Thursday: Things I like this week

eos lip balm. I have been hearing about these lip balms for ages. Their unique shape is what makes them so popular. It's like a tub of lip balm except you don't need to use your fingers to apply (great for keeping germs away). I was only able to find the Summer Fruits scent and although it is not my favourite type of scent (I would have preferred Honeydew or Sweet Mint), I am loving the texture and the cuteness of this lip balm.




Big Fish Games: Mahjong Towers. This is like that pyramid card game except there are many tiles and many levels. It is quite addictive. I have this app on my iPad and have had a hard time stopping.




St. Ives Restoring Lotion. Winter dries out my skin like crazy!! I am very picky about lotions because most of them smell terrible and the ones that smell good do a poor job at moisturizing. I love this St. Ives one. It has a nice clean scent and does a great job keeping my skin soft without that greasy feeling.




ecojot journals. Every year I buy a new journal. Today I picked up this one from Chapters. What is great about this company is that every journal that is purchased is matched with a donation of notebooks for children in need.




Oprah Winfrey Show Book. I received this as a Christmas gift. Oprah was a big part of my life growing up. I remember having her on after school on TV as I did my homework. This book is a wonderful tribute to her show. Great pictures, articles and interviews.

Favourite reads of 2011

First off, Merry Christmas to everyone!! I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays with friends and family.

This year I decided to do a 55 book challenge. Right now I'm reading book number 55. So, I'm happy to say that I am super close to accomplishing my mission. Next year I am going to aim for 75.

I thought I would do a post listing my favourite books I read this year. A favourite book means that it is one I would definitely read again. I would recommend any of the books below. Happy reading!

In no particular order:

Must've Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory
Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick
Violets of March by Sarah Jio
The Perfect Blend by Trish Perry
The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Something From Tiffany's by Melissa Hill
Bossypants by Tina Fey
The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society by Various Authors
The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
Fateful by Claudia Gray
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres
Rhymes with Cupid by Anna Humphrey
Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Chasing Fire by Suzanne Collins

Thursday: Things I like this week

Jennifer Aniston's Perfume. I often like to spray on random perfumes while I'm shopping. Usually I end up with ones that are too strong or too fruity. While at Sephora the other day, I noticed this perfume on their best seller shelf. Of course I had to pick it up and spray it on. OMG!! This is the perfect fresh light clean scent I have been looking for. Last week I mentioned the Pure Grace perfume from Philosophy. Jennifer Aniston's beats that one. Love it!!!




Sticky Notes. I don't know where I would be without them. I am constantly writing on them and sticking them all over the place (especially in my classroom).




Michael Bublé's Christmas Album. This is the perfect mix of jazz and Christmas joyfulness. I cannot stop listening to it!




Thai Express. This gets me through my holiday shopping. This week I am loving the Thai flavoured chicken fried rice. Yum!




Canada Mittens. I picked these up on sale a few weeks ago and was so thankful for them yesterday when I had to scrape ice off of my car.

I want to post this in my classroom

Monday Reads: Hunger Games (a day late)

This post is coming a day late but I had to share my read for this week. I finally picked up The Hunger Games. I've been putting it off for quite a while because the story didn't seem too interesting to me. But I saw the movie trailer last week and was intrigued. I picked it up Sunday night and been having a hard time putting it down. If you have not read this book, go get it now!!

Thursday: Things I like this week (beauty products)

This week's focus on my favourite things will be on beauty products.




Tarina Tarantino Jewel Eyeshadow palette in Magical. I picked this up at Sephora last weekend and have used it everyday since. Love the texture and colours!




bareMinerals Big and Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black. I was having a hard time finding an eyeliner that is not waterproof and does not make my eyes itchy. I came across this preservative-free eyeliner and am loving it. Easy to apply, bold colour, and easy to remove.




Urban Decay Lipstick in Naked. I don't like bright or dark lipsticks. I love the natural looking lipsticks that almost look like you're wearing nothing. I have been on a search for the perfect natural pink lipstick for a long time. Many came close but this one is perfect. Great for everyday wear.




Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser. A cleanser, make-up remover and toner all in one. It removes all traces of makeup without leaving that dry feeling on your face. This is my go-to face wash. Even though I have tried others, I always come back to this one.




Philosophy Pure Grace. Love love love this scent. I love the description on the box even more. A just showered/fresh clothes out of the wash smell.




I am really picky about my body lotions/butter. I have a few little tubs of this and absolutely love it. Smells great and works very well especially in the winer when my hands an legs get super dry.

Monday Reads: My Next Read

A few years ago if you had tried to get me to read any type of paranormal book, I would have refused. I was a contemporary fiction girl and could not get into any story that did not seem "real" to me. But over the last two years, I have discovered the YA genre and within the YA genre have found some wonderful books that I would have never picked up previously.

I came across this book yesterday while searching for my next fiction read. It sounds quite interesting and I am looking forward to reading it.

Synopsis: Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

A gorgeous handbag

It took a lot of self restraint to not buy this bag. But I love it and want it so much.




Calvin Klein purse

I am so making these!!

How cute are these Santa Hat brownies! Recipe can be found here.

Thursday: Things I like this week

Electric heating pads. These go in hand with my slipper socks I mentioned last week. I love cuddling up with a book and resting my feet on this warm electric pad.






Pashmina scarves. So soft and comfortable. I pick up a bunch every time I go to NYC ($5 from street vendors). With the chilly weather kicking in, I often wear one with my outfit at work and it helps to keep me warm.






Audiobooks. The drive to work is incredibly long. Sometimes I get bored of listening to the same music over and over again so I started listening to audiobooks on my rides and I am quite enjoying it.






Peter Pauper Press agendas. I picked one up from Chapters and I absolutely love it. I know that I can easily keep track of my tasks on my iPhone or iPad but I find it satisfying to write things by hand and highlight them when they are completed. This little agenda keeps me organized.






Wind up flashlights. Yesterday the power went out for an hour. I found a wind up flashlight. Winding it up for a minute or two gives you almost thirty minutes of light.

Some words to live by