The 2nd circle scarf

After my first attempt at a circle scarf, I pretty much gave up. When I wore the scarf to work, my co-worker, although she commented on how she loved the colour, she said it freaks her out that it makes me look like Judy Jetson.  All day long, we laughed at my scarf. I decided from now on to go back to the usual straight, long, rectangular scarf. I had extra yarn, so I started to make one for my co-worker.

While I should be sleeping since it's close to midnight, I had to finish off this scarf because tomorrow is the co-worker's birthday. She may not be able to wear it these days but at least I was able to finish it in time for this special occasion. As I cast off the last stitch, I realized that it's not long enough to wrap around the neck. I kicked myself but then thought...why don't I just stitch up (or sew together) the ends???  I'm so proud of myself because the scarf looks awesome. I hope she likes it and I can't wait to make the next one - the new way, not the Judy Jetson way!!!

Yes, I did wear it to take a photo of it.

Now that the scarf is finished, wrapped up and blogged about, I can go to sleep knowing that I completed another knitting project.

Would Gino... (Part 2)

Back in October 2009, I wrote a post on things that I was wondering if my brother would be doing or interested in if he was still around. I thought I would do a part 2.

Would Gino...

...be interested in buying an iPad?
...watch the 8th and final season of 24?
...go over to Andrew's apartment a lot?
...be a groomsmen for his friend Mike's upcoming wedding?
...have rocks missions more often (I hear there was one recent mission but the last one was a year ago)?
...have leased a new car?
...still be going to concerts as much as he use to? I wonder what bands he would be interested in.
...spend Easter with me and the Solon Massive and again help me on the Easter Egg hunt that Mike's mom does for me and Belle?

G - I still think about you all the time. Things have slowly gone back to normal but every now and again, I think to call you and realize I can't.

Life's little luxuries

When I find that I have some extra money in the bank account (maybe I didn't spend as much last month, maybe I didn't socialize as much or maybe we were good with our electricity), I like to treat myself to one of my life's little luxuries.

photo source 

Häagen Dazs ice cream

Caribbean Travel + Life magazine

Fresh cut flowers

Manicure/Pedicure

Massage Therapy

Bath Bombs from Lush

What are some of your life's little luxuries?

How to get the best sleep

 

 Photo courtesy of www.weheartit.com

Last month after reading how to boost energy (from The Happiness Project - I am so behind in my reading), I was getting a good night's sleep by making myself go to sleep by 10:30 pm. But since March was extremely busy for me work-wise, I wasn't getting the proper amount of sleep, plus I got sick and was stuck with a cold for about a week. Now that two of my main programs at work at over and done with, I can concentrate back on me and my sleeping habits.  Here is what I think will get me get a good night's rest:

•  Get the average sleep time - 7.5 hours...since I normally wake up to get ready for work at 6:30 am, this would mean that I should be sleep by 11:00 pm. Also, all stimulating activities such as TV, reading or iPhone/laptop stuff should be stopped half an hour before bed time. 10:30 pm will now be the cut-off time and the start of when I relax, close my eyes and hopefully fall asleep in the next half hour. If I ever decide to get back to my 5:30 am workout, obviously this will all change to an hour earlier.
• Eat properly (and healthy). These days, my meals consist of a tall toffee but soy americano misto, maybe lunch, a can of Coke in the afternoon, dinner and then lots of evening snacking.  I know, I know, it's not the greatest meal plan - no wonder my stomach has expanded to the point where I look I'm four months pregnant. It's been busy at work and I don't have time to think of eating and when I get home, I just want to sit and relax (and eat junk). I plan to go on a 14 day cleanse (after Easter brunch), get rid of all the gross toxins in my body and start fresh.  My meal plan after this cleanse should be breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack and then dinner.  There will be no caffeine intake after lunch and no more food after 7:30 pm, three hours before my bed time.  Water will be allowed, that's all.
• Just a bit of exercise. Because I simply can't add that morning workout in my daily routine, I must get some form of exercise. Even if it's just a bit...like  a few sets of sit-ups and push-ups in the morning, maybe walking to or from work and the GO train station or even a brief 10 minute walk in the middle of the day.
• De-clutter the mind before bedtime. It's easier to fall asleep when your mind is not wandering and all over the place. Before heading off to bed, it's good to complete all chores, think of tomorrow's outfit and, sit down (not in your bed) and jot down any ideas or plan for the days ahead. By doing this, your mind is at ease and can focus on getting some shut-eye. 
• Warm temperatures is not ideal. Everyone loves to be all cozy and warm but to have your bedroom like a sauna will prevent you from drifting off to la-la land.  If your bedroom is too hot, you are likely kick off the sheets, toss and turn because you're sweating and it's not comfortable. Instead, keep your room cool, take a warm shower before going to bed to raise your body temperature, turn it for the night and snuggle with your warm duvet.

Sleep is important. If we could all get the average amount of sleep time, more people would be smiling and less grouchy in the morning. Sleep is what restores our body and boosts energy. If you can't get enough sleep during the weeknights, make sure you catch up on the weekends when you have more time.

What do you to to ensure you have a good night's rest?

Cupcakes on TV

 Photo courtesy of www.cupcakeactivist.com

Yesterday I got a text from my BFF, Stephanie - "Are u going to watch the cupcake girls? That might be your version of porn! lol".  I had no idea what she was talking about. After a few texts back and forth, she told me to watch The Cupcake Girls on the W Network on April 4th at 9:00 pm, .

This show follow Heather, Lori and their Vancouver-based bakery, Cupcakes. As most people know, I heart cupcakes and I have had the pleasure to try out these delicious cupcakes while I was in Vancouver in September.I am excited to watch this show.  Reality TV + cupcakes = my kind of porn (as Stephanie would say).

Blog Friend Friday: Meet Kyla Roma

I started following Kyla Roma's blog after reading a post on Fab Brunette's blog on their meet up. Just recently we participated in a book swap and exchanged books. Kyla is super sweet (I can tell just by our email and twitter exchanges), she's got a lovely website and is very crafty. She always eats at this burrito place which makes me totally jealous.

1) When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging "seriously" in 2007, before then I had been blogging but it was more like public journaling. The "And then we, and then I said, and then he said..." kind. It was a bad scene, I'm glad I stopped!

2) Where do you live?

In the Canadian Prairies - Winnipeg, Manitoba, straight north of North Dakota.

3) What do you for a living and what do you do in your spare time when you are not blogging?

I've done all kinds of things for a living in the past few years- I've been a web design project manager & community manager and was working in entertainment marketing until last year. Since I left the industry I've been working as an admin assistant and working on getting my outside work up to a level where I can be full time freelance.

4) Do you also have a Twitter and/or Facebook account?

I'm on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/kylaroma

5) What is your favorite website to visit daily?

I really love http://craftzine.com/ because I'm trying to flex my crafty muscles more these days, and http://smittenkitchen.com/ makes me want to be a better cook so I'm constantly trolling through her work.

6) What is your favorite vacation spot and why?

My favourite city that I've visited was Havana, Cuba. I've been twice and the buildings, the old cars, the heat, music and the landscape were just amazing. It's just all kinds of mysterious and old fashioned. I wouldn't call it a vacation spot though, and I don't know if I really have one place that I would like to go back to again and again. I want to go all kinds of odd places, I really want to visit Iceland in the next five years or so. I can't explain it, but I just know in my bones that I need to see it!

7) Name your top three movies.

Grey Gardens (the original), Rushmore, and Lost in Translation.

8) Who is your favourite celebrity to stalk?

It would have to be a three way tie between Joseph Gordon Levitt, Nathan Fillion & Carey Mulligan. But I'm mostly stalking Carey Mulligan's hair, if that counts?

9) Are you a tea or coffee drinker?

I'm equal opportunity when it comes to my caffeine! I tend to drink coffee in the morning, espresso in the afternoons and tea in the evenings or on the weekends. I'm very happily addicted.

10) Do you love cupcakes (as much as I do)?

Yes I do, we just got our first cupcake bakery here this year and I'm in love with it! We actually had it instead of wedding cake.

Giving Vancouver another try

I went with Mike to Vancouver in September 2009. It was the first time for the both of us (well, first time for me in my adult life). We originally went for two reasons:

1. We met an awesome couple while we were in Cuba in June 2009, spent seven days with them and we were inseparable. When we got home, we realized that we missed the good times, so, we decide to book a week's trip to the West Coast.
2.  We have a dear friend who lives in Vancouver. While we see Pernia whenever she visits Toronto, we thought it would be nice to finally go out to see her. She helped us book our flight. We booked our hotel. Four days in the city to spend with W & T and three days in the 'burbs to spend with Pernia.

Well, in the end, the trip did not pan out as planned. W & T broke up a week before our arrival date. We didn't get to see W but T met us for lunch. It rained the whole four days we were downtown. One of the four days, we were confined to our hotel room because it rained so hard all day. The last three days with Pernia were a blast and we did eat lots of amazing food.

Mike and I talked about it when Pernia was here a few weeks ago and we have decided to give Vancouver another shot. The next time we see a seat sale and if Pernia is in town, we will head over to the West coast again. I remember leaving there and thinking that it will be awhile until I would want to come back again. Things have changed. I have discovered the art of blogging...I have more blogging friends...I follow lots of blogs from Vancouver (maybe blogging is the "in" thing over there)...I have discovered through these blogs many stores, restos, bars and bakeries I want to visit. Most of all, I want to hit up Daiso and go on a major shopping spree. If I am lucky, I may get to meet some of the people I have met through blogging and maybe, just maybe get some cupcakes from an ex-Torontonian who moved out West. She may have shut down her cupcakery but hopefully she will make an exception =)

Tête-à-Tea

If you love tea like me and you also love receiving snail mail, enter this online tea exchange party. You have until next Wednesday to sign up. The website is worth checking out too!

Beer and more beer

I'm still trying to get over the fact that I can't surf the net while I am at work. It limits me from blogging or reading my Google reader. I miss my Google reader the most. Like how most people read the paper in the morning, I like to read my Google reader  while I drink my Starbucks. I now have to resort to doing all my internet "stuff" (blogging, commenting, emailing, Google reading and visiting my favorite sites) at night when I am at home. Last night I was up until almost 12:30 am and I only checked my emails and caught up on some blogs. I wasn't creative enough to type up a post. I have gone out after work two night in a row. I have missed Lost, 90210, Melrose Place and Survivor. Hopefully I can watch the last two shows mentioned tonight while I sit on the couch with my laptop.

On the Curve. This is my new fave bar/restaurant to go to in Mississauga. Here is why...every weeknight from 4:30 to 6:30, they have 1/2 appetizers and flatbreads. Every Tuesday, is $2 -$3 beers. And the kicker, they have free w-ifi!!!! I met with two of my blogger friends - Stingaling and Miss Lovely Bump - and an old friend/courtesy cousin. It was good to catch up with these girls, and enjoy good food and cheap beer!

Beer Bistro. Second night of more beer. Fruli beer to be exact. I met up with a friend from my high school days (although she didn't exactly go to my high school). She was like an older sister to me who took me out to all the cool places. It's been five years since we saw each other but as with good friends, we were able to pick up where we left off. Hopefully I will get to see her before another five years go by.

Two minutes until Melrose...I hear it's a good episode so I better pay attention.

Ice Cream by Coco Cake

Image from Ice Cream by Coco Cake

I stumbled upon yet another cupcake blog which then led to an homemade ice cream blog.  I immediately thought of Sweet Marie and her love for making ice cream. Check out Ice Cream by Coco Cake. There are only a few recipes but I love the photo presentation of the finished product.

Book Review: Flip-Flopped

Flip-Flopped: A Novel by Jill Smolinski


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was warned by most reviews that the books wasn't that great. Many liked the beginning but said the rest was a bore. I agree with this. I really enjoyed the start, it got me intrigued but then when a new guy came into the picture, I lost interest. This is mainly because I liked Keeley and Kam together. I kept on reading because I was rooting for them. Not to give too much away, I was quite disappointed with the ending. What helped me get through this book was I had actors in mind as I read from each page. I envisioned what I was reading as if it was a movie. Thank goodness I only paid $4.99 for this book.

View all my reviews >>

Haircut and Movies

I have been quite lazy to come up with something to post about. I always have ideas but never exactly execute them and then the idea becomes stale. Part of this reason is because of what's been going on at work. This past week was a short week for me but seem to have been the longest week ever. What I am not looking forward to is working this coming Saturday.

The Happiness Project. I'm behind. I think I may have only read a couple pages of chapter two and it was some time ago so I don't even remember what I read.  Why is it so hard to read one chapter? Could it be that reading one chapter at a time and writing about it reminds me of homework? I hate homework...Hopefully I can finish up the chapter before the end of this month. I may need to follow what Miss Mommy Doings is doing and just read ahead.

Haircut. The last time I got my hair cut was December 15th. I did go in to the salon to colour my hair and get bangs mid-January but now, I was in desperate need of a cut. I have split ends galore! Yesterday the hubby and I went in for our haircut and I went first. According to my hubby, our hairstylist took forever to trim off 4 inches and also trim my bangs. Now that I have fully examined my hair, it took long because he cut layers. I am quite annoyed by this because I hate layers. I wasn't paying attention to what he was doing since we were talking so much. Luckily my hair grows fast and my next hair cut appointment isn't until mid-June. Hopefully by then, the layers would have grown out and I MUST remember to tell him to not cut any more layers. I loved my hair all one length. That may be boring but I have no time to deal with a look with layers.

Tracking Internet Usage. My work is starting to track internet usage of all 10 employees because someone is downloading too much stuff or just plain old surfing too much. We all know who it is but they want to pinpoint it to someone since it apparently slows down our server. What sucks is that one morning, when I was the ONLY one in the office, they started tracking and noticed that I was using it too much. The funny thing is, it was work-related stuff that I was doing and of course, I would have the highest usage because no one else is in the office and I am the only one using it. DUH!!!! So now I can't blog quickly when something is on my mind or read my google reader while I am eating my lunch. Thank goodness for my iPhone. I can still check my emails and twitter feed.

New Moon. On my way home from Ottawa, I got to watch about 30 mins of New Moon on the plane. I also got to watch it fully when I got home. I have to admit that I am still fascinated by the introduction of the wolves and the Volturi. I did some researching and it looks like Future Shop has the best deal for the Blu-ray DVD - $19.99. I am going to try and pick it up today. I can't wait to watch bonus features.

Movie Marathon on W Network. Last night, being the lazy person that I am, I sat in front of the TV and watched Legally Blonde, Mean Girls and The Devil Wear Prada. I was very thankful a good marathon of movies were on. I absolutely love TDWP. Some of my favorite lines:

• Well, I don't eat anything and when I feel like I'm about to faint I eat a cube of cheese. I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight."

•  "Okay, I am hearing this..." [moves hand in a speech mimiking sign] "And I want to hear this." [closes hand]  

I hope you had a good weekend whether you spent it watching movies like me or by doing something more productive.

WINNER of my Blarkness Beauty Balm giveaway

I have been quite lazy today, actually I was too busy watching Legally Blonde and Mean Girls that I forgot to draw a winner.  So before The Devil Wear Prada starts on the Women's Network at 9:00 pm, I should announce the winner. 

Congrats to May! She has chosen I Heart Georgia which Ms BlushPretty will make especially for her.    Thanks to all those who have entered!

Blog Friend Friday: Meet Stingaling

I met Sting or Stingaling years ago. We went dancing and drinking a lot back in the day but lately, I have been getting to know her more on a personal level. Before, I pretty much only knew that she liked DJ Alize, wine and brie. These days we share a love for Nintendo DS and no work Friday emails (lol!). The funny thing is, we are both pretty easy-going girls but to each other, we first came across as snobby. I guess we both keep a guard up until we really get to know someone. I am quite proud of her in taking a leap into the blogging world. Check out her simple kind of life blog.

1) When and why did you start blogging? 

February 2010, after following a number of blogs including yours, I was inspired to join the blogging community and start one of my own. I wanted an outlet where I could reflect and share, and at times, vent.

2) Where do you live? 

North West of Toronto.

 
3) What do you for a living and what do you do in your spare time when you are not blogging? 
I'm an Account Manager at a Graphic Design Agency in Toronto. Because of my job and its location, I don't have tons of spare time so I'm usually just doing the basics for survival: cooking, eating, drinking and sleeping. When I have time on weekends, I'll read or catch up on my tv shows, and summer weekends are taken up by dragon boat.

4) Do you also have a Twitter and/or Facebook account? 

Yes, both. On Twitter, you can find me at twitter.com/sting_a_ling

5) What is your favorite website to visit daily? 

Aside from my Gmail and Google reader, I'm often checking Celebrity/Entertainment sites like people.com, usmagazine.com and ew.com.

6) What is your favorite vacation spot and why? 

Anywhere but here?

7) Name your top three movies. 

I had to think really hard about this one. Love Actually, Pretty in Pink and High Fidelity

8) Who is your favourite celebrity to stalk? 

Surprisingly, no one is on my hit list at this moment.

9) Are you a tea or coffee drinker? 

I am giving up  coffee again, so it's mostly just tea.

10) Do you love cupcakes (as much as I do)? 
Yes!

Giveaway at Post Grad Hair Cut

Photo source

These beautiful pom poms are this week's giveaway at Post Grad Hair Cut. Check it out and don't forget to enter, you will be amazed at all the colour combos available.

Paper vs technology

I read this blog post by Meg some time ago and it made me think about some of things I use to do back before all this technology took over our lives.

*I use to love sending out cards for every occasion - weddings, Christmas, Valentine's Day, birthdays...now I send birthday greetings by email or text. I don't send out Christmas cards because I am never around to even celebrate the holiday. Valentine's Day is too over-rated for me and weddings...well, this is the only greeting card I buy these days. I'm pretty sure in a couple of years, we can probably just email money transfer the wedding gift over to the couple.

*I loved buying stationary because I wrote letters to friends, especially my cousins in the States. I would search for the cutest and prettiest paper and even look for cool pens. Now, it's long winded emails and sometimes, I am even too lazy to type.

*Agendas for me is a way to remember what I did. Since 1994, I have written in an agenda of some sorts but since 2010 came around, I haven't written in the lovely agenda Maureen buys me every year for my birthday. Everything I do these days is entered in the calendar on my iPhone. I do still want a paper trail of it because years later I can always take a trip down memory lane by looking at those old agendas. I stopped writing full entries in a diary once a bunch of silly boys found it in my room back in grade 10. I threw away the diary and vowed to never write in one again. And then I started blogging back in 2004 but I kept it private. That was my online journal.  I continue blogging and I sometimes write about what's going on in my life. This is another example of how technology is taking over what I have always known.

Two things that I am still proud to do is read actual books (not e-books) and magazines. I love that feeling of holding a book and I also love that feeling of getting a glossy, colourful magazine sent to my home once a month. I have purchased many books that I have to get reading on but I have decided to add a two more subcriptions to my magazine lineup. Right now, I am currently subscribed to In Style and Lou Lou. I plan to sign up for a travel magazine and maybe a trashy celebrity infested magazine...

What magazines do you read monthly? Do you have a subscription or do you just buy magazines on stands if the cover sparks your interest?

My circle scarf

This is my first REAL attempt at a tube or circle scarf. I did do a trial run with some leftover yarn before trying to make the actual scarf.  My problem is the top and bottom of the scarf curl up.  I don't know what I am doing wrong but I need help to figure out what it is that is making the scarf do this.  Any knitters out there who can help me solve my problem? The scarf is wearable but it's not how I envisioned it to look when worn.

The weekend I dread is now long gone

I never really want to talk about work on my blog because work bores me and I don't want my blog to be boring. I don't want to go into what I do and why I was in Ottawa for the weekend but it's something I have to do once a year mid-March. This is the only time I travel for work (besides a trip to either Niagara-on-the-Lake or Collingwood every two years). If it wasn't for my fabulous co-worker who came to Ottawa to help out, I would have probably not survived. She keeps my head up and puts a smile on my face. She reminds me how all my hard work in planning this event has paid off and how I should be proud of myself.

It's a grueling weekend with a 13 hour day on Friday and 15 hour day on Saturday. It drains me physically and mentally. By 4 pm on Saturday, we become delirious and say nonsense. By 8 pm, we are starving. By 11 pm, I just want to go home to my own bed. To make matters worse, I forgot about the time change and had to wake up early for a flight back home (only for it to be delayed).

This is my sixth year of organizing this competition held in the nation's capital. It all comes together by what I keep in the back of my head. I do it like clockwork but I know that I am done when I no longer feel good at the end of it and feel proud of the event's success. I get tons of compliments and praises but it doesn't phase me. This is a sign that it's time to move on and pass it along to someone else. This is what I am trying to do because if and when I leave the company I work for, if this event doesn't get passed on, it could lead to a disaster. I must write everything that is in my head on how to run this competition so the next person can study and execute it.

I am glad that it's over and done with. I can get back to my regular life. I can get in touch with my friends and family to see what is going on with them because God knows I have been ignoring them. I have missed some birthdays so a belated happy birthday to Jonathan, Jes, Michael and Carla. Sorry that I wasn't around to celebrate with you. Thanks to my hubby who has put up with my grumpiness while planning this event, who didn't nag at me when I didn't want to cook dinner and who bought me medicine when I got sick the week before. I came home yesterday to a clean condo and a brand new TV in our bedroom (courtesy of my mom and stepdad). He's awesome.

I was lucky to have had today off. I lounged around, had a bath with some LUSH products I bought, read a magazine and will now cook dinner and read the blog posts I missed in the past couple of days. It's 7 pm and I am a bit confused, it's still so bright outside. Damn time change!

BBB Giveaway

 Photo courtesy of  www.blushpretty.com

BBB = Blarkness Beauty Balm Giveaway

I'm quite excited about this giveaway because I absolutely love this product and also because it's made by my dear BFF, Stephanie Daga. She's a superwoman who started BlushPretty and now she is exploring the world of homemade balms. She has kindly agreed to stir up the pot for this giveaway. One lucky commenter will win a limited edition 2 oz tin in the flavour of their choice. You can find the list here.

1) To enter this giveaway you must leave a comment with your name and the flavour you want.

2) You'll get a additional entry if you visit BlushPretty and leave a comment on my blog with the date of her next Beauty Board - this is proof you've stop by her site and looked around. While you are there, you might as well register for the upcoming event.

3) You'll get one more entry if you blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

Thank you Ms BlushPretty for offering up one of your limited edition tins for my second giveaway! Good luck everyone. I will get hubby to draw a winner on March 20th at 6:00 pm ET.

Blog Friend Friday: Meet StephSolChai

 

Where do I begin with Steph? I have known this girl for quite some time. We were friends first and then next thing you know, we are sisters-in-law. We spent a lot of time together when we first met, maybe I spent more time with her before I actually started dating Mike. I have many memories with Steph,  most of them were because we were wasted. She helped me get through my fights with Mike and has always been like an older sister to me, making sure that Mike and I were always taken care of. She is an awesome older sister to her younger siblings, she lends a helping hand to her parents, she is a dear friend to two girls who will always have her back and she is a wonderful wife to an extreme-hubby who is always behind her 100%. I welcome her to the blogging world. She recently started her blog, Swimming Upstream and all I have to say is, it's about time since you are always on my blog anyway!!!! Steph and I share a love for dancing to really bad, cheesy music. I hope she doesn't mind but I had to included this photo of us, it's my favorite!!!!

1) When and why did you start blogging?
I'm ashamed to admit that I started because a couple of my friends recently started blogging and wanted to join in on the fun. Yes, I am a blog-starter-follower

2) Where do you live?
Aurora, ON

3) What do you for a living and what do you do in your spare time when you are not blogging?
To pay the bills, I work as a chemist. In my spare time, I do yoga and pilates. I also watch a ton of TV and read on occassion.

4) Do you also have a Twitter and/or Facebook account?
Twitter, no. Facebook, yes.

5) What is your favorite website to visit daily?
Mostly friends' blogs and lately, the Olympics site.

6) What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
London, England. I love the atmosphere and the culture. If I could live there, I would! I just need to win a few lotteries.

7) Name your top three movies.
Serendipity, Outbreak, Zoolander

8) Who is your favourite celebrity to stalk?
There's not one particular one I stalk, but, if I had the chance, it would be Michael Cera.

9) Are you a tea or coffee drinker?
both. I try to limit my coffee consumption, though it's just too yummy to resist!!!

10) Do you love cupcakes (as much as I do)?
That would have to be a NO. I'm nowhere near your level of cupcake-love. but, I do enjoy them!

Fab Brunette's Fabulous Book Swap

Last month I participated in Fab Brunette's book swap. Yesterday, I received a book from Kyla Roma. She sent me Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and a lovely bookmark.  I am not familiar with this author, so it's a great introduction to a book I would normally not think to pick up.  Kyla says that Neil Gaiman is fantastic, a little otherworldly and really wonderful.

Thanks Kyla for the book and thanks Fab Brunette for setting up the book swap. I am glad I participated. Can't wait for the next one!

Blush Pretty Beauty Balms

It's awesome to have a friend who feeds into your beauty obsession. My BFF is a makeup artist and is now venturing into making her own beauty balms. Being friends with her has advantages, she has given me several of her beauty balms to test out. I also got a tester of a cuticle balm - and I absolutely love it. She comes up with cute names like "i heart georgia", "trekking in thailand", "tokyo manga"...just to name a few.

Check it out on her website and I highly suggest you order some because of her great price point. Plus, they all look so pretty.

Stay tuned - I have got an exciting giveaway coming up!!!

Keep Calm & Carry On giveaway

Another giveaway today...enter at Fab Brunette's blog.

Mindless Drivel's first giveaway

Don't forget to enter...it looks like it's a great giveaway for skin care. All you have to do is comment to enter on Mindless Drivel's blog.

I'll be back...

UPDATE - I lied...looks like I was able to post about some giveaways

***

After one busy weekend filled with birthday parties galore (two 1st birthdays and a combo of two 32 year olds), my work week is loaded with lots of last minute things to do before I go to Ottawa for the mock trial competition. I really cannot wait for this to be over and done with. A year of planning for two days. Once it's wraps up, I can breathe again. I can get acquainted with my social life. I can concentrate on stuff happening in my personal life. I can do my taxes. I can just be me again.

So until Sunday night, you won't hear from me but come back again next Monday (I hope to be off at home, relaxing) and I promise to make up for my absence this week. Still in rotation will be my Blog Friend Friday.

I hope you are enjoying this warm beautiful weather. I want to make it lasts forever! Summer please come soon.

Free samples are always good

I have raved about my brow lady, Megan at Benefit Brow Bar. She's awesome and my eyebrows are growing in quite nicely. But to help with that process, I have to fill in the sparse areas in my brows where they are taking forever to grow in.  Megan always uses Benefit's Brow zing in Dark when she filling them in after the waxing but at home, I use Smashbox's Brow Tech in Brunette. Well, my Brow Tech is done so I purchase Brow zing after my appointment last Tuesday. Let me tell you that it's so easy to apply. It has instructions with the kit but I am able to just use the hard angled brush, mix a bit of powder and wax to shape and fill in my brows.

Here is where the free samples kick in...I guess because I purchased a product from Benefit after my service (yes, after you get your eyebrows waxed, you get a full application of makeup with products that you are interested in and have always wanted to try out), I got a little bag of swag. It included Firmology, Stay Don't Stray and Benetint - all in little trial (and travel) sizes.

All companies should promote and market their product by giving away trial samples, and I am not talking about one time application. I mean a sample that has about 10 application so you can get a real feel for the product and determine how it can BENEFIT (no pun intended) you. Kudos to Benefit for doing this!

P.S. - if you like getting free swag and are a beauty junkie like me, don't forget to register for BlushPretty's Beauty Board on April 18, 2010. Early bird ticket ends March 14th.

Better than Coffee giveaway: a really nice handmade scarf

Even though it's beautiful in Toronto this weekend, there may be a few more days when we will need to bundle up...enter this giveaway on Better Than Coffee to win a lovely handmade scarf.

Blog Friend Friday: Meet Kiiat

I've known Kathy, aka, kiiat for almost ten years now. We met back in the day when she partied a lot. This girl showed me how to really party but at the same time, always looked out for me. Now she's a mom and blogs about experiences as a first time mother useful information for new mothers but also about what is on her mind. She doesn't hold back and always speaks her mind. We share a love for beaches and cupcakes. The photo above is of Kathy and her little girl.

1) When and why did you start blogging?  
i think i started blogging sometime in 2002.  no reason really - just that at the time, blogging was starting to become the 'cool thing to do on the internet' so naturally being an internet addict, i jumped on board

2) Where do you live? 
i was born in canada and right now i live in markham

3) What do you for a living and what do you do in your spare time when you are not blogging?
for the past 18mos, i've been a stay at home mom.  when i go back to work, i'm a business analyst/project manager.  i specialize in the telco industry, mainly systems delivery. I try and take time out for myself; meet friends for dinner, read, watch tv, bake and look for interesting recipes to cook

4) Do you also have a Twitter and/or Facebook account?
yes and yes.... although i'm thinking about closing my fb acct.  i hardly go on that.

5) What is your favorite website to visit daily? 
lately it's been my blog because of all the thoughts racing in my head!  other than that, i usually visit the iVillage forums (baby stuff), friends' blogs, some geek sites like gizmodo although i haven't been on that in a while.

6) What is your favorite vacation spot and why?  
i'm usually a beach person but my husband and i booked a trip to italy in september 2008.  that was our first trip that we actually had things to do other than lie around on a beach.  actually, we never even went to a beach - it was all about sight seeing and visiting the cities.  we really enjoyed that so i'm sure our next trip will be something like that.

7) Name your top three movies.  
oooo so many.  i'm an action movie junkie so for sure the die hard series, aliens, and true lies.  there's more but you only asked for three :)

8) Who is your favourite celebrity to stalk? 
no one..... i'm not really into the celeb-stalking thing.

9) Are you a tea or coffee drinker?  
not anymore - i drink tea.  sometimes i'll have the odd coffee but decaf

10) Do you love cupcakes (as much as I do)?  
um yah i do!!  whenever i bake them i always end up eating most of it.  i LOVE cupcakes so much i want to make love to them

Love the look: Hilary Duff's glasses

 

Photo credit to www.justjared.com 

I love Hilary Duff's glasses. Actually I love this whole look...I recently bought a leather jacket that I really want to wear these days but looks like my parka will be the only thing I can wear with this cold weather.

Knitting Lessons

Sure, I can knit a scarf...I have no idea who taught me and I don't knit the conventional way but somehow I can knit and purl. I recently discovered some YouTube clips from knittingtipsbyjudy. Watching these clips has taught me the proper way to cast on and off, and inspired me to try different techniques.

Here is the clip that taught me how to cast on - the right way:

My next project - circle scarf!!!! Wish me luck.

me + vampires = nightmares

It's official. I am terrified of vampires. Not the twilight kind, the hardcore kind. Remember how I watch Daybreakers Saturday night, well, I did sleep well Saturday night but last night...boy did I ever have one wicked nightmare. The kind where you find yourself in your dream trying to scream but nothing is coming out of your mouth. You desperately need some help but no one is hearing you. It freaked me out. I woke up in a panic and then I couldn't go back to sleep because I kept on seeing those damn mutated vampires from the movie.

You can laugh at me now but I also had nightmares after watching The Lost Boys a couple of years ago. I was screaming in my sleep in the middle of the night. The embarrassing thing is that the whole house (Mike's parents and brother) heard my shrieking from Mike's room.

So unless the movie has Edward in it or a TV show with Stefan, I am banning all vampire movies/tv shows!

My winter skin therapy

A few weeks ago, I enlisted in the help of my blog readers. I need to know what others out there use for their winter skin.  I thank everyone who comments.  Here is what I am testing out:

BODY: A combination of Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel body oil and Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning cream. The oil locks in the moisture adding a bit of sheen while the cream conditions and restores.

Photo courtesy of www.cakebeauty.com

HANDS: Nuyu Protective hand cream. I secretly put some on while I was at Shoppers Drug Mart. I walked around for a bit and fell in love with the scent of the cream and the smoothness of the application. So far, it's been keeping my hands from looking chapped and dry. To also help, I use weekly Cake Beauty Milk Made Smoothing Hand and Cuticle Buffer. This scrub removes removes any flaky skin and leaves a smooth, silky finish.

CUTICLES: Lush's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter is quite thick when you apply it but it definitely soften and moisturizes my dry cuticles. An added bonus is it smells like lemons (my fave scent).

FACE: I still have to find a product to test out.  I am currently using a sample I got for my hubby from Sephora. The problem is, there is no label on it so I have no idea what I am using.  I know that it has SPF in it, I can surely smell it. I have a feeling it's from Murad.


FEET: I am on a mission to find a product that will help my dry feet. Since I like Lush's cuticle butter so much, I think I may try their Fair Trade Foot Lotion. The only thing holding me back is the $22.95 price tag.  Maybe they will give me a sample like they did for the cuticle butter.