Five on Friday - October 4, 2024 ~ Wedding at the Fairmont Palliser, Devonian Gardens, September Month of Vegetarian/Pescatarian Meals, September Maniology x Me Express Kit, and Virtual Bookclub

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

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post

This past weekend my cousin got married at the Fairmont Palliser and it was such a stunning wedding - a gorgeous venue and what a beautiful night! But, I love when we get all dressed up and we had a great night! 

August 2024 Ipsy Glambag Unboxing

Ipsy to me is one of the OG Beauty Subscription - I have been getting these once every few months just to see if they still are great! 

The June 2024 Theme is Enter Your Soft Era and described as "What better way to get into the IPSY spirit than with a varsity-inspired Glam Bag design? August’s Bag features faux-leather, contrasting colors, and hand-sewn patches to create a part-of-the-team vibe. Plus, it’s packed with all the beauty MVPs you need to ace your routine."

I purchased this bag

The Ipsy Glam Bag is $14 per month + $3.95 shipping to Canada (it worked out to about $25 CAN with the exchange for the month!) Each month comes with 5 curated products based on your preference quiz and I now you get to pick one of the items that is included in the box. It also gives you access to beauty deals in their shop. 

Here are the products that were included in this month's Glam Bag:

June 2024 Ipsy Glambag Unboxing

Ipsy to me is one of the OG Beauty Subscription - I have been getting these once every few months just to see if they still are great! 

The June 2024 Theme is Sunny Days Ahead and described as "If there was ever a print that screamed summer, it’s June’s Glam Bag design. It’s bright, bold, and perfectly captures the feel of a sun-kissed season thanks to its high-impact colors (picked in honor of Pride Month!), wetsuit-esque fabric, and sporty zipper. Plus, it's packed with all the sizzling beauty picks you need for sunny days ahead."

I purchased this on my own

The Ipsy Glam Bag is $14 per month + $3.95 shipping to Canada (it worked out to $25.06 CAN with the exchange for the month!) Each month comes with 5 curated products based on your preference quiz and I now you get to pick one of the items that is included in the box. It also gives you access to beauty deals in their shop. 

May 2024 Lush Kitchen Subscription Box ~ Volume 48

The Lush Kitchen Subscription box is a monthly subscription box full of exclusive Lush Kitchen goodies made exclusively for the box - every month subscribers vote on the monthly menu of products that they would or would not like to see in the box, so you can help pick what is included in the box! Also, all of the products included in each box will be vegan. 

Each month the Lush Kitchen Subscription is $49.95 CAN box is per month + shipping (shipping to Alberta is $6.00 CAN and likely varies province to province). The subscription will come with 4-5 exclusive products and I think it will include a variety of products that Lush makes; but, will of course be mostly bath and body products.

I love that this month's theme is Bridgerton, usually May comes with custom Mother's Day items, but this is cute because Season 3 is coming out right away (today as this is posting!)

I purchased this box

Each month you pay and vote for products that are coming in the following month's box - so for this May box, you had until April 5 to vote on the products you'd like to see and then payment comes out on the 6th of the previous month. Then, Lush spends the month making the products and ships it out at the end of April so you receive it in May.

Five on Saturday - March 23, 2024 ~ The Invocations Book Review, March 2024 Owlcrate Unboxing, Dare To Lead Course, St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Trap, and My Neighbor Totoro

Happy Saturday everyone - as per usual right now, it's been a crazy week for me with lots of training going on, so happy it's the weekend! 

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post - this post contains affiliate links

I really enjoyed The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland 4.5 stars! This is a young adult magical realism horror all about witches (for me this wasn't just YA if you like dark books, I think this would be great!) We have a lot going on, but kept me hooked the whole time. Each of our three characters is quite distinct - one has cursed herself beyond repair and is searching high and low for a witch to help save her, one is mourning the loss of her sister and will stop at nothing to learn a spell to raise her from the dead, and our third is a curse-writer who a serial killer appears to be hunting down the woman she's given spells to. They all come together trying to solve the crimes while each with their own story and path. There were a few conveniences to help the plot along but I just thought everything was so good!

Spring 2024 - The Jilly Box Subscription Unboxing

I'm a big fan of Jillian Harris, so when she announced that she was starting a subscription box, I was so excited! The box started with the Winter 2019 box and sadly, I was not one of the lucky originals who won a subscription spot, so I sign up every season and hope to get picked for a lottery spot!

I purchased this box - this post contains affiliate links

The Jilly Box is a quarterly seasonal subscription box - the products within the box include some of Jillian’s (and Team Jilly’s!) favourite items (and brands) from home decor, fashion, bath and beauty, health and wellness, accessories perfect for each season. Some of the items included will be custom designed exclusively for the Jilly Box. The Jilly Box really focuses on including products from small, local businesses while being ethically sourced and inclusive. They also focus on reducing plastic waste and packaging - the big boxes can be turned inside out and reused! Also, they try to include Canadian, woman owned brands, as well as Bipoc and LGBTQ owned brands as well. 

January 2024 Ipsy Glambag Unboxing

It's been a long time since I've gotten I've gotten an Ipsy subscription, but I tried it once last year and wanted to see if I wanted to keep up the subscription - chances are probably not, but I thought I'd share what I got in this month's bag! 

The January 2024 Theme is Glow Your Soul and described as "Featuring a new, unique velvet fabric embroidered with iridescent sequins, this month's Glam Bag is here to help you soft launch 2024, thanks to its beautiful design by Joanne Wong. Plus, this purple pouch is packed with all the beauty you need to relax, recharge, and take on anything."

I purchased this subscription

The Ipsy Glam Bag is $14 per month + $3.95 shipping to Canada (it worked out to $25.06 CAN with the exchange for the month!) Each month comes with 5 curated products based on your preference quiz and I now you get to pick one of the items that is included in the box. It also gives you access to beauty deals in their shop. 

Beautylish Lucky Bag 2024 Unboxing

Every year on Boxing Day (or December 26 for you non-Canadians), Beautylish releases the pre-order for their Lucky Bags which ships in January - if you are interested, these sell out quickly on the day of, so make sure your ready on that date! These boxes are $103.00 CAN + shipping and duties (mine worked out to $154.22), but, you are guaranteed at least $200.00 CAN worth of makeup and skincare. They are all totally random, so it is a complete surprise what you get, and I love surprises! Some bags are extra lucky and include gift cards, etc. 

I picked up the regular lucky bag for fair/medium skin. There was also XL lucky bags, Jeffree Star Lucky Bags, and a Buy One Gift One as other options. I'm a total sucker for these mystery boxes - I didn't get one last year, but I always get FOMO so I decided to pick one up this year!

Here is a look at my 2024 Beautylish Lucky Bag:

I purchased this box - this post contains affiliate links

The lucky bags are inspired by a Japanese New Year tradition and the packaging was inspired by the upcoming Year of the Dragon! It's lovely! I received 7 products in this bag from some great brands! 

January 2024 Maniology Mani x Me "Purrfect Prose" Nail Stamping Subscription Box

You know I love subscription boxes here - I've cut down on them a lot, so I don't get a ton of boxes anymore, but every time I see a theme I love, I have to pick it up! 

I purchased this box on my own

And that's exactly what happened with this Maniology Mani x Me subscription box this month - they announced the theme was "Purrfect Prose" and described it as each plate brimming with literary delights and adorable cats loafing in every nook! I'm mean cats, books, libraries and warm drink themed?! I needed it instantly! 

Five on Friday - November 24, 2023 ~ Moon of the Turning Leaves Book Review, November 2023 Owlcrate Subscription, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Movie, Across The Spider-verse DVD, and Monthly Declutter

Happy Friday everyone - I hope you all had a good week! It's been a little crazy around here, but I think at this point, I say that every week! 

ONE 

Moon of the Turning Leaves and Across The Spider-verse was sent as a review copy

I'm always happy when I have a good book to share, especially when that good book is Canadian! I read Moon of the Crusted Snow earlier this year and it was fantastic - it's modern dystopian, so realistic and super eerie. It takes place on a remote reserve in Northern Ontario and essentially the power shuts off forever and the people on the reserve have no idea what happens. The first book follows what happens immediately following the events and what the community does to survive. Then, this year we got a sequel, Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice and it's just as good as the first one! 

Winter 2023 - The Jilly Box Subscription Unboxing

I'm a big fan of Jillian Harris, so when she announced that she was starting a subscription box, I was so excited! The box started with the Winter 2019 box and sadly, I was not one of the lucky originals who won a subscription spot, so I sign up every season and hope to get picked for a lottery spot!

I purchased this box

The Jilly Box is a quarterly seasonal subscription box - the products within the box include some of Jillian’s (and Team Jilly’s!) favourite items (and brands) from home decor, fashion, bath and beauty, health and wellness, accessories perfect for each season. Some of the items included will be custom designed exclusively for the Jilly Box. The Jilly Box really focuses on including products from small, local businesses while being ethically sourced and inclusive. They also focus on reducing plastic waste and packaging - the big boxes can be turned inside out and reused! Also, they try to include Canadian, woman owned brands, as well as Bipoc and LGBTQ owned brands as well. 

November 2023 Ipsy Icon Box Unboxing

I just unboxed my October Ipsy Glambag and in that post I mentioned in that post that I re-signed up just to try out this new version of Ipsy - the Icon Box! 

I purchased everything in this post - this post contains affiliate links

The Ipsy Icon Box is a new version is a special curated box that you can upgrade to each quarter (Nov, Feb, May and Aug) and you get 8 full sized products curated by a makeup professional or celebrity worth up to $350! Each time, Ipsy will select 5 of the products for you and you get to select the other 3 products. 

October 2023 Ipsy Glambag Unboxing

Hello blast from the past, I haven't gotten an Ipsy bag in yeeears - since November 2018 to be exact since I went back and looked. Since that time, quite a few things have happened - mostly, they've merged with Boxycharm so you can now get both items through the same site. But, what drew me back in was the idea of a deluxe quarterly box called The Icon Box curated by some heavy hitters in the beauty community (comes out November, February, etc.) so I snagged an October Glam Bag to make sure I could try out the November Icon Box! 

I purchased this subscription - this post contains affiliate links 

The Ipsy Glam Bag is $14 per month + $3.95 shipping to Canada (it worked out to $25.06 CAN with the exchange for the month!) Each month comes with 5 curated products based on your preference quiz and I now you get to pick one of the items that is included in the box. It also gives you access to beauty deals in their shop. 

Lush Kitchen Subscription ~ October 2023

The Lush Kitchen Subscription box is a monthly subscription box full of exclusive Lush Kitchen goodies made exclusively for the box - every month subscribers vote on the monthly menu of products that they would or would not like to see in the box, so you can help pick what is included in the box! Also, all of the products included in each box will be vegan. 

Each month the Lush Kitchen Subscription is $49.95 CAN box is  per month + shipping (shipping to Alberta is $6.00 CAN and likely varies province to province). The subscription will come with 4-5 exclusive products and I think it will include a variety of products that Lush makes; but, will of course be mostly bath and body products.

I purchased this box

Each month you pay and vote for products that are coming in the following month's box - so for this October box, you had until September 5 to vote on the products you'd like to see and then payment comes out on the 6th of the previous month. Then, Lush spends the month making the products and ships it out at the end of September so you receive it in October! 

Fall 2023 - The Jilly Box Subscription Box Unboxing

I'm a big fan of Jillian Harris, so when she announced that she was starting a subscription box, I was so excited! The box started with the Winter 2019 box and sadly, I was not one of the lucky originals who won a subscription spot, so I sign up every season and hope to get picked for a lottery spot! 

I purchased this box on my own - this post contains affiliate links

The Jilly Box is a quarterly seasonal subscription box - the products within the box include some of Jillian’s (and Team Jilly’s!) favourite items (and brands) from home decor, fashion, bath and beauty, health and wellness, accessories perfect for each season. Some of the items included will be custom designed exclusively for the Jilly Box. The Jilly Box really focuses on including products from small, local businesses while being ethically sourced and inclusive. They also focus on reducing plastic waste and packaging - the big boxes can be turned inside out and reused! Also, they try to include Canadian, woman owned brands, as well as Bipoc and LGBTQ owned brands as well. 

Five on Friday - June 30, 2023 ~ June 2023 Owlcrate Unboxing, School Year Is Over, June Month of Vegetarian and Pescatarian Food, Murdle Book, and Mitch's Birthday

Happy Friday everyone! Can you believe it's the last Friday in June and it's July 1st tomorrow?! Wow! It's been a little busy this week, I've had two 6-7 hour driving days to Edmonton and back (one for a family baby shower and one for work), so I'm tired! 

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post - this post contains affiliate links

I just received my May Owlcrate subscription and this month's theme is "If The Fates Allow" - each month the book Owlcrate includes is signed by the author and comes with a note from the author as well. They often have special edition covers just for the box, and they seem to include a lot of exclusive items just for Owlcrate, which is so fun! As a bookworm, I have been loving this subscription! (Also, I put everything away and didn't take a picture, so check out my instagram or youtube for the video!)

Lush Kitchen Subscription - June 2023

The Lush Kitchen Subscription box is a monthly subscription box full of exclusive Lush Kitchen goodies made exclusively for the box - every month subscribers vote on the monthly menu of products that they would or would not like to see in the box, so you can help pick what is included in the box! Also, all of the products included in each box will be vegan. 

Each month the Lush Kitchen Subscription is $49.95 CAN box is  per month + shipping (shipping to Alberta is $6.00 CAN and likely varies province to province). The subscription will come with 4-5 exclusive products and I think it will include a variety of products that Lush makes; but, will of course be mostly bath and body products.

I purchased this box on my own

Each month you pay and vote for products that are coming in the following month's box - so for this June box, you had until May 5 to vote on the products you'd like to see and then payment comes out on the 6th of the previous month. Then, Lush spends the month making the products and ships it out at the end of May so you receive it in June! 

Summer 2023 - The Jilly Box Subscription Unboxing

I'm a big fan of Jillian Harris, so when she announced that she was starting a subscription box, I was so excited! The box started with the Winter 2019 box and sadly, I was not one of the lucky originals who won a subscription spot, so I sign up every season and hope to get picked for a lottery spot! 

The box was purchased by a family member for me

The Jilly Box is a quarterly seasonal subscription box - the products within the box include some of Jillian’s (and Team Jilly’s!) favourite items (and brands) from home decor, fashion, bath and beauty, health and wellness, accessories perfect for each season. Some of the items included will be custom designed exclusively for the Jilly Box. The Jilly Box really focuses on including products from small, local businesses while being ethically sourced and inclusive. They also focus on reducing plastic waste and packaging - the big boxes can be turned inside out and reused! Also, they try to include Canadian, woman owned brands, as well as Bipoc and LGBTQ owned brands as well. 

The Jilly Box is $199 CAN quarterly + taxes and includes free shipping to Canada and the U.S. And, while this is on the pricier end for a subscription box, it will contain at least $400 worth of products each season! The box is shipped out prior to the start of each season - so the Winter box shipped in mid-November.

Five on Friday - May 19, 2023 ~ May 2023 Owlcrate, Mother's Day, Getting My Garden Prepped, Italy Trip Reminiscing, and Alberta Wildfires

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have had a good week! It's the long weekend here, so hoping everyone enjoys - we have family coming in to town and are celebrating Damian's grad this weekend! 

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post

I just received my May Owlcrate subscription and this month's theme is "Against All Odds" - each month the book Owlcrate includes is signed by the author and comes with a note from the author as well. They often have special edition covers just for the box, and they seem to include a lot of exclusive items just for Owlcrate, which is so fun! As a bookworm, I have been loving this subscription! (Also, I put everything away and didn't take a picture, so check out my instagram or youtube for the video!)

Spring 2023 - The Jilly Box Subscription Unboxing

I'm a big fan of Jillian Harris, so when she announced that she was starting a subscription box, I was so excited! The box started with the Winter 2019 box and sadly, I was not one of the lucky originals who won a subscription spot, so I sign up every season and hope to get picked for a lottery spot! 

I purchased this box on my own 

The Jilly Box is a quarterly seasonal subscription box - the products within the box include some of Jillian’s (and Team Jilly’s!) favourite items (and brands) from home decor, fashion, bath and beauty, health and wellness, accessories perfect for each season. Some of the items included will be custom designed exclusively for the Jilly Box. The Jilly Box really focuses on including products from small, local businesses while being ethically sourced and inclusive. They also focus on reducing plastic waste and packaging - the big boxes can be turned inside out and reused! Also, they try to include Canadian, woman owned brands, as well as Bipoc and LGBTQ owned brands as well.