A Touch of Sparkle
Friday, 30 March 2012
Tangerine Twist
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Wearing: Dress from Nectar Clothing / Shoes from Nectar Clothing
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March Luxe Box
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Last Thursday I received this month's Luxe Box and I decided to give myself a few days to really try out the products instead of trying them all out once and then writing a review immediately. I believe this will allow me to give a more accurate and informative review of each product and how useful I've found them.
Cargo Lip Gloss: Originally I really loved this lipgloss, the light pink colour is beautiful, the sweet taste it leaves on your lips is lovely but after a few uses I realized there was one small aspect of this lipgloss that did bother me: it's stickiness. The lipgloss went on a tad gluey feeling and immediately felt sticky - this is something I really dislike in many lip-glosses. Also, they claim that this is a "long wear" lip-gloss and it simply isn't, it lasts maybe 20 minutes at most so I feel like this is a completely false claim.
Over all I think this is an okay lip-gloss, the colour and the sweet taste are lovely but I don't think I'd purchase this gloss again due to its feel.
(full size $14)
Cargo Glitter Liquid Liner Top Coat: I really love this product and was happy to see it in this months beauty box. The glitter liner I received was clear with little flecks of silver glitter, I tried it over my usual everyday black liner to see how it looked and I really liked the overall effect. I would definitely wear this over my regular black eyeliner for a night out. This is definitely my favourite item in this month's box!
Unfortunately I couldn't really get a photo to show the effect of this top coat liner, the glitter is so light that it is really hard to catch on camera. Personally, I love how subtle the look is but I know some people would want a more powerful result.
(Full size $18)
Chi Hair and Skin Silk Infusion Serum: I really love receiving hair products and so I was very happy to see a hair serum included in this months Luxe Box. I really like this hair serum, though I do not feel like it is up to par with my Moroccan oil serums, I do like the over all feel of Chi's Silk Infusion. It is a thicker oil that really does make hair feel smoother and softer after applying, but because it is a thick oil it is easy to put too much in your hair and end up with greasy locks. I do not think I'd purchase this product again in the future, though I am happy to have tried it.
(Full size $33)
Mereadesso Body Lotion: I really like this lotion. It is very light and absorbs quickly, leaving no oily residue or stickiness. Also, it does seem to improve the look of smoothness to the skin which I really like. It has relatively no scent which could be both a positive and a negative, really. I kind of enjoy that it has no scent because I can wear my daily perfume without feeling like the two scents are fighting with one another. On the other hand I know people tend to enjoy their lotions with a bit of a smell so this may not be the product for everyone.
(full size $54)
Over all I am pretty pleased with this Luxe Box as there were a few items I really ended up liking. The eyeliner is great and I really enjoy the body lotion - they were definitely my two favourite items from this box. On the other end of the spectrum though, the lip gloss was the biggest disappointment due to its super-glue feel.
Luck of the draw I suppose! Very excited to receive my next months Luxe box!
One final note....
Exciting news: I've joined Chictopia! If you have a free moment please check out my Chicblog!
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InstaSmile: Mid-week Pick me up
1. My blog has hit 250 followers! Completely unbelievable! I am so thrilled!! Thank you all for being so wonderful and taking the time to read my blog!
2. I had a really lovely weekend and explored all the beauty our lovely city has to offer! Plus it was hot and sunny all weekend, could it get any better?
3. I am in love with my new dresses and shoes from Nectar Clothing! (More outfit photos to come!)
4. I am a new member of Chictopia! Having a ton of fun exploring around this site and discovering new fashion bloggers. If you have Chictopia and care to follow one another on there visit: http://www.chictopia.com/theurbanumbrella
5. I have been looking into going back to school which is really exciting! I really loved school and I have missed it!
What's making you smile this fine Wednesday?
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Shades of Grey
Monday, 26 March 2012
OUTFIT DETAILS
Blouse from Jacob (sky grey) / Shorts from American Eagle (in Charcoal) / Necklace from Forever 21 /Shoes from Nectar (in black, also available in pink)
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Product Review: We all Need a Treat...
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Last night while out in the shopping courts with Jer, I
decided to pop into one of my favorite little stores, Shoppers Drug Mart. Shoppers is like my candy-store because not only do they actually have candy, they also have fantastic beauty products - from high end luxury brands to the inexpensive fun brands! Love!
I felt like after these few past weeks, which have been a bit tasking to be frank, I deserved a small treat. I looked around for quite a while, amusing myself with all the pretty products I’d love to take home and try, until finally I saw the product that I came here for: Benefit’s Lemonaid.
I felt like after these few past weeks, which have been a bit tasking to be frank, I deserved a small treat. I looked around for quite a while, amusing myself with all the pretty products I’d love to take home and try, until finally I saw the product that I came here for: Benefit’s Lemonaid.
Benefit has a wide line of brightening and illuminating
products, and of all the ones I’ve tried I have yet to be disappointed. Picking up the adorable little yellow
and back printed I felt a jolt of excitement, I could barely wait to see this product
work its magic! Lemonaid claims to even out dark circles while brightening your eye, giving a wider and more refreshed look that will last all day. During the week I constantly feel like I am aware of how tired I look, any product that promises to make me look "refreshed" is kind of a "hell yeah!" product to me.
On the way over to the cashier counter I stumbled on another
little gem, one that usually I could just keep walking on by but for some
reason I felt compelled to stop and take a look. I have never bought a “Soap
and Glory” product before, and though I always loved their packaging and
marketing designs I felt hesitant to invest my money in these expensive
products that I may not like.
What I suppose compelled me to stop and pick up the pretty pink box was probably all of the wonderful reviews I’ve read from other bloggers on Soap and Glory's body scrub products, soaps, and lotions – it seems like they can do no wrong! So, why should I not give it a chance?
I went over to the counter with the two items, hesitant on whether or not to just go with my one original buy and that’s when the counter-girl said “Glow Job is such a great product, you’ll love it!” and just like that, my hesitation was gone.
Lemonaid: I instantly loved LemonAid. Though this is not a product I will have to use all the time (like when I am on Vacation and likely well-rested) but for the times I do need it I will notice a big difference in my appearance. Working 5 days a week and waking up at 6:30am does wear on you, no matter how much sleep you get during the night you eventually start noticing the effects which is why I have felt I needed to pick up a product to help me out with these work "side-effects". Prior to this find when I was tired before I would just go to work and look really quite tired, my eyes would get that purply circle around them which I hated! Thankfully now I don't have to deal with looking like the walking dead anymore and I can easily just go to my LemonAid for a quick refresher!
You're only really supposed to use this as a eye-lid primer but I did find that it worked as an under-eye concealer/brightener as well. I have yet to try boi-ing which is supposed to work wonders on under eye circles, but until I can afford that I will be using Lemon Aid to brighten up my under-eye circles.
(I am not wearing any foundation, blush or illuminators on my skin. I am only wearing my Lise Watier black eyeliner, cargo mascara, Benefit's LemonAid, and I recently had moisturized with Glow Job)
*You may also notice in the "after" photo above that my skin looks more "glowy" than normal, thats because I had just used the moisturizer as well!
Glow Job: After getting over the shock and humour of the name I finally got serious about this product. I really loved how light it went on and the glowy finish it definitely left on my skin. It felt non-greasy and quickly absorbed into my skin leaving it feeling sort and hydrated. There are tiny little beads in this lotion that burst and release a bronze pigment that makes your skin look lightly sun-kissed when applied.
I really love this product and would absolutely buy it again, at $25.00 it is a mid-cost range moisturizer that has a high-cost feel and result. Honestly, I think you get quite a bit of bang, pow and zap for your buck!
All in all I am incredibly happy about my purchases, absolutely no buyers remorse here!
The Urban Umbrella
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Marilyn Monroe Inspired Style
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Ever since I can begin to remember I have always loved Marilyn Monroe. Her beauty, wit and elegance are unparalleled and she will forever be a timelessly stunning icon.
"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right. You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
The Urban Umbrella
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Announcement: Giveaway Winner!
The Urban Umbrellas first giveaway is now closed!
And the winner is......(drumroll, please)
Caitlin from CandyFloss & Persie!
Congratulations Caitlin! I hope you enjoy your prize!
What did Caitlin win?
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Montreal 2011
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
This past September I went to Montreal for one week to visit my friend who attends McGil University. I absolutely loved it there, I didn't even mind the extreme humidity. It was all these brick-stone houses and big, lush green trees, little neat cafes and people riding around on bikes (they have them on street corners to rent! - isn't that neat?!). I know its not lush and green all year round, in-fact its actually freezing in the winter time, but I was still in awe of how lovely it was for September (returning to rain pouring at home made me appreciate the sunshine in Montreal even more).
Montreal really reminded me of NYC (which I visited in September 2010). It mostly reminded of NYC because the Brick-stone housing, every house looked like Carrie Bradshaw's home (anyone watch Sex & the City?). Why do we not have this housing where I live?
One of the places we went was " Juliette & chocolat" and it was actually fantastic. Everything in there has chocolate and I am a chocolate fanatic so this was like my heaven. When I go back to Montreal it will be on my "Must Go list".
We also went to the Jean Gaultier art exhibition which was amazing. What a genius! Seeing the details of his work up close like that was a experience on its own!
Now I am off to go plan my next trip..... maybe somewhere warm and tropical.... perhaps Cabos?
*These photos are owned by Bree. Do not copy*
The First Day of Spring!
Welcome to Spring, the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and loooooove is in the air; or rather it is still raining out & the flowers are still taking refuge under the soil.
I broke out a few of my favourite floral patterned items today in honour of the marked seasonal change. I was hoping to further the celebration by going on a little stroll after work to enjoy some of the welcomed warm weather but no stroll shall happen, because no warm weather has come.
Hopefully it'll begin looking a bit more springy in the coming weeks!
Cheerio, Rain!
xx
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