Changes..*

Changes. There have been A LOT of them lately. Where to start? I guess I'll tackle the biggest change I've made, I QUIT MY JOB. Yes...in two weeks I will be unemployed {hopefully not for long...but still unemployed}. When we first moved to Calgary I was not in any position to be picky with employment. I needed a job and I needed one quick! Luckily, I landed two great EA {executive assistant} positions with awesome benefits, weekend and holidays off and flex friday's.... two years have passed, and I don't feel fulfill, satisified or at all happy. Needless to say I felt trapped...trapped in a job because of money and benefits. I'm 26 {soon to be 27} and I didn't like this feeling, the feeling of being so far removed from my support system and working an unfulfilling job in a city I'm not totally in love with.  After MANY hours/months of back and fourth...I decided {with support from my awesome bf of course} that quitting my job, taking some time off and figuring out what is best for me {and my mental health!}is the best decision I could make for me {and my relationship}.  Maybe my whole perspective on the city will change and we won't move back to Ontario come June... you never know until you try! I have to say....after I resigned a HUGE weight was lifted and I felt like there was an end to the unhappiness and a start to finding something I LOVE in Calgary.

and finally...a not so serious change....!*

BEFORE......

AFTER!

12 Days of Favorites*: Day 1

Hair Styles

This was the year of ombre hair, soft curls and ballerina buns...and I loved all of them!


Ballerina Bun

Ombre

Soft Beachy Curls/Waves

Stuff You'll Love!

You'll Love: Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo


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 literally have to wash my hair every night in order for it to look clean and manageable the next day. My hair dresser keeps telling me to stop washing everyday because it’s bad for my hair…. “You need to train your hair” she says…well…I don’t have the patience to do that! Thank god for dry shampoo! I’ve tried a few different brands. Tresemme and Aveeno, but I found they just added to the oil and dirt of my day old hair, and tried to mask any smell with a gross baby powder scent. A few girls at my office recommended I try Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo, and it made a world of difference. You really get what you pay for ($17.95/bottle).

Following the directions on the can is key! Shake the can well, and then hold about 6-8 inches away from your head. Spray the product lightly focusing mainly on roots, wait 2 minutes before brushing out excess product, and VOILA refreshed, volumized day old hair! Instead of adding to the daily dirt and oil in your hair, Big Sexy Hair absorbs excess oils, dirt and product build up, adding volume to limp hair, UV- protection, and helps extend colour life by lengthening time between washes! PLUS… PLUS…PLUS!

Which dry shampoo do you love?!*

Life Lately....*

Life Lately....* I just realized that I haven't posted in about 2 weeks...However, the past few weeks have been such a whirlwind. As I've said in previous posts, my grandma wasn't doing to well...and she passed on May 9th. So....the next day I flew home for 5 days. It was obviously not an ideal reason to be visiting home....but I got to spend a lot of time with family, and saw so many friends, my best friend and I got to ring in our Birthdays, so it turned out to be amazing. THEN...it was MAY 2-4 weekend...and that in itself explains why I didn't post at all this past weekend....BUT....to all my Canadian readers, I hope you had a fabulous long weekend and that the weather was as amazing for you as it was for us! Here a a few snaps from the past 2 weeks and my travels home!*

heading home...

my parent's backyard

love lilacs

Lake Ontario on a sunny day!

me, grandma and sis*

grandma's engagement ring

me & the girls*

truth*

new dress from H&M and gold belt

new summer bag from Aldo

big night on the town in hammertown

{new BCBG skirt}

sock bun success!

hair cut time!

our new couch *kivik*

May 2-4 Kananaskis Country Hike

Horned Mountain Sheep

Happy 3rd Birthday Koda*

May 2-4 Bonfire*

Ombre...ombre...ombre!

When I go home in February, I made a much needed appointment with my hair dresser! {I've tried other stylists here in Calgary, but I just don't feel comfortable} So I'm super excited to change it up a bit! I've been growing my hair for the past 8 months...and I think it's long enough now to try ombre hair colouring! I by no means want anything drastic and overly obvious. I want it to look subtle and natural. Here are a few example of what I'm thinking of and looking for...!

I like the idea of lightening the bottom....

My hair right now is pretty much this dark..so either this colour or Leighton Meesters' colouring would be perfect

Thoughts?!*

heaven in a bottle!

As you all know from previous posts {here} I've been having a huge issue with my hair being dry since we moved here. I've tried tons of shampoos and conditioners and finally settled on Bumble and bumble Creme de Coco {which works great!} but I still found my hair lacked the shine and smoothness it had living in Ontario. That is until I stumbled upon a little gem called Moroccanoil! I've read and heard great things about this product but never really looked for it {or remembered too} until one day on my lunch break I randomly saw it for sale in a tiny store by my work. Naturally I got excited!  This could be the cure for my dry hair problems! Moroccanoil has a huge selection of products: shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, styling gel, styling cream, light and dark hydrating treatments....it's almost overwhelming. So I chose the smallest bottle they had, which was the Original Moroccanoil Oil Treatment {about 4oz for $14.99} to give it a try. All you need is a dime size of the oil in the palm of your hand...rub together then smooth into your damp hair starting from the roots down to the ends of your hair, then brush through. Immediately you will notice a difference!  Brushing through your hair is effortless...the oil reduces drying time {your hair is basically dry in half the time it normally takes to air dry} and you can instantly tell your hair is much more conditioned and hydrated....it's a miracle worker! I would say my hair now stays shiny and smooth up to 2 - 3 days instead of  just 1. I feel I don't have to splurge on higher end shampoos and conditioners anymore if I spend the $15 on this bottle of Moroccanoil. I'm almost tempted to try the shampoo and conditioner, I'd never have dry hair again!  If your having a dry hair problem or lacking shine, try this, you won't regret it!*

Original Moroccanoil Oil Treatment: $14.99 

12 Days of Favorites*: Day 3

Croc Hair Straightener

I have gone through about 3 flat irons since I left the trusty clothes iron behind me {you know you did it too!}I believe my first hair straightener was a Conair that broke within 6 months, then I got a Babybliss, which I really liked, but it broke pretty often and the warenty always covered it for a new one but it didn't seem worth it. So finally, two Christmas's ago I got a new one. Orginally I wanted a CHI. But I used my mom's for awhile and didn't like how you couldn't control the temperature on it. The sales girl at Trade Secrets suggested the Croc Flat Iron. The temperature was adjustable {up tp 430 degrees}, it has turbolon coated plates, you can straighten your air when it's still damp and most importantly it has an automatic shut off {very important, I am prone to leaving my on... eeek!}. I like the larger plates, because my hair is so long and thick; so I chose the AV-CROC with 1 1/2" plates with the swivel cord and silver body. I'm pretty sure this flat iron is indistructable since I have dropped it countless times on the floor {and yes...in the toilet} and it still works perfectly! It's by far THE BEST flat iron I've ever used, and it was pretty much half the price of a CHI. I believe I got it on sale for $160! If your in the market, you should take a look at this product!*

AV-Croc Flat Iron: $160

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