sweater weather TAG

Hello all :)

So for today's post I decided to do the Sweater Weather Tag that has been floating around the internet world.

However...

Instead of just giving you my answers to the questions, I took some pictures as well - so almost a review to every answer!!

Okay, here we go!!!

1. Favourite Candle Scent?

This happens to be one of my favourite candles at the moment, it will change very soon, because I am going to be purchasing all of the holiday scented candles very soon. Trying to use up my fall scented candles first though. Thus, this is my most favourite candle scent at the moment. It's Bath and Body Works' "Autumn" 3 wick candle. Website describes the scent as "A crisp fragrance blending pomegranate, red apples and fig, topped with fir balsam and cedarwood."

Initially I was drawn to this candle because of the elegant packaging. Pier 1 did an excellent job with this. Very, very similar scent to Bath and Body Works' candle "Leaves", even has a similar name - "Autumn Leaves". It is one wick, but oooo so exciting - it crackles!!! I love that effect because it sounds like a little fire is going on, and living in an apartment that doesn't have a fireplace, this candle is as good as it gets. Pier 1 Imports' website describes the scent as "Invigorating eucalyptus, woody cedar and gentle notes of clove, cinnamon  and musk - in a decorative tin..."

And finally, who doesn't love the scent "Leaves" by Bath and Body Works. Bought a bunch of these at the beginning of the season, because I even like to burn this one throughout the winter months. ADDICTED. Website describes the scent as "Golden nectar, juicy mandarin and red apples are spiced with cinnamon and harvest berries."

2.  Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

To be perfectly honest, I really do like all of those. But if I had to pick, it would be coffee right now, seems to be the number one thing I order at Starbucks...only because I happen to be in love with the Pumpkin Spice Latte...along with the rest of the world. What I brew at home is Starbucks' Blonde Roast coffee - I do not like my coffee super strong, and this is their weakest one.

Tea would be my second favourite, as I rarely drink hot chocolate. This is my favourite tea flavour at the moment - Stash's Cinnamon Apple Chamomile Tea - it has just been perfect for these chilly autumn days and tastes a bit like apple cider :)

3. What's the best fall memory you have?

Hmmm, this one is tough, I think the one I remember most when I think of the autumn months is based mainly around Thanksgiving. There was one Thanksgiving at my parent's old house, where we lived near a bunch of my friends from elementary school. I was in grade six, so bed time was a little later and I was allowed to venture on the street we all lived on with my friends (without parents!!). I remember my grandparents were over for dinner, and we had a lovely time - great food and good visits.When they were getting ready to leave, I remember my friends came to the door and called on me to come play outside, and I was allowed to go for the first time - while it was later on in the evening . We didn't really do much but walk around and talk and do silly sixth grader things, but for some odd reason that particular circumstance sticks out in my memory whenever I think of autumn and Thanksgiving. 

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged liner?

I do love both trends. But my every day makeup look doesn't contain winged eyeliner anymore - I have been going for very neutral looks. So I would have to say, dark lips - considering my lippy collection does have a lot of dark lip colours. What is in the picture above is Milani's Lipstick in Sangria - a review will be up of that soon :)

5. Best fragrance for fall?

Well, I don't really have very many options within my collection of fragrances, simply because I am trying to use up all that I already own, in order to have the excuse to buy all new ones! So right now, I would have to say my best fall fragrance is Bath and Body Works' "Dark Kiss" perfume. I never wear this one in the warmer months, it just seems like a 'sweater weather' type fragrance. Website describes fragrance as "A tempting blend of black raspberry, Mirabelle plum, amber, dark vanilla bean and sensual balsam."

6. Favourite Thanksgiving food?

I love it all. If I had to choose, it would definitely be stuffing and gravy - I could live without the turkey and the potatoes and the vegetables - the thing I crave the most is definitely stuffing. My mom, she just cooks the best stuffing ever! <3

7. What is the autumn weather like where you live?

Cold. This fall has been surprisingly okay...still cold, but not as cold as usual...it is just starting to get really cold and rainy now.

8. Most worn sweater?

I am totally in love with cardigans, but recently went shopping with my friend at Ardene's and found some shawl/poncho like things and fell in love with those as well. In the picture above are my favourite sweaters at the moment. The top olive coloured one is a cardigan and the other two are the shawl/poncho style ones.

9. Must-have nail polish this fall?

I love love love nail polish. I don't have one that I can pick, I just don't. So I chose four!!! Top is O.P.I.'s "Every Month is Oktoberfest" (have an earlier blog post on this: http://thoughtsfromamyr.blogspot.ca/2012/10/deep-autumn-plums.html ), next is Revlon's "Fall Mood" (suits the season perfectly I think...lol), the classic red one is O.P.I.'s "All I Want for Christmas (Is OPI)" (going to be wearing this a lot throughout the winter season - blog post will be up in the next month), and then last but not least Essie's "Merino Cool" (have an earlier blog post on this as well: http://thoughtsfromamyr.blogspot.ca/2012/09/noft-essie-merino-cool.html ).

10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles?

I don't really do either...I live in an apartment so I don't have to rake any leaves, plus I've jumped into a leaf pile and was joined by a few frogs, and that really freaked me out. So...I'm going to have to say football games. My boyfriend is a huge football fan...I don't really watch all the games with him, but I must say I do enjoy the super bowl gatherings we have or attend - always good company and good food!

11. Skinny jeans or leggings?

Leggings, leggings, leggings. You rarely find me in anything else...especially since you can find pretty printed leggings anywhere. Or you can choose leggings that are a colour different from the typical black colour you would think leggings come in. Above are my favourite leggings to wear - one pair that's printed and one pair being an ox blood red colour (love that colour in the fall). I purchased both pairs at Target.

12. Combat boots or Uggs?

I do own both, but I definitely prefer combat boots. I find they are better for walking in and are much more water resistant. The boots I have showing above aren't your typical combat boot, but I'm going to make them count anyway. I love the buckles, and they only go up halfway on your calf. They also have faux fur on the inside, which keeps my toes nice and toasty throughout the chillier months. Purchased these on www.justfab.com - model is GALE, and I believe they are still available on the site. This website happens to be an amazing place to get shoes/boots on the cheaper side.

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?

My First Ever Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks...Had to log it with Instagram!

YES! All I have to say.

14. Favourite fall TV shows?

I am going to be putting up a blog post of all the television shows I am working my way through at the moment, but I will list my most favourite of them all right now: The series "Arrow" happens to be my most favourite show out of everything I watch right now. It is a 'super hero' type television show, but it is very, very well written, and can I just mention it has one of THE most hottest and built lead characters. I suggest you check him out ladies!! And following Arrow, would probably be the series "The Walking Dead". I just recently started to watch this series, and let me tell you, I caught up really fast. Could NOT stop watching it and now I'm sad that I'm all caught up and can only watch one episode a week *tears*.

15. What songs really get you into the fall spirit?

I recently did a blog post on my autumn play list : http://thoughtsfromamyr.blogspot.ca/2013/10/hey-everyone-so-i-have-decided-to-do.html

Phew, there we are finished! If you made it all the way to the end, congratulations, that was definitely a long one. Took me a long time to type it all out, so Thank You!

I TAG all of you to do this as well! It's quite a lot of fun :)

cheers&&enjoy all of this 'Sweater Weather'!

amy, xoxo. 

instagram in october.

First question of the day: Who doesn't like/use instagram these days??

I happen to be a HUGE instagram addict...(updates come to the side bar of my blog, actually).

I have been doing a lot of 'out of the ordinary' type blog posts, simply because I would like to share a little bit more than just beauty products with everyone - I am liking the idea of broadening my horizons a little bit :) 

I have decided that at the end of every month (or, the beginning of every new month...most likely...lol) I will be posting what the past month has been like for me, through my instagram pictures. The order of the photos will go as regular instagram formation: from most recent to less recent.

Most of this month consisted of a lot of warm foods, warm clothes, and cold walks!

In my newest picture above (top left) I just purchased a new nail polish from the new Mariah Carey Christmas line from O.P.I - this shade is "All I Want for Christmas (is OPI)" and I can't wait to paint my nails with this and show you guys! I do realize, Halloween just passed...but these limited edition nail polishes, never usually last long in any of the stores located near me. 

I was also a Zombie Hunter for Halloween (that bruise is not real - OH the wonders of make up!), decided on this costume, simply because I just fell in love with the show "The Walking Dead" ( I know, slow to jump on the band wagon, as usual). To create the bruise I used a wet sponge to dab some black eye shadow onto my skin (only use a little bit in order to create the mishapen, faded, bruised look), used a dark purple eye shadow in the middle to create a two toned effect, and then blended it all out with some brown eye shadow with an old make up brush, I planned on never using again. Oh, and of course, I used a little bit of fake blood - because what is Halloween without some fake blood!?! 

I bought a new shirt from Ardene, received a furry bear hat from my friend, made home made crock pot applesauce, and also decorated a really cool skull - to add some extra chic-ness to my apartment (got the idea from Mr.Kate's channel on YouTube: http://www.mrkate.com/2013/10/13/diy-halloween-decor/ )

I recently fell in love with wearing my hair up in braided buns, made an autumn play list, was more adventurous with my meal planning and cooked some new recipes, tried and fell in love with Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte, and ventured on some beautiful and chilly walks.

It was Canadian Thanksgiving throughout the month of October as well - had some delicious food and desserts. I also came up with the personal tradition of having Tuesdays as my official bun days - adds a bit of fun to the dreary second day of the week. I have mini hauls within my instagram, and take pictures of mostly everything I love!

I have my instagram user name on the side bar, but I will put it here as well: arussel1 - come follow me!!!

Sorry that this was such a long post, but it was something new and fun for me - I may have gotten a little carried away, lol. 

cheers everyone && welcome to november!!!

amy, xoxo.

Rimmel Apocalips: Stellar

Happy Tuesday!!

haha, yeah I know, it's only Tuesday *groan*...

On The Bright Side

I have a lip product that I wanted to review for all of you.

I do know, I'm little bit late on reviewing this product, but where I live, the stores don't usually get anything until a lot later than everyone else it seems, so please bare with me here, lol. 

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquers:

My initial thought on the product: dannnng this is pigmented!

I do know one thing, this lip laquer is going to last me a long time, simply because you only need to use a very small amount to get completely opaque lips.

The shade I went with is "Stellar", and on the lips, I feel like it looks a lot brighter than when it is in the actual tube...however, I still really really like it - and do think that it can be a colour that you can wear in the summer and carry on into the fall and winter seasons.

 I took a few shots of what the product looks like on my lips - here I have what it looks like in the bright sunlight. You can see that it has quite a hot pink tone to it...but it does have a little bit of deeper red undertones, which is why I feel like you could keep wearing this shade right on from summer to winter.

Here I have what the shade looks like in a more darker lighted setting. Still a beautiful, bold colour.

As I said before, a little definitely goes a long way with this product. I actually tried to get as much of the excess product off of the applicator before I touched it to my lips - and in the end, it still gave me completely opaque and bold looking lips.

I did find the product to be a little bit drying after about an hour... so I would advice you to add a moisturizing lip balm prior to applying the product.

The lasting power is AWESOME! 

About 5 hours in, my lips still had the coloured stain to them, it had lost its glossiness, but the colour was definitely still going strong!

I love that in a lip product, because then I don't have to constantly feel like I

 should be reapplying the product.

I have worn this to work once, and I reapplied it once throughout the day and that's about it. Might I add that you definitely do need a mirror to apply this, because it is so heavily pigmented and quite hard to get off if you do make a mistake...but when a product's lasting power is so amazing, I don't mind pulling my mirror out once throughout the day to touch the look up.

All in all, I think I will be buying more shades to add to my lippy collection. They are quite effortless and so chic. I am totally in love, just as almost every other girl in the world is, lol. 

Hope you ladies are having a beautiful Tuesday, and talk to you soon!

cheers && give into your temptation of buying a lip product ;)

autumn playlist.

Hey everyone!

So I have decided to do something a little bit out of the ordinary today. It was such a dreary, rainy, stormy, and cold day here - hasn't been a good Saturday for me. So as per usual, when things get a little crummy, I resort to some good ol' tunes.

Here I have put together an autumn playlist to share with all of you. These are all the songs I have been listening to throughout this autumn season. Just a few (cough, cough...I mean approximately thirty...) songs I find to be quite comforting throughout the chillier days:

(Song Name - Artist)

Platoon - Jungle

On My Way To Heaven - Seven Lions

We Own The Sky - M83

Blood - The Middle East

Ray Ray - Fat Freddy's Drop

Thunder Clatter - Wild Cub

Guns & Ammunition - July Talk

Reflektor - Arcade Fire

End Of The World Everyday - Wildcat! Wildcat!

Put A Light On - Generationals

Home - Rudimental

Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

Zero To Eleven - Julian Taylor Band
Lori Meyers - NOFX

COOL - Le Youth

Waiting All Night - Rudimental

Dancing On My Own - Robyn

Fall Into The Sky - Zedd Feat. Ellie Goulding

Riptide - Vance Joy

Pumpin Blood - NONONO

White Nights - Oh Land

Ways To Go - Grouplove

Reunion - M83

Right Here - Rudimental

Cufflinks - V/V

Map Inside - Rykka

The Same Tattoos - Fences

3 Days - Rhye

Perfect Government - NOFX

Midnight City - M83

Thunderclap - Adventure Club

Wild Out - Borgore

Once In A Lifetime - Landon Austin

These songs all bring a little coziness to my day and I wanted to share them with all of you, in hopes that they may do the same for everyone!

 A wide variety of genres to bring a little warmth to you on a cold autumn day!

cheers && get listening!

<3 

welcome autumn 2013!

WOW.

It has been some time since I have posted anything on my blog. Not going to make up a bunch of excuses, because...

                                        ...really...

...how did I not find the time to simply sit down at my computer and type a little post out...

(**extremely embarrassed face**). 

As a matter of fact I don't really have much of an excuse, except to say that it was summer, and I just wasn't on my computer as much...I tried to get out and enjoy the summer days as much as possible! Along with the fact that I didn't really purchase very many beauty products, as my summer looks were really, generally, quite simple.

    

HOWEVER

As sad as I am to say goodbye to summer, I have officially decided to welcome autumn with open arms.

                                                                                           ...actually...

who am I kidding, I absolutely LOVE fall! 

Everything about it - the amazing scents, the beautiful colours, the cooler temperature - each of its elements seem to be exactly what I love. I am, indeed, an autumn type of girl! 

SO

in reality, I have full out dove into fall! 

Today I do not have an actual beauty product review, but I thought I would write a little post to welcome all of you to the newly revamped "thoughts from amy". I decided to try and incorporate as much of the season as I could within the template of my blog. I did this in hopes that I could bring some emotions of excitement towards the season, rather than dread/resentment. If you live anywhere in Canada, you should know exactly what kind of dread I am talking about...

                                    . . .The Brutal Winter. . .

But for now, let's just enjoy the beauty of this season - the crisp, crunchy leaves && the cool air && chunky sweaters && hot drinks && warm/neutral tones && especially all  the cute new booties <3. 

Will be on my computer a little more now, so I will be pushing myself to pump out more blog posts.

Happy Fall Everyone! 

xoxo.

L'Oreal: Telescopic Explosion Mascara

hello all!

Hope you all had an amazing Easter, AND, Happy April Fool's Day. I must say, I was never a huge fan of April Fool's. I feel like I have a pretty good sense of humour, but I don't cope with pranks very well. Haha, what are your thoughts on this day?

Annnyway!

I do have another little product I would like to add to my...I'll let you guess...

  

                                That's right! 

  

                                                      ... My mascara series!

This little guy has helped me through times where I want to get my bottom lashes, to look as good as my top lashes!

L'Oreal's Telecopic Explosion Mascara has a teeny brush, which allows me to access all the little lashes that need to come out from hiding! It also helps accentuate my top lashes, if I am in the mood to have a little extra 

BAM to my eyelash look. 

The formulation of the product is quite opaque, therefore coats your lashes with ease. 

However, I haven't gotten as much use out of this mascara as I thought I would when purchasing it. Yes, it does give me a VERY dramatic look, but, even I find it, too much of a dramatic look for every day wear.

So yes, I will only use this product on nights where I'm going out or when I know my picture will be taken a lot, simply because it helps my mascara show up way better in photos! :)

I do tend to use this a little bit more on my bottom lashes, because the tiny brush gets all of my little lashes without getting any on my lower eye skin. It does a pretty perfect job with bottom lashes, I must say. (But for top ones, as I said before, only for big occasions.)

What are some of your favourite mascaras for your bottom lashes. I know that Clinique has a very good one for the lower lashes (this one is pretty comparable -almost as good) are there any others out there? Please let me know! :)

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Bye for now!

xoxo.

Bath And Body Works, Drug Store, and Sephora Haul ||

Filmed this the other day. I went to Bath and Body Works and picked up a few things. Also went to the Drug Store and Sephora, soooo I filmed a little Haul for all of you. Check it out, and Subscribe :) !

xoxo.