Happy Friday!

FINALLY, Friday!  This was the slowest week ever!  So glad it's the weekend! On one of our trips to the market this week we purchased some mason jars and decided to dehydrate what's left of our herb garden  {and some purchased from the grocery store}. Fresh dried herbs are so much better!  Here is our home made spice rack!*

{Before}

{After}

             

New Bowls.

If you didn't already know, Anthropologie sells amazing things for your home. Furniture, dishes, bedding and even hardware for your cupboards and drawers. I had my eye on these bowls for awhile now. While my friend was visiting from Ontario I finally made my way to the store to buy six bowls to add some colour to our very plain ikea dish set. I love the colours I chose!   They were perfect for the fajita night we had on Sunday!*

 

 

Latte Bowls: $6 each Anthropologie

Placemat: $8 each Urban Barn

Stuff You'll Love

You'll Love: Bumble and bumble Shampoo and Conditioner*
Whenever I pick up and magazine I {like every other girl on this planet} find myself drooling over the expensive products they recommend you buy. Sometimes I cave and buy them. But most of the time I opt for the less expensive but equally satisfying alternative. So I thought I would post the products I love and that I buy on a regular basis.  These are all things I think are worth spending your time and hard earned money on, and I think you will love as well! *

Since I've moved to Calgary, my hair has gone from shine and smooth to dry and coarse. The air here is so dry that everything needs extra hydrating. The move has forced me to find new salons and hair stylists {which has been stressful}. I was comfortable and content with my hairdresser of 25 years and my esthetician since high school. They knew what I wanted and how I wanted it done. But now, I have to put my trust into someone I've never met to help me with my new dry hair situation. Back in Ontario, I use to use Paul Mitchell for colour treated hair, and loved it. But sadly, Paul isn't making the cut anymore. Finally this weekend, on my way to the grocery store, I stopped into a salon called "Curious" {for those of you who live in Calgary, it's located at North Hill Mall}. This salon has at least 100 different products to choose from. The girl at the reception was very helpful in recommending hydrating shampoos and conditioners and put emphasis on those she had tried herself. I finally settled on "Creme de Coco" by Bumble and bumble. You can read up on their history and company {here}

Creme de Coco is specifically designed, using moisture rich ingredients such as; Coconut Oils and Extract and Murumuru Butters to help restore the moisture, shine and softness of your dried out hair, while minimizing frizziness and increasing flexibility. {For a complete list of ket ingredients go here}

The added bonus?.....It smells absolutely amazing!  I've only used this product three times since I got it, and I already notice a huge difference in the texture and overall look of my hair. It's probably one of the best shampoos I've ever used.

Bb makes products for straight, curly, thin, thick, dry, coloured, damaged, red, blonde, brown hair...and this list goes on. Trust me, if you have hair, you'll love this shampoo. If your salon doesn't carry Bb you can purchase it at Sephora or at Bumble and bumble

Creme de Coco {80z}: $20 Bumble and bumble

Stuff You'll Love

You'll Love: OPI Quick Drying Drops

Whenever I pick up and magazine I {like every other girl on this planet} find myself drooling over the expensive products they recommend you buy. Sometimes I cave and buy them. But most of the time I opt for the less expensive but equally satisfying alternative. So I thought I would post the products I love and that I buy on a regular basis.  These are all things I think are worth spending your time and hard earned money on, and I think you will love as well! *

I am a nail polish addict.  Every time I walk into a store that sells OPI or Essie I treat myself.   I've always hated the tedious task painting my finger nails though. Waiting for the paint to dry was annoying. You always want to do stuff immediately after you paint your nails...apparently it's crucial to open that jar, or change your top. Then I found OPI Quick Drying Drops at Sephora. This product is fast and amazing!  I've tried other "quick drying" top coats or polishes, that don't actually dry quickly. 

The bottle instructs you to wait 1-2 minutes after you've applied your second coat of polish for best results. I highly suggest you follow this...the product is a miracle worker but went paint is wet paint. Apply one - two drops, and a patient wait of a WHOLE 2 minutes... and TADA dry nail polish!  As an added bonus the drops include vitamin E and jojoba oil that help keeps your nails in great condition. 

 I've been using this product for 3 years now and will never stop or turn back.  The bottle is small {3oz} but lasts about 3 - 4 months (depending on how often you change your polish colour).  I usually stock up whenever I head to Sephora. Trust me. You will want try this. Painting your nails will never be the same.

OPI Quick Drying Drops: $14 Sephora

Lazy Weekend

After having three full weeks of visitors with non stop sight seeing and entertaining, I thought it was time for a weekend filled with lazying around, organizing the apartment and going on an over due date night. I was finally able to get our new dresser organized! It feels so good to know that everything has it's place, after four months of living out of a suitcase! We got fresh cut flowers and put out our new throw pillows I love from Bed, Bath and Beyond. *

{10 pillows in total}

{I splurged on the small sparkly pillow}

Top Five

This past week one of my best friends was visiting from Ontario.  We had a full 6 days to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted and it was glorious!   It was her first time visiting Alberta so I wanted to show her as much as I could  {and what I knew}.  Here are our top five things from the past week....*

{Raspberry Margaritas}

{Hiking}

{Mechanical Bull}

{Flowers still in bloom}

{Dipping our toes in fresh glacier water}

hello.

A few months ago, (about 4) I moved across the country from Ontario to Alberta.  I've travelled a lot but I have never lived outside of the "arm pit" of Ontario.  The transition from familiar to VERY unfamiliar hasn't been easy, learning a new city, living with a boy and making new friends is not as easy as it looks in the movies.  The biggest struggle I've had is missing my 2nd family....my best friends. I want to show everyone how exciting western Canada is...and all it has to offer { traveling, food, decorating and of course shopping } I'm hoping this blog will be an easy way for them to see my new life out west without physically making the trip....*

{how I spent my weekend}