Tag: summer style

My Summer 2020 FabFitFun Unboxing!

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Hey y’all!

So, I wanted to start of my saying I’m sorry for just kind of disappearing off the face of the earth for the last few weeks. June has been a pretty rough month for me overall — I’ve had a lot going on in my life, plus I’ve had two rounds of wisdom teeth extractions to recover from. So this is my little apology for not sharing a post last weekend with no explanation. I had something 95% ready but it wasn’t quite there yet, and I just needed to take some time off to recover. I’d rather hold off on posting than post something that feels unfinished, but I never really got around to explaining WHY I just disappeared there for a bit — so know you all know. But good news — all my wisdom teeth are FINALLY gone and we are back in business!

And it couldn’t be more perfect timing either, since it’s officially my favourite time of the season — FabFitFun time! Sadly, FabFitFun cancelled their affiliate program at the end of the spring season, but since I love these boxes so much I still wanted to share what I received anyway! These boxes really are like the best little gift to myself, and I always get so excited to receive them at the start of each season.

FabFitFun always is the best at anticipating exactly what people are needing in their lives, and I always find that my box has a great mix of things I’ve been needing, things I want but wouldn’t buy myself normally, and some unexpected items I never even knew I wanted or needed at all! Furthermore, they’ve introduced me to SO many of my favourite products and brands — such as Ouai, Tula, Murad, and so many more. However, they really seem to have outdone themselves this time around — this box really does seem to have some of the best, most interesting, and high quality products they’ve shared in a while. Not only that, but the value for your money with this box is insane, as it ranges from $225 to $477 USD in value depending on the items you receive, which is fantastic value considering each box is only $50 USD.

But enough about all that — let’s get into what I received in this season’s box!

L*Space Tie-Dye Towel

Okay, I am OBSESSED with this towel!!! For someone who lives right by the beach and literally goes all the time, I’ve actually never had a cute beach towel before. Not only is this clearly high quality, but it’s just adorable to look at, too! It’s so on-trend with the whole 2020 tie-dye aesthetic, plus it’s blue, which is my favourite colour. I can’t wait to hit the beach and local parks with this cute towel for some quality social-distancing outdoor time!

Michael Kors Bedford Travel Passport Wallet

As soon as I saw that this was an option to receive in my summer box, I knew I had to have it. As someone who flies a lot, being able to stay organized in the airport is a must — I can be a bit of a scatterbrain, so it’s important to me to have everything in one place while in the airport so I don’t lose track of items. I’ve wanted a passport wallet for this exact reason for a while now — and having an uber-stylish and super cute Michael Kors wallet just makes it so much better! Unfortunately, I don’t really have any plans to fly soon — but this just gets me even more excited for my next trip, wherever it may be!

Toms Sydney Sunglasses

I won’t lie, I had no idea Toms made sunglasses until I picked out this item for my box. I actually had to google it to double check that it was the same Toms as the shoe company, which was definitely a bit of a surprise. However, these sunglasses are actually crazy high-quality, you can really tell they’re sturdy and well made. Plus, the cute cat-eye shape is so bold and perfect for my face shape. Sunglasses are one of my favourite accessories, so I can’t wait to give these ones a go!

Silked Satin Pillowcase

I’m all for silk and satin pillowcases — they’re fantastic, and it’s kind of hard to go back once you’ve tried them. They’re so much better for both your face and hair, since they’re super gentle don’t tug as much overnight. I have one set of satin pillowcases from Amazon that have held up pretty well over the years, but I still have to switch between them and my cotton ones in between washes. This little pillow cover is fantastic, since not only will it mean I never have to sleep directly on my cotton pillowcases again — but also, this satin sleeve will be perfect for travelling, so I can take it with me everywhere I go. I’ve already been using it the last few nights, and it feels absolutely heavenly — I’m obsessed.

The Lyfestyle Co. Beach Mist

I was super curious about this product when I received it, as I’ve never seen a spritz-on after-sun product before. However, I’ve already gotten a chance to give this stuff a go as I, unfortunately, burn super easily (yes, even living as far North as I do.). It feels fantastic, and unlike a lot of after-sun care items, isn’t the slightest bit greasy or sticky. As soon as you spray it on and rub it in, it was like it was never there (except for the cooling effect and the scent). So far, I’m loving this stuff — and I know that I’m going to get good use of it this summer since I’m as prone to sunburns as I am (sigh).

Makeup Drop Hybrid Makeup Applicator

This product could not have come at a more perfect time, as I was just about to go out and buy a new Beauty Blender. I’m so curious to test out the silicone applicator pad, as I’ve basically never used anything to apply foundation except for a sponge or a brush. I’ve heard great things though, so I’m really excited to give this a go! Who knows, it may just become my new fave way to apply my makeup.

Spongelle Coconut Verbena Hand Cream

I feel like hand cream would usually be a bit of an odd choice for a summer box, but in the times of Coronavirus — super necessary. I’ve been going through hand cream like never before with all the hand-washing I’ve been doing, since there’s absolutely nothing I hate more than the feeling of dry hands (except for chapped lips — THOSE really are the worst). This stuff smells fantastic, too — it’s coconut scented, but it’s super light and creamy (instead of heavy or super-sweet). Hand cream is never a bad idea — but especially not now, with constant hand-washing and sanitizing to keep ourselves and others safe.

Winky Lux Uni-Brow Universal Brow Pencil

I haven’t gotten the chance to try this one out yet — but I’m certainly very intrigued by it. A friend of mine also received this in her box and loved it, so I’m hopeful it’ll work well. The idea of a universal brow pencil seems a little weird to me, since makeup isn’t often one size fits all. However, I will say that it does have a pretty good, neutral brown colour that would probably work for most people — so I’m super interested to try it out for myself and see how it goes!

Add-On: Summer & Rose Snakeskin Tote

When I saw this, I knew I had to grab it for myself. I don’t really have a lot of good, large bags to carry things around in — all of my purses are tiny and hardly hold more than my phone and a small wallet. This purse is super cute, but also large enough to fit just about anything I need — plus, it has a magnet at the top to help keep it shut, which is great because one of my biggest pet peeves are large purses that have no way to fasten them shut. I know I’m going to be getting a lot of use out of this purse, and it’s super cute — so basically, it was the perfect little extra gift to myself.

If any of you received this season’s box, I’d love to hear all about what items you got this time around and what you’ve been loving most! I’m personally already so in love with the products I’ve received. Everything I’ve used so far I’ve absolutely loved, and I can’t wait to try the rest of it out once I’m done recovering from my wisdom tooth surgery. One of my favourite things about FabFitFun is how it always feels like a little gift to yourself, with all the items it offers and the little surprises. It really was the perfect pick-me-up in the middle of a rough month.

Sooooo, once again, I really do want to apologize for disappearing — I feel like I’ve been having to do it a lot this year, since 2020’s definitely been a bit of a roller coaster. This time though, I’m really hoping it’ll be the last — I’ve finished up getting my wisdom teeth out, and now, barring any surprises, all I have to do is find a job and return my life to feeling a little more normal. I don’t want to jinx it, because with how this year has been, who knows what’s coming next — but with any luck, I should be able to keep sharing new content with you all regularly! I love sharing my thoughts with you guys — without my little blogging community, I don’t even know what I’d do with my time, so fingers crossed things are able to run a little more smoothly from here on out!

Much love,

Meredith

Trends I’m Loving: Beach Vacay Edition!

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Hey y’all!

So to start off, I have some super exciting news to share — I’m officially a FabFitFun affiliate! I don’t even have to tell you guys how excited I am about this, as I’m constantly referencing products and brands they introduced me to and raving about what I received in my boxes each season. If you want to get in on the fun, click here to head over to the FabFitFun site and get $10 off your first box when you use the code SPRINGLOVE!

(As a side note, if you’re curious about what type of products you may receive in a FabFitFun box, you can check out these sneak peek photos of the Spring Box, or my past Winter and Fall Unboxings to get a better idea!)

But for now, back to today’s content — for my 100th (!!!) blog post, I’m going to be sharing all my favourite fashion and makeup trends for a stylish and fun beach getaway. While I love how trendy and cool fall and winter fashion can be, summer is my favourite season and I just love how simple and easy-going summer style is. In my opinion, a great vacay wardrobe should incorporate both that care-free summer feeling, as well as taking every opportunity to try out as many new trends as possible (as tragically, vacation time is limited so you may as well take advantage). Vacation style, ideally, should therefore be cute, casual, and above all else — comfy. I mean, you’re taking a break right? So get comfortable and relax! (And if you don’t have any plans to take a vacation any time soon, feel free to keep reading — I’m going to be rocking these trends all summer too!).

A Cute Peach Lip

Peach tones have been the summery trend I’ve become obsessed with lately. I won’t lie, I’ve avoided peach the last few years — when it gets too bright and coral-hued I find it clashes with my skin tone and can look unflattering. However, I’ve been sticking to lighter, more neutral tones lately and I have to say — it is SO cute. Just look at this — is it not the perfect summer shade?

Of course, peach can be incorporated into any aspect of beachy summer looks — I got a peach manicure to match before I flew down to Puerto Vallarta as well! But a cute peach lip in my new fave. My favourite peachy lip looks are Kylie Cosmetic’s lip kit in Dirty Peach. (I love using Kylie Cosmetic’s Endless Summer Lipstick as a top coat to this to add some shine, but apparently they no longer carry the shade. However, if super-matte looks aren’t your thing, MAC Cosmetic’s Frost Lipstick in shade Skew would make a great topcoat as well!).

Some On-Trend Accessories

Okay, so cute hair accessories in 2020 isn’t really news. You can’t go more than a minute on Pinterest or Insta without seeing some super cute hair clip inspo. However, this was my first time really getting to test this style out personally. You can find me wearing chunky hair clips just about every day now — I’m pretty much addicted.

I brought endless hair accessories with me on my trip to test out, and I’ve discovered all of my faves. Obviously, oversized clips are all the rage right now — I got mine from H&M, and personally I think they’re adorable. If you’re looking to be perfectly on trend for your next getaway, I’d totally recommend checking out their accessory stock, as well as Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie for the cutest pre-tied bow scrunchies and scarves.

Glossy, Glittery Lips

You guys all know by now that I’m a gloss gal through and through — I just love the look! Now, I’ll be the first to admit super glossy looks don’t work out perfectly for every day on the beach (Is it super cute? Totally. But does your hair end up getting stuck in it every two minutes? Also yes.).

That being said, it still makes SUCH a cute beach look for the right occasion — especially for those uber-glossy, glittery looks that lipstick just can’t achieve. I found the perfect gloss for this getaway at Kylie Cosmetics in shade Oh You Fancy?. This gloss is just about as glittery as it gets, and it’s got a cute clear/peachy hue. It totally adds to a peach lip look and gives that perfect shine that helps add to your glowy beach look.

A Cute Bikini Collection

Every so often, I like to grab a few new bikinis to keep up with the latest trends. I find that bathing suit trends can be super distinct to each season and always changing, so it’s great to pick up a few so you look super on-trend before any beach vacation.

My personal faves this season are stylish snake prints and the return of bold neons — especially if you’re rocking a tan. As well, any bandeau or tank-style top is always just so cute. There’s endless stores that carry trendy bikinis, but some good ones to check out are ASOS, Free People and Revolve.

A Pinterest-Worthy Beach Hat

Looks that are cute AND practical? Count me in. I’ve really fallen in love with the wide-brim beach hat trend lately — for starters, simply because of how adorable it is. But Pinterest-famous vibes aside, this hat really does help protect both your eyes and sensitive face from the sun, which makes it a win in my books. While I bought this hat while away on my trip (it’s surprisingly hard to find vacation accessories in February) this style of hat is a staple that, in a few months, you’ll be able to find just about anywhere. While I may not have bought it from any commercial store, I’d recommend checking out H&M’s stock when the time comes — I really am falling in love with their accessories!

A Reliable Fake Tan

I don’t know about you all, but I’m not a fan of tanning. Only problem is — I love looking tan. You see my problem here? Maybe this is my personal opinion, but I find lying in direct sun fun for about half an hour before it starts getting really unpleasant. Plus there’s so many other downsides, such as the potential of uneven tanning, as well as sun damage — both on the cosmetic level, as well as damage to your skin’s health. While, yes, you could just load up on sunscreen, isn’t it easier to be in the sun/shade/indoors at your leisure and let your fake tanner do the heavy lifting? Who knows — maybe I’m just lazy or bitter because I burn super easily, but I consider this to be a vacation essential. (If you’re curious, my go-to is St. Tropez’s Classic Bronzing Lotion).

A Fresh Take On The Classic White Beach Dress

I should start this one off my ensuring you all I have nothing against white summery dresses, obviously. I love them! But you have all summer long to wear all the white dresses your heart desires, and only a short time away on vacation to really make a statement.

I’ve been obsessed with this cream-coloured romper ever since I bought it on sale at Aritzia at the end of last season, and I’ve been dying to show it off. I just love how it manages to be cute and classic while also switching up the whole usual white dress idea. If rompers aren’t really your thing, you could also give a two-piece set a try! Personally, I can’t wait for summer to roll around so I can go shopping for some cute matching shirt-and-short combos.

A Solid Waterproof Mascara

I could go super into detail here, or you could just check out my latest Thursday Favourite’s post about why Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Waterproof is the ultimate travel mascara. Either way, if you’re going to be swimming, sunning, or sweating — you’re going to need this.

That’s it for my little tropical fashion moment — but the good news is as of today we’re officially one step closer to spring! Happy March, everyone, and if you’re just so over this whole “winter” thing (and don’t have time to plan a getaway), just 21 more days until we’re all free of it. I don’t know about you guys, but I, for one, could not be more excited.

I hope you’re all having a restful and relaxing Sunday and are gearing up for a good week — personally, I’m taking a night off to relax as I have yet another crazy week ahead. If only vacation lasted forever, right?

Much love,

Meredith

Aritzia Warehouse Sale Haul!

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Hey guys! Hope you’re all gearing up to have a great week!

First of all, I know this post is super late. As I discussed last week, I’ve been feeling crazy overwhelmed lately and haven’t been able to keep up with blogging regularly. But honestly, better late than never!

For those of you lucky enough to live in Vancouver, you may have already heard of, or been to, the annual Aritzia Warehouse Sale. Every year around labour day, Ariztia hosts a multi-week sale featuring 50-90% off an entire warehouse worth of their products, and it’s as crazy as it sounds. People have been known to line up for hours to get in, or even camp outside the venue in the days leading up. It’s THAT good.

Now, unfortunately, I don’t really have the time to sit around in line all day, so my best friend Nylah and I opted to check it out on the last day. Even then, it was still crazy and overwhelming, with thousands of discounted options for offer.

When you arrive at the sale, you have to be ready for the hunt. Chances are, it’ll be near impossible to find anything in your size, or cute things in your size, or anything at all amidst the sea of people without some serious dedication. After a couple of hours, I collected a couple of purchases I was quite happy with. The biggest success, however, is the savings: I managed to buy $400 of clothing for just $170 (plus a couple accessories which lack the original price tags).

So, without further ado, I figured I’d share my findings with you, modelled with a few accessories! (Not too many though, so you can still get an idea of what each garment looks like). I hope you enjoy, and when next year’s sale rolls around, you’re able to check it out for yourself!

**LIL DISCLAIMER** — I’m hoping to get a better camera/photoset up (/photographer?) soon, so I apologize for the quality of these photos (read: mirror selfies in my empty bedroom) — I hope you still get the idea!

Item #1: White Pantsuit by Little Moon

Original Price: $178.00

Warehouse Sale Price: $60.00

Personally, I’m crazy about the bodysuit/pantsuit trend — it looks so classy and professional! This item, more so than any of the others I bought, is clearly a summer piece — but at this discount, it’s worth stashing it away in my closet for a year! I love this because it COULD be worn to a fancier event — but can also make a great everyday outfit as well.

Item #2: Red Bodysuit by Wilfred

Original Price: $50.00

Warehouse Sale Price: $20.00

Okay. I am LIVING for this bodysuit. Hands down, this was my favourite purchase this year. I was a little worried it would be too small, but the fabric is so stretchy it fits perfectly. The best part about this is it has a somewhat classic look to it — I’m not too worried about it looking dated by next summer. Plus, it’s not so strongly tied to summer that I won’t be able to get some use out of it before then!

Item #3: Yellow Dress by Wilfred

Original Price: $138.00

Warehouse Sale Price: $60.00

I’m pretty excited for this dress because as a blonde, I shied away from yellow for so long. It really didn’t suit me all too well, and for years I didn’t own a single yellow item of clothing. But as a brunette, I find yellow suits me much better. I love this dress, both because it’s ADORABLE, something totally new for me, but the mustard shade of this yellow means I may be able to pull off this dress in the fall! It’s all a win-win-win, really.

Item #4: Blue Skirt by Babaton

Original Price: $98.00

Warehouse Sale Price: $30.00

Okay, I know I already apologized for my poor-quality photos, but I really do apologize for this one. I really loved this skirt, so I went ahead and bought it even though it was a little large. It’s super cute, so I’m happy I did, but I haven’t gotten the chance to tailor it yet. No worries, though — I’m sure it’ll be ready in time for spring! Plus, tailoring a cheap skirt is SO much better than buying the same thing full price in a few months.

Item #5: White Shirt by Babaton

Original Price: $35.00

Warehouse Sale Price: $15.00

Lately, I’ve been noticing how my closet is missing a lot of basics. I feel like I’m always losing a battle between having basics and statement pieces — when I have all sorts of one, I have none of the other. This shirt is great because it’s simple, but still super cute! Plus, it fits so perfectly — if Babaton still carries these, I’d definitely be down to buy more. (I really do have a thing for shirts that are meant to be tied, though, so maybe it’s just my bias).

Items #6 & 7: Accessories

And last but not least — accessories! By the last day of the Aritzia Warehouse Sale, the accessories are super picked over — while they ensure that the sale is restocked daily, some items sell out FAST. A lot of people go on the first day and load up on cute accessories (especially the blanket scarves), so by the last day the pickings are awfully slim (compared to, say, the Super Puff jackets, which there was still plenty of. To be fair, it is a little depressing to spend the last days of summer investing in a winter coat).

All that being said, I still found this cap and belt! I love plain caps, especially for when I’m having a bad hair day (we’ve all been there, right?) but I don’t really have a whole lot of them — many of mine are colourful, or come embellished with logos and the like. Needless to say, I’m super glad I found this one!

As for the belt — I’ve recently become obsessed with how quickly you can turn an outfit from average to adorable simply by adding a belt, so I leapt at the chance to add one to my collection! (You really can’t say no when the prices are THAT good).

And that’s my little haul! Overall, I saved about $230 overall at this sale, and I got some super cute stuff. If you ever get the chance to attend this sale, I couldn’t recommend it more! Yes, it’s crazy, and even a little overwhelming — but it’s also pretty much an experience unlike any other and you’re bound to find some amazing steals if you’re willing to dig through the rest.

I really hope you guys enjoyed this post, especially considering how long it took me to prepare it for y’all! In better news, I’m starting to get my life a little more on track and have plenty of exciting posts planned for the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

Much love,

Meredith

Get The Look: Fake Freckles!

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Hey everyone!

So, today I figured I’d share a little tutorial: how to create a natural, sun-kissed freckled look. With the last few weeks of summer coming up, it’s time to take full advantage of the tanned summer look. While it can be nice to look super glowy and golden all summer long, many of us have busy lives and can’t afford to hit the beach every day. Plus, for those of us without freckles it can be a fun way to switch up your look! However, it can be tricky to make them look natural, hence the growing popularity of products to help mimic a freckled look. But with these easy steps, I can show you how to freckle your face with products you likely already have at home.

Step One: Do Your Regular Make-Up!

I do my freckles as the last step in my makeup, so to start your just going to do your makeup as usual. I find that freckles look waaaaay more natural on skin that looks naturally tanned (even if you’re super pale). The best way I achieve this is with bronzer. I usually start off with a matte bronzer (I personally use Too Faced Chocolate Soliel Matte Bronzer) and apply it all over my face and cheekbones using a large powder brush as I find it makes my other makeup blend more naturally.

Then, I take a shimmery bronzer (I like the use Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, it’s one of my personal favourites) and apply it to my cheekbones, temples and jawline with an angled bronzer brush. I find this works best if you go in lightly on your forehead/jaw. To make it look as natural as possible, be sure to blend your cheekbones right up into your ear.

Finally, and most importantly, I take some shimmery bronzer and apply it to my nose. If you’re outdoors a lot, your nose tends to tan more than the rest of your face as it sticks out under direct sunlight. So I find applying a bit of bronzer to your nose tip makes you look a little more naturally sun-kissed!

After this, I simply finish with matte pink blush as well as highlight. If you’re looking to warm up your complexion a bit, the blush can always be applied to your nose and temples as well! Additionally, I always highlight my cheekbones, top of my brow, nose tip and cupids bow. I find the nose tip especially important if you’ve applied bronzer to your nose to help blend it all together.

Step Two: Use Eyeshadow That Matches Your Skin Tone!

For the freckles themselves, I like to use eyeshadow to create the look. Once you’re done with the rest of your makeup, you’ll want to take a light, matte brown eyeshadow to create your freckles (similar to an eyeshadow you may use as a transition shade). For this, it likely depends on your skin tone, however I find a light taupe/neutral brown looks the most natural. As well, you may want to choose a slightly darker shade to help vary the colour and intensity of your freckles.

Step Three: Apply Freckles!

For this, you’re going to want to take an eyeliner brush and wet it. Simply dip it into your selected eyeshadow shade and start applying! Just patting on plenty of gentle dots I find works best for me. To get the most natural look, I find it works best to begin on the bridge of your nose and spread outward from there, doing your best to maintain a random pattern and going back in to fill in any sparse areas after the fact. As well, I find it best to concentrate on the nose, but also spread all the way past your eyes, being sure to keep them fairly high up on your face.

It’s important to keep your freckles light, otherwise they make start to look unnatural. If some of them are almost invisible/not perfectly circular, it’s okay! Ultimately no one will focus on each freckle individually and it will only help to heighten the natural appearance of your look. I personally have found its easier to pull this look off if the freckles themselves are almost barely there, rather than too in-your-face. As a final step, try to blend them out a little with powder or extra bronzer.

And just like that, you’re done! No freckle tattoos or stencils required. Finish with a setting spray to help your makeup last all day and go out there and show off your look!

Much love,

Meredith