Ewwwwwww!

My desktop computer has been rattling so I cracked it open and found so much dust! Eeekk!

The inside of my desktop computer....

DIY: Honey and Sugar Lip Scrub

Photo: LUSH Canada lip scrubs (which in my personal opinon is overpriced - $8.95/tin)
 

Dry and flaky skin on the lip is irritating and and not attractive. I have such problems especially during the harsh winter months. However, exfoliating your lips with a simple homemade remedy recipe (that is all natural) would improve the feel and appearance of your lips.  

Honey and Sugar Lip Scrub

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of white sugar
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• A few drops of olive oil

Steps:

 

Add the sugar to the bowl...

Brown sugar

White sugar

Add the honey 

Mix the honey and sugar until a smooth paste is formed. 

Then add a few drops of olive oil in the mixture

How to Use

Apply the mixture on your lips. Then gently rub the paste over the lips to remove dead skin. Wash your lips and apply lip balm.  Store the unused product in the fridge.

Happy New Year!

Wishing all my readers a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

A Summary of 2010

Random photo: A close-up of my Chanel ring. 

 2010

This was the year I:  

* lost loved ones;

* was in my first car accident;

* suffered many nights of insomnia;

* worked two jobs and studied full-time;

* attemped to learn ice cream shop "culture";

* returned back to the dating scene and on my first blind date I listened to a guy talk about his hamsters for an hour;

* walked in the shoes of Tom Hansen from 500 Days of Summer i.e. I caught "oneitis" from a boy.

This is the same year that I: 

* graduated with a B.A. With Distinction;

* was admitted into the Faculty of Social Work and Master's of Teaching Program;

* stood and watched the Stampede fireworks on the roof of an apartment with a glass of red wine in hand. Soaking in the brilliant lights, sound, smell, and companionship of the summer night;

* walked down a pathway on a beautiful autumn afternoon with trees sporting a magnificent array of fall colors. I was enthralled by the sheer beauty of colors reflecting against the brilliant blue of the sky;

* visited the Calgary Young Offender Centre (CYOC) and gained some insights into daily living conditions of the residents;

* went bowling with immigrant children and youths. Seeing their excitements and happiness made my heart melt;

* attended a live orchestra with my dad, and a quaint concert with Jones;

* had a wonderful Vegan dinner with Karen, who I did not see for over 3 years (!), at Gradititude Cafe and had tea at Oolong Tea House;

* expereinced a foodgasm with the calamari at Tribune Restaurant;

* had an amazing "Girl's Night Out" at the quaint Gypsy Bistro & Wine Bar. Five years ago the food was amazing there, currently the food is a bit bland and watery;

* attended a Social Work fundrasing party at Cafe Koi, which was a very cozy lounge;

* had a yummy caesar salad and steak at Jack Astor's Bar and Grill;

* consumed amazing smoked salmon and poached eggs at Diner Deluxe;

* ate delicious fresh fruit waffles at Cora's;

* had a "quiet" ladies night at Jamesons Pub;

* celebrated the end of semster one at The Den with the Social Work gang;

* celebrated Christmas with friends and family at Hong Chou Inn;

* am eternally thankful for my friends and mentors;

* have irrefutable proof that I can always count on my family for support.

In summary, some battles I fought and won. Meanwhile, other fights I lost but I tried (that's what matters the most, right?).  2011 will be an awesome year!

The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion Package Review

The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion

 Photos 1. & 2. Front and back of the package.

*The Claims for the Peppermint Lotion* 

Best if you want to: Soften and revive your rough, tired feet with a skin-smoothing moisturizer that also cools and deodorizes—a customer favorite since 1985!
Best for: all skin types
How it works:

• Community Trade peppermint oil promotes a cooling sensation to leave feet feeling refreshed and helps to combat odor, while menthol further cools skin to leave it feeling refreshed.
• Community Trade cocoa butter is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature.
• Sweet almond oil is rich in essential fatty acids that help to restore skin’s moisture barrier, so skin is smooth and supple.
• Grape extract is a fruit acid that has skin smoothing and gentle exfoliation properties.

 *My Experience with the Foot Lotion Set:*

•  Price: 250mL bottle of lotion by itself would cost $16...but I got this set for free. Thanks Jen A. and Laura C. for this beautiful Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion package from The Body Shop!
• Effectiveness: I love the lotion because it relieves the achiness from my legs and feet.  The peppermint oils and herbal infusion in the lotion provides a cool, tingly, and soothing sensation upon contact and lasts for a good 10 minutes.  It's like an instant Tylenol for my tired legs and feet. The lotion is super hydrating but lightweight. The product sinks into the skin very quickly; no mess or grease.
• Scent: Yummy pepermint
  
• Bottom line: A must have! I would defeintly purchase this lotion and I highly recommend friends and family to check the Peppermint Lotion out. =)
• Grade: 9.7/10

Review on LUSH Cosmetics: Dream Cream (Body Cream)

LUSH Cosmetics: Dream Cream (Body Cream)

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 Widget: Photos of Dream Cream

 *The claim for the Body Cream *

Calming and dreamy.

Incredibly soothing body lotion for troubled skin. Dream Cream is LUSH's best-selling product because it makes sore skin feel good again. Chamomile and lavender calm irritations, reduce redness and banish blotches. Mark considers it his favourite product because it makes so many people so happy.

Mark's favourite.

We also use oat milk, too, which has traditionally been used on troubled skin for centuries. It contains everything nature makes for soothing your skin.

Rose and lavender

Rose and lavender essential oils are calming for irritated, suffering skin.

*My Experience with the Lotion:*

• Price: I bought a tub 240g for about ~$25.
• Effectiveness: After reading many postive reviews about Dream Cream I was convinced that I needed this product.  Best lotion I have ever used;  it's packed with every calming chamomile - great for troubled skin and stressed mind. 
• Duration: One tub lasts me for a year; a little bit of the lotion goes a long way! I use it daily on my hands and elbows, and the cream absorbs into the skin almost immediately thus leaving no greasy feeling. 
• Scent: The lotion smells herbally/floral but not an overpowering or strong scent.
• Bottom line: I am definitely going to repurchase this cream in the new year. I urge people to try this product out; you won't go back to lotions and creams on supermarket shelves. 
• Grade: 8.8/10

Christmas Stuff!

Some of my December/Christmas 2010 photos...

*I love this tank; a big thanks to Points and Prizes!

*Mommy and I

 *Gifts I won at Cafe Koi

*Gifts for Mommy and Daddy; notice my great Chinese calligraphy

*Wireless router

*Fake butterfly

*Best books "evar"; Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

*Earrings!

* Starbucks gift basket

*Thanks L'Oreal for the wonderful hair products!

*Christmas Brooch from Harlequin. Thanks!

LUSH Cosmetics Gift Set: Christmas Washes

I received this wonderful collection of seven body care products from my dear brother. Thank you for the awesome present. :)

*Colorful packing peanuts

*LUSH bag and packing paper

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New Shampoo Bar

*The Claims for the New Shampoo Bar* 

Clove and peppermint oils to motivate tired scalps.

Help treat hair loss with cinnamon, clove and bay oils. When stress or life goes to your head, this shampoo will encourage hair growth and stimulate scalps. It's intense, but works a treat on irritated scalps or hair that's thinning.

Herbs for softness.

Rejuvenate hair with rosemary and nettle to make hair shiny and soft.

Nettle and peppermint

Nettle and peppermint stimulate the scalp and the hair follicles.

*My Experience with the Shampoo:*

• Ease of use: I wet my hair and the bar. Then glide the bar down the length of my hair about two or times. 
• Results: Cleans hair thoroughly- squeeky clean and shiny;  a tad harsh- kinda dries out my hair; great for people with oily hair.
  I will update this post - letting you know if the product stimulates hair growth.
• Scent: Sweet smelling spicy cinnamon with herbs

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Sexy Peel Soap

*The Claims for Sexy Peel Soap* 

Wake you up for breakfast.

Use a bar of Sexy Peel soap to get yourself going in the morning. Wesley created it because he thought that a citrus soap would be great for mornings and there was plenty of citrus peel going to waste at the factory. The fragrance smells like a breakfast marmalade.

Peel has never been this sexy.

A wash with Sexy Peel soap will bring you back for breakfast. Fresh lemon, grapefruit and lime juice wash away sleepiness and get you breathing in revitalising fruitiness.

*My Experience with the Soap:*

• Results: Cleanses throughtly; clean, smooth and silky skin; moisturizes and hydrates dry and flaky skin; gentle exfoliator
• Scent: Freshly squeezed sweet lemonade

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Sugar Scrub

*The Claims for the Sugar Scrub* 

Tough on cellulite, kind to skin.

Our Sugar Scrub is hard, but a bit of a sweetie. Its no nonsense stance stimulates activity and tackles cellulite with fennel and ginger. Calming lavender has a balancing effect and encourages healthier skin.

Made with Fairtrade sugar; created by Ro.

Get yourself wet in the shower or bath, but don't let the bar get under the running water or it'll be lost before it can prove itself. Scrub, scrub, scrub and rinse away. It doesn't waste any time getting down to business

*My Experience with the Scrub:*

• Ease of use:  I wet my skin then rub the scrub bar on my elbows and legs.
• Results: an invigorating scrub that leaves my skin super smooth and bright.  The scrub is good for three uses.  FYI: The scrub won't dye your skin green. :P
• Scent: Yummy lavender and herbs

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Buffy Body Butter

I've done a review of this product a few months ago. Check it out here.

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Mandarin's Tea Party Soap

*The Claims for Mandarin's Tea Party Soap*

Winter wake up call

Stocking stuffers are a Christmas tradition all over the world. On the 25th, you can usually find satsumas, tangerines or mandarins bulging in there, so we packed Mandarin's Tea Party with citrus oils and orange juice to give you some early morning refreshment.

Spicy orange blossom refreshment

It has the same fragrance as our summery Orange Blossom perfume, and there are real dried orange slices throughout, along with soft chunks of crystallized ginger to add a little bit of sweet spice. This soap will help to keep you smiling in winter and it's perfect for any time, not just tea parties.

Crystallized ginger

Crystallized ginger is traditionally used in baking. It adds texture to the soap and makes it very Christmassy.

*My Experience with the Soap:*

• Results: Fresh and clean skin; lightly lingering scent on skin after use; hydrating
• Scent: Zesty and sweet Mandrian oranges 

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Glögg

*The Claims for Glogg*  

Spicy gel for festive showers

Glögg is a LUSH interpretation of a Swedish spin on festive mulled wine. While it may be tempting to take a swig of our festive shower gel, we recommend you save the warming effects of the organic red wine, brandy and spice oils for the benefit of your body. Winter can put a chill into your bones and leave you with toe-sicles; heat things up, get the circulation going and get into a lather with this instead. Glögg and Cinders are the duo for you if you find the cold of winter difficult to deal with and want to stoke the embers. 

*My Experience with the Shower Gel:*

• Results: The shower gel is a bit watery but it an awesome product; a nice warming sensation; fresh and clean skin but scent does not linger
• Scent: Hot cinnamon, cloves, and refreshing citrus

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The Olive Branch Shower Gel

*The Claim for the Olive Branch Shower Gel* 

Like the warmth of the Mediterranean.

If your body is beaten by the rigours of the rat race, accept an olive branch. The Olive Branch has a welcoming warmth to it, with organic olive oil to soften your skin, an infusion of vine leaves, sea salt and the fresh juice of mandarins.

Accept a peace offering.

It is uplifting and reassuring, and brings peace of mind whenever you lather up in the bath or shower.

Fair Trade olive oil

The oil's active ingredients are vitamin E (a fat soluble antioxidant), oleic acid (omega 9 monounsaturated fatty acid), hydroxytyrosol (plant polyphenol) and squalene (an organic compound found in human sebum).

*My Experience with the Shower Gel:*

• Results: a nice thick lather with a long lingering scent; softens and hydrates the skin for a nice glow
• Scent: warm citrusy and musky
• Cons: A very watery gel 
• Bottom line: I would not repurchase this product because the product is not thick enough. I end up spilling most of the gel.
• Grade: 6.8/10