MONTHLY FAVOURITES // December 2014

Hello there! Today I will be sharing with you my favourites for the month of December. These would be items that I have been either using practically everyday of the month or just simply loving its existence in my life for the month. 

1. Wilfred Diamond Mosaic Blanket Scarf (Peniche) 

Oh the blanket scarf, you can wear it as a cape over your shoulders, have it draped in front or wear it as a neck brace like an infinity scarf. The versatility is what I really love. If i'm bumming out, I always turn to it to help me cover it all, or if i'm wearing a basic outfit then I turn to it to help me jazz up the outfit.  Besides Aritzia, be sure to check out Zara and Forever 21 for more blanket scarves at a more attractive price! As I found one at Forever 21 for only $16! They are truly a girl's must-have for the season to stay warm faboulously fashionably. Although to a boy, it's a straight up blanket. LOL. Last month a boy legitimately asked me if I was wearing a blanket after seeing me wear it over my shoulders. Grandma Becca here then embarrassedly said no and told him all that she knew about the blanket scarf. He listened and nodded. The End (he lived happily ever after and will probably impress a lot of girls with that knowledge now). 

2. Olympic Collection Red Mittens 

Sadly I couldn't find my old pair of red mittens anywhere, so I had to buy new ones. I was on the hunt for new gloves/mittens, but in the end I still went back to the red mitts. Just because they fit my hands better (hurray for youth sizes), they keep my hands very warm, and it's totally worth $10 for the way it looks and feels. 

3. Urban Decay - Naked Basics Palette  

This favourite goes out to the girl that got me this palette. The GREATEST she is. Unexpectedly and coincidentally she gifted me this. I was actually going to go purchase it later on that day. I'm super excited to test it out as I don't own any of the Naked palettes and I needed matte colours. 

4. Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash (from The Body Shop) 

I received this product for free from signing up with my email in-stores. After using it for a month, I finally understand why so many people like this product.  I like the refreshing or mild tingly sensation that it gives you when you use it. It helped made my skin clearer, my blackheads disappeared and any other blemishes were not as visible. 

5. Pandora Sparkling Bow Ring

My friend and I bought each other one and another friend one in late November as an early Christmas present. I've been wearing mine almost everyday since. I'm super thankful to have them in my life for the past 10+ years, thus, friendship rings (totes must be the way) to represent that. 

6. Benefit Cosmetics - Posiebalm

I really like it! it may cost more than the regular tinted lip balm, but I find it more moisturizing than any of the other ones that I have tried in the past. There is a mild fragrant to it and a subtle pink tint that's great for an "everyday" colour. 

7. Maybelline Colour Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Colour (Touch of Spice) 

Basically your lips-but-better colour, seriously go try it. In addition, Daringly Nude is a great colour as well!  

8. Gaurdians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1  

This is one of my Wonderful-Boxing-Day-Finds because I didn't have to pay full price for it woohoo. I think this may be a new addition to my study music collection. If you haven't seen the movie yet, GO watch it now.. like right now. Then enjoy the soundtrack :)  

9. Philosophy - Purity Made Simple 

It's a face cleanser that hydrates, tones and removes makeup.  It does all that and smells like london fog (when its on your face..when cleansing).. LONDON FOG!! (need I say more?)

BONUS 10. This Lindt Chocolate Jar 

This is one of the gifts that I received this Christmas. I have never been so happy to receive chocolate as a gift. It's a jar full of Lindor chocolate of different flavours like cappuccino, orange, and strawberry cream (THAT TASTES LIKE POCKY). Mind blowing times. It was the first time that I have ever heard of the Lindt store and how all these other flavours exist. Just like each and every one of em in that jar, the people that got me this gift are simply amazing! 

And that concludes my December Favourites.

Now that I'm finally reaching the end of the post, I learned to not get ahead of myself for next time. A lesson learned on New Years Eve to bring into the New Years. Maybe my next favourite post should only feature my top 5 favourites? But hey you can only learn and improve right?

Thank you so much for stopping by or revisiting again!  I hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve or a happy New Year -depending on when you read this-! :) 

Becca

HAUL // Sephora

Recently, I have been really into online shopping. It's a bittersweet addiction; finding the best deal in town on the item you needed/wanted with free shipping is hella sweet, but then having to possibly pay for shipping and the product is the bitter. The bonus aftertaste is not that bad because I get to tell you what I bought, and my thoughts about it :)

So without a further ado, my very first haul/review post is from Sephora. Which was purely motivated by a 100 point perk and a $15 off coupon. I'm a sucker for great deal coupons and "technically" free stuff. Sephora Beauty Insiders would understand that feeling of finally redeeming your points for something you would reeeally like to try/ want. And this girl really wanted to try the benefit watt's up highlighter. Since they didn't offer that reward in-stores, I WAS WEAK and caved in. This was my first time buying Sephora products through their website. I definitely just prefer to buy beauty products in-stores because 1) you get it immediately, 2) you can possibly test it out first and 3) you can return it on the same day after your senses sink in and you realized that it was an impulse buy. BUT this experience was pretty superb that I may actually consider buying online again. It came within a week! Despite the estimate of the date of arrival to be after Christmas. In addition, it came safely without any damaged products.

What WAS inside?

1. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm (Original)

2. Benefit's Watt's Up! Highlighter 

3. Benefit's Gimme Brow (Medium/Deep)

4. Nirvana Mini Rollerball Set

The excitement sinks in to opening a package from myself to myself LOL Testing out the products was done in ooos and aaaahs, hoping that I don't regret buying any of these products. 

SO what do I think about those products? 

1. 

I've heard really good reviews on the Jack Black lip balm, so I really wanted to try it out (especially for this time of the year). I really needed a trustable lip balm, cause a chapped lip ain't cute. EOS just wasn't doing it for me no more. After trying the Jack Black lip balm for the whole day today, my thoughts on it is that IT DOES A LIP BALM ROLE WELL (y) It isn't sticky and the mint gives your lip a nice tingly feeling. My lips felt moisturized and possibly a little plumper after application. However, I did have to reapply it ever so often, so unlike what it can do to some people with its overnight magic abilities I don't think its gonna work on me.  

Recommend though?: YES

2. 

to be determined as I haven't tried it out on my face yet.  

3. 

I am the type of girl that cannot leave the house without her eyebrows done, so despite having a pretty satisfied brow routine down, I am still always on the lookout on how I can do it best. I levitated to the gimme brows as it seems simple to use and potentially a weapon of choice to do my brows even quicker. After using it today, my verdict is that it is a good product, however, for me it doesn't work well on its own. It does give a natural look, but I still think that it would look better as the last touch for my regular routine. 

Recommend: 75% yes

4. 

Now this is just a splurge. or maybe it's my -oh you're an adult now, maybe having a bottle of perfume would make you more of an adult- thinking that triggered the desire for this product. I rarely wear perfume. Scented lotions, yes. However, it seemed like such a great deal that I couldn't give up. I've heard a ton of people love these 2, and so $20 for both of these mini rollerballs, I just couldn't resist.  Plus, I don't think I would ever buy a whole bottle of perfume, as I rarely wear perfume, my favourite in scented things usually change, and have you seen the price for a full bottle of basically scented water? Maybe one day when I make a ton of money and I discover my absolutely favourite FAVOURITE scent and I needed to smell more than skin on the regular then I would buy a bottle. So after all that blabbing, am I a team nirvana black or team nirvana white? undecided,  I really enjoy them both. 

Recommend: yes, for someone that already loves any of those 2 scents because a travel size is just so handy and adorable. 

oooo ahhhhh right?

Did you enjoy my first mini haul/review post? I am still trying to learn and figure out what's the best way to do these sort of posts, so I hope eventually I will please your little haul/productreviewlover heart. Thank you for reading!

Becca

(psstt stay tuned for my next review post on blushes and bronzer) 

HOW TO // Survive Exam Season

Hello there! procrastinating or bored are yah? Either or, I'm very happy that you are here! YOU are among the first to read my blog. So thank you, you , you and you for stopping by and potentially sticking around to see my future posts c:

December, oh December. A chilly month indeed it is, but I would like to believe that warmth can simply be found anywhere (in that BOMB.com cup of caramel corretto or under your bajillion of blankets with fuzzy socks on). It is a month filled with joy and jolly spirits to celebrate the various festivities of different cultures. To get into the spirit, yes of course, I WILL watch Elf, I WILL hunt for that perfect gift for you, I WILL wrap the gift terribly along with a illegible holiday card, and WE SHALL have that feast .......... right after my exams are done. mhhmm.

I have 1 more to go, so to take a break from studying, viola here I am.  I shall share with you my mini guide to surviving exam season! Consist of my top 3 advices: (all are my personal opinion, so it is understandable that whatever helps me may not be helpful to you, and they are not like out of the world tips so you can also consider them as mini reminders too)

1. "The Limit Does Not Exist" FALSE!
Know your limit, in terms of knowing when to stop studying and sleep! Be well rested, so that your brain can function at its best! There isn't a point in forcing yourself to learn the material when your brain is half asleep, as you are wasting twice the energy to learn. Take a 20 min nap, and try again with your full attention. I personally need 8hrs of sleep to function the next day, or else I would be -no lie- a walking zombie because my brain just feels super heavy and all I am carrying around is my brain. So no matter what, I will choose sleep over study.

2. Get out of your comfort zone! (aka your bed)
Don't study there, it's a trap to long naps and an unproductive day! Go out of your comfort zone. Leave your house/ bedroom and try a new studying space. I also recommend to surround yourself with other people that are studying to, as in a way they could motivate you to study too! I enjoy discovering new study spaces because it's such a simple pleasure of -almost- claiming your own territory.

and the last one,
3. Turn on hibernation mode
Be like a bear, and gather all your food supplies before the snow hits. Prepare those meals or at least go on that last grocery run for the term to have them ready when exams start! then it would be one less thing to worry about for the season.

OR be lazy and go out once in a while, like after that exam you just finished #treatyourself and celebrate with your friends.

To me, that is just Selena. 

Life is good when all you have to worry about is how to finish all dem nuggets with my friend.  

BONUS tips:
1. if you are one of those people that have to have that caffeine from a coffee shop or tea shop, then why not be environmentally friendly and use a mug? save a couple of cents for using that mug and feel less guilty about buying another! (some coffee shops/ or campus cafes may discount you a bit, for using that mug)

2. if you are the type to listen to music while you study, and you can't take anymore acoustic covers, or instrumental songs (because those are also my go-to category for study music) well have you tried listening to a league soundtrack? yes league, that online game.. those soundtracks can be found on YouTube and they just put you into a mood like you are going to conquer your exams! (fav is the 2013 one)

so in conclusion, yes I am saying sleep, study, celebrate, and eventually celebrate again.

Good luck to you if you have any more exams left, and have a happy holiday :)

(to be honest, I really didn't know what to write for my first post.. and I know I know -pssst- like who needs study tips from another person anyways?! SO A very big thank you for reading up to this far!!)

Becca