially when it comes to higher-end makeup, but since it rarely goes on sale, I like to look for products that can be used in more than one way to get my money's worth when it finally does. I thought I would share with you today some of my favourite products that can be used for multiple purposes.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #45 + $50 PayPal Cash Giveaway!

Tweet #wakeupwednesdaylinky

               

Welcome to the 45th week of 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" 

************************************************************

We are so excited to have you all party with us.

Thank you so much to all those who participate in our party.

Last week we had  350 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

 The hop is hosted and posted on these different blogs!