Five Things Friday: Fall Changes Edition

Good morning!

It is Friiiiiday, which means it is almost the weekend. I've got one more day of work and then the weekend is here! As usual, I am sharing five things that I have been loving this weekend. Let me know in the comments what YOU have been loving this week - try anything new? Eat something delicious? Buy some cute shoes? I wanna know! : )

First things first, this is an exciting change for my hair! I am not the type to get my hair done often, so when I do I like to make it special. Seriously. The last time I got my hair trimmed was over six months ago, and the last time it was coloured was when I did the whole ombre scenario over a year ago. Not only was my hair in need of freshening up, but I figured now was the best time to make a colour change, too! I am so happy with how it turned out. Funny how a new hair do can make you feel like a new person! : )

Ooh, yes. The coveted Blundstone boots I have been wanting for the last year. Ryan and I celebrated our anniversary on Tuesday, and this was a thoughtful gift that he knew I would love. Now it's time to break them in!

Mmm, Monday night's dinner was cauliflower crust pizza! Have you guys tried this before? It is amazing. The only downside is the cheese, BUT that is my own fault for adding more on top. Ha, ha. I used veggie pepperoni on mine, whereas Ryan cooked up some chicken breast for his pizza. This picture was taken pre-oven, so picture this all hot and melty. Ooh, yah!

So Nala still kills me. Seriously. She is so cute. Look at those puppy dog eyes! It made my at home yoga practice on Monday night difficult with her trying to get in there too. It's safe to say she is the real master of downward facing dog, no matter how hard I try.

So it's not exactly a Christmas mug, but it's close enough. For now. This has been my go to mug lately for any hot beverages, accompanied of course by my candy cane pajama pants and red, green, and white striped socks. I know. Too soon, Holly. Too soon. I can't help myself!

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Hope you guys enjoyed! Catch ya tomorrow : )

BYE BYE Mainstream Deodorant!

Hey, so I have some news for you guys.

I am ditching mainstream deodorant.

*GASP*

Yep, you heard that right.

Let me get into the (seriously) dirty details about mainstream deodorants and why I have decided to branch outside of the drugstore.

First things first, let's talk about ingredients. As you guys know, I like knowing how to pronounce my food ingredients, and now I am moving onto skincare, too. Your skin is the largest organ, and the thought of slathering a bunch of unknown substances on myself gives me the creeps.

And so does sticking chemicals under my arm pits. I was doing some research about these ingredients and this is what I found:

- ALUMINUM is disgusting and it's one of the main ingredients in deodorant. This helps block your pores and stop your sweat glands from doing their job - sweating! Sweating is so, so important at flushing out your body of toxins. Additionally, aluminum has been linked to breast cancer in women and linked to an increase in Alzheimer's.

- Parabens are part of a larger group of synthetic preservatives and are found in EVERYTHING. I have started buying shampoo with no parabens and sulfates for the sake of my hair and skin health. Parabens are said to disrupt hormone balances, organ toxicity and even birth defects. YIKES!!

- Propylene glycol is a petroleum based material that makes products soft. In deodorant and antiperspirant, this makes it spread easier under your pits. Too much propylene glycol is said to damage the central nervous system in large quantities.

- Phthalates, like parabens, are part of a bigger, ugly class of chemicals that help dissolve other ingredients, create a lather in cosmetics like shampoo and hair products, and have been connected with SO many health issues. These health issues include hormone disruption and cell mutation. Ew, ew, ew.

- Triclosan is used as the actual odor killing component in deodorants and antiperspirants. While it does have anti-bacterial properties (ahem, so does coconut oil), it is technically classified as a pesticide. Nothing better than putting some pesticides under the pits!

SO, here's the question you guys probably have for me now. What the heck are you using? Nothing? Going completely granola and not having any kind of underarm protection?

No, no. No.

I am currently on the hunt for the perfect natural deodorant, but this is what I have been using lately. It isn't as slick as, say, a swipe of Lady Speedstick, but it does the trick. It is free of aluminum, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Winning.

I haven't used it during extremely sweaty workouts. The thing is, this isn't going to stop me from sweating as it is still allowing my sweat glands to breathe rather than blocking them altogether. One thing I like about this deodorant though, I must say, is the smell. It is feminine but not sickly sweet, and has a little bit of a masculine touch to it.

I am in the midst of looking for another natural deodorant to try out as well. Any others that you would recommend? Looking forward to sharing my reviews of them on the blog!

Blogtober: Fall Shopping Mini-Haul

Good evening, friends!

This post is comin' at ya later in the day since I just got back from a day in Victoria with my sister. We had some pre-half marathon activities (I'm running a half marathon TOMORROW!) to attend to, such as the race expo and picking up my race package, and most importantly SHOPPING! When in Victoria, right? : )

Also, I need to boast for a minute here. We went into Lululemon, where normally I am sucked right in, but I tried on three things and didn't buy a single one. Am I sick?? Weird. You know when you try something on and you like it, but you don't love it? Yeah, that was me today. Oh well!

However, I did pick up some goodies that I wanted to share with you on the bloggy blog today. Here's what I picked up!

I have been on the hunt for a new purse for a few months now. The purse I am currently carrying is on the smaller side and can basically only fit my wallet and my phone. Not only is it teeny tiny, but the hardware on it was wearing off and it was looking a little sad and worn. Introducing, this upgraded baby from Aldo. Is anyone loving these darker wine colours? Anything that reminds me of wine, right? ; ) It is nice and roomy, and now I can actually pack snacks comfortably in my purse. That's the true test right there!

We also stopped into LUSH, and although I was wandering around not really looking at anything, eventually the bath bomb section sucked me in. The orange bath bomb is called the Yoga Bomb, and the purple-pink one is called Twilight. Both are on the sweeter smelling side, though Yoga has notes of sandalwood and Twilight has notes of vanilla and lavender. I actually have a small collection of bath bombs growing in my bathroom cupboard, but it doesn't hurt to add some more. Eventually they'll all get used... : )

Last stop was Sephora. The last and most dangerous stop. Actually, I'd say (on a normal day) that it would be tied with Lululemon. I picked up some essentials like my favourite charcoal face wipes and make up setting spray (which I recently discovered and love), as well as an old concealer favourite from Make Up For Ever. The lip gloss was kind of an impulse buy. I told my sister on the way home, "I bought lipstick AND ate a sandwich today. Who am I? I'm a new woman!" Weird for me but we'll see how much use it gets!

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I hope you guys are having a great weekend so far! Let me know in the comments what YOU love from Sephora, or if there are any drugstore favourites I should check out. Until next time!

Five Things Friday: All Over the Map

Good morning, and happy Friday, friends! I am extra excited this morning because I don't have to work tomorrow. Oh, the joys of having a few days left of vacation time to use. I will be preparing for the Victoria Half Marathon on Sunday, so laying low and taking it easy is on the schedule.

I wanted to jump in with my usual favourites post this morning. It is a little all over the map, but that gives variety, right? Let me know in the comments what YOU are loving this week!

Fall sunsets have been amazing lately. I am usually up to watch the sun rise too, and there is something so peaceful about the rising and setting of the sun. Everything is quiet, the sky looks beautiful, and (for me anyway) it makes me feel thankful for LIFE. Life is great, hey? Is that too happy for the morning? Sorry guys, but it's true.

This last weekend was spent with the pupperoni. We have been enjoying quality couch time reading Harry Potter. Or rather, I was reading, she was sleeping. Nevertheless, I enjoy this time so much, and it is so relaxing, too.

THOSE EARS. Enough said. I die.

I came across these pea crisps at the grocery store last week, and I am obsessed with them. So much so that the next day I purchased their Caesar flavour. Ryan is a fan too, which is a huge win in my books! These little pea crisps are full of fibre and flavour, without going overboard on the sodium, which is important.

I have also loved brain storming for Blogtober! Yes, it is still Blogtober, but I have been putting a lot of work into this. There is something about sitting down with a mug of coffee, opening up my notebook and my laptop and just letting the writing flow. It has been a great way for me to get more creative in the kitchen as well, as I hope to share more recipes with you all, too!

I have been using this serum for the last couple months and have noticed a huge difference in the overall brightness of my skin. My skin is super sensitive and can easily become irritated, but this is gentle enough to use both morning and before bed. It has a light scent, and is made with natural and organic ingredients. Can't beat that!

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What have you guys been loving this week? Let me know if there's anything I MUST try!

My Obsession with Coconut Oil + Manuka Honey

I had alluded to my love for coconut oil and Manuka honey in a 5 Things Friday post, so today I wanted to elaborate and tell you why I love them and share some of the health benefits.

It's an awfully long list, so I am going to get started!

First off: Manuka honey

I actually used to work for Wedderspoon Organic, which is where I was first introduced to the world of raw honey and, specifically, Manuka honey. Honey is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and virtually no living organism can survive in honey because of it's strong anti-bacterial properties.

What do I use it for?

I mainly use Manuka honey as a skincare treatment. Honey is super moisturizing - slather it all over your face for a face mask and your skin will be plump and glowing after - or spot treat it on your skin if you need some extra TLC on dry spots. On a similar note, honey can help heal wounds, so say goodbye to any bumps, scrapes, and bruises and throw some honey on it. The biggest thing for me is honey reduces any inflammation in my skin. I chatted a while ago about how I get eczema on the back of my knees and inside of my elbows. Of course, this depends on what I have been eating, but using Manuka honey on these areas help calm the eczema down and adds moisture to the skin, too. Winning!

You can also use Manuka honey on your nail beds to add extra moisture to your nails (just be sure to let it sit for about 15 minutes before gently rinsing off in warm water), or mix with sugar or salt for a DIY body scrub. This is especially nice paired with my next little favourite below... : )

Next up: Coconut oil

Having a bad hair day? Coconut oil

Skin is feeling dry? Coconut oil

Boyfriend acting up? Coconut oil

Seriously, coconut fixes everything. I can't say that it works for when your boyfriend is driving you crazy, but give it a shot and let me know how it works out!

I use coconut oil as a body moisturizer and hair mask. It is seriously nourishing to the skin and hair, and like Manuka honey, is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. You can make your own toothpaste out of coconut oil, it's that good. When taken internally, coconut oil can help lower bad cholesterol, raise GOOD cholesterol, and therefor help reduce the risk of heart disease. Crazy, right? On a similar note, coconut oil can also reduce inflammation, protect against UTI's (because who wants one of those anyway, right?), and boost the immune system.

See what I mean? What can't coconut oil do?

From a beauty perspective, you can bathe in coconut oil and reap the benefits. No, seriously. Throw some coconut oil in your bath and let it soak into your skin, then throw some more on your skin once you have patted dry. I will often do this when I do the whole, exfoliate, shave your legs deal, because why not have extra silky skin? I then proceed to throw on my Christmas fuzzy socks and pajama pants - don't forget to tuck your pants into your socks so your dog doesn't try to lick all the coconut oil off your legs - and wrap yourself up in a big sweater to make sure that coconut oil ain't goin' no where.

Sexy, right? Muahaha.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Let me know if you are a coconut or honey lover, too!

Five Things Friday: MORE Skincare + Fitness

Good morning!

Friday is here, it's a great morning, I've got my coffee, and I'm ready to conquer the day.

Before that, though, let's get into my 5 favourite things from the week! As always, let me know what you have been loving this week.

I mentioned in Monday's post that I have been trying out a Fit Bit the last few days. It is a great way to keep me mindful of how much I move during the day. It has been interesting to see during the work day how much I move, as that changes quite a bit more as opposed to the weekend. During my days off I am almost always doing a long run, which can accumulate steps quickly, or at least moving around the yard a lot more and running errands. It is so easy to just hunker down at my desk at work and not move, so checking the app helps me move more.

On Monday morning I also made some homemade chicken soup leftover from our roasted chicken dinner. I remember my mom making homemade turkey soup every Thanksgiving, and since we had some chicken left over, I wanted to try my hand at a homemade chicken soup. Yep, it passes the test! There is something so comforting about chicken soup during the fall, and it makes a perfect dinner on a chilly night. Can you tell I am obsessed with fall?

So this is technically two favourites but in one picture. I have picked up my usual protein powder again after being on a hiatus for quite a long time. It is just nice to have after a work out when I am feeling particularly hangry, and it is yummy mixed into oatmeal. That being said, I have found a new coffee sweetener that I am loving. Yes, it is probably not the healthiest, but it is so good. 

Oh yes, the sheet mask love continues. This time, I find some that go under the eyes. I tried a few from Sephora - which don't get me wrong, are great - but I'd rather pay $6 for a pack of five treatments rather than $6 for a single use. They are a great way to reduce dark circles (which for some reason have just popped on up on my face which is ANNOYING), wrinkles, and add some extra vitamins and minerals to your skin. So, yeah. Throw on your under eye masks, have some peppermint tea and hang out. Your eyes will thank you.

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What have YOU guys been loving this week!?

FitBit Fun + Solo Gym Time

Good evening, friends!

I am coming to you tonight from the comfort of my couch. It has been a bit of a busy day today, but what's new? My Sunday (which is Monday) always tends to be all over the place - and I wonder why I feel not-so relaxed after the weekend... Hmmm..

Nevertheless, I wanted to pop in and give you a little recap of the weekend!

After the work day on Saturday, I hit the gym for a quick workout. I had about 45 minutes MAX to spend, as I was attending a surprise 50th birthday party for a family friend, so I got it done FAST. My heart rate stayed elevated the whole time, and I took shorter than normal rests between sets. The workout consisted of a 5 minute warm up on the treadmill, followed by some back, biceps, and shoulders.

And because I couldn't get enough of the upper body, I completed a similar work out on Sunday, but mixed in some HIIT (high intensity interval training) after. I would sprint all out for 30 seconds, rest for another 30, and then run at an easy pace for one minute before repeating it again. The purpose of this is to get the heart rate going up, and down, and WTF is she going to do next. This will help shock the metabolism and keep your body in the fat burnin' zone. Not bad, not bad ; ) Both Saturday and Sunday were nice and quiet in the gym - gotta love that solo time so you can take multiple gym selfies without ridicule, am I right? : )

Post-work out meal on Sunday night. Ryan and I signed up for a local CSA offered by a farm that our friends own, and they were generous enough to give us one of their chickens. So, Ryan got crafty in the kitchen and roasted it up, and we enjoyed a delicious dinner. The chicken was so fresh and tender, and I made some homemade chicken soup with it today! Gotta love that : ) 

Now rewind to now where Nala is laying on the floor with my shoes post-puppy playdate with her cousins. Yep, that's her favourite spot. That and under the kitchen table chairs. Strange, but whatever works! 

So, I came upon a FitBit on Friday afternoon. A friend said she didn't use hers and was going to throw it in the garbage, so in I swooped to take it off her hands. I used it for most of the afternoon yesterday and into the evening, and fortunately I hit just over 10,000 steps yesterday. This is a snap shot of my day around 2pm, Now I have officially hit 20,000 steps and it is 5:03PM! Craziness, right? Helps that I ran 11.2 km as well.

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So, there's an update for you! I will be back again on Wednesday with more goodies. Time to relax with my under eye sheet masks and some peppermint tea. Such a life of glamour I lead ; ) Au revoir! 

5 Things Friday - Summer Vacation Edition

Good morning, friends!

I am back with another edition of Five Things Friday. If you have been reading the blog the last two weeks (or so), you will know that I had a week off of work this month. It was probably the BEST week I have had yet, since I was able to complete a lot of stuff around the house and fit in tons of fun stuff in there, too. Additionally, Ryan had the same week off so we spent a lot of quality time together and got to hang with the family as well.

So, let's get started with my 5 Favourites!

Seawheeze weekend: This was an amazing weekend filled with sunshine, yoga, running, and the best sunset festival party. Nothing beats jumping around on your yoga mat after running 21.1km to live music.

Day-trippin' to Tofino: This was such a fun day to just relax on the beach. Watching Nala dig around in the sand and bravely test the waters just made my heart sing. Is that weird? I feel like it's something a crazy dog mom would say. That's probably how people feel about their human children. Nevertheless, watching her have so much fun made ME have fun. I look forward to going back to Tofino very, very soon!

Doing anything and everything with Nala: She comes everywhere with me; the only exception being the bathroom. Aaaand even that is debatable, heh! Nala enjoys car rides (for the most part), so it makes it easy to take her along on our adventures. Plus, she is a great snuggle buddy once she is tired after a full day of playing. This is probably one of the best parts! : )

Spa days with my sister: We spent most of Wednesday afternoon at La Spa Sereine in Victoria. If you are in the area, or even visiting, I highly recommend coming here for a little pampering. They have a beautiful ladies' lounge area (above) with local organic tea, snacks like trail mix and yogurt, and the most comfortable chairs ever. It is fun to put your feet up (literally) and relax before heading back to the real world. During our visit we got a full body massage - much needed after the Seawheeze run - and a pedicure. Hello, heaven!

I am starting to add to my essential oil collection, and this grapefruit essential oil is the newest to my rotation. It is so uplifting and bright. You can't stay in a bad mood after a whiff of this! Similarly, I picked up a new hand lotion that is a blend of jasmine and sandalwood. This combination is such a pretty smell. It is feminine without being sickly sweet, and floral without making you smell like your grandma's powder room. Winning!

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Although my vacation has come to an end, I am looking forward to another getaway September long weekend!

For those essential oil lovers: what is your go-to scent? Any combinations I should try?

Shopping Time: Beauty & Skincare Haul

Good evening & happy Monday everyone!

Three more work days and then I am on holidays. Can you tell I am excited? I have been waiting for this since I booked my vacation time back in January. It has been a long time coming, and the break will be so much needed!

What am I going to do? Get a massage and pedicure with my sister. Go on day trips with Nala and Ryan. Sleep in, work out, eat some good food. No vacation plans now, but we will find fun ways to occupy our time!

On the bright side, I can always do more of these skincare & beauty hauls for the blog!

But wait. That involves shopping. And spending money. I am not sure if I should spend all of my time off doing that, as much fun as it would be!

I will, however, show you a few items I have acquired within the last week or so.

We will kick it off with a prize pack I won at a free yoga night/open house at a local new juicery and raw food bar. My sister and I enjoyed 45 minutes of yoga, then as we were all blissed-out and zen we got to peruse all kinds of skincare, make up & clothing goodies from local brands and businesses in the Cowichan Valley. While we were there I put my name in for a draw (they were having several throughout the night), and lucky me - I was a winner!

In my prize pack were mini hand lotion samples from Kogi Naturals, made in Chemainus, as well as local soap, a bottle of yummy green juice from the juicery that hosted the event, and a one month GYM MEMBERSHIP! Yup, I'm going to have to take advantage of that! It was such a fun event, and I hope they do more in the future.

I also picked up a goat's milk soap & a skincare serum to try.

I have been using goat's milk soap lately and it makes my skin feel so silky smooth! On the same note, this face serum from Pure Anada makes my face feel like a baby's bottom and has a light fresh scent.

I just had to add this in here. After breakfast, Nala and I had some quality time on the couch where I finished up Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Oh, YEAH folks, I am still on my Harry Potter kick. So much so that I asked Ryan if he would have a HP movie marathon with me, and he just laughed and asked if I would even be able to stay up that long. Touche, buddy. I will try my hardest!

Today's workout: 45 minutes on the treadmill. Nice and easy watching YouTube videos, of course. All of my workouts are pretty darn relaxed this week because the big half marathon is on Sunday! I am excited, and frantically trying to plan our lives and make 100's of lists of what I need to bring.

Notebook from Chapters. Born This Way Radiant Concealer, Living Proof dry shampoo, Sephora brand eye mask, Sephora brand charcoal face wipes.

And finally, some goodies from my adventure into Nanaimo today. Nala had a puppy play date for the afternoon while I ran into Nanaimo to run some errands. I had a gift to buy for a certain event coming up (will share later), and while I was in the mall I had to, haaaaad to, stop at Sephora and Chapters. When in Rome, right?

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Any beauty or skincare recommendations? Or any favourites you have? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time, friends!

Monthly Favourites: July

One more week and I will be in Vancouver to run the Lululemon SeaWheeze Half Marathon!

Holy crapola did the time ever go by fast! I am looking at my training plan now thinking, hmmm. I only have three runs left until it's go time!

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I wanted to kick off this morning by sharing my July favourites. July was a busy, busy month. It's always when I think, "Oh, we have no plans this month!" that by the time I blink, the month is full of things to do. August is going to be busy too, so I will have lots to share next month, too!

Let's get into it!

Still loving this Beauty Blender to apply my foundation. It is great to use with tinted moisturizer as well, and I find it makes my foundation appear better blended and less streaky. I highly recommend getting one of these bad boys if you are falling out of love with your current foundation brush.

I LOVED our day at Neck Point. It was a new adventure for both Ryan and I, and we will definitely be back with Nala to have her adventure at the seaside. 

Yep, you bet I am still loving this combination in my diffuser at night. There is something so relaxing about the scent of eucalyptus, and the "breathe easy" blend has peppermint in it as well. The blend leaves a nice scent lingering in the area, without the chemical residues that you find in candles or commercial fabric sprays. Can't go wrong with essential oils!

I had to. I'm sorry. I know you've seen a dozen pictures already, but I just love this little pumpkin!

OOOOH You thought my Harry Potter spree was over! Fear not. I am still puttering my way through this book, and read a good chunk of it over the long weekend. Saturday was the release day for J.K. Rowling's new screen play book, and I was THISCLOSE to buying it at Costco on Sunday, but something in me told me to hold back. Besides, I still have another three books after this one to get through before I can even venture into the newest one.

One thing I have enjoyed this month is getting back to basics and using my planner. Sure, I'm not using fancy stickers as often as I used to. Honestly, I find that I am spending my time doing other things such as playing with the dog or catching up on housework rather than cutting out stickers. Nevertheless, my plain ol' planner with my blue ink is working out just fine. It is helping me stick accountable to what kind of blog posts I want to work on, as well as organizing my life with time off from work approaching (and various things in between).

Hiking at Holland Creek Trail earlier this month. If you are in the area, be sure to go to the waterfall and check out all of the scenery along the way. It is a good work out!

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What have you guys been loving this month? Let me know in the comments!

Video: My Every Day Make Up Routine

Can you guess what this post is all about?

Yep, my every day make up routine!

Disclaimer: I am by no means a make up artist or even a video guru for that matter ; ) You will see that below in my super quick make up video.

Here are some of the products I use pretty much every day. Usually on the weekends I don't wear much make up at all, but since I work full time, I like to wear a little bit of make up at least so I don't look like a walking zombie, ya know?

You can find all products from Sephora! The gold palette and "bling it on" blush palette are from Tarte cosmetics as part of their 2015 holiday collection. I don't think you can still get the full pack in store, but you may be able to find it online if you are curious.

When it comes to make up, I am simple. Like, so simple it hurts and people probably wonder why I never do anything different with my face. Well guess what, people? Sometimes I do a bit of a contour with that "social butterfly" shade above. I didn't in this video, but I felt the need to throw that out there so you didn't think all these products go to waste ; ) Lol. When it comes to eyeshadows, if and when I use it it is always a neutral colour. That's why you don't see anything crazy in here!

In this video, I used the shade "beaming" from the bling it on palette. It may be hard to tell from the picture, but it is my most loved shade, closely followed by prim.

My skin is super picky, and so far the Sephora brand of foundation is working out well for me. It is in shade Light 14, and the Nars concealer is Light 2/Vanilla.

So, onto the video!

See? That's why I don't do the YouTube ; ) I am already wearing a bit of foundation in the video, so it is not a complete routine that includes my skin care regime, but you get the idea. I love me some highlighter, and I often rotate between the "pink champagne" shade shown above, and a highlighter from Becca in the shade opal.

P.S. I apologize for the poor lighting! I used my laptop camera, and Lord knows how good that quality is. I will definitely consider getting a better camera if I plan to do future videos!

Here is the finished look (sans mascara on the lower lashes): Simple & easy!

Let me know in the comments if you have any make up recommendations! Despite only using a handful of things in the morning, I do love make up shopping. I just hate spending money on it ; ) LOL. What are your go to products?

Until next time!