Tuesday 19 November 2013

Ipsy Bag

I received my first Ipsy Bag this month and I am going to review it for you. Ipsy is a once a month subscription service that offers 5-6 beauty products in a cute bag for only $10.  The theme this month was Glam it Up. 

em Cosmetics Lash Gallery Dramatic Volume Waterproof Mascara
OMG. I love this mascara for two reasons. First, the brush is so soft and lightweight. I can hardly tell if I am actually touching my lashes because its so featherweight and gentle on my lashed. The second is the payoff. One coat does what 3 coats of my mascara does. And I thought the one I was using was great. This one is even better. It doesn't look to heavy or clumpy and applies so easily. One coat is all you need.  Dramatic Volume indeed.

Nailtini Straight up Color Nail Lacquer in Caviar Cocktail
I am a picky nail polish person. A good polish has to have a great formula. It needs to apply smoothly, need only one coat, and have the right consistency. This product passes my test.  It has all of those features, so it wins.  I am not huge on the color but its a good one for the upcoming holiday season.

 Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Sun Touched
This bronzer couldn't have come at a better time. My previous had recently cracked into a million pieces and was in the trash. I was using nothing for a about a week but I actually liked it. The bronzer I had been using was too harsh and orange. The color of this one is perfect. The title subtly sun touched is the perfect description. Its not too harsh, and it gives the perfect subtle glow. 

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Topaz
I am in complete amazement of this product! The pigment is unreal. I have had sparkled different coloured eye pencils in the past and they sucked. You would have to push hard and do many many coats to even get a bit of color to show, and forget about using it on the water line. This one is incredible. The color glides on so easily, so pigmented and perfect. It even sparkles. AND it works great on the water line too. I want these in all the colors. I have been using it non stop since I got it. 

Bh Cosmetics Galaxy Chic Baked Eye Shadow in Asteroid
Very cool looking eye shadow shade with the marbled effect. I was really hoping it would come off that way on my lid but it just created a deep blue/brown looking color :(  The glimmer is awesome though and the product looks pretty! They sell single color shades too so those might be something worth having.

Be A Bombshell Lip Crayon in Hot Damn
Before this product arrived, I was never into lip products other than glosses and chap stick. Lip sticks used to dry out my lips more than they are now and I thought I would look funny with a bold lip color. Well, I thought I would give it a try. Turns out I love it. This shade is a vibrant red and doesn't dry me out. I love the look of a pop of color with bright lips. Funny how your style will change over time. This has  got me in the mood to build my lip stick collection.


If you are interested in joining Ipsy like I did, click HERE to get started! You can cancel at any time too!

Take a look at the video I made featuring an un-boxing, review and look using the products I received!  


Xoxo D



Sunday 3 November 2013

October Bookshelf

I sort of slacked in the reading department this month. I am on a challenge of 20 books by the end of the year, I am at 14. So 6 more to go. As long as I read at least 3 each month I will be good!

Book #1: Slumdog Millionaire - Vikas Swarup
I read a lot of negative reviews before starting this book and was worried I wouldn't enjoy it. By the end of the book I was satisfied. The story line was new and not something I've read 100 times. And I like the style it was written in. The ending of the story was just the best( the coin thing -no spoilers here) The only thing I had issues with was some of the language and all the names because I am not familiar with it, but the book was still enjoyable.  P.S. I have not seen the movie.

Book # 2: Wanted - Sara Shepard
**spoiler alert** It doesn't matter how ridiculous these books get, they are still my favorite  The first major twist in this book was Ali having a twin sister Courtney that they introduced to the book. I mean, it makes perfect sense to explain whats happening but I thought she was written in rather abruptly with no work up or climax building. Just BAM, then all is well. It sort of seemed like a book I wrote when I was in third grade...everyone is fabulous and your best friend becomes your sister all in one second and no one questions anything. Anyways, the rest of the book went well and everything made sense as to why Courtney was written in, I just think it could have gone better. I can sort of picture the tv show version going this way too. The ending of the book makes everything seem solved and happily ever after, but we all know that's never the case. Can't wait for the next one.

Book # 3: Twisted - Sara Shepard
The plot just gets thicker and thicker with each book. How can these girls lives be so complicated? That's what makes it so fun to read. Everything that happens is just ridiculous and for unfortunate. This series still continues to keep me interested and is always surprising me. Once I get in the groove, I can't put the book down. On too the next one..

What books have you read this month? Anything worth sharing or recommending?

xoxo D

*reviews linked with my goodreads.com account


Thursday 31 October 2013

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

I was at work all night so I don't have anything exciting to share with you guys but I did stop by the 24 hour Shoppers on my way home at 1am and picked up some cady 50% off before they pack everything away in the morning! Yay :)

From me and Mae West!

Mae west says "Trick or Treat"

I am the monster hiding under your bed!  Mae West loves to wear her Halloween tie.

 P.S. we saw 2 dogs with chocolate ingestion tonight, and I am sure they will get more overnight and into tomorrow. Just remember that chocolate is toxic to dogs!

Xoxo D

Monday 28 October 2013

Halloween Nail Art



Happy Halloween Week :) 

Today I posted a tutorial video with 3 simple Halloween nail art designs. I am no pro myself and appreciate an easy-to-achieve design so I thought I would create some for the viewers.  I did a dripping blood design, candy corn, and zombie stitch inspired design. THe zombie stitch was probably my favourite and the funnest one to do. I kept it on my nails this week. Which one was your favourite? 

Check out the video and leave some feedback, much appreciated ! 




Xoxo D

Saturday 26 October 2013

Julep Box

Today I received my first ever Julep Maven box in the mail! If you didn't already know, Julep is a monthly subscription service for nail polish and beauty products by Julep. Generally you get 2 nail polish + 1 product, or 3 polishes. When you sign up you take a style profile quiz to determine your monthly box theme. Don't worry, if you don't like the style you end up with you can switch out for a different one before your box ships. This subscription service is usually $20/month, however I got this one for free. 

My Style Profile: Boho Glam

Boho Glam Intro Box

Mysterious black box arrives in the mail...


It's like mini Christmas opening a box of stuff!


The first nail polish I received was this gorgeous orange/gold/rust glitter color called Tatiana. It only took one coat to get that awesome color payoff. Very pigmented, excellent formula. I love the color its perfect for fall - which I am sure was the goal for the October box.  


The second nail polish was this smooth deep blue color called Kristy. Once again it only took one coat for this color payoff. The two colors actually look great together. 



The beauty product I received is this Luxe Repair Skin Serum. The package insert says "This rejuvenating serum delivers deep hydration and essential nutrients to help rebuild skin structure from the inside out—for a noticeable difference in the way your skin looks and feels. Designed for all skin types, Luxe Repair can be used as a daily treatment or moisturizer for face, hands, or body." I read some more into it and it claims to reduce acne redness and scarring so if thats true I am super pumped for that! 


& on top of it all I got this adorable little tote bag too! I love these, I have a collection going from different places. They are perfect for packing lunches :)

I have already looked into the November collection and I want to order it so bad, the colors are just gorgeous. Plus the Boho profile comes with 3 polishes in November. 

I did a video un-boxing as well, check it out:


Click the fancy little do-dad below if you want to join !!



Did you know that Julep has recently updated their color page?! Check it out by clicking here, they have a whole bunch of new amazing colors that I personally can't wait to get my hands on!

Xoxo D





Thursday 24 October 2013

Fashion I Can't Get Behind

Drop Crotch AKA Harem Pants
 Zebra: Forever21
Grey: Gojane


Brought to this world by the one and only Justin Bieber, apparently his fans caught on... our nation is doomed. The only good quality these pants have to offer is their comfort but they look horrid.  Such an unflattering shape, and I would imagine anyone that's not a size 0 will end up looking very heavy. There is a reason why we invented low rise jeans, no long crotch!

"Gangster" Jewelry
 Necklace: Forever21
Bracelet/Ring: Gojane


Why are these appealing? I've seen them with words like "bitch", "swag", "slut", F*ck" , you get the point. Tacky, and in bad taste. I probably wouldn't even wear them if they said nice things like cute or princess, because I am not 10.


Shoulderless Tops
 Flannel: Charlotte Russe
Blouse: Forever21

Let me clear this up for you. A cut out shoulder can look cute if its on the right style of top. I personally don't think it looks good on any sort of structured top. For example, something with a collar and button up like a flannel or blouse.


xoxo D

Disclaimer: hopefully I haven't offended anyone. Just keep in mind that these are my personal opinions for my own style. Everyone has their own style and it's okay to be different :) 

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Skeleton Makeup

It is October and Halloween is right around the corner! I have a new video up on my youtube channel in honor of Halloween. It will hopefully be the first of many Halloween makeup tutorials. This particular one is of a costume I made last year, The Lady Gaga inspired Skeleton. 


Check out the video and let me know what you thought. I want to keep doing more Halloween tutorials so if you think of anything you want to see, let me know.


Thanks, 
Xoxo D

Thursday 10 October 2013

My Everyday Make-up Routine

Today I uploaded a youtube called "My Everyday Makeup Routine", and it is exactly what it claims to be. My go to make up routine for day to day wear. I change it up for occasions or if I'm in the mood too, but this is generally what I wear to work each day.

Check out my video below:

Please feel free to like, comment or subscribe, every bit helps :) 

Xoxo D

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Pee Problems


Today I bring you another Veterinary related post regarding a pretty common condition in emergency medicine :  Bladder Stones AKA Uroliths

This is a radiograph of a dachshund spaniel mix breed dog that was lethargic, vomiting and having trouble urinating.


Luckily, this was an easy diagnosis for us as this image is crystal clear and practically shouts bladder stones! That giant star shaped white opacity is one giant stone, surrounded my tons of medium and smaller stones. Ouch! Unfortunate for the dog, but can I just say that the fact that this stone is shaped like a star really made my night.

Sometimes bladder stones can be managed on diet and increased water intake but only if they are very small and sparse in numbers. That sort of treatment option will not work here. The only option for our friend "Penny" is surgery.

 So if you are not familiar with this sort of surgery let me tell you how it works.  We will place a urinary catheter prior to surgery to remove any blockage but also to drain bladder and flush bladder during surgery. An incision is made into the abdomen to access the bladder. Another incision is made in the bladder to access the stones. We use cystotomy spoons to remove the stones from the bladder. This is where the urinary catheter comes into play. An assistant (me) will continuously flush saline into the bladder via the catheter to make sure all tiny stones, crystals, and debris are clear from the bladder. It is important that everything inside is sterile. Once the bladder is empty and flushed out the vet will suture it closed.  Usually, the vet will lavage the entire abdominal cavity afterwards as well with saline to ensure there was no contamination because the bladder is considered "dirty". Getting urine , crystals or stones into the abdominal cavity is not a good thing. After that, the patient is sutured back up and awoken from anaesthetic. The urinary catheter is generally kept in place 24-48 hours post surgery depending how badly damaged the urinary tract was. It is a great way for me to track how much urine is being produced, the colour, consistency, and concentration. All factors that we can use to determine how well Penny is recovering and will help to treat her better.

The fun part of all this is the stones. We always keep what we find to show the owners, and sometimes send to the lab for analysis to find out what sort of stones they are to supply better prevention in the future. I took a photo with the stone next to a loony so you can see how large it is. There was about 18 stones in total in this poor girls bladder. Imagine having that sitting in there for a large period of time. Again, Ouch!


Urinary issues can sometimes seem less important but can actually end up being the most dangerous. Especially if your pet has a urinary blockage. If you think your pet may be blocked or become blocked it is important to see your Veterinarian right away. Look for signs like straining, bloody urine, peeing outside litter box, and small frequent urination. Also if there has been no urine production within 24 hours, you should start to investigate. 

Hey guys, let me know if you enjoy reading Veterinary Technician POV posts and I will do them more often. Also if you have a pet issue of any kind let me know and I can try to post about that too !

xoxo D


Wednesday 2 October 2013

Happy October


I am welcoming October with open arms! I love the fall time. Everything is just so pretty, and the air smells like the best candle ever.  With fall comes the cutest fashion too. Once fall rolls around, we get into the serious most best holidays (in my opinion)...Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, then New Years. 

What is your favourite thing about the onset of Fall? 

xoxo D

My 3 Fall Must Haves

Hi guys! Just recently I was featured on a fashion blog that I regularly follow called Miss Glam Dan. The author was going away and wanted to give her blogging readers a chance to earn some new audience. So anyways, she chose my post to be one of the featured blogs on her site. Check out my posting called "My 3 Fall Must Haves"


You should also take a moment to browse Danielle's blog, its great! For the next two weeks she will be featuring other bloggers. Such an awesome opportunity that I am so grateful for :) 


Xoxo D



Sunday 29 September 2013

My Shoe Collection

Today I uploaded a new video to my youtube channel, and its all about shoes! I filmed a video called my shoe collection. It was actually pretty fun because I got to try on al my shoes again for fun. I love watching these videos on youtube, its a good way to see how styles look on and what sort of new shoes id be interested in. 


Check out the video here:

Thanks again for watching :) 

Xoxo D

Friday 27 September 2013

Fall Decor 2013

Today I am going to show you my decor, some of it was recycled from last year with a few minor touches, some was newly purchased, and lots of it I just made. 


Check out last years decor here:


I just bought this adorable cable knit candle holder this week. It was from Bath & Body Works. I am obsessed with the cable knit pattern this fall. I am hunting for the perfect white chunky cable knit sweater for myself. I am going to get smaller candles soon but they need to covered candles because the holder will get ruined so for now it has this oversized one in it.

Isn't this guy cute?! He is from Dollarama from the Halloween section. I think he is supposed to be a scary thing, but I quite like it and thought it would look nice with some sunflowers to make the eyes pop.

This pumpkin cage is from last year, I just filled it with some fake pumpkins and gourds, pinecones, and random twigs and pieces. I bought two fall scent candles from Bath & Body works. They are called Harvest Coffee & Heirloom Pear. The scents I really wanted were called Leaves & Marsh mellow fireside. They were sold out of both in the large size so I got a coupon and will go back later in the month to try again.


 This harvest basket was also from year but this time I added in some feathers from the craft section at the dollar store. 

This is my sad attempt at an embroidered pumpkin. I really wanted to get a bigger white pumpkin and some designs with gems but couldn't find at a decent price. So this was my compromise.

This display is another from last year. I am using a Chocolate scented candle for the piece and it smells amazing. 

The next item is new. I made it today. I don't really know what to call it, but lets say it's an autumn garland. You can also see my wine bottle vase from last year here too. Here's a close up:
 So the design is pretty self explanatory. I got everything from the dollar store :)


Another DIY project. I just bought 4 canvas boards from the dollar store and painted on some lettering, very simple and cheap and it looks awesome! 

The final item is this little black pumpkin. I just stabbed a fake leave through the stem to add some character. I know a pumpkin would never grow a maple leaf but I think it looks super cute! 

Happy Autumn Everyone ! 

Xoxo D


My Fall Inspiration 2013




This year I am loving the orange & rusty themes of fall.  Such gorgeous colors that really depict the season. I also love the use of acorns that I am seeing everywhere. I need to go on a hunt to get some! There are no oak tree's near our property so I will have to go find a bush somewhere. This year I am focusing on DIY decor because I am broke - shocker. I love to embrace my creative side, its not often I actually do that. Stay tuned for my own DIY fall decor blog post coming soon.

What are your favourite decorations for the Fall?

Check out last years inspiration board:

Xoxo D

Thursday 26 September 2013

September Bookshelf

Book # 1: The Rise of Nine - Pittacus Lore
Thought this was going to be the end of the series..the ending of the book tells me otherwise - thank god. Loved this one because of the focus on the legacies and introducing new characters. Finally getting to explore each ones legacies was awesome, its the reason I was drawn to the series in the first place. Wouldn't have minded a bit more love story in there but after reading you will know why they couldn't involve it, I won't spoil.

Book # 2: Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
I loved reading this book. She reminds me of myself in her shopping obsession, except I'm not in debt like that. I actually sped through this book, it was such easy reading and so fun. Also pretty humorous. I will be reading more of her books just for some light weight reading on my overnights at work. Very enjoyable book so I gave it a 4 star.

Book # 3: Haters - Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
About three chapters into this book I realized I had read this a very long time ago when I was in high school. I couldn't completely remember everything so I just went ahead and re-read the book. I am happy that the book wasn't about a typical out cast becoming popular by changing who she was and that's the end of the story.  Paski kept true to herself and still got what she wanted. The addition of the spiritual world was a little bit odd, not sure it fit in too well but wasn't off putting. I was actually shocked by the intimate scenes in the book. You can sort of tell Alisa was originally an adult writer  a little steamy, but great for me. However, this book was probably written for someone 5 years younger than me. All in all good read, but nothing SUPER spectacular.

Book # 4: Frozen Beneath - Brain Horeck
The reason I gave this book 4 stars is because for me, it touched home (not the aliens but the location). The story takes place in a town that I've spent a lot of my teenage time occupying and its not everyday you get a local writer from where we are. It was so awesome to read the story and know what the places & images that the author is trying to paint actually look like. The Riverside Pub is actually a real place, that was an awesome touch. Being an avid outdoors"wo"men myself, it was a fun read. Also, he clearly did a lot of research about NORAD and military tactics and all that stuff, unless he was part of that scene in his past. However, I thought the climax to the resolve of the conflict happened really quickly and almost too effortlessly - I won't give any spoilers. I forgave the author after reading the last paragraph of the entire book. So clever. sequel * hint hint.  

What books have you read this month? Anything worth sharing or recommending?
D

*reviews linked with my goodreads.com account