The Weekly Roundup The Ordinary Concealer Review

 Welcome to another Weekly Roundup.  It has been a slow start to the year.  We are still in lockdown 3.0 in the Big Smoke.  I think I went a wee bit overboard with the cleaning.  I added in a common laundry additive that was supposed to boost the cleaning and brightening power of my laundry detergent.  Unfortunately, my zealousness resulted in a horrid case of hives that covered me from the neck down to my ankles.  I have used a hypoallergenic detergent for decades without any other additives so I am not sure what I was thinking.  As we have been sheltering in place for almost a year, I think I have become a tad OCD with housework.  If you suffer from allergies, then you can understand that for the last 3 weeks, all I have had on my mind is managing the itching and trying to bring the hives, swelling, and rash under control. 

Never mind, enough of my woes.  I do have something new to take my mind off the ever present desire to scratch at the hives which is the long awaited release of The Ordinary's concealer.  Currently, I am using Jouer's concealer which I talked about here.  I do like it but I am not in love with it as it dries down incredibly fast so there is no blend time at all.  

At 8 ml and an incredibly affordable $5.80 CAD, one can try it out without worrying about wasting a heap of money if the shade is not right.   It is always a bit tricky when trying to choose the right shade online, however, The Ordinary offers an impressive 36 shade range. I chose 1.2N. which is a fair shade with neutral undertones.  I think I could have gone a step darker but I think a light shade is fine for covering up dark undereye circles.   I don't have a lot of opportunity to wear much makeup these days but having a concealer that makes me looks somewhat healthy and alive on Zoom meetings is a must.

The concealer is described as "high coverage."  It does a very good job of covering my dark undereye circles.  There is enough slip so that it blends easily.  I would say that it sits somewhere in the middle of a matte and a dewy finish.  I used Hylamide SubQ Eyes serum before using the concealer.  However, the concealer still settled into the dry patches and fine lines so I might need a more intense moisturizer in the future.  On the plus side, the concealer is alcohol, oil, silicone, nut, gluten and cruelty free and is vegan.  

The tube comes with a long thin nozzle. I am used to using a doe foot applicator.  However, the nozzle allows for a precise controlled use of the product as a tiny amount goes a long way.  

As you can see, it does a more than adequate job of covering the red spots (from my rash) on my hand.  I didn't put any moisturizer or primer on beforehand so you can see that it will highlight lines and creases even though the product description states that it doesn't settle into fine lines.

Overall, I am very pleased with this concealer.  And really, at this price point, one can't complain.  It does the job and I think it will be a true workhorse in my makeup routine.

Life Update: Suddenly Single and Life After Separation

This week's Weekly Roundup is more of a Life Update.  It's unusual for me to lift the curtain on my private life as whatever gets published on the Internet tends to live on forever.  But for the sake of authenticity, I do want to allow a bit of a sneak peak at what has been going on behind the scenes at LBH just to provide a bit of context.  This year has been tumultuous and stressful, even more so than last year.  Without warning, I became a Singleton again.  I didn't have much choice really as I discovered that my long term partner had been having a long term affair.  One plans for retirement, for a holiday and for buying a new car or appliance but never for a separation.  I ended up picking up extra hours at work wherever I could and for long stretches of time I was working 12 hour days.  Unfortunately, I couldn't keep that up anymore.  Years of being in a toxic relationship had taken its toll on my heart (really and truly!!).  I am so thankful that I live in a country that has public health care.  But now a lot of time gets taken up with visits to the doctor and the cardiology clinic.  On top of all that, after 2 years of negotiating, my workplace finally unionized!  The down side to that is that we had to wait over a month to get even a partial payment of wages while management came to grips with such novel concepts as direct deposit and biweekly pay.  I'll leave my thoughts on that for another post. What this meant was a tightening of the belt.  In the spirit of WWII's philosophy of Make Do and Mend,  anything that needed repair was mended instead of rushing out and buying a replacement.  The strap had ripped off one of my favourite tote bags so I took it to a local tailor to have it sewn on again.

Tintin and Snowy get to live again!  You can make out the extra stitches on the upper left side.  I love that my tote bag gets an extra lease on life and I am supporting a local small business.
I have always liked strolling the aisles of Dollarama (Canada's version of The Dollar Store).  You just never know what sort of deals may be lurking on the shelves.  While I was waiting to get paid, trips to Dollarama  pretty much became the order of the day.  I was very pleased to find Canadian healthy pet treats there.

Any pet owner will tell you that healthy, natural pet treats and food normally come at a premium price.  This pack of freeze dried chicken was only $2.50.  Now if only I can break the furkids' addiction to the junky stuff...

I was thrilled to find a couple bottles of my favourite hypoallergenic shampoo (which I have written about here).

Live Clean hair products go for over $9.00 at the drug store but it was only $4.00 at Dollarama.

I have to take my hat off to anyone who is able to maintain a heart healthy diet and live on a tight budget at the same time.  Recipes and tips would be greatly appreciated!

In the future, I hope to keep you updated on everything I have learned in terms of financial recovery, adjusting to life as a Singleton and reconnecting with myself after living for years in negativity and chaos.

The Weekly Roundup: Michael Kors Crossbody Bag and H & M Makeup Haul

Can you believe that the Labour Day long weekend is approaching?  Where did the Summer go?  The city is amok with students and their helicopter parents.  This Summer has been a roller coaster whirlwind for me with a lot of personal highs and lows.  Hopefully more peaceful days are ahead.  I just had some family members come in to town for a visit.  They were so kind as to give me my first Michael Kors bag.

I love the neutral tan that can transition effortlessly from Summer to Fall.  It is a very convenient crossbody with a strap that is a mix of gold chain and leather.

There aren't that many big summer sales left but I did score a nice H & M makeup haul.  It is H & M so their prices are already easy on the wallet but the sale prices will you have scooping up makeup by the handful.

I have always wanted to try invisible powder so one of these came home with me.  To date, I have been sceptical about invisible powder being truly invisible.  However, I can attest that applied with a light deft hand, you will not end up looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost.  I think I must have bought five tubes of the concealer.  I use it daily but there is only a tiny 2.2 ml in there which gets used up very, very quickly.  The $9.99 regular price may seem affordable but if you are having to replace it every couple of weeks, the cost can quickly mount.  However, at the sale price of $2.99, it gets the green light from me.

I am always on the hunt for pretty gifts that I can stockpile to give away.  This makeup palette has a great mix of matte and glittery shades that are perfect for Fall.  I haven't used a powder compact foundation in years but wanted to try out H & M's version ($5.99 on sale).  The gel nail polish in Bordeaux is a great Fall colour ($2.99 on sale).  

Can you believe that the next Weekly Roundup will be in September?

This is not a sponsored post.

The Weekly Roundup: Harney & Sons Master Tea Blenders Haul

My personal life has taken a battering recently.  To cheer me up, my stepmother and father sent me the most lovely care package from Harney & Sons.  First of all, let me just say that the delivery was lightning fast. They have sent me care packages from Harney & Sons before (which I wrote about here) but delivery time for this one set a record.  I think it arrived the next day which is bonkers considering my parents live in Las Vegas and I am in Toronto, Canada.

What you see in the photo is just the top layer of goodies.   My parents must think I am losing my mind (which wouldn't be too far from the truth, let's be honest)  as the box was massive and filled to the brim.  Harney & Sons has an incredibly comprehensive selection of teas.  My stepmother adores this tea company and with good reason.  The "silken" tea sachets are of fine nylon.  Just putting these wonderful sachets into a cup or teapot is an uplifting experience.  Right now I am obsessing over the Japanese Sencha as I love to have a cup of this delicate green tea before my morning meditation practice.

Harney & Sons also carry a selection of delicious treats, perfect to have along with a cuppa.  Pictured above are Raspberry Jam Drop cookies from Unna Bakery.  I was also sent Tate's Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies which are the best store bought chocolate chip cookies I have ever had, period.  I can't wait to try the Matcha Tea Shortbread cookies.

Of course, what would life be without Earl Grey tea and its heady scent of bergamot?  What I love is that if I am curious about a tea, I can get a small sampler size to see if I like it.  The round tin above contains 5 sachets.
I have turned my friends and my sister on to Harney & Sons and now they are fans as well.  I think they have a sale on right now so this is a good time to stock up.
Are you a tea connoisseur?  Do you have a favourite tea?

I will be hosting an AMAZING GIVEAWAY soon!  Make sure you are subscribed so that you can enter as soon as it goes live.
This is not a sponsored post.

The Weekly Roundup: Shopping the Summer Sales at Ann Taylor

Toronto is sweltering under a heat wave at the moment.  There is no doubt that the last thing I want to do is spend time in a changing room.  But there are some wonderful deals to be had during the Summer Sales.  I picked up this gorgeous chambray skirt from Ann Taylor:

via Ann Taylor

I have been looking for the perfect denim skirt to replace my beloved skirt that had become a bit too worn.  This number nicely straddles the casualness of a denim skirt with the dressier feel of chambray.
What drew me to this skirt is the adjustable tie at the front.  It helps to disguise any issues that one may have in that area (ahem!).  The tie could be switched to the back if you wanted but I prefer it at the front.  It is a linen blend so there will be creasing.

Be warned that even after a light pressing, the wrinkles were still evident as you can see in the photo above.  I am okay with that as that is the nature of linen.  To be me, rumpled linen just goes hand in hand with Summer.
I also picked up this ponte top with eyelet sleeves:

via Ann Taylor

Even though the Ann Taylor website describes the colour of the top as "white" it is actually a cream in real life.The neckline, described as "square," is more of a cross between a deep boat neck and a square.  A boat neck doesn't really suit my face shape but I loved the sleeves so much that I bought it anyway.

It is quite fitted so you may want to size up if you don't like a top that is too clingy.
Have you been shopping the Summer Sales?  Found any good deals?

LBH Weekly Roundup: Acqua Di Parma Holiday Gift Sets

The great thing about Autumnal birthdays is that one can take advantage of holiday gift sets that only appear in the shops at this time of year.  Monsieur had a birthday recently and I took the opportunity to pick up this gorgeous showstopper.

Monsieur does love his smellies and his number one favourite is Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza which strikes that magical balance between crisp citrus top notes and heady woody base notes.  Acqua di Parma don't release holiday sets of all their fragrances and, sadly, Acqua di Parma has not offered the gift set in Colonia Essenza for a couple of years now.  If Acqua di Parma is reading this, please bring that back next Christmas!   I had to settle for giving him the Colonia gift set instead (pictured above) which he deemed a close second with its notes of lavender, damask rose mingling with the citrus over a base of vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli.  I got it at Saks Fifth Avenue but it is also available at Holt Renfrew.  It is a great deal as the cologne bottle is the large 100 ml one and it comes with travel sizes of body creme and shower gel.  On its own, there is no doubt  that even the smallest 50 ml bottle will set you back a big chunk of coin so getting a large size and a couple of extras in a handsome presentation box helps ease the pain. 

Another Acqua di Parma holiday gift set is their Blu Mediterraneo.  This one has of orange, mandarin, and lemon essential oils over notes of petit grain, cardamon, caramel and musk.  This isn't one of Monsieur's 

favourites but fragrance is such a personal preference, you or someone you know might fall head over heels for it.

And we mustn't forget the ladies!  

They already had me with the packaging which is just so pretty.  This fragrance has Sicilian mandarin, Calabrian bergamot, and pepper, middle notes of peony, violet, lily of the valley, Italian centifolia rose, and finishes of cedar wood, ambergris and musk.

If like me, you have family members whose birthdays fall smartly right after Christmas, then you probably experience brain fry at the very thought of having to do more shopping.  And let's not forget that the dreaded Valentine's Day is just two months after Christmas.  Over the years, I have learnt to double up with my shopping especially if the gifts are unique items that disappear like snowflakes once the holidays are over.  And yes, of course, they make glorious Christmas gifts as well!

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Roots Canada Crossbody Bag, Integrated LED Track Light

Time for another Weekly Roundup!  One of the few cons of a capsule wardrobe is that items tend to wear out with greater frequency simply because they are on constant rotation.  I love a crossbody bag because it leaves my arms free and distributes the weight across my body.  Sadly, I noticed the straps on my old bag were getting really worn and it was looking the worse for wear.  So it was a great thrill to pick up this Roots bag this week.

It has so many outer and inner pockets.  I don't know about you but I love pockets.  It is made of woven suede instead of smooth leather so I don't have to worry about scuffs and scratches.  The "Peace" symbol embroidered onto the toggle adds a fun 60's hippie touch.  Monsieur was quite surprised when I brought it home as I have never really channeled the hippie look before but I was really taken with the quality and construction of the bag and the many, many pockets.  With the sudden onset of Autumnal temps, I have been fleshing out my Autumn capsule wardrobe and this bag came at just the right time.  If you want me to write a post about my capsule wardrobe and how I put mine together, let me know!

This weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada.  Now, you know when you have hit a rut in your relationship when you spend a long weekend at Home Depot contemplating the omnipresent DIY list...alone.  Monsieur was nowhere to be found.  A ceiling light fixture had stopped working a long time ago and I was determined to tick off my list.  With both of us dealing with health issues and one of us disabled, trying to replace burnt out ceiling light bulbs is akin to asking us to climb Mt. Everest.  I picked out an integrated LED track light.  

The wonderful thing about an integrated LED light fixture is that it never needs its light bulbs replaced!  It is Energy Star certified and should last 50,000 hours. So over the course of its lifetime, there should be significant savings in electricity consumption, not to mention light bulbs being prevented from going into landfill.  Monsieur did lend a helping hand with installing it and, reno rookies that we are, we lived to tell the tale.  I am sure if you had seen us wobbling back and forth trying to attach the wires, you wouldn't have known whether to laugh, cry or run far away.  

And that's it for this week.  Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers!

This is not a sponsored post.  

LBH Weekly Roundup: H & M Mini Haul, Breville Espresso Knock Box

Time for another Weekly Roundup!  In an effort to use up my H & M coupon which was expiring, I steeled myself for the miles of inventory and loud music and went back to H & M.  There is no doubt that it is a little tricky looking for basic clothing that is immune to trends in that emporium of fast fashion so I fell back on a staple piece in my capsule clothing wardrobe which is the cardigan.

I picked up a cotton cardigan in navy instead of black which is what I meant to get as I wasn't quite ready for the starkness of such a winter colour.  Also, I noticed that sizing varies wildly between colours.  A large navy can fit like a medium yellow and a medium navy can fit like a large black.  Sometimes the sizing can vary within colours and shipments as well.  So it is worth your time to try a few of the same size and size up or down as well before giving up.

I picked up a pair of H & M tweezers for Monsieur as he is always "borrowing" my trusty Tweezerman tweezers.  Funnily enough, he likes the H & M ones better because they are slightly wider so more suitable for his man hands.  I hunted around for more grooming tools but there wasn't much else.  I was really surprised to see the tweezers and, if there had been other tools on offer, I would have definitely been interested in purchasing them.

As well, I pick up a nail polish in "Ice Cold Milk" which I thought be good for French manicures or an allover clean look.  It was a bargain $2.00!  For that price, I might go back and pick up a couple more.  Last but not least, I picked up a concealer in Soft Sand.  It was $3.00.  I wanted to do a bargain price comparison between H & M and e.l.f's concealer in Fair.

They both have a similar feel and texture and dry down to a dewy finish.  I like H & M's doefoot applicator a lot better as it is bigger, softer and plushier.  H & M has a wider range of colours so it is easier to find one that is a good match for your skin tone whereas e.l.f only comes in a maximum of 3 shades.  They both last well without creasing.  Overall, I would choose H & M's concealer over e.l.f.

The final entry for this week's Roundup is the Breville Espresso Knock Box.

via Amazon

For years, Moniseur, who is a fierce coffee fiend, would knock out the coffee puck against the side of the kitchen sink.  To my horror, there are now innumerable chips to the very expensive granite counter as a result (sob, sob).  And then I discovered the Knock Box!  It is a stainless steel bucket with a bar across the top for tapping or knocking out the coffee grinds.  Ha!  I didn't even know that knock boxes were a "thing"! If you spend any time in a coffee shop and wonder what is that "knock, knock" noise that the baristas keep making, they are tapping out coffee grinds into a knock box.

And that is it for this week!

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

  

LBH Weekly Roundup: Too Faced Love Flush, Riviera Yogourt

I finally, finally bought another Too Faced Love Flush blush in the shade "I Will Always Love You."

I hadn't just hit pan, I had hit the whole pan. There wasn't anything left except a few crumbs.  I have to confess that there is an innate satisfaction in completely using something up and knowing that I have wrung every drop out of it before replacing it.  It was the last one at my local Sephora so I figured it was meant to be and definitely time for a replacement.  If you aren't near a Sephora, you can also get it here.

I have a minimal makeup collection.  I have tried to expand it but, for some reason, I start to feel very guilty and begin to suffer from decision fatigue.  I have a makeup routine that is the equivalent of putting on a daily uniform.  This makes getting ready fast and efficient.  Do you have a minimal makeup collection?  Does having a makeup routine help make your life easier?

Jumping away from makeup, Monsieur came home with the cutest little yoghurt (or yogourt) pots I had ever seen.  Riviera yoghurt comes in chubby glass pots which you can repurpose.  I have to say that it really is the best yoghurt I have ever tasted.  

Monsieur picked up the vanilla flavoured yoghurt.  The texture was so thick and creamy with a delicate vanilla taste.  I usually top my yoghurt with some granola or muesli and berries.  Also, I love the fact that they are made by a niche, artisanal Quebecois dairy.

And that is it for this week!  See you for the next Weekly Roundup.

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

LBH Weekly Roundup: H & M Cardigan

Time for another Weekly Roundup!  As a reward for donating so many clothes to the H & M used clothing donation campaign which I talked about here, I treated myself to a cardigan with one of my clothing donation coupons.  My favourite yellow cardigan shrank to doll size proportions so I was very pleased to replace it.  Perhaps it is the onset of hot and humid days but I am obsessing over citrus colours.  It is a one to one replacement which I am very pleased about as I put so much effort into culling my wardrobe and don't want to overstuff it again.  I have always loved cardigans as they make such a versatile layering piece, they can be dressed up or down and can even take the place of a dressy jacket.

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: March Favourites Trainspotting T2, ELF Brushes, PNY Power Pack

Haha, see what I did?  I am folding a Monthly Favourite into a Weekly Roundup!  Yes, I am a badass that way which leads me neatly into my first fave, Trainspotting 2 or T2.

Image Source via imdb.com

All I can say is, "Thank God, it's not shite."  I have included it in the March Favourites because it opened in Canada the weekend of March 17.  I was celebrating a birthday that weekend and it seemed fateful  to see T2.  I remember watching the first "Trainspotting" and being completely and utterly gobsmacked by the giddy hedonism, the sheer ferocity of it all.  Living in my quiet, conservative lakeside town,  I wanted to be part of the wave of Cool Britannia that was cresting over the world so very, very desperately.  20 years on and I, like Renton, Sick Boy and Spud, and probably a lot of other Gen X'ers, am feeling left behind and squeezed out by the Millennials.  Weirdly, this movie affirmed my growing feelings of ennui and discontent.  Bring on the Gen X'ers!  We've still got something to say.

Next fave and on a completely different note are e.l.f brushes.  I had been struggling with crappy makeup brushes (the freebies that come in gwp sets) for what felt like an ice age.  They were prickly, shed like a Himalayan cat and made even the best blush look patchy.  Thank goodness for e.l.f brushes.  They are wonderfully soft, no shedding yet and best of all, the price point just can't be beat.  I paid around $3.99 CAD each at Rexall Pharmacy.

Last fave is the PNY Power Pack.  

via amazon.ca

This little gadget has already saved me numerous times.  It is surprisingly lightweight but most of all, what I like about it is that it has built in cables, one for an iphone and one for a smartphone.  No more dangling cables that inevitably get lost.  And that's it for this month!

This is not a sponsored post.  Affiliate links may be added in the future.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush and Tarteist Lip Paint

My all time favourite blush, Too Faced Love Flush,  fell on the floor and what was left was reduced to crumbs.

As you can see,  there wasn't much left anyway as I had been diligent about using it up so I wasn't terribly sad when it fell on the floor.  There is an indescribable satisfaction in using something up and avoiding excess and wastage.

Luckily for me, I had just gotten my mitts a couple of days previously on a new Tarte blush in the shade "Paaarty" (yes, it is spelled with three "A's") and a lip paint in "Birthday Suit."  Both are a pinky brown nude shade.  The Tarte blush is supposed to last 12 hours as opposed to Too Faced's 16 hours.  Has anyone compared the longevity of the two?

I do like the fact that my new Tarte blush and lip paint are in travel sizes.  I have been binge watching documentaries on tiny homes and my growing fascination with miniaturizing things has spilled over into makeup.  I would love to have a magical box for making mini's of everything!  No more having to worry about decluttering and trying to cram as much as possible into closets and cupboards already bursting at the seams.  But that is a story for another day.

Subscribe and never miss a post!

This is not a sponsored post.  Affiliate links may be added at a later date.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Korean Matcha Tea Wagon Wheels

I thought of calling this post "Weird Snacks" but 1) there is only one snack that we (actually only Monsieur) is currently obsessing over, 2) I couldn't figure out whether Korean Matcha Tea Wagon Wheels qualifies as a snack, dessert or both and 3) really, is a Matcha Tea Wagon Wheel all that weird?

Granted, when dealing with a host of health problems, we should, of course, NOT be stuffing ourselves with packaged goodies but then again, if one spends the majority of one's time flat on one's back staring at the ceiling, the temptation to do so is very, very real.

And there is no doubting the amusement factor of trying out something that is labelled in a language that one can't read, there is only a picture and a single English word to give one a hint as to the contents.

The amusement factor is doubled at the attempt to take a snack cake that is embedded in Western culture and then inject some Asian healthiness into its edible petroleum byproduct depths.  Voilà, Match Tea Wagon Wheels!  And you know what?  It's not half bad.  The mild leafy taste of the Matcha Tea is a nice counterpoint to the sweetness of the chocolate coating and the artificiality of the marshmallow center.  Any recommendations of interesting, yummy sweets?  I'm game so let me know!

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: La Vie En Rose Flannel Pyjamas and Clif Energy Bars

You know you have turned the corner into adulthood when all you want for Christmas are practical things that add value to your life.  Top of my list were pj's that I could button up the front.  Now that pulling sleep tees or any kind of tee over my head has become a monumental task, I became obsessed with finding comfy pj's that I could actually put on without assistance.  Forget sexy lingerie.  However, a casual stroll through the local mall before Christmas quickly devolved into an obsessive, panicked trek as all I could find were miles and miles of...sexy lingerie. Is this what designers think women want to wear in the middle of a Canadian winter?  In despair, I tasked Monsieur with my Christmas list which consisted of one thing and one thing only, pj's that buttoned up the front.

And this is what I got on Christmas Day.  I include them in this week's Weekly Roundup because I have been living in them for the last month and a half.  Monsieur thinks they are incredibly cute and loves the bright red.  He scored them at La Vie En Rose.  He said that there wasn't a great deal of choice as the other pj's had cartoon like designs printed all over them and the red one was the least offensive.  I wouldn't have cared if they had giant smiley faces all over as I was so pleased to have something I could put on without assistance.  Would you like to see a post on what to wear when faced with a physical challenge?  It would just focus on challenges faced with the upper body and would, obviously, be from my perspective and what solutions I have come up with.  Let me know in the comments!

Another thing I have been obsessed with are Clif Energy Bars.  There was a point when even lifting my arm to fork food into my mouth was an arduous painful endeavor.  By the time dinner was over, I felt like I had run a marathon and would topple into bed afterwards, exhausted and dispirited.  You know you have hit a low point when eating, one of the most primal of pleasures in life, no longer interests or captivates.  Then I stumbled on Clif Energy Bars.

  

I have never been a fan of granola bars (or the newly styled energy bars).  By the time I got to the middle of the box, I would be bored senseless with the compressed horse feed masquerading as human food.  But these Clif bars! I am especially fond of the white chocolate and macadamia nut one. Densely soft and squidgy but still satisfyingly chewy, it has that perfect balance between salty and sweet.  It is definitely an energy bar.  One evening, caught up in the late night munchies, I downed a bar and was so jacked up that I was unable to sleep for hours.  Hmmm, I think I am going to go munch on one now.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Teeny Tiny Mini 5 Day Decluttering Challenge

Happy New Year!  Yes, I know it is almost the end of January but January isn't over yet so I think I can still wish everyone a Happy New Year?!  This is a different Weekly Roundup than usual.  My health took a turn for the worse and my days are spent in constant, 24/7 pain management.  Housekeeping, never a thrill in the first place, became an onerous, long drawn out process.  Monsieur, bless him, has really stepped up to the plate and is like a man on fire.   He has admitted in the past that he was oblivous to clutter and mess but now demonstrates a heretofore unknown discipline and rigour when it comes to keeping the home tidy and organized.  I still wanted to contribute and help as much as I was able and realized that it was imperative that a bit of decluttering needed to happen just to keep the home manageable.  Now I have tried various methods in the past but doing a 30 day decluttering challenge or even a 10 day challenge has always intimidated me.  If you don't know what a 30 day challenge is, on the first day you declutter one item, the second day 2 items and so on and so forth.  It tends to get more difficult around the 15 day mark (at least it does for me).  So I thought I would start with just a teeny tiny challenge, a 5 day challenge. Here is what I decluttered.

A couple of t shirts as I have great difficulty these days in pulling tops over my head, an unused baking sheet and a decorative plate.

I was really shocked at the amount of expired vitamins and supplements lurking in the kitchen cabinets.  What a waste of money!

Two pumpkin scented candles and a couple of pairs of holey socks.

This last one, an old unopened jar of Giorgio body cream made me do a double take.  If you take a close look, you will see that the liquid has completely separated away from the semi-solids.  

It is like the body care equivalent of not so freshly churned butter with a hard waxy lump floating in a sea of rancid oil.  Ewww!! Imagine slathering this stuff over your body.

So, at the end of 5 days, I had decluttered 15 items.  And when I say decluttered, I mean donated and recycled where possible.  It wasn't hard or intimidating at all.  And that is the point, to make it so easy that you can't help but gain a "win" and the confidence to keep going.  I might try another 5 day mini challenge or even do a series of them.  Please comment below if you would like to join in or have any tips on decluttering!

Linking up with Share Your Cup.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Beauty And Skincare Christmas Holiday Ornaments 2016

Time for another Weekly Roundup!  I know it is only November but, if you have a European background as Monsieur does, or if you are an eternal child at heart and can't wait to get the Christmas tree up (as Monsieur is), then you might be preparing for Advent already.  An unusual way to decorate your tree or add some unexpected thrills to your homemade Advent Calendars are these mini sized beauty treats packaged as holiday ornaments.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Ornament via Sephora.ca

This one from L'Occitane for $15.00 comes in a gorgeous red and gold ball.  

The Nars holiday ornament contains his signature Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer for $30.00.

Nars Blusher Bronzer Duo Ornament via Sephora.ca

All the ornaments are limited edition.  I have noticed that the brands tend to pick their bestsellers or the product that they are most known for as their holiday ornament.  It is a great way to try out the product without having to buy the full size version.

Formula X Nail Polish Ornament via Sephora.ca

Gorgeous gold glitter nail polish from Formula X for $8.50.  

Lovely selection of lip treatments from Fresh for $36.00.

Fresh Sugar Lip Small Wonders Ornament via Sephora.ca

Philosophy have made an ornament out of their famous Hope In A Jar, $22.00.

Philosophy Hope In A Jar Ornament via Sephora.ca

All products and prices are via Sephora.ca.  Imagine sprinkling these ornaments around your tree and then letting your guests pick one to take home with them!  

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Festive Scented Candles

The trees are changing colour and heralding the arrival of Fall.  I do love this time of year.  I pull out my favourite cozy sweaters and fire up the radiator.  If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, this is the time for hot chocolate and roaring fires.  But, if you are like me and don't have a fireplace, go for the next best thing which is a candle (or two) scented like a fresh wintery forest. This is the only time of year that such candles make their appearance in the shops and I can't tell you the number of hours I have spent in gift stores happily breathing in the woodsy scent.  Here are a couple of my favourites.

via chapter.indigo.ca

The Thymes Frasier Fir candle is a perennial favourite of mine.  It really does smell like a Christmas tree.

via chapters.indigo.ca

This Balsam & Cedar candle by Illume is an interesting combination as the cedar base note gives it an earthy, woody tone.

 Now I am off to light some candles and put my feet up.  Do you love scented candles?  What is your favourite scent?

This is not a sponsored post.