Learn to love liquid liner....

Two years ago I stumbled upon a fabulous pen-style liquid eyeliner and it was love at first use.  After years of using traditional pencil liners as well as the click-up "automatic" liner, I dumped them both for my new bestie, 'felt' pen-style liquid liner. 

Admittedly I was intimidated by classic liquid liner because you need such a steady hand to apply it properly and unfortunately my hands are really shaky.

 I mean I'm super shaky...as bad a Lindsay Lohan on day 2 of 30 day rehab stint.  

And since liquid liner sets so quickly and the color is so dark, any mistakes you make (janky zig-zag lines) can quickly ruin your whole eye look and you have to start over...

{just say no to this mess in a bottle} 

This is where a pen-liner comes to the rescue. It offers the smooth, controlled application of a pencil liner without the goopy, unforgiving nature of the dip-in-liquid/cream with a tiny brush type of liner.

{some of my fave liners: Wet n' Wild Mega eyes, Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner, NYX Liquid Liner in Dark Brown}

The line is clean, bold, and you can easily control the thickness of it from inner eye to outer eye. 

Want cat eyes or maybe a more subtle slightly winged look? A pen-liner makes it easy peasy and anyone can create a gorgeous look, it just takes a little practice.

Of course for the lower lash line I still rely on my traditional kohl pencil liners, but for the upper lash line you can't beat the finished look you achieve with a pen-liner. Perfection!

Check out mama-to-be Beyonce's look, her makeup is totally simple and clean- just a nude lip and some bold liner on the top. How easy is that? Very.

Just about every major drug-store brand of makeup has a pen-style liner so it's definitely worth a try. 

You'll never bother with messy liquid liner again...you can thank me later.   :)

images via google

End of an era...goodbye gel nails?

So after 12 long years Mama has decided to give up on gel nails. 

In 1999 at my first big-girl job straight out of university, all the women in the office had gel nails...they caught my eye instantly. They looked clean, professional and dare I say a bit glamorous?  I was hooked and have had a love-affair with nails for years now.  

I've always kept them short, square-oval shaped and simple (no Lady Gaga dagger shaped nails here).

However after 12 years of consecutive wear - as in I've never had them off, I've finally decided to take a break.

via

Will I go back to them? I'm not sure, they're hard to let go of. My own nails have always been pitiful. They're ridiculously soft and paper thin. As in the kind of nail that you can bend back and forth, peels and never really grows worth a darn. And no amount of strengthening top-coat would ever help, thanks for NOTHING Sally Hansen...

So last Saturday when I took them off (I was in desperate need of a fill anyway) I decided to let my own nails "breath."  It's a myth that gel or acrylic nails will wreck your own nails, if they're properly applied the nail underneath may grow a bit thinner but they won't be damaged. So now my natural naked little nails look fine. But it's not fine.

{Srsly Gaga, how do u get through the day with those...}

The problem is that I cannot function. I feel like I'm all thumbs! I miss the strength my gel nails had. They were like little tools to help open containers, scrape food residue off dishes that didn't come clean from the dishwasher (gross, I know) and I always felt my hands were strong and capable.

Not anymore.

Now my fingertips hurt, I can't open my eyeshadow palettes, can't get the lid off the coffee tin without it hurting. I could go on and on.  I suppose I'll adjust and my hands will "toughen up" with time but for now I'm dying! (First World Problem, I know...)

So what to do? Should I go back to dropping $35.00 for a fill every 4 weeks or should I put my gel nails behind me?  When you paint gel nails the color lasts forever, they always look polished and they make my fingers look longer and even thinner.

(maybe I'm delusional here?)

Gel nails, yay or nay? Speak!

Baby shower of the century!

Yup, in my humble opinion this weekend Mama pulled together the most amazing baby shower ever. The party was thrown in honour of my girlfriend Rolanda and her baby London (and that little girl most definitely came out to party...as much as a 2 month old can rock it out!)

My theme was a pink and green candy shoppe...super sweet fun for an even sweeter little girl.

The weather was hot and gorgeous outside and the white peach sangria was cold and delicious!

{The baby of the day, Miss London with a giant pink flower}

{Dessert anyone? Macaroons, chocolate chip stuffed raspberries, red velvet cupcakes and fruit kabobs}

{White Sangria with fresh peaches, strawberries and green apples- and a whole lot of Sauvignon Blanc and peach schnapps...Yum!}

{Mommy Rolanda opening her gifts and it wouldn't be a shower without at least a few cheesy shower games...}

{Lots of sweet treats to take home}

{Party blooms (pompoms) for a pop of fun and color}

{I'd rock a tutu too...if I could}

 {fresh flowers make Mama happy}

It was beyond fun putting this shower together...and even more fun getting together with all of Rolanda's best girlfriends. 

Babies are so special and they deserve to be celebrated as much as possible!

Wanting on Wednesday...

I thought I'd share my latest list of "wants" with you all. They can be classified in different categories, stuff I dream of, stuff I might get my grabby hands on someday and stuff that shall be mine.

Let's start with the attainable items then work up to the not getting this anytime soon...

Michael Kors watch in gold.
A lot of people are loving rose gold right now but I'm still a fan of traditional yellow gold. I'd of course stack it with a mountain of bangles and other bracelets. Perfect with a tan.

Bobby Brown "beach" perfume. Honestly I've heard so many rave reviews about it's fresh, summery, beachy smell and it sounds perfect for summer.

House of Harlow 1960 Black resin triangle necklace. From NicRic's jewelry line, this piece has been around for a few years now and I honestly didn't like it at first but now I need it badly...yeah I'm late to the party.

Bottega Veneta BV93S Wayfarer Sunglasses. The perfect blend of the classic wayfarer frame shape but with larger lenses. 

Oh look, it's Kim K. again.....

Rick Owens Leather Biker Jacket. So this has become a star-staple but I love love love the flared collar and cropped styling....

Alexander Mcqueen clutch and knuckleduster style clutch.  These are fun and funky and I want one (still)...
I defo think that they're worth the price as they've become an instant classic.

So what's on your wish list currently? Is it pie in the sky or could you buy it tomorrow if you wanted?

images via google, alexander mcqeen

H and M comes thru again...

H&M is proving to be my go-to spring/summer store. While I'll admit that sometimes it can be a bit too

Euro-23-year-old-ish, most of the time their styles are totally doable for just about anybody. I'm loving their bright colour-blocking pieces (though I didn't buy any this time) and their summery pastels and whites. Even better, the prices are ridiculous- they're practically giving their stuff away.

However,

Dear H&M, please start steaming your merchandise before you hang it on the racks. This was a seriously wrinkled haul and Mama hates ironing!

{I'll get my Chloe inspired bag on the cheap, only 10 bucks! }

{ Roar for more animal prints}

 {This top is black not grey but my Nikon disagrees}

 {Ughhhh,  ironing blazers suckssss -why do you do this to me H&M?}

 {pretty in (peachy)pink}

 {White pants are the epitome of summer. But since I practically live at the North Pole I almost never wear them here. These ones are heading to Greece with me}

I'm finally wrapping my mind around the idea of warmer weather clothing. The farmers almanac says it's supposed to be a "super hot year" but I'll believe it when I see it.  Right now I'm still hoping my garden/flowers don't get killed by our cold nights, we're still having frost warnings. Even in June there's no guarantee that we won't get a bit of snow...

But today the sun is shining and its 23 degrees Celsius out. I'm off to the greenhouse to buy more plants for my flower beds- I might wear my white pants.

yet another reason I love wine...

Mother's day was full of high's and low's last weekend. I managed to put out my back and woke up Sunday morning in A-GON-Y. I seriously could barely drag myself down the stairs to make breakfast for the fam. Ironically was that not the one day other's should be waiting on me hand and foot making their mother or wife breakfast? Apparently not.  Fortunately after a few hours and a few muscle relaxants everything started to feel better. We had my whole family over for dinner and I barbecued up a storm and I'm fairly certain that while a Sauvignon Blanc-muscle relaxant combo isn't advisable, it's most definitely enjoyable!

 

NO PAIN

Flowers from my boys

Husband decided to spend a buck and is catching on to this whole 'buying your wife nice things really is a good lifestyle choice' way of thinking...makes me smile.

Happy wife, happy life. In theory anyway!

Hope you all had a fabulous mother's day weekend celebrating the special women in your life, including yourselves.

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?

Friday tunes

Loving (the recently hitched) Miss Katy Perry's new song "Firework" and her video too. Although I can't say she's my favorite (in general) like almost every song she does it's the lastest tune stuck in my head on repeat...        Srsly, "I Kissed a girl" was stuck in my brain for monthssss.

Happy Friday Lovlies!