Chic Life: Sympathy for the Skin Body and Hand Cream!!!

Hey DOLLS!

If you have been following me, you would know I finished my amazing Khiels Whipped Body Butter  which was OH SO AMAZING! It was given to me as a gift from my daddy and unfortunately it is out of my budget at this time to re-purchase! But that is okay because I have discovered Lush's Sympathy for the Skin Body and Hand Cream! Haha I am also a body cream connoisseur, I totally bathe myself in cream when I moisturize my body! Head to toe!!!! Haha

Oh My Goodness, I just cannot express to you in words the amazing scent this cream has. It is in no way an artificial smelling cream because it is not over powering. It is like a light banana with vanilla deliciousness! You honestly just have to go smell it in stores because I can guarantee you shall be walking out of the store with your own tub of amazingness! 

So how does the Sympathy for the Skin body and hand cream by Lush compare to Khiels Creme De Corps Whipped Body Butter?

Sympathy for the Skin is definitely a much lighter cream. Even in consistency you can tell. The Creme de Corps is a very thick whipped cream texture while the Sympathy for Skin is more liquid in texture. It also soaks into your skin much quicker then the Creme De Corps since it is a lighter cream. HOWEVER, it definitely does deliver the same softening and hydrating effect as the Creme De Corps. Therefore, there is less of a greasy residue lingering on your skin! Which is always a bonus because I do not like to put on a nice pair of nylons or pants when my legs are still sticky from a cream. 

I also like the fact that Lush's Sympathy for the Skin is FAIR-TRADE, the bananas are organic which are directly mashed into the cream! As well the vanilla is natural and fair-trade, probably why it smells oh so amazing! This product has an expiry of just over a year and does not require refrigeration. I do think during the hotter months I might store it in a cooler area or might even pop it in the fridge during the days! And lastly, once you have collected five black Lush containers, you can bring them in for a free Lush Fresh Face Mask! 

You can order one online from the LUSH store: http://www.lush.ca/Sympathy-for-the-Skin/9999900029,en_CA,pd.html#start=4

It is $26.95 for a 250g tub. Yes, it does seem pricy, but if you want amazing skin and know that you are not putting harsh chemicals onto your body, then you will definitely invest in this cream! Plus it lasts a year and I bet you will use it more knowing it expires in a year! Well, I know that I would not want it going to waste!

Side note - I really like how LUSH products come in these black tubs. Not sure why, but I like them! Plus you can scrape out every bit of the product easily!

BYES!

Savvy Student: Chipotle LOVE

Hey Dolls, 
I LOVE FOOD and my favourite cuisine is MEXICAN! Tacos YES PLEASE! And guacomole YUMMMM because avocados are what make the world better!

If you live in Vancouver, you would know we were given our very own Chipotle Location two years ago! However, the struggle can be hard as Chipotle is so delicious, yet on the pricier end of the quick grab foods. Furthermore, it is even more difficult and saddening when you are coming to the end of your delicious burrito. 

Here is a Savvy Student tip to help you get the most Chipotle food!

Chipotle has one single pricing for the meats/veg choice and the style of meal you like. So if its a chicken burrito or a tofu burrito bowl, it will cost exactly the same! You can also get a mixture of meats - my favourite is half sofrita (Tofu mixture!) and half chicken! YUMMY! Generally, most food places do not like it when you ask for half and half and at times state there will be an extra charge, but NOPE! Not at chipotle, you get that chicken with steak or double steak!

However, you will have noticed there is a portion size difference between the burrito, soft/hard tacos and the burrito bowl. 

Portion Sizes:
Soft/Hard Taco < Burrito < Burrito Bowl

It is wisest to choose the burrito bowl, but here is the secret - you can ask for your tortilla or tacos on the side! YES! They will with no extra charge give you a warm tortilla wrap on the side with your burrito bowl. They are so cute they wrap the warmed tortillas in aluminum foil. 

VOILA! Now you are getting much more filling and also get to build your own tacos or burritos!!!!!!!!! 

BYES

Chic Life: MAC is Beauty

Hey Dolls!

I was hanging out at Metrotown today with a friend and was drawn to the MAC makeup store! They had pink stickers of salon type motifs all over their large window. Inside I was greeted with more pink salon decorations. They had a rack of bottles and sprays all painted pink and a cart with a hairdryer and two mannequin heads with wigs. One of the wigs had soda cans as rollers haha (Reminded me of Lady Gaga in the Telephone music video!!) And of course, the soda cans were painted a pretty lilac purple as was the rest of the cart and accessories on the cart! It was just a fun vibe in the store today with a male actor styling the wigs. 

As part of the MAC event for the MAC is Beauty collection, they were offering complimentary makeovers! They were quick makeovers lasting around 15 mins, one on one with a makeup artist. Shout out to my fab makeup artist who gave me flawless skin and big beautiful eyes in 10 mins!!!! She was so sweet and I just had to let her be as creative as she wanted with my look. She opted for light foundation, bronzer, gold eyeshadow, black mascara and pinky red lips! Hehe I was stunned she could transform my tired from studying stressed out student skin into something so happy and cheerful! I also loved how subtle she kept the look since I enjoy the natural looks over the heavy full coverage makeup, it can start looking too cakey for my taste. 

I did not pick up any makeup today as I as not even planning on going into the store. I was just drawn to the excitement happening inside! But it was a great pick me up for a long day of studying ahead for me. Haha I was wearing full Lululemon attire with nike sneakers, not looking too chic, but felt chic after my makeover! 

Head on over to the MAC store today or tomorrow if you have time. Call ahead if you can to book an appointment as I was lucky they had one makeup artist free! Have fun being glammed up! It is always fun to have your makeup done and learn a new trick or two as well as explore new looks!

BYES! 

Chic Life: LUSH Fresh Face Masks Review!

L - Cupcake, Brazened Honey, Cosmetic Warrior, and Cupcake again!

Hey Dolls,

I am a bit of a Lush head (Lush obsessor) when it comes to their Fresh Face Masks. They come in these little black tubs, which are oh so cute and when you return 5 cleaned black Lush containers, you get a FREE Fresh Face Mask! Its like the circle of life, I think?  

I have tried many of their masks, but my all time favourite remains the Cupcake. Yes, the name may have been a huge factor that drew me to the mask when I first started using masks; however, the texture, scent, properties and results are what keep me returning to the Cupcake fresh face mask. 

All of the Lush Fresh Face Masks do expire relatively quickly (within 2 to 3 weeks), but I will use them for a bit afterwards too. I find they just start drying up, but otherwise they do not give off a gone bad smell. Also, since it is all natural, you must refrigerate them so the masks will not spoil. In the winters, I can be a bit lazy and just leave it on my bathroom counter, but definitely refrigerate the masks during the warmer months!

Like all masks, just have a clean dry face, apply a even layer over your face. Leave it on for 10 to 15 mins. If you leave it on too long, it just dries onto your skin and can be tougher to get off. To remove the mask, gently rinse it off with warm water and pat dry with a towel!

Cupcake Fresh Face Mask ($6.95/60g):

• Smells like mint chocolate
• The texture is smooth and thick allowing you to get a good layer on your face
• Was designed for oil, acne prone skin (fun fact - the inventor created it for his daughter when she was young and having slumber parties!)
• All the ingredients are natural, the one exception is the fragrance.
• Properties: Spearmint oil (cools skin), Vanilla absolute (calm redness) and Rhassoul mud (deeply cleanse the skin)
• Even though this is for the "teenage skin," I am a young adult who has oily and acne prone skin :( 

RATING:

Cosmetic Warrior ($6.95/60g):

• I HATED this particular mask. Very STRONG GARLIC SMELL, it was torture putting it on my skin that I did not even finish it
• Texture was thick and goopy. Almost like a gummy glue <-- caused my bathroom sink to get clogged...
• Is targeted for Oily, red skin and blackhead prone skin; therefore, I had tried it for my skin. It did work, reduced redness, made my skin feeling more even and less oily. 
• Properties: egg whites (moisturizing), honey (smooth and tighten pores), garlic (cleansing), and tea tree oil (fresh, clear skin)
• Though it does have properties that are suitable for my skin type, I just cannot get past the strong garlic smell and the fact that it clogged my drain. 
• Repurchase --- NOPE

RATING:

Brazened Honey ($6.95/60g):

• I literally picked this mask because the name included "honey" because I love honey scents!
• Goal - to deep clean your pores, and reduce your congested skin
• Properties: eggs/honey (soften), lime oil (brighten), spices (warm the skin), ground almonds (for exfoliation), and Kaolin clay (clean pores of dirt and impurities). 
• This mask was more gritty perhaps due to the crushed almonds, so it went on a bit more chunky. The pale colour and scent was pleasant. 
• It does give you a deep clean
• Ingrediants, probably the most ingredients and all are natural aside from the synthetic fragrance. 
• It did not leave my wowed feeling. I guess hard to knock off my favourite cupcake when it comes to deep cleaning and freshening my face up!

RATING:

Thumbs up for my attempt at making a cute rating system, how good it is out of 5 Lattes! These are my personal experience and opinions on these particular Lush Fresh Face Masks. To find what works for you best, you will need to try them out for yourself! I highly suggest you find some time to check them out in store. You can try them on your hands, smell each one and learn about the properties and ingredients of each mask. All the Lush employees are very knowledgeable in the products so they will be able to answer all your questions! Sadly, the Lush masks are NOT available online since they need to be refrigerated and have a short shelf life. So if you get near a Lush, you must check the out!

BYES!

Desk Goodies: Too Kewt PUG card!

Hey Dolls!

So if you know me, you would know I LOVE PUGS! They are such adorable widdle furry buddies with the cutest curly tail and their shorty sounds! How can you love pugs, they are one of the happiest dog breeds and always able to make you laugh with their silly head tilts and wagging curly tail!

My friend who knows me all too well picked up this card for me when he saw it in my favourite card store, Papyrus! Yes, the card is still in packaging and nothing is written in it because the front of the cover just shows how well he knows me! Pugs & Kisses ... YES PLEASE! 

I personally think pug puppies should be called PUGLETTES! Haha because of their adorable snorting sounds and curly wagging tail! If you ever see a pug, you will also notice when they get sad or scared, their tail uncurls and droops :( 

Show some love to these amazing happy furry friends!

BYES! 

Desk Goodies: Stationary Goodies from Lady en de Vagebond on Etsy!

Everything out of package. Love you Meggy from Lady en de Vagebond!

Hey Dolls!
you know what makes me happy? WHEN I GET A PACKAGE IN THE MAIL! And especially when I am sick and the package becomes the most amazing thing ever in my life!

I am definitely one of those people who stalk the mail man from my window (because it faces the street!) and bound down the stairs as soon as i hair the mail drop onto our floor in the entryway! Since I live with my parents, for the most part its just household bills, so I just drop those on the kitchen table. HOWEVER, every now and then I get mail and sometimes it is a PACKAGE! I honestly have considered mailing myself random cards every month just so I can get excited about getting something in the mail!!!!

I came across Lady en de Vagebond's Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyendeVagehond?ref=l2-shopheader-name) when I was absentmindedly watching youtube videos. needless to say, i was extremely jealous of all the cute adorable stationary the youtuber, Belinda Selene! (I do not know her nor do I think she knows I exist, but shout out to you gurl!!! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgnazDE-yCm8gqymB1lQ8pw). I immediately looked up Lady en de Vagebond's Etsy store and hearted probably 99% of the items.... browsing problems!

I contacted the store owner, Meggy and asked her if she would be alright with me featuring her on my blog and she was thrilled and excited that I had asked! So yay!!! This is my first official team up? sponsor? blog feature? I do not know the official term, but I shall figure it out sooner or later!

Meggy's Etsy store is based out of Venraai, the Netherlands and sells a variety of cute stationary/planner items like washi tape and sticky notes! Many of her products are Hema Items and sadly Hema branded items are not sold in Canada. I placed my order March 23 and received my order April 13 so please take the shipping time into account since it is coming from overseas! 

What I had ordered were two sets of vintagey looking cute picture magnet bookmarks. As well as two sets of the adorable pink, white and black floral bookmark magnets. No, I am not reading 8 different books at the same time! My plan for these bookmark magnets is to use them as cute adorable "paper clips" haha! And I also got a booklet of sticky notes which were a salmon pink floral pattern! The colours are all very vibrant and the quality is really amazing! And I am very happy that the sticky notes are STICKY! 

She packaged the items really well (the envelope is lined with bubble wrap hehe!) and put some good ol Pink Duct Tape across the flap to ensure the safe arrival of all my goodies! 

The freebies Meggy sent me!! 

In my pile of goodies that I had dumped out of the mailing bag, was a super cute homemade pouch with a hand written tag. Meggy sent me FREEBIES! Was not expecting them, I love you doll! you are so amazing! She sent me two more Hema items --> more sticky notes and a set of 6 metal paper clips!  I am going to be keeping your note since it is sweet of you and I am a bit of hoarder when it comes to thoughtful sentimental written things! 

I am so happy I have finally received all of these awesome stationary items from Meggy! I highly suggest you check out her store! She is very good at responding to all your messages (I may have been a little antsy and sent her a couple messages on where are my magnets!). 

BYES!

Edible Obsessions, Vancouver: Jethro's - Fine Grub

Top Right picture ----> Spray painted stamp of Guy Fieri when he visited the restaurant!!!!

Hey Dolls,
final exams have begun and with it, so have the study/cram sessions. As a rule, I think eating a good hearty meal is important to keep your energy up during the long study sessions. Especially when you are as sick as me :(

So my friends and I got up early and arrived at Jethros Fine Grub at 8AM! Jethro's is a small restaurant located on Dunbar and 18th (across from the Tim Horton's) and serves amazing breakfast and lunch, open 7 days a week from 8am till 4pm. Since Jethro's is super busy (generally you can find a line outside, they take no reservations. Also, because the place is TINY (4x 4 people tables and 4x 2 people tables), you probably will have to split up a big party; however, they do have the option of takeout! 

Under the watchful eye of Guy Fieri, from Diner's Drive ins and Dives on the Food Network, we enjoyed our ginormous absolutely humongous breakfast! Keep in mind, there were only two of us and I definitely had a toddler sized appetite today due to me being sick, we barely got through a third of the food!

Between the two of us, we had the The Gold Rush Pancakes (Banana pancakes stuffed with caramel, pecans and streusel, topped with more caramel and streusel!) as well as the La Nina a Mexican twist on an Eggs Benedict! It was grilled corn cakes, with a helping of Tex-Mex chill, topped off with two poached eggs and creamy hollandaise sauce! I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD SO OMG THIS WAS SOOOO DARN GOOD!

Since I was having a hard time keeping food down, I decided to get the oatmeal with brown sugared bananas. Mashing the bananas into the oatmeal made it so delicious! Definitely get those brown sugared bananas!

It was a super good breakfast to get our study day started :) 

If you want to visit Jethro's, it is super easy to bus to, just take the 25 UBC bus from the King Edward Canada line stop!

BYES!