NAILS | The Reason I Can't Afford a House - Avocado Toast #ManiMonday

Two months ago, Australian property tycoon, Tim Gurner made a comment to 60 minutes regarding millenial spending saying:

“When I was trying to buy my first home, I wasn't buying smashed avocado for $19 and four coffees at $4 each". 

I don't discuss politics all that much here, but this comment was sadly amusing to me since I DO love avocado toast, but housing prices in Vancouver are so ridiculously high (similar to Australia) now that even with two incomes hitting six figures, my husband and I will likely never own what our parents owned 25 years ago. My parents bought our HOUSE with a huge yard eight blocks away from my apartment now for around $350,000. Today, a CONDO in my current neighbourhood STARTS at $850,000. It's not like salaries have increased to reflect this pricing so now it's not uncommon for millennials to stay with their parents longer to save up or to have parents help out with a down payment. Foreign ownership has contributed to this housing bubble and while the BC government has finally decided to implement a foreign ownership tax, I think it was a little too late. The bubble has to burst at some point, but for now I guess I have my avocado toast to keep me company.      

KOREAN BEAUTY | Banila Co. It Radiant Lace Hydrogel Mask Sheet

Who says you can't look beautiful while wearing a sheet mask? Years ago, I probably never would have posted a melfie because it's sort of a vulnerable post, almost moreso than a bare face because you are constricted by the rigidity of the mask itself. You can't do the subtle Mona Lisa smile let alone be alluring, but now sheet masks have become not necessarily about skin, but about entertainment with a few skincare bonuses thrown in!

In North America, we recently started loving pictures of dogs, cats or kabuki masks printed on sheet masks, but then I saw a lace mask from Korean company Banila Co. which looked like the prettiest thing I had ever seen!

NAILS | The Chic Female Nail Art

There are times when I see a set of nails that I just HAVE TO HAVE and practically all the nails on @flowidity108 aka Hang Nguyen's account have me pretty much wanting to have new nails every day! Every design is so minimalistically pleasing and is a style that I am learning to embrace. I haven't really done any nail art in the last few weeks since Canada Day as I was away in Vegas and then came back to a bit of a storm at work. When I saw these chic Art Deco style nails the other day, I figured these would be a great way to ease back into it and look stylish too!

HAIR | GIVEAWAY with The Matrix Summer SOS Kit #GetMessedUp

Oooh, I have some good stuff to talk about today! I have had quite a bit of fun with Matrix in the past being blonde and lavender with the Colour Lounge App (here) and now it's time get down and dirty with the Matrix Mineral line of styling products. Each of these products provides a varying level of texture taking you from beach bum to a night out with just a few pumps and a quick tousle!

MAKEUP | Rouge Dior Couture Colour Lipsticks with 16 Hour Comfort (Yes, Really!)

I'm a little annoyed with myself at time of writing this as I have just discovered an additional three shades of the Dior Rouge Dior Couture Colour Lipsticks ($43.00 CDN) in my office. It obviously goes to show you how unorganized I was and that I need some sort of intervention. I even have a list on my phone of things that I "need to locate". Thankfully, these Rouge Dior lippies were not limited edition and were repackaged and reformulated to include a matte finish and an updated satin formula.

NAILS | Quo by Orly Color Amp'd Je T'aime L'Ocean Swatch #ManiMonday

I'm going to be honest with you guys. Today is the first time in in almost 3 years that I have not had my nails painted on a Mani Monday. I always have swatches ready to go, but this time it was because I was working on something very special which took me until very late to finish leaving me no time to even put on base coat! I had bare nails at work and all day I would look at them longingly wishing I could paint them right then and there!

Today's nails are a summer delight because when it comes to neon polishes, I really do reserve them for summer sunshine as it only seems fitting! Having recently been introduced to the Quo by Orly Color Amp'd series of polishes, all I can say is that their summer neons are some of the best I have tried. You will not need a white base to enhance the colour and the finish is super shiny! All you are seeing on my nails is two coats of Je T'aime L'Ocean* ("I love the ocean" for those unfamiliar with French) and top coat. That's it! 

Would you wear neons in the Fall/Winter?

Quo by Orly is available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.