Getting Organized

For myself (and any other fellow uni students out there), the start of the new year also means the start of a new semester. This term I promised myself I'd stay on top of my readings and assignments. Really, time management overall is something I'd like to improve in 2015. Between work, school, blogging and time with friends and family I'd like to make adequate time for everything without stressing myself out. This is where organization comes into play.

Keeping a Planner -
I live out of my day planner, it is my savior. I won't lie to you I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to selecting the perfect day planner. It can't be too small, it can't have time slots, it must have a monthly overview etc. (I know, pathetic really) But I'm telling you, finding a day planner that works well for you will really help optimize your organization.

Setting Goals - 

This is something new I've started in the new year. At the start of each week I set a small goal for myself at the top of the page. This I've found has helped me complete pesky little tasks that do not necessarily need to be completed right away but would be nice to get out of the way. You could even set personal goals like "drink a litre of water every day this week!" or "wake up by 8am every day!"

Setting even the smallest goals like those really help to make you feel like you've accomplished something and you'll find you'll become increasingly more productive with your days as they go on!

To-Do Lists -

Ah, a good ole' to-do list. They can either make you feel proud and accomplished or like crap for having not crossed off a single task by the end of the day. This is why I set weekly to-do lists. It's inevitable that things come up throughout your day and some tasks are likely to be shoved aside. Instead of getting down that you didn't achieve as much as you prospected, give yourself the week or even a few days to accomplish it. I jot mine down on a little sticky note and keep it on the weekly overview in my planner, this way it is always in sight but not bound to a specific day of the week. Some planners even provide a section just for to-do lists!

I hope these baby steps can be of some help to some of you, and cheers to a more organized 2015!

Recipe | Chia Seed Pudding

Not going to lie, when it comes to healthy "desserts" my first reaction is to scoff and opt for a Reese's peanut butter cup. I always come across recipes that will "satisfy your sweet tooth" and it's typically a bite sized rice cake variety with cinnamon on it (I'll pass...thank you). So now that I'm trying to eat healthier - or cleaner I should say, I'm always on the hunt for easy, innovative recipes that don't consider kale to be an alternative to a Mars bar.

That being said, you can take my word for when I say this recipe makes for a perfect little snack and an excellent breakfast option! I for one, am not a pudding person. I'm pretty indifferent towards it, but with the added fruit toppings this makes for an awesome breakfast leaving you feeling awesome about starting your day on a healthy note!

For those that aren't too familiar with chia seeds let me just give you a mini run down on these little guys. Chia seeds are an awesome source of omega-3 fats, they actually have 3x the omega-3s that flax seeds have! They're also a great source of fiber, calcium, protein, manganese & phosphorus. Basically, they get you full faster, are great for your heart health, fight off pesky belly fat (can I get a woop woop!), and are a cholesterol free way of adding protein to your diet. Best of all? They're tasteless and super easy to add to your meals. I even sprinkle them in my grilled cheeses. 

What you'll need:

2 c.        almond milk (You can also use coconut milk or soy milk)

1/4 c.     chia seeds

2 tsp.     vanilla extract

Last but certainly not least, toppings of your choosing. I opted for a sprinkle of cinnamon and a handful of raspberries!

Other toppings I recommend:

- granola

- mixed berries

- chopped nuts (almonds and pistachios are delicious with fruit)

- a sprinkle of brown sugar for added sweetness

Attention chocolate lovers: You can even mix in some cocoa powder to make this into a tasty little chocolatey treat!

Once you mix all the ingredients together, you want to make sure your chia seeds are evenly mixed in with your pudding mix. Unfortunately for us impatient type, you have to let this sit for around 8 hours. I tend to make mine at night so I can dive into it the next morning!

Once your pudding has settled overnight, go right ahead and add your toppings and you're good to go!

Spring Cleaning | Closet Clearout

 

It's almost that time of year again, folks. The time of year where we shove our Winter wear to the back of our closets and bringing out our brighter Spring colours. While I was sorting through my closet I began finding articles that I pretty much never wear, have had for far too long, or were of no interest to me anymore.

A friend of mine kept telling me of a place nearby that bought gently worn clothing. I've always been a bit skeptical about selling to consignment shops because my past experiences have been a bit shady. Store owners would only pay you once your item sold and would never notify you when it did, you would have to keep coming in store to check in. The amount you waste in gas making these visits outweighs the benefit of selling the clothes in the first place, so when I was told this consignment shop sorts through and pays you for your contribution up front, I was sold!

Keep in mind, many of these places are typically looking for name brand apparel and of course, nothing with stains, holes or pilling.  So, after sorting through my closet of clothes I no longer wanted to keep, I then sorted through those piles for the articles I figured would be of interest to the consignment shop. I was getting a bit hoarder-esque in the beginning but then began to formulate a break down to help in deciding what's to keep and what's to go.

- Have you worn this in the last 8 months?

No? Chances are you aren't going to wear it anytime soon. Toss.

- Does it fit? (Alannah, stop telling yourself it will if you REALLY REALLY try)

No? Toss...seriously, TOSS IT.

- Does it fit in with your current style?

No? Then let it go. Time to evolve.

- Would you buy it today, if it was sold in stores?

No? Do I have to say it? Toss.

I ended up with 2 duffle bags of items to take to consignment. I went in, handed them over, waited around 20 minutes and to my surprise, they had taken almost everything I had brought over! I made $74.25 for pieces I had pretty much forgotten I even owned! Anything the shop wasn't interested in taking was added to the Salvation Army donation pile.

It felt pretty good to not only clear out my closet for the new season and make space for some new items, but to earn a few dollars in the process! I would definitely recommend looking up consignment shops in your area for a little added motivation to start your spring cleaning early!

Happy Spring Cleaning!

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Rave | Nars Soulshine Blush Palette

During the Christmas shopping season, I was in Sephora grabbing a few gifts when I saw the Nars Soulshine Palette. One thing led to another and next thing you knew I was leaving Sephora with a cheeky new purchase for myself. I couldn't help it, it's just such a gorgeous palette! This palette comes with three blush tones: a shimmery golden apricot, a deep rose, and a gorgeous coral with gold overlay. The neatest part about this palette is the formatting. NARS is actually embossed in the powder with a gorgeous gold shimmer that when swirled all together adds that perfect highlighted touch to your cheeks. This palette is sizable enough that you are able to use each blush shade individually or all together. I find that the pigmentation when swirled together is quite bold, so I opt for a duo fiber brush (I use the MAC 187).  Each shade is gorgeous on it's own but when combined you achieve such a unique, beautiful colour.

I am absolutely obsessed with this palette at the moment and truthfully, I haven't reached for any other blush since this found its way into my collection! If I had to name a negative, my only "complaint" would be that the gold embossing seems to only be at the initial surface level. However, as you can tell by the pictures above, the gold shimmer more or less mixes itself into the other shades the more you use it. Because of the richness and variety amongst the shades, I would say this blush is suitable for just about every skin tone!

What is your go-to blush at the moment?

Kickstarting 2014 On The Right Foot

For me, 2013 was a so-so year. Between school and work it was quite easy for me to fall flat on my commitments and personal goals. I lacked inspiration and motivation in almost every aspect of my life, and just ultimately caused me to fall flat. I want my 2014 to be a happier, healthier, more organized and more motivated year.  If there's anything I've learned from this year is that you have to go for what you want, if you have to fight for it - then fight for it.

 I went out to Chapters and picked up a few things to get my 2014 started on the right foot. I picked up this adorable notebook for only $6.50, it has a cute little Where The Wild Things Are quote on it which made me fall in love with it. This is going to be my blogging notebook, just to help me stay organized and inspired. I also picked up Demi Lovato's book Staying Strong 365 Days A Year, It has a quote and goal for each day of the year. This will really help me stay inspired and motivate me on the days that I'll really need a kick in the butt. Finally, and probably most importantly, I found this adorable recycled calendar from Sugar Paper. I heavily rely on my monthly outlines to keep me on track, this one's a little more grown up compared to my One Direction choice last year (I regret nothing).

That being said, here are my resolutions for 2014:

1. Look for inspiration everywhere

2. Drink more water

3. Post at least one blog post a week

4. Make a point to exercise weekly

5. Eat clean as much as possible

6. Always choose to be happy

7. Save enough money for a trip abroad

8. Take action towards my dreams

What are your personal goals and resolutions for 2014?

Nightime Skin Care Routine | Winter

Come Winter time, my skin tends to be victimized by the harsh Canadian weather. I typically have combination skin, but my skin tends to really dry out in the Winter. To prevent my skin from drying out I've started to heavily moisturize right before bed. This gives my skin the chance to hydrate overnight and provides a nice smooth surface to apply my makeup in the morning - nobody likes the look of foundation over flaky skin. This is the 3 step system I've found to work best for me this Winter, I would definitely recommend each of these products in a heartbeat!

1. Bioderma Créaline Lait - This summer, a friend of mine visited France and was kind enough to bring this back for me. I have been (impatiently) waiting for Winter to roll around so I could finally test it out. So far, I absolutely love it. I prefer using this at night just so I can give my skin a chance to hydrate overnight. This is a creamier formulation compared to the regular H20 formula, providing a little extra moisture for your skin - an absolute must for the Winter months!

2. Bioderma H20 - This will forever be a staple in my skincare routine. Despite recently switching out for the Lait formula as my main cleanser/makeup remover before bed, I still find that I reach for this to remove my eye makeup. It's not necessary, the Lait can sufficiently remove any and all makeup, I have just personally found this to be gentler on the eyes and a little easier to get my mascara off with.

3. Bioderma Hydrabio Serum - After getting a baby sample size with my bottle of H20, I thought I'd give this a try. After 3 straight days of squeezing the life out of the sample bottle, my skin felt baby soft. That has never been the case for my skin, I actually enjoy moisturizing now, simply because I can actually see a great difference in my skin! My skin hasn't been this hydrated in as long as I can remember. It is hydrating enough to use at night and light weight enough to use before I apply my makeup in the morning. It is a very concentrated serum that allows for maximum hydration while still keeping a light weight formulation - to put it in simpler words, it's everything I've ever wanted in a moisturizer.

What are you using to treat your skin this winter?