TIPS: How To Make Your Nails Grow Stronger

The secret to perfect looking nails all comes down to establishing a consistent grooming routine. For mine, I always make sure that mine includes daily washing, moisturizing and proper maintenance. When it comes to keeping your nails strong, there are many things that can be done to maintain its strength, appearance and health.

It is also important to make sure they aren’t cutting your cuticles off, which stunts nail growth.

Here are helpful tips to keep your nails strong!

Easy Fun Easter Activities for the Family

Every year I try to come up with new and exciting activities built around Easter. This year I have created my top three family fun Easter activities that all can join in to create memories. But, most of all this holiday is near and dear to my heart because it is the celebration of Jesus- which is important to teach our kids!

Family Fun Easter Activities

The Best Lip Care Routine For Dry and Cracked Lips

I’m just gonna put out a few self-care posts to occupy myself (and help others) while in Quarantine. Right now, you’re probably doing one of two things... Actually three. 

1. You are either taking AMAZING care of yourself so that when the ban is lifted-
   you look fresh and ready to go. 
2. Or you look OKAY to go outside-
   but you would love to book a beauty treatment when available. 
3. Or you look like a literal cave person-
   you're literally ready to camp out at your salon, spa or lash tech house to be the first in line.

One of the first things I noticed that started to go haywire was my lips. Inside my house is SUPER dry and it's literally taking a toll on my lips. At first I ignored it but when my husband started to comment... LOL. I knew I had to do something other than blame the Canadian weather!

So to get my kissable, I do a combination of three things.

Five signs that you might need a social media break

In today's generation, social media is at the forefront; it has become the biggest form of mass communication for people all over the world. You can now post a wide variety of things from the comfort of your own home, your favourite coffee shop, or even on a hot, sunny beach. Gone are the days when there needed to be mass newspapers or social gatherings on the television screen, to keep you up to date on the latest world news. Everything is now in a central place, easily accessible from anywhere, at anytime. Although social media has its benefits, it can also pose a lot of potential challenges for those who consume it more often than normal.

Here are 5 signs that you might need a social media break

Top 5 Acids You Should Add to Your Daily Skin Care Routine

With the heavy winter months, it’s important that you make sure to keep up to date with your skin care regime. That includes making sure to use the right products that will help protect, moisture, hydrate and nourish your skin, to ensure it survives the harsh weather.
Don’t neglect to give your skin the TLC it deserves! 

Here are 5 skin care acids that are a must for your routine

Guest Post: International Women's Day

If we stop and think how powerful a woman is and what we were created for and how our bodies can endure so much pain and create life one should be amazed! But that is not our only function. I truly believe that women need to find their voice in life at some point but it doesn't help when we are cut down by the opposite sex and our fellow women! We should support one another, encourage uplift and celebrate one another. We live in a world today where women get taxed more for products or get a different salary opposed to men. That is not equality.

The Best Way to Introduce Food to a Picky Child

I am not sure if your kids are like mine! They love to eat pizza, chicken nuggets and tater tots all the time! Those are mom’s quick go-to’s on those long days of working and juggling motherhood. But, seriously kids are picky they hate veggies and anything that has texture! It feels like mission impossible at times.

So what do you do?

Get creative! That’s what you do… super creative in the nutrition world for kids!

Three easy ways to maintain your braids

When it comes to protecting your curls, it can sometimes be a hassle because you’ll be running around frantically, trying to decide on a protective hairstyle to save you for the coming months. For me, I can definitely relate to this and always opt for the first style that always comes clutch -- box braids.

Box braids are so amazing! They are super low maintenance, don’t require tons of product, and keep your mane tucked away until you’re ready to release it again. Most importantly, it helps to promote growth for your hair -- something that I truly need because my hair has been struggling of late.

I’ve had my braids in for about a little over 2 months now and have been quite proud to have maintained it thus far with the help of three easy tricks! Now, let me drop the tea so that you’ll be able to continue rocking your braids, stress-free!

CATRICE Cosmetics has launched in Canada

This is my first time trying Catrice Cosmetics! 

I seen them in Shopper's Drug Mart earlier this year but totally had no time to explore. 

Who is Catrice Cosmetics?

A luxury-inspired makeup brand with VERY affordable prices. 

They launched in Canada in March. Hasn't even been a year in Canada yet!

I love that there are a lot of 5 star reviewed products on website.

Image from Catrice site

Benefits of Adding a Serum to Your Skincare Routine

We all want to look younger and stay away from those unwanted wrinkles and frown lines! There are so many old wives tales that fuel our passion for that beautiful smooth glow. What if a skin serum could change it all! 

Yup, that’s right. 

Three scents to boost your mood in 2020

Now that it’s 2020, we’re seeing people on the hunt to crushing their goals and self-reflecting on the rest of the year ahead. I’m definitely a part of those people who want to make 2020 a truly transformative year, in terms of my personal development, growth, and just overall success! To jumpstart that process, I have been looking into essential oils, particularly ones that aid in boosting your overall mood. I’ve heard a lot about their calming and aromatherapy benefits and wish I had jumped on the bandwagon sooner, because they would have definitely helped me. I noticed throughout much of 2019, I had periods of time when my mood was heavily depleted and it definitely affected the goals and plans I had in place for the year. 

Life Update + Tips for Choosing Child Care

A while back I wrote a blog post about being a Self Employed/Entrepreneur Mom and Working from Home with a Baby. I’ve never knew how much love that would get. As fun as it was having her at home (seven days a week with me)- I know that she was getting bored and it was requiring me to take a lot of time out of my schedule to play/entertain her. Which is fine some days BUT when you have deadlines!! Not ideal. I always felt horrible having to have the TV on in the background at times.

After extensive research and moving houses- I decided to get "help". Making sure that she was with the best care. How extensive are we speaking? I mean going to four of the best day cares in my city within 48 hours. Which was insane but literally allowed me to compare them with fresh eyes. We decided on one which was completely out of my traditional ideas of a daycare but she loves it.

HOW did I do it?

Decluttering Tips that you Need to Know if You're a New Mom

A mother’s job is hard enough! We have to stay organized and know where everything is at a moment's notice! Especially if your child is having a meltdown and not able to find what they are looking for. How many times do you go to a store and your child begs you to just buy one more toy, game or craft. In the back of your mind your thinking “oh geez”… MORE clutter to add to the mess. We have to constantly organize and declutter their spaces!

One golden nugget of truth is from when children are young always include them in the clean-up stages to help them be responsible and take pride in their space … bonus they tend to remember where things are too! It’s so hard to stay ahead of the game by cleaning and decluttering areas to help ease our stress but in the long run, keeps kids entertained and they learn as time goes on. I’m happy I came up with this plan- so I would stop doing double the work!

Here are my top tips for decluttering spaces

How To Determine Your Skin Type

When it comes to choosing the right products for your skin, you always want to make sure that you are choosing the ones which will serve your skin best and produce the best results. For instance, someone who is more combination skin (i.e: oily/dry skin prone), will opt for products that are light and oil free in nature, and include a higher pH acidity to combat the oil in your skin. In order to do this, you have to first determine what your skin type is. 

The four skin types are normal, dry, oily and combination. 

Here are some handy tricks that will help you figure out your skin type!

2020 Skincare Predictions and Trends

There were so many skincare wins in 2019. 

I’m talking about popular skin care products that would take literally weeks to get back in stock in-store or online. Last year, my love of skincare GREW. There is still so much to learn about when it comes to choosing product!

 I think we are going to take even a bigger shift towards taking better care of our skin in 2020.

Why?

I feel like with the age of social media and filters you have to maintain the same skin that you shared online in real life. Also consumers are starting to get more conscious. They want to know everything that is in the product/going on their skin. It’s totally fair to ask- especially with the disease and problems that people are plagued with.

Here are some trends according to (nobody but me) which I think will be really popular in 2020.

Meet Lisa: Spiced Beauty Contributor

Meet Lisa! 

She's a mama of 2 who has an amazing story! 

She will also be writing on the blog for the next 3 months! 

Meet Angela: Spiced Beauty Contributor

One thing I love about my blog is bringing in people from all walks of life to contribute! 

Meet Angela! 

She's a recent University graduate who will be writing on the blog for the next 3 months! 

20 tips to help you save money in 2020

This year, I have added a few costly things to my life- New living arrangements, daycare, new car... need I go on? So I've had to cut back: no more lash extensions, no excessive eating out and no "new" clothing shopping. One thing I'm good at is saving! 

Also these tips might seem random- If one out of 20 helps you (that makes me happy). 

Here are 20 tips to help you save money in 2020.

Self Employed/Entrepreneur Mom: Working from Home with a Baby

Deciding go back to work and not take a full mat leave was a hard decision. I started working "again" when Ava Rose was four months. FYI- I took two months off to prep. Let me reiterate that this is one of the hardest things that I have done BECAUSE I also decided to go to school part-time as well. Looking back on it- it was extremely WILD but I had to do it. 

Why did I go back? 
Living on one income can be tricky because you honestly have to cut back on a lot and I'm spoiled. Well I'm used to doing what I want/when I want. Having to look into my resources to do things I wanted/ having to possibly not do it. NOPE. Not the life for me.

My support system: My family/mostly my mom dedicated a good amount of time a week to come and watch Ava while I caught up on sleep/school work/emails. My brother would come and watch the baby during my classes. This is in addition to help from my husband/dad of course. 

Best Personalized Gifts- Printcious

We can all agree, even though the holidays are fun they can be pretty overwhelming. As a new mom, I'm literally running to get things done. One thing I know is that everyone loves personalized gifts. I feel like they are appropriate for any relationship. From parents to even teachers! 

I was lucky to get an email from Printcious a while back. They make personalized gifts of all types, from shirts to keychains to magnets and even things like phone cases and business supplies.

They let you design your own product right on their website by adding text and images and they even have templates to work with for those of us who might be less artistically inclined. I can't lie- it was pretty quick designing my own little personalized presents that I ordered something for almost everyone in my family!