THE BEST DRUGSTORE FOUNDATION

Good foundation is a staple to any makeup collection. Foundation is something that us beauty lovers use pretty much everyday. Quality, coverage and staying power are all really important, but so is affordability. I typically use my more expensive foundations for nights out or special events. On a more day-to-day basis I usually go for my less expensive foundations. Some drugstore foundations can be, well, horrible. But there are also a lot of good quality and affordable foundation options available. After careful consideration and years of experience, I think I have narrowed down my 'top 5' drugstore foundations.

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation

Coverage wise this foundation is not the greatest, but it does do a good job of evening out your skin. This foundation is slightly dewy and it wears really well throughout the day. It is also light weight and applies really nicely. I am not the biggest fan of the packaging, without a pump it can get a touch messy. But overall, this is a really nice lightweight foundation.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation

This foundation has been around for a long time and I always find myself going back to it. This product provides great coverage without being cake-y.  It is also oil-free, so it is an ideal foundation for anyone with oily skin. I find this product to be a great buildable foundation, it's great for a bit of coverage or a lot. This is an affordable product with really nice coverage.

Covergirl Tru Blend

This is a great product if you are looking for nice sheer coverage. I prefer a more luminous finish and this product is great for that. This product is not super-long lasting but it certainly does the trick for an afternoon out. If you're looking for an affordable product with a touch of coverage, this foundation is perfect.

Flower Beauty About The Face Foundation

This is a great foundation to reach for if you're looking for a product with yellow undertones. This Flower foundation has a nice sheer finish, though it is buildable. Again, it is not super long-lasting but it is great if you just need a little something. I really like the dewy finish of this product, it leaves my skin looking even and refreshed. This is another really affordable product, available at Walmart.

OLLIE & OLIVIA CONTOURING BRUSHES

Do you ever buy something simply for the sake of buying something? I do this way too much, but every so often this impulse pays off. I have quite the extensive makeup collection and one thing I love buying is makeup brushes. I love trying out new brushes and I like to have a good variety. If I am using a lower end product, I will use a cheaper brush and if I am using a higher end product… Well you get it! Anyways, I was at Winners recently and I discovered these Ollie & Olivia Contouring Brushes. The packaging was so pretty and they were really affordable.  So naturally, I couldn’t resist. Pretty packaging aside, I didn’t have high hopes for these brushes. This 3-piece makeup brush set from Ollie & Olivia is actually really decent quality. This brush trio includes an angled blush brush, a buffing brush and a stippling brush. The brushes are super soft and gentle on my skin. They are well designed, durable and don't shed. Overall, I think these brushes are great for everyday makeup application. They do not hold a ton of product and aid in flawless makeup application. Really affordable brushes for a beginner or if your just looking to try something new. I could not find a ton of information about this brand online. But from the looks of it they dabble in a lot of different products, from makeup brushes to teacups! 

GYM PLAYLIST: MARCH

Hey everyone! Over the last month I have surprisingly increased how often I go to the gym. At first, this was a hard routine to commit to. But after I got passed that first week, my motivation increased drastically. I have mentioned this before, but I find music to be one of the greatest motivators when you're at the gym. I rely heavily on my music and I am constantly looking to update my playlists. So, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite workout tunes at the moment!

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Rihanna ft. Drake - Work 

Sia ft. Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills 

Alessia Cara - Wild Thing

Taylor Swift - Out Of The Woods (Toy Armada & DJ GRIND Anthem Mix

VICHY HYDRATING DUO

The weather this winter season has been extremely harsh on my skin. It hasn't been overly cold or dry, but despite this my skin is still suffering. I have experienced breakouts, irritation and above all else, dryness. My face has been especially dry and even my old faithfuls weren't cutting it any longer. So I decided to venture away from my usual face products and seek some new ones with heavier hydration. And that is when I discovered Vichy's hydrating products.

The two Vichy products in particular that I have been loving are the Purete Thermale & Eau Thermale. The Purete Thermale is a hydrating and cleansing foaming cream for sensitive skin. The first thing I noticed about this product is how silky and lightweight this cleanser is. This cleanser is also fast acting, I noticed a huge improvement in my skin almost right away. This cleansing solution is so refreshing; it purifies skin, removes make-up and soothes irritation. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who is suffering with dry skin!

The next Vichy product that I am loving is the Eau Thermale. I have always been curious about hydrating water based mists. Part because I wondered if they actually worked and part because I thought they may be a huge waste of money. But I decided to bite the bullet and try the Eau Thermale, to see how well it would work with the Purete Thermale. Safe to say I am extremely impressed and quite obsessed with this mineral water. It is so light, incredibly refreshing and it leaves my skin hydrated! This thermal spa water is naturally infused with 15 beneficial minerals & antioxidants to protect skin from harsh environmental irritation. It strengthens its natural defenses and accelerates cellular renewal.

I love how these two products work together, my skin has never felt more hydrated and looked so radient!

SHOP VICHY

FIORELLI HANDBAG

On the weekend my sister I decided to take a walk through downtown Guelph. We have lived here for close to a year and still hadn't discovered too much of the downtown core. During our walk, we discover this lovely little boutique called the Modern Tourist. It's located right downtown in a cute little corner building with lots of windows and natural light. The Modern Tourist sells mostly luggage from brands such as Lug, Lewis N. Clark, Ricardo, Antler and more. But they also sell a limited number of beautifully crafted handbags. While in there I instantly fell in love with this handbag from Fiorelli. Regularly priced this bag is about $200.00, but was on sale for $75.00. Having randomly waltzed into this store, finding and falling for this bag and discovering it on sale... I knew it must be fate, or that is what I keep telling myself.

This particular bag is the Annaline Heather Mix Grab from Fiorelli in the colour mauve. It is a beautifully finished genuine leather bag with gold hardware. I am not typically a fan of gold hardware but I think it looks really nice against the mauve. I am partial to larger bags, but I love this medium size handbag. In fact, I would say this picture is a bit deceiving its actually quite roomy inside. The inside has a Fiorelli finish in a dark brown and quite a few pockets. I am so excited to introduce this bag into my wardrobe as the weather gets warmer!

SHOP FIORELLI

EVERYDAY MAKEUP

Back when I was in college, I spent a lot of time blogging and Youtubing. As life got busier and I started working full-time, these hobbies fell to the wayside. I am so incredibly happy that I have re-vamped my blog and dedicated more time to blogging. But I've been a stranger to Youtube for quite some time now. I have a small following and I do enjoy making videos. So I thought, why not? I decided to start out small; I don't think I'm ready to hear myself on video yet. So please, check out my 'Get Ready With Me: Everyday Makeup' post below! Like I said, I am no expert at this all. But you gotta start somewhere. Enjoy!

MY ORGANIZATION...

I have really wanted to start dedicated more time to my blogging. It is something that I had spent a lot of time doing in the past, but as life got busier it kind of fell by the wayside. Now, being done school and working full-time, I still struggle to find time to blog. So being properly organized is something that has more valuable to me then ever before. Typically what my day looks like is... I get home from work, I eat dinner, dedicate two hours to blogging and then I hit the gym. So only having a couple of hours to blog and update social media can be stressful. For those avid bloggers out there, you know what I am talking about. But with my struggle to stay organized and make the best of the time I do have, I have discovered a few handy tips/tricks. I now feel more organized then ever when it comes to my blogging and my everyday life in general.

Kate Spade Agenda
I am old fashion in that I love to write things in my agenda, mostly because it helps me remember things better. I use this agenda for all things work, blog and social. It's pretty much the holy grail of all my organizers. I reference this agenda day-in and day-out, it has really helped step up my organization. And, it's pretty!

Evernote 

Evernote is a website that I more recently discovered and so far I am really impressed. This is a great organizational tool. Evernote allows you to collect and store information online, accessible from your phone or computer. I too often find my desktop files too cluttered and overflowing with random stuff, so this is a great tool to have. Once you have collected files (pictures,videos,etc.) you can file them using keywords for easy retrieval. 

Co-Schedule
For all things related to my blog, I use Co-Schedule. This is an amazing service that helps you plan and organize content. It is the perfect editorial calendar if you are serious about blogging. I started using this program using their 14-day trail. I loved it so much, that I had to continue my use. This online tool also helps you schedule social media content, which I find incredibly helpful.

Planner Pro App
This is a full-featured app to help you manage your daily life better. I downloaded this free app with my iPhone 6 through the App Store. I have tried out a few planner apps and this is by far my favourite. Not only does this planning app allow you to mark tasks, but also events and notes. Another great feature is that you can manipulate the schedules to your liking.

iCalendar
As an iPhone user I find the iCalendar to be very helpful in keeping my life organized. I can easily pull this calendar up on my phone, laptop or desk computer. I use this calendar mainly for my office work, but I do keep some personal info on it. What I like the most about this calendar is that I get alerts right to my phone.

HAIR CARE FAVES

After years of bleaching, dying and ironing my hair, I was in need of a hair S.O.S. Back in December I decided to cut my hair short and start-over. Instantly my hair felt so much lighter and healthier, it was amazing. I also decided that I would lay off dying my hair until summer. Luckily after going though a phase of having hideous dark roots, as my hair grew out it started looking more ombre. Starting fresh I knew I had to continue to take care of my hair if I wanted it to stay healthy. So I have spent some time researching and trying out some new products. After a couple of months of trial and error, I thought I would share some of my favourites with you! 

MARC ANTHONY ARGAN OIL SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER 

I am a fan of Marc Anthony products in general, but this shampoo and conditioner duo is outstanding. IT never fails to leave my hair feeling light and nourished. What is great about this combo is that it is sulfate-free and helps cleanse your hair to rejuvenate and rid of impurities. One of my favourite features of these products is that they help strengthen your hair. Both this shampoo and conditioner work for any hair type, I would highly recommend this product. 

GOT2B MIND BLOWING 

This product is so incredibly time-saving . I only use this product when I am using a blow dryer to dry my hair, which I try not to do too often. If I can, I will usually let my hair air dry to help reduce the amount of heat I am using on it. Due to how thick my hair is, it takes forever to dry! This product helps to reduce drying time and protect your hair when using a blow dryer. When I first picked this product up I thought, 'yah right'. But this is one product that truly works. Inexpensive, good quality and very impressive. 

JOICO IRONCLAD 

I work in an office, so I am forced to do my makeup and hair everyday. This leaves me using heat on my hair 5/7 days of the week. I have been long searching for a good heat protecting product. I was looking for a spray product because I am not the biggest fan of creams and oils. I recently came across Ironclad by Joico and so far I am really impressed. I leaves my hair feeling soft and my hair never feels dry or over processed. 

HASK ARGAN OIL TREATMENT 

Prior to using this product, I had never heard of Hask. My sister actually picked this up and recommended it to me. I try to use this product as least once a month to help condition and revive my hair. This product helps to strengthen, restore, and smooth dry, damaged hair. This argan oil treatment is very hydrating and my hair feels incredibly soft the days following. 

FEBRUARY FAVOURITES

I went a little spend-crazy in February, especially with beauty products. I have just been hearing and seeing so many amazing reviews of products online and I couldn't help myself. So I thought I would put together a little post of some of my favourite products that I picked up last month! I have also linked these products below if you are interested in finding out a bit more. Enjoy!

Steve Madden Sunglasses 
For the first time in my life, I have been obsessed with buying sunglasses. I picked up a few pairs this month, but my Steve Madden's are hands-down my favourite. I like sunglasses that are quite big and have a lighter lens; too dark and I feel very disoriented. Also, I tend to go for sunglasses with a sturdy frame because no matter how hard I try, my sunglasses always end up in the bottom of my bag. I really like these Steve Madden sunglasses, I tried to find a link online but didn't have much luck. I picked them up at Winners for about $25. 

Lasting Finish Nude Collection by Kate 
I love the Kate lipsticks by Rimmel London. What I love about these lipsticks are that they are long-lasting and so creamy. I find I only have to reapply a couple times a day and they keep my lips moist. The particular colour that I am loving at the moment is in 042. 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream 
I just recently discovered NYX products and have been playing around with a lot of their stuff. One in particular that I am currently loving is their Soft Matte Lip Cream's. First off, these lip creams smell deliciously like vanilla cupcakes. Beyond that, I find that the cream is moisturizing and does not stay sticky like a gloss. Also, the colours are super long lasting. 

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight
I personally LOVE this product, it goes on so beautifully. With the winter in full effect, I am a lot paler then usual. Therefore, I prefer a more 'champagne' coloured highlighter for the colder months. I love the colour of this stick and it goes on so silky. I am not a huge fan of creme beauty products, but this highlight is so lightweight and smooth. It is also long-lasting and I love not having to reapply a product throughout the course the day. 

NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
I just picked this palette up a few days ago and I am really enjoying playing around with it. The range of colours on this palette is impressive and it's pretty affordable. I also appreciate that this product is quite pigmented and easily blended. I do not need to use a lot of product to achieve my desired look, which for me translate to saving money. Always a good thing.  

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue
I am not the biggest fan of perfumes, I tend to gravitate towards light body mists and such. But I could not pass up on this product, Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana is amazing. This is a scent that I feel would work all-year round and it is great for both day and night. I am not the best at describing scents but if I had to, I would say that this perfume is light, crisp and clean smelling. 

SHOP RIMMEL - SHOP NYX - SHOP CLINIQUE - SHOP DOLCE & GABBANA 

TOP FIVE: ROM-COMS

For those of you who know me well, you know I am obsessed with romantic comedies. Like really obsessed. Some of my fondest memories from when I was younger are staying up late with my mom and sister, eating popcorn and watching rom-coms. I have some obvious favourites such as Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually and When Harry Met Sally. But I also love discovering new movies, mostly through recommendations or the internet. I am constantly looking for online lists of the best romantic comedies; I want to watch them all. No seriously, before I die... I will have watched every romantic comedy out there. That I promise! Anyways, at the moment there are five adorable rom-coms that I cannot get enough of and I thought I would share them with you. So here are my recommendations…

TRAINWRECK
I know there was a lot of back-and-forth with reviewers on this movie, some loved it and others hated it. But I personally love this movie. What I like most about Amy Schumer as an actress, comedian and person is her honesty. She has no qualms or hang-ups about who she is and that is great to see in a leading lady. As for Bill Hadar, I did not think I would enjoy him in a leading male role but I was pleasantly surprised.

LOVE, ROSIE
For the majority of this movie I was completely frustrated by the two leading characters. I don't want to give away too much here, but I will say I was satisfied in the end. This is an adorable movie and I love how you travel through years of these two charters lives over the course of the movie. Kinda like a When Harry Met Sally type of thing.

BEFORE WE GO
The entirety of this movie unfolds in one night. It's about instant connection and finding love when you least expect it. This one is very romantic. I am not always the biggest fan of independent films but I really enjoyed this one. And how could you not, I mean Chris Evans looks amazing in it! Fun fact: Chris Evans directed this movie as well.

MAN UP
This movie started out pretty weak for me, but by the end I was very involved. Again, this movie happens over the course of one evening. I would have never thought of Simon Pegg as a leading romantic interest but you instantly fall for his character. He is just so adorable. I am not a huge fan of Lake Bell and am still not. But I could tolerate her in this movie.

SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
This movie has quickly become one of my all-time favourites. The two main characters cast by Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie are so perfect for their roles. They also have a lot of chemistry and do a great job of portraying this relationship. It's one of those movies that will have you wishing that was you by the end. Which probably isn't healthy, but you get so wound up into it and invested. Out of all of these movies, you really have to see this one. I also love The Graduate references throughout this film.

BEST OF CLINIQUE

Lately, I have been treating myself a little bit too much. I cannot get enough of buying and trying out new beauty products. As many of you know, Clinique is my all-time favourite brand for beauty products. As a higher end product, their prices are extremely reasonable. From face cream to foundation, I have tried a lot of different Clinique products and have never been disappointed.  I have truly never used a product of theirs that I did not like. I love the confidence that I feel when I use Clinique products; the quality never seems to fail me. 

BLUSHING BLUSH POWDER BLUSH

I adore the Blushing Blush Powder Blush by Clinique in the colour Sunset Glow. If you are looking for a blush that is natural looking, variable in intensity and long wearing this is it! I recently picked up this blush at a Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique and can’t get enough of it. I find this blush quite pigmented, so you can use a little and get a really nice blushed colour. Or, you can use a touch more and increase the intensity of your look. I find that this blush really helps highlight and enhance my skins natural radiance. 

ALL ABOUT SHADOW DUO 

The All About Shadow Duo is a great little eye shadow palette that features two colours that match seamlessly with one-another. I love these duos and I am always amazed at how perfectly the shadows are paired. My current All About Shadow Duo is in the colour 'Like Mink'. I have blue eyes, so I tend to gravitate more towards shadows that are brown-ish. These shadows are perfectly pigmented so you don't need to use a lot, but you can most definitely build them up. Lastly, my favourite thing about these mini palettes is that they last quite a long time. They may be small and compact but you can get more then a couple uses out of them. Obviously. 

CHUBBY STICK SCULPTING HIGHLIGHT

Finally, I am loving the new Chubby Stick Sculpting Hightlight from Clinique. This is a relatively new product and I have heard nothing but great things about it. I personally LOVE this product, it goes on so beautifully. With the winter in full effect, I am a lot paler then usual. Therefore, I prefer a more 'champagne' coloured highlighter for the colder months. I love the colour of this stick and it goes on so silky. I am not a huge fan of creme beauty products, but this highlight is so lightweight and smooth. It is also long-lasting and I love not having to reapply a product throughout the course the day. 

SHOP CLINIQUE