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!

Road trip: Penticton

My eldest brother is getting married on Thursday and my mom and I had to do a little road trip to get there. So far all I have to report is that we had an amazing lunch at Theo's restaurant in downtown Penticton. My mom had a salad with grilled prawns, macedonian feta, olives, artichokes and greens; while I had salmon and vegetables wrapped in phyllo served over greek rice, potatoes, and green beans. The starter plate of hummus and sundried tomato dip with fresh, warm pita wasn't so bad either. Yum!

More to come... !

Dreams really do come tru-u-u-u-e?

Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Why am I showing you this video? Well it's a beautiful rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", played on the ukulele by a Hawaiian legend. The ukulele is awesome, I play a little myself.

This video also shows his funeral at the end. The first time I watched it I got a little teary.  You might, too.

Humectants: What's the Deal?

Rosewater and Glycerin 

As an avid reader of the NaturallyCurly forums and several blogs and ladies forums, I've read a lot about humectants for both skin and hair. Humectants are hygroscopic substances that help retain water. Glycerin and rosewater is one of the more popular ones.

When my boyfriend asked me if I wanted a bottle of rosewater and glycerin, I said, "No, thanks." not knowing what it was used for. When he opened the bottle and let me smell it (the scent was just like a rose garden) and said I could use it for baths, I was in. The bottle said it was for "chapped skin of the face and hands" and listed the ingredients as 28.7% vegetable glycerin. I asked a nurse friend of mine if it would make me break out and she said glycerin was a very benign substance with low toxicity. 

Rosewater is touted as a natural toner and moisturizer and is supposed to remove impurities and help heal blemishes.

For people with dry, coarse hair humectants are a godsend: glycerin takes the moisture out of the air around it and retains it in your hair. But there's a catch: in lower dew points (e.g. winter), glycerin will actually suck up the moisture in your hair making it dryer. When it's really humid, it will make your hair frizzy. The most successful time to use glycerin is when the dew points are between 4-15 C (or 40-60 F). You can find out the dew points in your area by looking up your area on Wunderground.

To use, mix a tablespoon or so with your regular styling product and distribute through your hair. It should make your hair soft and shiny. I tried it and loved the effect, although it was about 23 C that day and it made my hair a bit frizzy. 

Now for skin, glycerin does the same thing: helps it retain moisture. It's an ingredient in a lot of creams and lotions under an array of different names: gylcols and glycerol. It is used in everything from soap to toothpaste and "topical pure glycerol is an effective treatment for psoriasis, burns, rashes, and calluses" according to Wikipedia.

I bought a spritz bottle from the dollar store (note the fancy barbershop design) and mist my face at night. Then I take a cotton pad and wipe off the excess. It takes off all my leftover makeup my cleanser didn't catch and leaves a light layer of moisture. It also smells heavenly. Since it's summer, it's a little bit sticky. But, I bet in autumn and spring it will be perfect. I just rinse it off in the morning and apply my makeup. I haven't broken out from it and it's left my skin soft and moisturized.

You can purchase rosewater and glycerin from any health food store. You can also make your own rosewater and mix it with glycerin from the drug store. I'm not sure of the ratio, maybe 70 % rosewater to 30 % glycerin.

Have fun!

Review: Secret Weapon (Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds)

Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds

At our house, we like to use as many natural products as possible. One of the cleaners we use is Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds. Specifically, we dilute it and use it as a dish soap and for cleaning hard surfaces. The surfactants (cleansers) are derived from coconut oil and it also has added fir and spruce essential oils that smell fresh and clean and not at all like Pine Sol. It's biodegradable and has no preservatives. It's also highly concentrated, so only 2 teaspoons is needed to clean a sinkful of dishes. It's also perfect for washing counters and floors. It can be used with hot or cold water and rinses clean. Sal Suds is mild and gentle on hands. 

One other great use for Sal Suds is laundry. It gets out stains like no other. Just a drop or two on the stain will remove it. 


EDIT: This stuff is the bomb. I just used it on a shirt: one white cotton tee. I dropped blobs of lasagna all over it while I was eating (classy, I know). I just rubbed Sal Suds into the stains, threw it in the wash (on cold) and when I took the shirt out of the machine there was no trace of the stains. Booya!

Bonus: It's not tested on animals and vegan, just like Dr. Bronner's other products. 

We also use diluted Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Castille Liquid Soap as a refill for a foaming soap pump. It works exceptionally well and is mild and soft on skin. It has no fragrance whatsoever and is great in the shower as well.

I'm a big fan of Dr. Bronner's products. I've even brushed my teeth with the liquid soap! The only thing I wouldn't recommend is washing your hair with it, even though it says you can on the bottle. It made my curly hair limp and lifeless. Your mileage may vary. It's great to take camping because you can use it for so many things: dishes, laundry soap, body wash, shaving cream, etc. 

It may seem a bit expensive at first, but it's so concentrated a bottle will last you a long time. Check out the website, there's many scents and different sized bottles and even a bar soap version. 

The Coquitlam River

Every weekend, my boyfriend and I take his dog for a walk. We usually go to the Coquitlam River, where there's not a lot of people and the scenery is pretty. In the fall you can see the salmon spawning in the river. 


On one side there's a park where people fly their model airplanes and on the other side there's a racetrack, where we usually enter the trail. Sometimes there's events at the racetrack, but there's another entrance to the park so you can avoid the chaos.


Harry, the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, loves exploring the trails and eating the long, green grass. The air smells crisp and sweet, and sometimes you can see a heron in the water. I once almost stepped on a snake there and there's a beaver dam down a different trail. You can also explore the river: there are little islands of rocks and you can wade across to each one and go fishing. 


I love the Coquitlam River. Here's some pictures I took this overcast morning:

Relaxing by the creek

It rained yesterday morning, but the sun was nice enough to show his shiny face in the early afternoon. It was a perfect day for fishing, and although I don't fish myself, I enjoy accompanying those who do. There's nothing nicer than sitting on a blanket with a packed lunch and a good book, enjoying nature (one of my friends says this is boring, but I find it highly enjoyable. Plus, I like watching my friends casting their lines, over and over. It's meditative.). We spent a good 4 or 5 hours at Ellwood Park in Abbotsford, where there is a lily-pad covered creek filled with bass. We caught 2 little ones that we threw back. 

There is also a nice trail around the creek and several look-out points where you can sit down and enjoy the surroundings. We even saw an osprey swoop down and catch a fish.


EDIT: Haha, I Googled "Ellwood Park Abbotsford" and the 6th result down is a men's cruising website. Apparently this spot is popular for pickups after dark.

Review: Soap...in your hair?

Free Spirit Botanicals Shampoo Bar in Breeze 

About 5 years ago, I was given a shampoo bar for my birthday by the sales person at Free Spirit Botanicals (549 Johnson St) in downtown Victoria, BC. I loved it. It had a lemongrass scent and made my hair shiny and soft. I didn't know much about hand-made soaps at the time and let the bar disintegrate in the shower with too much water spraying on it all the time from the shower head. 5 years later, I was in the same shop with my Mom and they were having a sale on shampoo bars and soaps. I convinced her to try the lemongrass one I had loved so much and chose the "Breeze" scent for myself (lavender and patchouli). The sales person told me she used the same one and that it smelled fabulous. She also said you could use it all over: hair and body. The trick was to keep it out of water and it would last a long time. 

I took it home and hopped in the shower immediately. I was so excited to try it! The bar contained  only vegetable fats and essential oils (I don't use sulfates in my hair). It lathered up nicely in Victoria's soft water and made my hair feel squeaky clean. I used my usual conditioner (Tresemme Naturals) and my hair dried in soft, shiny ringlets. I loved the spicy scent of the lavender and patchouli. It didn't smell too strong, it just left a nice, soft fragrance.

I use this bar every other day with conditioner-only washes in between. I lather it in my hands first before putting it in my hair, concentrating on the scalp and massaging it in with the pads of my fingers. Other places that make shampoo bars suggest rubbing the bar on your hair, but my hair is fragile and prone to breakage so that's why I use my hands. 

We have soft water in Vancouver and the bar lathers nicely. I've read in curly and natural hair forums that in places with hard water it's important to clarify your hair or else you get build up from the deposits in the water. To clarify, either use a clarifying shampoo (with sulfates) or do an apple cider vinegar rinse. Use 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar to 2 cups water after you shampoo and before you condition. Do this once a week and your hair should be healthy and shiny. 

I will also mention that Free Spirit Botanicals makes lovely soaps. Right now I'm using the green tea and oatmeal and it keeps my skin clean and soft and it smells wonderful. The products last long if you keep them out of water. I have a shower caddy and the bars have lasted me since Mother's Day weekend. That's 2 months now and I still have over half of the shampoo bar left and a quarter of the bar of soap. 

If you're ever in Victoria, check out this shop. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and they sell everything from foot creams and face washes to deodorant and essential oils.

Review: Aveda Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisturizer

Aveda Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

I used to be a foundation-only gal, but I decided to give this tinted moisturizer a try upon receiving it as a gift. It's summer now, and my foundation feels a little heavy and smears all over my phone screen (even with powder). I always thought my skin was flawed: acne scars, redness, blackheads, some wrinkles around the mouth. I use a foundation with a medium-heavy coverage to combat my facial insecurities. I was nervous to try just a sheer tinted moisturizer, I didn't think it would cover my flaws very well and would melt off in the heat.

Well, gee whiz was I wrong. This moisturizer (in Beechwood), was surprisingly thick coming out of the tube. I used a pea-sized amount and spread it evenly over my face, including my eyelids and under-eye area, and down below my jawline. (NOTE: I did not use any moisturizer first). I was surprised how well the colour blended in. It was a bit sticky at first, but dried to a powdery finish. I still use a setting powder over this because I am paranoid about my makeup melting off (and it helps set my eyeshadow and liner). I was also shocked at how well it covered up pimples and redness and generally evened out my skin tone. The SPF 15 is a plus. It's titanium dioxide, so it's good for sensitive skin and effectively blocks both UVA and UVB rays. 

This tinted moisturizer is a win for sure and I'll be using it come autumn and winter as well when I just need light-medium coverage. The reviews on the Aveda page (link below the picture) range from 2-5 stars, with the 5-star reviews heavily outweighing the lesser ones. 

Give this one a try if you want a nice, light moisturizer with a bit of colour that covers imperfections and protects from the sun.

Fave Opera Track

Andrea Bocelli Live in Tuscany: Con Te Partiro

Review: Lashes to lashes

Here I will review 3 mascaras I've been using lately.

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion

The most recent mascara I've used is Cover Girl's Last Blast Fusion. A friend of mine uses it and I've always admired her long, thick, defined lashes. So when my current mascara ran out, I purchases this (it helped it was on sale for $6.99). Normally I use both a volumizing and a lengthening mascara to achieve my desired look: lashes to the sky, thick, and distinct. 

I applied 2-3 coats of this mascara (in Blackest Black), which has a plastic wand and brush, instead of the typical fibre one. I was very pleased with the results. Actually, it made my lashes just as beautiful as my 2 mascaras combined! Also, I experienced no smudging or flaking during the day.

Very pleased with this product.

Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express 

This is the mascara I was using in combination with the lengthening one. I've used this mascara since it came out (I want to say 4 or 5 years). I use it in Glam Black and pay around $8 for it. I usually apply 2-3 coats with the fibre brush and it gives intensely thick lashes, but not much length. It's easy to apply too much of this mascara and have your lashes clump together. I used to use this religiously and once found it on sale for $4 each and bought 3. I find it dries out quickly though and the lack of length is disappointing.

Marcelle Lash Extreme

This is the lengthening mascara I was using. The beauty consultant at the local drug store picked it out for me when I mentioned I wanted something to make my lashes longer. It wasn't on sale so I spent a full $11 on it. I first used it on its own and it gives no volume whatsoever and it does a mediocre job of lengthening. That's when I had the idea to combine The Colossal with this one to create the ultimate lash experience. It worked really well: I would first apply the volumizing mascara and then Last Extreme. It has a bristle brush and is easy to apply, doesn't smudge or flake, and is gentle for sensitive eyes. I've never been thrilled with the Marcelle line, except for one lipstick and their setting powder, which I'll review at a later date.

So all in all, I think I'll stick with Cover Girl for now. At least for the next 3 months (when you're supposed to change mascaras like toothbrushes, for hygiene reasons). 

And I'm feeling so whoa-ho....wooooo!

I love The Dandy Warhols and this track is definitely a favourite. Enjoy!

Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia (Capitol Records, 2000)

Get a hobby!

So, I don't have any hobbies really. I'm interested in people and personalities and do a lot of reading of forums like PerC and Typology Central. I've read on other sites that most psychologists disregard the MBTI and Enneagram models as pseudoscience and not really indicative of personality traits. I've also read psychologists rely more on models like the Big 5 test, which you can take here. It still doesn't fade my interest in them, but knowing that it could be a bunch of hooey definitely makes me wonder how much faith I should put into these things. I mean, I used to make friends and choose dating partners strictly on the MBTI standard. When I was online dating, if I saw someone was a certain personality type based on a test they'd taken on the site, I might respond to them differently had they been another, more "desirable" type. I soon found out my most "desired" and sought-after type was actually not much of a match for me. Most of these types I've met have been adrenaline junkies with not a lot of time or desire for meaningful conversation. Fart and poop jokes abound. And that's another sweeping generalization on my part. MBTI is just putting people in a box, telling them this is the way they are and should act. 


If you're interested, I'm an ENFP 4w3 sx/sp, tritype 4-5-9 (the Contemplative), and also "mercurial". Whatever the hell "mercurial" means. My Big 5 scores are high on openness, agreeableness, and neuroticism, and low on conscientiousness, and extroversion.


I have a friend who hasn't dated in years and is in search of a particular type that is not common in women. He's never met one in person, only online, and they live on opposite sides of the country. To each their own, but I found I was much happier when I decided to be open to all types of people instead of just one or two.


Moving on, I'd like to get a hobby that gets me out of my own head and away from introspecting. I journal a lot and spend copious amounts of time thinking about myself and how I relate to the world. I'd like to get busy with my hands or my body. I've decided on crocheting and also this blog. I've decided to mostly review products and recipes instead of writing personal stuff.


I searched some womens' forums for popular hobbies and knitting, needlework, and crocheting were right up there. Makeup, nails, and hair came in a close second. I've tried knitting before and found it too tedious, but crocheting looks easy enough for me and I could do it while reading or watching a show. 


I'm going to Michaels this weekend to check out some of their crocheting stuff like yarn and hooks. I'll check Youtube and wikihow to see what supplies I need. I'm not sure what I'm going to make yet, but I'm leaning toward a purse. Maybe that's a bit advanced for me. I might try a hat or scarf first. Or an afghan. I have a friend who makes adorable little monsters and animals. One day I hope to be able to make anything I want!


If you have any ideas or suggestions about crocheting or other hobbies, let me know!

Review: Snap, crackle, pop?

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Flashy Fuchsia and Crackle Overcoat in Snow Blast (thick coat)

Crackle polish has become a "thing" around here. I see a lot of my friends wearing it and catch glimpses of crackled finger tips on buses and trains. I was over at a friend's house and she had several colours to choose from: red, blue, green, and white. She said the white worked best. The other three weren't Sally Hansen brand (can't remember which and I wouldn't want to expose them because apparently they suck). 

I originally chose a purple Insta-Dri colour, but my pal told me the white didn't crackle very well over that colour and to go with the Flashy Fuchsia instead. The Insta-Dri really does dry instantly. Perfect for me, because I tend to forget I have nail polish on and start doing other things and wreck my manicure. The ingredients on the crackle polish said to apply a thick or thin coat, depending on the desired look. I tried a thick coat on one hand. I was amused to see it crack and separate, but disappointed in the overall look. I'd seen black and sparkly gold crackle polish before (which looks great) and this looked more like a child applying Whiteout to my nails than anything else.

On my other hand I tried a thin coat. It barely crackled and looked messy. It was hard to apply in a thin coat and left streaks on my nails. I applied a top coat so it wouldn't chip and so far it's held up quite well: 3 days of typing, cleaning, dishes, and generally forgetting I have nail polish on and picking at my nails. 

All in all, I wouldn't try crackle polish again. I have heard gold polish looks great over white or red, but I don't want to waste my money and be disappointed again. If I get to try it for free at a friends' house, then I'm game, but I think I'll stick with the Insta-Dri and forget about the crackle coat. 

Review: Ch-ch-ch-Chia!

Natural Factors Chia Seeds

I like yogurt for breakfast. Specifically, Liberte Caffe Latte-flavoured yogurt with strawberries on top. I was lucky enough to snag some fresh, farm-picked strawberries from my boyfriend, who bought 15 lbs of them. 

In our house, we have a "share-shelf". It's exactly what it sounds like: a collection of food, spices, sauces, vinegars, candies, oils, etc. that we share with one another. It's a lot easier and cost-effective to buy 1 big can of olive oil for $12 than 3 small bottles for $8 each. 

So, on this share-shelf is a container of Natural Factors Chia Factors. They're black chia seeds, not sure from where they are sourced. The ingredients say: salvia hispanica. The instructions say to eat them straight out of the jar or add them to a variety of foods, like yogurt and smoothies. It also comes with a handy scoop inside, about a tablespoon. 

I add a scoop of this to my yogurt every morning and it has a nutty, pleasing taste. The front of the label claims each serving has:

• 2.3 g omega-3 EFAs
• 2 g complete protein
• 57 mg calcium
• 4 d dietary fibre
• 960 ORAC Value (antioxidant value)
• 33 mg magnesium 

Chia Factors has 60 calories per serving and 3.5 g of fat. No sodium or cholesterol and 70 mg of potassium. It also has 4 g of carbs and 70% of your daily intake of manganese. It's also non-GMO and gluten free.

I think this product is great. It helps make the yogurt more filling and my breakfast holds me over longer during the morning. I made a piece of toast thing morning thinking the yogurt, fruit, and chia wouldn't be enough and by the time I finished the toast and peanut butter I was stuffed! 

I have also tried a similar product called Salba, which are white chia seeds. They were tasty as well, maybe not as nutty, and filled me up just like the black seeds. I'm not sure of the difference, but the white ones are salba hispanica instead of salvia like the black ones. I found this page, touting the superiority of Salba seeds over the black seeds. I don't know, you decide.

For now, I'm happy with my Natural Factors chia. It fills me up, makes me feel good, and adds some necessary fibre to my diet. 

Give it a try! 

Two Reviews: Aubrey Organics GPB & Clinique 7 Day Scrub

Aubrey Organics Glycogen Protein Balancing Conditioner and Clinique 7 Day Scrub

I wanted to start off this blog with reviews of two of my favourite products: Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner and Clinique 7 Day Scrub. I've been using the conditioner for 3 years and the scrub for 2 weeks. It's become a fast favourite of mine. 

First, the conditioner. I have fine curly hair with a normal-high porosity (read more about that here: at naturallycurly.com). Higher-porosity hair craves protein and this conditioner has glycoproteins and milk protein to help repair and strengthen. It also has aloe to moisturize. The conditioner is thick and rich and the scent reminds me of that Flex Balsam and Protein conditioner they had way back when. For those of you unfamiliar with that product, it has a pleasant herbal-y smell. I don't use a lot, maybe a quarter-sized amount for my shoulder-length hair. I let it sit for a few minutes under a shower cap and it rinses out clean. It leaves my hair soft, bouncy, and mostly frizz free (I use a little gel to combat the rest). 

Now, the scrub. I received this tester-sized bottle as a gift from a friend. The package says you can use it every day but my skin is extra-sensitive and since I also exfoliate with a washcloth at night to take my makeup off, I decided to use this every 2-3 days. The formula has a light scent, is very creamy, and has fine particles in it. It doesn't lather, but glides on smoothly. The instructions say to rub it in for 10-15 seconds and then rinse off. I also use it on my lips and it makes them nice and smooth. After rinsing off, my skin feels soft and moisturized. I don't use any other moistuizer after this product because it is so creamy to begin with.

I'll be back this week with some more product reviews and maybe some recipes and writing. I'm not sure how this blog will shape up yet, but I'm excited to find out!