Green Root Wellness Organic Matcha Tea

It's common practice that after the indulgences of the holidays we tend to promise ourselves we'll get back to being healthier in the new year. For me, this includes really getting a handle on my diet and one thing I've been wanting to add for quite some time is matcha tea. If you know me, then you know I drink at least a pot of coffee everyday. I'm not talking one of those baby, one person pots. I'm talking those big, 12 cup pots. One thing that's always interested me about matcha tea is that it's supposed to have more caffiene per cup of tea then a cup of coffee. Okay, now we're speaking my language. It's also rich in antioxidants, increases focus, and stimulates metabolism. This one from Green Root Tea only contains organic stone ground Tencha Green Tea. That's literally the only ingredient. If there's one thing I'm definitely into it's organic products, the less ingredients, the better.

Honestly, I never thought I'd be one of those people who put any sort of milk or cream in their tea, but I've found lately that I love the bit of sweetness soy milk gives to it. Honestly, this tea is so good it tastes like a treat, so it's definitely been an easy healthy drink to add to my diet. I'm not going to say I'm ready to replace all of the coffee with this, but I definitely can see decreasing the amount I drink and adding this in place of a few cups.

Have you guys ever tried Matcha tea? What did you think?

If you're interested in this tea or a lot of other great ones you can find them here!

*This post contains products that were sent to me free of charge for my consideration. 

I am not obligated to like the product.

#InstaNatural Retinol Moisturizer

A little while back I talked about a SkinMedica set I was using that had a retinol serum in it. It was the first time I'd really used retinol although now that I am worried more about fine lines and wrinkles it's definitely something that I plan I keeping in my routine. I really enjoyed using it so when InstaNatural sent me their retinol moisturizer I was really excited. You know I'm a huge fan of InstaNatural products as they contain lots of great vitamins and natural ingredients in their products. I love the fact that this is a moisturizer; for me I feel like this is my preferred way to use retinol. It's a super thick and creamy moisturizer that's really hydrating and super affordable. It's unscented and for me that's great as sometimes scents can really irritate my skin.

I'm definitely happy I've discovered retinol and really, really excited to use it in moisturizer form. Do you guys incorporate retinol in your skincare routine?

Retinol Moisturizer

Colourpop x Hello Kitty

If you know me then you know my love of Hello Kitty and makeup, so when Colourpop joined the two in the Colourpop x Hello Kitty collection I was dying to get my hands on it. Lucky for me, one of my sweet friends gifted me some things from the line for Christmas and I just had to share because it is beautiful. I mean, the packaging alone makes this collection so swoon-worthy. I was spoiled and was given the makeup bag (so cute!) and 3 lip products.

The colors of the bag are so classic and cute. It's a good size and the vinyl material makes it super easy to clean. I love the little kitty heads with red bows.

I love this lippie stix shade in Konichiwa. I am a huge fan of the lippie stix formula, it's one of my absolute favorites. They are super long lasting and super comfortable to wear. This shade is a pretty neutral pink and perfect for everyday.

I wish the camera could pick up how beautiful this shade is in person. It's a lippie stix in the shade Let's Play. It's a satin luxe so it has a sheen to it that is so gorgeous. I wore this Christmas day and it was the perfect pop of playful red. Again, it's super long lasting and I will definitely be wearing this one a lot.

Now I've never been a fan of the Colourpop liquid lipsticks but my friend swears this Satin Lip formula is much more comfortable to wear. This is in the shade Tiny Chum (so cute!) and it's a grey-pink and it is gorgeous. I'm excited to wear this and see how it goes so you may see it in a future favorites.

I love the collection and am impressed by what I've tried so far. Have you guys tried anything from the Colourpop x Hello Kitty range? I hope you guys has a wonderful holiday weekend and a happy start to the new week. XO

Find the collection here

The New Year and Some Changes

Hi friends! It's that time of year again where we sit and reflect on the year that's just passed. I think most of us can admit that 2016 was a whirlwind and a roller coaster, to say the least. So much happened in my year and I can honestly say I'm ready for it to come to a close.

A lot of changes are happening for me as the year comes to an end. The most exciting, but also super scary, is that I'm changing careers! I'm joining my husband in the Real Estate world at the beginning of the year and I am beyond ecstatic. One thing I've definintely learned this year is that time is our greatest commodity, and between my long days and my commute, I've been wasting a lot of my time. It's become impossible for me to live as healthily and happily as I want in my current position so I knew it was time for me to make a change.

While I knew I needed a drastic change to happen it definitely hasn't been an easy decision and is still incredibly bittersweet, even as I'm ready to start a new chapter in life. We are lucky in life to come into contact with so many amazing people, some just in passing and some who become friends. Whether it was my acquaintances who I commuted with or my co-workers who've become family, everyone was incredibly supportive of my decision and the kindness and support I've received restored my belief that the world is full of kind people who truly care about others. As this year comes to a close with so many terrible things going on in the world, I really needed that little boost of faith in humanity and am so very lucky I've gotten the chance to befriend so many wonderful people who have taught me so much.

What does this all mean for the blog? Well my hope is that with my new career comes a lot more time to spend doing the things I love again, including giving my blog some much needed time and attention. As I look back at my blogging year I definitely wish I could have or would have spent a lot more time and effort on it, as I've truly enjoyed blogging and the community that comes with it. To all my friends who have put up with my inconsistency and still came to my blog and showed me so much love, thank you, thank you, thank you. I definitely want 2017 to be a year full of blogging!

I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you who have read a post, commented, or interacted with me on my other social media. You guys are amazing, I'm so happy to be a part of this community, and I wish you all the love and happiness in 2017! XO

Maison Jacynthe Review

I was contacted by a Canadian makeup brand via my beautiful friend Liz over on Lipstick and Confetti. They kindly let me chose some makeup to try and I loved it so much I thought I'd share it with you guys.

Some back story on the brand: Maison Jacynthe was founded in September 2014 by actress and producer Jacynthe Rene. The products are all formulated with natural and active ingredients, including antioxidant green coffee and they tout that their makeup line is age-defying, nourishing, and soothing. The products are made with no chemicals and only 100% natural ingredients exist in the line.

I was definitely interested in trying some of the products as I love the idea of zero chemicals going on my face. It's funny that we take the time to make sure our skin care is all natural but never really think about our makeup! While the company is fairly focused in Canada at the moment I know they are branching out to the US, and an English language catalog is in the works. In the meantime, you can find these products at http://maisonjacynthe.ca/en/Product/Catalog/17. They are mid range as far as price goes but for what you're getting as far as ingredients goes, it's a great deal and worth more knowing you can trust the ingredients you're putting on your face!

The first product I chose was a Terracotta in the shade 01 Mattina. I love it for bronzing but it is also the most beautiful transition shade. You know I love my dual use products. These are "refill" packages but you can buy the pan to put it in. I find it's packaged really nice so I just slide it right back into it's cover and it keeps perfectly, without being bulky. You can find it here.

The second product I chose was this beautiful blush in 01 Romeo. It's showing up much brighter in the package photo then it actually is. It's a really beautiful, soft burgundy color. Again, this is another one I've used both on the cheeks and as a shadow and it is gorgeous either way. You can find it here.

Of course I chose a lipstick because I just couldn't help myself. I first want to say that the packaging on this is gorgeous! It's heavy and really good quality. As for the color itself, it's in the shade 03 Garnet. It's a pink with a metallic sheen and it's long-lasting. It seriously lasted ALL day on my lips, I'm incredibly impressed with the quality. You can find it here.

I was incredibly impressed with the brand and I find the quality to be incredible. I love that each product details what's in it and they are all things that are familiar. I definitely will be checking out more from the brand. Thanks to Kim from Maison Jacynthe for reaching out to me about these beautiful products.

Which is your favorite, either from the ones I chose or the website? Happy Wednesday friends! XO

18" Cotton Linen Jellyfish Decorative Pillow - Great Gift Idea!

Happy Monday friends! If you're still looking for last minute gift ideas I've got a great one! This super cute Jellyfish Decorative Pillow will appeal to all your crafty, homey friends or those who like to decorate their space with something cute, fun, and unique! I was kindly sent this throw pillow cover and I am obsessed. The colors are so bright and fun, but set against a gorgeous neutral background so it really fits in any space. It's rustic yet trendy and perfect for that shabby chic look that's so in trend right now. It's also super affordable at only $10.00 (stuffing is not included, but you can easily find this at any craft store). The site also features other jelly fish themed designs which you can find here.

I love that the closure is a zip! It will keep the stuffing secure and tight, keeping the shape of your pillow intact. The details on this are cover are amazing!

I really wish photos could do the colors on this gorgeous pillow justice, they are so bright and beautiful. The other thing, yes the cover comes a bit wrinkled, but once stuffed (like in the first picture) the wrinkles will sort themselves out. I truly love this cover and think it would make an amazing gift for any home decor lover!

What's your favorite home decor gift to give? I hope you all have a great week ahead! XO

Feel Grateful Friday #9 : Appreciation of Others Tag

I was tagged by my lovely friend Marianne over at My Happy Bubble to do this tag that she created and I always knew I would integrate it with a feel grateful Friday, because what's gratitude without appreciating all our loved ones? I know that my gratefullness is often intertwined with the people in my life I love and care about. Thank you, Marianne, for both creating this tag and tagging me to do it!

The Rules (They're pretty damn simple (Marianne's title, love it!)):

1. Copy and Paste the rules
2. Write a sentence or two about why gratitude and expressing your appreciation of others is important
3. Write a paragraph about one person who's changed your life for the better or that you really appreciate having around and say why you're so grateful for them
4. Tag as many people as you'd like to spread the positivity

I think the importance of spreading our gratitude to others can be related to how good we feel when others express their gratitude for us. When we receive kind words or a simple thank you for caring for others, it means the world to us. In turn, letting others know we appreciate the things they do, from the mundane to the extravagant, can let them know that we love them and are grateful to have them in our lives. Sometimes even expressing gratitude for a simple gesture that comes naturally to a person, like being a great listener, makes them feel great and helps them realize what a wonderful person they are.

Although it's fairly obvious that the person I would choose for this gratitude tag is my husband, the point is to tell the person we are grateful for just how much and why we are grateful for them. From the minute I met my husband he was the funniest, sweetest person I knew. He's consistently pushing me past my comfort zone because he believes in me and knows I need that gentle shove to get things moving sometimes. He's always there to lend a hand, whether it be with my blog or fixing my bike, I know I can count on him to have my back. And have my back he does - I have never known anyone more loyal, supportive, courageous and loving as my husband. He has always pushed me to follow my dreams, whether it be through his own example or through his uncondtional love and support. Also, he feeds me when I'm hangry and loves me when I'm difficult. Enough said.

I generally don't tag people in tags, as I want ALL my friends to do it and nobody to feel excluded, but for the sake of speading some positivity, I tag Cara from Kindly Unspoken, Emelia from Dream Big and Buy the Shoes, and Andrea from Living on Cloud Nine. I chose these ladies because they are always positive and a constant source of inspiration and I would love to see their posts! Please, everyone, feel free to do this tag and if you do it, leave me a link in the comments so we can all go read your post!

Happy Friday friends! XO

December Goals

I didn't do so hot on my November goals, only managing to accomplish one kind of. The kind of is because I did start to organize and declutter a bit (see blog post here), but I did zero Christmas shopping (although I already know what I'm getting everyone, I'm just getting up the stamina to actually go out and get it!) and don't even talk to me about healthy routines right now. That being said, December is a new month and I'm forging ahead with some new goals.

1 - There's something I'm working on right now that's majorly time consuming (I'll talk more about that later) but I'm hoping to finish that up this week so I can have the rest of my month to relax. So this week will be crazy hectic but hopefully I push forward and get things done.

2 - Continue cooking dinner. So far this month I've made dinner every night, which is quite a feat for me as usually some time halfway through the week I throw in the towel and exhaustion takes over and we eat out. I haven't been doing any fancy meals or anything, but they've been home cooked and I want to continue that throughout the month.

3 - Clean out my wardrobe. To continue on from a theme last month, I really, really need to get things decluttered and I have so many things in my closet not in use so I either need to box some of it up or (more likely) donate a lot of it. It's a huge task but I need to take a Sunday, make a pot of coffee and just get to it. We'll see how it goes.

That's my goals for this month, what are you guys wanting to get done before the new year? XO

November Favorites

Another month has come and gone and it's time for another favorites. Can you believe only 21 days left til Christmas? I know, scary!

This has been a favorite for a few months. It's the Lancome Bienfait Pure Focus matifying moisturizing lotion. I used this not only as a moisturizer, but it also made the perfect primer. It's really, really matifying and it made my makeup go on flawlessly. It is on the pricier side, but a little goes a long way, it's the only thing I've found to tame my oily skin, and it smells amazing! You can find it here.

I'll be the first to say I'm not the biggest Starbucks fan. I know, my basic white girl status just flew out the window. I do make an exception, however, for these VIA instant coffee packets. I'm not the biggest fan of instant coffee but these are life savers for camping or on the go. All you need is hot water and you have a better-than-average cup of coffee anywhere, anytime. I get mine from Amazon here.

I don't know how this hasn't ended up in a favorites earlier, but this Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey is one of my absolute favorite go-to's. It's the prettiest pink-y nude and amazing for everyday. I'm also a big fan of the mint flavor of the Balm Stains so this has been in my bag everyday over the last month. You can find it here.

My camera decided to go haywire here, but these Jewelmint pink pearl drop earrings with diamonds have been a favorite. They're super chic and classic but still dainty. They're no longer available but I've seen them crop up on sites like Tradesy and Ebay so you should keep your eyes pealed if they're something you're looking for.

Last is the infinity scarf I've been wearing since our cold front came in. It's faux fur because you know by now my obsession with faux fur. It's a skinny circle scarf so you basically just slip it on and you're done. It hangs perfectly and adds that little touch of cool to any outfit. You can find a similar one here.

That wraps up my monthly loves, let me know down below what you've been enjoying and Happy December friends! XO