Reflections of 2023 ~ Yearly Recap

Happy last day of 2023 Everyone - can we believe 2024 starts tomorrow?! I am always so excited with reflecting back! 

Damian Turned 18 

At the start of the year, Damian turned 18! I can't believe my baby is now technically an adult! We went out to a pub for the night and this is us and our first tequila shot together - can you tell who is better at them at this point?! Lol - he is a great kid! 

Monthly Beauty and Book Haul ~ December 2023

Last year I set a monthly beauty and books budget at $200 per month and I really stuck to it! I am trying to be thoughtful in my purchases, so this has been holding me accountable for being reasonable with my spending. Since it worked so well last year, I'm really trying to do the same thing this year! 

I do always love my Monthly Haul posts - it's a good way to keep track of everything that I picked up each month. I don't always blog about everything I pick up (I try to), but if you ever spot anything in here that you really want me to talk about, let me know! 

I purchased everything in this post

Indigo Haul ~ $132.88 CAN. At the start of the month, I had a little discount at Indigo so I picked up some of my most anticipated books of the year! I can't wait to dive in to all of these! 

Five on Friday - December 29, 2023 ~ Merry Christmas, Christmas Gifts, Journalling Pens, FBOY Island, and End of Year Declutter

Happy Friday everyone - I hope you all have had a great Christmas and an amazing week! 

ONE 

The gifts I showed were from family and friends

I hope you all have a great Christmas - here is my lovely family and me at Christmas dinner! We are all getting over a cold/flu so it was a little rough leading up to the holidays, but we hosted dinner and I loved having everyone over! 

Five on Sunday - December 24, 2023 ~ Girls Christmas Gift, Christmas Light Night, Michael's Crafting Haul, Scattergories Vintage Bookshelf Edition and Merry Christmas Eve

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you all have a great day! Happy Christmas Eve! 

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post

Last weekend we had a little Girl's afternoon visit and gift exchange and I got such a cute little gift! I got these nice warm wool socks and a really cute belt bag! It was such a chill afternoon and good to catch up with my friends! 

Monthly Beauty and Book Haul ~ November 2023

Last year I set a monthly beauty and books budget at $200 per month and I really stuck to it! I am trying to be thoughtful in my purchases, so this has been holding me accountable for being reasonable with my spending. Since it worked so well last year, I'm really trying to do the same thing this year! 

I do always love my Monthly Haul posts - it's a good way to keep track of everything that I picked up each month. I don't always blog about everything I pick up (I try to), but if you ever spot anything in here that you really want me to talk about, let me know! 

(Also, how it turned in to December 20 and I'm just posting my November haul, but oh well!)

I purchased everything in this post

Sephora Birthday Order ~ $31.19 CAN. I ordered this lovely Makeup by Mario mini set and I picked up the Glow Recipe birthday set with a couple of free samples along with it! Perfect little order! 

Manicure Monday - Shimmery Snowman Nails

Happy Manicure Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend! 

The China Glaze polishes were received as PR samples

It's December and the countdown is on to Christmas - I'm getting so excited! And, the #CBBxManiMonday always does a whole month of Christmas nails - I always love seeing what we come up with for our holiday nails! 

Beauty Gifts Sets/Stocking Stuffers That Caught My Eye

One of my favourite things about the holidays is all the great beauty sets that come out (I love minis and think these sets are always a good way to try new things from brands without buying a full sized item!)

The Belif and Florence by Mils sets were received as PR samples

So, naturally I dig through a whole bunch of sets and pick up a few that I are exciting to me - mini size for a good price, great value, good selection of products, etc. For me, I'm most interested in getting a variety of products and so that's what I tend to look for! 

Five on Friday - December 15, 2023 ~ Beartown Trilogy Book Reviews, Pantone Colour of the Year - Peach Fuzz, Meeting the Grinch, Bookshops and Bonedust Pre-order, and McDonalds Adult Happy Meals

Happy Friday everyone - I hope you all had a great week! It's been a lost cause of a week here - my little guy has been sick since the weekend so we've been in survival mode for the week, and I thought I was on track for Christmas prep and now I haven't sent out cards or wrapped anything and I'm feeling a little rushed! 

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post

If you would have told me at the start of the year that a trilogy of hockey books would be some of my favourite books of the year, I would have laughed, but I cannot sing enough praise about the Beartown series that includes Beartown, Us Against You and The Winners by Fredrik Backman. Of course, these are much more than a book about hockey - its about the characters, choices we make, how we respond to crisis, friendships, family, love, toxic masculinity, violence, everything is touched on in these books and handled so well - Fredrik Backman is a master with words and these books were so impactful. 

Monthly Beauty Favourites ~ November 2023

Here's a look at the products I was loving in November:

I purchased these products - this post contains affiliate links

Last year I started just picking any number of products I'm loving, instead of trying to find 5 each month (which I did previously!) So, whatever number of products I'm loving, that's what I will be sharing. 

I've been slower at using and trying out new products, so naturally my Favourites have been on the smaller side lately (and I'm totally fine with that) - here's a closer look at what I've been loving this month:

Monthly Reads ~ November 2023

I hope you all are enjoying all the book reviews, since it's just another hobby of mine, it's not going anywhere! I loved doing the Monthly Wrap-up last year to share mini reviews on all the books I've read each month! 

It could be a big range from 2 to 10 books depending on how much I read, but I figure I can share a little synopsis and quick thoughts on each book. I will still be doing more in depth reviews on books that really capture me! 

Moon of the Crusted Snow was received as a review copy

So, in November I read 8 books, with a mix of genres from adult fantasy to young adult romance. I love most genres, and I really want to keep my reads diversified this year - I think I have been doing a great job of that so far! Also, I've been trying to read a mix of old and new books; but, this month was mostly newer reads! I read 3 physical books and listened to 5 audiobooks. Eight books is a little light for me but there were some big books in here! 

Manicure Monday - Candy Cane Striped Nails

Happy Manicure Monday - I hope you all had a great weekend! (We were at home with a sick boy, so it's been a long weekend here!)

I purchased everything in this post

It's December and the countdown is on to Christmas - I'm getting so excited! And, the #CBBxManiMonday always does a whole month of Christmas nails - I always love seeing what we come up with for our holiday nails! 

Five on Friday - December 8, 2023 ~ Betting on You Book Review, December Most Anticipated Books, New Blurb Yearbook, Exercise Bike and Book Sleeve

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a great week! 

ONE 

Betting on You was received as a review copy

Time for another great book review - this was a young adult romance, and it's a little bit out of my realm; but it was really sweet and great! I don't read a ton of YA romance, but this is recommended for someone who loves 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That, and I truly had to pick it up with those comps and it was perfect with those in mind! This is set around two main characters with how they meet (and hate each other) two years prior and how they come back together. They somewhat bond on being children of divorce and parents starting to date, throw in a few bets and some hidden feelings and it was a lot of fun. The tension is a little predictable, but I don't mind that! I thought the characters were good and loved their chemistry and connection! It was a lot of fun. 4 stars! 

Manicure Monday - Stamped Winter Cozy Nails

Happy Manicure Monday - I hope you all had a good weekend! We were busy with Christmasy things and markets, but it was a great weekend! 

I purchased everything in this post

It's December and the countdown is on to Christmas - I'm getting so excited! And, the #CBBxManiMonday always does a whole month of Christmas nails - I always love seeing what we come up with for our holiday nails! 

Five on Friday - December 1, 2023 ~ Christmas Decorating, November Month of Vegetarian and Pescatarian Meals, Advent Calendars, Meeting Santa, and Spotify Wrapped

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a good week - can we believe it's December 1 today?! 

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post

We are all set up for Christmas - I love this time! We get a real tree so we always have to wait until late November to get set up and I'm so excited! We make a big family night of it and we are in full holiday mode now!