Wednesday Health and Beauty: Hair Dye

I have been colouring my hair more often recently. This is because my gray hairs are starting to show. I'm 28 and already have quite a few gray hairs, which all seem to want to grow at the front where it is very noticeable. And no, they do not look like highlights. I have very dark hair so these lovely grays really show. I am not one of those lucky people who don't see a gray hair until their late 30s. But I guess I have to be thankful that I'm also not completely gray in my 20s. To me, gray hair looks distinguished, even sexy on men. But on women (especially younger women), not so much. So I have been trying out various dyes. I must also mention that my grays are stubborn and do not like to be dyed. Here are a few of my favourite hair dyes.




Solfine Crema Color. This is the hair dye I use most often. Is affordable and does a great job covering grays. This can only be found at Jean Coutu Pharmacies. Since I'm close to Quebec, this isn't a problem for me. But I'm not sure where this product can be purchased elsewhere I'm Canada or in the States.




Garnier Nutrisse in Light Brown. Today I picked up a box of this and it's the second time using it. It isn't as great at covering grays, but it's quick and easy to use. Also it does not have the potent ammonia smell that most permanent hair dyes have.

Hair dye tip: when picking a colour, if you're unsure between more than one shade, always go for the lighter one. Remember, if your hair is dark, your results will be darker than those on the box.

Tuesday Teachables: Multiplication

I have a new weekly post for Tuesdays and this one is for my fellow teachers. Look for posts on lesson ideas, tech stuff, teaching strategies..etc.

I am now teaching multiplication to grade 4/5s and I remembered this wonderful site. So many games, resources and ideas. I also send this link home with students I tutor so they can practice their times tables.

http://www.multiplication.com/

My new Ikea table

I bought this table yesterday from Ikea. Living in a small space means I have to look for ways to maximize the space. I love how this table can be folded down and used as a side table.

Monday Reads: A little girliness

This week I'm finishing up Struck by Rhonda Stapleton. This is a 3-in-1 book and I am almost done the last one. Each of the books (Stupid Cupid, Flirting with Disaster and Pucker Up) are fun quick reads. Perfect for a quiet evening in.

Synopsis: Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But the path to love is not always a straight shot...




I also read Jackson Pearce's new short story Turn Here. So much fun! I loved it. It left me smiling. You can download this story from Amazon for $0.99.

Saturday Songs: Walk Off The Earth

I am loving this song! Check out their YouTube channel for some great covers and original songs. (Walk Off the Earth's YouTube channel)

Friday Foods: A Delicious Shrimp Dish

I receive weekly recipes from SELF magazine. This is the first one I tried out. Super easy to make and it is full of flavour. The one bad thing about this dish is that it does not taste great the next day.

Thursday: Things I like this week - Joe Fresh

I discovered the Joe Fresh brand of makeup at Loblaws recently. I was a little skeptical about buying any of the products because I had not heard a lot about them. So I did a little research and found that people are really liking them. Some things I bought yesterday that I am really liking are:

Joe Fresh Tinted Lip Balms. These are surprisingly quite moisturizing. They provide a subtle hint of colour. I bought a few of them and am loving each one. I'm hoping to eventually collect all shades.

Joe Fresh Eyeliners. I love self sharpening retractable eyeliners. I absolutely hate sharpening eye pencils and am always happy to find these types of eyeliners. There are many colours to choose from and some even have a bit of shimmer in them. Easy to apply and easy to remove.

Joe Fresh Nail Polish. These are 3 for $10! I had to pick up a few fun colours. My favourite is Twilight, which has shimmery pieces in it (pictured below).

Wednesday Health and Beauty: Skin Care Routine

It has taken me years to find a skin care routine that agrees with my face. I think I have finally found some products that agree with my face. Here are some of the things I use.


Face Wash:

I alternate between two face washes.

The first is Purity by Philosophy:

This is a great face wash. I have been using it for a few months now and I love the way it smells, the way it lathers, the way it removes my makeup and the way my skin feels afterwards. It is a bit pricey but it is definitely worth the money.

The second is Garnier's Pure 3 in 1 Wash:

 This can be used as a wash, scrub and mask. I use this when I want a deeper clean. It has little exfoliating beads in it and is great for getting all the dirt out of your pores. It has a cooling effect on the skin as well, which is nice refreshing feeling in the morning.

Moisturizer:

For my face cream, I am now using Nivea Pure and Natural:

This has a great scent and is very moisturizing. I put a thick layer of it on my face before bed and I wake up with really soft and smooth skin. I also use a thin layer of this in the morning before I put my make up on. I say thin layer because this cream can be a little greasy. I like that it has more natural ingredients and is free of dyes and parabens. This moisturizer does not have SPF in it, but my foundation does.

Monday Reads: Book Two in the Mortal Instruments Series

This week I am reading City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. This is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series. I am about half way and am having mixed feelings about this book. Not sure what I think of the whole brother sister revelation and relationship.





Synopsis: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go—especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil—and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings—and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?