Etsy Shop

I'm excited to say as of yesterday I have opened an Etsy shop! I was interested in the idea for awhile because I'm into crafts and jewellery making in my spare time. I made a post on some friendship style bracelets that I made back in May, which I have continued to make so I figured why not try and sell them? The link to my shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/CometsCreations I will mostly be selling jewellery, including friendship bracelets, beaded bracelets, and some chain necklaces and bracelets in the future. I may also sell other arts and crafts such as photos, small painted canvases, etc. and craft supplies, such as the embroidery thread, beads, and charms I use.

Thanks to anyone who checks out my shop and I hope you enjoy!

Celebrity Style Icon: Rachel Bilson

I've never really been interested in following celebrity news or fashion, but I have to say I love Rachel Bilson's casual and laid back looks because her style is so classic. I have a previous post on a look for less of an outfit that she wore. A look i've really been into lately is the one below.

In this outfit she paired a basic plaid button up shirt with distressed denim shorts and flats. With her hair up in a ponytail it really has a laid back feel, but at the same time the leather bag she's carrying and the flats dress it up a little. This combo recently inspired me to put together my own take on this outfit and I posted it on my Polyvore.

I own a shirt similar to the one pictured, where the main colours are blue and pink. I paired the shirt with distressed denim shorts, black sandals, a braided skinny belt and silver flower earrings. It would be easy to find the accessories in this outfit at almost any accessory or shoes store. The shirt and the shorts pictured are both from H&M and are each $24 CAD. Overall this outfit is one of my favourite casual looks for spring/summer and it can be tweaked to fit your own personal style preferences.

I also put together a set on Polyvore of my favourite spring/summer outfits that Rachel Bilson has wore in the past. I'll post it below and hopefully other girls will find it helpful as outfit inspiration too.

My Polyvore & Spring/Summer Outfit Ideas

For anyone who doesn't know what this website is, it's a place for fashion, art, and creative expression. On the site you can make sets which can focus on fashion, interior design, or art and expression. You can also create a collection or template from your sets. Polyvore includes a shop function where you can browse clothing from almost any store imaginable and an ask function where you can ask for fashion advice or answer other people's fashion questions. My Polyvore address is http://dreamer-xo.polyvore.com/

Among my more recent sets are some outfit ideas for spring and summer, each of which are casual, fun, and easy to create using clothing items you already own or finding affordable pieces that are similar.

Outfit 1

As pictured in this set, this outfit would be great for bike riding, but still quite stylish. It combines medium wash denim capris, a bright graphic tank top, white canvas shoes, and some fun but simple jewelry. Friendship style bracelets are very trendy this season, they come in so many different designs and colours or you could even make your own as I displayed in my Digging DIY post.

Outfit 2

This outfit would be great for dinner or drinks with your friends, or a family bbq. It's still a casual look, but a little more dressed up and girly. It features a sundress, denim jacket, sandals, some colourful jewelry, and a white cross body bag. I included a denim jacket in this look because sometimes the evenings can be very cool, especially in the spring.

Outfit 3

This outfit is a casual, everyday look that is a perfect combination for the summer. It includes a flowy batwing top, light wash denim shorts, white canvas shoes, some antique style jewelry, and a teal cross body bag. I think that white canvas shoes are a staple that every college girl should have because they're comfortable, easy to pair with almost anything, and available at affordable prices. I recently just bought a pair at Payless for $17. I added a photo of a side braid, which would be a great way to finish off this look.

Outfit 4 

This last outfit is another everyday look that is very simple, quick, and easy to put together. It combines a white v-neck tee, dark wash denim shorts, sandals, a long pendant necklace, friendship bracelets, and a tote bag. Stylish jewelry such as the necklace pictured becomes the focus of the outfit and adds interest to a plain white tee. You can also add more to this look by wearing a trendy nail polish colour and/or colourful sunglasses.

My Favourite Superfoods

Apples

They fight free radicals. They're full of antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C. They’re a good source of potassium and fiber, which help prevent cancer and lower risk for heart disease. Make sure to eat the skin of the apple too, it has 2-6 more antioxidants than the insides of the apple.

Blueberries

1 cup of blueberries has the equivalent antioxidant content of 5 servings of carrots, squash, broccoli, and apples. The anthocyanin flavonoid found in blueberries can boost bone health, help your heart health, and promote eye health. I'm not a big fan of blueberries on their own so I love adding them to my cereal in the morning or eating them with yogurt.

Broccoli

Helps prevent cancer through its high levels of antioxidants. It is high in folate, which aids in red blood cell formation, formation of amino acids, and energy production. It is beneficial for protecting eye health. It is best to steam or simmer broccoli in a small amount of water to keep most of its vitamin and mineral content. 

Dark Chocolate

It is high in polyphenol antioxidants which can protect against cancer, heart attack, and stroke. It is good in moderation and in more natural forms. Natural dark chocolate is best as processed foods such as chocolate bars, cakes, etc. are bad for your health. Avoid cheap brands that include preservatives, partially hydrogenated palm oil, and high sugar levels. 

Green Tea

It’s high in antioxidants including polyphenols (catechins) and flavonols, which protect the body from free radicals, lowering risk for heart disease, cancer, suppressed immune system, and accelerated aging. It may also help prevent sun damage such as wrinkles and skin cancer. Green tea is shown to prevent obesity by suppressing weight gain, food intake, and fat-tissue accumulation. In connection it may also speed up metabolism.

It is best to steep your own green tea and loose leaf is of highest quality. I personally don’t like mine as hot tea so I will add a bit of honey to it so it’s not bitter and then refrigerate it. Sometimes I buy the Arizona brand, but it is high in sugar so it’s best to water it down to make it healthier.

Oats

They contain more soluble fiber than any other grain, which helps you stay full longer. Rolled oats are much healthier than instant oats. They have a high percentage of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. They contain nutrients that help prevent cancer and the soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol.

Yogurt

It is filled with probiotics which are beneficial for intestinal health. Yogurt can help with bloating, stomach disorders, and other troubles of the intestines. It may boost your immune system and can help reduce muscle loss and body fat. Yogurt can improve oral health by reducing dental plaque formation, cavities, risk for gingivitis, and help eliminate bad breath.

Eggs

One egg only has 75 calories and 13 essential nutrients such as protein, iron, zine, folate, and choline. For most of its vitamins, the egg contains higher amounts in the yolk rather than the egg white. It is a complete protein because it contains all 9 essential amino acids. They can help lower the risk of breast cancer, help build muscle strength, and protect eye health.

Digging DIY

I've always been into arts and crafts since I was a little kid; colouring, sewing, re-constructing, and improving things to my liking. Since my summer break started about a week and a half ago and I've had a lot of free time, I've been getting crafty in the form of making bracelets. I loved making friendship bracelets for myself and my friends as a kid and since friendship bracelets are going to be a big trend this spring and summer, I felt inspired. I'm considering making a mini-business of it and selling them to those that are interested. So far I've made about 10 bracelets and today I will be featuring my personal favourites that I will be keeping for myself.

The first bracelet is a mini-macreme style featuring a cowrie shell in the middle. I made it using light blue and lilac coloured embroidery thread and used square knot macreme for my design. I love using this type of knot for a friendship bracelet because it's quick and easy to do and very versatile for adding beads to. 

The second bracelet is a colour core design, which is done by braiding three strands of thread around another piece of thread that is a different colour. For this bracelet I used teal and light blue embroidery thread. I like this type of design because it doesn't take long and contrasting colours like the ones I used make it look great.

The third bracelet is just a simple braided design, but with a twist. I used two pieces of embroidery thread, one purple and one pink, and a piece of silvery ribbon and braided them together. I like this design because it looks classic and feminine, especially with the colour combo and ribbon I chose and it's very quick and easy to make.

I'm currently working on a bracelet with a harder and more time-consuming pattern and I have many other bracelet design ideas for the upcoming weeks along with other DIY projects that I'm interested in trying. If you're interested in future posts on other bracelets or projects I complete or would like to see some tutorials, please leave a comment.

Do you like DIY projects? What kind are you interested in or which ones have you already completed?

I'm back!

Hi everyone,

I apologize for not keeping up with my blog, school and other matters took over my life these last few months. I'm at the tail end of my exams now so I will have much more time to make posts during my summer break. I'm very happy that spring is finally here, I love this time of year and seeing everything blooming outside. If anyone has any requests on posts they'd like to see please feel free to leave a comment.

Heather

Celebrity Style - Get the Look for Less: Rachel Bilson

I have always loved Rachel Bilson's style. I think she dresses in such a classic way and even in a laid back outfit like the one pictured, she still looks fabulous. Even in some of her less casual outfits, Rachel always looks effortlessly put together without being over the top. I will likely write future posts on other outfits she has worn in the past because I have similar taste and love looking to her for inspiration for my everyday style.

Boyfriend Jeans: Oldnavy - $35
V-neck T-shirt: Oldnavy - $9.50
Cardigan: H&M - $20
Belt: American Eagle - $25
Flats: American Eagle - $25

I decided not to include a purse or sunglasses because I feel like they're the little extras that any girl will have their own variation of that they can add to the basic outfit. The rest of the items in Rachel's outfit are basics in neutral colours that every girl should own, which makes it especially versatile and easy to wear. I personally love the look of cuffing jeans up at the bottom to show off a little bit of ankle and to bring attention to a cute pair of flats (although it's too cold for me to do that at this time of year). If you don't own items that are the same colour or style as those in Rachel's outfit, it's easy to swap them for something similar that you already have. For example, in her outfit she has a scoop neck t-shirt on, but I switched it for a v-neck because that's what I personally own and wear regularly.

Everyday Winter Outfit

Today I wore an outfit very similar to the one pictured, which is a go-to combo for me that I wear in the winter. I have a great winter coat from Esprit that I've had for three years now, that looks similar to the one pictured. It's filled with faux down so it keeps me very warm and is also machine washable because the down isn't real, which is a real bonus. As for the rest of the outfit, I wore dark wash skinny jeans from American Eagle, a tank top from Ardene (a Canadian accessory and clothing store) that is similar to the one in the picture, a black cardigan from Oldnavy, an ivory pashmina from Ardene, and sterling silver stud earrings. Instead of wearing my boots like the ones in the picture, I wore my snow boots by the brand Blizzard. On days that are as cold as it was today (-12 celsius), I always bundle up and wear a scarf, typically a pashmina, mittens or gloves and my faux fur-lined snow boots whether it snows or not.

What is your everyday winter style? What are your go-to items?

Review: Maybelline New York the Colossal Volum' Express Mascara

I tried this mascara after a friend recommended it to me, I have been using it for two years now and it's fantastic. I have the washable formula in the colour classic black. In Canada it is available at drugstores and other major retailers such as Walmart and Zellers. Typically I purchase it from Walmart for $6.99 regular price, which is the cheapest when compared to drugstore prices. Sometimes I will find it on sale for $4.99 or $5.99.

Packaging and Formula:

I like the packaging of this mascara. Although it doesn't look as sleek and sophisticated as some other brands and products, I think the colours are fun and the size is great, not to big or too small.

The mascara has a fairly large brush and it's made of bristles, which I like better than the silicone material that some other brands are made of. My lashes are long and pretty thick and I find the brush and the spacing of the bristles on this mascara wand works well at coating all my lashes without causing clumps.

When the mascara is brand new, the consistency is really wet which I wasn't crazy about, but after about 1-2 weeks of use it dried out a bit and I liked it much better. The formula is also very buildable, so if you want a more dramatic look you can apply two or three coats to achieve that. There is another thing about the formula that some women may not like; it has a scent to it. The mascara smells slightly like roses because it has rosewater in it that is supposed to help lash growth and strength I believe. At first I did not like that it had this scent at all, but I liked how well it worked on my lashes too much to stop using it. The smell also goes away once the mascara dries, so I got used to it and it isn't an issue for me.

Overall I think this mascara is great for the price and the results that it gives. Its size is 9.2 ml, is available in four different colours and also comes in a waterproof formula. I would recommend this mascara to anyone who wouldn't mind the slight smell and wants a buildable, volumizing drugstore mascara for a reasonable price.

Welcome!

Hello everyone,

This blog will cover many areas that interest me as a 21 year old girl and full time university student. I will share reviews on products I use, including items such as skin, hair, and makeup products. I may also share reviews on music, movies, and books. I will also include some fashion posts about my everyday style. If you have any requests on posts you'd like to see, feel free to leave a comment.

Hope you all enjoy,

Heather