Oktoberfest....

I'm really loving October and we've actually been having a fantastic fall this year (meaning the snow hasn't started, yet) and the colours and decent temperatures have me all into the season!

Thought I'd share some of my October faves with you...the stuff I've been using a lot and am currently diggin'...

{Finally I got my hands on the Wet n Wild 8 pan palette in Comfort Zone. It's the perfect combo of warm neutrals and olive tones. The pigmentation and quality is a-mazing. Srsly worth every inexpensive penny!}

{1. Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion in Amethyst Ablaze and Caffine Rush. I've never really been a fan of Maybelline eye shadows but like so many drug-store brands lately, they've really improved their quality. The application of this shadow is smooth and creamy and the color pay-off is fantastic. I'm beginning to think that my days of buying $15 MAC eyeshadows have come to an end...

2. Just in time for Halloween, orange Sally Hansen polish with a black crackle top-coat.

3. Lancome's newest mascara, Hypnose Doll Lash mascara. Like all of the Hypnose mascara's the application is impressive but the Doll Lash offers a more "wide-eye look with volumized, extended and lifted lashes."  I'm sold, who doesn't want to look like "a doll?!"

 {Ok, so since Captain Jack Sparrow arrived on the movie scene about 10 years ago, pirate costumes have had a serious renaissance and I'm ok with that. Now it's my turn to swashbuckle and plunder my way through Halloween this year.}

{Guten Tag! We survived yet another Oktoberfest at our pub. Older brother decided that on the last few weekends of October, our staff should suit up in lederhosen (the bartenders) and as beer maids (waitresses.) Kitschy? Yes. A huge success with our customers? YES!}

So how has your October been so far? What are your must have products or styles for your perfect fall looks?  

Are you a serious nerd keener like me and already have your Halloween costumes figured out (since September?) 

Blogger meet-up!

So while we were in Greece visiting my mother-in-laws village, I finally had the opportunity to meet up with another fabulous blogger, Irene from Blushingloves.  It just so happens that she lives in a city (Kalamata) about half an hour down the road from our little village and she was just as excited as me to meet up for a frappe (iced coffee) and a face to face visit!  I've been following Irene's beauty blog for almost 2 years now and she's most defo deserving of her blog popularity as she's one of the best European beauty bloggers out there!

We've all heard of meeting up with fellow bloggers IRL (in real life) but I didn't think I'd ever really have the opportunity to meet one of my blog "friends" as they're scattered all over the world. It just worked out so well that this pretty lady happened to live so close to where we were staying. It was meant to be y'all!

 And what a doll she is! We had a great time chatting about beauty products, blogging and family- ohhh we could have talked for hours! She brought along her hubby and 3 beautiful kiddos and they played great together with our 2 little guys, in fact our husbands really hit it off too...

{love this lady!}

I brought her a gift bag of some of my favorite makeup goodies and brands that she's not able to get her hands on in Greece like ELF, Annabelle, Wet n' Wild ,Cargo and NYX.

 Irene was such a sweetie and we had a great time chatting about everything and anything, it was a fabulous blogger meet-up! 

Check out her gorgeous beauty blog for great reviews of her fave beauty products, amazing pics of Greece and more from a girl who loves all thing makeup! 

These are a few of my favorite things...

I was tagged by the super lovely Marie, at Marie a la mode to talk a bit about the things I'm currently loving.

Easily done, in fact I had a hard time narrowing it down to only a top five.

My 5 current loves

My Samsung Galaxy Tab. Like an iPad but smaller and even more awesome. It's a tablet that supports Flash, fits in your hand, has a front and rear facing camera, its Android powered, it's preloaded with Kobo eReader and best of all it's like a tiny computer you can take anywhere (we put a SIM card in it too.) 

I'm kissing my laptop goodbye! 

e.l.f cosmetics- (eyes, lips, face)  I'm completely into this line of ridiculously affordable makeup. Sadly it's only available here in Canada at Winners (and sometimes Zellers) and online. The prices are amazing and the quality is just as good.  Most products sell from 3-10 dollars. Crazy!

 Dolman tops, whether it's with a bat wing or angel wing sleeve, v-neck or cowl neck, there's just something so flattering and easy to wear about this style of shirt. Fitted at the bottom but loose at the arm- it's perfection.

Brunette hair colour. Yup, I'm in love with brown hair (regular readers will be tired of hearing about this once again.) After years of being honey blonde I'm totally into dark chestnut brown hair. It's rich and natural and I wish I would have gone back to my "real" colour a long time ago had I known that I'd love it so much.

Large American Retailers- ok, this one might seem a bit strange but I really do love U.S. based retail/drug/department stores that we don't have here in Canada. While we do have just about every major store or chain here there are some we don't have (like Target).  Shopping in the States makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.

___________________________________________________________

5 Questions

1. Fave Makeup Brand?

OR

For years it was MAC all the way, but lately I've been really liking NARS as well.

2. Fave Clothing Brand?

This is another tough question. I (also) really like Forever 21, Michael Kors, Jacob, INC and even Old Navy. 

3. Your indispensable makeup product ?

This question is almost impossible to answer. (I really feel "naked" going out without foundation, liner, mascara and lipstick.) But I'm going to go with this pen style eye liner. It's way easier to use than classic liquid liner because of the pen style precision tip. It gives a smooth dark line that you can easily make thick or thin.

4. What country would you like to visit and why?

I'd love to visit Prague in the Czech Republic. It's one of the few European cities I haven't been to and I've heard its gorgeous. It's definitely on my list of must-see world destinations. 

5. What is that last concert you've been to?

Ok, don't get judgey on me. BritBrit is one of my favorite hot messes and she does put on a good show. What's sad is that I really haven't been to any other decent shows in well over a year. Mama needs to get out more?

Time to tag these lovely ladies:

Sara from Sara in Le Petit Village

DeefromCG at Champagne Blonde

Her Majesty, Mrs. Dixon from The Doll House

TILTE from Things I like to Eat (...and other Nonsense)

Heather from Forever in blue jeans

Hotpants from Handbags & Handguns

Pre-Christmas shopping for Mama, by Mama

This time of year is for sharing, giving and spending time with those around us that really matter.  And what better way to do that then by hitting up the stores with friends and shopping for myself. Yes, shopping for moi. I've already got my Christmas shopping done for the kidlets and my cheap-ass brothers are getting gift cards (it's more than they ever get me, believe me.) So really I just have a bit of shopping left to do for my parents and a few friends and that's easy peasy.  Since I'm so on top of things the obvious choice was to go shopping this week for a few things I've had my eye on...

Aldo Accessories-  Leopard print scarf and black Toque (that's a winter cap, for my non-Canadian readers)

I've been on the hunt for a good leopard print scarf for a while and this one is pretty decent though it's ridiculously long (am I supposed to wrap it around 5 times?) 

 I also happen to think that I look way cuter in the hat than the white mannequin head in the pic. Just my opinion.....

From Sephora I picked up the Urban Decay "Little Sins" eyeshadow Primer Potion Set

Nars Lipgloss in "Greek Holiday" (who doesn't love a holiday in Greece?)

Benefit Bronzer "Hoola" (my cheeks have never looked so contoured!)

From Walmart I picked up 2 pairs of Ardelle Lashes, 108 and 105. Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer, Revlon ColorStay Foundation (my new fave everyday foundation) and the much hyped Wet n' Wild Colour Icon palette in "Lust" (before you get all "Wet n' Wild, say what? Just let me say that this palette is phenomenal with great pigmentation. Wet n' Wild has come a long way since I was in grade 7....

From Shoppers Drug Mart I picked up the Smashbox Ultimate Eyes box set, (similar to the one at Sephora right now) so much product and only $62.00

 From Winners (Canada's TJ Maxx) an elf Kabuki brush and 32 eye palette. I'm starting to really love elf's products, the prices are amazing and the quality is pretty darn good too

And from the mother-ship, MAC, I picked up another bottle of Fix + setting spray (best invention ever!), "Cream cup" lipstick, "Melba" blush, "Soft and Gentle" Mineralize Skinfinish and "Rubenesque" Paint Pot

 {Pics of clothes on the hanger just never look as good....}

And finally from The Bay, I fell for this London Times one shoulder dress, it was $125.00 but I stole it for $49.00 with this weekends sale and the 20% off card I was sent in the mail from Bonnie Brooks (president of The Bay), I can't help but say her name in a mockingly low and gravelly voice...since she insists on doing her own radio ads 

Maybe it's a bit ridiculous to shop for yourself before Christmas, but sirsly if you knew my family you'd understand that never in a thousand lifetimes would they get me the things I like/want/need unless I specifically spelled it out for them. And since you could not pay Husband or my brothers to step foot in Sephora it's really a lost cause.  My mom and dad gave up on trying to find me what I like a long time ago so they default to Cuisinart food processors and Holt Renfrew gift cards, not that I'm complaining....


And really, at the end of the day I'm not a kid anymore. Christmas is about spending time with the people that matter most, not expecting them to buy you lots of gifts. Am I right? 
Or, is it your tradition that your friends and family make a point of checking off everything from your Christmas Wish List?

Grow Grow Grow

Lately there's been a swack of products claiming they can help make your eye lashes look fuller, longer, and more fabulous. Fabulous is good right, so I've decided to jump on the lash-growing-miracle bandwagon. L'Oreal's Lash Serum claims that it can overhaul your scrawny lashes and turn them into gloriously long, conditioned and fuller lashes. After about a month of using the Lash Serum I'd have to agree that my lashes do appear to be fuller and stronger (less fallout.) But are they longer? Hard to say. I want to say that they are but there isn't any actual medicinal ingredient in it that would cause actual lash growth. But for the price it is a decent product and if you're committed to applying it everyday it's worth it.

I'd really like to get my hands on the by prescription only product Latisse that Brooke Sheilds is pushing  promoting right now. But I'd feel kinda silly asking my doctor for an Rx. "Yes, I'd like a prescription for lash growth liquid in a bottle.... no seriously."  He's a great doctor but he's also a "woman, don't you come up in here wastin' my valuable time!" kind of doctor.  But just check out Brooke's results below. Tough to beat!!  Maybe it's time to hit up an internet pharmacy?? 

I've also heard a lot about the Phyto line of vitamin supplements that are supposed to make your hair grow stronger, thicker and FASTER.  From Sephora's website: Harnessing the power of natural elements, each daily dose of this nourishing vitamin, essential fatty acids, and antioxidant blend promotes healthy hair growth, strengthens nails, illuminates skin, and fortifies (and lengthens) lashes. Hair regains its density and shine.  Sounds pretty awesomesauce to me!

Any product that can improve my tragically thin, fine hair would indeed be a miracle in a bottle.  I'm up for that...bring on the hair growing magic!  I seriously have the slowest growing head of hair in the world. I can go months between highlight touchups. So will taking this stuff make my hair grow faster, thus requiring more visits to the salon? Hmmm all in the name of thicker, more fabulous hair right?!

 I swallowed the $75.00/bottle price tag. And since the product seems pretty natural with a lot of different oils in it maybe it'll work?  The helpful sales assistant at Sephora did warn me that her husband tried the stuff and he had to give it up because it sent him running to the potty, it apparently has a bit of a laxative effect (mother- frack, why does everything have to have side effects?!)  Fingers crossed my tummy won't betray me on this one. Glorious hair, I'm expecting you to arrive within 6-8 weeks with the following results:

{I'd take the great hair, AND the great body....}

It's Tuesday, let's go shopping....

I've been shopping a 'lil bit lately, and I thought I'd share some my finds with you all. Note, I really do deserve a prize for my ability to find dealz. (This is me tooting my own horn again, toot didily toot toot.) There should be an award for "Most Money Saved While Shopping" ....for stuff I really don't need.... but what else are you supposed to do on Tuesday other than shopping? (No, not laundry or cleaning bathrooms.)

I picked up this Almay Smart Shade Makeup and Concealer combo pack for $7.99 at Winners (the TJ Maxx of Canada) it's regularly $18.00 for the foundation alone. Good stuff?  Nope.  I tried it and Almay sucks (at least their foundation does.)  Since I've never bought an Almay product before I suppose you live and learn. It makes getting it on sale that much better....

L'Oreal Volume extreme shampoo (I need all the volume I can get) and L'Oreal Professional Mouse- both $12.99 from Winners.  

Sebastian Body Shampoo and Condition, $9.99 from Winners. Revlon Nail polish in Lavender Pastelle and L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara (lurve it, always need to stock up)

 MAC Viva Glam II (an oldie but goodie) and MAC Paint Pot in Painterly 

(It's a base eye primer that I've heard so much about it and I had finally had to give a try) 

The Coastal Scents 88 Palette (ok, so the Coastal scents palette is super popular in the U.S. and it's totally NOT expensive at $18.95.) But it's not available here in Canada.  Apparently the quality is surprisingly good even though it's mass produced out of China by some who-knows-what cosmetic company.  So the palette I picked up isn't sold under the name "Costal Scents", but the palette colours are the same and in the same order. So yeah, it's the same product. (I'm hoping)

Boyfriend Blazer from, again no judging, Fairweather. You all are gonna start thinking that I'm a faithful Fairweather shopper which I so am not but I picked up the jacket for $30.00  Since this look isn't going away anytime soon I figured it would be a good piece for spring.