My Daily Beauty Routine

So makeup has never been a big part of my life, although I am partial to a browse around the Sephora website every now and then. That said, lately I've been using a few products that I just adore, and tend to wear most weekdays. It's very minimal but I really love how it all looks together.

Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF 30+
I had been searching for a cruelty-free, lightweight SPF that works well on its own or layered with other products. It's super hydrating and non-greasy, and I'll definitely be buying it in the bigger tube.

RMS "Un" Cover-Up in 00
I thought about buying this for the longest time (it's on the pricy side for a concealer) but I am so glad I did! The base for this formula is coconut oil, so it's super hydrating and lightweight, and really buildable.

Anastasis Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
This remains the only brow product I've found that matches my brow colour perfectly. I use it to fill in sparser areas, and it's super buildable to suit anyone's needs!

Pacifica Mascara
I have this in brown and black because I love it so much. Day to day I wear 'stardust' which is a dark brown colour. It's a lil bit lengthening and a lil but voluminizing, so it ticks all boxes. Lasts all day and doesn't smudge, perfection!

Ardell Brow Gel
This was super duper cheap on Amazon, but it's actually really great. It keeps my brows nicely shaped all day long and smells strangely delicious.

x B

A Few Favourite Things

So it's been a while since I've posted here, and I won't apologize -- I've just been happily living my life for the last month or so. My New Year's resolution this year was to spend less time documenting and planning my life, and more time living it. So just take my absence from this space as an indication that I'm succeeding in that.

It's been a big month. I've been making lots of plans, figuring things out for next semester at school, and enjoying my summer as much as possible. On top of the usual daily routine, I've fostered the most beautiful dog from the RSPCA (but their policy prohibits me from sharing photos until he's ready for adoption). However, I have found some time to slow down and enjoy the everyday, and I wanted to share some of that with you here. I thought I might share my 'favourites,' but instead of material possessions, focus instead on events/activities/recipes (although there are a couple new things I want to share!)

Lazy afternoons reading

I've been reading a lot lately, which has been lovely and much-needed. There's something delightfully comforting about reading on the couch while it rains down on the windows. I recently finished The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion and loved it just as much as the first Rosie novel. Don's narration is so refreshing and not frustrating, as I find many narrators to be. Right now I'm reading Diana Gabaldon's Dragonfly in Amber, the second in her Outlander series. I've absolutely been swept up in Claire and Jamie's story, and love DG's writing and Claire's narration. I'm up to date with the TV show so I can't wait to finish this novel and get on to the next one.

And watching some television

A couple of great shows I've been watching lately have kept me entertained in the evenings. Master of None, Aziz Ansari's show, was a seriously entertaining but light-hearted watch. Well cast and with clever humour, it was the perfect kind of show to watch over a couple of rainy days in bed. Then I started Please Like Me, created by Australian comedian Josh Thomas. It is a wonderfully optimistic show that deals with complicated issues in a tasteful way. I really liked that the main character, Josh, didn't seem to have any idea what he was doing as he entered adulthood, which I found very relatable and realistic. Finally, I've just finished the the first season of Jane the Virgin. I had watched a few episodes a while back but never got into the story, but recently I rented the season from the library and found myself totally invested in the storyline. While the premise is a little ridiculous, the characters are complex and interesting, and I love it now!

Planning for the next few months

I'm such a planner that I've been busy making lists and calendars and checklists to get ready for the next semester. Without even trying, I find myself with five jobs/roles on top of classes, so I'm in for a very busy few months on campus. I bought a new diary from Kikki.K (that has lots of little illustrations to colour in) and I've been using Apple Calendars and Google docs to make plans and lists so I'm all ready to go. It just makes me so happy to colour code and highlight things so I've really been enjoying that.

New additions to the wardrobe

While I didn't set out to shop too much this summer, I have picked up a few nice new pieces that I adore. I bought a pair of Blundestone 585 boots recently and have practically been living in them, they're so comfortable! They go with just about anything and I love love love them to bits. I also stopped in Chapel St. the other day and bought a lovely pair of cotton pants at Sussan, as well as a tunic dress and jacket in the Ishka sale (honestly I don't know of a better sale than an Ishka sale!) I love the colours of these pieces and they are all soft and made of cotton, which is just awesome.

Delicious breakfasts

I recently picked up the PB2 powdered peanut butter in chocolate flavour, and have been loving that so far! My favourite breakfast lately has been oats with chia and flax seeds, some chopped banana and the PB2 chocolate drizzled on top. So good! I'm also pretty obsessed with overnight oats- basically just oats and chia left to soak in coconut/almond milk and coconut yoghurt overnight. Top with some fresh fruit and it's a quick and delicious breakfast on the go.

x B

Favourites: November 2015 (Belated)

I'm sitting at my desk, looking at the gloomy grey sky outside. Perfect study weather, but naturally I'm procrastinating. Finals are this week and yes, I'm pretty stressed out, and yes, I have bronchitis, but I've had a strange rush of productivity today, which is nice! So here are my super late November favourites.

In no particular order...The Pai Camellia & Rose cleanser. I took advantage of the Black Friday sales and splurged on some Pai skincare, and love it all (post to come). This is my favourite of the lot, it's a lovely cream that you massage into dry skin. I have been looking for a cleanser that doesn't dry out my skin and I think this could be the one!The Mission Grove Clementine and Clove lotion. I bought this on sale, and good thing too because it's tiny! That said, I fell in love with the scent. It's a perfect blend of citrus and spice (and all things nice, hehe). FAB Ultra Repair Cream. This stuff is so good. SO good. I've been sick all week and naturally my skin has been a little neglected. Yesterday I put this on my face and I'm so glad I did. It is so soothing and hydrating.HANA Eye Oil. I received this in a Petit Vour box, and I have been using it most nights. It is heavy when you put it on, but it soaks in overnight and I feel like it's making a difference. They recommend 3-4 drops, I've been using 1/2 a drop. Something to consider!OPI polish in Do You Take Lei Away? I can't find a link for this, sorry! It's the perfect neutral for my nails and I've been loving it lately.Twinings Lemon & Ginger tea. Doesn't need a ton of explanation. I've been sick. This is my saviour. Add some honey and fresh lemon and you're golden.Origami cranes. I've been making lots lately, and they all sit in a jar on my window sill. It's a super relaxing hobby and one I've come to love. Little gold jewels. my two favourites this month have been my new-ish ring from Datter Industries (close up below); and my old elephant necklace, which I believe was a gift from a friend. Love these smaller statement pieces. What have you been up to lately? x B

My Favourite Things: Part I

It might sound cheesy, but lately I've been admiring the beauty in the everyday. I find that everywhere you look, you can find something beautiful, and the world we live in is full of so much beauty that it's almost too much to handle! I've been working on a list of my favourite things, mostly related to the beauty of the world we live in, so wherever you are in the world, whatever kind of life you lead, you can appreciate these things as well.

1. The way that trees are reflected in water (puddles of rain, lakes). Related: the lights of a city reflected in water at night.
2. Sunlight shining down through a tree, and how it moves as the breeze rustles the leaves.
3. The moon. This is a big one that is complex for me, and maybe one day I'll dedicate a post to my love for the moon. I like the idea that although our world has changed so much over the course of history, the moon has remained the same, shining bright up there every night. Just think- Shakespeare saw the same moon that you do, so did Cleopatra, and your great-great-great-great-great grandparents. A nice thought, if you ask me.
4. Taking a walk through a forest, surrounded by the whisper of trees in the wind. Related: the beautiful 'hush-hush' sound that trees make when it's windy. It sounds like they're talking to each other!
5. Visiting the beach on a stormy day, when it's so dark that you can't tell the sky and the sea apart.
6. Not so much nature-related, but one that enhances everything the world has on offer: listening to a beautiful piece of orchestral music while doing something mundane, or going for a walk around your neighborhood. I find that this helps me appreciate the little things. Perhaps one day soon I'll dedicate a post to my favourite classical pieces and film scores.

I hope wherever you are in the world, and whatever you are doing, you are aware of the beauty that surrounds us every day. When things are bad, remember that this world was created for you and it's beautiful, so get out there and enjoy it!

x B

(photos are from my Instagram: @rebeccasather)

Favourites: October 2015

This month I've been very busy, with lots of study, midterms, and fun social things too! As such, the things that I've been loving most this month reflect how I've been living lately. Simple things that make my life a little easier, happier and less stressful.

First of all, I've been loving this Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil, which I bought at Sephora. I bought the smaller size, because my skin is quite sensitive and I didn't want to commit to spending $50 on the larger size when I don't know that my skin likes it! I'd been looking for a more natural product to help even out my skintone and reduce hyperpigmentation, and I think this could be the one! It's light, absorbs quickly, and smells great. It's packed full of good things (including Omega fatty acids) that smooth and moisturize your skin. I feel so luxurious when I use it, too!

Next up is this Topshop Glow Highlighter in 'Polish'. I really wanted to buy the RMS Living Luminizer but couldn't justify spending $40 on something I'd never tried before, so I went with the cheaper version first, and I really like it! It's the perfect colour for my skin, and I just dab a little above my cheekbones and I instantly look more awake and lively.

My next favourite thing is tea! It's finally getting cooler in Washington and so when I was at Target last week I picked up this Vanilla Comoro Tea from Harney & Sons. If I'm being honest, it was the packaging that drew me in, but when I opened the tin, it smelled SO good! And it's decaffeinated, so I can have a cup before bed and not lie awake for hours. Next time I'm at Target I'll be checking out this brand again, because I love this one so much!

And I can't have new tea without a new mug to drink it from! I ordered this adorable 'Felix the Fox' mug from Urban Outfitters (still available right now) and it arrived this week. I'm already in love! It's just the right size, and I love the little fox and Scandinavian style. It will be perfect this winter as I drink about 10 cups of tea each day!

I'm also loving this dainty little clover bracelet from Dogeared. I ordered it early this month and have been wearing it nearly every day. It's perfectly simple and makes me feel so lucky! It honestly matches everything, so I wear it all the time.

Two skincare saviours! This tea tree mask from the Body Shop has always been a love of mine (and the whole tea tree range, really) but this month I've used it a few times and my skin has cleared right up! Also, it's bright green so I feel like Elphaba from Wicked when I have it on, and am therefore prone to bursting out in a rendition of Defying Gravity.The Bare Minerals powder is new but I love it! I finally found a powder that matches my super pale skin! The packaging is great (minimal spills!) and I love the coverage: not too much but still enough.

My last favourite is not a thing so much as an activity. While I do adore the journal itself (Leather Sagitta Journal from Anthropologie), I've really been enjoying keeping a journal. I make time a few times a week to jot down my thoughts, what I've been up to, and what I'm looking forward to. Sometimes I include a quote that's been inspiring that day, or something that made me laugh. It's so nice to look back through it and see what I was doing on a certain day and what I was thinking about!

What are your favourite things this month? What have you been up to? Hope all is well!

x B