Shows to Binge Watch During Quarantine

 Need something to watch while being safe at home? Here's my list of 5 shows that are binge worthy right now!

1. Emily in Paris

I hate that there is only 1 season of this show! Lily Collins is a queen! The fashion is amazing, the story line is juicy and Gabriel is *chefs kiss* It's this generation's Sex and the City

I REALLY hope that there is a Season 2!

2. Schitt's Creek

This show is just everything! It's funny, heart warming, everything you could ever need. I want to be BFFs with David and Alexis!

3. The Office

I mean, I know that this is a classic show to binge watch and basically everyone has seen it, but I'm late to the game and I love it!

4. Gilmore Girls

It's just such a feel good show. Even though Rory sucks when she goes to college.

Perfect to watch during fall. I'm having my biannual binge right now.

5. 2 Broke Girls

Honestly, it's just hilarious.

Remember to stay home, wash your hand often, wear a mask and stay safe!

Happy binging!

PS. What is your favourite show right now?

Current Favourites

It's been a long time since I've shared some of my favourite things with you, so I figured it was about time that I did. Life has been super stressful lately, especially with the loss of my Skyler (possible post about her later), so it would be good to focus on something a bit more positive.


The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella



I've definitely talked about this series before, so this is nothing new. I've recently started to reread the series and I almost forgot how good it is. The stories are so lighthearted (mostly) and hilarious (always). It's easy to get lost in the world of Becky Brandon (Née Bloomwood). If you read the series, you'd get why I put those parentheses there. Good for you.

Wine


Let me start off by making it clear: I am not an alcoholic. I enjoy a glass of wine every now and then. When it's been a hard day, there is nothing more enjoyable than relaxing with a nice glass of wine. Personally, I am more partial to white wine or sometimes a nice rosé. Maybe one day I'll compile a list of some of my favourite wines for you. 


MAC Blush in Blush Baby

I recently bought this blush because I felt like my collection was somehow lacking a nice neutral pink blush. Nothing too peachy, not too pink, not too cool or warm toned. It's possibly a little bit powdery, but it is a beautiful colour with beautiful pay off! It's quickly become my new every day blush and I love it!


Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizer



I got this face moisturizer in a Fab Fit Fun box and I love it! It's a nice lightweight, thin texture that doesn't feel too heavy on my combo skin. It's make my skin feel nice and soft without making it feel greasy. The only down side is that I am starting to run low and it's so expensive that I'm not sure if I can make myself purchase it.

Aerie Leggings



I LOVE wearing leggings and yes, I do wear them to work often. As I am on a weight loss journey, leggings are great to wear because they last a long while before getting too baggy. At least these ones do. I've never worn leggings that make me feel this confident! They are high waisted and the band really helps keep the stomach area smoothed and supported. The material is thick that it's not see through (which is very important!) and they're a comfortable material as well. These leggings get two thumbs up from me! I really like the Play and Move ones!


WW

As some of you may know, I am currently on Weight Watchers and have been for almost a year. While I may not always be on track, it has really helped my fitness journey which has helped my mental health in return. It really teaches you about portion control and being mindful about what you eat. It's also been fun bonding with others who are on the program.

Design Home



This is an app where you can design and decorate different types of rooms and homes, but you usually have to fit specific brands, styles, ect. I love interior decorating so this game is really up my alley. You buy and win furniture to decorate rooms and people vote on your designs. When you win, you win more furniture, money and points. It's a really fun game to play to relax and it's an easy creative outlet!

2 Broke Girls



I'm currently watching 2 Broke Girls on Amazon Prime and it's hilarious. Such a good show to unwind to!
It's about 2 waitresses trying to build their dream business (essentially). It's so funny though - just take my word on it.



I'm sure that I could go on and on and list more things, but I'll leave it at this for now. What are some things that you're loving right now? Let me know in the comments below!

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020

A Reflection on 2019

I realize that this is a bit late, but life gets in the way. 2019 was a year. It was a really hard year with loss, but also a great year filled with love.

In January 2019, my boyfriend and I went to Quebec City for our 4 year anniversary. It was cold, but it’s a magical little place. There’s so much history and the buildings are beautiful.

In June 2019, my aunt (my mom’s older sister) lost her battle with cancer. It was really hard for my family – especially my mom. She fought bravely and did she sure put up a fight. A couple weeks later, at the most, our cat also passed away from cancer. So much attention was focused on my aunt, that we did not notice the lump at first on our cat. Needless to say, it was a really hard month. It took a long time for us to heal. We still have a long way to go. At least there’s comfort knowing that they’re in a better place and that they had people waiting with open arms for them on the other side. May they rest in peace.

Summer 2019, my dog, Skyler, started going to rehab. She is epileptic and something happened (we don’t know if it was a seizure or meds) where she was left unable to walk. I did some research and got referred to a physio facility for pets and she’s made a lot of progress. Trust me, carrying a 98 pound dog around is hard work. And painful.

In September 2019, my boyfriend and I went to Halifax, NS. Our happy place. Unfortunately, when we were leaving, they were experiencing a very bad hurricane. It was such a stressful trip, but it turned out amazingly. Halifax recovered very quickly and it was almost as if nothing had happened. One evening, we went to Peggy’s Cove to watch the sunset. If you’ve never been there, I highly suggest you go. My grandma would say that it’s nothing special there. It’s just a lot of rocks. To me, it’s beautiful. There’s nothing like sitting on the rocks and looking out into the open water. It’s like endless possibilities. Watching the sunset and listening to the waves crash against the rocks. Honestly, it’s bliss.

My boyfriend led me to a secluded spot amongst the rocks, where there was an opening and all you saw was the water and the purple-pink sky. I don’t want to go into too much detail because it’s a moment that I want to keep, but it was there that he asked me to marry him.

Of course I said yes.

Shortly after we got back from our trip, we headed to North Bay, ON to see Christina marry the love of her life. It’s amazing to see your friends celebrate their love.

In December 2019, we adopted a kitten from a rescue agency. A beautiful and very rambunctious girl, named Emma. Which we quickly changed to Noel. I adopted her for my mom because it was such a hard year for her and my mom constantly said how much she missed having “her baby”. So I talked to my dad about it and surprised my mom. There was a lot of happy tears and hugs. It was a really nice moment and it meant a lot that I could make my mom happy, and also rescue the life of a kitten.

I’m so happy to say that Skyler has started losing weight and walking around again. She still needs some assistance and she is still a bit wobbly, but I can’t even tell you how much it means to have her moving around again. It was so stressful having her not be able to move around. I had so many anxiety attacks over it. I am so grateful for the team that works with her. They are so knowledgeable and kind and I can’t say enough good things about them.

I’m excited to see what 2020 will bring. I hope it brings love and a lot more happiness than 2019.
To whoever is reading this, I wish you the best year yet.

WW Update #1

It's been a good 4 or 5 months since I've been on Weight Watchers and thought that I would offer up an update on my experience if anyone was interested.

I'll get straight to the point: I've lost around 30 pounds.
Honestly, I was hoping to have lost more by this point but this summer had a lot of stress and grief in it and I am definitely an emotional eater, which doesn't help.

Other than that, it's great honestly. It's so easy to track your points each day and pretty easy to stay within them. I like to use my weeklies on the weekend and indulge myself and then be more strict during the week - which seems to work for me.

It seems daunting to have to stick to a certain amount of points a day or even a week. It's easy though. One thing I like about WW is that it isn't actually that restrictive. It teaches you about portion control and just over all better eating habits. Even on my cheat days, I'm wondering "is there a way to make this slightly healthier?"

It can also be a fun challenge trying to figure out low point meals and it encourages you to try different foods you may not have otherwise tried.

I also really enjoy the Connect aspect of the app. It's so motivating and encouraging to see people going through the same things as you and the support you can receive is amazing.


I'm really looking forward to continuing this journey and seeing where it takes me. I'm loving feeling healthier, lighter and having clothes fit me better. I'm not doing this to be skinny because I feel like I have to be skinny. I'm doing it for myself and my health to feel better and be the best version of myself.



Are any of you on WW? How is it going for you so far? Let me know in the comments below!

Talk soon,

Let Me Catch You Up to Speed

Not my image - just perfectly explains how I've been feeling

Wow, it's been awhile.


Life is hectic and not gonna lie, my stress and anxiety were really getting the better of me for a little while.


Let me catch you up to speed.


My anxiety was really getting me down for awhile. I was feeling really down over so many aspects of life. I was feeling anxious about my relationship, myself, my work, finances, my friendships from the past. Basically life in general.


On top of that, my aunt has been fighting a very long battle with cancer. It's been a roller coaster for her health. I'm really sad to say that we all think the end may be coming soon, which is so heartbreaking. One thing about me is that I do not do well when people are sick. I can't stand to see someone in pain or not be themselves. It makes me feel terrible.
We went in to visit one day and honestly, I had to leave the room before I had a full on panic attack. Seeing her there like she was, made my head spin and I felt so sick.


I don't know if anyone else feels like that, but I feel guilty for going out and having fun when I know someone we love is suffering. It doesn't feel right. Not only is my aunt suffering, but the whole family is too. My mom and all of her siblings are having such a hard time with this and doing all that they can.


What makes it extra hard is that almost exactly a year ago, we went through the exact same thing with my boyfriend's aunt. A year apart, we're reliving the same thing.


To make life a bit harder, one of our cats is sick too. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am so emotionally attached to my pets.. it's probably not the healthiest. The vet doesn't know what's wrong with her. Somehow the pathologist couldn't decide if it was a bladder infection or a tumor. Those are very different things - how could you not tell the difference? She's on antibiotics but they don't seem to be helping.


I'm scared that we're going to lose both of them. It's making me feel so anxious and stressed and sad.


So for the past two months especially, life is not being the kindest to us. I'm not going to lie, I've spent a lot of time feeling sad and crying and having breakdowns. I'm trying my best now to do what I can to look after myself as well.


Like the lyrics in the image say, I feel like I've been tested. I'm determined to come out on top though.


I'm going to try my best to post content on here for you guys because it really does help me feel better.


If anyone else is going through a rough time, my heart goes out to you. It will get better for the both of us in time. That I'm sure of.


If anyone ever needs to talk, feel free to email us and we would be glad to listen.


Talk to you soon,

Joining WW & What’s My Why?

About a month ago, I decided to make a big lifestyle change. After much consideration I decided to join Weight Watchers.

With any sort of big lifestyle change, you need to think about your why. Why do you want to make this change? This is something that WW really focuses on.

So what is my why?
I want to finally feel healthy. I want to feel confident. When I walk down the aisle one day, I want to feel beautiful. When I have kids one day, I want to feel healthy and fit enough to run around after my little kids. I’m doing this for myself right now and for myself in the future.

So far, I’m loving it.
I’ve been doing it for about a month so far. It was tricky at first, but it gets easier every day. This is a decision I’ll never regret. Sure it’s hard sometimes not being able to have that extra slice of pizza or that drink, but I know that in the end it’s worth it!



Have you tried Weight Watchers? Are you on your own health journey?
I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Until next time,

Our Experiences with Online Dating

Not our photo

Em

I  was so anxious to try online dating at first. I initially tried it because my friend was going to and it was one those I will if you will situations.

I was an idiot and pretty much messaged back anyone who sent me a message. Even if I didn’t find myself attracted to them. That was dumb of me. I remember one guy - we talked a lot and he asked me out. I respectfully (and politely) declined because I felt no attraction. Physically or emotionally. They got so angry and called me names and ranted about how I didn’t know them so I could I know I don’t like them? Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure you can feel a connection online without meeting them. Catfish anyone? It happens all the time.

I was excited and didn’t really think anything would come of it. I wasn’t even really trying to find anyone to be with. I honestly was rooting more for my friend to find one.I was anxious to try online dating. I didn’t know much about it, but I did know a couple people who tried it. A friend convinced me to try it and it was line of those situations of I will if you will. 

I ended up meeting someone and we texted. A lot. We obsessively flirted through text and had great banter. We met up one night when both of us happened to be going to the same club with our friends. It was so awkward. How could we have so much connection online and nothing in person? That’s what I felt. Nothing. We chatted a bit and that was that. We texted a bit more after that and I remember him saying he wishes he had kissed me. I don’t know how he got that vibe. A few days later, he told me he had a girlfriend and it was goodbye. 


I deleted my account on Plenty of Fish and gave up.


A few months went by, and I decided to give it another go. I decided that I really did want to find someone. I didn’t make the mistake of replying to everyone and tried my best, without getting my hopes up. Remember that guy i met? He appeared again and tried talking to me. I told him that I remembered him, much to his surprise. He thought I’d forgot and he’d get a chance because that other girl didn’t work out. Fat chance buddy. Not going to lie, I straight up friend zoned him.

One day, someone messaged me. It was a different message than all the usual “Hey, hows it going?”. He told me I had pretty eyes. I clicked onto his profile and saw that we had nothing in common really. How did he find my profile? It didn’t make sense. I wasn’t going to reply to him, but something in my gut told me to. So I did. We talked and talked. About music and random things. Eventually we decided to meet. We met after work at the mall. We grabbed a coffee and talked. We both were clearly nervous, but it also just felt right. Well fast forward 4 years and we’re still together. 


I’m happy I gave online dating a chance. I’m even more glad that I replied to his message.

I would definitely suggest trying online dating if you haven’t. My advice would be to not be discouraged, be open minded (I ended up with a guy complete opposite of what I thought I would) and always meet in public.

Chris

I decided to try online dating because I was working with mostly only women, most of my roommates were women, and I took esthetics in college, so all of my classmates and teachers were women. It didn't seem like I would ever meet a guy in real life, so I took it online to Plenty of Fish.

At first, I was terrified. Every guy just wanted to meet up at his house. Even when I would try to insist on meeting in public, they would be completely against it, so I knew these weren't the guys for me. I got excited when I started talking to a guy on there that I'd actually had a bit of a crush on years ago, when I'd first went to college. He seemed promising, and we talked non stop, planning a date to walk around and see Christmas lights, until he mysteriously, out of nowhere, broke his leg 10 minutes before the date, and had to cancel, then could only see me at his house after that. I agreed, but before the date was supposed to happen, I saw him out in public, walking around, as fine as could be. What was his plan? To put a fake cast on his leg to fool me? Needless to say, I cancelled on going to his house.

The next guy that I talked to was quite a bit of a larger guy. I had no issue, but he was incredibly embarrassed. He kept warning me that he was even bigger than his pictures showed. We started planning a date, but at the same time, I also started talking to my fiancé. My fiancé and I texted all night, and into the next morning, and couldn't stop talking. I knew I had something real with him, so I had to let down the other guy. It was not pretty. He was convinced that it was because of his weight, and I still feel bad about it, over 4 years later. I hope he found happiness with the love of his life.

I sure am happy that I chose my fiancé though. Who else will go to Build a Bear with me, tell me I look cute when I haven't washed my hear in three days, or watch endless baby animal videos with me? We drive each other crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. He's my best friend, and my biggest supporter. I cannot wait to become his bride in September! When dating, online or not, you have to remember to do what's best for you and your heart!

Have you tried online dating? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below!

What I've learned about wedding planning

Before I got engaged, I had a completely different idea of what my wedding would look like. I wanted a formfitting dress, a very casual, do it yourself reception, and I wanted my hair down and flowing. It turns out that isn’t at all what the reality of my wedding is going to be. My dress is a big, puffy ball gown, we’re having a catered, sit down dinner, and since I had to cut a ton of dead hair off last year, my hair is going to be half up and shoulder length.

At first I was panicking because everything wasn’t going according to plan. But then I realized that you have to be flexible with these things sometimes. It’s nice when everything fits your vision, but it doesn’t always work out like that. For example, I thought I would save money by having my reception at a community centre in my hometown. Then I found out that there are actually a ton of licenses and personnel that has to be involved in serving alcohol at your own event. The price skyrocketed, and it didn’t seem worth it anymore. Instead of panicking, with a little help from my grandma, I thought outside the box, and now we’re having a dinner at a wonderful local restaurant, followed by a reception at a local art gallery. It’s not going to be what I imagined, but it’s going to be beautiful and best of all, all the serving and set up and take down is going to be taken care of.

I’ve also learned that it’s ok to ask for help. At first, I was determined to do it all by myself. I was going to make all the bouquets, I was going to bake all the pies for the reception, and I was going to find all the containers for the candy bar. It quickly became very overwhelming, and I was shutting down. I realized that when you’re getting married, there are usually tons of people waiting to help you with anything you ask. It really helps de-stress you during what is supposed to be a very fun and exciting time. Don’t be afraid to look for assistance when needed!

Now that I’ve seen that sometimes due to budget, circumstance, and other things out of your control, what you plan for your wedding may not be what you get, I’ve decided to let go and see what happens, and have the best day of my life no matter what! I can’t wait to marry my best friend, and for all the days after, and that’s what matters.

Are there any other 2019 brides around? What’s your biggest wedding planning tip? Let me know in in the comments below!

Get a Better Sleep

not my photo

Hey everyone! 2019 is now upon us and many people, as always, have made resolutions to be happy and healthy in this new year.

That is all and good, but I am a firm believer that a good night sleep is essential to this plan.
Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with having the perfect beauty rest every night. Some nights we toss and turn and only have a light sleep.

All of that being said, here are my tips on getting a better night's sleep:

1. Have a good pillow

This is very important. Your pillow can make a world of difference and you want to make sure your head is comfortable while you sleep. 

2. Temperature control

I like having my room a bit cooler for sleeping. I have found that I can't fall asleep or sleep very well when it's hot in my room. I have a duvet on my bed all year round, as well as a fan. Having these two things enables me to get my perfect level of warmth. There are many times when I wrap myself in my duvet and only stick my foot out to cool myself down.

3. Noise control

If you can't sleep when it is noisy, I would suggest buying a pair of ear plugs. There are things that make noise that we just can't control and plugs will help you out for sure.

On another note, if you like sound, white noise helps. I don't like when it's noisy, but I also dislike when it's really quiet. What can I say, the silence is a scary sound.

In the past, I have downloaded white noise apps onto my phone. It's great to pick your own mix of sounds and you can set a timer for it as well. I've even asked Alexa to play some piano lullabies for me or some soothing rain sounds.

Like I said, I have a fan which keeps me cool and also satisfies my white noise needs.

Also my dog snores.

4. Light control

It can be hard to sleep when it's bright. I feel you. The corner street lamp is visible from my room if I'm laying at a bad angle. Invest in some room darkening curtains. I have white ones which helps cancel out bright light, but it also allows light into my room. I'm not a fan of the dark ones. While they cancel out all light, I find it harder to wake up because the lack of light can make it feel like it's still night time, when in reality it's time to rise and shine!

5. Don't over stimulate your eyes!

This is so important! Sometimes if you're on your phone, tablet, laptop, whatever before bed, your eyes are very stimulated and have a hard time relaxing.I would recommend watching tv if you need something electronic to relax because it's farther away from your eyes. 

6. Pamper yourself

Establish a night routine. Maybe it's doing a face mask to relax, having some tea and reading a book for a bit. 

7. Meditate

When you're laying in bed, try to clear your mind. I know, it's impossible to do sometimes. We have so much stress and worries that it's hard to relax. Spray your pillow with some aromatherapy mist (vanilla & lavender is perfect!), or put on your diffuser and lay on your back. If you have trouble clearing your mind, try to visualize putting everything boxes and tossing them away. Or just literally think of nothing. 

This might seem odd, but unclench your jaw, open your hands and have your palms out (or up, whichever). This really helps relax your body because no muscles are clenched.

Breathe deeply. Focus on different parts of your body. The feeling. Deep breath. And slowly return to normal breathing.

Goodnight!

Chris's New Year's Resolutions

2019 is my year. I can feel it. I’m getting married in September, and that’s already a huge change, so I might as well tackle everything else as well. I’m done with saying that every year, then panicking in July because I’ve actually gained 15 pounds instead of losing 20. No more excuses and procrastination, I’m taking 2019 by the horns.

First off is getting my finances in order. I was in college through my early to mid 20s, and I lived like a college student, spending my money on drinks and fun, without ever thinking of the consequences. Now that I work full time, I’m ready to get things sorted out. My goal is to set an appointment with a financial advisor by the end of January, and start getting things in order. I want to start putting a bit of money aside for a house, and start paying off my credit card and student loan debt.

Second is finally getting my life and home organized. My plan is to write down everything I need to do each day the night before, so I can keep it all in order and get it all done. I have huge memory issues, so I’m hoping this will help me out. I also want to get my house organized. We moved into our house in April, and I unpacked the important boxes, and then every single other thing got stuffed into our spare bedroom, still in boxes. Every couple of months, I go in there and unpack approximately two things, and then I get fed up with the space and leave. No more. I’m over this waste of space. A smaller goal of mine is to finally buy a desktop computer, and I want to clear out the room and turn it into an office with a computer and makeup desk as the centerpiece.

Not my photo. From Paper Magazine.

One goal that may seem crazy, but is totally doable, is walking 3 million steps this year. That may seem like a lot, but it’s actually only 8000 or so steps a day. I can do this. I’m going to keep track of how many steps I walk a day in a spreadsheet, and then add it up at the end of the year. I’ll let you know how this goes at the end of 2019.

My last goal ties into the one before. This is to finally shed 40 pounds. I rejoined Weight Watchers, and I’ve lost 10 pounds this past month. I want to lose another 40 by December 31^st of next year. Along with Weight Watchers, I also belong to a gym, and I’m going to make a concerted effort to actually use the membership. I was up until December, but then work got crazy, and I dropped off the planet. Planey Fitness, that is! Hahahaha I’m hilarious. I also want to get to a place where I can say I’m mentally healthy. I struggle with depression and anxiety, but this year I want to try to calm the firestorm in my head. I’m not really sure what the plan is for that yet, but I’ll get there.

So this is the plan for 2019. I can do this. I will do this! Let me know what your New Year’s resolutions for 2019 are in the comments below!

Last Minute Gift Guide

Hey guys!

It's almost Christmas and as always, some people haven't finished shopping yet. It's manic.
I put together a little gift guide for you guys to get the gift idea juices flowing. 
Happy shopping!

 So this first "category" is giving me very cozy/homy vibes.

The second "category" is beauty related. Any of these items are the ultimate pamper yourself type of gift. Everyone deserves to be pampered!

The third "category" is for that person who really loves drinking, baking and food.




The reason I did not put links is because I chose these specific items for their looks. It's more meant to just give you a quick idea on things to get. Also, it's so close to Christmas that you wouldn't be able to order online. I did find a lot of this stuff on the Chapters/Indigo website.



I hope that this helped if you're scrambling for some last minute gifts this weekend!

I wish you guys the happiest of holidays, a merry Christmas and a very happy new year!

Recipe: Rocky Road Bars

Christmas baking season is upon us, so I thought I would share a staple recipe in our family baking tradition. Every year without fail, we make these rocky road bars. Honestly, they're delicious and my favourite square by far!

This recipe will make approximately 36 bars.

You will need:

1 1/2 cups of graham wafer crumbs
1/2 cup of melted margarine or butter
1 1/2 cups of flaked coconut
1 package of chocolate chips (semi sweet)
1 1/2 cups of mini marshmallows 
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup of melted chocolate (you can use more or less - up to you)

How to make it:

Preheat the oven to 350 F
Combine the graham crumbs with the butter and press it firmly in a 13x9 pan.
Sprinkle the coconut over the crust - create an even layer.
Add a layer of chocolate chips and mini marshmallows.
Optional - add a layer of nuts
Using a spoon, drizzle the condensed milk over all of the layers. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Once out of the oven, drizzle some of the melted chocolate over.
Let cool and cut into squares.

It's a very simple recipe, but super delicious!


Enjoy!

 

Review: Ole Henriksen Facial Sauna Scrub & Cold Plunge Mask

I love trying out new skincare, especially masks. Or anything to help my skin. I tend to have combination to oily skin and I like trying new things to control my skin.

At Sephora I saw the Ole Henriksen Pore Balance Facial Sauna Scrub and the Cold Plunge Pore Mask. They're both from the Balance range and I picked them up as a set.
To be honest, I already owned the scrub but (spoiler alert) I loved it so much that I bought another.

The facial scrub has volcanic sand, green fusion complex, neem seed oil and AHAs. What's nice about this scrub is that once you start rubbing it into your skin, it starts to heat up. Hence the name "sauna scrub". They recommend using it 2-3 times a week, which I agree with. The scrub isn't too abrasive on the skin, but you don't want to over do it anyways. 

The cold plunge mask was really something new to me. Firstly, I LOVE the colour. Am I the only one who partially judges a mask by how it looks? Yes. Okay, let's move on...
The mask has clay and snow lotus extract. It's quite cooling on the skin, which is slightly alarming at first, but then it feels a bit more soothing. When the mask dries down, it doesn't feel overly tight which I like. To take the mask off, you rinse it off with cool water. I don't know about you, but that goes against everything I've heard before. Usually, you would take the mask off with warm water. 

Both of these products recommend using a toner and moisturizer afterwards. They don't necessarily say to use these products together, but since they were sold as a set, I decided to try that out.

It works well. The scrub heats your skin, which opens your pores, enabling you to really purify your pores and get rid of dead skin. The mask afterwards feels refreshing and the coolness would help to close your pores after extracting impurities. To me, they just make sense together. Definitely use a light moisturizer afterwards to make sure your skin is balanced and quenched.

I've used this quite a few times now and I really like it. Even my boyfriend likes it, which means something! Dare I say, it might be one of my favourite masks? I love the different temperatures and sensations on my skin. It leaves my face feeling clean and my skin stimulated (if that's the right word?). I have combo/oily skin, but even with dry skin I don't see you having a problem with this. 

I would highly recommend using these two products. It definitely makes me want to try more skincare from Ole Henriksen! Honestly, everything I've tried from them so far, I have ended up loving. They are seriously killing it with their skincare. I applaud them.

Have you tried these products? Let me know in the comments below!

The scrub retails for $34 (Sephora) and the mask retails for $44 (Also Sephora).

Until next time,

Fall baking favourites

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with baking. I have a favourite recipe for every season, holiday, and special event. Fall is one of my absolute favourite times to bake though. It's not too hot to have my oven on for hours, and there's just something so cozy and homey about having fresh baked chocolate chip cookies or banana bread on the counter. Which is why today I'm giving you guys two of my favourite fall recipes, golden Crisco walnut chocolate chip cookies, and triple chocolate pumpkin seed banana bread!

First, the cookies! The recipe for these can be found on the back of any package of golden Criso, but I need to make sure that EVERYONE knows about this amazing chewy, soft, chocolatey marvel. Just make sure to not add 1 cup of baking soda like I did the first time I made it! I was making them for my siblings lunches and I ruined a triple batch because I wasn't paying attention. Oh well, lessons learned, even if I cringe every time I think about it!

Golden Crisco walnut chocolate chip cookies

3/4 cup golden Crisco all-vegetable shortening

1 1/4 cups lightly-packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. milk

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 375ºF.

Beat shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl with mixer on medium speed until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto baking sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool 2 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Next, the banana bread. I happened upon this one on www.twopeasandtheirpod.com while looking for a chocolate banana bread recipe earlier this year. I'd never made chocolate banana bread before, but I'm so happy that I did! I am in love! It's so soft and moist and full of chocolately goodness!

Triple chocolate pumpkin seed banana bread

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 large brown bananas  (1 1/2 cups mashed)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

1/4 cup canola, vegetable oil, or melted coconut oil

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup dark chocolate pumpkin seed Bark Thins, chopped

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1. Heat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork. Add the melted butter and oil and stir until combined. Stir in the brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.
4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, don’t overmix.
5. Mix together chocolate chips and chopped Bark Thins. Stir in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chip and Bark Thin mixture.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate mix over the top of the bread. Bake for 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out mostly clean, you might have some melted chocolate chips on the toothpick and that is fine. You just don’t want a lot of gooey batter. Check at 50 minutes, just to be safe. Oven times vary.
7. Remove the pan from the oven and set on a wire cooling rack. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the bread and carefully remove from the pan. Let the bread cool on the wire cooling rack until slightly warm. Cut into slices and serve.

You can also use a bundt pan, as I clearly did in the above picture. I find this makes for a prettier finished product.

Note-the bread will keep on the counter, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 4 days. This bread also freezes well. To freeze, cool the bread completely and wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost before slicing.

Also, a personal note - I got this recipe from www.twopeasandtheirpod.com, and they used just a cup of chocolate chips. I'm sure this would be delicious as is, but I find the dark chocolate and chunks of pumpkin seed add a whole new depth of flavour, and the seeds a new texture. Also, if you don't have dark chocolate pumpkin seed Bark Thins, as I don't always, since they only seem to be available in the fall at Costco, you can just use 1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate with a couple tbsp. of chopped pumpkin seeds.

I really hope that you enjoy these recipes as much as I and anyone I force to have some has! Let me know in the comments below if you try either of them, or what your fall favourite is!