Topbox (Birchbox for Canadians)

If it weren't for my lovely friend I would have be hugely disappointed when I found out that Birchbox only ships in the States.
HOWEVER, she discovered Topbox - Canada's answer to Birchbox (to be honest Birchbox owns them).
Same price, same quality product
I'm in!

Birchbox

What is Birchbox you say? I didn't know either. I may be behind the times but the discovery of this little gem is making it hard to resist!
Birchbox is a website you can not only shop on, but subscribe too (sorta like a magazine subscription!). They have a few different options but basically you receive a box of high end product samples each month right at your door! Exciting, I know.
Not only would this be a great indulgence for you self - but why not purchase a gift subscription and be the best presenter giver this Christmas? (Oh, and by the way they ship for free!)
What do you think of Birchbox?

Where Are You Christmas ?

Christmas is my favourite time of year - but this year I've been a little out of sync with my usual Christmas-y, optimistic self. My family was here this weekend and we all decorated our apartment; nothing like some Christmas lights to lift your spirits right? Well yes they make me happy but I still haven't been feeling 100% - until about 5 minutes ago.
Before I tell you why, let me explain something about my Mom (and myself to be honest). She still gives Santa presents (I should also tell you I am almost 22 years old) and insists on referring to Santa as someone other than herself - much to my boyfriends reminders that Santa doesn't exist.
My Mom is the ultimate Santa believer and even though I forgot, so am I. Tonight, I read a blog post (find it here) that put the Christmas and Santa love back into my heart.
You can read the blog post for further detail, but to be short; a mother was asked by her daughter if she was really Santa - and this is what the mother wrote.

Dear Lucy,
Thank you for your letter. You asked a very good question: “Are you Santa?”
I know you’ve wanted the answer to this question for a long time, and I’ve had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.
I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her. (And yes, Daddy helps, too.)
I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.
This won’t make you Santa, though.
Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch.
It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Here, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.
Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he’s filled with joy.
With full hearts, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.
So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.
I love you and I always will.
Mama

In these wonderful words I found Christmas again, and reaffirmed why my Mom, and myself will always believe in Santa Claus. 

Slacking

Okay so it's been awhile since I've posted on here - school is just so much of my life right now (well it basically is my life). I can just never find the time to post anything!
But I found something today that I had to pass on to anyone reading who has been dying to have something on a tee or tank and hasn't been able to find it.
This is a great blog all together but this particular post was ingenious!

You start by buying a white plain tee, tank, dress - whatever it is you want! Then find yourself some Elmer's Blue Gel Glue and some fabric dye.
Now wet your tank, tee - whatever - with  cold water and then stretch the shirt over something like plastic (cutting board, t-shirt board etc.)
Now take your glue and draw or write whatever your heart desires!
For several hours let it dry completely (this is emphasized) - now to dye your shirt!
Mix your dye with cool water in a plastic tub and (using gloves) place your shirt in - when you have the colour you want (it will be darker when wet) remove and let dry.
Once dry and before washing it in a machine you want to soak it in soapy water to remove excess glue.
Once the washing process is complete - voila! You have your very own original shirt.

This is probably the most cool DIY clothing tutorial I have seen yet! (to check out pictures head over to Ucreate to see a much more comprehensive explanation)
This is a must do as I have been desperate to find a tank/tee with this on it - now all I have to do is make it!
What are you going to make?

Recycle Your Leftover Hallowe'en Candy

I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one who didn't eat all my Hallowe'en candy when I was a kid - or at least I didn't eat it all before the New Year came around. Growing up in a small community where everybody literally knows everybody (yeah, that actually happens) you tend to come home with more candy than one person needs in a 10 year period. I never trick-or-treated with those cute little plastic pumpkin buckets or printed bags - we trick-or-treated with pillow cases (emphasizing the plural). So, yes inevitably (even when your siblings, friends and parents help you, whether you know it or not) all the candy just doesn't get eaten. Now leaves the question, what do I do with it all? I know a few parents who would take it into work with them to pass out to colleges - but there are much more creative ways to make sure this candy get's used up!
I read a great article on a blog called Small Kitchen College and they have given us 7 yummy ways to make your candy even better before it goes stale (or you give it away).

1. Chocolate Bark

2. Monster Cookies

3. Blondies

4. Pancakes

5. Stuffed Cupcakes

6. Homemade Butterfingers

7. Incentives

 I will leave it to the expert to explain these delicious ideas, so click the link to the Small Kitchen College and start recycling that candy

The Weekend

A sigh of relief for most people, two whole days off work!
However this is not the case for me unfortunately - 3 midterms back to back in a week means there will be lots of sighing but no relief. Well except for tonight - my boyfriend and I are going to see Just For Laughs: British Edition at the National Arts Center (his early birthday present from his parents). So date night it is! I suppose in doing this there may be a little bit of relief from the endless studying I have been doing all semester long.

My best advice for a student?

Movember Looms

 The mustaches of November are not the only thing coming out to greet me; cold weather, snow and Christmas adverts - of course all of this I can handle and I welcome ANYTHING to do with Christmas (yes I am a Christmas nut, expect a lot of themed posts)
However November also mean stress, assignments, never ending studying and exams. This semester (since the middle of October to the end of November) I will have had 8 midterms. This means I have had no life .. I've been to a pub once this semester.
This leaves me torn in my feelings for November, I love everything about this season but I hate everything about studying.
Okay maybe I do love November, but studying just gets in my way. There are good things happening this month, like the last Harry Potter DVD coming out - and some excellent looking films hitting the cinema. November is also a good month because my friend and I are going to see Mamma Mia on broadway and for my boyfriends birthday his parents got us tickets to go see the Just For Laughs UK Edition Tour. That tied in with Christmas prep I guess November is alright after all, as long as I don't fail any exams!
Back to movember, I thought I would give you some mustache links to follow this month - today I have been checking out Etsy and have found some great products for our mustache filled month.

A comfy pair of shoes

Mo-up your furry friend with these

Drink your tea in movember fashion with this

What guy doesn't like a good cotton t-shirt?

I dream of mustache .. pillows!

Trending: BIG rings

Keep your coffee cozy

Throwing any mustache parties with cupcakes?

A cute little robot

A cute tee for the ladies ..

oh! and another

A Little Love to Finish Off the Autumn

I thought I would share with you some photos my cousin took of my boyfriend and I over thanksgiving weekend. She is almost finished school for advertising and has started her own business in photography and design. Find her here for photography and here for her design work - I also her have her blog posted off the the left.