Review: Spanx Higher Power Briefs

Spanx Higher Power Brief

Alright. Let's talk about our unmentionables. Well, they're not so unmentionable anymore - we see bras and panties everywhere: on mannequins, hanging in store windows, on TV, and in catalogues. But we don't see shape wear hanging around. There's some sort of stigma attached to trying to look 10 lbs thinner - you just don't want people to know your secret. Spanx is #1 on the market in shape wear. They have an array of products from leggings to briefs and full-body shapers. They're designed to be durable and comfortable for everyday wear and most importantly, invisible. They come in different shades, like nude and black, to be camouflaged underneath whatever you're wearing. 

Most of my friends wear shape wear on special occasions only: when they squeeze into their little black dresses. Most of my friends are also of average weight and height and have maybe a bit of a tummy they don't want poking out of their evening wear. I'm more than your average weight for my height and my tummy pokes out of everything I wear. Short of actually losing 10 lbs, I felt like it was high time to do something to look a bit more sleek and shapely.

I bought my first shaper panty at Penningtons. It was $30 and served me well for 2 years. It gave me a smooth figure, but the nude colour got discoloured from my favourite dark wash jeans. It also rolled down in the back and I was constantly hiking it up. I tried to tuck it under my bra, but it would just slide down. However, it allowed me to wear pants one size smaller and that felt good.

I got sick of always fussing around with it, so I decided to ditch it for a couple of years . When I met my boyfriend, I was embarrassed wearing it. I had someone once mention it after a hug because they could feel it under my shirt. I was mortified.

Fast forward a year and a half. I was shopping at London Drugs with my Mom and we found a display rack of Spanx products next to the pharmacy. My Mom picked up a pair and I thought, "why not?". I had heard good reviews of the Higher Power panty and had specifically read a story in a magazine about a woman who felt more confident and sexy wearing it under her clothes. It was $50 - $20 more than the generic Penningtons brand. It promised not to roll down and to be comfortable and invisible. They only had black, but I decided to give them a try.

I wear them every day (with panties underneath) under my work clothes and I no longer have a roll over my jeans. My blouse that was pulling on the bottom button now fits smoothly. The bottom part is cotton and very comfortable. Panty lines are non-existent. The elastic top has a thick band around the top that fits under my bra and doesn't roll down. I hand wash them several times a week and they have held up great and have no runs or tears.

Overall, I give this product a great rating. It was well worth the $50. I feel more confident and sleek. I also feel more professional at work - not sloppy with my un-tucked blouse pulling at the bottom.

I thought long and hard about my motives for wearing Spanx. And I've basically come to the conclusion that I don't know if it's not feminist to wear them. I think whatever makes you comfortable is okay. I'm not wearing them to impress the patriarchy or my boyfriend or my boss or anyone else. I wear them to feel comfortable and confident. My pants fit better and I can breathe easier. That's worth $50 in my opinion.

3 Reviews: Maybelline Mascara and BB Cream and Down Under Naturals Conditioner

I used 3 new products today: Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream, Maybelline's The Falsies mascara, and Down Under Naturals Hypo-allergenic Conditioner. All 3 were part of an early Christmas gift, so I decided to try them all in one day and write one big review.

First, the BB Cream.

I first tried BB cream when I was given a sample of it at the Clinique counter when I purchased some other makeup. BB cream ("beauty balm" or "blemish balm") has exploded on the Western markets. It hails from Asia, where it's been touted as the "secret weapon" of Korean actresses. It's supposed to be a sunblock and light foundation in one, covering blemishes and imperfections and leaving your skin looking flawless.

I liked the Clinique BB cream - I found it similar to their foundations, just a bit lighter. It's quite liquid-y, unlike my Aveda tinted moisturizer which is thick. 

Since I had run out of the sample and was nearly out of my tinted moisturizer, I decided to give the Maybelline version a try. I read promising reviews online and was tempted by the 8-in-one benefits: everything from sun protection to acting as a serum and primer to concealing imperfections.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

The price was definitely right: $9 for 30 mL of goop. I chose the medium shade out of the 5 available. This BB cream is liquid and only a small amount is needed. I dotted my chin, cheeks, and forehead and blended with my fingertips. The cream felt smooth and had no odour. It felt a bit dewy after, like I had applied sunscreen. The medium shade blended perfectly with my skin tone. I covered it with a light dusting of setting powder because my skin is a bit oily and I work in a hot, humid environment. I wasn't sure if I believed the BB cream could stand up to a full working day and a visit to a friend's after.

Fast forward 14 hours: my skin is dewy and slightly shiny. I still have a polished look and imperfections are still covered, but my face is oily to the touch. Not bad for a sheer tint that's supposed to do 8 things. 

Overall, I would give this product a good rating. It's definitely easy to blend, covers well (more than a tinted moisturizer), and stands up to a 14-hour day. However, I did use a setting powder with it and my skin was oily at the end of the day as it is with most of the foundations I've used. There are also only 5 shades available, some which might not be suitable for all skin tones.

Maybelline's The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara

I decided to give this mascara a try because I came up to the 3-month cut off of my Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion. A former coworker of mine had long, dramatic lashes and used this one as a base (she used 2 or 3 different mascaras; I'm only interested in using one). It was also $6 on sale, which is hard to pass up when my usual mascaras are around the $11 mark.

The first thing I noticed about this mascara is that the wand is flexible. It was bouncy! It was a little strange to put on. You can see in the photo that there is a gap in the wand; that's where it bends. I don't know the purpose of this - maybe to glide the mascara onto your lashes more effectively?

It did the trick though and I quickly built up 3 coats on each eye without drying between coats. One more and I would have had tarantula eyes. 

I did indeed have long, luscious lashes. They definitely didn't look "false", but they looked nice. Just as nice as the Cover Girl mascara. 

My only gripe is that this is harder to take off than the Cover Girl. I don't use any makeup remover (just cleanser) and I was left with raccoon eyes even after paying extra attention massaging cleanser into my eye area. I improvised by using olive oil on a tissue to remove the excess. It worked great.

Overall, a nice mascara and I will use it for the next 3 months. 

Edit: I used Lash Blast Fusion again today and I find it's a much cleaner mascara. Meaning there's less mess to clean up after applying, it doesn't flake, and it's much easier to remove. The wand is also much steadier and easier to apply. I'll go back to it after I finish with The Falsies in 3 months.

Down Under Naturals Hypo-allergenic Conditioner

I picked up this conditioner because it was CHEAP! $2.48 for a full litre. Amazing! It usually costs me $12 for a third of that. And to boot, this conditioner is silicone and sulfate free! Score!

I used it twice today because I ended up showering both morning and night. I used 3 pumps for my shoulder-length hair. It felt thick, but not rich. Smooth, but not slippery. It smoothed through my hair nicely and I was able to detangle with my fingers. I left it in for a few minutes and it rinsed out clean without any residue like some of my other conditioners. It had a nice, light tropical scent. Nothing overpowering and nothing at all like the coconut on the front of the bottle, but nice nonetheless. 

Today wasn't the greatest day to review a conditioner because A) it was raining heavily and B) I had to leave the house with wet hair (I have curly hair that I don't blow dry, except in emergencies).

I tucked most of my wet hair into a knitted cap and my hair air-dried at work. It was frizzy and I had to use water and a little finger-styling to get it back into shape. My coiff was quite voluminous, but it was soft to the touch and not sticky or waxy. By the end of the day my hair was full and glorious. I had finger-combed it into ringlets and it looked gorgeous. 

My hair is drying right now from shower No. 2 and I have pretty ringlets. I declare this conditioner a super duper WIN! 

If you don't like silicones or sulfates in your conditioners, check this out. I wouldn't use this as a deep treatment, but as an every day conditioner this stuff kicks ass. 

Edit: A friend of mine pointed out that this conditioner is biodegradable and not tested on animals. WIN!

That's it for now, friends. Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll find something around here to write about in the upcoming weeks.

Book Review: When Things Fall Apart and Peace is Every Step

So I have a lot of "self-help" books. Books on love, books on Buddhism, books on maximising your time and achievement, books on martial arts and Taoism, and even a book called "How To Wash Your Face" (Barey J. Kenet, M.D.). 

I've read all or most of these books and have come away from each a little more inspired and with a little more knowledge on how to be a compassionate, wise being. My last read was When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron. It shook me to my core. I mean literally shook me up. The book describes no security in anything, to abandon hope, and to embrace fear. I was afraid. I cried, knowing all the constructs I had put up, my neat little life: all of that could fall apart at any moment. I could be left by anyone, I could lose my job, I could lose face; all things that terrified me. She talks about 6 kinds of loneliness and embracing them. Just being willing to be there, to be lonely, with no resolution. And in that, you will find a vast open space where there can be peace, compassion, and wisdom. I tried to meditate, but I was afraid. My heart felt like a clenched fist, scared to let anything or anyone in or out lest I be strewn apart by the winds of life. 

Well, "fuck that", I thought. I cling tightly to my constructs and the people in my life. I have a job, an apartment, and a boyfriend. I have good friends and family relations and a network of support. I'm not going to throw it all away to be alone and lonely and happy about it. But that's not what she's talking about. She's talking about detaching with love so in the difficult times, it's not so hard. We can still have our life - just without attachment. She's right: there is no security in other people, in our constructs, in our ideas about who we are. The book stirred something in me so aggressively that I sought out help from a friend who is a meditation teacher. I'm calming down now and meditation isn't so scary anymore. 

The latest book I'm reading is Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh. It's a short little paperback that I picked up from Chapters for $15. The dandelion on the front intrigued me and so did the foreward by the Dalai Lama. 

Thay (pronounced "tie" and meaning "teacher" in Vietnamese"), writes simply and in short, concise sentences. I first encountered this in Old Path White Clouds, his story of the Buddha's life. The book is written in parts consisting of a few short paragraphs on every subject from doing the dishes to anger and hatred. Thich Nhat Hanh describes useful and practical techniques for dealing with every issue: irritation, anger, disappointment, grief. He talks about turning your anger into compassion, which is hard to do. 

He describes meditation as a calming of the body and mind and recommends smiling as you breathe out. I tried it and felt happy. He says if you smile while doing anything, you can be very happy doing simple work like chores around the house. He says everything you need to be happy is in the present moment.

This book inspires me and hasn't shaken me to my core like Pema's. Both are telling the truth; Thay just in a more gentle way. If we practice mindfulness in every day life, we can transform ourselves into compassionate and wise beings and offer kindness to others and help transform them. In the foreword, the Dalai Lama speaks of world peace starting with the individual. If we can not be kind and compassionate ourselves, how can we expect others to be? He says it is our job to liberate ourselves and to help benefit others. I can jive with that.

Practice extends far from the cushion. Sure, you can take a long retreat in silence and everything will be nice and neat, but real practice happens out there in the big, bad world. I was on the bus yesterday and found it hard to look a homeless man in the eye. I relaxed and smiled at him, and he smiled back. It felt good. 

I look forward to reading the rest of the book and will write an update when I am finished. So far, so good. If you want a short and inspiring read, check it out!

Review: Aveda Tourlamine Charged Radiant Skin Refiner

Aveda Tourmaline Charged Radiant Skin Refiner

I'm on an Aveda kick lately and purchased this exfoliant after the facial I mentioned in my previous post. The esthetician used this as part of the routine after cleansing. I liked the feel of the granules on my skin and the lovely herbal scent. 

When I was purchasing the products, she told me I only needed to exfoliate once a week despite the bottle saying it should be used twice weekly. She said once was enough for my skin.  

It's a clay-based scrub (kaolin) and has tourmaline crystals to help refine the skin. Tourmaline, according to Wikipedia, is a semi-precious stone and is made of silica particles. This refiner is supposed to be gentle on the skin and whisk away impurities and imperfections leaving your skin soft, smooth, and radiant. 

I tried this scrub exactly one week after my facial and used a dime-sized amount after cleansing. I scrubbed gently using the pads of my finger tips. The scrub was not overly harsh or grainy; the particles were small and felt smooth on my skin. I did my face, neck, and decollete, as instructed on the tube. I even did my lips. It rinsed away clean and I did not have to "whisk away" particles with a cloth as the tube said. I spritzed toner over my face after exfolitating and my face felt clean and healthy. The next day I noticed my skin was much clearer and felt softer. 

I'm looking forward to exfoliating again tomorrow. The price tag is hefty at $50 per 100 mL, but you only need a tiny amount as with the other Aveda products I've tried. I wasn't an exfoliating type of gal before this, but Aveda's scrub has turned me into a convert.

Review: Aveda Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser and Toner

Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser

First: the cleanser. I purchased this product after receiving an Aveda facial at one of their spas. The esthetician used this gel cleanser as part of the experience (cleansing, toning, exfoliation, masque, moisturizer, and massage - highly recommended!). She told me that just a little bit would remove makeup and impurities and leave my skin soft and hydrated. She wasn't lying. I loved the herbal smell and the smooth feeling of the gel on my face. After the facial, I wanted to purchase the products she used. She told me this cleanser was best suited for my skin type (slightly dry/slightly oily). I was to use one pump morning and night and to rub it in with the pads of my fingers and blot dry with a towel.

I've been using the cleanser for exactly one week now and it's made a huge difference in my skin. Before, I was using black mud soap from Israel as my main cleanser with no toner or moisturizer. My face was riddled with black heads and I was breaking out weekly. The only qualm I have about this cleanser is that it doesn't fully remove my mascara. I have to use a tissue to wipe away the excess after cleansing. It's not a lot, but it's enough to annoy me. But that tells me that this cleanser isn't stripping my skin, which is a good thing. It is plant-based and doesn't have sodium lauryl sulfate like most other cleansers I've used that are harsh and drying to the skin. It foams just enough to wash away impurities and has 16 different organic essential oils that make up a sensual aroma. I love the way my skin smells and feels after using it!

The $30 price tag is a bit hefty, but only one pump is needed and this 150 mL bottle will last me at least 6 months. I could buy a $10 cleanser from the drug store every month or two and it would add up to the same amount. 

Now, the toner.

Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist

The esthetician at the Aveda spa told me that my skin wasn't dry enough for a moisturizer and that this toning mist would help replenish moisture and balance my skin tone. It has a light herbal aroma and feels cooling on the skin. The directions say to use it in the morning after cleansing, so that's what I do. I spritz it over my face and let it dry before using their Inner Light tinted moisturizer. It's hydrating and my skin doesn't feel tight or dry after using it. It's expensive for a toner, but a little goes a long way.

I know, I know - it sounds like a lot of hype to promote Aveda. But, I've fallen in love with their products and services. The facial was excellent and so are the products I've purchased. I like them so much, I've considered giving them as gifts!

Edit: Fast forward almost one month later and I would like to report that my skin is flawless. During the first week (and after the first exfoliation), I had some mild breakouts but nothing major. Now, I don't get pimples at all! I'm very pleased with these products. The only gripe, as I said before, is that it doesn't remove all my mascara (specifically Maybelline's "The Falsies"). I use it with Cover Girl Lash Blast and it removes it just fine. Hooray!

Review: Clinque Lid Smoothie

Clinque Lid Smoothie in "Cashew Later"

Hello, friends! I have been away for a while - starting a new job and moving into a new apartment and working on various projects. It's good to be back.

I picked up this product about a month ago after a complimentary makeover at a Clinque counter at the local Sears. The cosmetician used it as a base for a powder eye shadow and told me it would help my shadow last up to 8 hours. When I went back (just for a browse - haha), the cosmetician at the counter told me it gave her eye shadow 14-hour staying power. I was impressed. They come in an array of colours with cute names like "Sassy-fras" and "Pinkgo Biloba" and can be used alone or as a primer. I chose "Cashew Later" (a nude beige with a hint of shimmer), to wear under the eye shadow quad I also purchased ("Purple Haze" - a lovely violet with a silver highlighter and a darker grey for the crease. It also has an indigo to make a smoky eye). 

The Lid Smoothie comes in a small tube with a metal applicator. I don't use the applicator, I just squeeze out a little bit and apply with my finger. It dries in seconds. Not sticky or powdery - just matte. It also says that it's "antioxidant". The Clinique website states that it protects the eye area and that nourishing ingredients help smooth fine lines. 

I tried wearing the Lid Smoothie on its own with just eye liner and mascara, and found it creased before 8 hours and my eye liner transferred to my eye lid. But when I wear it under eye shadow, it makes the colours pop and keeps it on all day - even when I go from work to a social event. The rest of my face might be shiny, but this stuff lasts and lasts.

Overall, I'm very happy with this product. The $20 price tag is reasonable because this tube will likely last me 6 months with the teeny-tiny amount needed.

It also comes in colours like "Imprompt-Blue" and "Salt and Pepper", so there is definitely something for everyone. If you want an eye shadow primer that works, give this a try. 

Update: Ur Doing It Wrong

So... It looks like I've been crocheting wrong the whole time. I bought some thinner, baby pink yarn on sale and the corresponding hook and was able to actually make a square instead of a weird triangle-circle thingy. After watching the tutorial video again, I realized I had been doing the wrong stitch. 

Here's the right one: 

Much better!

I'm going to keep practicing squares until I can read a pattern and do all the stitches required. Like wtf is a slip stitch? I'm going to have to Google that one. I've joined a couple of crochet communities and am getting lots of help. Who knew Crocheting for Dummies would be so helpful?!

Review: Nature's Gate Toothpaste

Natures Gate Creme de Mint Natural Toothpaste

I have tried almost every toothpaste on the drugstore shelf. From Crest to Aim, I've suffered canker sores, rashes around the mouth from fake flavours (cinnamon, anyone?), and sensitive teeth. For the last few years, I've exclusively used Sensodyne Pronamel to no avail. I still had a sharp pain in my teeth every time I ate something very hot or frozen. I even tried knock-off brands of sensitive teeth toothpastes - again, nothing. 

I've also tried many natural toothpastes on the market, including neem-based ones, ayurvedic concoctions, and fennel and ginger-flavoured toothpastes. I've tried them with and without flouride. I've hated most of them and resented paying almost $7 a pop for each. 

I originally bought this toothpaste 2 years ago on recommendation from a co-worker and returned it to the store because it contained sodium lauryl sulfate. SLS has been known to cause canker sores. I was on the hunt for a nice-tasting natural toothpaste after using a nasty neem one and being sick of the fake flavours of the drugstore choices. Some natural toothpastes cost up to $10 here! Nature's gate was mid-range at $5 (the same price or a little less than Pronamel, depending where you go) and the tube was quite large. I read the ingredients and opened the box. There were 2 changes made: the toothpaste no longer contained sulfates and they changed it from the standard tube to a stand-up one. Bonus!

I decided to give it a shot. The main ingredient is calcium carbonate (chalk) so it doesn't really foam (that's what SLS does) but I wasn't worried about that. I just wanted clean-feeling teeth, fresh breath, and a nice, natural mint flavour. Nature's Gate delivered on all fronts. I even had my Mom try it and she said it was great!

I'm very happy with this toothpaste and will definitely buy it again. The flavour is what gets me the most: a subtle, fresh mint taste.

If you're looking for a natural toothpaste that has bang for your buck, try it out. I'm sure you'll love it. 

In Memory of Rick Hunter

Sept 20, 1957 - Aug 30, 2012

Rick would often quote this song to me when I complained to him about my first-world problems. I'm going to miss him.

Review: L'Oreal Eversleek Reparative Smoothing Conditioner

L'Oreal Paris EverSleek Reparative Smoothing Conditioner

I picked up this conditioner as the companion to my Eversleek Reparative shampoo (reviewed here). It was on sale for $6.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart ($4 off) and I was running low on my Yes To Cucumbers conditioner (another great product I'll review later). I was excited to try the combo of both the shampoo and the conditioner together. I always get excited about little things like that. I liked the smell of the shampoo and the volume it gave my fine curls (although my boyfriend used it and hated the poof it made his hair into [he didn't use conditioner]). 

This conditioner is sulfate- and silicone-free and uses sunflower, argan, and olive oils to moisturize and condition.

I usually use up to a palmful of conditioner for my hair, but I decided to go for 2 quarter-sized amounts. It spread evenly and smoothly through my shoulder-length hair. I left it in for about 5 minutes as I went about my regular shower routine. It rinsed out clean and tangle-free. I followed up with my usual gel (Herbal Essences Set Me Up - a silicone-free gel), scrunched from underneath, and finger-styled my curls. 

My hair dried in shiny, manageable ringlets: frizz free and soft. I had to resist the temptation to run my fingers through my hair (lest I turn my perfect curls into a rats nest). 

I declare this conditioner a win!

Side note: I would not recommend this product to someone with oily hair. This is a rich conditioner and would weight it down, making it limp and oilier. My hair, although fine, is dry and loves to soak up moisture. 

"Meditation is my meditation" - But still, camping is pretty great!

Hi! I missed you. I've been gone for a while: camping for 8 days.

I'm totally listening to Enya right now and sitting in my pyjamas writing this blog post and thinking about meditation and the great camping trip I just got back from.

People often say that running is their meditation. Or knitting or yoga. Or whatever. Some of my friends in my meditation sitting group want to make a shirt that says "Meditation is my meditation". I don't correct people when they say then Zen out on kneading dough or getting a massage, but I prefer to keep my meditation separate from my other activities and just focus on mindfulness as actual meditation. I can see why people say working on their car is like sitting on the cushion - it's an all-encompassing task that requires all of your focus. So much, in fact, that you get lost in it and can think of nothing else. It can seem like a meditative state, especially if it keeps you calm. 

During sitting practice, lots of thoughts arise and fall away. The point, in insight meditation, is to observe them, the sensations in your body and around you, and the feeling tones of those thoughts and sensations. Some meditations feel clear and energizing. Others feel sluggish. Others, irritating. Not getting caught up in fantasies, memories, or planning is hard. Really hard. It's not about flicking this switch and your mind becomes this clear, boundless white space. I had that misconception when I first started sitting. 

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I've been trying my hand at a couple of different things: fishing and crocheting, and finding them "meditative". I'm not actually practising mindfulness during these activities, but I sure feel calm and focused. I never understood the appeal of fishing until I tried it. Same with crocheting. Many of my friends fish, knit (or crochet) and I've been happy to watch or tag along and read a book or chat. But when I finally decided to get a hobby or two and faced my fear of things being too hard and that I wouldn't be a pro the first time I tried it, I realized how awesome having something to focus on besides introspecting and thinking can be.

See, I've gone from this:

To this:

I had to start over 4 times. I tied knots or twisted the other ones. I've even done a few more rows since I took the second picture. 

Crocheting was a fun fireside activity, although I needed lots of lantern light to go by. It was relaxing in the evening after hot, long days in the sun. It feels nice to make something tangible, even if it's going to be the most oddly-shaped dish cloth in the world. 

On to the camping trip! I kept my phone off because there was no service and to preserve the battery (turning it on sucks half the juice). I took a few pictures.

First, we camped on my sister's lawn in Vernon from Saturday to Monday. We had barbeques, visited my best friend, went fishing at Mabel Lake (great for swimming, but not so great for fishing without a boat), at the dam at Shuswap Falls, and under this awesome bridge:

I think it's a panda!

My bro-in-law casting his line

After a couple of trips to Surplus Herbys to buy rods, tackle, and a fishing license for me, we set off for Keremeos. Traffic was bad going into Penticton, but we made it by mid-afternoon. We found the town surprisingly empty, especially after the infamous Sober Riders camp out on the weekend. There were a few trailers and tents scattered amongst the many camp sites and we were thrilled to find our favourite spot at the Buckhorn site empty. It's right on the edge of the camp site, very private and right on the river. It's also free! We fished at a couple of different spots and I caught a couple of little guys I threw back. Unfortunately, thunderstorms were in the forecast, so we only camped there 2 days before having to pack up in literally 10 minutes in the pouring rain. 

Here's the red bridge you go over to the road that leads up the Ashnola River:

After Keremeos, we drove into Princeton to stop for gas and ice. The attendant asked if I was from the area and I said we were looking for somewhere to camp and fish. She said Allison Lake was 18 kms north, toward Merrit. We drove up there and explored the site, which is $11 per night. It's all raked gravel and right off the highway. The lake and picnic area is on the other side of the road. We decided to stay the night after not finding anywhere else suitable to hunker down. We couldn't find the turnoff for Kump Lake and found Robertson Lake too remote and run down. There were 2 camp sites there that no one had maintained for a long while and a dishevelled, pieced-together boat launch. There was nowhere to fish from shore.

We fished in Allison Lake in the evening and caught many small trout. Luckily, the lake has a 10 hp limit on boats, so the fish don't get disturbed by the wake. The lake was warm and nice for swimming too. It was lovely fishing in the evenings before bed. You could see fish spotting and jumping all over the place. 

The campsite has cold tap water with a boil-water advisory, so we heated it to do dishes with but it was fine for bathing. It was nice to rinse off after the hot, dusty days up in Princeton. 

We packed up the next morning and headed for Chain, Link, and Osprey Lakes to find camping and fishing spots. These lakes are along the Princeton-Summerland Road, by the Kettle Valley Railway. Each lake had a small, but full camp site with what looked like boat-only fishing. The lake was too reedy to fish from the shore. The bugs were bad, too. We found one spot at Osprey Lake, but it was on a slope and where two trails converged right at the entrance to the camp site. Not a lot of privacy either. And it was $12! A dollar more than the nicely maintained camp site we had just stayed at. We headed back to Allison Lake and stayed 3 more nights. 

So what did we do besides sit in front of the camp fire and cook delicious meals (ribs, tandoori chicken, fajitas, french toast...etc.) on our camp grill? Well, we fished and swam as I already mentioned but we did some other cool stuff like rock hounding. We followed the guides and maps in Rick Hudson's Gold, Gemstones, and Mineral Sites of BC and found sites where we found agates, quartz, fossils, and different geodes and mineral deposits. It was pretty fun driving up old logging roads, following the vague instructions in the book. We explored all over and saw some beautiful views. 

We also found the ghost towns of Coalmont, Granite City, and the mining town of Blakeburn.

Old, collapsed building in Blakeburn

Blakeburn

Blakeburn Creek where we found agates and malachite

Coalmont's Welcome sign

Weird sign in Coalmont

Granite City Cemetery

Colourful grave in the Granite City Cemetery

Nature is pretty amazing and you can see that clearly in rocks and fossils and the way they form. I don't know a whole lot about them, but I'm learning and I love it. 

After 8 days of socializing, exploring, cooking fabulous meals, swimming, fishing, and driving all over hell's half acre, we headed back to the Lower Mainland.

The traffic was easy, until we hit Bridal Falls. There was an accident a couple kms west (flipped trailer), and we spent 1.5 hours in go and stop traffic. It was nice to finally get home, do laundry and take a hot shower.

I wish the trip lasted longer, but it's nice to get back to work and routine too. I'd do it all over again in a second. Maybe next time I'll take 2 weeks. I'd like to get my annual fishing license and try some rivers around here.

And I'll finish off with the song I'm listening to right now. My boyfriend showed me this last year when I started to play uke and it's one of my favourites. Enjoy!

Review: L'Oreal EverSleek Reparative Shampoo

L'Oreal EverSleek Reparative Smoothing Shampoo

I decided to try this shampoo after hearing quite the buzz about it on the NaturallyCurly forums. This entire line (EverSleek, EverPure, and EverStrong) is sulfate- and silicone-free. They are designed especially for colour-treated hair, as sulfates wash out colour, and silicone dries out hair. 

I don't use sulfates or silicones in my hair, and decided to give this shampoo a try after getting sick of the scent of my shampoo bar (lavender and patchouli). This shampoo is clear (the Intense version is creamy) and is supposed to fight frizz and smooth the hair cuticle. 

The shampoo is thinner in consistency than my occasional TreSemme Naturals and I only needed a quarter-sized amount to produce a rich, foamy lather. It distributed through my hair evenly and didn't stop sudsing. 

It rinsed out clean (but not squeaky-clean like my shampoo bar) and I finished with TreSemme Naturals conditioner. I used a little gel and hairspray and scrunched my hair. 

After letting it air dry, I was pleased to see this:

Soft, bouncy curls! Yay! My hair feels smooth, and is shiny and frizz-free.

I declare this shampoo a win!

White Pine: More Like White Fine!

Yesterday, we were blessed with some gorgeous sunny weather so my friends invited me to come along to the floating docks at White Pine Beach. It's on Sasamat Lake: green and serene. The beach is often very busy, but the floating docks across the lake are more of a well-kept secret. We arrived to find only a handful of people on each of the two docks. My friends don't want me to share the location of the docks so it stays less crowded. (EDIT: I got called out for the stealth tip I provided, so it looks like you'll have to find it yourself).

The water is cool and inviting; there's no beach so you dive right into the deep. After swimming you can sun yourself on the concrete dock (bring a blanket to protect your poor back and knees). 

We also played Anomia, a Mensa-approved card game. It get's its name from Anomic apashia: a severe inability to recall words or names. You flip cards from the middle deck away from you, and if your card matches another player's you quickly yell out the person, place, or thing on their card. For example, if my card says "Breakfast Food" and their card says "Business Mogul", I would try to yell out "Donald Trump!" before they shouted "waffles!" (when a music card came up, I shouted "baroque" and everyone was like, "niiiiiice". It was a proud moment for me.) There's wild cards too, making the game more complicated. It's really fun with 4 or more players. 

Here's some pictures of the scenery of White Pine. Lovely.

Yarn and a Hook: Not As Easy As It Looks

So in my quest to find some hobbies that interest me, I decided to pick up crocheting. Both my grandmother and mother are expert crocheters and have made many a dazzling afghan in their time. I still have the blanket my grandmother crocheted me when I was 10: it's white with green squares with tulips in each square. It's beautiful and I still use it!


My mom gave me 2 hooks and some royal blue acrylic yarn. The book she gave me on basic knitting and crocheting was difficult to follow. I couldn't figure out the instructions for the life of me! So, I do what every girl does when she can't figure out how to do her makeup or exactly how that hair style works: I turned to YouTube. I found lots of how-to videos on crocheting and knitting and picked the top link: Learn How to Crochet Part 1 - Basics For the Absolute Beginner. I'm absolutely a beginner and thought this would be a good place to start.

The video did for me what the book could not: show me in live action how to make the first knot and then make the chain stitch. It even showed a simpler way to make the slip knot that becomes the basis for every stitch. However, it wasn't as easy as it looked. The yarn kept falling off my index finger and I had to keep pulling the yarn through the loop (I think I made it too small to pull the hook through). I'm not a very visual person, so I had to watch and re-watch parts of it several times. Overall it was a very good video and shows you how to make a 20 stitch x 20 stitch square and finish it with a darning needle (which I still need to pick up).

Here's my work so far:

An hour of hard labour

I accidentally made a knot in this one so I started another. I eventually learned how to make the second and subsequent rows, but messed up pretty badly. I spent about 2.5 hours making 6 rows - it was slow going. 

I'm going to bring my crochet work on my camping trip next week to do by the fireside. Hopefully I don't light the whole skein of yarn on fire!

Review: Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser 

I've used this cleanser off and on for about one year now. The reason why I use it off and on are as follows:

• it stings my eyes
• it smells like laundry detergent
• it's over $10 CAD (about $12-$15 depending which drugstore you go to)

But there are good things about this cleanser, too. It removes all of my makeup, including stubborn eye makeup, and doesn't leave raccoon eyes. It lathers up nicely and rinses off clean. My skin is left feeling soft and refreshed and not dry and tight at all. 

Usually, I just use a wash cloth and water to remove my makeup and a little Vaseline to remove eye makeup if it doesn't want to come off. I somehow lost my only wash cloth in the laundry (I'm sure it's in the machine, somewhere...) so I used this cleanser again tonight. It takes about 3 rinses to come off completely. 

You can find some reviews on the link below the picture, or check out Makeup Alley, where there are 678 reviews of the product! 

Krista and Josh's Wedding Week

Wow, what a week! Let me start this off by saying my phone-camera skills are seriously lacking, but there are pictures nonetheless! So enjoy.

First, it started off on Tuesday with a manicure and a pedicure at Orchid Beauty Centre. I went to the East Broadway location. I made an appointment a week ahead of time and when I arrived 30 minutes early they accommodated me no problem. They have quite a few staff on at one time and can do a mani and pedi at the same time (even gel, they have a portable UV lamp). I opted for a gel manicure ($25) with a sparkly top coat and a regular pedicure ($25) with nail design ($5 extra) on the big toes. This includes a design (in white, with gold and silver accents) and 2 little gems. The price is fantastic. A regular pedicure at most salons is $40-$60 and here they do hot towels and a nice massage.

I then headed to Dona Lucia on Georgia Street to get my eyebrows threaded ($7). It takes just 5 minutes and lasts as long as waxing (3-4 weeks). It's half the price of waxing at my usual salon and they do a great job! I like to leave them on the thicker side, having them thin is just too much upkeep. 

My mom arrived at 6 pm and we went for dinner at Bandidas Taquiera (12th and Commercial). We both had the quesadilla with salad. For dessert, we had the gluten-free chocolate cake and cinnamon flan. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere was casual and lively. I go here often with friends. I love the cake, it's made from quinoa and is rich and decadent. The flan is always smooth and creamy. For $40 (including one alcoholic beverage and one iced tea), this was an excellent meal for an excellent price.

After a good night's sleep, we left early in the morning for the drive to Penticton. We ate at Theo's, which you can see in my last blog post. We checked in at the Ramada Inn, where we stayed in an apartment-style suite. We went to the pool for a bit, it was a little on the cool side and the towels were scratchy but hey - it's a pool and it was hot out! The hot tub was nice, though. The hotel room came with all the usual amenities, including a big, circular bath tub and nice fluffy towels. I was disappointed there was no complimentary robe. :(

Although it was quiet at night, the place was packed for mid-week. There was no parking. We had to park in a weird spot I don't think you're supposed to park in. No one noticed. 

After hanging out with family all day, we went to Uncle Terry and Auntie Alannah's farm in Okanagan Falls for the rehearsal dinner. There was a roast on the spit and lots of booze and snacks. A large portion of my sister-in-law's family was there, with just my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and I representing my brother's side.

Behind the main house is the "Pit", pictured below. 

We took family photos in front of this

The outhouse. One of the only places with cell reception.

The Pit

Hilarious! He's officiating the wedding.

The bride's brother, Sean

My brother-in-law with my two nieces and his dog

We had baron of beef and potato salad for dinner. It was f-in delicious! (We also had an argument over whether it was called "baron of beef" or "beef dip". Apparently it's baron in the west and dip in the east. I've always called it beef dip, but for correctness sake, I'll use baron of beef in this post.) We left around 10 pm to get a good night's sleep for the wedding the next day. 

We took advantage of the $3 off coupons for the breakfast buffet in the Ramada's pub the following morning. The buffet was more than adequate: scrambled eggs, waffles, french toast, bacon, sausage, toast, english muffins, cereal, and fruit. It had been sitting out quite a while and everything was cold. We waited for fresh food to come out and that was good. I only ate one plate so the $11.95 it cost probably wasn't worth it, but you would pay that or more at any restaurant. 

After taking an hour's walk around Penticton and visiting my sister in her hotel across the street, we got ready for the wedding. I don't have a decent picture of myself (yet), so I'm waiting for one to appear on Facebook to post here. My dress was a maxi with a hot pink, grey, black, and white geometrical pattern. I also wore a grey, black, and white feather clip in my hair. I just left my hair down and curly - it's the easiest style to hold in the heat. 

We drove 8 kms outside of Penticton to Naramata, where vineyards abound. The scenery is beautiful with the lake on one side and rolling hills of grapes on the other. 

The wedding was held at Hillside Estate Winery Bistro. This was actually the first wedding to be held there! It's a gorgeous space, with a bell tower and winding pathway up to the bistro. 

The ceremony started at 3 pm; we got front row seats (there was no reserved seating, but everyone seemed to know family sits upfront). First came the two girls, my nieces Krissy and Kensington, the flower girls in adorable dresses with green tulle at the bottom that came down just like flower petals. Krista's sister, Tara, came before her in a lovely sheer cream Grecian gown with roses. Krista walked down the aisle in a stunning cream Vera Wang dress to "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones sung live by a friend. Thank goodness for the hankies they provided (and the waterproof mascara I bought that morning), because I needed it. Her brother officiated the ceremony and provided much needed comic relief. The vows were touching and the kiss at the end was so red-hot I had to look away!

The Bell Tower

 

Drinking Jars that also told you what table you were seated at. We were at "Ludwig Van Beethoven". Each table had a placard with their wedding vows printed on it. Beethoven's: "Ever mine. Ever thine. Ever ours."

Guitar Guest Book

I was having such a good time at the wedding, these were all the pictures I got (except for the first dance, below). The food was out-of-this-world outstanding. It was made by Chef Rob Cordonier, who tied for best chef in the Okanagan by Vancouver's Eat Magazine. There were 8-10 courses (I wasn't paying attention) served family-style, but oh do I ever remember the short ribs with plum sauce, the pork cheeks, the crab donuts, and the roasted golden beets!

The cake was gorgeous, covered in pink buttercream roses with the following tiers: chocolate peanut butter, sour raspberry and lemon, and pina colada. I tried both the lemon and the chocolate, both were moist and flavourful, and the frosting was creamy and buttery and mmm... everything you want in a frosting. I didn't get a picture of the cake. It was made by a friend in Kelowna who I don't know the name of, but when I find out, I'll link to her. She's apparently just starting a cake business.

Then came the dancing! The winery has an upstairs balcony where the Young'uns set up and a circle of roses was scattered on the floor. We all stood around the circle and watched the dance; it was a pleasure seeing two people so ecstatic to be married. 

It started raining around 10 pm, so we moved the party back downstairs to the bistro. The Young'uns are an awesome band; the drummer does most of the singing. They do great covers and are never off key. The band set up again and my brother picked up his bass and joined in. Some people took turns singing. Everyone was on their feet dancing like nobodies business and we had a great time. The festivities ended around 11:30 pm and we drove back to our hotel, exhausted and happy.

The next morning we had brunch at the Barley Mill Pub in Penticton. I had the reuben with yam fries. Yum! My brother had the "Double Down": a burger on a pretzel bunch with a reuben sandwich in the middle. He enjoyed it... but yeah. No. 

After brunch, we headed home. Like I said, what a week! I have such a big, loving family and am so so so so lucky. 

My sister's wedding is less than a month away! I'll post updates on getting ready for that plus more reviews in the next few weeks.

Ta!