Wedding Wednesday! Photo time!!

For the past year, my friend Lindsay has been planning, preparing, and getting pumped up for her wedding day…and along the way, she shared many of her ideas and thoughts with her readers regularly on her “Wedding Wednesday” posts.

(I even starred in one of them!)

Lindsay and Ryan finally had their big day on Saturday, and now they are off on their honeymoon.  So today is the first day in many, many weeks that her blog has not featured a “Wedding Wednesday” post (but go check out her guest, the lovely Kelly is posting for her today!)

I decided to pick up the “Wedding Wednesday” slack and have my own little post in honour of Linds & Ryan.  Especially since I finally got my camera back, charged up, and the pics uploaded!  :)

Those of you who are my Facebook friends have probably already seen these, but for those of you haven’t, here are a few of my favourite snaps from Lindsay & Ryan’s gorgeous wedding day…

The Bride-to-be in the hair & make-up chair

Ready for the dress!!

The newlyweds - Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Woermke

Bridesmaids – Amanda, Rebekka & I

Groomsmen – Luc, Jared & Graham

I stole this one from Nancy’s Facebook, because I didn’t have one of Lindsay & I together on my camera

Ryan, Linds & our student minister Nancy Best

Hamilton & Earl family photo

Woermke & Hamelin family photo

The Bride & Groom cutting the cake

Some of my besties at the reception – Sara (aka The Birthday Girl), Stacy, and Josee

Evan & Ricky, looking very excited!!!

The photo booth – and the costumes that came with it – were a source of GREAT entertainment during the night!!  (Ryan, Todd & Garry, looking their finest…)

There is a reason why I love my roomie, Sue… :)

Me & Sue with the beautiful (but maybe getting a little tired? lol) Bride :)

Brenda, Sue, Adam & the Groom!!

I caught the bouquet…my Godson Cowan caught the garter…he REALLY didn’t want to put it on his head, but I made him…and he REALLY didn’t want to be in this picture, but I made him.  Isn’t he the cutest?!?  Can’t wait to marry him!!!! ;)

It was such a wonderful day filled with memorable moments that I’m sure Lindsay & Ryan will look back on fondly for years to come!  I can’t wait to see the pictures from Lindsay’s photographer, Julie C. Butler Photography!!

So that concludes my very first (but, God willing, not my last) “Wedding Wednesday” post…hope you enjoyed!

Oh, and be sure to head on over to Life’s A Beach, where I’m guest posting today for one of my favourite bloggy pals, Nicole, while she’s on vacation!

(grumble, grumble, grumble…)

Happy Wednesday :)

Let's talk about my fat. And other random stuff.

Is it possible that I'm still coming down from the weekend?  I swear, I'm still not feeling back to "normal" yet.

Thought I'd go random this lovely Tuesday, and share the many little things running through my little brain today...

• Pretty sure you guys are gonna go Oh my God, here she goes AGAIN!!!...but I'm starting another "healthy eating lifestyle" today.  I'm getting bigger by the day, and my cravings for all things crap are starting to take over my life.  It really hit me last night, after a day of stuffing my face with candy left-overs from Lindsay & Ryan's Candy Buffet, and then indulging in a combination platter from Gavan's last night (chicken fingers! onion rings! zuchinni sticks! fries! giant-ass cup of white sauce! OH MY!!)...I felt like absolute crud.  I'm tired of feeling this way.
• I'm ashamed of myself.  At Christmastime, I had lost 32 lbs, and I was feeling better than I had in years.  I just let that all slip away, and blamed the world for it, calling it "stress eating".  I got into my dress for Lindsay's wedding, but it was supposed to be so big on me that it would need massive alterations.  That didn't happen.  And while I loved the dress, and loved how I felt in it, I can't help but feel disappointed when I see the pictures, and can't help but scrutinize the fatty parts of me that I know didn't look that bad a few months ago.  Below is a picture of our student minister Nancy & I after the wedding - I love the picture, but hate that I can't stop looking at my flaws...

I am tech and MS Paint unsavvy, apparently...click on the pic to enlarge to read my comments of self-loathing...it's fun, y'all

• You know why ELSE I need to change my habits?  Cankers.  My mouth was so sore last night (about as sore as my feet!), and no amount of water and Listerine was making it feel any better.  I'm pretty sure the crap I've been eating is to blame for that.
• And of course, a sales rep just stopped in for a visit with a big box of Tim Horton's doughnuts.  Of course he did.
• OK.  Enough of this.  You've heard it all before anyways, right?  Here's the good news:  I FOUND MY KEYS!!!  Well, I don't actually have them in my possession just yet, but someone has my keys, I just need to arrange to get them back.  So.flippin.relieved.
• I started Fifty Shades of Grey last night.  Three chapters down, and I think it's safe to say I'm hooked, even though I haven't really got to the juicy stuff yet.  But I know it's coming, and I can't wait to curl up with my book tonight!
• Song that I can't get out of my head:  Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.  It has officially trumped What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.  Yes, I am a teeny bopper in disguise.
• Have I mentioned lately how excited I am that I'm going to be an auntie again!?  squeeeeeeee!!!!
• The office is frigid today. Clearly, Lindsay is on her honeymoon, and not here to monitor the boys and their excessive use of the AC.  I generally don't like it as warm as she does, but it's seriously a frigging meat locker in here today.
• I'm so glad this coming weekend is a long weekend.  God bless you, Queen Victoria, and whatever it is you did to deserve a holiday in your name.  I'm really looking forward to a day off!

Alrighty, I think that's it for now!  Oh, and if you'd like to hear what my Summer Playlist is looking like this year, I'm guest posting for that aforementioned honeymooning pal of mine over at A Small Town Kind of Life!  Check it!

Linking today's post up with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday, and also with Stacy for Random Tuesday.

Coming Back Down...

A great way to gauge how awesome a weekend it was? 

By how tired I am, how sore my feet are, and how badly I feel I need a food & drink detox of some sort...

Wehhhhhh.

What a busy, fun, & memorable weekend it was!

On Friday night, we gathered at my cousin David & Dawn's house to celebrate my Aunt Marion's 60th birthday.  My aunt is, without a doubt, one of my most favourite people in the world.  She has an incredible strength, a wonderful sense of humour, and is one of the most caring, kind, and giving people I've ever met.

Aunt Marion, circa September 2011, with her grandson Dillon

We had a great time celebrating her milestone birthday with drinks, BBQ, cake & presents.  It was a special night in honour of a very special gal!!  Aunt Marion, I hope you had a terrific birthday, we all love you very much!!  All the best for the next 60 years!! ;)

Saturday morning, I was up bright and early to head to my friend Lindsay's parents' place for hair and make-up.  My job on this very special Saturday?  I had the pleasure & privilege of being Lindsay's Maid of Honour on her wedding day! :)

Photo courtesy of Nancy Best

It was a BEAUTIFUL day - hot & sunny, with a church packed with people there to celebrate the happy occasion of Lindsay & Ryan's wedding.

Honestly, I don't think things could have gone more perfect for Linds & Ryan.  The ceremony was beautiful, and the skies clouded over just enough for perfect pictures afterwards.  Then we travelled up to the reception hall in Shawville for a delicious meal, entertaining speeches, and a rip-roaring good time on the dance floor!

That's where the sore feet come in...oh.my.gahhhhhhh.  My feet feel like I walked around with razor blades in my shoes all weekend.  The soles of my feet literally feel swollen.  Yikes.  But, I'm taking it I must've been having a good time on the dance floor? ;)

Another sign it was a good time?  I managed to lose both my camera and my keys.  The camera has been recovered (thank God!), but still no luck with the keys.  So grateful I have spares for my house & car!  Also?  I had money, my bank card, my driver's licence, gum, lipstick, lip gloss, and a little perfume sample in my clutch, which I left very much unattended all night long while I was up dancing.  I managed to get the clutch home with me, with all of the contents - EXCEPT the lipstick, gloss, and perfume.  I have no friggin clue where they went...but I guess I should be happy the money and cards made it home!

So.  Needless to say, I was feeling pretty rough yesterday.  BUT it was Mother's Day.  And I will do just about anything for my mama. ;)  Hence, I was up to go to church with the whole family, then we took her out for brunch and gave her her gifts.

Mom & I, Thanksgiving 2011

I crashed on the couch for the rest of the afternoon, and pretty much felt like death until bedtime.  It was a weekend jam-packed with fun & festivities, but I'm still suffering for it today.  My feet are still aching (like, seriously?!  What was I doing on the dancefloor?!), and I feel like I could just lie down for a nap right about now. 

That, and my search for my keys continues...

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend & a happy belated Mother's Day to all the lovely moms out there! xo

Ready for Fifty Shades of …something.

I’ve been feeling a little left out these days. 

Why, you ask?

Because everyone and their grandma is talking about Fifty Shades of Grey.

The radio hosts on Hot 89.9.  The radio hosts on Majic 100.  Ellen DeGeneres.  My fellow bloggers.  My Facebook friends.  The peeps I follow on Twitter. 

Literally everyone.

And I WANT IN THE CLUB!!!

So I ordered all three books from Amazon on Monday.  (I’m assuming, from the reviews I’ve heard, that I will like the first one and want to dive right in the next one, so I just got all three.  It’s been a long time since I ordered anything from Amazon, Mom, give me a break.) 

I was suuuuuuuuper excited when they arrived in the mail yesterday!

The only problem is this:  I have a quarter of The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen left to read, and I already signed up for the Sarah Addison Allen Challenge over at Quirky Girls Read, so I have to finish it.  And I’ve been enjoying it, but I’m just dying to start the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.  So it seems to be taking a million years to finish The Sugar Queen now.  

Once this busy weekend, jam-packed with fun events (Aunt Marion’s birthday!  Lindsay’s wedding! Mother’s Day!) is over, I’m hoping to wrap up The Sugar Queen quickly so that I can finally meet this Christian Grey fella I’m hearing so much about…

I anticipate I’m going to enjoy him.

;)

Final Thoughts on The Voice

Last night, my mom and I stayed up til 11 PM to watch the 2-hour season finale of The Voice.

(Okay, well, I stayed up til 11 PM to watch the 2-hour season finale of The Voice.  Mother kind of head-bobbed from 10 PM on, and woke up once to tell me she like Jordis’ dress, once to say how young Justin Bieber looked, and at the end to watch the results.)

She and I have been following the show, off and on, since the blind audition rounds.   My main drawing card has been the ever-sexy Adam Levine.  And then there’s also Blake Shelton as an added bonus.

Not to mention, the talent on-stage was pretty amazing.  I love that the people on this show are all generally acts that have been grinding it out in the music scene for years, waiting for a lucky break; waiting for their shot.

I was generally pleased last night with the final 4 – Chris Mann representing Team Christina, Juliet Simms from Team Cee-Lo, Jermaine Paul the last man standing from Team Blake, and Tony Lucca as the final contestant for Team Adam.

I admit, I was rooting for Tony.  I kind of felt bad that the former Mouseketeer was getting the gears all the time from Aguilera, his once-upon-a-time co-star on the Mickey Mouse Club.  I mean, when she first realized who Tony was, she hugged him and reminisced with him and acted all excited to see him again.  But from there on out?  She seemed to want to bash Tony every chance she got.  A few weeks ago, she called him one-dimensional, and then on the final performance night, she basically called him a misogynist for doing a raucous rendition of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems”.

For the record?  I thought Tony did an amazing job, and it was one of my favourite performances of the season.  Christina’s criticisms seemed petty and vindictive to me, as the husband and father of 2 seems to be anything but a “woman hater”.  That was another reason I was rooting for him.  While I agreed with the Top 4 on the whole, I explained to Mom last night that Lucca was the winner in my eyes, because he was really the only one out of the Top 4 that I could see myself buying his music some day.

At the end of it all, though, it was Jermaine Paul from Team Blake that ended up getting the most votes and the title of The Voice.  Jermaine, the former back-up singer for Alicia Keys, was a pretty strong contender to win the whole way through the competition, and I have to admit that his “group performance” with Pip, Jamar, and James doing the Jackson 5 was one of my favourite performances on the night.

Well, that and Justin Bieber’s guest appearance, debuting his hit single “Boyfriend” for the first time live.  Y’all know I love me some Bieber…

There was one other thing that kind of overshadowed the whole 2-hour, far-too-dragged-out finale and the eventual crowning of Jermaine Paul as the winner.  When Chris Mann was announced as the fourth-place finalist, his coach Christina jumped up to join him on-stage, and it was revealed that she was wearing all class on the top, but a silver, sparkly pair of underwear or something, and black nylons – and nothing else – below?!?!

AND OF COURSE I CAN’T FIND A DAMN PICTURE OF IT!!!!

Trust me, it was quite the sight!

Congrats to Jermaine for winning it all last night, he was much-deserving of the title.

I asked Mom what we’re going to watch now…and her suggestion was Blue Jays games.  Guess I’m going to have to become an MLB fan now!

The Single Girl Files: I need someone to kill the spiders…

You need a man around here
You can't do it all by yourself
To me it's painfully clear
That you could use a little help
Someone to kill the spiders (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Change the channel and drink the beer
Seems to me that you sure need
A man around here

This isn’t the first time I’ve used these Brad Paisley lyrics to emphasize just how badly I need a man.

But I’ve been humming that chorus – that one line, in particular - ever since I found this on my back landing last Friday night:

gasdjkghagalhdglahg!!!

Yes.  For real.  It was a behemoth TARANTULA!!!!!

(or some other big scary variety of spider, probably not a tarantula, but whatever, it was huge and scary)

Friday evening, I had a big gang of girls in to shower our friend Lindsay with gifts & good wishes, as her wedding is upcoming this Saturday.  After the shower, I was tidying up, and waiting for my friend Brenda to come over.  I went down to the back landing, heading down to the basement, to retrieve a whole bunch of junk that I had left there.  (The landing is my “hiding spot” for junk when I have people over.)

And that’s when I saw him.

I froze.  I gasped.  I may have screamed.  I’m not sure.

And then I stood there and waited for Brenda.  (And took pictures on my phone, of course.) I was afraid if I moved, he’d run away and disappear and I’d have no idea where that monster was in my house.

And that was something I just could not risk.

I thought, for a split-second, that I could be brave and capture him under a cup.  But as soon as I got into position to slam the cup down over him, I freaked out and went and  stood back up at the top of the steps.

It felt like forever before I finally heard Brenda come in.

“Brenda…?  I need your help…”

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s  a really big spider in here and I don’t know what to do!”

“Oh, Jilly…” she kind of chuckled, like no biggie, you big baby, and came into the kitchen.  Then she saw him.  And she said, “Ohh…” and held up the little wad off tissue she’d brought with her and said, “I don’t think this is gonna work.”

She eventually squished him under a big paper plate.  She said she knew he was dead because she heard the crunch.  She’s far braver than I am.

And so….This is why it would be much better if I had a husband.  I was just lucky this time, knowing Brenda was on her way down.  Otherwise, I would have had to call someone to come down.  Keep in mind, this was around 10:30 PM on Friday night, so I couldn’t have called my mom or anyone like that.  I’m not sure my mom could have killed it, anyways.

It would have been so much more convenient to sweetly call out, “Oh honey!  I have a job for you!”

*sigh*

I am eternally grateful to Brenda for being there to slay this dragon for me.  I pray I never see another one in my home again.

But if I do, there had better be some hot, shirtless man there to kill it for me. 

Because that’s what husbands are for, right?? ;)

***

Linking today’s Single Girl Files post up with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday!!

I’m scattered. Let’s go random.

Gah.  What a week.  I’m not sure I know which end is up anymore.

So let’s go random, shall we?

• This news *may* be, like, a week old, but the Sens lost.  In Game 7, last Thursday night.  It was sad and tragic and I felt a little like a fairy tale had gone completely sour.  But – BUT – it may be for the best.  Playoff hockey stresses me right out, and these days?  Well…I kinda don’t need the added stress.
• That being said, here is my personal plea, for what it’s worth: ALFIE PLEEEEEEEEASE COME BACK…ONE MORE YEAR!!!

• Last week, I was a bit of a basket case.  My dad’s committal was on Sunday afternoon, and I did not handle that - or the week leading up to it - very well.  I was kind of a spaz all week.  I even had an embarrassing little meltdown at work last Thursday morning.  (See?  Hockey stress + emotional stress = Messy Jill.)  I’m really, really glad that’s over.  The silver lining to that dark cloud?  Once again, I was able to look around and see that I was surrounded by my amazing, supportive family & friends.  I’m truly blessed.
• Last Saturday night, a big group of ladies hit the Crazy Horse in Kanata for Lindsay’s Bachelorette.  It was a hoot!  Amanda, Rebekka, and I, had a blast dolling Lindsay up for her “final fling before the ring”, and then when we joined the rest of the group at the bar & grill, the fun really began!  We passed out beads for all the lovely ladies, as well as nametags and asked them to come up with raunchy, naughty names for themselves.  (I was “Juicy Jillian”!)  Then we presented Linds with a list of tasks to complete, and I must say, she did VERY well at knocking those items off the list.  The only one she was unable to complete was getting on-stage & singing with the band, because they wouldn’t let her – and judging by how jam-packed and crazy the dance floor was, I didn’t really blame them!  There’s a REASON why they call that place “The CRAZY Horse”!!

• Our little town was rocked this past week when news broke on Sunday that the body of an 18-year-old boy was found on a backroad not far from here, and a 19-year-old boy had been accused of his murder.  When I found out who the guys were earlier this week, I was completely shocked and rattled.  I don’t profess to know either of them very well, and I haven’t seen either of them in a few years, but I knew them a little at one time, and what has happened just breaks my heart.  I think of them both as very sweet, kind boys…helpful, polite, happy, down-to-earth, genuine…not one bad descriptive comes up in my vocabulary.  Now one of them is gone, the other’s life has changed forever…and two families have been completely devastated.  I still can’t wrap my head around it, and I can’t stop thinking about it.  My thoughts and prayers have been with both families all week long.
• Are you feeling my stress yet?  Is it emanating through the computer screen?  Well, add this to it:  The flu is making the rounds around here.  I’m doing my damndest to avoid it.  KNOCK ON WOOD…I’ve been lucky so far!
• I had my very first Meatball Sandwich this week, on my very first visit to the legendary Prescott Hotel in Ottawa.  I’ve been wanting to visit the well-known establishment for years.  The verdict?  Loved it.  But next time, I’m going for the square pizza!

• I’m very sad that I’ve only just started paying attention to American Idol in the past few weeks.  I watched the audition rounds, but then dropped it because nobody was wowing me.  I should’ve stuck with it.  I adore Phillip Phillips.  I’m so sad I missed all that valuable time with him.  (That being said, I believe Joshua Ledet should win.  And by declaring so, he will probably be voted off tonight.  It’s the Curse of Jill.)

So, SO sad that I missed all those weeks of HIM!!!

• We’re just over a week away from Lindsay & Ryan’s BIG DAY!!  Woooo!!  Now, I need everyone to do me a big favour, please…Cross your fingers and pray to whatever God you believe in, that my friggin’ dress fits next weekend.  The diet hasn’t been going well.  Nor has the Exercise Fund Jar.  I need all the divine help I can get.
• Now, I’m always giving Lindsay crap for “jumping ahead” in time – like, she’s dreaming about Christmas in July, stuff like that.  I always tell her to live in the moment, enjoy the now.  But I have to admit, I’m kind of looking ahead in anticipation of the summer right now.  NOT that I’m looking past Lindsay’s wedding, because I’m very excited and pumped – but once that’s over, the next big thing is that I’m going to be an auntie again…!!!!!!  *squeeeeeeeeeeeee*  I’m going to get to snuggle with another little niece or nephew!  Luke & Amanda are expecting in early July :)  And so is my friend, Sara & her hubby Graham.  Super, super ecstatic!!  You guys know all about me and the babies… :)
• Speaking of babies… Here’s an “outta the mouths of babes” moment…My mom was telling me this morning that my brother-in-law was in a bit of a collision last night that resulted in a 5-car pile-up.  No injuries (at least, that I know of), but because of it, Chris was late getting home.  While my sister was bathing the kids last night, I guess they were talking about why Daddy was late, and Caden asked, “Mommy, was it Jilly who ran into him?”  Nice, Caden.  Thanks a lot.  Clearly, he hasn’t forgotten about the fender-bender I got into with him in the car last Spring…

I think that’s all I’ve got for today.  Sorry I haven’t been around much this week…I promise, life should be calming down a little soon!

Happy Thursday!!

WWTKW: THEY Want to Know…

It’s Wednesday.  You all know what that means…

Sens game tonight?!?!

No.  No Sens game tonight.  The powers that be decided to give the players an extra day off before Game 7.  Great for them…not so much for fans like me, who have knotty stomachs and twittering butterflies.  *sigh*

So what better way to distract myself from the stress & anxiety that IS playoff hockey, than to participate in one of my favourite weekly linky parties…We Want to Know Wednesday!!

This week, to celebrate the 1 Year Anniversary of WWTKW, Mamarazzi & Crazymama are giving away a $25 Gift Card to Target, and letting faithful participants ask the questions.

Here we go…

Vandy @ http://tttandme.blogspot.com/ wants to know:

{one} What is your quirkiest habit?  I would have to say the lip picking thing that I mentioned yesterday.  I wish I could stop.  I started doing it as a kid, a nervous little habit I developed somewhere along the way, and I can’t seem to shake it.

D @ http://beneaththesurfaceanewbeginning.blogspot.com/ wants to know:

{two}What TV show do you always stop to watch?  These days, that’s gotta be The Big Bang Theory.  I can’t get enough of Sheldon and the gang.  I’m also a long-standing member of the Friends fan club.  That show just never gets old.

Vanessa @ http://www.jfamforlife.com wants to know:

{three} What do you miss most about being a kid?  The happy-go-lucky innocence.  I was a worry-wart child, but I look back on those days, and the things I worried about seem so silly now.  So insignificant.  I also miss Sunday afternoon drives, with all of us packed into the car, and either the Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, or Gail Gavan tapes playing.  Those were good times.

Jolene @ http://richjmylife.blogspot.com   wants to know:

{four} How many siblings do you have?  I have an older sister, Kara, and a younger brother, Luke.   They are both married, so I have a brother-in-law Chris, and sister-in-law Amanda.  So two full-fledged sibs, and two in-laws!

All of us on the front steps with my niece Danica, nephew Caden, and dog nephew Yzerman

Kenzie @ http://cbmommyhood.blogspot.com wants to know:

{five} How do you get yourself out of a funk?  I’m not sure.  I kinda think I’m in one now, so if anyone has any tips, please do share. lol!  It might take me a while to convince myself it’s for the best, but usually a nice walk in the fresh air with my iPod can make me feel better.  Also, buying stuff.  I like to buy stuff, it gives me the warm and fuzzies.  (My new BB Torch is helping me out today!!)

Great questions, ladies!  Everyone be sure to visit them and show them some love. :)

Happy Wednesday!!

Tuesday 10: Beauty Edition

I’ve been wanting to link up with Lena @ Mom2MemphisAndRuby for her Tuesday 10 meme for a long time now, but never was able to get my act together.

Today, the theme is “Favourite Beauty Products”.  Since I’m planning a shopping trip tonight to replenish a few of my faves that have run out  - or will be running out soon! - (as well as to get my phone fixed!  FINALLY!!) - I decided it’s the perfect time to take part in my very first Tuesday 10!

This week, Lena’s co-host is Ashley from Flats to Flip Flops.  She’s the one who suggested the theme for this week! :)

1. Covergirl Trublend Liquid Foundation.  I’ve been wearing it in 405 Creamy Natural for a looong time.  It’s my mom’s brand; hence, it is mine too.  I’ve tried others, but none work as well as this for me!  (A BIG reason for the need to go shopping tonight!)

3. Covergirl Professional Loose Powder.  In 110 Translucent Light.  Another product my mother insists upon, and now I can’t live without!

3. e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder.  So cheap, and looks great!  A sweep of the bronzer along my cheekbones, and blush on the apples of the cheeks – it’s my favourite blush by far!

4. LashBlast Fusion Water Resistant Mascara.  Confession:  I didn’t use mascara until a couple of years ago.  And even still, I only use it once in a while.  I always stab myself in the eye and end up with smudges all over.  I hate mascara.   This is the only one I’ve had any success with, and while I don’t truly love it, I haven’t found another that I like better yet.  Plus, this one wipes off easily when I end up smudging it on my face by accident! lol!

5. e.l.f. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette.  I also never used to wear eyeshadow, until I discovered e.l.f.  Affordable and I’m starting to actually learn how to put it on! ha!

6. e.l.f. Studio Shimmer Palette.  I use this a lot – as a shimmery base below the eyeshadow, or on its own, just to give a little sparkle around my eyes.

7. e.l.f. Essential Professional Complete Set of 12 Brushes.  The best make-up brushes I’ve come across, at a very reasonable price.  The other ones I’ve used have lost their bristles easily – these ones haven’t!

8. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat.  In the past year, I’ve started painting my nails more regularly.  I like to change it up at least once a week.  I rarely get through the week with perfect nails, but this helps a lot!  And I like that my nails are dry so quickly after applying.

9. Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm.  I have lip issues.  I pick my lips.  It’s a nervous habit that I wish I could break.  Hence, my lips are often dry and sore.  I haven’t had much luck with lip balms, even though I use them steady, but this one has been my favourite so far.  (Going to pick up some of this EOS lip balm I keep hearing about, though!)

10. ck one Shock for Her. A few months back, I started getting the Luxe Box, which has really introduced me to a lot of beauty products that I never would have thought of trying.  One of my favourite things to get is perfume samples.  I got this baby a month or two ago, and I’ve been wearing it every day.  LOVE!

Ooooooo, now this has me very excited to use my Shoppers Drug Mart gift card tonight! haha!!

Thanks to Lena and Ashley for the fun theme!

I’m also linking today’s post up with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday!