LIFESTYLE | Five on Friday (Birthday Festivities)

This last week definitely deserves a solid blog entry as I had taken it off to celebrate my birthday so there were lots of things and events to note!

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LIFESTYLE | Five on Friday - Mar.25th - Book of Boba Fett, Sample Wall, Day Out with Gerry, Holt Renfrew Haul and Turning Red

I didn't think I would actually sit down and write this as it has been challenging to get content out this month. Yes, I know blogging isn't everything, but I can never shake the feeling that I should be writing because I am still trying to make room in the beauty room to display my LEGO! Blogging about sheet masks isn't creating enough space and what I REALLY should be doing is blogging about whole skincare and haircare collections because those take up quite a bit of room! I do have a schedule laid out for myself, but finding the energy is the next step! While, this isn't a beauty post, it does help me feel a little bit better!

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SHEET MASK | Verso Intense Facial Mask

You are probably going to see slightly more sheet mask reviews thanks to embarking on the #100DaysofSheetMask challenge again this week, but instead of putting pressure on myself to review EVERYTHING I use, I focused on dedicating blog reviews to just 2-3 of the more interesting masks out of the 7 I use each week. Maybe it's a brand I love, a cool technology in the mask or some noteworthy ingredients like the Retinol 8 used in the Verso Intense Facial Mask! 

 Purchased by me

BEAUTY | 5 Ridiculously Expensive Things I've Spent Money On

Ever since I made the decision to stay home for the sake of my asthmatic husband and take on the financial uncertainty of not having a paycheck and going on EI, more than ever have I stared at my beautiful and encompassing beauty hobby in the face numerous times over the last month and realized over and over again how much I have and how little I need. With the Sephora Spring Sale starting today and my single purchase of $40 (made with an unused Christmas gift card), I have to say I am pretty proud of myself, but then again the fear of not being able to pay for food or rent tends to outweigh wanting an eyeshadow palette. This new and pragmatic, bordering on pessimistic, view of money has made me go through some of my own personal beauty purchases that have been more luxurious and would never fall into the "need" category.

All items purchased by me and my husband doesn't know about some of them. He also doesn't read my blog so he still won't know.

SKINCARE | 111SKIN Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment #100DaysofSheetMasks

Well so much for #NaBloPoMo and blogging everyday! I had a feeling it would kick my ass last week since there was quite a bit going on at work with our Client Event happening this Thursday. It's the biggest one of the year and I have been coming home exhausted from preparation in addition to the daily grind of luxury retail. I think my goal this month will be to blog more than my average number of posts (around 20) and call it a success because I don't see the point in suffering from lack of sleep at my day job and writing nonsensical blog posts! That being said, back to blogging!

There is so much wonderful skincare out there at all sorts of different price points and I have gotten to an age where I find myself spending more money on skincare and less on makeup. Almost exactly a year ago, I was introduced to a new skincare line launching at Holt Renfrew called 111SKIN. This is a British skincare company created by plastic surgeon, Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, who initially had developed his own line of products to be sold at his own practice to aid his clients in healing and aftercare of their cosmetic procedures. One of his clients happened to be very well-connected and raved about Dr. Alexandrides' products with him eventually agreeing to partner with Harrods to create 111SKIN. I had the pleasure of hearing him tell this story in person and he tells it far more eloquently than I do, but he was well-spoken (yes, the British accent helped) and answered many of our questions regarding ingredients as well as what makes 111SKIN different from the sea of skincare options available.

NAILS | Oribe Nail Lacquer in Green Envy

When I received the Spring Holt Renfrew catalogue and saw that they would soon be carrying Oribe makeup, skincare and nail polish I eagerly awaited for my girl Anna to text me that the items I wanted were in. That day came a few weeks ago and though I swore I wouldn't buy more nail polish until I got through a combination of press samples and self purchases, I could not resist the call of a single bottle of Oribe Nail Lacquer! Many of you might be fans of their dry shampoo and other hair products just like I am so I had very high expectations for this $38 bottle of polish which currently comes in nine sleek creme shades.

EVENT | La Prairie x Holt Renfrew White Caviar Creme Extraordinaire Pop Up Lounge

I love chatting skincare with fellow skincare enthusiasts and when given the opportunity to pick the brain of the La Prairie Education Executive in a lounge while eating macarons dedicated to the launch of a fabulous new $900 brightening daily moisturizer, you do not say no! From March 15-31st, La Prairie has been hosting a pop-up lounge at Holt Renfrew to celebrate the launch of White Caviar Creme Extraordinaire! This lounge is open to the public and filled with Insta-worthy activities and beauty treatments ranging from a quick 5-10 minute hand massage or illuminated eye treatment to a 45 minute mySkin dermograph consultation or White Caviar Facial Treatment (by appointment)!