Love Letters and Lace

  It feels like just yesterday we were all feeling the anxiety and uncertainty of a new disease that was spreading quickly around the world that no one truly understood yet. We were facing the first wave of cases, the fear of going outside and being around people and the first round of quarantines and restrictions.  It feels like just yesterday, but also so long ago.  I, and I am sure many others, am feeling a mix of emotions.  Sad for the loss of comfort we once had. Grief for all the lives lost and permanently changed. Thankful for my health and that of my family. Gratitude for the scientists and frontline workers alike, working tirelessly behind the scenes I hope that one day we can return to a new normal. I hope that one day I'll be able to go to work and not feel  afraid  to get too close to my coworkers and patients. I hope that no one will ever again have to face the end of their lives all alone. I hope that no one has their life cut short because of...

  2020... the year of the nurse... and the year all hell broke loose. If you are a nurse, or have a nurse in your life that you love, 2020 would be the year to be spoiled. I compiled this list of fantastic gifts you can gift the nurse or nursing student in your life (or yourself, if you're a nurse!) for the holidays this year. A lot of these options can be bought from small shops local to you (check Etsy!) which is a huge bonus!  Watch  A must have for all nurses! I have had a FitBit in the past and now have an Apple Watch. I loved both because they're extremely easy to clean after every shift. However there are also great nurse watches you can pin to your scrubs!  Here are my recommendations: 1   2   3   ID badge clip Etsy shop: PaperCharmsStudio I personally love changing up my badge clip every few months, and there are so many options online for cute, handmade ones or personalized ones!  I buy mine here and you can find more (personalized, uni...

Hey everyone,  So for a while I've wanted to make a post about my top tips for preparing for nursing exams that I would have loved to have known before I started nursing school because once I got a good study technique down, I finally got a good handle on being prepared for my exams. I know exams can be a super stressful time, so I really hope these tips can help you at least feel a little more prepared and in control of your preparation for finals!  1. Create a study schedule I cannot stress this enough! The best way I found to stay on track and make sure I allocated enough time to study for all of my classes was to create a study schedule. Print out a pretty calendar off Google and use that to plan out your studying. Break it down into manageable chunks (don't write in that you'll review 10 chapters in one day!). This way you'll be able to visualize everything in a clear cut format and make sure that you'll be able to go over everything in time for ...

Hey everyone! So for 2020, I wanted to set myself some New Year's resolutions, as I always do, and one of them is definitely to focus on using up the makeup I currently have rather than buying more products! So to keep myself accountable, I decided to pick a selection of products for a Project Pan! Here are the products I want to either completely finish up by the end of 2020 or at the very least make a significant dent in them: So firstly I really want to make more of a dent in my Too Faced Sweet Peach palette! I've already hit pan on 5 shades so far but considering how much I was dying for this palette when it first came out, I'd love to use it up more! I definitely don't think I'll finish up the whole palette by the end of the year (I rarely use dark eye shadow colours so those deeper shades at the end will definitely not get that much use), but I'd love to use up more of it! The next product that I'd ideally like to finish is the Clarins ...

Hey everyone, As many of you know, I used an iPad Pro + Apple Pencil to get me through Nursing School, so today I really wanted to discuss some of the apps that I think are super useful to get you through your classes. Personally, I really loved using my iPad, because it's the perfect meeting point between using a laptop and taking notes by hand. I was still able to write out my notes, which I find to be the best way for me to learn, but I was also able to keep all of my notes together in one compact place, no matter where I was. Notability Notability is hands down the app I used the most throughout Nursing school and probably the one app I would say that I recommend the most. It is super versatile - you can type up documents, as you would on a laptop, but you can also use the Apple pencil to not only write out your notes, but also write on top of PDF's and PowerPoint slides, which to me was the most useful feature. You can neatly organize all your classes in fold...

I had a huge craving for apple crumble for breakfast the other day. Not apple cinnamon oatmeal or anything, but a legitimate apple crumble. It could be that I was just procrastinating on studying for midterms, but the craving was real, so I began my hunt for a easy and quick apple crumble recipe - but every recipe I've come across always has tons of butter and sugar? So in my frustration, I just decided to throw everything in a saucepan and see what happened, and who would've thought - I came up with a really great recipe! It's actually so satisfying and so easy to make, without having to resort to using loads of sugar and butter. It only takes about 15 minutes to make and serves 1, so you can easily multiply this recipe depending on how much you want to make! Ingredients: 3 medium sized apples (I used MacIntosh, but you can use whatever you have!), cut into small cubes 1 tbsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp coconut sugar Pinch of salt 2 ...

This quote really spoke to me. Actually, it's kind of my motto for this year. Whether you're in school full time, or working full time, or anywhere in between, it’s really easy to feel super overwhelmed with all of the things on our plate and all of our responsibilities pile up. One thing that I learned the hard way last year is that sometimes, even when your To-Do list is a mile long, you need to stop and take a breath, and just take care of YOU. Yeah, I know, it's been said over and over again, but have you been listening? Last year, I was caught in a cycle of countless late studying nights, a terrible diet, gallons of coffee and no self care whatsoever. Telling myself I’d relax on my break between semesters after I just got through exams. I ended up making myself anxious beyond belief, completely miserable, gave myself a stress ulcer... and you know what? I didn’t even do THAT great on my exams anyway. So now I’m trying something new. I’m staying on top of my ...

Well hello there! It's been a hot minute since I've blogged on here. The last year last truly been one of growth, hard work and (working on!) self love. I originally started this blog to share my love for makeup and such, but it's been hard to keep up posting when I've changed a lot, in terms of my interests and who I am as a person now! Of course, I still love makeup, but I've also really delved into a lot more interests of mine, that I'm very excited to share with you all on my new and improved blog. I really want this to be a space where I can share anything I really feel like sharing. So what can you expect to read on here from here on out? Cruelty free & vegan skincare - this has been huge for me the past year. I've really switched up my makeup, skincare and haircare routine to be completely cruelty free, which has been a really fun adventure.  Self love & Self care motivational posts - one thing that I've really worked for is...

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had wonderful holidays and indulged in lots of delicious food and time with loved ones. It's just about that time where we need to get back to reality, and get cracking on all those New Year resolutions! This year I really want to focus more on my diet and get back to working out (almost) as much as I did in the Summer. If you were following my blog this summer, I did the Blogilates Beginner 2.0 Calendar and did weekly check-ins. I decided to start off the year, I would do the 28 Day Reset challenge (the video below will explain it a little better for you!), where for the next 28 days, I'll be cutting out dairy, gluten, added sugar, processed food and alcohol, along with 30 minutes of physical activity at least 6 times a week. I'm really excited to get started and take my before/after pictures! I'm going to be officially starting tomorrow (we had lingering holiday guests and I didn't want to be the stick in the mud ...

So excited to be doing Sample Sunday's again because I really enjoy getting into my box of sample products and testing them out! I was really intrigued to try this one especially because 1) it was a 2 step product 2) it's a fairly expensive product And considering I have super dry skin, anything claiming to boost moisture and quench my skin sounds pretty good to me! I'll get straight to the point. I was left pretty disappointed by these products. Of course, it was only a sample, so I can't speak to it's long term abilities, so absolutely take what I say with a grain of salt. However I noticed that my skin absorbed the (generous) amount of product I applied within minutes and my face felt dry and as if I had nothing on it within minutes. I'm sure being able to try this product for a few days would have more of an effect on me, but since I have very dry skin and like a moisturizer that makes an impact on my skin without needing to be reapplied multiple ti...

I'm always down for a good face mask and pampering session, but there's something about cold weather that makes face masks all the more enjoyable.  A while back, Nip + Fab came out with a super great range of Kale products (yup, it's not just a super food for your stomach anymore!), and they're super hydrating, which is definitely what is ever so needed in the colder months. I've been getting a lot of use from the Kale Fix Clay Mask, which just might be my favourite from the range!  This face mask was super pleasant. It has a slight, non overpowering scent, and a smooth creamy feel to it. You know you're getting lots of hydration while wearing it. I've been loving this lately, now that it's getting pretty cold over here and my skin is starting to get dryer than usual.  I notice a difference in my skin with just one use; it's softer and more plump, which is exactly that I look for in my skincare. Definitely been loving this one lately! ...

Hey everyone, Continuing on with my top recommendations for dry skin, lets talk about one of my (and so many other people's) problem area: the under eye area. I have very dry, dehydrated under eyes with dark circles, so I'm always on the hunt for an eye cream that can help that out. This eye cream from Clinique is a godsend to those of us with dehydrated or dry under eyes. It applies like a gel consistency, and melts into your skin, feeling almost like an oil that your skin will just drink up. I didn't notice it making a huge difference to my dark circles, but my under eyes were so much more hydrated. This also means my under eye concealer applied so much better and looked much less crease-y and cakey. If you have dry skin, especially dry under eyes, this is one of the best eye creams I've used to date to fix that up ASAP. Hope you're all having a wonderful day! xo

Can you believe it's already August? This summer just flew by and I feel so overwhelmed because August is going to be a super busy month for me, preparing for University in the Fall and such. I haven't tried out too much this past month but I think I have a pretty decent round up of favourites to share with you all! I liked to keep it simple with my makeup in July, doing a lot of one shadow all over the lid type looks, and I think it looked really nice (plus so much faster to achieve!) The first thing I've really been obsessing over is the Nip + Fab Soften Kale Fix Clay Mask . I've tried the whole line of their Kale products (review coming soon!), but this is the one product I'm so hooked on. If you have any issues with your skin looking dull or dry (which can happen, summer or winter!), put this on your skin and you'll reveal soft, radiant skin. I've been using it twice a week since I got it, and it's quickly become a must-have in my skincare routi...

I've officially completed all 28 days of the Blogilates Beginner's Calendar and firstly, I have to say that I'm pretty damn proud of myself, because it was pretty difficult but I stuck with it until the end. And I had fun in the process! So, how much of a difference does this calendar really make? Does it work? Here are my final thoughts. This workout program really works, but you need to work at it too. If you're going to half ass the workouts, eat badly and skip days, you really won't see a huge difference. I really did my best to stick with it and work hard at it and I really have seen a difference. The thing about Blogilates that I enjoyed is that you won't just see a difference in your body, you'll see a difference in your mindset and motivation as well. Physically, since I began the calendar, I lost 10 pounds and I feel so much stronger than I was before. My muscles, especially my legs are so much more defined than they used to be. Cassey als...

I was looking though my stash of product samples and I got really excited when I saw this particular one. I have memories of using this particular cocoa butter cream years ago, when my mom had some while pregnant with my sister (this works wonders on stretch marks, apparently). I remember I used to love using this cream too because it smelled like a mixture of chocolate and marshmallows. Having tried it again, I can see why this is a well known brand for solving skin dilemmas such as stretch marks. This is a very hydrating cream while also being super comfortable. Meaning: your skin will be silky soft without ever having that sticky feeling so many super hydrating body lotions seem to have. Trying out this sample seriously has made me consider buying myself a bottle. This is such a great cream to have on hand in the summertime. Your freshly shaved legs will never be softer than when you use this afterwards! But the question you're probably all wondering... does it really/st...

Okay, so lets talk deodorant. We all use it but we don't discuss it enough. I've never been particularly loyal to any brand of deodorant. I picked out a new one basically every time I ran out of the one I used before. I wanted to get into trying a natural deodorant but I had the two basic worries I think most people have when it comes to these kinds of products; 1) Will it really work? 2) Which one should I try? Luckily for me, I was sent the Natural Deodorant from the Green Beaver Company in a blogger box a little while back, so I didn't have to look too far. I decided to give it a shot, figuring I had nothing to lose. Okay, but, this stuff is AMAZING. Here's why: Firstly, Aloe Juice is one of the first ingredients in this deodorant, which means it feels super cooling when you apply it, which is so nice in the summertime! It's also a clear, gel-like formula, so no need to worry about white marks on your black clothes. Yes, please. I was a bit worrie...

Hey everyone! So I'm finished my 3rd week of the Blogilates Beginner's Calendar 2.0 and honestly week 3 was killer, I was sore every day and really felt challenged by all the workouts this week. I'm definitely feeling stronger and noticing changes in my body at this point, especially when I go to the gym as well. My legs, arms and abs are so much stronger than they were 3 weeks ago, and this is purely because of POP Pilates, it's crazy. I've also lost 9 pounds so far! Of course, I've been eating a lot better as well as working out, but I'm super proud of the results I'm seeing! In terms of my every day life, I've noticed that I'm more energetic during the day and I'm more likely to do physical activity than I was before. Week 4 is the final week of the calendar, so I'm definitely going to keep going with this routine and do the August Blogilates calendar. I'm looking forward to seeing even more changes!

Hey everyone! Just stopping by today with a quick review on my new go-to foundation at the moment: an oldie but a goodie, the  Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation. I won't ramble on too long about this product because I definitely could, so here is what I've noticed with it in the time I've been using it so far: Coverage is medium but definitely buildable. Finish is natural , almost dewy but not quite.  You need to set it with a powder because it will stay tacky to the touch even after a while.  It has a light, fresh scent that goes away very quickly after applying it.  Didn't cause me to break out or any irritation to my sensitive skin.  It felt very hydrating and comfortable; GREAT for dry skin types   Definitely lives up to the long wearing claim; lasts well through heat, humidity, sweat, etc.  Very light feeling on the skin, you don't even notice you're wearing foundation.  Bonus: FINALLY a drugstore foundation with...

If you have dry skin, you're probably not stranger to using oils (and if you are, what are you doing?? Get on the train). The Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil was the very first oil that I used on my face and I've been obsessed ever since. My favourite way to use this product is to mix in 2-3 drops into my daily moisturizer to add extra hydration. I've also applied it directly onto dry patches. It also works wonderfully on hair, cuticles and basically any dry area on your skin that needs some help. It has basically no scent, doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and doesn't break me out. Sound like a miracle product yet? It should, cause it pretty much is. Yes, it's on the pricier side of things, but you're getting a very high quality product and you can honestly feel the difference it makes in your skin, so for that, I can justify the splurge.

Hey everyone! Today's Coastal Scents Hot Pot swatch is of 'New Penny' which honestly just blows my mind every time I use it because it truly has the pigmentation, blendability and just general quality of a higher end eyeshadow. You can see it just from the swatch. It is the most stunning copper shade that looks amazing all over the lid. I'm obsessed!!! Hope you're all having a lovely week so far! xo