iPhone Snapshots: Lately (and Not So Lately)

I realized it's been quite awhile since I did an iPhone snapshot post, so some of these are from 1-2 months ago. I really should make the effort to upload these photos onto my computer more frequently!

A casual, last days of summer outfit

So glad Pinkberry is finally here though I'd be happier if it wasn't only in West Vancouver...

A special birthday surprise from my boyfriend delivered to my office

And another surprise later that night (I am obsessed with mango cake)

The best fish & chips in Vancouver, courtesy of Go Fish! at Granville Island

A sweet treat (okay, six sweet treats) from Cupcakes

New nail polish from Deborah Lippmann: Sarah Smile, Glitter in the Air, Across the Universe

Current mani: Deborah Lippmann Glitter in the Air over Essie Blanc

My new monogrammed mug from Anthropologie makes tea-time perfect

LUSH Cosmetics 2011 Halloween Collection

What do you do on those days when you're feeling a bit down or need to de-stress? For me, a tried and true pick-me-up is to draw a nice hot bath and toss in some yummy smelling bath products from LUSH Cosmetics. What I love about this company is that all their products are fresh, handmade, and cruelty-free. Plus, they're incredibly innovative and always coming out with brilliant themed holiday items that customers can't get enough of.

Halloween, of course, is no exception! Thanks to the wonderful people at LUSH, I was able to test out a few products from their most recent Halloween/Day of the Dead collection:

GHOST SHOWER GEL ($17.95 CDN for 250ml / $27.95 CDN for 500ml)
Spiritually uplifting & shimmery
Made with rose and dove orchid infusions, this shower gel will leave your skin feeling soft with the lingering fragrance of lilies.

PUMPKIN SOAP ($6.95 CDN)
Spicy Fall soap warms you up when you're chilled to the bone
This limited edition soap is pumpkin-colored and shaped with a lovely and rejuvenating scent of cinnamon that smells good enough to eat (or drink - the scent seriously reminds me of a pumpkin spice latte).

CALAVERA BATH BOMB ($5.95 CDN)
An explosion of vibrant colors to lift your spirits!
Inspired by Calaveras, an iconic image for Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations, this bath bomb contains marigold petals and zesty lime oil.

These three items are available for purchase in stores right now. There are also even more delicious-looking limited edition products which are only being sold in the LUSH Online Store. Check them out before they're all gone!

Houndstooth

I ventured out to Fort Langley for the first time recently, which is a little ridiculous considering the fact that it's the birthplace of B.C. and not even an hour's drive away from Vancouver. I really should make the effort to leave the city sometimes!

After wandering around the main street, we happened upon a canoe relay race down by the water - complete with silly tasks like catching pumpkins dropped off a bridge and running across the sand with a wine glass balanced on a paddle. As you can imagine, it was quite entertaining...

Blouse: H&M / Skirt: Forever 21 / Tights: Urban Outfitters

Boots: Rachel Comey / Watch: Michael Kors

Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle

In Chanel's ads for its Rouge Coco lipstick, Vanessa Paradis is wearing one of the most gorgeous pink lip colours I've ever seen - the aptly named Mademoiselle 05.

The Rouge Coco line has been out for quite some time now, but it took me a while to finally get around to purchasing this because the price was a bit of a deterrent (~$39 CDN). However, I've been on a bit of a lipstick kick these days so I decided I might as well treat myself.

I'm glad I did because Mademoiselle is everything I hoped it would be. It's a gorgeous pinkish-brown that results in the perfect "my lips but better" neutral on my rather pigmented lips. I wouldn't call this a "wow"-worthy shade per se but rather a great "classic" that can complete any makeup look.

Application is smooth and creamy though you'll want a good lip balm underneath since the formula can be a bit drying. The formula is neither matte nor particularly glossy though there is a bit of shine to it.

There is also a very light scent, which is apparently a special blend of fresh roses, raspberry, and a hint of vanilla. It's not overpowering at all and probably wouldn't bother anyone who's sensitive to smells.

When I was researching Mademoiselle before buying it, I found some random but kind of interesting facts about the Rouge Coco line on Makeup and Beauty Blog. For example, engineers apparently opened and closed hundreds of lipstick tubes to find the perfect click. Who knew so much work went into something like that? Though I must say, the click on this lipstick is rather nice...

Black, Blue, and Deborah Lippmann Across The Universe

Here in Canada it's the Thanksgiving Day Long Weekend! I actually used to hate turkey and refused to eat it up until a few years ago (when I was younger I asked my parents for roast chicken instead). Somewhere along the line I changed my mind and I'm glad I did. There's just something about a big Thanksgiving feast complete with turkey, stuffing, and gravy...

By the way, you know that so-called fashion faux pas about mixing black and blue? Yeah, I totally don't agree with it.

Blouse: Olive & Oak / Vest: Central Park West / Pants: 7 For All Mankind (here) / Shoes: Topshop
Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs (here) / Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 (here) / Watch: Michael Kors (here)

I also recently picked up a bunch of Deborah Lippmann nail polishes, including the infamous Across The Universe. While I am not the biggest fan of glitter polish, Deborah Lippmann's unique use of glitters really drew me in. Across The Universe features blue glitter and teal and green hexagonal glitters suspended in a gorgeous dark blue jelly base.

The important thing to remember when working with glitters like this is to make sure you let each coat dry before applying another to avoid pulling the glitter out of place. I used four coats to reach opacity but I think you can get away with three.

This nail polish is pricey ($22 CDN) but I think it's worth it if you're looking for a very unique colour. For my fellow Canadians, you can find Deborah Lippmann at Murale stores (note: you can also earn/redeem your Shoppers Optimum Points for them!)

Pastel Nails: Soulstice Spa Provence and Skinfood Grape Milk

My friend and I had a bit of girly day yesterday: we noshed on sushi, I dyed her hair, and we gave ourselves manicures. It was the perfect way to wind down the weekend, if I do say so myself.

I was excited to finally try out this new Soulstice Spa Nail Polish that I received from Nail Polish Canada. I'd never heard of this brand before but I like that it's vegan, cruelty-free (verified by PETA), and 3-free. All the polishes are named after cities - from Rio to San Francisco - and there are a wide variety of shades to choose from.

Provence is a pretty muted lilac that reminds me a bit of Joe Fresh Faded Violet. Application was really smooth and I only needed two coats to reach opacity. Since I used thin coats, the polish dried quickly with a shiny (but not too shiny) finish.

I decided to paint my ring finger a different colour as a kind of accent nail using Skinfood Grape Milk and some nail art pens. Skinfood is a Korean beauty and skincare line that I wish it was more accessible here in Canada.

I just noticed that my nails actually kind of match my blog layout. I guess I inspire myself? Haha.