Monthly Beauty and Book Haul - February 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

Sephora Haul ~ $120.75 CAN. There were a few new releases that came out this month that I was really excited about - the Urban Decay Quickie concealer and the Fruit Babies set really caught my eye! I have already reviewed and tried the makeup products - you can see my full post here! The Makeup By Mario lip balm came highly reviewed and the Olaplex was the coupon code, with a couple of foil samples. 

Manicure Monday - Matte Red Pink and White Striped Nails

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

The BioSculpture and China Glaze polishes were received as PR samples

Even though it's past Valentine's Day, the #cbbxmanimonday group is doing white, red and pink nails for the whole month and I always love this colour palette - I love the nails we do this month and I get so much inspiration. 

Skoah Illuminate Mask

I'm always excited to share a new product from Skoah - this is a brand I have been working with for a while. I hope you know that I only agree to work with brands I love and my reviews are always honest no matter what. This is a brand I have been loving for years before working with them! 

I received this product as part of the Ambassador program - this post contains a referral link

Skoah Illuminate Mask ~ $52.00 CAN. This gel based mask will boost your glow with brightening, hydrating, and soothing properties.

I've been using this Skoah masks for years - I love the Hydradew and AHA masks and used them for years! I have been trying all their serums and other products recently, so seeing a new mask from them got me really excited to try (this mask just released on February 7)! The illuminate serum was one of my Favourite Skincare products of last year, and you can see my thoughts on the Illuminate Serum here! 

Five on Friday - February 24, 2023 ~ Matching Family Moment, Wildlife Festival, Aerie Shorts Order, February Declutter, and The Perfect Match

Happy Friday everyone - I hope you all have a great week! We had a crazy amount of snow and cold, so it's been a long week, but I did take Tuesday off so I had an extra day hiding from the snow! 

ONE 

The JVN Embody Foam was sent as part of the Ambassador program, everything else I purchased - this post contains affiliate links

Nothing crazy, but we had a really cute matching family moment - we all got ready and picked our clothes out and turned out that we all matched up! So cute - we had lots of family birthdays and family time over the weekend and it was great! 

New At Sephora Haul, First Impressions and Swatches ~ Urban Decay Quickie Concealer, Makeup By Mario MoistureGlow Lip Serum, Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Powder Flushed, and Glow Recipe Fruit Babies Set

Okay, I really enjoyed doing this last month with my Sephora haul last month - I've picked up a few new goodies this month again and instead of doing individual reviews on each of them, I thought doing a collective haul, thoughts and swatches here! 

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

Like last month, there were a few new releases that have caught my eye - the new Urban Decay concealer (they used to make my favourite concealer and then it got discontinued), the new Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm blush also caught my eye and I'm so excited to try both of them! 

Manicure Monday - Abstract Rose Stamped Nails

Happy Manicure Tuesday - I'm a day late this because it was family day weekend! 

The Curls & Pearls polish was received as a PR sample

I've been working on my stamping this month and so I'm really excited for this simple stamping that I did and I feel like it turned out so well! I love the abstract splash behind the stamped roses and they turned out quite perfectly if I do say so myself! 

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. 

Five on Saturday - February 18, 2023 ~ The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina Book Review, Valentine's Day, Porch YYC, Heart Espresso Cups, and Dollarama Finds

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have had a great week - mine was normal, but I'm certainly looking forward to having a long weekend! 

I purchased everything in this post

Right on the back of a book review last week, I've got another book I really enjoyed to share with you! The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova is an adult fantasy/magical realism novel that is lovely, layered and magical. It is described as a combination of Encanto and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and I loved both of those so it's no surprise that I loved this one too! This book follows the Montoya family and starts with all of Orquidea's descendants being introduced and called to her for her funeral, while she is still alive. Orquidea has a large family and has lots of secrets from the family - it starts a little heavy with all the family members and trying to keep track of who everyone is, while using a duel timeline to introduce Orquidea's story (she also has an incredibly complex past). Upon her death, Orquidea gifts everyone a seed, but a few of her grandchildren and great grandchild are gifted magic in the form of a flower growing from them. These are the characters we focus on for the rest of the story, so it makes it easier to focus following the initial introduction to a lot of characters! 

Finally Trying Victoria Beckham Beauty - Cheeky Posh Cream Blush, Lid Lustre Eyeshadow and Posh Lipstick

I have been wanting to try out Victoria Beckham products forever - this brand was on my list last year to try, so I got a few lovely products from my husband for Christmas and I was so excited to finally try out the brand! 

I purchased these products (or my husband did)

I will start by saying that certainly, this brand is a little pricey - it is a luxury type brand, along with the rest of the Victoria Beckham name, so that doesn't surprise me. But, it is what has stopped me from trying from the brand for so long - they are a bit more of an investment when you pick them up! 

Manicure Monday - Valentine's Easy Heart Nails

Happy Manicure Monday - I hope you all had a great weekend! I had a fun girls night out and a quiet weekend overall! 

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

I'm excited it's February and that means we are going to see a whole bunch of white, red and pink nails from the #cbbxmanimonday group - I always love the nails we do this month! And, it's Valentine's week so naturally, I have to have some type of heart nails this week! Personally these were quick and easy (which I needed this weekend!)

Five on Friday - February 10, 2023 ~ Under The Whispering Door Review, Romance Novels on My TBR, Vegan Cookbooks, Costco Finds, and YYC Hot Chocolate Fest

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

ONE 

The Simple & Delicious Vegan cookbook was received as a review copy - this post contains affiliate links

I'm so excited to get right in to adding book reviews for books I'm loving this year and I'm excited to dive right in with the lovely all ages (YA and adult) fantasy - Under The Whispering Door by T.J. Klune. This is truly a delight - all I can say is that I don't know how a book surrounding death can be so full of love! This book is heavily surrounding death, so if that's not something that works for you, I would be aware - we encounter our main character, Wallace, at the end of his life as he meets a reaper and a ferryman who are there to assist him in passing through to the afterlife, or "the whispering door". Wallace realizes that perhaps he didn't live his life the way that he wanted, and he wants to make amends and is not quite ready to pass. Eventually Wallace is given a seven day timeline to get his affairs in order and be ready to move on and we following everything from there. 

Lush Kitchen Subscription - February 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 February box, you had until January 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 January so you receive it in February! 

Quarterly Beauty Empties ~ October - December 2022

Monthly Empties posts were getting a little overwhelming - they were a lot to write and keep notes about. I've decided to still talk about empties, but only makeup products and skincare products (no more body, hair, nail or personal care products!) It was just getting too much, but I still want to share my thoughts on products I've used up! 

Some products may have been received as PR samples - this post contains affiliate links

Physicians Formula Butter Believe It! Skin Mist ~ $17.49 CAN. Incredibly weightless formula smooths skin texture and effortlessly sets and refreshes makeup for all-day wear!

I didn't really need a new setting spray, but I couldn't resist! I love the scent of the Physician's Formula products, and this has that summery scent that smells delicious and I loved that! I finished this one, but this one was a little thick and the spray wasn't as thin or easy to apply. 

Repurchase: No 

Manicure Monday - Crazy Cat Lover Nails

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

I purchased everything in this post

I'm excited it's February and that means we are going to see a whole bunch of white, red and pink nails from the #cbbxmanimonday group - I always love love month so I'm hoping I will have a bunch of inspiration for fun nails! 

Monthly Beauty and Book Haul - January 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

Sephora Order ~ $126.00 CAN. I was really excited for some of these newer products at Sephora (especially that Rare Beauty highlighter!) - I did a full unboxing and first impressions of the products! First impressions of everything was good and the Rare Beauty Positive Light made my Monthly Favourites for January! So, good first haul of the year! 

Five on Saturday - February 4, 2023 ~ WINS Thrifting Haul, January Month of Vegetarian/Pescatarian Meals, RW & Co Haul, Declutter, and Thoughts on the #MascaraGate Drama

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have had a great week! It's been busy here and I'm glad it's the weekend!  

ONE 

I purchased everything in this post

I'm so excited with my thrifting haul! The Women in Need (WINS) Thrift stores in Calgary do a 50% on the first Wednesday of each month for a customer appreciation day and it's been a while since I've been thrifting there. This month I managed to get to two stores and found some amazing deal! I got three pairs for jeans (two RW&Co and one pair Eddie Bauer all great condition), plus a brand new pair of boots and slim winter boots and some books! Great finds!

Monthly Reads - January 2023

I hope you all enjoyed all the book reviews last year, 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! 

Bad Cree was sent to me as a digital e-arc - this post contains affiliate links

So, in January I read 10

 books - a mix of genres from a middle grade graphic to an adult horror. 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 (this month, I focused a little more on the newer books, but will work on a better mix in the future months!) I read 7 audio books, 2 physical books, and one e-book! 

Monthly Beauty Favourites - January 2023

Here's a look at what I was loving this month:

The JVN Hair product was received as part of their review program - 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.