I've mentioned before that one of my New Year's Resolutions was to be more organized and so far it has been the only resolution that I've been able to stick to!
I did a bunch of research beforehand to figure out what kind of planner would work best for me and that was when I first discovered the Erin Condren Life planner. But I just couldn't bring myself to pay the 50+ dollars for something I wasn't even sure I would use regularly.
I knew I wanted something significantly cheaper but also equally as pretty so I went for the Kate Spade Small Planner. I have been using it to keep track of all my appointments, bills, and daily to-do's.
So far, this has been working great for me, but I found that I was starting to grow out of it. With the addition of a blog schedule to keep track of, this agenda just wasn't giving me the space I needed to plan for the blog as well as everything else happening in my life.
I frequent the Erin Condren Website quite often to admire the pretty planners and supplies and noticed that the 2015 Life Planners were 25% off! So I did it! I got myself an Erin Condren Life Planner! YAY!!!
I'm sorry, I just can't contain my excitement! I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival and to be embarrassingly honest, I check the website multiple times a day to check the status of my order. A week later and it's still pending.... It's making me crazy!
When I'm not checking if my order has shipped, I'm on Pinterest, Instagram, and Youtube checking out cute ways I can decorate my planner when I do finally receive it.
I seriously CANNOT wait until I get my hands on this planner! I've already developed a mild obsession with washi tape and am well on my way to becoming a sticker junkie!
What are your favourite ways to decorate your planner? Let me know below in the comments.
See you soon
-J
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
5 Tips to Make Time for Reading!
I love to read. For me, reading is a way of escaping real life and getting lost in a whole different world for a little while. But with a full-time job, maintaining a home and now blogging I have been finding it a little difficult to actually find time to read!
So I put together a little list of helpful tips to make time for reading.
1) Choose books you actually WANT to read
This is probably the most important tip. I find that when you are in a reading slump and you pick up a really good book that you are very interested in, it is hard to put down. You are more likely to make time for reading if you can't wait to find out what happens next!
2) ALWAYS carry a book with you
I'm one of those people who always carries a fairly large handbag so I can lug my book(s) around with me. If you don't want to carry a heavy book around try an e-reader, or a book app (I use ibooks) on your cell phone. You never know when you will have a few minutes to pull it out and read. I take public transit to and from work so for me that is when I get most of my reading done. I also read a lot when I'm waiting for appointments.
3) Set a daily reading goal and keep track
Sometimes it is easier to get through a book if you break it up into smaller sections. Set a goal for yourself to finish one chapter a day or 30 pages a day. You can use sticky notes to section these off so you don't feel like it's such a daunting task. It also really helps me when I keep track of how much I'm reading each day. I use the Goodreads app to track my progress.
4) Set a time for reading
Schedule a time for reading each day, and treat it like an appointment you cannot miss! This doesn't have to be the exact same time each day. But if you know you have a break in your schedule use that break to read. Or read for 30 mins before bed every night.
5)Try an Audiobook
If you are super strapped for time, are always on the go and have absolutely no time at all to sit down and read a book then try listening to one instead. I listened to my first Audiobook on Audible this year, and found I quite enjoyed it. I did miss actually holding a book in my hands but it is so convenient to be able to listen to it when you are cleaning, walking, driving or doing anything else that your busy life entails.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found these tips helpful!
How do you make time for reading? Let me know down below.
-J
So I put together a little list of helpful tips to make time for reading.
1) Choose books you actually WANT to read
This is probably the most important tip. I find that when you are in a reading slump and you pick up a really good book that you are very interested in, it is hard to put down. You are more likely to make time for reading if you can't wait to find out what happens next!
2) ALWAYS carry a book with you
I'm one of those people who always carries a fairly large handbag so I can lug my book(s) around with me. If you don't want to carry a heavy book around try an e-reader, or a book app (I use ibooks) on your cell phone. You never know when you will have a few minutes to pull it out and read. I take public transit to and from work so for me that is when I get most of my reading done. I also read a lot when I'm waiting for appointments.
3) Set a daily reading goal and keep track
Sometimes it is easier to get through a book if you break it up into smaller sections. Set a goal for yourself to finish one chapter a day or 30 pages a day. You can use sticky notes to section these off so you don't feel like it's such a daunting task. It also really helps me when I keep track of how much I'm reading each day. I use the Goodreads app to track my progress.
4) Set a time for reading
Schedule a time for reading each day, and treat it like an appointment you cannot miss! This doesn't have to be the exact same time each day. But if you know you have a break in your schedule use that break to read. Or read for 30 mins before bed every night.
5)Try an Audiobook
If you are super strapped for time, are always on the go and have absolutely no time at all to sit down and read a book then try listening to one instead. I listened to my first Audiobook on Audible this year, and found I quite enjoyed it. I did miss actually holding a book in my hands but it is so convenient to be able to listen to it when you are cleaning, walking, driving or doing anything else that your busy life entails.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found these tips helpful!
How do you make time for reading? Let me know down below.
-J
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Current Favourites
Hey Guys,
I wanted to share my favourites with all of you! I don't think my faves change enough for a monthly favourites post but here are some of my current favourites.
These aren't just going to be beauty related, it will consist of a little bit of everything I'm loving at the moment.
Disclaimer: *everything mentioned in this post was purchased with my own money*
Beauty:
Palettes:
Urban Decay Naked on the Run Palette: I have been using this palette so much during this past month and have been really enjoying it. Check out my full review here: http://lipglosslibrary.blogspot.ca
Tarte- Tartelette palette: When I'm not wearing the naked on the run shadows this is what's on my eyes! I am absolutely OBSESSED with this palette. The consistency of these shadows are soooo smooth! Which is sometimes hard to come by with matte shadows.
Blush:
I have been using the same blushes consistently for the past few months. These are some of my favourites for the autumn months
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush- Adventurous ( I received this is a holiday set, not sure if it's available for individual sale)
MAC Mineralize Blush- Lovejoy
MAC Powder Blush- Coppertone
Highlight:
My go-to highlight at the moment is
The Balm- Mary-Lou Manizer
Contour:
BECCA- Hilight /Lowlight palette
Lips:
I have pretty much been wearing one lip colour for the past few months and that would be
MAC Lip Pencil- Soar
Another more recent favourite is
Urban Decay Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss - Sesso (from the Naked on the Run palette)
Brushes:
I have been in love with real techniques for a long while now so its no surprise that my favourite brushes at the moment are both Real Techniques.
Real Techniques- Expert Face Brush (for applying and buffing foundation)
Real Techniques- Setting brush (for applying highlight)
Some of my Random/Lifestyle Favourites:
Scents:
Bath & Body Works- Wild Madagascar Vanilla Shower Gel
Viktor & Rolf- Flowerbomb
Book:
My most recent favourite read was The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend- by Kody Keplinger
It was a super quick read and was the perfect thing to get me out of a reading slump. It was fun and fast-paced. However, it was probably not a book i would have picked up if I wasn't one of those
"I need to read the book before I watch the movie" type of people.
Movie:
Once I read The DUFF I knew I needed to see the movie. The movie was VERY different than the book which is usually a pet peeve of mine, but it this case it was perfect! I loved this movie, it was light and fun and focused on a lot of issues that teens face today. And what can I say, who doesn't love it when the underdog comes out on top.
TV:
Anybody who knows me knows that I watch way too much TV for my own good. Which makes narrowing down my favourites extremely difficult.
How to Get Away with Murder- This is one of those shows where I cannot miss an episode. If you don't watch this, you NEED to! The first season just ended with the most insane season finale ever!
Empire- This show is a new find for me. I saw a preview for it and set my PVR to record immediately. I recently marathoned all the episodes i had recorded and I am OBSESSED! There is so much drama in this show but not enough to be overwhelming. The cast and the guest stars of the show are amazing.
Drink:
I'm back on the green tea bandwagon. My favourite right now is
Tetley- Honey-Lemon Ginsing Green tea
I'm also trying to up my water intake and it helps when you're drinking out of something pretty
Starbucks Tumbler
Agenda:
One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to be more organized. And I am very proud to say that I have been sticking to it!
So my Kate Spade Agenda and my FriXon Erasable Markers have been favourites for the past few months.
I haven't started really decorating my planner yet because I wanted to force myself to actually use it first. But I plan on experimenting with that soon.
Stay tuned for planner decorating :)
I wanted to share my favourites with all of you! I don't think my faves change enough for a monthly favourites post but here are some of my current favourites.
These aren't just going to be beauty related, it will consist of a little bit of everything I'm loving at the moment.
Disclaimer: *everything mentioned in this post was purchased with my own money*
Beauty:
Palettes:
Urban Decay Naked on the Run Palette: I have been using this palette so much during this past month and have been really enjoying it. Check out my full review here: http://lipglosslibrary.blogspot.ca
Tarte- Tartelette palette: When I'm not wearing the naked on the run shadows this is what's on my eyes! I am absolutely OBSESSED with this palette. The consistency of these shadows are soooo smooth! Which is sometimes hard to come by with matte shadows.
Blush:
I have been using the same blushes consistently for the past few months. These are some of my favourites for the autumn months
MAC Mineralize Blush- Lovejoy
MAC Powder Blush- Coppertone
Highlight:
My go-to highlight at the moment is
The Balm- Mary-Lou Manizer
Contour:
BECCA- Hilight /Lowlight palette
Lips:
I have pretty much been wearing one lip colour for the past few months and that would be
MAC Lip Pencil- Soar
Another more recent favourite is
Urban Decay Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss - Sesso (from the Naked on the Run palette)
Brushes:
I have been in love with real techniques for a long while now so its no surprise that my favourite brushes at the moment are both Real Techniques.
Real Techniques- Expert Face Brush (for applying and buffing foundation)
Real Techniques- Setting brush (for applying highlight)
Some of my Random/Lifestyle Favourites:
Scents:
Bath & Body Works- Wild Madagascar Vanilla Shower Gel
Viktor & Rolf- Flowerbomb
Book:
My most recent favourite read was The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend- by Kody Keplinger
It was a super quick read and was the perfect thing to get me out of a reading slump. It was fun and fast-paced. However, it was probably not a book i would have picked up if I wasn't one of those
"I need to read the book before I watch the movie" type of people.
Movie:
Once I read The DUFF I knew I needed to see the movie. The movie was VERY different than the book which is usually a pet peeve of mine, but it this case it was perfect! I loved this movie, it was light and fun and focused on a lot of issues that teens face today. And what can I say, who doesn't love it when the underdog comes out on top.
TV:
Anybody who knows me knows that I watch way too much TV for my own good. Which makes narrowing down my favourites extremely difficult.
Empire- This show is a new find for me. I saw a preview for it and set my PVR to record immediately. I recently marathoned all the episodes i had recorded and I am OBSESSED! There is so much drama in this show but not enough to be overwhelming. The cast and the guest stars of the show are amazing.
Drink:
I'm back on the green tea bandwagon. My favourite right now is
Tetley- Honey-Lemon Ginsing Green tea
I'm also trying to up my water intake and it helps when you're drinking out of something pretty
Starbucks Tumbler
Agenda:
One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to be more organized. And I am very proud to say that I have been sticking to it!
So my Kate Spade Agenda and my FriXon Erasable Markers have been favourites for the past few months.
I haven't started really decorating my planner yet because I wanted to force myself to actually use it first. But I plan on experimenting with that soon.
Stay tuned for planner decorating :)
What are your current favourites? Let me know down below :)
-JThursday, March 5, 2015
Urban Decay: Naked on the Run
I have been testing it out for the past couple of weeks and am really enjoying it.
The palette provides most of what you would need for all the finishing touches of your makeup look.
*everything mentioned in this post was purchased with my own money*
*everything mentioned in this post was purchased with my own money*
The packaging is Beautiful!
I've been obsessed with rose gold for a while so I was all over this as soon as I saw it.
It is a little bulkier than most other palettes I've seen which was easily excusable given how much was inside of it.
Eyeshadows :
The colours of the shadows are all pretty flattering
(3 shimmers, 2 mattes)
I would have preferred if there was a darker colour that was a matte finish
They also include a shimmery champagne colour that can be used as a highlight
Blush/Bronzer:
The bronzer in this palette doesn't make me jump for joy but I don't have anything negative to say about it either. It's very smooth and applies easily to the skin so that's a bonus!
The blush is very pigmented, I was a little surprised when I applied it for the first time as it is a lot more pink than I am used to.
So apply this one with a light hand.
Lipgloss:
The lipgloss is probably my favourite thing in the palette. It's the perfect pink toned nude to fit any skin tone and it's so smooth! It goes on like a dream.
Mascara/Eyeliner
The palette also includes the Urban Decay perversion mascara which is a lengthening and volumizing mascara. It seems to both of those things just fine.
I was happy to see that they included the 24/7 glide on eye pencil in this kit because these are some of my favourite eyeliners out there. They are very easy to work with no matter what look you're going for.
The palette retails for C$64 which may seem a little steep to some, but for all that it includes I think it is totally worth it. It's the perfect gift for someone just getting into to makeup or just discovering the Urban Decay brand. And it gives the opportunity to try out multiple products within the brand.
Talk to you soon,
-J
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Follow me on...
After doing loads of research on starting a blog, I decided i should take one of the first key steps in establishing a blog following...
Social Media
I have gone ahead and set myself up on some of my favorite social media sites.
You can find me on...
Pinterest:
Instagram:
Twitter:
See you soon,
-J
Welcome to LipglossLibrary
Hey Guys,
Welcome to my first blog post EVER!
LipglossLibrary is a way for me to share my obsession of all things makeup, and the books I'm currently reading/loving with the world!
I'm still figuring out this whole blogging thing so you'll have to bear with me.
I will be posting on a schedule once i figure out what works best for me, hopefully it doesn't take me too long to get into the swing of things...
Please feel free to leave any tips or suggestions in the comments section.
Thanks for reading, and following!
-J
Welcome to my first blog post EVER!
LipglossLibrary is a way for me to share my obsession of all things makeup, and the books I'm currently reading/loving with the world!
I'm still figuring out this whole blogging thing so you'll have to bear with me.
I will be posting on a schedule once i figure out what works best for me, hopefully it doesn't take me too long to get into the swing of things...
Please feel free to leave any tips or suggestions in the comments section.
Thanks for reading, and following!
-J
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