Is it hard for anyone else to believe it's already mid August? Seriously, where has this summer gone? Stores have started to fill up with long sleeves and deep colours, but I'm not quite ready to give up my floppy hats and summer dresses. Who else is with me?

Dress: Old Navy {similar / similar} | Hat: Sears {similar} | Sunglasses: Forever 21 {similar}
Shoes: Aldo {similar / similar} | Bracelet: J. Crew {exact}

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Linking up with: Lauren |  Laura | Lindsey | Sarah | Saumya

Well hey there blogland, long time no see! We are now just over 6 weeks away from the wedding day so I thought it was about time to show you some of my favourites from our engagement shoot last month and why I think they are necessary for every bride. Our photographer did just a beautiful job, I have to say I'm just thrilled with how they turned out!

They give you and your photographer time to loosen up before the big day

While I do have some experience being in front of the camera as a blogger, I typically take all my own photos which is definitely an entirely different experience than a professional shoot. I'm so grateful we were able to take the time to learn our photographer's style of working and personality, so that we can be totally relaxed when it comes to getting photos done on our wedding day!

They will come in handy for multiple wedding-related projects

Already we have used our photos for our wedding invitations and website, and we are currently in the process of getting some printed in a book that will be using as our guest book on the day. My bridesmaids even used one or two for my bridal shower! People love seeing photos of the happy couple, and there are so many ways you can include them in all the steps leading up to your special day.

You'll have professional photos that you can use for years to come

While formal wedding photos are obviously tied to a very distinct day, more casual photos of you and your future hubby are timeless. Thank you notes and cards, gifts for close family, social media, all ways your engagement photos can live on far past your engagement period. You can even ask your photographer to capture some headshots on the day for use in your professional life. You're already all dolled up, so why not put your best face forward?

Simply, this is one of the most exciting times in your life.

Why wouldn't you want to remember it? 

All photos copyright of Rachelle Rousseau Photography
Come along on our wedding planning journey: Our engagement story Finding a dream dress Wedding mood board keep up with me: bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest | twitter  

Linking up with: Lauren |  Laura | Lindsey | Sarah | Saumya

Coming back from the May long weekend means we've officially kicked off the summer season in my books, and that means looking forward to achieving that summer glow. I've already gone through my self-tan routine in previous years, but since then I've discovered a few new products and a few new tricks I thought I would share with you. 

Find your formula | Mousse formulas are my favourite for the body because they are easy to apply and dry quickly. I've enjoyed the St. Moritz Medium and Dark in the past, but have noticed the formula starts turning a grey colour (though the tan it leaves behind doesn't take on the same grey hue) and isn't as effective after a year, so I moved on to try the St. Tropez Express. It's a 1-3 hour process depending on the colour you're looking for, and I find it looks natural and lasts well without getting patchy. Since your face generally gets the most regular exfoliation, I find a gradual tan that mixes with my moisturizer is the easiest to maintain and gives the most natural look.

Avoid self-tan hands | I'm sure by now everyone has heard of a tanning mitt (this one is my fav), but what do you do when it comes to your wrists and hands? My favourite method is to use a makeup sponge for a seamless blend. Whether it's a retired Beauty Blender or Real Techniques sponge, or a simple cosmetic wedge, they are all great options for keeping palms clean!

Cut the creasing | When I first got the St. Tropez I actually really disliked it because I felt like it never quite set. If you find your tan leaves your skin feeling sticky, try hitting the spots that are prone to creasing (the underside of elbows and knees, and arms) with a hairdryer on a cool setting. If you still need some extra setting action, dust a light layer of baby powder over the same areas and you'll be good to go. 

Pick the right moisturizers | Keeping moisturized is key to prolonging the life of a fake tan, but some oils and citrus ingredients will actually break down your tan and cause faster fading. I've talked about my love of this quick dry lotion before and find it to be the best for keeping the skin hydrated everyday without the feeling heavy or sticky in warmer weather. Also, don't forget the SPF when you're out in the sun to prevent dryness and peeling (come back next week to see my favourites!).

Do you have any tips for achieving a flawless faux glow?

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Last week I shared that I had officially found my wedding dress and venue, and now that we've settled on a date (which is less than six months away, eek!) it's been a bit of a whirlwind moving from the big picture to focus on some of the smaller details. To help give myself some direction for the choices going forward I wanted to put together a mood board to capture some of my inspiration and vision for the big day!

I don't own any of these photos

Originally we were planning on getting married up in cottage country, but since there are limited venues and they get booked up super far in advance, we decided that we wanted to prioritize date over venue. Instead, we've decided on an old estate home just outside the city that is a beautiful balance between the elegant and vintage type feel that I love.

If you haven't already noticed from the design of my blog, I have always love the soft combination of dusty seafoam/sage green and grey, but seeing as it will be a fall wedding, I wanted to add in a bit of richness and warmth into the mix in some of the smaller details. The estate has an outdoor arbour and beautiful grounds that we're planning on using for the ceremony if the weather cooperates so I love that we'll still get some of the fresh outdoor feel that we originally wanted. 

I can't wait to see how some of my thoughts come to life over the next few months! Catch up on our story: The Proposal Finding the Dress What details would be/were the most important for your wedding?
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If you follow me on social media you'll know I had my first wedding dress shopping experience two weekends ago. I no idea what to expect, so of course I headed to the blog world to read a few ladies' different experiences. I found it really helpful to read real brides' perspectives so I thought I would throw in my two cents while doing a run down of my experience!

The first dress (or second, or fifth..) may not give you the feeling you expect. I was expecting the first time I tried on a dress to have the overwhelming feeling of excitement and "I'm getting married!!", but the first couple of dresses I tried on ended up being super unflattering. I couldn't help but think "oh great, is this going to be worse than going jeans shopping??" but don't give up!
Be firm with your budget before you try a dress on. The worst feeling I could imagine was to try on a dress, fall in love and then realize it's totally out of budget. Most bridal stores are good at keeping within but if they bring you something and don't tell you how much it is make sure you ask! Remember alterations are typically always an extra cost. Ask if they offer any discounts/alteration credits - the one I ended up choosing was originally over budget, but since it was an in-house designer they offered a discount that put it back into my price range.
Bring any accessories you already have. I knew I was going to be wearing my great-grandmother's veil on my wedding day so I had my grandma bring it to my appointment. Because it's 87 years old and has been worn by multiple brides in my family, though it's in very good shape it's obviously not pure white and so I didn't want my dress to be either. It wasn't really until I tried my dress on with the veil that I really had that "bridal moment"!

Try on at least one dress that your mother loves. If you've come with photos of what you have in mind for your dress, your consultant will be pulling from that when bringing you dresses to try on. What I thought I wanted wasn't looking the best on me (hence tip #1), but my Mum asked if I would try on a style that she thought would look good on my shape. It wasn't anything like the styles I had in mind but I said OK and it ended up being the one I chose! Even if that's not the case, you can always just move on to the next!
Don't feel bad if you don't find the one at your first appointment! There was a girl in the change room next to me that seemed to look perfect in every dress she tried on, but she just happened to have a figure that looked great in everything! Not everyone is going to have that experience. Don't get down though, there is something out there for every body and style!
Once you find the one stop looking. I loved a dress at my first appointment but left empty handed as I wanted to know what else was out there. I went to another shop and found another dress I really liked, and knew after that I wasn't going to look at any more. For an indecisive person like me too much choice can be overwhelming, so I took a few days to think and then went back to the first shop to try on the first dress again. They asked if I wanted to try on any more while I was there but I said no. Once I had the dress on again I knew that was it! 
Now two week from my first appointment I've ordered my dress, and chosen my venue, date and photographer. It's amazing how quickly things can start moving once you've made the biggest decisions! Next week I'll share some of my vision/inspiration for the day so keep an eye out for that, and thank you to everyone who has been so encouraging and sharing their tips during the first part of this process!
If you're married, what was your dress shopping experience like? 
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With all the running around I've been doing for the wedding and house hunting, I've been gravitating towards the comfort level of athletic wear. It started out with a hunt for comfortable flat shoes for spring that were versatile enough to wear with multiple outfits, and now I'm in love with the ease of on the go style. Excuse me while I go on the hunt for a baseball cap that fits my small head...

Top {on sale} | Vest {on sale} | Leggings | Sneakers

Top {on sale} | Vest {on sale} | Leggings | Sneakers

What are your favourite athletic pieces for weekend wear?
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Linking up with: Lauren |  Laura | Lindsey | Sarah | Saumya

Mascara is probably my number one favourite makeup product. I think lashes can make the biggest difference in how awake, and pulled together someone looks. There are so many mascaras out on the market with so many different claims, I thought I would take inventory of my top favourites and let you see for yourself the type of impact they make!
IT Cosmetics Tightline Mascara Primer | This is my favourite mascara for the lower lash line because it is extremely smudge resistant and the brush is teeny tiny. However for no-makeup days it's also ideal just to darken up the lashes without adding a ton of impact. It's officially called a primer so it can be used under your other favourite mascara, but I prefer just to use it on its own.

Maybelline Lash Sensational | This is my current everyday mascara because it gives a good balance of separation, length and a touch of volume and stands up well all day long. I prefer the formula once it's been open for a few weeks and has had the chance to thicken up a bit as I find then it's able to build on itself more and create that volume. The brush is the perfect shape to both apply product and comb through the lashes to make sure there isn't any significant clumping. 

Jordana Best Lash Extreme | This mascara is my favourite for achieving thick black lashes. The formula is the blackest I own, and it coats the lashes instantly to give some serious volume. It has some small fibers in the formula that help build up the lashes in both volume and length. Because of that it can get a bit clumpy if you add on too many layers, but it's a great one coater that gives a ton of impact. It's definitely not at all waterproof so anyone with super watery eyes should stay far away, but for days when I'm focusing on a big lash look this is my go to.

Benefit They're Real | I've never bought a full size of this mascara, but I've had multiple minis and so it's my go to when it comes to travel. This stuff is serious when it comes to longevity so it makes a great choice for heat and humidity since it won't budge until you're ready to remove it. It reminds me of a combination of the Maybelline & Jordana mascaras I love because the formula is super dark but still creates soft feathery looking lashes. Because it's so long wearing I find it tough to remove with my standard cleansing water - but a little bit of coconut oil does the job.

Which lash look do you like best? What is your favourite mascara?

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I know I've been pretty much silent on everything to do with blogging recently and I've been feeling extremely guilty/sad about neglecting this space so I wanted to take a minute to get real with you and explain where I'm currently at so let's just jump into it.

With the new pup in the family and a whole bunch of life planning going on, I've been travelling back and forth from Tyler's pretty much every other day. If I haven't mentioned it already, I really really hate packing. I always end up leaving something behind. Anyone else have that problem? When trying to plan out photos for posts, forgetting something or not having access to something that I didn't realize I would want/need seriously kills my blogging buzz. Weekends are really my only time to blog since I work late, commute, try (emphasis on try) to go to the gym 2-3 times per week and go to Bible study every Wednesday. So I have  a collection of half baked posts that may have photos but I haven't had the time/energy to write or that are written out but I haven't had myself together enough to get the photos done. I really do love creating content but life seems to be taking priority right now, and I've got to be honest I'm not sure how to balance it all. Any advice?

 As one could probably predict, wedding planning has become quite stressful. Since we really want to get married this fall, we've had quite the difficult time finding a venue that has any Saturday openings - and the longer we put of deciding the closer it all seems to get. I think I'm going to have to resign myself to the fact that I'm likely going to be having a Friday or Sunday wedding. As a guest, which would you prefer? Because everything seems so up in the air until we get a date, I'm taking hold of the only thing I feel like I can currently control and am going wedding dress shopping this weekend. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm excited! Any pointers from you Mrs. out there for what to bring/keep in mind for my appointment?

Long story not so short - I really appreciate any of you who have stuck with me even through my bad-blogger behaviour of spotty content and consistency, but know that I'm not giving up. I love blogging and more than that I love the community and really miss you guys! I know I may talk it to death, but I've found that Snapchat is the easiest platform to keep updated and interact on so if you have an account leave your link/username below so I can make sure I follow you!

Now it's your turn - what's been going on with you lately? 

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Spring has arrived, whether your weather is cooperating or not, and that means it's time to get out of the winter makeup rut and bring on the brightness - in more ways than one. I've been keeping things simple for everyday, focusing on double duty products to give me a fresh, awake, and glowly complexion and eye. I love this look because it's so easy to amp up with your favourite bright lip!

FACE | I primed my skin with the Smashbox Primer Water used the CoverGirl Stay Fabulous foundation. Since I have somewhat oily skin I like to keep the base matte and then add the glow where I want to so I don't end the day looking like a grease ball. I apply my Maybelline Age Rewind Brightener under the eyes and on my eyelids with my beauty blender to cancel out any darkness and brighten up the whole eye area. On my cheeks I used Coralista by Benefit for a soft glowy flush, and topped with Laura Mercier's Matte Radiance, which I'm completely obsessed with! To add some dimension 

EYES | To keep things soft and bright I run my Laguna Bronzer very lightly in the crease, and take my Laura Mercier Matte Radiance just over the center part of my lid. I catches the light so beautifully and makes your eyes look so fresh and awake! For some soft definition I'll use any matte dark brown shadow for liner and keep it really close to the lash line. Curl your eyelashes and add some Benefit They're Real and you're done!

LIPS | I've been waiting for spring to come around to bust back out this gorgeous cream lip stain from Sephora in the colour Strawberry Kissed. It's a beautiful pinky-red that stays on forever!

Do you switch up your look from season to season?

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If you follow me on social media you'll already know that this was a pretty significant weekend for us. Not only was it Easter, which is an important and exciting day for us as Christians, we also went to pick up Tyler's family's new pup!

Meet the newest member of the Smith clan! 😍🐶 We're thinking maybe Riley or Toby - what do you guys think?? #puppygram #newpup #namethatdog #dogsofinstagram #thatsdarling #pursuepretty #photosinbetween #darlingmovement #abmlifeisbeautiful #abmlifeissweet #abmhappylife #flashesofdelight #lbloggers #dbloggers #bbloggersca

A photo posted by Nadia (@tvibblog) on Mar 26, 2016 at 10:15am PDT

Isn't he the sweetest?! We ended up going with Dawson because they wanted something a little more unique, but he's already fitting in with the family and settling in super well. As a dog lover that plus the beautiful sunny day left me in the best mood on Sunday.

Top: Old Navy {similar} | Coat: Burberry {exact} | Leggings: Old Navy {similar}
Hat: Areopostal {similar} | Boots: Daav {similar} | Necklace: Old Navy {similar}

How was your weekend? 

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 Linking up with: Lauren |  Laura | Lindsey | Sarah | Saumya

1. Tyler was in the hospital this week for a minor surgery, but his healing has been going really well and he's already walking without major pain. Hallelujah! I'm hoping that means this coming week/weekend we can do some venue touring!

2. This first week of spring I think we've had more snow and ice then we had most of the whole winter. Yesterday my car was completely covered in ice, as in I couldn't even get in! It's reminding me of the ice storm we had a few years ago around Christmas. I'm really hoping that this week is the last show of winter!

3. Yesterday I went to respond to your comments and realized that ALL my Disqus comments had disappeared! After some discussion with the CBB community, I realized that it's a support issue for Blogger. I managed to get most of them back by following these instructions - but if you use Disqus and you're on Blogger I would keep an eye out!

4. If you're not following Karly (msinthemidwest) on Snapchat - go do it now! She's been sharing some updates on plans for their house, and I love a good home reno. She has amazing decor style and I can't wait to see her plans come to life!

5. I hope you all have an amazing Easter weekend and are able to spend time with your friends and family!

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A few weeks ago we did a major clean out of my parent's basement and it inspired me to finally use up the ends of a ton products that have been on the edge of empty for a while now. There are some of my favourite products in here so let's get started!

It's A 10 Miracle Leave In | It's probably taken me at least years to go through this bottle because I hated it at first, but once I started using it more over the past year it became my hero hair product for conditioning, detangling and helping combat frizz. Even if you have fine hair like me, I highly recommend checking it out. Just remember, a little goes a long way! I have already repurchased and use every time I shower.

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel | This was another product I did a complete 180 on. When I first got it I hated how stiff and crunchy it made my brows feel. Once I got a handle on using just a small amount or product, I was in love! It really is like superglue for your brows - they will stay in place all day long. I picked up a drugstore clear gel to see if it could be duped, but after I use that up I'll likely be repurchasing this. I'm hoping I can find it again in the mini size because it lasted me forever and was great for travel!

Jordana Best Lash Extreme & IT Cosmetics Tightline Mascara | I've talked about these both plenty of times, and will have a post up in the next few weeks about my favourite lash looks so I'll keep it short: I love both these and have already repurchased!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner | I've talked about this stuff enough that I'm sure you know this is my favourite black liquid liner on the market. Expensive, yes, but it lasts me for nearly a year before drying up so it's worth the investment to me!

Skindinavia Makeup Setting Spray | I bought a double pack of the regular setting spray and the oil control version and finished up both recently. I loved using the regular in place of powder when my skin is super dry, and the oil control on top of powder on humid summer days. They're running a 24 hour sale right now that will get you 2 free travel sizes and free shipping (plus use FREE15 for 15% off!) so you bet I'll be placing an order ASAP!

Palladio Eyeshadow Primer | This is a drugstore priced eyeshadow primer that I found to work just as well as the UD Primer Potion. It reminds me a bit of the NARS primer, although it is slightly thicker in texture. I'm picked up the Milani one to test that out, but I would consider purchasing this again in the future. 

Josie Maran Argan Oil | The dropper of this got really gross and sticky near the end so I'm not a fan of the packaging, but the oil itself was very nice. I find a facial oil essential before attempting to cover up acne, but I'm probably going to try another type of oil to see if this is really worth the relatively high price tag. What's your favourite facial oil?

Simple Soothing Eye Balm | I really liked the squeeze tube packaging of this, and the product did exactly as promised. I used it as a night eye cream to hydrate and did like the light texture, but I won't be repurchasing this time around because I'd like to try out something different. Any suggestions?

Kudos to any of you who made it to the end!

What has hit your beauty trash recently? Was it worth a repurchase?

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Happy first week of spring! We may be officially into the season but I've seen a couple of you on Snapchat experience the same dip in temperatures as us here in Toronto. I for one am still determined to brush the dust off of some of my favourite layering pieces and hope that the weather cooperates!

Jacket: Dynamite {similar} | Tshirt: Target {similar} | Jeans: Old Navy {similar}
Sunglasses: Old Navy {exact} | Necklace: Old Navy {similar} | Boots: Aldo {similar}

What piece are you looking forward to reincorporating into your spring wardrobe?

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 Linking up with: Lauren |  Laura | Lindsey | Sarah | Saumya

When it comes to beauty tools, there are so many on the market how do you make the decision of where to invest your hard earned money? Here are the tools that have proved themselves must-haves in my routines. 

Eyelash Curler | Even though I have fairly curled eyelashes naturally, I don't feel fully awake until I've used my eyelash curler as part of my morning routine. Not only does it help to open up your eyes, it makes your lashes look longer which I'm all about. I typically never wear false lashes because a curl + tons of mascara is a big enough lash look for me.

Glass/Crystal File | I've talked about glass files quite a few times on this blog, but if you haven't taken the plunge yet seriously go get yourself one. They you the smoothest, fastest file and are inexpensive and reusable so it's a great investment!

Beauty Blender | I held off so long on trying this out because I thought there was no way that one beauty sponge could be vastly better than another. Well, turns out I was wrong. The texture of this sponge is unlike any other, and makes blending out concealer or foundation #flawless. Make sure you're cleaning it regularly to protect your $30 investment and you should be able to reuse it again and again. 

The Wet Brush | If you have fine or damaged hair, or hair that just tangles easily out of the shower this brush will be your best friend. The longer flexible bristles help detangle without tugging roughly on knots. You should still be gentle when brushing through wet hair, but this brush makes the process a whole lot more pleasant. 

Clipless curling iron | I bought my Enzo Milano curling wand over 5 years ago when it was the first clipless wand on the market and it's still in perfect condition, but there are tons of options now for less expensive alternatives. I have down to the middle of my back and I can curl my whole head in under 15 minutes, and the curls last for days.  

What are your must have beauty tools?

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If you're a regular reader of blogs, you know that everyone has their own two cents when it comes to beauty wisdom. Do you ever find yourself reading or passing on advice that is more "do as I say not as I do"? Well here are 5 pieces of beauty advice I can't seem to follow!

"Sleep on your back" | I will say I have tried and tried to break this habit, but somehow throughout the night I always end up on my stomach with my face mashed into my (non-silk) pillows. This likely causes tugging on my skin, and may mean my pillow is soaking up all great skin care ingredients I put on my face before hitting the sheets. Back sleepers - how do you do it?!

"Always use clean brushes" | I think this is one that many of us can relate to, right? Washing brushes takes so much time! I do try and keep my foundation brushes sanitary using my DIY Natural Spot Cleaner since liquid/cream products are the first to harbour nasty bacteria, but my powder and blush brushes especially could definitely do with a more regular cleaning appointment.

"Don't touch your face" | At work and while I'm asleep I am almost constantly leaning my face in my hands, and the majority of my spots start out as tiny bumps/clogged pores that I just can't leave alone. Recently I've been trying to break the latter habit through exfoliating instead of picking, but the former is unfortunately pretty ingrained in my daily habits so much so that I hardly realize when I start doing it!

"Start early to prevent aging" | I am in my mid-twenties and I don't use any specific anti-aging products. In my mind, making sure my face is cleansed and moisturized is a big part of the process, but I'm sure I could be more diligent in using serums and eye creams (which I do see the benefit of but always forget to include in my routine!). Anyone have recommendations on products in these categories?

"Throw out old makeup" | This one is probably the worst habit of them all - eek. It takes me so long to get through a foundation, it's likely I have it for longer than the recommended year mark. If the formula/scent changes or the ingredients start to separate I know it's time to hit the trash, but is it difficult for anyone else to get rid of unfinished products even if you know it's time to go?

Do you relate to any of these? What are your worst beauty habits?

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1. Just wanted to give a shout out to Jaelan from Making Mrs. M because I have loved catching up on her content this week! Her posts are always so informative and easy to follow, and her Makeup Capsule Experiment posts are always such a fun read!

2. I mentioned it in my Snapchat favs last weekend, but I'm almost out of my recent favourite body lotion, and I'm pretty sad about it. It's a fantastic product but I have SO many lotions I need to use up, so I feel like I can't let myself repurchase until I clear out some more space. Does anyone else have a category of products that you seem to keep buying before the others are finished? I think I'm also pretty guilty of collecting way to many lip balms...

3. I've started listening to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which seems to have taken the world by storm. And I'm not sure if it's the book or that or house hunting or the fact that I'm getting the spring cleaning bug, but I've had purging on the brain. I'm not naturally a very tidy person (though Tyler definitely is) but I'm really trying to start good habits for keeping a tidy home when Tyler and I get married. Needless to say an Empties post will be coming up soon!

4. Speaking of house hunting - ladies I could really use your prayers. We've been looking for at least a year now, put in several offers, and are still in the same position as when we started. It's taken so many hours and emotional energy, and I'm just generally feeling pretty discouraged about the whole process. BUT...

5. It felt SO good having time to take photos and blog last weekend, I've missed it so much! It really is such a stress reliever and something I still feel productive doing while taking "me time". Even Tyler mentioned that he noticed I was in a particularly good mood. There's just something so therapeutic about playing with makeup, am I right?

How are you guys doing this week? What have been your highlights and struggles? 

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It's been a hot minute since the last post in my Colour Story series, all about encouraging neutrals gals (like myself) to have some fun and incorporate colour in a wearable way. I've known since the fall that I wanted Navy to be the next instalment in this series, since I feel as though it's such a flattering colour that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves!

The Products

L'Oreal Silkissime Liner in Plum | They may have named it Plum, but to me this liner is a deep rich navy with perhaps slighty warm purple undertones. The formula on these pencils is beautiful - creamy full colour that is blendable, but once it sets, it's made to last.

Marcelle Dip Liner in Navy | I was on the hunt for a navy liquid liner for so long, and this one is definitely the best of the bunch (and from the drugstore!). The applicator isn't my favourite, but the formula is instantly opaque and dries down to a matte finish. If I want a more fine line, I'll use an angle brush for more precision. 

NYX Morocco/Asphyxiation | They don't sell this particular single shadows anymore, but Asphyxiation in their current collection seems very close. This is a brighter indigo-navy with a bit of a duochrome which is really pretty for a little extra pop of colour. 

Coastal Scents Rainstorm | This shade is a true deep navy blue with a silvery grey shimmer. It is richly pigmented and only $2 - who could beat that? It's the colours in this little quad that inspired me to create the look I did below!

Revlon Nail Enamel in Urban | I thought I'd throw in a navy polish, since it's one of my favourite colours for the nails. It's a deep, rich colour that may appear close to black in low light, but I love wearing it with a super glossy top coat so that the blue catches the light.

The Look

EYES | I used some tape with the majority of the stickiness removed on the back of my hand to ensure a defined wing shape for my shadows. After priming with my Milani Eyeshadow primer, I mixed together Frisk and Cover from the Naked 2 Basics palette for blending all over the lid and slightly up into the crease. Using an angled liner brush I created a medium wing with L'Oreal Plum Silkissime Liner. Using a clean pencil brush I blended out the liner to soften the line, before adding Coastal Scents Rainstorm a little at a time to smoke out the line even further and bring it into the outer corner.  A used just a little bit of Urban Decay Naked along the edges of the navy and taupe to help warm up the brow bone just a tad. I finished the upper lashline by tightlining with the L'Oreal liner and adding plenty of mascara.

Using a small fluffy brush I laid down Frisk all along the lower lashline for some soft definition, and topped with Rainstorm closer to the lashline in the outer corner, connecting with the upper wing.

FACE | To balance out my pale skin and deeper eye makeup I used my ride or die pair of NYC Sunny Bronzer and Tarte Exposed to bring some warmth back into the face, and added some of Laura Mercier's Matte Radiance highlight to the cheekbones and inner corner of my eyes.

LIPS | To tie into the cooler tones of the eyes I used Estee Lauder Pinkberry - a pinky-mauve neutral shade.

Are you a navy fan? What colour would you like to see next?

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Anyone else seeing the light at the end of the tunnel that is this winter? I'm not sure if it's because Easter is so early this year or the fact that we will be above freezing all week, but my mind is all on spring and I'm not mad about it. I love this transitional time of year because you can focus less on retaining every ounce of heat and more on lighter layers and fun accessories!

Dress: Kamar {similar} | Coat: F21 {similar} | Headband: Garage {similar}
Boots: dav {similar} | Tights: Secret {exact} | Bracelets: Joe Fresh {similar} | Lips: Pinkberry {exact}

There is just something about a sweater dress that manages to tick all the boxes when it comes to being both fashion friendly and practical, am I right? I love a good cowl neck because it basically acts as a built in scarf for some extra warmth, but isn't at all constricting around the neck. Top it all off with a cute knit headband and you're still toasty warm without the hat hair - total win win!

Anyone else already feeling the spring bug?

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 Linking up with: Lauren |  Laura | Lindsey | Sarah | Saumya | Debonita  

Well hey there friends, apologies for dropping off the earth for the past two weeks! I had a little heart to heart with my friends over on snapchat (tvibblog) about the state of life and the blog, and got the encouragement I needed to start a Friday series wrapping up a week of thoughts, plans, and general life. 

1. Anyone else been hit by the cold from hell? I'm finally starting to feel like I'm getting back to myself after a cold/sinus/asthma combo that took me out for almost half the month of February. That coupled with a some fun but time-intensive work events sucked up all my energy this month. BUT the school year is coming to a close so while that means it's crunch time, it also means that some relief is around the corner!

2. February Favourites? Since I've been sick, I have been keeping to the same general standbys that I talked about last month. I figured a whole post wouldn't be necessary, but instead I'm going to do a little round up of lifestyle & beauty loves over on snapchat (tvibblog) this weekend. Lifestyle favs were always a bit hard to photograph so hopefully this will be an easier way to share some bits I'm loving. Keep an eye out for that!

3. Wedding planning is hard. I'm barely at the start of the planning process and am already feeling completely overwhelmed. We had wanted to get married up in cottage country since it's a place that is close to both of our hearts, but availability and expense is making it look like that may not be a possibility. The important thing is that I get to marry my best friend, but now we're back to square one on finding a venue and date, which we had hoped would be in Fall 2016...

4. On the up and up: I'm finally going to have some time this weekend to take blog photos and I could not be more excited! I'm starting back up my Colour Story series with one I've been meaning to get around to for forever, and picking back up on the outfit posts. Any other things you would like to see?

5. Getting organized. When I showed my updated computer desktop organization on snapchat a while back I had a couple of questions on the wallpaper I used. It's one I designed myself, but I wanted to make it available to any of you who are looking for a fun way to organize your files! You can download the calendar version here & one without the calendar (I've used that section for notes in the past) here. 

What have you been up to this week? 

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