Tag: self care

Healthy Swellness: 3 Good Morning Essentials

coffee

With every day of living through the pandemic being pretty draining, I’ve come to really appreciate a few things that brighten up each morning and help set me off in a better mood for the day. Currently making my mornings better:

My Starbucks milk frother. I hemmed and hawed about buying milk frother for many, many months (maybe even over a year—I just have so many appliances, and didn’t want to add yet another). But when a neighbour was selling hers, I snapped it up and it’s by far the best purchase I’ve made during the pandemic and my most used appliance (other than my Nespresso machine). While I’ve always savoured my morning coffee, being able to make frothy lattes now elevates my morning cuppa joe and, healthy bonus, I’m getting more calcium in my diet. I truly do look feel as happy as I am in this photo when I’ve got my morning coffee! And that’s not even with latte art!

The frother I bought is an older Starbucks model that I don’t think is available anymore as I can’t find it online, but based on my months of online research, the Nespresso Aeroccino is one of the sleekest ones I’ve found (and design is so important when it’s an appliance you have out on your kitchen counter all the time). If the $100 price tag of the Aeroccino is a bit steep for you, my friend Gabrielle is happy with the FKANT handheld milk frother she recently purchased (and btw, you should follow her on IG for her delightful sardonic wit!). And yes, I discuss milk frothers with my friends, don’t you? Haha!

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Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Face Wash in Pink Grapefruit. Now, I’m not a morning person (although I’d like to be but I’m just not hardwired to be one) and I really appreciate anything that helps to perk me up in the a.m. and it was such a surprise to find it a brighten-my-day product in this inexpensive ($12!)  facial cleanser. The Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Face Wash‘s pink grapefruit scent is a refreshing wake-up in the shower as I cleanse my face. Plus, it contains salicylic acid so it helps clear blemishes (and I’ve been struggling with occasional maskne breakouts).

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Stojo Collapsible Pocket Cup. I try my best to plan my time well, but it seems no matter what, I’m often running out of the house in a rush. So more often than not, I have to take my coffee or smoothie to go, sometimes it’s when I’m walking Billie Jean in the morning. As I’m usually getting to places on foot for my errands, a collapsible cup to go works best for me so I can easily collapse it and tuck it into my bag for the rest of the day. The only downside to the Stojo is it’s not insulated so it doesn’t keep my bevvie hot or cold (I use a Hydroflask for that, like if I need hot chocolate to keep me warm on a winter hike). My Stojo cup was a gift from a friend, who got it from Logan and Finley, an eco-conscious shop here in Toronto (shop local!). I don’t believe they carry the Stojo anymore, but they do have this glass reusable takeaway cup that looks great, love the cork band.

What are your morning essentials?

Leave a Comment December 23, 2020

Beauty Swellness: New and So You at Shoppers Drug Mart (and Giveaway!)

Shoppers Drug Mart New and So You

The New & So You event from Shoppers Drug Mart at Square One in Mississauga just launched this week and is going on until March 18, 2018. I got a chance to check the event on March 12th and if you can carve out some time to pop by, definitely go check it out to see the new products in store at Shoppers Drug Mart.

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The event is a fun way to check out the new products available at Shoppers. First, you do a super quick quiz on a tablet. It asks you about your health and beauty interests and habits. Then the quiz generates your results and you get custom recommendations about which new products will suit what you’re looking for. Interested in some TLC for damaged hair? Or hydrating your skin? Your quiz results will recommend the new products available that’ll offer the beauty benefits you’re keen on.

But you don’t just get a list of recommendations, the products just for you will pop out on the conveyor belt so you can learn more about them, and best of all, you’ll get a bag with your name on it filled with a couple of full-size products, samples and coupons to take home. How fun is that?

I’m always concerned about volume and damage when it comes to my hair (which is both fine and also overworked and dry given I’m constantly shampooing and blow-drying it since I work out regularly) so I was so excited to receive both OGX® Bodifying + Bamboo Fiber Full Body Renew Dry Shampoo and the Love Beauty & Planet™ Hope and Repair® Conditioner to help my hair.

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And don’t forget to enter my Shoppers Drug Mart New & So You Giveaway, in case you missed it. Check my Instagram post from last week for details on how to enter to win a basket of New & So You products! You have until March 18, 2018, to enter. All you have to do is comment on my Instagram about which new products most interest you (check out the new products here!) and also pop by the Square One event this week. I’ll choose a winner the night of March 18th.

Good luck in the giveaway and have fun at the New & So You event!

#sponsored

Leave a Comment March 15, 2018


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