Can your hair avoid humidty?

Hey Chicas!

So with the weather that we we have been having lately is totally on conducive to my hairstyles.  No I'm being 100% serious here.  Its damp out, like the air is damp, or its raining, or the humidity level is high.  Either way  my hair is having a field day!

I'm sure if you have wavy/curly hair that can go straight or curly you understand my pain.  As soon as some dampness comes in the air my hair notices it, and takes advantage of the opportunity to curl in places that....well....I just don't want it to curl!

This is my hair curly....

So its easy to show that when it is blown straight it doesn't take too much to get the curls active again.

Regardless, I thought that I would try the John Fredia Frizz-Ease Weather Works Shampoo Conditioner, and styling creme.

The bottle say that...

"Developed for all hair styles, Weather Works Shampoo with "Shielding" Technology creates a barrier to help block out style-ruining humidity providing essential preparation for weather-resistant hair.  Formulated to provide silky-smooth texture and to control frizz year round. Safe for natural or colour-treated hair.  For daily use."

Personally I think that using anything that will 'shield' your hair is basically putting a coating on the hair shafts, so everyday use it likely not the best.  But for special events or just special days it could work!

So overall in the shampoo and conditioner they were good, nothing special to say, simple, they smelled good though.  The styling creme is really light weight, and doesn't weigh your hair down.

So lets do a little test, I thought.  I used all the products on a day that was 90% humidity and when I was near the waterfront, and it was windy.  So horrible weather for curly/wavy hair that was blown dry straight, but perfect weather for testing the ability of the John Fredia Frizz-Ease Weather Works.

This is my hair after styled, I was sitting solo on these photos so please the facial expressions....well lets say I've seen better :-).

So by no means was it straight as a pin, because come on, you can't fight with nature 100%.  There was some flips on the end of my hair, and curled in and out in other places, but it was not curly (and no I did not curl it, just the blow dryer)!

So I was in the outside weather from 5-11pm near the water, high humidity like 92%, and high winds!  I don't think that any product, and this is no exception, can make your hair NOT curl, well at lest not an at home product.

So my thought are....well what are my thoughts?  I guess that it did an ok job, you judge by the pictures.  (keep in mind that the after pics are with my Atrix, not a real real camera..k?)  It did keep the frizz level fairly low, but did it stop it from curling?....ummm nope-nutta!  So is it worth that extra product taking up space in your valuable bathroom storage.  I really don't think so.  Any John Fredia no frizz  product does the job, so the Anti-humidity just leave it and forget it.

As a side note, I used the styling creme with my normal hair routine, on an equally curly/wavy hair blown straight day weather nightmare.  The results, pretty much the same as when I used it with the shampoo and conditioner, so perhaps the styling creme is a go, but leave the others on the shelf....unfortunately the search continues :-(

Caitlin xoxo
    

Joe Fresh - Have you heard about the Make-up!

Hey Chicas!

If you haven't....Where the heck have you been!  No but seriously on with the post....

So F-I-N-A-L-L-Y my video decided to work!!!  I'm beyond excited and thankful, like how long can it take...regardless its here to share!  If you want to see the post on the look click ME!

So basically Joe Fresh is sold at Atlantic SuperStore and Loblaws, on the cheap!  I believe that the most expensive item is their brushes at like $20ish dollars (i love their foundation brush I've had it for 2 years now, no shedding!).  So the eyeshadow is $4ish, and the blush $6ish.  Not to bad for the size of the product. 

The packaging I just love!

I don't know why, its just so clean and modern, plus I love that you can see the color without any difficulty at all.  The Pink blush I've had for over 1 year and the packaging is NOT made cheap, nothing has broken and is as good as new.  I just love the clear packaging, they are sellling the color and the product, not the fancy smancy packaging!  The clasps on the products are also very strong and sturdy and it might just be me but I like when you can hear the click of the packaging close, it just makes me feel good...do ya follow!?

The color clockwise from top left is....

Rosetta, Pink, Pebble, Pale Pink, and Ice

The color intensity is wonderful, the products are a little soft, but still very pigmented, and the lasting power is just as good any other powder blush or eyeshadow I've used.  You don't need a whole lot of it on your brush so it will last you a good long time!  Likely longer than its really "good" for :-)  

My first attempt at swatching colors!  So from my thumb to to my pinky the colors are as follows.....

Ice, Rosetta, Pink, Pale Pink, Pebble

They are coming off a little more shimmery then they do in person, but the colors are pretty similar!  I totally didn't need to rub very hard to get the color on my digits.  One swipe around and thats what you see.

They have a good selection of colors, but be warned they generally issue limited edition colors, so if you see something that you like, get it because they don't last too long, and it might be never there again.

Click the video for my wonderful speaking skillz...(yes the "z" is there on purpose)

So hope that you enjoyed it!  Please let me know if you purchase any and what your first impressions are :)

Caitlin xoxo

The things you can do with inexpensive makeup...

Hey Chicas!

So I have been using Joe Fresh from Atlantic Superstore for over 1 year now, and I have never mentioned some of my favorites that I've found.  Thought that you guys might enjoy a take on cheap makeup look that you can pickup when you are getting your groceries on!

 I have a review coming up later this week, my plan was to put the two videos together, but my video editor didn't want to work with me, so its  in two stages it is.  Here is the first installment.

So all the products that were used are:

Palladio Herbal EyeShadow

Joe Fresh - Pale Pink Eyeshadow

Joe Fresh - Ice Eyeshadow

Joe Fresh- Pebble Eyeshadow

Maybelline Lash Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner in Black

NYC Volumizing High Definition Mascara in Black

Joe Fresh- Rosetta Blush

Annabelle - Natural Rose Lipliner

Hard Candy MoonGlow

Sally Hansen Moisture Matte Lipcolor - Chiffon

 Hope this post gives you some ideas on items that you can try out from the supermarket!  And stay tuned for the review part, its almost ready.

I promise to discuss the Royal Visit once I have calmed down from all the excitement!

Caitlin xoxo

Oh Canada!!

Hey Chicas!!

Thank god its the long weekend, I totally need this break!  Now only if the weather would cooperate with me, and give me beach weather, all would be perfect!  But I'm not sure if that's going to happen....

Anyway today is Canada's Birthday and I do plan on checking out the fireworks by the waterfront, a tradition that I can always remember, lots of fun!

Canada Day is the perfect day to whip out that red lipstick that you may be a little nervous about wearing other wise!  By favorite red lipstick is not a wallet buster at all.  NYC - Retro Red.  Which you might remember from this past look..

If you want to see how to get this whole look....click here....

It is awesome!  Plus for like 2 bones at Wal-Mart if you wear it only a few times a year, no loss for you!  Plus another bonus is it makes your teeth look really white! 

NYC Retro Red is one of the best reds in my book because of its orange red base, its easier for many skin tones to wear and wear well.  And the lasting power of this red is much better than you would expect.

Come on be brave, show your Canadian pride and wear Red Lips, just try it for one day, I'm sure that you'll be surprised by how much you like it!

Happy Canada Day!

Caitlin xoxo

Eye Makeup Remove Q-Tips

Hey Chicas!

So I was checking out the Dollarama the other day, and I'm sorry but the makeup section always gets me.  Every freakin' time!   It's like its calling to me, "look I'm only $2 please bring me home, Please!", and of course the last please is in a whiny child voice.  And who reallllyyy can say no to that.  TMI, sorry but you must understand the pull that the aisle has on me.

So I managed to get out there only spending a small fortune.  The first item that I want to bring to you guys is the Eye makeup remover swabs....

As you can see the picture on the box is pretty self explanatory.  And for only $2 if it doesn't work, than who cares.

The swabs come in individual wrapped packages....

The individual wrapped is a little annoying, as they are tough to pop out of the plastic, and its a lot of waste of plastic.  Regardless....

So you pop the cotton swab out of the plastic (after some difficulties) and you have what looks like a normal swab.  Expect its not at all. hehe..  The center between the cotton is a hollow plastic tube, this is where the products travels down.

The end that has the blue strip on it, be careful with that one until you're ready!

The basic idea is that end that has the blue strip on it you snap it, or bend it over and it releases the makeup remover to the other end of the swab.  It requires a little more effort than one would think for a q-tip but bend it like Beckham...or, actually just until it snaps.

 Once it snaps that releases the makeup remover product.  It flows down to the other white q-tip end.   With this end you can remove your eye makeup.  But Wait!! do you think you can?????


According to the box.....

For those of you who don't want to squint the words out it states. 

"Keep out of eyes."

So yeah, I'm assuming that it means not IN your eye, and hopefully AROUND your eye is ok.  Since you know its for eye makeup removing :-)


You do get a good amount of product in the Q-Tip, it is pretty easy to use.  My only issue is that the cotton swab end, isn't very cottony, meaning that it can't absorb the makeup that it takes off very well.  It cuts through the makeup really well, but to get that black residue off you need another cotton pad or facecloth to finish the job.


Overall, if you're in a pinch and travelling and don't want to take a whole bunch of crap with you, spending two bucks on some cotton swab makeup remover all in one, will not only save you space, but cash as well.


Caitlin xoxo

How to quench charred Skin

Hey Chicas!

So I’m back and recovered, somewhat.  The remnants of the burn, is the lovely peeling.  A constant reminder of the stupidness of charring your skin (and the bada$$ tan lines), at any point in your life!

A visual reminder!

Having said that, I have tested out a number of Sun Burn “Relief” agents, and lived to talk about it.  So here is your complete  list of the best and the ok ones.  Not that you will need it, because we won’t ever be that stupid.  Right?.......Right?

The first one that I tried is the standard Aloe Vera.  Just because its Hempz doesn’t mean that it’s the best.......you got that?  It is for all intensive purposes the exact same as Life Brand aloe vera, but if you’re like me, you want to know for sure, and I know, it’s the same!  

•  Its sticky, as all aloe vera is (as in it took 5 full minutes to peel off an oversized shirt from my back, not the best when the skin in tender) 
• Has a nice smell 
• Can be cheap 
•  Slight Moisturizing  effect Slight cooling effect (didn’t take out the feel of heat in my sever burn, but on slight redness I have no doubt it would work)

The next in line was the Hawaiian Tropic I.C.E Lidocaine Gel. 

• It is definitely less sticky then the aloe, 
• Loved the smell, 
• It was BLUE! 
• Great pump 
• Took the heat out more than the Aloe but still not all gone 
•  Could  apply lots of it and still absorb (not that easy with the aloe)

I found an article on line about good ol’ fashioned Noxzema working wonderful to decrease the amount of heat in the burn.  So I bought a tub and decided to give it ago.

• You need a buddy (aka very hard to apply yourself, as its a thick creamy consistency and wants to stay on your hands) 
• You need to apply a few layers 
• I liked the smell....its standard Noxzema scent, so decide for yourself 
• Has the tingly cooling feeling (in a good way) 
• It doesn’t look pretty on 
• Hard to remove

Next came the Solarcaine Medicated Lidocaine Gel.  I picked this up at Wal-Mart, I remembered my  brother having this stuff in his room, when I was growing, he cut commercial grass, so I figured it could be too bad.

• Easy squeeze tube bottle (great for slippery fingers and hands) 
• Has a nice fresh scent 
• Could feel the cooling sensation 
• Noticed relief of heat in my skin (Major)

 At this stage, the burn has gone down, as it would have without using anything.  So I thought that I could try the Vaseline Aloe Fresh Moisturizing, which is a daily moisturizing gel. 

• Not sticky at all, 
• Absorbs very fast 
• Slight cooling feeling 
•  Slight moisturizing

So all in all, it was a helpful little exercise, unnecessary, but helpful.

If you have a slight pink tinge from being out in the sun or at the beach, the standard Aloe Vera, would be fine.  I actually think that the Vaseline Aloe Fresh, would work better because it’s not as sticky, but compared to the aloe vera, not at all. 

If you have a severe burn then that stuff’s not gonna cut it!  Now the Noxzema was the best to remove the heat from the burn, but its messy, very messy.   You need someone to help you apply it.  And you have to remove the excess from your skin because it kinda dries itself and the extra remains.  The issue is that it remains a white gloppy mess, its not like you could go anywhere with it, it had to be removed.  The only way was to basically have a shower, we have a hand shower and someone had to rub my back with a soft wash cloth to remove the stuff, and it wasn’t a fast process, and it hurt a little a lot actually.  So it removed a lot, a lot of heat from my back, but I’m still unsure if the removal process is worth the gain.

Having said that, the best one is the Solarcaine Medicated Lidocaine Gel, see even Emma approves!   

I think it worked the best because of the Medicated Lidocaine, the Hawaiian Tropics has Lidocaine as well, and both have the same amount of the Lidocaine 0.5%.  So I’m not sure why one felt better than the other, but I’m going with the Solarcaine!

So I hope you found that helpful, but something that you will never need to use!

Caitlin xoxo

Flower Beds

Hey Chicas!

So my back is healing.....slowly, but the important thing is that there is a slight improvement. If anything good can come for this scorching of my skin, it would have to be testing the various Sun Burn "relief" products out there.  And......ready for it.....I MAY have found a winner, another go at it tonight should determine the winner.  So at least you can heal faster, nicer, less painful then I did, when the summer comes around.  But you really shouldn't have gotten a burn in the first place.  OMG could you imagine if that had been my face!  Talk about aging yourself another 10 years in a few hours!!

So the cottage, is my parent's cottage, not mine.  I don't even own a house yet! 

Just wanted to clear that little tidbit of information up.

This was the cottage on the outside before we did anything to it.  Do we all notice that upside down lamps by the door.  It was one of the first things that I noticed.  Anal, totally, but someone needs to be able to pick these things out. :-) 


This the final result, as of now, meaning there very well could be other items changed.  We rarely leave a flower bed as is.  Which is one of the nice things about gardening you can create such different affects by the choice of plants you use, and even the color of those plants.

Taken from my camera phone, in the late afternoon, with very tired arms.

When I was young I used to H-A-T-E gardening, but now when I see the results and the before and afters, I actually like it. (Do NOT tell my mother that)

I am quite proud of the hard work, maybe not so much my crisp back, but the end results are pretty good.

Here are few more shots.....because I know you really care! :P

Click on the images to see them bigger!

You however care about the type of plants we planted.  Maybe, if not then simply browser through some other posts that catch your interest.

We tired to pick natural flowers, by that I mean, nothing too exotic for little old PEI, and ones that you can see in the wild, that fill out and will require little maintenance in the long run.

Keep in mind that all the flowers came from the charity drive (so $40 bucks for these you see and extra that we had to take home), and from the home garden.

Plants Planted:

2 types of hostas - elephant ear (dark green), and the one with the white center (sorry gardeners, I'm not sure of the names)

African Fern (appearance of a fuzzy fiddle head)

Bleeding Heart

Violets (white and purple)

Small yellow/orange lillies

Lambs year

Forget me Nots

(more to came as the names come to me!)

Hope you guys enjoyed that little post, and if you'd like to see more like this.......well tell me,

 and I shall do my best!

Caitlin xoxo