Weekend Trip to London

Last month we spent a weekend in England.  I had a friend to visit there so it was a perfect excuse to take a weekend trip and visit the country's capital.

Here are a few things we did, saw and ate while in London.

Day 1: Londe Eye, Westminster and Buckingham Palace

Our first day in England actually started very early in the morning.  We took a Ryanair flight from Marseille to London Stansted, which meant we had to take an hour and a half long bus ride to London from the airport.  We landed at 11pm and after a longish wait at border patrol we made it out of the airport with our luggage and unto the National Express en route for London.  The ride itself took close to 2 hours and we were quite tired when we eventually made it to our hotel room. 

After sleeping in til about 10am we set out for our first day in the English capital. Our first stop was the London Eye, because I wanted to indulge in the wonderful view of the city and get the long wait in queue over with.  The wait was about 45 minutes and it was worth it.  It was a beautiful sunny day so the view was amazing! 

After having seen the city from up above, we made our way over to Westminster Abbey and paid the extremely high entrance fee of 18 pounds.  I would say it is worth it to do once and take in the grandeur and history of the place.  My favorite part was the poet's corner where many famous poets and authors have been buried or memorialized there. They include Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, Shakespeare, Robert Burns, the Brontes and many more. 

We also took a few snaps of Big Ben while in the area of course. 

Then we strolled through St. James's Park and saw all the ducks, swans, geese, and pelicans that live there. Being an absolute lover of all animals, this was of course really fun for me! 

After a ten minute walk with all these great winged creatures, there stood the place everyone wants to see when they visit London, Buckingham Palace.  

It was then time to grab something to eat. It wasn't quite supper time but we were famished.  That's the thing about traveling, you never end up eating at normal hours. We found a quaint coffee shop in Shepherd's market and had some tea and paninis. I chose a tune melt, which was either really good becaue I was just that darn hungry or it really was the best tuna melt ever.

That evening we went back to the hotel, relaxed for a bit and then went out to a nearby pub for a quick supper before going to bed.

Day 2: Meeting up with Kelly, Hyde Park, Camden Market, Afternoon Tea, Shopping

The main reason we went to London that weekend was to visit with my friend Kelly, who had been living on the outskirts of London for the past couple months.  

Our hotel was located right next to Hyde Park, so that is where our day began. We strolled through the parkon another beautifully sunny day in the city where it "always rains". 

We saw but did not visit Kensington Palace (Princess Diana's home). We passed by Prince Albert's memorial and admired Princess Diana's memorial fountain. 

Before leaving Hyde Park we saw a few swans and ducks that of course had to be photographed.

After the park we made our way to Camden market to enjoy the lively atmosphere there. Camden is very different from the areas of London we had visited the previous day so the contrast was quite flagrant, but not at all negative.

In the afternoon we walked around Piccadilly circus and into the giant M&Ms store. 

One of the highlights of the weekend for me was having an authentic English Afternoon Tea.  It was so satisfying after a morning and afternoon of walking around. Yum! There were tiny crustless sandwiches,  warm scones and sweet pastries. 

After the tea we did some shopping, some stores are just a must-see while in London such as Topshop, Primark, Selfridges, Spacenk. 

Day 3: Canadian Gold medal final, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, fish'n chips

Being there during the Olympics made it essential for us to be able to watch the game.  Although I must admit I am not the biggest NHL fan, Olympic hockey is an a whole different level and therefore very enjoyable to watch. My Canadian friend and I set out of Sunday morning in the hopes of finding a seat in a bar/pub that was open and would air the game. Our mission was successful and we sat down to witness yet another victorious gold medal game. 

After that we had to keep visiting the city, we walked quickly through Trafalgar square, snapped a few pics and headed to the nearest tube station en route to Tower bridge. 

(Note the Canadian embassy on the far right:) ) 

That day wasn't quite as nice as the previous two, but it wasn't raining, so no one was complaining. 

Walking across such a mighty bridge, we were famished and needed sustenance stat! So we stopped at a nearby pub and I was able to sample some delicious English fish n chips! 

We then checked the time and realized we hadn't visited the famous Harrods and there was merely one hour left before it closed, so we hurried to the tube and made it to Harrods in the nick of time. We were able to take the Egyptian escalators to the top and back down before exiting the enormous shop and snapping some nighttime pics of the iconic building. 

That evening we said bye to my friend and headed straight to bed, because our flight was at 7 the following morning and we needed to catch the 4 o'clock bus to the airport. 

Overall our trip was fantastic! I don't think I could've asked for a better weekend in the English capital. There are still many things I haven't done and definitely want to go back again and again! Maybe next time I'll get to see the Queen ;) 

My favorite online shopping websites

My name is Adèle and I'm a shopaholic, and more specifically, a deal-a-holic.  Whenever I'm on some website and there are sales, deals, promotions and any kind of gift with purchase, points, rewards, etc...

Online shopping is great for many reasons. For one, you can shop in your PJs, on the couch, with a cup of tea and some popcorn and have the TV playing your favourite movie or show.  I mean what can possibly be better than that?  I'm not saying that trips to the mall with my girlfriends isn't fun, but sometimes surfing the web and ordering that purse or dress and waiting for it to arrive is just as thrilling.  Plus, you can't beat the day your packages arrive and you get to see your purchases first hand. 

It's always great to save money, so here are my favorite websites to shop on and find great deals :

- Beyond the Rack (http://www.beyondtherack.com/event/calendar)

This is a Canadian website where one can shop for everything from clothing, shoes, beauty products, home decor items, kids stuff and more.  Everything is discounted and the prices are usually pretty great.  The only catch is that the items are not available for very long, there are only up for 3 to 4 days and then they change the event and make room for more items.  So if you see something you like, act quickly because it may be gone within the day or the hour.

- HauteLook (https://www.hautelook.com/events/all)

This is another great website to find discounted clothing, accessories and beauty products. Very similar  to BTR, but with different brands and more choice in beauty products.  I also prefer this website's layout to BTR's layout.

-Dailylook (http://dailylook.com)

A website to find reasonably priced clothing, shoes and accessories.  The special thing about this site is that every day there are new outfits put together from head to foot with the items sold on the site.  It's a great way to get inspiration for outfits and also to get a better idea of how the item looks paired with different elements.  There is also offer a points system, which gives you discounts when you reach a certain number.

-FTBeauty (http://www.ftbbeauty.ca)

Being canadian, it is often difficult to get ahold of many american brands.  This site has these products and more. The prices are great and they ship very very quickly.  I received my orders within 2 to 3 days. 

-Amazon (https://www.amazon.ca)

When it comes to makeup storage and tools, amazon is the place to go. They have it all and at very good prices.  Plus you don't have to search numerous stores to find all the items you need.  This is the one-stop site for anything you need.

There you go, have fun shopping ladies! :)

Battle of the concealers

There is one product that is essential to almost any beauty routine, whether it is extremely elaborate or super simple, and that is concealer.  Let's be honest, most women have something they want to cover up and most of them will use a concealer to do the job properly and quickly.

Concealer is a wonderful little gem. It can be used for spot coverage, under eye brightening, highlighting, contouring, and more.

Having a concealer handy at all tines is without question one of the most important things in a woman's daily beauty needs.

I, being prone to spots on my face, am no stranger to having a concealer with ne.  That also means that I have tried my fair share of concealers over the years, many different brands, consistencies, packaging, etc.

Here are my top concealer pics:

1) NARS radiant creany concealer, $32

This might be my favourite concealer of the bunch, and for now, my favourite concealer overall.  It is thick enough to cover blemishes on the face and smooth enough to put under the eyes to cover dark circles.  I LOVE this product, even with its $32 price tag.

2) Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer, $14

This is a great drugstore option, although in Canada it is not sold at drugstore prices.  I love this concealer for everyday use, it stays in place, covers well and overall is a great product for the price.


3) Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, $29

This is a really thick concealer that will definitely cover everything you need to cover. Pesky spots be gone with this product.  I find it a little thick to place under the eyes, but it still works.

4) Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, $7

I love this concealer for under the eyes.  It brightens and stays in place very well.  A great buy, and for less than ten dollars, it cannot be beat.  You can also use this to highlight because of its laminating qualities.  You cannot use this to cover spots, though, because no one wants to bring attention to unwanted blemishes on the face.

5) Maybelline Dream Lumi touch highlighting concealer, $10

This product is absolutely amazing for highlighting and bringing an extra little something to the face. It has also often been compared to the ever popular YSL Touche Éclat highlighter pen, which costs a whopping $50, and many people love the Maybelline dupe better.  I love this product because it works great under the eyes and the texture is easy to work with.

La série soin de la peau : Nettoyant pour le visage de Lush, Angels on bare skin (peau neuve)

Bonjour à tous et à toutes!  Voici mon premier "post" en français !!

Puisque je suis bilingue depuis le moment que je suis née, il est naturel pour moi de vouloir écrire un blog en français et en anglais.  Mes premiers quelques "post" étaient en anglais, mais c'est maintenant le temps d'en mettre un en français.  Alors voici.

Ces dernières semaine j'ai découvert plusieurs nouveaux produits de la marque Lush qui sont absolument formidables! L'un de ces produits est un nettoyant pour le visage : Angels on bare skin.

Ce nettoyant est super! J'ai commencé à l'utiliser au mois de décembre lorsqu'il y avait beaucoup de vent froid et ma peau, bien que très grasse d'habitude, était devenue assez sèche.  Lorsque je suis allée dans la boutique Lush à Aix-en-Provence la femme m'a suggéré d'essayer ce nettoyant, car il est hydratant, mais à la fois doux et apaisant.

La texture peut paraître bizarre et détourner certaines personnes, mais ne pas avoir peur, c'est super facile à utiliser et ce n'est pas plus long qu'un nettoyant liquide.  Il faut bien mouiller la peau du visage, prendre un petit morceau de nettoyant et le frotter sur le visage.  Le nettoyant devient alors laiteux et on sent que la peau adore ce produit.

Ce nettoyant est parfait, il est super à utiliser, on en a pas besoin bcp, juste un morceau la grosseur d'un pois et ça suffit pour tout le visage.  Si je sens que ma peau a besoin d'un peu plus d'hydratation, je laisse le nettoyant reposer sur ma peau quelques minutes avant de rinser, donc il peut être utiliser en tant que masque aussi.  Il y aussi des morceaux de lavandes et autres ingrédients qui servent d'eà utiliser et ce n'est pas plus long qu'un nettoyant liquide.

Un super produit naturel qui fonctionne à merveille! Je le recommande à tout le monde.

The Skincare Series : Michael Todd True Organics Charcoal Detox Deep Pore Cleanser

This is the first post of a new series all about skincare.  I plan to review skincare products, provide tips and tricks, talk about my personal struggle and experience, and overall try to help any of you with similar skin issues or questions.

Everyone wants perfect skin.  THAT is the goal. We wouldn't need all that makeup if our skin naturally was even toned, glowed, had the right amount of flush, was not too dry, not too oily.

In my quest for perfect skin, I have tried a great deal of products.  My skin is sensitive, acne-prone and oily, so the products I tend to try and use are geared towards people with similar skin issues.

Overall I truly believe that if you take care of your skin, your makeup will look better and you won't have to use as much.  I also believe in spending a little more on skincare, because it is an investment.

Let's start with this week's skincare product:

Michael Todd True Organics' Charcoal Detox Deep Pore Cleanser

I've been trying Michael Todd products for the past eight months or so and I have to say that I really love them.  They are all natural and mostly organic, which is great in general, but even better for your skin.  Putting chemicals anywhere near or around your body can be harmful in the longterm, so limiting the amount of harmful products you put on your skin is always a good idea.

This cleanser is, as the title indicates, a deep pore cleanser. After using this to clean my face, my skin feels very clean and rid of impurities.  I especially like using this cleanser before applying a face mask, because that way my skin is ready to soak up all the good stuff in the mask.

For sensitive skinned people, like myself, I wouldn't recommend using this everyday.  I tend to use it two or three times a week.  Any more and I risk over stimulating my skin and that's never a good idea for acne-prone skin.

The color of the product might be a little intimidating, but it just shows that it contains no artificial colouring to make it more appealing to consumers.  It lathers nicely once worked into the skin a bit.  The texture is very smooth and gel-like.  It has a slight scent, but nothing unpleasant, it's plant-like.

I really love this product.  I have used a whole bottle up and am on my second at the moment. I would recommend this cleanser to anyone who wishes to control oil and/or breakouts.

I hope you all enjoyed this first instalment of The Skincare Series, and I'll be back next week with a new post.

Best of Beauty 2013

As 2013 comes to an end it is time to take a look at all the lipsticks that marked our drinking glasses, all the mascaras that ran down our faces when we cried, all the foundation that got on our white blouses, all the blushes that made us look slightly clown-like and and all the creaseless concealers that still left your fine lines noticeable.

We all love these beauty products, no matter how badly they function at times or how weird they make us look if we don't use them properly.  Bottom line is if we love makeup, we will wear it and sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad.

Here's a look at the 10 makeup items that I absolutely loved this year!

10) Viva La Juicy La Fleur Eau de toilette

       This isn't exactly a makeup item, but it had to be included because nothing tops off a great makeup look better than your favourite fragrance. This scent is very light and fruity, perfect for summer, but not too much that it cannot be worn all year round.

9) Urban Decay De Slick
 

This setting spray is a must for all oily skinned people out there.  This stuff is pure magic, there is nothing else to say.  You spray it on your face and your makeup is going to stay put, for hours, guaranteed.

8) Sephora Long Lasting Kohl Pencil in Infinte Beige

 

As an avid YouTube watcher, I find that people often overlook the Sephora brand.  One can find some real gems for low prices among the many products of the line.

7) Urban Decay Naked Palette (the original)

    I purchased this palette in March and have really been loving it for any look.  It's also great for any season, it transitions from summer golds to fall bronzes effortlessly.  This is the perfect palette, that it all.

6) MAC Please Me Lipstick

    This was my first MAC lipstick purchase.  It's an everyday colour, which is perfect for a first high end makeup item, because then you are sure to get a lot of use out of it. It's a matte finish, but doesn't overdry the lips.

5) MAC All Fired Up Lipstick

 

 A girl always needs a pop of colour to spice up a look. This lipstick is the colour I have reached for the most this past year.  It's a bright pinkish red with a matte finish.

4) Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

    This foundation has a beautiful finish, even with my oily skin, it's absolutely amazing!

3) Maybeline the Falsies Mascara

I have tried a few high end mascaras, but none of them really do a big difference.  Drugstore mascaras are just as good and are way cheaper.  I would save my money and buy the drugstore mascara and splurge on another makeup item.  The Falsies is a great choice by Maybeline, it adds volume and give a very nice effect to the lashes.  I've purchased a few tubes of this mascara this year and will continue to do so in the future.

2) Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector

Earlier this year I was still quite hesitant about wearing a foundation everyday, so I opted for a BB cream.  This, my friend, is no ordinary BB cream. It has the coverage of a foundation, the lightness of a tinted moisturizer and all the skin benefits of any BB or CC creams.  I've gone through one of these and am on my second.  A definite must-have for all oily skin girls out there.  

1) Put A Lid On It Eyelid Primer by The Balm

This eyeshadow primer is one of the best.  I have very oily skin, and therefore very oily eyelids.  One of the most important steps in my makeup routine is applying a primer to make sure my eyeshadow stays put for the rest of the day.  This one does the trick and has a very appealing pricetag.  TheBalm cosmetics can often be found on sale on sites such as Haute Look, so getting your hands on this product is easy and won't break the bank.



There you have it, my 2013 beauty faves!  Let's see what 2014 has in store :)

Trip to Sweden (part 2)

Here's another look at our week-long trip to Sweden's capital city, Stockholm!

Day 4 : Garbage hill and Södermalm 

On the Saturday, I was feeling a little under the weather, so we took our time getting ready and set out for the day.

Since we were staying with family friends a little outside the center of Stockholm, we were able to explore around the area a little bit.  One of the notable things was a hill made up of construction waste/extra and unneeded material.  They even made it into a very small ski hill.  There was obviously no snow there yet, it being September and all, so we just climbed up it and enjoyed the nice view of Stockholm from the top.

Then we walked back down the hill on the other side and ended up in a very nice residential area surrounded by water.  It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm.

We then took a small ferry boat to cross the water into Södermalm. This neighbourhood is quite trendy with many good restaurants and eclectic shops.  There is also a church and a park to visit while there.

We stopped to have a snack/lunch at a cute little cafe.

Afterwards, we walked a bit more and took the elevator up to have a gorgeous view of the center of Stockholm.

Day 5: Hermans café, Vasamuseet (Vasa museum) and Grona Lunds Tivoli

For lunch we made it to Herman's café, a wonderful vegetarian buffet restaurant with an amazing view of Stockholm. The food was so delicious! I would recommend anyone visiting Stockholm to have a meal at Herman's.

After lunch we took another ferry boat to Djurgarden, one of the many islands that make up the vast city of Stockholm.  On this island there are several museums, such as the Vasa museum, the Abba musuem, the maritime museum, Skansen open-air museum and an amusement park.

When in Stockholm it is very important to make time to visit the Vasa museum.  333 years ago, a Swedish war ship sank on its maiden voyage, in the middle of the harbour in Stockholm.  In the 1970s the ship was finally removed from the harbour and placed in a museum which can now be visited by tourists.

The museum was quite impressive and the ship itself is amazingly preserved.

After the museum we decided to have a little fun at the amusement park.  There are no pictures from there because we were too busy having a blast on all the roller coasters.

Day 6: Gamla Stan, Fika, traditional Swedish restaurant

On our last day in Stockholm we had to walk around the old town, Gamla Stan.  We spent most of the morning and afternoon walking around, shopping for fun little souvenirs and taking lots of pictures.

Around 2pm we decided it was time to have a little bite to eat.  We made our way to a very popular Swedish cafe to have fika, which is a Swedish tradition of having a snack in the middle of the afternoon.  I found that custom quite pleasant ;).  The cafe was called Sturekatten.  We ate a platter of Swedish savory snack foods and a princess cake for dessert, a traditional Swedish dessert.  Sadly I have no pictures because we were too hungry to bother taking out our cameras.  It was all very delicious though, you can trust me on that.

That evening we had a lovely supper with our hosts at a traditional Swedish restaurant in Södermalm.  On the menu there were the ever popular Swedish meatballs, which I didn't order or course.  I chose a fish, which was served with potatoes.  Everything was lovely.

Day 7: Trip home 

On the Tuesday we had to make it back to France.  So we packed our suitcases, took the bus back to the airport and boarded our flight home.


Overall it was a wonderful trip, filled with delicious food, amazing sights, and even more wonderful people.  Thank you to Maria for being the best of hosts !!