I was lucky enough to get two voxboxes in one day! This one was a surprise that I didn’t know was coming.
I heard that this perfume set was popular in the 90’s and then was discontinued, so there was a lot of hype about this being back! The Saint smell was clean, lighter, and floral, while the Sinner scent was heavier, something closer to a cologne, in my opinion.
I received these products complimentary for testing purposes.
I’m not a fan of lipstick because it dries out my lips and doesn’t apply smooth, but this is something that I can get on board with! It goes on like a gloss, so it’s easy to apply, and didn’t crease or crack. I wore it for a few hours during the workday. The pigment is almost exactly as you see it in the tube, so there aren’t any surprises when you put it on. Yes, the lip primer does help! I found it prepped my lips similar to using a chapstick before applying the lipstick, keeping my lips more moisturized. It has a subtle minty smell, which I enjoyed.
The colour options are excellent – there’s many to choose from so there is something for everyone. Overall, if you are looking for a lipstick alternative, give this a try!
I received this product free for review purposes.
It’s always fun to try new snacks! Thanks to Social Nature, I got to try two flavours of Roasted Chickpeas by Three Farmers: sea salt & lime, and balsamic & cracked pepper.
The sea salt & lime were a lighter flavour than the balsamic & cracked pepper. If you like anything with a vinegar base, you will love the balsamic flavour, but it is the bolder flavour option. The sea salt & lime had a light salt flavour and the lime wasn’t too sour.
Overall, I liked both and would purchase!
#trynatural #GotItFree
I’ve been pretty fortunate to be a part of a few Vox Boxes, but this was the first multi-item box that I’ve received. It was nice to try a variety of products and I discovered a few new products that I love!
A few comments on the products:
Disclosure: I received these products free/complimentary for testing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
I’m a weirdo and I think it’s fun to pack my carry-on. I’m fortunate enough to not have lost my luggage, but because of where I’m going, I can’t afford to not utilize my carry-on should that happen. It’s safe to say I’m putting equally as much thought into what I pack in my carry-on as I do my checked luggage.
Besides the obvious documents you’ll need for your travels (tickets, passport, etc.), here’s what I like to take with me on the plane:
Extra set of clothes. From what I hear, nothing is worse than getting off a plane and finding out that your luggage is delayed or lost. For myself, it’s nice to have the option to change once I’m off the airplane. I also like having the option to change in case I drop food or spill a drink on my clothes (that’s the kind of luck I have).
Tech. Now that Netflix has blessed us with the ability to download shows for offline viewing, I make sure my iPad is charged and ready to go. I’m currently watching House on Netflix. I pack my headphones, iPad, and chargers. I would normally bring a book, but I put a couple on my iPad to save on space and weight.
Beauty. Does my toothbrush count as beauty? Haha. Besides that, I have moisturizer, under eye concealer, mascara, face wipes, and lip balm. I don’t wear a lot of makeup.
Miscellaneous. I plan on sleeping on the plane, so I’m packing some Gravol to help kickstart my drowsiness. SNACKS. How could I forget about snacks???I have an overnight flight so I don’t plan on eating a lot, but I’m bringing 2 protein bars (these are my favourite) and some crackers. Bonus snack: apparently, I get banana bread on the airline I’m taking.
What are some items you can’t travel without? I’d love to know!
Instagram is my favourite social media platform, hands down. I love the versatility of it – you can learn, tell stories, teach others, showcase beautiful photos, watch videos, and share your hobbies. In planning for my England trip, I’ve searched location tags for day trip ideas and to see what kinds of clothing to pack based on the weather. It’s pretty handy!
Below is a list of the Instagram accounts that I had to turn the post notifications on for because I didn’t want to miss any of their posts! Check them out and give them a follow.
@hol_fox – This account is where cookie dreams are made of. If you are like me and enjoy the cookie frosting community on Instagram, you will love this account. ↓ ↓ ↓
@prepary – She’s a former recruiter who shares job search and career advice. I definitely recommend you give her a follow if you’re a new grad! ↓ ↓ ↓
@alyssa.lenore – Alyssa is one of my three favourite bloggers (don’t worry, the other two will be in this post). She’s very relatable, and her photos and Instagram theme are stunning. Bonus: add her on Snapchat because she’s hilarious. ↓ ↓ ↓
@lilypebbles – I love when you find a YouTuber you like AND they have an awesome Instagram account. Two places for great content! I love her style and get photo inspiration from her posts. ↓ ↓ ↓
@carly – I can’t think of a blogger more down to Earth than Carly. She takes the time to answer comments on her blog and on social, which is something that normally gets lost when bloggers get big. She makes her followers feel like they are her friend and is personable in all her online interactions. Carly is on my list to meet (fingers crossed she comes to Canada one day). Her blog gives great advice that’s actually doable, which is appreciated. ↓ ↓ ↓
@juliahengel – Fell in love with her hair, stayed for her content. She’s also besties with Carly, above, so when they are together I am extra excited. ↓ ↓ ↓
I’m always on the look out for new Instagram accounts to follow – what accounts are your favourite?
Back at it again with another Influenster review! This is the #TheLipPencil by BITE VoxBox**.
The packaging was nicer than any other VoxBox I have received. I received:
Here is a swatch of the colours:
I was pleasantly surprised by Whiskey and 044, but fell in love with Honeycomb and 020. I’m not normally a lipstick person, but BITE is a good start. Both the lip pencil and lipstick went on very smooth and were more creamy than any other lipstick I have used. My lips felt moisturized when I took it off too. I did try it with my chapped, Canadian winter lips (haha), so I recommend exfoliating before using the products. Clearly, I’m a newbie to the lipstick world!
If you aren’t on Influenster, I really recommend you join! This is my third VoxBox, and I’ve had the opportunity to try John Frieda and Orville Redenbacher’s Canada products. Can’t go wrong with getting free products to try 🙂
**I received these products complimentary for testing purposes. All opinions are honest and my own.
@BiteBeauty @Influenster #TheLipPencil #contest.
I have a confession. I’m obsessed with Twitter lists. You wouldn’t know, though, because I keep them all on private. Twitter lists help me filter my Twitter feed so that I am seeing specific content about a specific subject.
If you’re looking for ideas for Twitter lists, here are the categories I have lists for:
Friends and Family. I have a small list of my closest friends and family that I like to stay up to date on.
Career. When I was in school, I made Twitter lists of companies I wanted to work at. Having those companies in one list allowed me to better see when they posted jobs, and I could interact with those accounts frequently to show my enthusiasm. Now, I use it for career tips, educational articles, advice, and companies I admire.
Clients. I have various lists for the industries my clients are in, like tech, investing, insurance, beauty, etc. I use these lists when I’m looking for third-party content, and I’m always updating them with reliable news sources and blogs.
Sharing. This is the list is where go to when I am looking to RT. It has clients, companies I love, and friends that are bloggers. I like to support people I know by sharing some love in the Twitterverse.
PR. I have a list dedicated to PR blogs, accounts, and companies that I can learn from and are always posting up to date industry news. I love being among the first of my friends to know about innovative PR or social media updates. It also helps me improve my own work and skills. Whatever industry you work in, I suggest finding the thought leaders in that industry and making a list.
How do you use Twitter lists?
If you know me, you know that popcorn is my FAVOURITE snack. I love the versatility of it, that you can make popcorn salty, savory or sweet. So, I jumped at the chance to try Orville Redenbacher’s Caramel & White Cheddar gourmet popcorn*.
I’m not a big fan of cheese flavoured anything so I could have done without the white cheddar pieces. It is a subtle, salty cheddar flavour that compliments the buttery caramel popcorn. In case you are curious, my friends determined that the best cheddar to cheddar ratio is 2-1. The caramel flavour is something I would purchase. It has a rich flavour without being too sweet. Safe to say, I polished off all the caramel pieces 🙂
Popcorn is the perfect companion for Netflix. It’s like being in the movie theater, except comfier and a lot less expensive.
I watched Grey’s Anatomy because I feel the need to re-watch it every year, but here are some of my other Netflix picks:
I can’t wait to see the next flavour that Orville Redenbacher brings out. I hope its salt & vinegar!
*I received this product complimentary for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Sometimes PR feels like a 24/7 job. I’m a social media manager so I am checking clients’ accounts fairly often to ensure everything is running smoothly. Between full-time school, work and volunteer activities, I find it hard to know when to unplug. If you’re struggling like me, here are some tips for working towards a better work/life balance.
Take a real lunch break. Spend time AWAY from your desk. I know it’s very tempting to eat your sandwich while scrolling on your computer but try to avoid it. Not only is it important to make sure that you are actually eating, but it gives your brain some time to breathe and regroup for the rest of the afternoon.
Turn off unnecessary phone notifications. My theory: the less my phone goes off, the less I check it. This way I know that if my phone does alert me, it’s for something important.
Go to the gym. It’s a good excuse to not think about work/school and it gets you moving after spending a lot of time sitting at your desk. I use my gym time to listen to music or catch up on a tv show, guilt-free.
Prioritize what is important and needs to be done today, so you don’t have to work from home in the evenings or worry about what needs to be done. If you are new to a job, prioritizing will become easier as you spend more time in your role.
Don’t check emails/ accounts in the evening, or designate a time in the evening when you will check your work messages. If you are someone who needs to make sure that everything is in order for the next day, try taking pen to paper and making a list.
Taking care of yourself will benefit you and your job. What are your strategies for maintaining a work/life balance? I’d love some tips 🙂
Jaclyn Wingfield 