$25 Metro Grocery Haul

There's no doubt that groceries takes a big chunk out of any household budget.  I have noticed that, living downtown, groceries tend to cost significantly more than outside of the downtown core.  I do a big monthly grocery order online and then do a smaller weekly shop as needed. By keeping an eye on the weekly loss leaders and sticking to a grocery list, it is possible to maintain a reasonable grocery budget.  Below is my haul from Metro.

1) Metro has daily dinner specials and their Tuesday roast chicken is a winner in my book.  $8.99
2)Cashmere toilet paper $3.33
3)IOGO yoghurt was a great deal at $1.99.  It is lactose free which is a bonus as Monsieur is lactose intolerant.
4)Lactantia butter for $3.33.  Another great deal for name brand butter.  Normally, I only see this type of price for no name or house brand butter.
5)The ice cream was $2.99 for the box.  It's summer time, enough said.
6)Monsieur is a hot sauce addict and the Grace hot sauce is his favourite. $1.69.
7)Totally unnecessary but we were in the mood for soda.  $1 each.

It all came to a little under $25.00 (before taxes).  Not bad for a quick grocery run.  How do you grocery shop?

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Bed Bath and Beyond, Wamsutta Sheet Set, Dri Soft Towels, NYX Micro Brow Pencil

Time for another Weekly Roundup!  We all love to crawl into luxurious bed sheets at the end of the day.  For some reason, I go through sheets, especially fitted sheets like the clappers.  The fitted sheets shrink from queen to single size over and over again and the elastic gets worn out.  My linen closet ends up with a huge assortment of mismatched flat sheets and nary a fitted sheet to be found.  A trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond was in order.

I was thrilled to pick up this Wamsutta sheet set.  I've washed the fitted sheet a couple of times now and, thus far, no shrinkage.  It was on sale and with the ubiquitous BBB coupon, the final price was a real deal.  While there, I also picked up a set of Dri Soft towels.

I am obsessed with these towels.  My old towels would take up to 3 hours to dry in the tumble dryer.  Living in a condo, I am unable to line dry towels outdoors.  The towels would take forever to dry in the bathroom and, inevitably, end up with that awful musty smell.  The Dri Soft towels dry in a flash in the tumble dryer (20 minutes) and come out fluffy and soft.  They are light weight but still feel cozy and dense against the skin.  If you are on a budget and watching your electricity bills or even if you are environmentally conscious, these towels are a real boon.

Lastly, I hit pan on my e.l.f brow palette a long time ago and all that was left was a ring around the pan.  I am not sure if it was because the product was getting old but I noticed that it just wasn't lasting for very long on my brows.  I swear the product would just evaporate or get absorbed into my skin within an hour.  It was time to switch to something new.  I have heard that the NYX micro brow pencil is a good dupe for the iconic Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pencil so I picked up the NYX pencil yesterday.

Like the Anastasia brow pencil, it has a spoolie on one end and a thin twist up pencil on the other.  I had forgotten about the convenience of using a twist up pencil rather than a cream or wax in a pan formula that requires a separate brush.  Travel-wise, this is a great option.  Do any of you own both the NYX pencil and the Anastasia pencil or have tried both?  How do they stake up against each other?

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Silk Plants for the Home and Office

I think it is safe to say that I don't have a green thumb.  It doesn't help that I live in a condo without a balcony for a garden.  I live in a country with four distinct seasons and wild swings between freezing temperatures and baking humid summer days.  Keeping any type of greenery alive, whether indoors or out, can be quite the task.
Artificial plants are such a saviour for people like me.  Whether it is a small arrangement to place on your desk or lush trees to place around your swimming pool, artificial plants can enhance the ambiance of any environment without the ongoing maintenance of live plants.  You can even get wonderfully life like palm trees  from www.commericalpalmtrees.com so that you can create a lush tropical oasis in your home or business.

Source www.commericalpalmtrees.com

Gorgeous, huh?
 

Source www.commericalpalmtrees.com

Most wonderfully, you can also get artificial silk plants and flower arrangements for the home from www.silkplantsdirect.com.   No more watering, clipping, fertilizing or throwing away withered bunches of flowers.  I have been eyeballing quite a number of the topiary arrangements and potted bushes.

Source www.silkplantsdirect.com

  You can even order packs of stems to create your own arrangement if you are feeling particularly crafty.

Add caption

 However, with the staggering selection on offer, I prefer to just order ready made arrangements.

Source www.silkplantsdirect.com

I am such a convert now and am completely obsessed.

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LBH April Favourites: Josie Maran Highlighter, Sensodyne Toothpaste, Natracare Panty Liners

My Monthly Favourites is a tad late due to the fact that this past week has been the proverbial week from hell.  The family pet was rushed to hospital and stayed there for 2 days.  Turns out our furbaby has pancreatitis.  Administering the painkillers and meds twice daily has been stressful for him and us.  Who knew he was a champion spitter and is now able to spit his pill halfway across the room?  We've tried everything such as hiding the pill in his food but he is on to us.  Any suggestions, please shoot them my way! Suffice to say that my heart hurts... Anyway, you didn't come here to read about me wringing my hands over the furbaby so let's get on with it.  I repurchased the Josie Maran stick highlighter, called the Argan Enlightenment Illuminizing Wand because I love it so much.

When I am feeling and looking particularly careworn and haggard (which has been quite often of late), this highlighter adds a lovely, subtle glow.  It is a golden peachy shade that is perfect for everyday and not just special occasions.  My first one lasted almost 2 years so it really is good value for money.

Now on to something a little less glamorous.  I was inordinately pleased to see that a Noah's had opened up near where I live.  If you live in the Six, then you will know that Noah's is a local healthy living store.  I popped in and walked out with a box of Natracare panty liners.

I have wanted a more natural, eco-friendly alternative to the usual plastic riddled panty liner for a while so was really pleased to pick these up.  They have an organic cotton cover and are plastic free, perfume free and chlorine free.  The ones shown above are the curved version.  I thought that the term "curved" was referring to the curved sides but it is also referring to the fact that they don't lie flat but are pre-shaped into a slight U shape to conform to your body.  How clever!  So far, so good.  I can't believe that I am talking about feminine hygiene products on the internet (!!) but all in a good cause, huh?

Continuing on with the basic but necessary theme is Sensodyne toothpaste (and yes, a highlighter that makes me look less deathly is a necessity).  A side effect of my rather annoying health issue is inflamed gums and sensitive teeth. They became so sensitive that a cold wind blowing against them would send off twinges of pain.   I was rather doubtful about switching to Sensodyne toothpaste as I have been a steadfast Crest girl for years if not my whole life.

It didn't happen overnight, however, slowly but surely, so gradually that I didn't even notice it, my teeth stopped being so bonejarringly sensitive.  I am most definitely a convert now.

And that's it for April!

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Unisex Skincare and Makeup for Men: The Ordinary HA Blur and Photography Fluid

After listening to me rave about The Ordinary for yonks, Monsieur finally went with me to The Abnormal Beauty Company to check out the goods.  I love the minimal packaging.  No girly colours or flowery ribbons that might send Monsieur running out the door.  Monsieur has really good skin but, like all of us, was becoming concerned about the telltale passage of time.  He picked out The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion.

Monsieur's verdict so far is a thumbs up.  The fine lines on his forehead and around his eyes that were bothering him (let me insert here, in case he reads this, that I never noticed these lines) have softened and the few areas of milia have gone down.

Surprisingly, when I showed him the HA Blur by demonstrating it on the back of my hand, he picked that up as well.  Haha, I should get a sales job there.  Apparently, I can sell their products to men!  It is a silicone product that subtly smooths over fine lines and disguises minor skin discolourations.  It is transparent so it isn't obvious that he is wearing "makeup."  Basically, after smoothing this over the problem areas on your face, you look as if there is a soft focus filter beaming down from the heavens onto your face.  I think we were so bowled over by the fact that Monsieur had finally agreed to go with me to a skincare slash beauty store that we got a bit carried away.  The next pickup was the Photography Fluid.

It is a white pearlescent fluid that is described as a transparent foundation.  Again, this is something that a man could wear to make his skin and complexion look better without looking like he is wearing "makeup."

While I was in the store, I noticed that there was a new Vitamin C product in their Vitamin C lineup.  If you are a longtime reader of this blog, you will know that I love the Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%.  It does have a gritty texture that might be off putting to some and makes it difficult to wear under makeup.  So I picked up a tube of Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% which has a smooth texture.  I am hoping that I can wear it under makeup without any pilling effects.  I noticed as well that The Ordinary offers Vitamin C powder that you can mix into your moisturizer.  I might pick that up next time I am in the store.

Luckily, The Ordinary is wonderfully easy on the wallet as my home now houses another convert!

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LBH March Favourites: Waterpik Complete Care Sonic Toothbrush and Water Flosser, Nude by Nature

Life has been a bit of a bumpy ride of late.   It started with a flat tire and then went rolling downhill at lightning speed.  But you didn't come here to hear me moan and groan, did you?  So, let's get on with it!  I had a milestone birthday in March and received the Waterpik Complete Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush.

www.waterpik.com

I am obsessed with the toothbrush.  There is something wonderfully soothing about just standing at the bathroom sink whilst half asleep and letting the brush whir away inside one's mouth.  It turns off after 2 minutes and, more often than not, I am roused from my meditative trance by the toothbrush turning off.  The water flosser is just like the ones at the dentist that squirt water into one's mouth.  You can even fill it with mouthwash instead of water.  My teeth have never been so clean.  Honestly, I don't think I will ever go back to a manual toothbrush.

Next up, is Nude by Nature.  This is an Australian brand (woot!) which I have been itching to try out for yonks.  Finally, it is now being carried in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart.  Their claim to fame is that their products are composed of 100% naturally derived ingredients with no synthetics.  They are cruelty-free and PETA certified.  The packaging is gorgeous.  Perhaps I am a shallow creature but I find the cheap plastic packaging and garish labels on cosmetics typically carried in health food stores to be quite off-putting.  

I am currently testing out the Moisture Shine Lipstick in Blush Pink which is a pinky nude.  It has the typical waxy lipstick scent and the formula is not the creamiest I have ever come across but still quite comfortable.  There wasn't a huge selection of shades to choose from.  The lipstick was $23.00 which puts this brand at the very top end of what is essentially a drugstore line. Admittedly, I picked out the lipstick because of the magnetic cap which gives off the most satisfying click.  I am thinking of trying out the highlighter next.

Touch of Glow Highlighter Stick by Nude by Nature

The rose gold tube reminds me of the Josie Maran highlighter stick which is a huge favourite of mine.  If it has a magnetic cap, I am sold!

That's it for March.  Do you have sonic toothbrush?  Let me know your thoughts.

LBH February Favourites: Batch Cooking with the Instant Pot, Takenaka Bento Box, NYX Stockholm Palette

With a full time job and a painfully long commute, organizing my free time is more important than ever.  Monsieur bought an Instant Pot a few months back and it languished in a corner of the dining room for weeks while we debated whether or not we had morphed into one of those people endlessly raving about the advantages of a slow cooker.

BUT...this is not your grandma's slow cooker.  Oh no!  It's a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, saute, steamer, and warmer.  It even bakes cakes and boils eggs.  Batch cooking is a lifesaver if you are keen on menu planning and are pressed for time.  We've cooked a whole chicken in it and it was the tenderest juiciest chicken  we'd ever had.  Do you have an Instant Pot?  Suggestions on what to cook in it are welcome!

In days of yore, I used to buy my lunches.  Huge, heavy lunches caused my waistline to steadily creep outward, made me sleepy and was unkind to my wallet.  Now I am determined to bring packed lunches  to work.  I'm obsessed with my bento box.

I really didn't want a bento box that was covered in pictures of Hello Kitty (although I love Hello Kitty) and this white one from Takenaka fits the bill to a minimalist "T".  It has two tiers and the lid clips everything together.

It even comes with a fork.  Packing a healthy lunch is a breeze and opening up my bento box at lunchtime is like opening a present to myself every day.

Last but not least is the NYX Stockholm palette.  I have mentioned this in a previous post but it really has become a firm favourite of mine.   NYX brought out a range of palettes named after various cities around the world and the Stockholm palette caught my eye immediately.

The warm toned colours really suit my skin.  I don't experience any fallout and they are longlasting.  The palette even comes with a matte lip cream.  The lip cream has a doe foot applicator.  There is a strong vanilla scent which I don't mind at all.  It isn't particularly longwearing and my lips do feel a bit dry after awhile but I like the rose nude shade a lot.  The inclusion of a lippie and the incredibly affordable price point makes this palette a winner in my book.  Have you tried any other NYX city palettes?

That's it for February!  I can't believe we are now into March as it snowed a few days ago.  I am already thinking about my Spring Capsule Wardrobe and can't wait to pack away my winter woollies and bring out lighter clothes.  What about you?  Are you experiencing cabin fever like me?

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LBH Weekly Roundup: Getting My Groceries Delivered and Shopping Online with Grocery Gateway

I have come to loathe shopping for groceries.  There I said it.  Ever since starting the day job which involves hours of sitting in rush hour traffic, any time for procuring groceries has evaporated like the morning mist.  Added to this time crunch was the fact that I could only buy as much as I could carry.  Even that was tough due to health issues.  A couple of full tote bags would cause pain that would last 24 hours and beyond.  However, with an invalid, disabled partner at home, there was no choice or so I thought.  Now, for the longest time, I used to laugh at people who ordered their groceries online.  What?  They couldn't be half arsed to go and get food that would keep them alive?  Well, I eat my words (notice the play on words?).  Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and began ordering my groceries from Grocery Gateway.  

The service is brilliant.  The delivery person will happily bring your order right into your kitchen or pantry.  No more schlepping to the grocery store, wandering the aisles in a daze and then heaving it all back.  You can choose various timeslots and what day you want your order delivered.  They will deliver up to 10pm and you can modify your order up to 11pm the night before delivery.  Yes, my grocery bill has gone up as I am buying what I need from one place instead of going to 2 or 3 different stores, chasing sales.  However, the benefits to my health and sanity are well worth it.  The terrible pains have disappeared and it is one stressful chore that has been eliminated.  I can't recommend it highly enough. This is not a sponsored post but if you leave your email address in the comments section, I can send you a referral email so that you will get $10 off your first order and so will I.

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LBH January Monthly Favourites: Shopping the Sales, J Crew, Banana Republic

Wow, I can't believe January is winding down. What with starting a new job and a partner who has been housebound for almost the entirety of January, the month has flashed by.  The new job caused a bit of a concern on the wardrobe front.  The thing with having a capsule wardrobe is that any gaps tend to make themselves glaringly known especially if one is starting an office job after a long while working from home.  Thank goodness for the January sales where it is possible to pick up much needed items at a good price.  Perhaps I should have titled this post, "How to Shop the Sales."  Believe me when I say that I have made many shopping mistakes in the past, lured by the low price tag.  Having a shopping list and knowing what looks good on me and what my style is has helped enormously in cutting down on costly mistakes.  Even if the price is cheap, if it is a mistake and you know that you will never wear it, then it is still money wasted. Top of my list was a pair of tailored trousers.  I picked up this basic pair of black wool tailored trousers at J Crew at 50% off.

via J Crew

You can't go wrong with a pair of straightforward tailored pants and they really are a staple item in any wardrobe.  

Next I picked up a gorgeous navy velvet skirt from Banana Republic.

via Banana Republic

What's not to love about navy velvet?  I am crushing hard on this addition to my wardrobe.  It can go from work to evening with ease and the velvet adds that bit of discreet glamour to what would otherwise be a standard pencil skirt. 

That's it for me.  Have you picked up anything in the January sales?

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Last Minute Gifts: Crabtree and Evelyn Biscuits, NYX Wanderlust Palette

The minutes are counting down to the Big Day!  Are you done your Christmas shopping?  Perhaps you are like me, still frantically scurrying around the shops.  This week threw all my plans out of the window.  The washing machine sprung a leak, causing an almighty mess.  I figured that, if I was going to call in a repairman, I might as well knock out a couple of other pressing repair jobs at the same time.  Haha, big mistake.  The promise of "No worries, we'll blast through the repairs in an afternoon" turned into a 3 day marathon.  Herewith are a couple of emergency last minute gift ideas in case you are stuck having to visit your local 24 hour pharmacy (or worse a gas station that has a mini mart attached to it) because the inlaws decided to spring a dropin on you.

Delicious edibles are always a safe bet.  They are gender free and don't involve too much thinking because, at this point, with your brain on overload, too much thought is contraindicated.

The Crabtree & Evelyn shop in Toronto only brings out their biscuits at Christmas time.  Imagine my chagrin when I discovered that, in other parts of the world, their mouthwatering bikkies are available year round.  This year's Christmas special is their All Butter Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Biscuits.  The packaging is gorgeous, of course.

NYX came out with a selection of Wanderlust Palettes inspired by cities such as Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Paris, Madrid, London and Dubai.  I was really excited to pick up a few Toronto Palettes to give away but the colours were, in my opinion, astoundingly unwearable.  The lip creme was a dark gray/blue paired with gray eyeshadow.  I live in Toronto and have yet to encounter anyone wandering the streets in gray lipstick.  I suppose the intention was an edgy, goth vibe but it just isn't wearable on the regular unless you want to look like an extra off the set of "The Fifth Element."  I settled for Copenhagen which had a more on point selection of colours.

The lipcreme is a wearable nude and the eyeshadows, blush and highlighter remind me of Urban Decay's Heat Palette but at a price point that is a lot more bearable on the wallet.  Darn those Scandis!  Why do they get all the good stuff?

Wishing all of you a lovely Christmas!  Come and visit me on Instagram tomorrow @lheurebleuewithchloe for the last reveal of my Advent Calendar.

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LBH Weekly Roundup: Target Advent Calendar, L'Occitane, Smashbox, Daniel et Daniel Macarons

December is well underway and we are steadily marching towards Christmas.  Advent calendars weren't part of my childhood which might explain my undying fascination with them.  Imagine having a surprise to open up every single day for 24 days, culminating in the BIG DAY?  Of course, brands have caught on that Advent calendars aren't just for children anymore and every year brings forth a slew of them ranging from the affordable to the money-no-object showstoppers.  The packaging is usually uniformly so pretty it seems a shame to consign them to the recycling bin.  So, I thought how fun it would be to have an Advent calendar that isn't disposable, becomes a family heirloom that gets brought out every year and which can be customized.  Here is a wooden one from Target.

The first few days revealed a mulled wine infused macaron from Daniel et Daniel, a Smashbox lipstick and a L'Occitane shea butter lip balm.

I have been vlogging the Advent Calendar reveals over on Instagram so click the blue button on the right to see me in action!  Follow me @lheurebleuewithchloe and say "Hi!"

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Mindful Black Friday Sale Haul: Sephora, Tarte, Becca, Muji, J Crew, New Balance, Rockport Mary Jane Shoes

How did you make out with Black Friday?  I have never been one of those people who line up on the sidewalk at 2 am in the morning.  These days I usually utilize Black Friday to get my hands on Christmas pressies at a price that eases the strain on my wallet and to get replacements for things that have long since bid goodbye to their best before date.  I have a running list in my head of needs balanced with wants.  I hesitated on calling my buys a "haul" and settled on calling them a mindful or intentional haul (only slightly less cringeworthy!).  Did you stop in at Sephora?  I do love checking out the limited edition boxed sets that brands come out with specifically for Black Friday and the holidays.  I picked up this boxed set from Tarte.

You get a blush in Ornate which is a lovely coral that I know will suit me to a "T", a mini lipstick called Surf's Up which is a warm brown pink, and their Lights Camera Lashes mascara.  The set that I got last year had a full size lipstick and I do wish that this year's lipstick was also full size but for $13.00 it is a screaming deal so I can forgive the mini sized lipstick.

I picked up this set from Becca.  I have never tried anything from Becca so I am really looking forward to acquainting myself with the Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in Moonstone.

Becca's highlighters are known to be holy grail products so I was really pleased to pick this up for $20.00.

Next up, I think every beauty vlogger on the planet has stacks of Muji's acrylic storage cases sitting on her/his vanity.  Well, I am no beauty vlogger but I was growing tired of the mess on my table.  I have noticed that Muji's sales are far from being doorcrashers.  They are usually very sedate affairs but for this Black Friday, their acrylic storage line was 30% off.  Woot!

The long wide 3 drawer case was completely sold out so I had to settle for the smaller, 2 drawer case.  Now I know why this line is so popular.  The clear acrylic is so sleek and minimal and you can see at a glance what is inside and in which drawer.  Honestly, I could spend hours opening and closing the drawers.

Next, I have had a long standing love affair with Mary Janes in all its incarnations whether as a high heel, flat or wedge.  My old pair of wedge heeled Mary Janes were in a dire condition.  I tend to wear shoes until the straps and buckles are hanging by a thread, the leather is splitting apart and the soles are disintegrating.  Unless you have no choice, do not take frugality to the extreme like me.  I am worried that I have permanently broken my feet as a result.  So I was thrilled as anything to pick a new pair from Rockport.

What, Rockport, you say?  Gone are the days when I would make a beeline for the stilettos whenever there was a sale.  These days, the question in my mind is "Can I walk in them?"  Rockport has a line called Cobb Hill which is slightly dressier but still prioritizing comfort.  Hopefully, I am not in granny, orthopedic shoe territory just yet and these Mary Janes ride that comfortable yet pretty line just right.  The fact that they are riffing off Chie Mihara shoes but at a much more affordable price point doesn't hurt either.

Last but by no means least, are a pair of sneakers by New Balance for J. Crew.  The soles of my last pair of sneakers literally separated away from the shoe so a replacement was most definitely in order.

To be honest, I am still on the fence about these.  I love the crisp contrast between the navy and the white and the slight retro vibe.  But now I am wondering whether they are a bit too retro?  What do you think?  Yay or nay?

And that's it!  Let me know of your Black Friday scores and adventures!

This is not a sponsored post.

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 October Favourites: Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise versus Nars Eye Paint, John Frieda Colour Deepening Treatment and Shampoo

October is done and dusted and, scary thought, we are marching steadily towards Christmas.  Around this time last year, I was thinking about holiday makeup and obsessing about Nars Eye Paint in Iskandar which is a lovely antique gold.  I noticed that my little pot was nearly out and was about to get another when I heard that Nars, sadly, was no longer cruelty-free.  This is a point of difference that may or may not matter to you but I thought that this was a good opportunity to stop in at the Charlotte Tilbury counter.  Charlotte Tilbury is, thankfully, cruelty-free.  I walked away with this.

Yessssss, a pot of Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette.  Charlotte Tilbury describes it as an amber gold and it does have more of a warm, bronze undertone to it compared to Nars' Iskandar which has more of an olive undertone.  Bette has a mousse-like, whipped, light as air texture to it which allows it to blend like a dream.   I have used it on top of eyeshadow powder and underneath without incident. 

Because it is waterproof, Iskandar has a stiffer consistency and once it is on, baby, it is there to stay.  This is fabulous if you are living in a tropical environment or dealing with a hot humid summer day but you have to work very quickly before it sets and it does crease and crack.  I did find using an eyeliner over Iskandar to be very difficult.  Bette is touted as long wear but not waterproof.  What I love about Bette is that it is so easy to apply and is highly pigmented with hardly any creasing. Basically, it is a "one and done" miracle in a pot.  The Nars pot has a fill of .08 oz and Charlotte Tilbury has a fill of .24 fl oz.  Both Charlotte Tilbury and Francois Nars are luxury brands so this type of comparison is, I think, a bit more of an even comparison than, say, comparing a luxury brand to a drugstore brand.  I think I will be investigating the Charlotte Tilbury line a lot more in the oh-not-so-distant-future.

Next up, is John Frieda's Colour Deepening Shampoo in Brilliant Brunette.  Because I have never dyed my hair before, this is my way of sticking a pinky toe in that pool.  I like that it is a shampoo so I don't really have to go out of my comfort zone or out of my daily routine to play with my hair colour.  

It is supposed to infuse rich, dark tones to natural brunette hair.  The effect is quite subtle.  I notice the change in tone more where the light hits my hair.  The shampoo came bundled with the Colour Deepening Treatment.  The treatment only takes 5 minutes (but is not recommended for gray or blonde hair).  I do love 2 for 1 deals, don't you?  Funnily enough, I found this on an end cap at my local grocery store.  I didn't see it at any of my local pharmacies.  I noticed that the shampoo also came in multi-tonal and blonde highlights formulas.  Have you tried John Frieda before?  If you are interested, keep an eye out for the 2 for 1 bundles as there were only a few left at my grocery store.

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LBH Weekly Roundup: Ralph Lauren Crawley Tote, J Crew Ankle Boots

Although I have always leaned towards black accessories as a wardrobe staple, in the last few years I have begun a love affair with caramel tones.  These luscious shades of tan can range from the lightest butterscotch to a deep caramel and their warm hues transition so well from the height of summer to the colder months. Sometimes, a bit of visual warmth instead of the moody severity of black is needed to offset the chill of a Canadian winter.  A late entry to my Autumn capsule wardrobe is this lovely little number from Ralph Lauren.

It is the Crawley tote and was a surprise gift from Monsieur.  I suspect it was an effort to placate to me when he arrived back from his impromptu solo vacation.  It is just the right size, not big and not too small and I know the leather will wear very well.  I really like the fact that it zips shut at the top.  I have the perfect pair of ankle boots to pair it with.

I got these gorgeous J Crew ankle boots a few years ago but seldom wear them due to the preponderance of black handbags in my collection.  I really love that the gold hardware on the tote pairs with the gold buckles on the boots.  Even though I got these boots a while back, J Crew tends to produce iterations of well known classics every season and their boots are no exception should you be inclined to check out their A/W lineup.  Bring on Autumn, I'm ready!

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LBH Weekly Roundup: J Crew, LOreal Magic Roots Cover Up, Haagen Dazs Ice Cream

Bring on Autumn!  Having a capsule wardrobe, means that a change in season elicits enormous excitement at the prospect of changing over one's wardrobe.  With the addition of this cotton eyelet blouse from J Crew, my wardrobe for Autumn is just about set.

via jcrew.com

Even though it shows up as white in the catalogue, it is a dark cream in real life.  It has bell sleeves which are the sleeves of the season and it looks really nice with a bright cardigan thrown on top.  

I have never coloured my hair in my life but, lately, have been toying with the idea.  My hair stylist warned me that, if I go that route, I will be colouring my hair forever.  If any of you colour your hair, please chime in with your comments!  I picked up a can of L'Oreal Magic Root Cover Up in Dark Brown because I wanted to try out what it would be like to colour my hair without actually having to commit to it.

There is a thin straw coming out of the nozzle which you aim at your roots.  I don't have a huge swathe of grey roots showing so I sprayed it at my head in a somewhat haphazard manner.  The force of the spray took me by surprise.  For some reason, I expected a wet, inky jet to come squirting out and not a fine, powdery mist.  I think it takes a bit of practice as I had to rub in the excess with my fingers.  It is good for one shampoo so no worries if you mess up.

And lastly, what to do when Old Mate announces that he is going on vacation WITHOUT ME and only tells me 48 hours in advance?  This...

The horrid diet goes flying out the window, that's what happens.  By the way, the above ice cream tastes like a frozen pina colada which is not a bad thing in such circumstances.  The next thing that happened was a decluttering marathon of all his shiz that has been annoying me since, umm, forever. Pffttt.  Let's see if he is brave enough to dare complain when he gets back.  Adios until next time!

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!

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LBH September Monthly Favourites: Le Creuset, Flawless By Friday Honey and Gold Lip Serum, L'Occitane Shea Butter

Time for another Monthly Favourites!  Fall seems to have crept in over night.  Wasn't it just last week that we were having an unexpected heat wave?  Autumnal temperatures always elicit a craving for warming soups and stews.  This is when my Le Creuset cast iron Dutch (in this case French) oven really takes center stage in the kitchen.

I love my white Le Creuset round French oven so, so much.  It may sound odd to say this of cookware but the snow white enamel just looks so pretty.  It comes in a variety to suit your family's needs such as a 5 1/2 quart, 7 1/4 quart, 9 quart and a 6 3/4 quart oval one.

Fall weather means that I have to have a lip balm in my purse and my bedside table at all times as I do tend to suffer from dry, flaky lips.  I have been trying out Flawless by Friday's Honey and Gold lip serum.

Flawless by Friday is a relatively young Canadian brand and has only come to my attention recently.  The lip serum is supposed to have plumping and anti-aging benefits.  I have quite full lips and don't have lip lines (yet) but it is always good to start on an anti-aging regimen.  The formula is not overly tacky or oily and has a lovely, light honey scent.  There is some sort of spring loaded mechanism in the tube because when I twist the cap to open it, it pops upward of its own volition which is childishly amusing to me.  There is a doe foot applicator for easy application.  Tiny gold flecks in the serum reads as a subtle glisten on the lips.  Now if only it had an SPF!

Ages ago, I used to buy small tins of L'Occitane shea butter which I applied on my lips as an overnight treatment.  I would even rub it on my nails to strengthen my weak and brittle nails.  I stopped using it as I am not a big fan of sticking my fingers into product.  However, I decided to return to it again after so many years away from it.

I also picked up a purse sized tube of that perennial favourite, 20% Shea Butter Hand Cream and a couple of soaps as well.

Are you looking forward to Fall?  Any seasonal changes in your routine?

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