October, 2015 - sparkleshinylove

Roxymandy October 30, 2015

Review of the Cube Scented Bouquet in Precious Jasmin from Lampe Berger

As a Lampe Berger Ambassador I am lucky enough to try out all of the new fragrances and product launches.

This new product is my favourite so far! The new Cube Scented Bouquet is a gorgeous glass cube filled with fragrance, topped with a bouquet of black sticks. It looks like a pretty perfume bottle which I love! It’s very elegant looking, and so neutral looking it would fit in anywhere in your home. It retails for $25 which is a great price point.

Once you unscrew the cap you can add or decrease the fragrance according to the amount of sticks you use.

The sticks are made with an engineered polymer so they won’t discolour the fragrance as well.

Each box contains the cube filled with 125ml of fragrance, and 8 black sticks for scent diffusion.

The scents include Ocean Breeze, Vanilla Gourmet, Soap Memories and Amber Powder, my scent Precious Jasmine, plus many more.

You can refill the cube by purchasing one of the scented bouquet refills which are 200ml as well. The Precious Jasmine scent included fruits like peach, apricot, orange blossom, and peonies, carnations and jasmine flowers.

I really loved the look of the cube. It would be such a pretty addition to a powder room, desk or living room. It could compliment any decor because it’s so neutral, and I liked that I could adjust the scent easily.

For more information on the new Lampe Berger Scented Bouquet Collection featuring the Cube Scented Bouquet, visit their website here.

Roxymandy October 28, 2015

Fresh Canteen Acquired by Fresh City + Enter to Win a $100 Gift Certificate to Fresh City!

Earlier this year I posted about my experience with Fresh Canteen, but just last week Fresh City acquired Fresh Canteen!

Fresh City is an online grocer and the largest city farm in Canada. They deliver healthy meals that are made with locally and organically sourced ingredients. They also deliver organic and local produce bags to customers in Toronto, Mississauga and surrounding areas.

There are also several dozen Pickup Hubs as well – I personally live in Whitby and there is a Hub nearby in Scarborough.

You can choose between vegetarian, fish and organic meat-based meals. The Fresh City recipe bags start at $7.75 per portion, and their meals can feed up to four people.

You can and can include anywhere from two to five meals per week in your recipe bag, and also included are the ingredients and instructions for each meal.

Delivery is under $3.50, or is free for orders over $75 or if picked up from one of the Hubs.

How would you like to try Fresh City for yourself? I’m giving away a $100 gift certificate to Fresh City this week on the blog.

It’s easy to enter – just use the Rafflecopter widget below. The contest begins on Wednesday, October 28th, 2015, and ends on Sunday, November 8th, 2015 at midnight. The winner will be announced on the blog on Monday, November 9th, 2015. This contest is open to residents of Canada only.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

To learn more about Fresh City visit www.freshcityfarms.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Roxymandy October 27, 2015

Speeding Up My Morning Hustle with Jergens Moisturizer for Wet Skin

If I could name one thing that I need the most lately, it would be more time. I also really need more shoes, but more time is actually something I desperately need more. “I need more hours in the day” is something I mutter to myself at least a few times a day.

I work, I blog, I go to the gym and play soccer, I spend time with friends and family, and I have a toddler. In between all of those major things, minor things like shaving my legs or making dinner are treated like a bonus if they’re done at all!

My mornings are especially hectic, and I am sure not a morning person. I actually wear sunglasses on my way out of the house, and it’s still dark outside. I am not a happy, chipper person in the morning, and I am notoriously late.

Once I had my son, his school drop off took away more of my precious little time in the morning. I literally have to bribe him to get him into my car and off to school every morning! My latest trick to get him to hurry up in the morning is to leave a different toy in the car each day. There is a new surprise waiting for him each morning, and even though they are toys he already has, he is excited to get outside and see what’s out there.

My mornings are crazy, so anything to help make things easier at the start of the day is welcomed.

When I was given the opportunity to try out Jergens Moisturizer for Wet Skin and was told it would save me time in the morning, I was excited to give it a try.

The directions said to apply it after showering, but before drying off. I was to apply it to wet skin, and there was no need to rinse it off. I just had to pat myself dry with a towel, and voila!

I was a little skeptical on how this would work, but I gave it a try. Lately I have been so behind schedule heading out the door I often leave with my skin looking and feeling a bit like a crocodile because I haven’t had time to apply lotion.

I was so moisturized after my shower and quick application of the Jergens Moisturizer for Wet Skin that I could just throw on my clothes and go. Moisture was locked into my skin, and it only took me seconds to apply for an all-day lasting effect.

I was a little worried that the Jergens Moisturizer for Wet Skin would get on my clothes or wouldn’t dry properly, but it easily absorbed into my skin and I was ready to head out the door fast.

I tried both the Green Tea Oil and Coconut Oil Wet Skin Moisturizers, and both had a great scent but I am partial to smelling like a coconut so that was my favourite.

On the weekend when I could fit in time for a bath, I used the Moisturizer for Wet Skin and I was instantly moisturized – there was no need for another layer of anything.

Overall I was impressed! I saved time, I was happy with the scent, and the product absolutely moisturized my skin all day.

My morning routine stepped up a bit, and I’m happy I’ve saved myself some much needed time.

Learn more about Jergens Moisturizer for Wet Skin here!

This blog post was sponsored by Jergens® but the opinions are all my own.

Roxymandy October 26, 2015

Updating your Existing Wardrobe with a Faux Fur Collar

Long Faux Fur Collar – Dynamite | Faux Leather Zippered Moto Jacket – Forever 21 | Heels – Charlotte Russe {similar} | Floral Dress – Forever 21 {similar}

There are so many jackets and sweaters with faux fur collars on the racks right now, but dressing up some of your existing outfits with an add-on fur collar is a really fun way to update your wardobe and save lots of cash in the meantime! To me saving money means more shopping money down the road, so really it’s a win-win.

This faux fur collar is from Dynamite, and I love that it’s so long and warm.

Fur always seems so luxurious – I felt like I was playing dress-up with this collar. I can’t wait to wear it with a white sweater to add some interest to a more simple piece.

I’m so used to wearing scarves to accessorize my outfits, so it was nice to switch it up with faux fur.

Fur collars are one of my favourite winter trends. What are some of the winter trends you are excited for right now?

Roxymandy October 23, 2015

What the Heck is Pilates Reformer and Why Should You Try It?

What the heck is Pilates Reformer? I myself had absolutely no idea until I signed up for a class at my gym and gave it a try. The equipment always scared me, and I really had no idea what the class would involve, or if I could survive it! The equipment absolutely looks intimidating, but once I tried a class out I not only loved it, but I didn’t think the equipment was all that scary any more. It was actually pretty fun!

Pilates Reformer is much more dynamic then mat based Pilates because of the use of the Pilates Reformer machine. The machine adds resistance with use of the springs on the machine. Mat based Pilates also mostly focuses on core strength, while Pilates Reformer works the entire body with a repertoire of exercises that are more varied.

In my first class I started with the Pilates Cadillac machine. This machine definitely required two people to operate! So many working pieces helped me stretch and warm up. At one point I felt like I was hanging on a trapeze. It was fun apparatus to warm up with!

From there I moved to the metal Pilates Reformer machine. Both the metal one and wood one had a tower attached so additional exercises could be done. On the metal reformer machine we did some really fun exercises where I would lay down and push myself off! The resistance made it difficult, but it was a really fun exercise.

The wood Pilates Reformer machine was very similar, but the exercises seemed more intense. Weights were added for resistance, and balancing was difficult and required lots of concentration. Switching from machine to machine really mixed things up and kept my adrenalin pumping.

I found that the Pilates Reformer class made me focus on my control and form in my exercises. With the machine you just can’t cheat. The technique has to be right on because the machine forces you to follow the rules of the exercise.

In a Pilates Reformer class the instructor assists those in the class with making the adjustments on your machine. The machines may look scary at first, but then after a few exercises it’s easy to become familiar with how it works.

Overall I loved the Pilates Reformer class. My first session was one-on-one so it was an intense hour workout. I was very sore the next day because I used muscles I didn’t even know I had. I highly recommend giving it a try!