Simple DIY Statement Necklace

Hi ladies!

Just a quick post to show you my latest DIY venture: a knotted statement necklace. The turquoise fabric is actually from an old t-shirt and the chain is extra I had laying around from another project.

I love the way it came out and I can't wait to experiment with more colours, sizes and chains.

Lots of love,

Jess xoxox

Clean and pretty professional-looking manicure at home

Hi Ladies!

I am super excited because tomorrow I have a job interview for a position in my field. I have been job hunting for a few months now so I'm really happy. When on an interview or in a professional setting, it's important to keep your nails clean and professional looking. Not to long, no chips and maybe skip the crazy neon greens.

 

For my interview I chose a soft pale pink with a sheer white topcoat over top. The colours I chose are called "Blush Rose" from Joe Fresh (This may only be available in Canada) and on top is "Couture" by Seche Vite. 

I started by moisturizing my cuticles, pushing them back and filing my nails to the shape I like. I prefer a rounded square shape

 Next, I applied two coats of Blush Rose, letting each coat dry in between.

 I then finished off with the Seche Vite top coat and let my nails dry completely before doing anything with my hands. The last thing you want in an interview in smudged or chipped polish :/

What do you guys think? Are these nails interview appropriate?

Lots of love,

Jess xoxox

How to grow long and healthy hair fast

If your hair is anything like mine, you were not blessed with the magical long hair gene. I have girlfriends that will chop off their hair to their shoulders at Christmas and by Easter their hair seems to be magically at their belly button! An exaggeration? Yes- but not too far off base. I am one of the unlucky ones whose hair grows at a snails pace- but for the first time in a long time my hair seems somewhat longish, with the longest bits just at about nipple length. Am I finally part of this long-hair club that I've wanted in for years? YES! But the road here has been long and I've picked up a few tips and tricks a long the way. Here are just a few.

Skip the heat
I know this can be scary. There has been points in my life that I have been a slave to heat tools. Not a day would go by without passing a straightener through my hair... and boy did it show! My hair was dry and the ends were split and snarly. Dry, damaged ends will snap and break and take away any length you have achieved. I promise, the longer you go without heat and embrace your natural hair texture, the healthier your hair will look and the easier ditching the heat will be. Too many of us get caught in the viscous cycle wear our hair is so damaged, only heat styling will make it look good. So STOP NOW!

Rock your natural colour
I am a natural brunette but during university I took the leap and became a blonde- and I loved it! It brightened up my face and I got so many compliments. I kept the blonde for about four years. Although I had noticed by hair was growing much slower than usual and it wasn't shiny or healthy looking. To give my hair (and my bank account) a break I went back to my natural brown this past Christmas and my hair has been so much healthier since and has grown faster in the last five months than it has in a long time. Even my friends have noticed!

Get Dirty
Let you hair's natural oils do what they were meant to do- nourish and condition your hair. Stop washing your hair daily and stripping the natural oils. Start slow by washing every other day, then every third. Experiment with dry shampoos and cute hair styles. Your hair may seem greasy at first, but this will eventually diminish.

Condition, condition, condition
Find a deep conditioner that you love. Use it 1-2 times a week (more or less depending on your hair). The more moisturized your hair is, the less likely it will break, causing you to lose length.

Say 'so long' to sulfates
Shampoos with harsh chemicals and detergents strip your hair of moisture. They may feel luxurious and lather well in your hair, but it is doing much more harm than good. Use a sulfate free, and preferable natural shampoo. These are now widely available in drugstores. There is no excuse.

Find balance from within
Drink water, eat your veggies and get lots of protein. Not only will your hair thank you, so will your skin, nails and waist line!

These are just a few of my top tips. What are some of your favourite ways to take care of your locks?
Comment below!

Lots of love,
Jess xoxox

It's all about the CORAL! Four perfect coral shades for spring and summer

When I think of spring and summer lips one word comes to my mind: CORAL. I absolutely love shades of coral. It is a very wearable colour and compliments a wide variety of skin tones. Here is a list of some of my coral lipsticks that I have found myself reach for.

"Ravishing" by MAC
This is such a beautiful lip colour, perfect for any spring and summer look. It is a bright coral,so I like to wear it with a very neutral eye and soft cheeks. The finish is a creamsheen, so it is very moisturizing and won't give a gnarly dry lip look (I hate that!)

"Peach Parfait" #401 by L'Oreal Colour Riche
This colour is on the peachier side of the coral family (hence the name) and I love it. Of the four shades shown, this is the colour I wear most often. It is very wearable and flattering. In fact, it's so wearable I often feel ok applying it without a mirror. **Shock and horror!!* The L'Oreal Colour Riche line is so moisturizing and smooth, applying more like a lip balm than a lipstick. In. Love.

"Compelling Coral" #402 by L'Oreal Colour Riche
Also from the L'Oreal Colour Riche family, this is the darkest shade of the bunch. I like wearing this shade in the evening for a more dramatic punch while still staying springy. It is also so moisturizing!

"Blushing Coral" by Clinique
I have had this lipstick in my collection for years! It is so wearable and sheer. It is a barely-there kind of shade with a glossy and slightly shimmery finish. A great choice to throw in your purse or beach bag for the day. And like the L'Oreal shades, it is also very moisturizing!

What are some of your fav summer colours? I'm in the market for a new one! Comment below!

Lots of love,

Jess xoxo

Heal acne naturally with two simple ingredients from your kitchen

Are you looking for a way to combat pesky breakouts without breaking the bank OR slathering on tongue-twisting chemicals? As you may have already noticed from reading my previous posts, I love simple, natural beauty solutions. If a product has ingredients I can pronounce and recognize and comes from good old mother nature, I tend to gravitate towards it. Better yet... I love being my own chemist! Researching and experimenting new ingredients I can use on my skin and hair that I already have in my kitchen. This leads me to my two favourite ingredients for nearly every skin problems you make be having.

Drum rrrooolll please......

 HONEY AND LEMON JUICE. Yep... that's it. Sorry if that was rather anti climactic and sounds more like a nice cup of tea than a facial treatment, but trust me, they work wonders on the skin AND are quite budget friendly!

It's best to get raw and organic honey, as this type of honey packs the most punch. Albeit, a tad more expensive then the honey in the plastic bear, the extra pennies are worth it. It is anti microbial and super hydrating- great for dabbing on pesky pimples. Honey has actually been used for century for the skin because of it's amazing healing properties.

As for the lemon juice, straight from the lemon is best. (Insert cheesey "when life gives you lemons" joke here...). Although, admittedly, when I don't have a lemon lying around I'll reach for the bottled one. Lemon juice is a powerful natural chemical exfolient. It contains citric acid that helps to remove the dull and dry outer layer of skin, revealing fresh, new and brighter skin underneath. It also does wonders to reduce dark spots left over from old pimples (I swear these marks are worse than the actual zit itself!) #FirstWorldProblems?

How I use my kitchen miracles

Option 1: Honey and lemon mask

Mix 2/3 part honey and 1/3 part lemon juice (you can play around with these proportions) and apply the mixture to my freshly cleansed skin. For an extra skin treat, I sometimes steam my face prior to applying to allow it's sweet goodness to penetrate the skin even better

Option 2: Plain honey mask

Repeat option one minus the lemon

Option 3: Lemon toner

After cleansing my skin at night I will sometimes use lemon juice as a skin toner. I use plain lemon juice, but if you have sensitive skin, it may be a wise idea to dilute it in some water, as it can sting. Do not wash it off and wake up to brighter skin the next morning.

So before you reach for that super expensive, chemical ridden and harsh skin product, take a short stroll into your kitchen. You'll be happy you did. :)

Have you tried either of these ingredients in any of your beauty routines? I would love to here how!

Lots of love,

XOXO Jess

How to get yourself out of a FUNK

Happy Saturday, ladies (with an emphasis on the happy)! 

If you're anything like me, every now and then you seem to get into a 'funk' that you just can't get out of. They can last anywhere from a couple of hours to months. For me these funks can include having to drag myself out of bed, lack of motivation to do thing that need to get done and no feeling like getting out or seeing friends. We've all been there, some worse than others, but we can all relate!

Before I get into some ways I've discovered dealing with these feelings, let me give you a quick snapshot of my life. From September to the end of December I was working at a job that was sucking the life out of me. Now don't get me wrong- I loved the work and my coworkers, but the commute and the hours were killing me. Thus, in December when my contract came up, I decided I would part ways. Fast forward 2 months and I have yet to start a new job. I get anxious at the thought of applying to positions, I am lacking motivation to seek out new opportunities and worse yet, my bank account is dwindling because of it. Now don't get me wrong, I am a very positive person by nature, but for some reason I have found myself in this funk.

Lucky for me I have slowly been discovering various ways to deal with my minor depression/anxiety and I feel like I am on my way out and hopefully some of my tips will help anyone finding themselves in the same boat as me. Let's get to it!

1. Get moving 

 

It doesn't matter if you hit up the gym, go for a walk outside, or make a date with Jillian Michaels and your DVD player, the bottom line is to get moving. One of my favourite resources is FREE online workout videos via YouTube and my go-to channel is Tone it Up. These ladies know what they're talking about and they are so beautiful. I'm also loving a new app I've discovered called "Moves". It uses your phone's GPS technology to track the distance you have walked. I am so obsessed with this! I even try and beat my distance each time. I've been walking everywhere!

 Exercise can have amazing benefits to not only the body, but also the mind. When you exercise your body releases natural endorphins which are basically feel-good chemicals. If you start by moving your body just a little bit every day you will start feeling a huge difference in your mood and outlook every day.

2. Get outside

 

Just the act of being outside can brighten your mood. Even though it's still snowy and cold here in Canada, getting outside and breathing in the cool fresh air really makes a difference. Try getting outside for AT LEAST 15 minutes each day. Leave the computer screen at home and your phone tucked away in your pocket and try to truly enjoy being outside.

3. Write down your goals

 

This is one of the best motivational tips I have come across. By writing out your goals each and every day you will be constantly reminded of them. By visually seeing them written down they become even more real. Also try reciting them out loud and really visualize them coming true. I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and when you can visualize your dreams, you will see them come true before your eyes.

In addition to this, I have recently come across the tip of writing your goals out in the present, as if they are already true. So instead of writing down, "I will lose 10 pounds by summer" write, for example, "I weigh 115 on July 1, 2013." By writing down your goals in the present, it causes your mind to shift the way it's currently working and start making decisions your 115 pound self would make. It's like magic!

4. Try something completely new

 

By getting out of your current routine and comfort zone, you will be amazed at what you might find. Try taking a community art class, join a recreational sports team or even something as simple as making a coffee date with a friend you haven't seen in months. By shaking up your routine a bit and putting yourself out there you could open doors to possibilities that you never even knew existed.

5. Nourish your mind and body 

 

How you fule your body, believe it or not, has a direct correlation to how you feel emotionally. Have you even craved a huge slice of doughy, cheesy pepperoni pizza and your so excited to gobble it up, only to find tha afterwards you feel slugish, tired and all you feel like doing is watching Netflix for the rest of the day? I'm sure we've all been there!

Instead, feel your body the foods you know it naturally craves like colourful fruits and vegetables and lean protein. By feeding your body natural, whole food after a week or so you will notice you have more energy to conquer the day.

6. Seek out inspiration

 

Finally, if you find that you are lacking inspiration or motivation, go out and find it! There are a million self-help books, CDs, Pod casts and even blogs that focus on self-development and self discovery. Lately I have been trying to read/listen just a little bit each day from a book that motivates me. Some of my favourites include:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (Basically the user's guide to positive thinking!)
The Secret (Film) (Includes great interviews and stories and I think it's available on NetFlix!)
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
Awakening the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins (This is also available in an audio version, which I highly suggest- his voice alone "awakens" you lol)

I hope you will find some of these tips helpful and useful in your own life. Even if you don't find yourself in a 'funk' per say, following some of these tips will allow you to be even happier each and every day.

What are some things you do when your feeling down? Let me know!

Lots of love,

Jess

Springtime nails featuring Essie's Figi

I don't know about you ladies, but I am just about ready for spring! I'm ready to to trade in my winter boots for sun dresses, shorts and cute strappy sandals. Unfortunately we still have a couple of months before the springtime shines it's lovely light upon us, but that doesn't mean we can't bring the springtime early- on our nails.

The fall and winter are all about the deep, dark and rich tones (which I love), but around this time of year, when I'm starting to really feel the winter blues, I like to lighten things up on my nails. Today I opted for Essie's Figi. It is a very light and opaque pink shade and is perfect for Easter and almost reminds me of a delicious Cadbury mini egg (YUM!!). It may not be everyone's taste because it can almost appear white-ish if two or three coats are applied.

Before I apply any nail polish I like to moisturize my skin and cuticles. I often use olive oil, but today I opted for OPI's Avoplex moisturizer, which I received in an OPI set a couple Christmases ago. After applying two coats of Figi I finished it off with a clear top coat to give it extra shine and lasting protection from chipping.

What's your favourite nail colour to help welcome spring? Comment below!

Lots of love,

Jess