Say Adios! to dry lips with Thursday Plantation's Tea Tree Lip Balm

Canadian winters are so unpredictable. Right now, it's -11 degrees outside, and according to my Weather Network app, it's going to be a scorching +21 degrees on Thursday. If that doesn't mess with your body, I don't know what will!

If you're anything like me, the winter does a number on my skin, from my hands to my feet, and my arms to legs, everything is dry.  But nothing compares to the damage the winter air does to my lips every season. Dry, cracked and flaky would be the three best words to describe how winter consistently treats my lips.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I was given a new product to try by a friend called Tea Tree Lip Balm by Thursday Plantation.  Growing up, I always knew about the power of tea tree oil, as my mom was a huge promoter (and still is) of Melaleuca products and melaleuca oil (tea tree oil comes from the melaleuca plant). But as a child, I obviously knew best and knew that something so smelly could NOT be good for you, so therefore I only used it when forced. Thankfully, I don't find the smell to be too strong at all anymore, and I have come to my senses and realized that the saying "Mother knows best" is true.

The Tea Tree Lip Balm has been a HUGE saving grace to my lips this winter. They have gone from dull and dry, to luscious and soft. The healing properties of tea tree oil are just unreal. And the easy to apply tube is great, as you can apply as much or as little lip balm as you'd like, without getting a gross, caked on feeling.

And the results are (almost) instantaneous. With just one or two applications, my lips feel soft and smooth, and are no longer chapped.

One of the things that is so great about the Tea Tree Lip Balm, is that it is free of synthetic parabens, petrochemicals, lauryl sulphates, polysorbates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic preservatives and synthetic colours. Although I don't know what half of those things are, I'm glad I'm not putting them on my lips! And it is only $6.00. Definitely a small price to pay for the investment you are making to your lips! Trust me, your lips will thank you!

Thursday Plantation also has a great line up of other personal products, from acne wash to lice shampoo, insect repellant to toothpaste and mouthwash, all the way to antiseptics and dog shampoo! I can't wait to try some of their face wash!

For more information, check out www.thursdayplantation.com and then visit www.abundancenaturally.com or Whole Foods to make your purchase!

As always, I love your comments and would love to hear about your winter skin care survival secrets. As well, let me know what Thursday Plantation products you try for yourself!

Goodbye, Joe. Parting is such sweet sorrow

I have this bad habit. I like to hold on to things - like, for a really long time. For some odd reason, and for as long as I can remember, I have found that I become attached to things and have a hard time giving them away.

Yes, I am one of those people who still has their grade six grammar pages and grade 12 biology and data management notes because, someday, I just might need them. I still have a Winnie the Pooh, styrofoam nameplate my best friend Kristine gave to me in grade five when I moved away to Waterloo, and a snow globe from NYC that a friend gave to me in high school.  For whatever reason, I get attached to them and feel as though they represent a special part of my life, therefore making it near impossible for me to get rid of anything.

This is also true for me when it comes to cars. Years ago when my dad traded in his Ford Expedition for a brand new (beautiful, might I add) Dodge Ram 2500 diesel, I cried. When the time came for the Dodge to be traded in for a Chrysler 300 ... I cried. And when it was time to say goodbye to our lovely Ford Windstar and hello to a 1999 Toyota Camry, once again ... yep you guessed it ... I cried. For me, cars represent different times in my life, and for whatever reason, I get extremely attached to them.

So I knew I was in for it when it was time to say goodbye to my 2000 Mazda Protege, named Joe, this Wednesday.

Joe was a great friend. Here he is displayed in all his dust, rust and glory. I bought Joe four years ago and he was probably one of the best investments I have ever made.

He was with me through 3 years of school, 3/4 of my dating relationship with Matt, my marriage, many shopping and leisure trips to Toronto, Buffalo and numerous other destinations, and was there for me whenever I needed him.  At the end of his life, he had 238,889 km on him. But with consistent car repairs, unknown strange noises and a new baby on the way, it was time to say goodbye.

So it was then our adventure began, or you could say Journey, as we searched and searched for a new car. We knew we needed an SUV, as we needed something with space for Hank, as well as something with towing capacity and room to move film equipment around. That was when we set our eyes on the Dodge Journey, the #1 selling cross-over vehicle in Canada.

We found our soon-to-be vehicle at Bustard Chrysler in Waterloo, and after a month of debate (and it still being on the lot!), we decided to make the biggest (so far) purchase of our life, and we couldn't be happier. Our new-to-us 2010 Dodge Journey R/T edition is everything we ever needed AND wanted in a vehicle, right down to the heated leather seats, sunroof and back-up camera, just to name a few.

I also want to give a big shout out to Derek Killins at Bustard Chrysler. He was with us all along the way, when we were unsure about buying it, all the way to our big purchase. The service he provided us was wonderful, and if anyone is looking for someone to purchase a car from, Derek is your man. (Just tell him Matt & Jacqueline sent you!)

The day I went to pick up the car, he took me through and introduced me to the entire staff, including Bill Bustard. Everyone there is super friendly and once again, exceptional service.

I won't lie, I felt like the biggest traitor handing my keys over to Derek and officially saying goodbye to Joe. He was a great friend, and even though we have been blessed with an AMAZING new car, I will still miss Joe.  Believe it or not though, there were no tears this time, just a bittersweet feeling as I said goodbye to a good companion.

All of that being said, I LOVE driving my new Journey!!

Now to find a new name for it!

Post Christmas Wrap-Up (or Un-Wrap!)

Well, it is December 28th and another Christmas has come and gone. It always amazes me how quickly Christmas can sneak up on you, and then all of a sudden we are at the start of a new year.

This Christmas was such a wonderful time for me, as I was able to finally connect with my family again, after being away for two months. Man, have I ever missed them.

I was reminded this past week just how blessed I am to have the family that I have. I was blown away by their love and generosity and willing hearts this Christmas. I don't know about you, but this year I had nothing on my Christmas list. NOTHING. I couldn't think of a single thing of what I needed/wanted this year, and because of that, I really didn't give anyone any ideas whatsoever. I figured there probably wouldn't be much under the tree for me this year, but I was 100% okay with that. There are others out there that are way more in need than I am.

Needless to say, without even having a list, my family blessed my socks off with their thoughtfulness and love. I now have a (partially) full wardrobe of beautiful maternity clothes that I would have never bought for myself (mainly because I'm cheap and maternity clothes well... aren't). I think Matt was the happiest because he won't be hearing me complain for a while that I have nothing to wear!

I have to share with you though, one of the most special gifts I received this year. It just went to show me that sometimes gifts from the heart make the most unique and special gifts.

There was a bag under the tree marked "To Mommy & Baby, From Grandma." I already had a gift waiting to be opened, so my mom (Grandma) decided to let Matt open it, explaining that I would understand the significance once I saw it. I couldn't imagine what my mom could be giving me already for the baby, but when Matt opened it, tears immediately sprung to my eyes. It was my first ever Christmas stocking. I had actually thought she had found one at a store and picked it up, because it was in such pristine condition. Then I realized it was the original and my mom had kept it in safe keeping for 24 years. She smiled at me and said, "Now you can use this as your baby's first stocking." Just the idea that my mom had kept this for so long, and then decided to hand it down to our baby blew me away. I'm so excited to be able to use this for our "Ninababy" and then have him/her be able to pass it down to their child, 20-some odd years from now.

The picture doesn't really do it justice (makes it look kind of creepy, actually), but I promise you it's the cutest! His little overalls open, so you can stuff them with loads of gifts! And if you really wanted, you could use it as a teddy bear. Hard to believe that next Christmas we'll have a 6 month old baby to spend it with!

I hope that your Christmas was filled with family, fun and food. I know mine was. And that you were reminded about the true meaning of Christmas.

I'd love to hear about what were you blessed with this Christmas season!

Beauty Products I Can't Live Without

This post comes as a response to my friend Jessica's blog Beauty Products I Can't Live Without from flatsareforquitters.com.

Jessica is a self-proclaimed beauty product addict/connoisseur. And while I do not claim to be a beauty product professional or connoisseur, or addict by any means whatsoever, I know what I like and I know what works for me.

I'll be honest though, many of the things that I have come to love have come from Jessica's collections and experience with products.  Once they have the "Jess Denomme stamp of approval", I decide to take the plunge for myself!  (Thanks, Jess!!)

So I thought I'd create my own list of beauty products that I simply can't go a day (or two) without using. If I didn't have them, I seriously think I would be lost. Some of them are a bit of a splurge (but so worth it), while others are things you can simply pick up at your local Shoppers, Walmart or Zehrs.

My hope is that something that I have found to love will somehow end up in your collection (or maybe under your Christmas tree!)

Sephora Prestige Brush Set

$125 ($325 value)

Includes 12 full-size Sephora Professional Platinum Quality Brushes:

1. Fan  2. Powder  3. Blush  4.  Foundation  5.  Concealer  6. Eyeshadow

7. Crease  8. Smudge  9. Angled Liner  10. Brow  11. Lip  12. Brow/Lash Comb

Available at Sephora

Smashbox Photofinish Primer to Go

$16

Available at Sephora & Shoppers Drug Mart

Murad Live Clear Acne Starter Kit**

$33 ($56 value)

Includes: Clarifying Cleanser, Clarifying Toner, Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel

Acne Spot Treatment, Skin Perfecting Lotion

Available at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, & Murad Canada

M.A.C Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch
$17

Available at M.A.C

Maybelline Falsies Volum' Express Mascara

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, PharmaPlus, Walmart, etc.

M.A.C Technakohl Liner in GraphBlack

$17

Available at M.A.C

True Blue Spa Super-Softening Hand Lotion

$12 or Buy 2, Get 1 free

Available at Bath & Body Works

Aveeno Intense Relief Therapy Lip Balm

$4-5

Available wherever lip balm is sold

Sephora Sun Disk**

$20

Available at Sephora

Sephora Makeup Studio Blockbuster**

$49.50 ($440 value)

Available at Sephora

You will never run out of a colour again!

Sephora by OPI

Glimmer Wonderland 18 Piece Mini Nail Colour Set

$48 ($81 value)

Available at Sephora

As I write this, I realize I kind of have a thing for Sephora... and combo packs. Who knew?!

Which ones are your favourite?

** Jessica Denomme Stamp of Approval

Wanna Stay Warm This Winter?

The thought of snow sends shivers down my spine. For whatever reason, God decided to make me a Canadian, but sometimes I feel like I should've been born in the Caribbean.

All of that is to say, when the snow comes, I freeze. Like, literally. To the point that sometimes my lips turn purple. But when it comes to winter fashion, sometimes I feel like the Canadian market is lacking (although I must say, it is improving greatly!).

Last winter I made a discovery that completely changed my winter thinking. SOREL boots. Now I know what you're thinking: "Those super ugly, clunky boots my mom tried to make me wear when I was 8!?" Trust me, I thought the same thing, but man have the times changed!

In an effort to not have freezing cold, wet feet anymore, I took the plunge and bought myself a pair of SOREL Joan of Arctic winter boots. My feet have been thanking me ever since. Not only were my feet extremely dry, due to their waterproof shell, they were never once cold! Seriously the warmest, and most fashionable boots I have ever had. I honestly got compliments every where I went. I even had people stopping me, asking where I purchased them, so that they could go get a pair for themselves!

I was so excited when I was sent the product line for the new 2011 SOREL Winter Collection, that I just had to write about it, as I am a firm believer in SOREL boots.

I have to say, the thing that gets me most excited about their new Women's Collection are their Cool Canvas Wedge and the Crazy Cable Wedge.

Each one is made of premium leather with a molded rubber outsole, guaranteeing that you'll stay dry all winter long.

If $400 for boots isn't really in your budget this winter, or if you're looking for something that is a little more in the "realistic, every day people budget" (like me), I would say that the Milano Breve is the perfect boot. According to SOREL, it's basically a waterproof jacket for your feet. They come in black, tan, and oxford plaid. And at $160, your feet, and your wallet, will be thanking you.

If you're thinking about a Christmas gift for that special man in your life, why not think about getting him a pair of warm, fashionable winter boots? SOREL's Putnam High boots are seriously beautiful. With a waterproof full-grain leather upper, their feet will stay warm and dry all winter, and you don't have to be embarrassed about being seen with him! (Seeing that men's boots have the tendency to be, well, not all that attractive.) And $220 is a small price to pay.

If you're a fan of Mad Men, you'll love the Mad Boot Lace, inspired by the 1950's.  Made with a water-resistant full-grain leather upper, you'll have the most stylish man of all!

Last but not least, we cannot forget the children! SOREL has come A LONG WAY since I was a child, and here's just a brief overview of some of my favourites:

• TOFINO Girl -  Perfect for the little girl who wants to be just like her mom, or big sister. - Waterproof seam sealed shell and water-resistant suede leather upper. Don't forget the super fun laces!

• SNOW COMMANDER Unisex - Guaranteed to keep the littlest of feet cozy and warm. The velcro closure will help recess time come a lot faster, as they won't be struggling to tie up their winter boots, and the waterproof thermal rubber shell will keep they completely dry.

Well there you have it. My picks for this winter's cozy feet season! Check out the full Canadian collection at www.sorelfootwear.ca and let me know what you'll be putting on your Christmas/winter list this season!

Stay Warm!!

500 Days of Marriage

It's hard to believe that 500 days ago today, Matt and I officially tied the knot!

That day was one of the best days of my life, but life has definitely gotten better since then.

I can truly say I love Matt more than I even did before we got married. We've definitely had our ups and downs this past year, but each time we come out stronger.

Here are five things I've learned after 500 days of marriage:

1. I am way more particular about things than I thought I was. Okay, maybe anal is a better word. I have learned that sometimes it doesn't matter what way the edges are folded when making the bed, as long as the covers are on. If they don't fall off when we sleep, then it's really okay.

2. Always make sure to make time for date night. No matter how hectic the day, week or month, always make sure you have one night a week (or month) to get together and connect. Whether that's going out for a nice dinner at Golf's Steakhouse, or spending the weekend together cuddling on the couch and watching a season of Lost, always leave room to connect with each other.

3. Never have a deep conversation after 10 pm. I'll admit, we've broken this rule a few times, and after each one, I remember "Don't have a deep conversation after 10". It usually doesn't end up too well.

4. Who needs a duvet in the winter when you sleep with a furnace? Enough said.


5. Getting a dog really does help you understand your parenting styles and prepares you for kids. I realize that this may not be true for everyone, but for us, it has worked wonders. Thankfully to Hank, we're able to work out some of our kinks on him instead of our first born child!

Happy 500 days of Marriage Anniversary, babe. Here's to 500 x 500 x 500 x 500 x infinity more :)

I love you.

45 Things I've Learned by Being a Bank Teller

I had a good laugh today when one of my colleagues sent around an email about 50 Things I Have Learned by Being a Bank Teller.  This list pretty much details our job to a "T".  I took out a few that didn't really relate to me (as it is an American list), but bolded the ones that define us tellers perfectly. I realize that a lot of people don't realize what they are doing, so maybe these will just be good reminders for the next time you go in to your bank :) Enjoy!

45 Things I've Learned by Being a Bank Teller


1. I know everyone in the world, so I never need to ask for ID.
2. I’ll be with you in one moment, means ‘Come right up here into my business and breathe your popcorn breath in my face for a while.
3. Every bank in the world steals money from its customers, particularly the ones that don’t keep a register.
4. I’m always kidding when I tell people a cheque is not any good. I’m a good kidder.
5. I know the balance of every account at the bank.
6. I am at the bank just because I feel like it; my wicket isn’t actually open when I say, "I'd like to help you here!"
7. I know everyone’s account number.
8. I know everyone’s address.
9. I don’t understand how banking works.
10. I have to do whatever the person who gave my customer the cheque said.
11. I don’t know how to count.
12. I don’t know how to add.
13. I don’t know what the date is.
14. I can read everyone’s mind.
15. If I ask for your social, I'm trying to steal your identity.
16. I know when every new coin will be arriving.
17. I know how much everyones bills are for the month.
18. We are just here for fun on most holidays and weekends, we're not really open. We love when you rub it in.
19. When someone asks how you want your cash back, you are supposed to tell them after you get your money back.
20. Your time is more important than mine. I have no life. When you show up 5 minutes before we close to make 10 deposits or open a new account, we don't mind.
21. Everyone with the Bank name tag is related.
22. I am also your secretary.
23. We love to place holds on your cheques for fun. We are the only bank that does it.
24. 13 hours and 10 minutes is not enough time for people to do their business.
25. I am in charge of the never ending popcorn, smarties, and coffee.
26. It is polite to ignore someone when they say hello.
27. It is my fault when someone cuts you in line. I should have been paying attention to you and not your money.
28. I know what a checkingdepositwithdrawal for savings is.
29. Being rude should make me want to help you more.
30. I am not really human, I should not make mistakes.
31. It is okay to go into someones office when their door is shut.
32. The sign that says Next Window Please is just for decoration.
33. I make people wait on purpose. It's fun to make them mad.
34. I know everyones pin number to their ATM card.
35. Fraud isn't real. I should give customers exactly what they want.
36. The bank gives out free poinsettias at Christmas, we order them for you, not the bank. Display only means whatever you want it to mean.

37. Please and Thank You are forbidden words at the bank. We hate to hear them.

38. When I tell someone the same thing over and over, I'm just doing it for fun. I like to waste my breath.
39. We will break the rules for anybody as long as you gripe for more than 10 minutes.
40. I am a professional coin counter. Even when the machine is broken, I will count the coin for you by hand. It is my favorite thing to do!

41. I am psychic. When you call I can recognize your voice and pull up your information. My computer is voice activated. It's that fancy technology we have.
42. You don't have to tell me that you've been with the bank for 50 years… I can tell. (I've obviously been alive and working here that long!)
43. Even after 4 years, I am a new teller to anyone who has never seen me before. If  I've never met you, I have no idea what I'm doing.
44. I make the rules for the banking industry. You can blame everything on me!
45. I’m an idiot.

Looking through a different window

Hello dear friends. Recently I've had a huge inspiration/writer's block when it came to blogging, but the fog has seemed to clear and hopefully we'll get this back up and running!

If there's one thing that I've really been thinking about lately, it's been perspective.  The other day I had a really great conversation with two of my really great friends, Heidi (almost Fleming) Headon and Amy Stevens (check out their blogs!) and I wanted to share some thoughts.

Amy was leaving that evening to fly back to Israel, and we were talking about everything that was going on in the Middle East.  It was then that I realized just how much we have to be thankful for and how sometimes we just need to have a bit of a "perspective shift."

Right now, so many of us (myself included) are so quick to complain about how high gas prices are and that it's ridiculous to have to pay so much.  But really, would we rather be in a country full of riots and continuous death or living in a peaceful and free country, just having to pay an extra five bucks at the pump?

Or, we sit and complain continuously about the weather; how it's freezing and how we shouldn't have to put up with the "bi-polarness" of Canada.  In reality, though, we could be in Japan right now, having our city washed away and searching through debris in hopes of finding our lost loved ones.  I'm not sure about you, but I'll take the -25 degrees and an extra 5 bucks for gas over that any day.

What I'm trying to say is that sometimes we need to look at things through a different window and remind ourselves just how blessed we are to live in the country that we do.

Cheers.

What I Learned from Halo Reach

For those of you who know me, you'll know about my huge disdain for a little thing we like to call XBox 360 and specifically a game called Halo. I was the person who declared that I would never have one in my house because they were a waste of time, brain space, etc. etc. and the list goes on. 

There's the occasional time that I don't mind playing at other peoples houses, if it was Street Fighter or UFC (these bring me back to my childhood, so it doesn't bother me as much). 

So I'm sure you could imagine my dismay when I got a phone call one night a few months back, informing me that my husband to be (at the time) had gone out and purchased a beloved XBox's.

I had decided from that moment on that I hated it.  I hated the time spent on it, the shooting, the sound effects. I couldn't understand why I'd come home to a bunch of guys on my couch shooting people, telling me how much fun they were having. "It's male bonding time, Jacq!" I was told. Sure.

Well, my thoughts towards XBox took a sudden change the other day.  We were on our way home from dinner with friends, and were trying to decide what to do for the evening. Going to the movies was an option, but we really didn't want to spend money.  I wanted to rent UFC for XBox, but we decided against it once again due to the "not wanting to spend money" factor.

When we got home, Matt talked about how he wanted to play Halo for a bit.  A part of me inside got a little riled up, because I wanted to spend time with him. Then I realized: "If I want to show my husband how much I love him, and that I just want to spend time with him, I better learn how to play Halo."

So that's what we did. We sat down, he showed me the controls and I tried to journey through a maze to search and destroy.  I have to give the man credit.  This game is harder than it looks. And quite possibly not as mindless as I thought.

All of this is to say, sometimes there are things that our significant other enjoys doing that we can't stand, such as watching sports, listening to certain music, looking at cars, etc. etc. That's when it becomes important to lay down our pride a little bit, and try to find the enjoyment too. It's amazing how much that can change your relationship ... for the better, I might add.

Do I still hate XBox? No, not really.  Do I like XBox? Not particularly.  But am I willing to give up some time to play with my husband because I know it means a lot to him? Absolutely.

I know he enjoys it and I enjoy it too.

Oh, and apparently it makes me look pretty hot too!

Cheers.

193 - The Winning Number

193 was the magic number.

As many of you know, for a month straight I had a social media campaign going: to win the title of the Young & Free Ontario Spokesperson. Last week I found out that it wasn't going to happen. The votes were cast and counted, and a mere 193 votes stood between winning and well ... not winning. 

So what did I take away from this? What did I learn? Well, let me explain.

When I was growing up, I was an avid runner. I trained with a local track club and LOVED my 100 meter sprints. The one thing that you always learn as a beginner is to NEVER SLOW DOWN at the end of your race. When you see the finish line, speed up. You never know who is right behind you, just waiting for you to slow down, ready to pass. If you want to win, push it to the end and never give up.

Well, if I take what I learned from track and applied it to my  time campaigning, I slowed down. I thought I had it made. There was NO REASON why they wouldn't pick me. I was already winning (in my head).  Well, my pride (for lack of a better word) got the better of me, and now here I am standing in the dust.

I could kick and complain, saying people cheated and I should have won, but really...it's time I take ownership of my part in all of this.  I could have (and should have) tried harder. I could have gotten (and should have gotten) more votes . 

But all of this is to say how important it is to never slow down and to always take ownership for your part.

And now that being said, another lesson to be learned is: If you think your vote doesn't count, think again. Your vote (and opinion) always counts. Whether you think so or not.

May the number 193 always be your reminder :)

Cheers.

Starting Fresh - Again

So as many of you know, I had started a blog called My Life as a Wife. I decided to switch it up a bit, because I felt it was a bit too centralized (and the website I was using was tres confusing!)

So here I am. Back on Blogger. Still talking about my life as a new wife, but as well as other thoughts and ideas that come up throughout life that I may feel might help you!

If you want to see some of my old posts to find out where I started, check out http://lifeasawife.weebly.com  I'm excited about using blogger because now people can actually comment! I love to hear feedback. Actually, I kind of thrive on it. So please post away!

That is it for this present moment. But I PROMISE there will be more to come.