What I Packed for Vacation

This is my second of six posts about my trip to Portland with my Family, and it's all about what I brought with me to wear for our vacation/road trip/adventure!

I packed the obvious undergarments, a couple plain tank tops, flip flops and my black toms which are not pictured in the following photos. I packed in my purple canvas Long Champs bag. I really went for comfortable clothing for this trip because we were going to be doing a lot of walking, and I packed mostly shorts because the weather was supposed to be warm. It wasn't absolutely freezing, but it wasn't really hot either. I also set the record for staining 2 tops on the trip- but not the white pants..

Top- Old Navy White Blouse
Shorts- Green shorts from Stitches
Shoes- Flipflops 

Top- White sheer back from Stitches
Shorts- Coral lace bottomed shorts from Stitches
Shoes- Black Toms (comfort over style sometimes)

Top- Back Sheer back from Stitches
Pants- White Capris from Stitches
Shoes- Black Toms 

Kimono- Black Daisy kimono from Stitches
Shirt- Aqua Chiffon top from Stitches
Shorts- Dark Wash Denim shorts from Stitches
Shoes- Black Toms

ELF Baked Blush Review

ELF Baked Blush in Pinkalicious 

ELF is a brand known for decent quality cheap makeup. I have personally been a fan of their products for a couple years, and when I was on their website and found they had started a Baked line I had to try some. When I purchased them, probably a year ago,  I wasn't overly impressed. Like at all, I threw out the baked eyeshadow I bought a couple weeks after I bought it.. It was only a dollar so I didn't really feel bad about it. The blush had managed to hide itself somewhere among my makeup collection, stashed away.

When I moved last month I did an evaluation of all my makeup and swatched nearly everything with my best friend, editing colours I didn't like and things I never used. The Baked Blush I had gotten from ELF was in the pile of "undecided". To be quiet honest, it was about a centimeter from being in the "get it away from me" pile. I hated it, and couldn't believe I had managed to keep it.

 I was so disappointed by the lack of pigment, honestly the ELF baked products ALMOST turned me off of baked products entirely. The colour wasn't a blush colour, like it had been marketed. HOWEVER I swatched it, noticed it didn't really show up, didn't really have much colour or anything, and then I saw it subtly glisten in the light. It hit me- HIGHLIGHTER!

Since I discovered it's secret highlighter purpose I've used it almost every day. I love this little gem, that I almost threw away. Overall, I am unimpressed with it as a blush, I'm not overly a fan of products that don't do what they say they should, like a blush not actually being a blush. But my best friend convinced me to keep it as a highlighter, and now I'm glad she did.

The slightly blended pink of the marble like packaging makes it a little more natural. It's not as white cast, but the colour isn't really pigmented, so it's not overpowering. The lightness of the sheer white is really natural, and it does reflect the light really well. Overall, I wouldn't recommend purchasing this particular shade, at least, with the intention of using it as a blush, but if you're in the market for a well-priced, decent quality highlighter (especially if you are new to using highlighters) I would say pick it up and try it out!

What kinds of hidden gems, with ulterior uses have you discovered recently? I would love to hear your thoughts!

My post today is up so late because it was absolutely beautiful outside, and I couldn't not spend the day, the whole day, outside. I threw the tennis ball for my dog, and enjoyed the beautiful tree that's blooming in the backyard.

Weekend Update: Go-To Summer Makeup

Quite Frankly, my makeup looks don't change that much between Winter and Summer, I stick to BB creams, maybe switch up bolder reds for bolder pink lips, add pops of colour that are brighter, you know.

However, as I'm getting closer to my University Convocation (I'm still feeling so weird about it, me, having a degree, what?) I'm playing with neutral eyes and bolder spring appropriate lips and finding myself creating the same look over and over again, and changing just the lips.

This is my go to look for a more neutral everyday thing.

To achieve this look I used:

1. Hang Ten SPF 50 Sunscreen

2. L'Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB cream (Light)

3. Maybelline Baby Skin Primer (This should be before 2, but math.)

4. Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer (Very Fair)

5. Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder (Transparent) 

6. ELF HD Undereye Setting Powder 

7. Milani Brow Fix Kit (Light)

8. ELF Studio Blush (Twinkle Pink)

9. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (Medium/Deep) 

1. Maybelline Colour Tattoo (Barely Branded)

2. NYX Matte Eyeshadow (Blame it on Midnight)

3. Urban Decay Naked Palette 

4. Physicians Formula Khol Kajal (Black)

5. Physicians Formula Khol Kajal (Champagne) 

6. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly (Black)

7.  Revlon Lip Butter (Wild Watermelon) 

Spring OOTD

Today, Canada is experiencing Spring. By Spring I mean that whole "April Showers brings May Flowers" business. Yesterday it was summer, today it is spring, mother nature hasn't gotten the memo about what the end of May is supposed to feel like.

Needless to say, there are some staples that remain in my closet for this very occurrence. Such staples include my Hunters found online Here. I love these boots, in the winter I use them as winter boots (seeing as how they are water proof- and it snows a lot...) and a cute Rain Coat. My beloved Nana picked me up a cute plaid, peacoat style rain coat. I tried so hard to get a picture of me wearing it, but I was by myself, it had started raining, so that didn't pan out.

I originally had planned on wearing just a white shirt, with black jeggings and my new vans, however.. it rained. So instead I wore this:

Shirt: Urban Planet

Pants: Maurices 

Shoes: Hunter Original Rainboots 

Accessories: Urban Behaviour 

I love.. Spring Nail Polish

Since I am recently unemployed (in between schools, moving etc.) I can finally paint my fingernails, which is something I didn't see a point in when I was working every couple days, it seemed like a waste of time, and product. Well now, I can paint my fingernails as many times as I want in a day (if that's what I choose to do). Below I have my favourite nail polishes for spring, pastels and out there colours I have been rotating on my nails!

OPI- Purple with a purpose $9.95 I love that it's a darker purple, yet still on trend for spring/summer, especially on my toes.

Chinaglaze- Spontaneous $7.95 Lighter than the last purple, but still good for the season, I love how it's not a total lilac, but not a deep purple.

Chinaglaze- Pink Voltage $7.95 BRIGHT PINK I think bright pink makes me look tanner, for some reason, so I rock the bubble gum pink in the spring/summer to not appear as ghostlike.

Chinaglaze- Fuchia Fanatic $7.95 I recently wore this in my last OOTD post Here I love this colour, it looks great on, and is a little darker than Pink Voltage.

Sinful Colours- Frenzy $1.99 I got these in the United States, at Walgreens, on one of many trips with my mom and sister while in B.C. I love the sparkles, especially as an accent nail.

Sinful Colours- Shock and Awe $1.99 Purple and Blue, it's like a perfect blend of the two, great for a more sophisticated spring nail, love this one. It looks really good with Frenzy as an accent nail.

Rimmel 60 Seconds- I Lilac You $3.99 It really does dry fast, it really is a true lilac colour.

Maybelline Colorshow- Pinkalicious $2.99 Another bright pink, love this! (Can you notice a I like pink in the summer trend that's happening?)

Wet N Wild- I Need A Refresh-Mint $3 I have this colour on my toes right now, I love as a true minty green shade, it goes well with everything too.

Orly- Gum Drop $12.50 the most expensive of my list, I love this colour, it's really similar to Wet N Wild's, I really like it.

Old Navy- Preppy Pink $2 It's not really opaque, it goes on very sheer and it is a little difficult to get off, but the colour is worth it, especially with a couple of coats on it.

These are the colours I wear most often in the Spring/Summer, what are some of your favourite spring/summer nail colours?

OOTD: Wednesday

Bonus Post! Again I really liked my outfit today! I went shopping last week with a friend of mine from university and waited patiently to wear some of the items until I had a day I felt I couldn't wait any longer.. Prolonging the newness. I really like the aqua-minty colour, and the cardigan with daisies is great! (They are my favourite flower!)

Face:

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer

L'Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier (Fair) 

Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer (Very Fair)

Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder (Transparent)

ELF HD Undereye Setting Powder 

Revlon Highlighting Palette (Rose Glow)

Milani Brow Fix Kit (Light)

Eyes:

Maybelline Colour Tattoo (Barely Branded)-Base

NYX Eyeshadow Single Matte (Blame it on Midnight)-Blending

Urban Decay (Buck)-Crease

Urban Decay (Sin)- Inner corner, inner corner lower lashline

Urban Decay (Toasted)- middle, middle lower lashline

Urban Decay (Hustle)- Outer Corner, outer corner lower lashline

Lips:

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter (Sugar Frosting)

Shorts: Stitches

Top: Stitches

Cardigan: Stitches

I also really like this nail colour- I'm probably going to wear it all summer!

OOTD: Tuesday

Bonus post for the day! When I was getting dressed today, I didn't think I would like my outfit NEARLY as much as I do. Since I like it so much, I have to share it. 

Face:

Maybelline Baby Skin

L'Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream (Fair)

Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder (Transparent)

Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer (Very Fair)

ELF HD Undereye Setting Powder

Milani Brow Fix Kit (Light)

Eyes:

Maybelline Colour Tattoo (Barely Branded)

NYX Eyeshadow (Blame it on Midnight)

Urban Decay (Naked)

Urban Decay (Buck)

Maybelline Eyestudio Quad (Coral Oasis)

L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara

Lips:

Lancome (Love It)

Outfit: 

Blazer: Stitches

Shirt: Forever 21

Shorts: Stitches

Ring: 

Ardenes 

I was never expecting to like how put together this looks, while also being a little casual and summery. I want to wear this everyday now.. I won't, but I want too. 

Spring Clothing Haul

My recent lack of busy-ness has left me with a lot of free time, free time I occasionally spend shopping. Spring has finally come to Canada, although it feels like it will only last a week or two before it is summer and too humid to breathe. The change in seasons has given me the opportunity to ditch the chunky sweaters of winter and embrace the pastels of spring. Spring (and fall) is truly the only time where I live that true fashion can shine. Summer is too hot for anything other than shorts, tank tops and top knots.. and winter, well winter requires a parka.

So shopping, yeah I've been doing that. Stitches is this great Canadian clothing store owned by a parent company who owns many other stores under their brand, they carry similar styles but never the same designs, the price remains as great and the quality amazes me. I went to an outlet store a couple days ago and picked up some spring/summer must-haves. The beauty of Canadian springs is they are typically warm enough to start wearing shorts. They were having a sale, on top of their awesome deals. I grabbed 2 tank tops (that I didn't get pictures of) for $9 total (6 for one and 3 for the other).

On top of that epic deal, I picked up 2 pairs of their shorts- a hunter green colour and a coral. Each pair were between $10-$12. Again, a steal. I think I am most excited for the coral ones, but the green are super cute too.

For some reason, they show up a lot more pink then they should- which bothers me. I LOVE the lace detailing on the bottom of the shorts, I think it adds just the right amount of detailing for a pair of shorts- and they came with the belt, which is beige and really just rounds out the shorts.

I'm really excited about these too- shorts are like required for summer, completely. I like that they aren't denim, so something different can be done with them, dressing them up is a definite option.

I love sheer tops, paired with a tank top it's dressy and casual all at the same time. I like that this one is a sleveless top, with a collar and button down makes it a little more dressy. It has navy blue and cream colouring which is still light enough for summer. This was $12, a great price I think.

Giant Tiger is another great Canadian company. It offers reasonably priced clothing as well as household needs and minor groceries- it's like a mini Walmart. I love this store- I've been shopping at it for as long as I can remember.

I got these awesome light coral-peachy coloured capris for $25! They came with a matching belt and I absolutely adore them. They are a perfect contrast compared to my love of mint and are the same tone as my mint pants. I think they are great for cooler summer nights or spring- like right now. :)

The last thing I got was this over the shoulder bag. It's has gold hardware and the chain is detachable, which is awesome for nights out if I want to make it a clutch not just an over the shoulder bag. You will not believe the price- $8. Such a deal, and considering it was originally $10, even if it wasn't on sale it would still be a steal.

That's all the shopping I've done- so far. What are some of your favourite spring/summer clothes?