Wednesday 29 November 2017

25 Quotes I Love


I used to live for quotes. Honestly, I was that girl on Xanga when I was fourteen/fifteen with hundreds of quotes saved. I’m always the first to reblog a quote on Tumblr. I just find that quotes describe how you’re feeling without having to put it into your words yourself. Therefore, I thought I would share some that I’ve stumbled upon lately that I love.

Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature. Be better than anyone here, and don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.
– Grey’s Anatomy

Sometimes you’re 25 and standing in the kitchen of your house making breakfast and brewing coffee that for some reason is really getting to your heart. You’re just standing there thinking about going to work and picking up your dry cleaning. And also more exciting things like books you’re reading and trips you plan on taking and relationships that are springing into existence. Or fading from your memory, which is far less exciting. And suddenly you just don’t feel at home in your skin or in your house and just want to be home, but “mom’s” probably won’t feel like home anymore either. There used to be the comfort of a number in your phone and ears that listened everyday and arms that were never for anyone else. But just to calm you down when you started feeling trapped in a five-minute period where nostalgia is too much and thoughts of this person you are feel foreign. When you realize that you’ll never be this young again, but this is the first time you’ve ever been this old. When you can’t remember how you got from sixteen to here and all the same feel like sixteen is just as much of a stranger to you now. The song is over. The coffee’s done. You’re going to breathe in and out. You’re going to be fine in about five minutes.
 – Anonymous

Love someone who is kinder to you than you are to yourself.
– Nikita Gill, Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner  

It’s a wonderful thing to be optimistic. It keeps you healthy and it keeps you resilient.
– Daniel Kahneman

Get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.
– Abraham Heschel, Gratitude

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
– Alexander Den Heijer

I think there is a certain age, for women, when you become fearless. It may be a different age for every woman, I don’t know. It’s not that you stop fearing things: I’m still afraid of heights, for example. Or rather, of falling – heights aren’t problem. But you stop fearing life itself. It’s when you become fearless in that way that you decide to live. Perhaps it’s when you come to realization that the point of life isn’t to be rich, or secure, or even be to be loved – to be any of the things that people usually think is the point. The point of life is to live as deeply as possible, to experience fully. And that can be done in so many ways.
 – Theodora Goss

Bad things are always going to happen in life. People will hurt you, but you can’t use that as an excuse to hurt someone back.
– Anonymous

For just one second, look at your life and see how perfect it is. Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there’s nothing else. It’s here, and you’d better decide to enjoy it or you’re going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.
– Lev Grossman, The Magicians

I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.
– Oscar Wilde

So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
– Jorge Luis Borges

Happiness begins with you. Not with your relationship, your friends, or your job. But with you.
– Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love and a Dash of Sass

You’ll always care about your first love. That doesn’t make you crazy, it just makes you human. When relationships end, it’s not cut and dry. You carry everyone you’ve ever loved into every relationship thereafter.
– Ryan O’Connell

Stay close to people who feel like sunlight.
– Xan Oku

Raise your daughters to shout, to scream, to hold their heads up high for being themselves before society tries to teach them how to silence themselves, how to wear shame like it is a second skin. Let them taste rebellion from the moment they are born and watch them become flames to start a revolution.
– Nikita Gill

A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.
– William Shakespeare

You are not a reflection of the people who can’t love you.
– Caitlyn Siehl

Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.
– Theodore Isaac

You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream.
 – C.S. Lewis

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
– Marcel Proust

Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.
 – Lady Gaga

Remember that children, marriages and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Here’s to the strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
 – Anonymous

You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don’t. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.
– Rumi

Be alone. Eat alone, take yourself on dates, sleep alone. In the midst of this you will learn about yourself. You will grow, you will figure out what inspires you, you will curate your own dreams, your own beliefs, your own stunning clarity, and when you do meet the person who makes your cells dance, you will be sure of it, because you are sure of yourself.
– Bianca Sparacino


What’s your favourite quote? Let me know in the comments!

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Gift Guide: for the bestie

I was sitting obnoxiously texting my best friend, Sam, links of my gift guides so far. Her response: “you should totally make a best friend gift guide”. So here I am, creating a best friend gift guide. This one’s for you, Sam.

1. How cute are these mugs?! 2. It’s ironic that you’re getting your best friend a mug that’s literally from the show Friends. Perfect gift! If they don’t love Friends (which may mean they’re mildly insane), this “You’re the Lorelai to my Sookie” mug is adorable too. If they don’t like Friends or Gilmore Girls… sorry, but it’s time to get a new best friend.
Sorry… another pop culture reference for a gift. I have yet to meet a female who has never seen an episode of Grey’s Anatomy though. For $10, this wall art is the cutest. It has the most simple “you’re my person”, but you can add yours and your best friend’s name. Get a nice frame for it and you have a personal, thoughtful and beautiful gift.

I think at some point, most girls have had a S’well water bottle on their wish list. Although a little pricey, it’s definitely a great gift that would be used over and over again. Plus, how cute is the marble print?

These candles are amazing! They’re so funny and the scents are awesome. The scents include birthday bash, gingersnap cookie, hot rum toddy and peppermint.

How cute is this earring set!? Stud sets are great. Always double check that the person has their ears pierced.

Since Sam lives near Collingwood, I had to give a shout out to a Collingwood based company! Wilderness Soap Co. has so many great products that I honestly struggled so much trying to decide what product to share. As a millennial, your best friend is probably as obsessed with the rest of us when it comes to coffee. Therefore, the espresso body butter sounds like a great beauty/relaxation gift! The best thing about this gift as well is that it’s vegan!
Other products I love from Wilderness Soap Co.: luxe bath soak, 3 soap gift set (customizable scents) and coffee scrub

I think one of my favourite things this time of year are Sephora’s gift sets. They’re so cute! I could honestly spend hours looking at them online and in store. This year, the ColorPop gift sets have really caught my eye. This lip trio is great for any girl who just loves a bit of colour on their lips! Plus, it’s under $25, which makes it even better.

Experience Gifts
Honestly, how great is it to get to spend time with your BFF? Get her something that you can do together. Whether it’s a concert for an artist that you two both love, a wine & paint night, a wine tour or a day at the spa. Check Groupon to see if there’s some awesome deals for your area, it may even spark an idea that you hadn’t thought of! 

Monday 27 November 2017

Links + Loves


I went to the Kawartha Bakery on the weekend. I must say, I was extremely impressed with their gluten free products, and the price list as well. I have honestly probably gained about 10 pounds eating lemon meringue pies.  

I love finding a good Etsy shop. I actually wrote tomorrow’s blog post before I wrote today’s. I found a sweet little beauty shop, Wilderness Soap Co. They’re based out of Collingwood, Ontario. There’s so many great products including soaps, bath scrubs, soaks, face creams and body butters.

I bought this candle on Saturday night. It smells amazing and it was 30% off because of Black Friday sales. Unfortunately, it is sold out online.

With the cold weather coming, I definitely think I need some new winter gear. I struggle so hard every year getting used to the weather and the attire that is required for it (please see this post to explain last year’s fiasco). This year, I want to invest in a good pair of winter boots – I’m loving these ones. I’m also loving this scarf, hat and these mittens. I don’t want any more injuries this winter.

I have given my mom a detailed a Christmas “wish list” this year. It included many items, including books and home dĂ©cor. However, my dream Christmas gift is the Dyson Animal. I know I’ll never get it – but with two cats and a border collie, there is a lot of hair in my house that would benefit from a Dyson vacuum.

I have fallen back in love with The Lumineers over the past few months. I have spent the last week singing Angela at the top of my lungs.

Last but not least, I wanted to finish with an awesome quote I stumbled across on Tumblr. It’s just such a feel good quote, that’s perfect to start off the week.
“Your brain matters, so be the smart girl in the room. Because, to be funny, you have to be smart, because you have to get the joke.”
—Sophia Bush 

Sunday 26 November 2017

Gift Guide: For the Mom(s)


Honestly, out of all the people I shop for my mom is my favourite person hands down. I just feel like Christmas to her is super special, so she pretends to love it even if she hates. I definitely think Christmas is the perfect time to give her something to relax with. I decided to share some of the greatest relaxing gifts today that you can give your mom – from wine glasses to eye creams to slippers. Who wouldn’t love all of that?

Because mom’s deserve to relax and why not let her relax with a nice, big cardigan. Don’t worry though – it doesn’t look like the ones she always complains about looking too oversized.

These slippers would also look super adorable with the cardigan (especially the chestnut), or on their own with some cozy pajamas!

Honestly, I love my idiom bracelet. They’re so fun and quirky, but spice up any outfit. I always wear mine with my gold watches. Although there’s so many adorable bracelets, “heart of gold” is definitely suitable for mom. It reaches that meaningful mom gift without starting to look a bit tacky.

Candles are also so relaxing and calm. Plus, don’t deny it – we’ve all seen that meme “when you wish you could buy your mom an island but all you can afford is a candle”. Now, you could get her candle but an amazing smelling candle that she would love!
I’m personally dying to try lavender + linen, grapefruit + fig and balsam!

Raise your hand if you love wine and rose gold! Your mom probably does, too. This customizable wine glass is super cute and super thoughtful. Since it’s customizable, you can add your mom’s name or even “#1 mom” to the glass. To really go over the top, you could find out what her favourite wine is and give her a bottle with the glass.

Let’s be real – we’re likely the reason our moms have bags under their eyes, dry skin, grey hair. You name it, our rebellious teenage years likely caused it. Now, we can provide her with the help she may need to fix it. Help Me is an anti-aging cream that helps reduce wrinkles and discoloration while boosting firmness and colour tone.

This kind of goes with the Philosophy Help Me, but Lotus Eye Gel is an eye gel that helps with puffiness and dark circles. Again, our moms deserve some pampering after dealing with us ages 12-17.

Honestly, I am obsessed with this perfume. I’ve tried many and always end up going back to Marc Jacobs Daisy. It smells so nice, and it’s a classic smell too. Definitely a great perfume for all age groups.

Raise your hand if you grew up eating homemade chocolate chip cookies. Probably most did and most likely got them from their mom. Make her recipe or try a twist on a classic (see link). It’s a homemade, thoughtful yet inexpensive gift.

To make them next level, you could put them in one of these adorable cookie jars.  

Saturday 25 November 2017

50 Gluten-Free Christmas Treats

I had a mom gift guide 90% done, then I went away for the night and left it sitting on my desktop without finishing it. I’m sitting here on my laptop now and I don’t have photoshop and have yet to connect my PC to Cloud, so I’m here with nothing.
I’m staying at the guy who I’m dating’s house right now. I remembered that I forgot my 2 litre bottle of Diet Pepsi at home and had a pop craving. So at 9:30 last night we went to Wal-Mart. It worked out because there were still tons of Black Friday deals, but it was dead. There were so many things I wanted to buy, but couldn’t think where I would use them at my house or who I could gift them for. They a Keurig for $47, regular $98. They also had an Actifry for $118, regular $228. I’m so disappointed that I didn’t get either. Both were such great deals. My “man friend” got a Wilton Baking Set with 2 cookie sheets, a cake pan, a muffin tin, measuring spoons and measuring cups for $19.88. He bought them because I kept complaining about not having them at his house, haha!

As someone with Celiac disease, there’s so many Christmas goodies that I want to bake but find that I struggle with finding stuff I can actually eat. Plus, Christmas cookies are the cutest, simple gift ideas. If you have someone with Celiac disease, gluten intolerant or simply prefer to eat gluten free, it’s always nice to have some sweets they can eat.

Gluten Free, Vegan Cinnamon Orange Christmas Cookies (use oat flour to make them gluten free!)
Gluten Free, Sugar Free Cranberry Bliss Cookies (great Starbucks copycat recipe)
Gluten Free Cranberry Bliss Bars (another great Starbucks copycat recipe)
Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Crumb Bars (another great Starbucks copycat recipe)

Friday 24 November 2017

Gift Guide: Handmade Gifts for Home Owners Under $50!


Happy Black Friday everyone! I was going to do a post sharing all the Black Friday sales, but I thought I would just share some of the ones that my favourite bloggers did instead.

Today, I decided I would share some of my favourite gifts handmade by Canadians. I love Etsy, so I decided it would be awesome to highlight some of the home products I’m loving from it.

First off – I love everything at AllyBeth Design Co., and it was extremely hard to just pick one thing to showcase! This gift is so great for the boss babe in your life, or in an office for a hard working girl who just needs a bit more motivation. Plus it’s under $20, which you can’t go wrong with!

I am loving Aspen Blue Co.’s products. The doormats are so cute. Some are cheeky, some are simple, and some have landscapes. What’s not to love? The fact that they’re $40 and under makes it even better.

I am loving the signs from William Rae Designs. They’re a little pricier, but the quality of them look impeccable. I love the baby signs (my favourite).

I think sometimes the best gifts are unexpected, fun and cheeky. Cross stitches with fun sayings are all of those! For $30 and under, CaralynneDesign has some really great cross stitches. Definitely worth a look!

I think one of the cutest home trends this year are stamped spoons. You can make feel so personal, yet they’re so simple. The great thing about And Then Again Designs, is that they literally have over 100 spoons and they’re all around $20.
Also love from And Then Again Designs: Count Colours not Calories spoon, Fork Off fork and You’re my Person spoon

I just had to share the designs from Share The Love Designs. Mainly because her shop lists as Oshawa, which is near me! Plus her graphics are adorable. It was genuinely so hard for me to pick just four options to share.  All her graphics are under $10 and printable, therefore you can choose the frame to put them in!

Thursday 23 November 2017

Beauty Gifts Under $25 From Sephora!










With Christmas coming up, and Black Friday tomorrow, there are so many gifts to be bought! To me, Sephora is always a great place to spend money on some great, high quality gifts. However, I can’t justify spending $102 on an eye shadow palette, no matter how much I love the person. Therefore, today, I decided to share some great options that are $25 or less!

How cute is this! It may just be a mini, but it is so cute you can’t say no. I love little gifts like this to throw on the outside of a box. It doubles as a gift tag, so it’s great if you still have a bit of money remaining in your budget for someone.

For $15, you really can’t go wrong! Colourpop is a great brand and honestly, I got so excited when I found out they were partnering with Sephora. This palette comes with six colours – five matte and one metallic. Over the past few months, I have been obsessed with the Sephora Collection Classic Double Ended brush, which would make an excellent pairing with this palette and would still be under $50.  

This hands down has to be one of the cutest Sephora Collection gifts I have seen in years. For $23, you get three sponges which is a steal too. I know some people prefer Beauty Blender sponges, but honestly I still to this day can’t find a huge comparison in products except for the price. It’s definitely one of the cuter beauty gift set packages I’ve seen this year, and definitely worth the money.

I feel like no Sephora gift guide is complete without a Philosophy bubble bath. This is on sale for $15 for Black Friday, too! Definitely a steal. If you’re interested in a Philosophy Christmas gift set, the peppermint stick set and the snow angel set are great gift options as well.  

Honestly, FAB is in my top five favourite skincare brands. I love this set though! Of course they’re minis, but for $15, this is a great set to trial FAB.

There are many other FAB beauty sets this Christmas! Honestly, I have spent way too much looking at them in store. If you’re interested, you can find them and other products here

Monday 20 November 2017

Links and Loves

Wow! It’s been a while. The last post that I actually published was in April. After many months of not blogging, I have decided to come back because I realized how much I truly missed it.

In October, I adopted a second cat, Oliver. He’s a little Russian Blue, who I’m convinced is a munchkin cat. His legs haven’t grown since he came home! The other morning he was sitting in the Christmas tree (sorry mom) and I couldn’t help but pull out my phone to take a few pictures of him while he was in it.

Today, I decided to do one of my all-time favourite types of posts – Links and Loves. It’s been so long that I just wanted to create a pile of different things I’m loving.

Now onto the fun stuff…

Anyone who knows me knows that I love The Office. Buzzfeed released a hilarious article this week, 24 Jokes From “The Office” That Never Get Old.

Growing up, it felt like everyone and their cousin had a Gap logo sweater. I’ve noticed over the years that the factory stores carried them, but they always looked so outdated. This year, Gap has some super cute logo sweaters. I’m especially loving the Logo Crop Crewneck Sweater and Logo Raglan Pullover

My skin absolutely sucks. I have however, fallen in love with this Dr. Jart sheet mask. I bought one in September and have been obsessed with it since. It’s only $10 so it makes for a great stocking stuffer! 

On the discussion of stocking stuffers, I love Allison of But What Should I Wear's stocking stuffer gift guide. I also love Kait of Communikait's stocking stuffer guide as well.

Last but certainly not least, as a cat mom, I have fallen in love with this customizable cat mom wine glass! Plus it's under $15!