ZOMG Magazine Galore!

I absolutely love magazines, and my current subscriptions. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to read them so they have been stacking up in a huge pile magazines, as well as books by my bed.  I look forward to the Christmas holidays, for many reasons, one of them is catching up my readings and shows. 

* I don't think I'm going to subscription to Harper Bazaar next go around. I don't find the articles relatable to my lifestyle.

*I'm definitely going to keep my subscription with Elle Canada and Maire Claire. 

* I think I will also stop my subscription with Architectural Digest and Ebony too.

* Town & Country is another magazine that doesn't really suit my lifestyle and interests.

* Haha, yes I read Cosmopolitan magazines. Don't judge me! I know the statistics are sketchy but I like their fashion pieces and articles....I find them super entertaining. 

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Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 Review

Hello Readers!

I realized it's been sometime since I have reviewed a product. Oh, how time flies! I  bought the Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 for my dear brother because winter is upon us and his lips are cracked and bleeding. However, he said the balm was "yucky" and greasy. So he gave it to me to use.  Score one for me, right? 

The Claims about the balm:

" A Kiehl’s classic and #1 bestseller, soothing lips since 1969.

•Temporarily protects and helps relieve chapped or cracked lips.

•Helps protect lips from the drying effects of wind and cold weather.

•Formulated with soothing emollients Squalane, Lanolin and Sweet Almond Oil as well as Vitamins A and E"

What I liked about the balm:

• A rich, thick and consistent texture, which reminds me of Vaseline (i.e. petrolatum jelly)
• Clear/colorless
• Glides on easily, effortlessly and smoothly
• Brings instant relief to sore and dry lips without the heaviness or stickiness
• Unlike other products that sits on top of my lips this balm moisturizes and sinks into the skin
• Leaves lips smooth and soft
• Lips appear to be shiny and glossy 
• Does not irritate the skin
• A little bit of the balm goes a long way

*The applicator is blunt and uncomfortable to use...*sigh* I wish it was a slant applicator

 What I disliked about the balm:

• There is no applicator... I strongly dislike using my fingers to apply any lip products
• It's a bit pricey 15 ml for $12.XX
• Low on the SPF spectrum - it should be at least 15! 
• The product is mostly petrolatum jelly - I could have paid a lot less and gotten more product had I purchased a tub of Vaseline

*The balm melted into a "jelly" consistency on my skin

Bottom line: The balm is not mind blowing or awesome. It does it's job and nothing more.

Recommend? No

Repurchase? No

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Homemade Ginger Honey Tea

Hey Readers,

I made ginger tea over the weekend because everyone in the family isn't feeling well.  Ginger tea is a great way to treat colds, flu, and sore throats.  Ginger time is super yummy; it has a spicy and invigorating taste.

Homemade ginger tea is very easy to make. 

Ingredients 

• 5 cups of water 
• 4-inch piece of fresh ginger root
• Honey
• 4 Chamomile tea discs

*Cups with a table spoon of honey

Preparation

1. Wash the ginger root and then slice it into thin slices
2. Add the ginger to the pot of boiling water
3. Reduce a simmer for 20-25 minutes
4. Strain the tea
5. Add a tablespoon of honey and a chamomile tea disc to each cup 

* Boiling ginger in hot water

Good luck and take care!

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Raw Cocoa Banana Honey Facial Mask

Rationale 

Bananas were on sale at the grocery store so I picked up a few extra for baking, as well as homemade face masks! Banana masks are excellent for people who have oily or acne-prone skin because the fruit acids will slough off dead skin and encourage cells to regenerate. It will also balance sebum activity and brighten the skin.

Honey is an  antiseptic and antibacterial properties which means it kills germs and reduces  inflammation. Since honey is an antioxidant it will keep skin healthy, supple and beautiful. 

Cocoa is a powerful antioxidant that exfoliates and renews the skin. Plus cocoa slows down the aging process.

Ingredients 

• 1 ripe banana
• Honey
• (Unsweetened) Cocoa powder

1. Peel one banana, and mash the fruit with a fork until smooth.

2. Add two table spoons of cocoa powder, and mix well.

3. Add one table spoon of honey, and stir well.

4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and then apply evenly to face and neck.  Avoid the eye area and corners of the mouth.  Keep the product on for 15-20 minutes. Keep the left over in container, and toss after a week 3 days. 

The product is safe to use three times a week for those who have oily/ acne-prone skin, like myself. Those who have normal/combination skin should use the product only once to twice a week to avoid over-drying the skin.

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Kinder Surprise Fun!

Hey Readers,

I hope you are all warm and well.  As usual I've been kept busy by school, my current practicum, and other stuff (which I'll blog about later).  I'm almost a quarter of a century old and I still looooove absolutely cookies and juice boxes, and Kinder Surprises. As Henri Frederic Amiel said, "Growing old is compulsory; growing up  is optional." I'm living proof that age is just a number. 

*A bat 

*A stamp

*Puzzle 

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Happy Halloween!

Wishing my readers a Fun, Safe and Happy Halloween!

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The Cowboy's Lady [Book]

A big shout out and thanks to Ms. Carolyne Aarsen for sending me her latest book, and a beautiful handmade card.

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School of the Ages [Book]

A big shout out to Mr. Matt Posner for sending me a copy of his book, School of the Ages: Book One The Ghost in the Crystal,  a few weeks ago. Thank you! 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time for family, as well as sharing happiness and joy.  I wish all my readers and their loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Swagbucks Special Offers

For those who enjoy using Swagbucks reward points to get free stuff, there are lots of ways to earn - have you tried Special Offers?

Special Offers gives you a way to rack up Swag Bucks quickly by taking actions ranging fro surveys to free trials to making purchases to liking a Facebook page or simply watching videos. Take the action, get the bucks. It's that simple.

There are plenty of free offers as well as those that reward you for buying something - you have complete control over your Special Offers experience. The Special Offers page has hundreds of offers from recognized brands through a number of different providers, and the Swagbucks Team works hard to ensure that only the most honest and rewarding offers make it to the page.

You can visit the Swagbucks Special Offers page or look for offers on the rotating images in the Swagbucks homepage. From time to time, Team Swagbucks will send you an message to your Swagbucks inbox containing a limited time offer, so check there frequently! If you ever have reason to believe that an offer is not what it promises, please send an email to offeralert@swagbucks.com so their team can take the appropriate actions.

Try it out today!

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Body Burberry Perfume Review

 *The sample I received in the mail; beautiful packaging

*Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as the first face of Body; an ad in Elle Canada magazine

I was slightly disgusted by my first whiff of Body.  There was a sharp pain in my brain and alarm bells were going off in my head, screaming synthetic and artificial! The initial spike in fragrance hit me hard because it smelled like "skin", musk, or a stuffy c-train packed full of sweaty bodies. 

After the scent calmed down my impression of the fragrance changed dramatically. It is a  fresh yet dewy, clean and cheerful smell but it lacks in the "umph" department.  I am very disappointed with Body. I expected a fragrance that encompasses sensuality with a touch of youth and innocence.

In my opinion, Body is not unique or memorable.  I would not purchase Body because chypre floral does not suit me.  For those who do purchase Body, it is a long-lasting fragrance and very wearable for everyday activities.

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Primacy [Book]

 A super big thanks to Mr. J.E. Fishman for sending me his newest book, Primacy. I have a soft spot for primates. Anyways, this looks like a fantastic read and I can't wait to get started.

* An autographed bookplate. The number 1 means hardcover, 0 for e-book. The second number is the printing number. This means I have the 49th book! I feel very special.

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Highlights

Hello Readers,

Happy October! Yeah, I know I'm the world's worst blogger "evar" because I don't blog regularly. My excuse is that life is meant to be lived off the internet. Anyways, here's a recap of some of the stuff I've been up to!

• Week "1": I went to school, work, and GlobalFest. I earned an A in my Human Sexuality class, and an A+ in Grief and Loss. Yay! I'll post GlobalFest photos soon!

• Week "2": I worked 46 hours that week and it was hard on my personal life, as well as gym routine.   
• Week "3": A lot of things happened this week (X2), but I will only focus on the positive events.   

• I attended the annual Pride Parade with the Social Work Student Association (SWSA), and it was super awesome. 

*My social work lovelies and their families. I'm in pink. 

• At the Pride Parade I met Mayor Nenish, and we made it on to Reddit. (Thanks Ryan for notifying me!) Click on those links to check me out! 

*This is the last photo of my long hair.  I said goodbye to my locks shortly after the march.  I'm loving my short hair and I'll post photos soon.

• Week "4": Sunday I had a dinner and Wine Night at Laura and Jen's house.  Thanks ladies for everything! 
• On Monday I watched an advance screening of Drive (2011). Thanks Alliance for the tickets!

Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn is a film pack full of action, crime, and drama. Ryan Gosling (please, call me!) is truly a dynamic actor.   Even though the movie was unpredictable and exciting, like a roller-coaster, I personally would not recommend the film to anyone. I think the scorpion theme was a too blatantly obvious, but that's not why I dislike the film.   I was very, very nauseous after the movie. I was sick during the explicitly violent scenes, which contained a lot of excessive blood.  I would have appreciated the film much more if there was less violence and blood.

• Week "5+": From mid-September to late September I've been attending a lot of meetings and workshops. There's so much to do and so little time that my nightstand has a BIG pile of magazines (see below) and books, and my desk is cluttered with lots of paper. 

• On the 24th I had my blood drawn, which I don't mind at all. I dislike it when my median cubital veins play hide-and-seek with laboratory scientists and nurses. This requires them to wiggle the needle around my arms trying to find the vein, which results in pain and bruising. Haha, I now have two big bruises on my forearms.  Very sexy.

Take care and stay warm!

-Margaret

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