Spring Random Favourites (Non-Beauty Related)

I love watching Non- Beauty related favourites on YouTube because I like to see what products women out there like using besides beauty and skincare because like every other girl, I have interests that are not specifically beauty related and it's nice to talk about other things as well.

I thought I would show you some of the Random things I have been loving these past few months.

Throwback: Our Trip to Seattle: Part 2 & 3

Our second day in Seattle was a very productive one. We woke up early and headed off to the Ballard Farmer's Market. Unfortunately I did not get any pictures from the actual market itself but we did eat some delicious pastries. 

After the farmer's Market we quickly headed to the bus stop on route to the Woodland Park Zoo (which I will say is an amazing zoo). 

 Meg and Rebecca

Another Group Selfie 

Let's Do This Zoo Thing

Throwback: Our Trip to Seattle: Part 1

Last Summer, Meg and I as well as our mutual friend took a weekend trip to Seattle. 

I meant to share this post as soon as it happened but that was right around the time my computer died and we got super busy and took a long break from blogging. 

I still wanted to share these pictures and our trip because I think Seattle might be a destination many people would like to visit this upcoming Spring and Summer so hopefully our visit might inspire you if you plan on visiting Seattle anytime soon. 

Look for Part 2 coming your way next week. 

The Journey Started with firstly a skytrain ride to Vancouver and then a 3 hour long bus ride from Vancouver to Seattle. We encountered a bit of a mishap when Greyhound cancelled our bus and we were not informed so we had to take another bus to get there... not fun!

We stayed at a wonderful Air BnB location and our host picked us up from the bus loop and dropped us off at Seattle's most iconic destination: Pike Place Market. 

Where Have We Been

So...

Our friend Ashley McKernan asked on twitter recently where we have been and I thought it was time to write a post about it.

I never wanted to be one of those bloggers who disappeared without telling anyone and just abandoned their whole site and all that work without ever looking back but what happened was a pretty crazy turn of events.

Firstly, a freak accident in which I spilled ginger ale on my laptop and ruined it forever. Honestly, that was what started it all... I didn't have any of my pictures and I was only able to use my mom's iPad to do homework on.

Eventually, I was able to purchase a new laptop but I still lost a lot of the work I had been doing to line up posts.

Secondly, and most importantly Meg and I have been really insanely busy with school. I am in my last year of my bachelor's degree which means a lot more work in my classes than ever before and Meg is now in teaching school completing her bachelor's of Education so she is completely swamped with school work as well. We are also both working while we are in school which also takes up pretty much all of our free time.

Writing a blog is a lot of work but it is also a lot of fun and we do miss it a lot.

School does end for both of us at the end of April and we do plan to get back to writing more blog posts for you very soon.

We sincerely apologize for leaving so abruptly but sometimes life gets in the way but we will be back very soon.

Make sure to check out our friend Ashley's blog Chic Toronto if you are having blog withdrawals.

Beauty Blogger Tag

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?

Cate: I was going through a rough time (skincare wise) and I found that I wasn't finding a lot of information on skincare so I wanted to talk about different products I was trying and let people know if they were working. Also I really love watching YouTube videos but am way too shy to put myself on camera. 

Meg: I have dabbled in blogs and writing before and when I heard about Cate's venture I thought it would be fun to get back into. I love beauty and books which I write about on the blog, so it's right up my alley.

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?

Cate: I have been in love with Ruth Crilly's blog A Model Recommends for so long because she loves skincare just as much as I do. I also love Ruth's friend Caroline Hiron's blog, she has a no fuss approach to skincare and gets down to the facts about products and whether or not they work. 

Meg: Oh, so long ago! I have the memory of a gnat, but two blogs that I loved way back when and still do are Orangette and A Certain Bent Appeal for the way their authors can tell a beautiful story- though they aren't beauty blogs. Beauty-wise, A Beautiful Mess and Zoella are lovely.

Thank You

Meg and I would just like to give all of you a big Thank You for supporting our blog during August. If you didn't know we did a little series called BEDA which is a blog post every day in August. It started as my own little tradition last year and Meg and I decided to bring it back this year. 

We really appreciate you reading our posts and commenting and interacting with us. It has been a lot of fun to get to know more of you out there. 

Now that September has started and school is approaching very quickly (I go back on Wednesday and Meg on Thursday) we will be taking this week off blogging in order to get ready for school but also to prep more posts for you all. 

Because Meg and I are both going to be in school and working we my not be able to have blog posts up as frequently as three times a week like we have been doing, it may only be twice a week but there will still be new content on the blog and we still enjoy writing for you. 

Thank you so much for all of your support and we hope you stick with us through all of this. 

What Makes You Canadian Tag

So I thought it would be fun for Meg and I to do this tag because we are both Canadian (born and raised) and proud of it.

Meg's Answers: 

1. What do you order at Tim Hortons?

I'm rarely at Tim Hortons's these days (bad Canadian) but if I am, it's often a hot chocolate and a struedel. Yum. 

2. What is the most annoying Canadian stereotype?

That it's really cold everywhere in Canada so we're all Eskimos who live in igloos. Most Canadians live very close to the US boarder, how much do you think the temperature changes?!

3.How many provinces and territories have you traveled to?

I love in British Columbia and have been to Alberta and Quebec. I've been to Ontario too, but just the Toronto airport so that doesn't really count!

4. Have you ever seen an igloo?

No, see answer 2. 

5.How many/What words do people think you say differently?

Cate always makes fun of me for saying a few words differently (kayak, southern, for example) but that's not a Canadian thing specifically!

6. Favourite YTV show?

Na na na na na hey hey carry me away. Breaker High! Young Ryan Gosling, anyone?

7. What is one thing you wish you could buy in Canada, but can't?

More of the makeup and clothing brands that stay put in the USA, like ELF. Also, vanilla coke!

8. Have you seen deer, moose or other wildlife?

Oh course, all of the above. A couple bears and big horn sheep as well!

9.What is your favourite winter product?

Really moistuzing lip balm like Nivea's Milk and Honey. Also, toques and wollen scarfs. 

10.Who is your favourite Canadian celebrity?

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

11. Why are you proud to be Canadian?

I love being from a country that, at it's best, gives me the freedom to be myself and gives me so many opportunities. And the free healthcare too.

Cate's Answers: 

1. What do you order at Tim Hortons?
At Tim Hortons I generally order an Iced Cap but if I am in the mood for a hot drink (which is rare) it would be an English Toffee. As for donuts, my favourite is the Sour Cream Glazed.

2. What is the most annoying Canadian stereotype?
One of the most annoying Canadian stereotypes is the fact that a lot of people really do believe that all Canadians live in extremely cold climates. I have always lived in southern British Columbia and we do get snow but our climate is quite mild.

3.How many provinces and territories have you traveled to?
The only other province I have been to is actually Alberta but I would love to see more of Canada.

4. Have you ever seen an igloo?
Other than pictures, no.

5.How many/What words do people think you say differently?
I actually don't think I say any words differently. I will say that I do use the phrase "eh" quite often though.

6. Favourite YTV show?
I don't watch any YTV now but I loved to watch "Are You Afraid of the Dark" as a youngster.

7. What is one thing you wish you could buy in Canada, but can't?
Having just been to the U.S. I wish we could have Vanilla and Cherry Coke.

8. Have you seen deer, moose or other wildlife?
I have seen deer, moose, and even bears all on the drive to Alberta.

9.What is your favourite winter product?
During the winter my skin can get pretty dry so I like to use heavy moisturizers like the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm. I also really love T-Max Heat socks because they keep your feet so warm and toasty.

10.Who is your favourite Canadian celebrity?
This is a pretty cheesy answer but I would have to say Celine Dion. I just love her, she has an incredible voice and I got to see her in Vegas with Meg.

11. Why are you proud to be Canadian?
I love all the comforts of home. I love Canadian people. I like that in Canada it is legal for everyone to get married regardless of their sexual orientation and I like that Canadian's have this stereotype of being nice people because I like to think that it is true.

Are you a fellow Canadian like us? Make sure to answer these questions below in the comments because we would love to hear you answers.

If you aren't Canadian, we would love to hear a little bit about where you're from and why you love your country as much as we love Canada.

How to Pack Like a Pro: Weekend Trip Edition

I've been on a fair few number of trips and I really feel that I've got packing down to a science. I actually love packing. Every time I do it it's a challenge to take a little less, to fit everything together more expertly.

So today I am sharing my four simple tips for packing for a weekend trip that won't leave you stressed or exhausted.

• Only take what you need. Really.

This applies to your makeup bag as well as your clothing. Make a list with what you absolutely need. Pare it down to the bare essentials for your face: a cleanser, moisturizer, foundation, and a small amount of makeup. Clothing wise, be conscious of how long you will be there and what activities you're going to be doing. My rule: Don't take more outfits than the days you will be there- otherwise you're over-packing!

50 Random Questions Tag

I love watching tag videos on YouTube because I love getting to know people better so I thought this would be a fun post to switch it up today. Enjoy!

1. Where were you 3 hours ago?- Painting the new moulding in my bedroom.
2. Who are you in love with?- I am not currently in love but I do love a lot of people. 
3. Have you ever eaten a crayon?- Actually I have tried this as a child. 
4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?- Like one pink shirt in my closet. Anyone who knows me knows pink is not my colour. 
5. When is the last time you went to the mall?- Around 3 weeks ago. 
6. Are you wearing socks right now?- Too hot for that. 
7. Does your family have a car worth over $2,000?- Yes.
8. When was the last time you drove out of town?- Over the weekend I went to the next town over. 
9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?- Nope.
10. Are you hot?- Well, we are experiencing another heat wave in Vancouver so yes it is very hot. 
11. What was the last thing you had to drink?- Some lemon ginger tea because I have been having a cold.
12. What are you wearing right now?- Old Navy yoga leggings and a Gap pullover. 
13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?- I don't drive so I don't have a car. 
14. Last food that you ate?- Chicken Pot Pie.
15. Where were you last week at this time?- At work. 
16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?- I just made an online Old Navy order. 
17. When is the last time you ran?- It has been about 5 weeks. The last time I full on ran, I injured my achilles tendon so I have to wait for that to heal before I can get back into running. 
18. What's the last sporting event you watched?- Hockey when it was the season. 
19. What is your favorite animal?- Monkey or Moose, I can't choose. 
20. Your dream vacation?- So many places: London, Paris, Scotland, Sweden, Italy, Greece... 
21. Last person's house you were in?- My friend Katrina who I have known since high school. 
22. Worst injury you've ever had? Not any that I remember but I did hurt my nose pretty bad as a baby which resulted in some stitches. 
23. Have you been in love?- Yes, but it's been a while. 
24. Do you miss anyone right now?- Yes. 
25. Last play you saw?- I haven't seen a play in a long while but the last one was probably a Shakespeare play at Bard on the Beach with Meg a couple years back. 
26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?- If I had a secret I would let you know but I don't. 
27. What are your plans for tonight?- Blog post writing and packing for Meg and I's upcoming weekend trip to Seattle. 
28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment?- These questions are certainly outdated, does anyone use MySpace anymore?
29. Next trip you are going to take?- Seattle with Meg and another good friend this weekend. 
30. Ever go to camp?- I have been camping but never to camp. 
31. Were you an honor roll student in school?- I did make it a few times. 
32. What do you want to know about the future?- If I will get to travel as much as I dream about. 
33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?- Currently I am au naturale but my mom got me Ralph Lauren Romance for my birthday which I am loving. 
34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit?- Probably. 
35. Who is your best friend?- Does this even need to be asked? It's MEG!!!!
36. How is your best friend?- She is great, as far as I know...
37. Do you have a tan?- I am naturally tan all year round :)
38. What are you listening to right now?- Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off", it is very catchy. 
39. Do you collect anything?- Scarves or Skin Care products. 
40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know?- The biggest gossipers I know are from work so I won't mention any names.
41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over?- I have never been, that is probably because I don't drive. 
42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw?- Yes, but mostly at restaurants because they give you a straw. 
43. What does your last text message say?- "Thanks for coming" from my friend Katrina. 
44. Do you like hot sauce?- I dislike almost everything that is remotely spicy. 
45. Last time you took a shower?- About an hour ago. 
46. Do you need to do laundry?- I just did today. 
47. What is your heritage?- I am Canadian, born in Canada but my heritage is Indian. 
48. Are you someone's best friend?- Yes, I hope so. 
49. Are you rich?- Absolutely not. 
50. What were you doing at 12AM last night?- In bed watching "Friends", the best television show ever!!!!

I hope you thought this was a fun and different type of post. Feel free to answer these questions in the comments or on your own blog and tweet me the link so i can give it a read. I would love to get to know you all better. 

Meg's Beauty, Fashion, & Lifestyle Wishlist

FASHION

• Black Cigarette Pants (a la Audrey Hepburn) that won't break the bank

I've been searching for the perfect pair of trousers forever, but unfortunately every time I find the perfect pair, in petite, like these beauties from ASOS they are not available in my size. Alas!

• Beautiful Blouses

(Business Trip Bliss Top in French Bulldog, Fashion Copywriter Top, 

Guest Appearance Top, Everyday Elegant Top)

Like my quest for black trousers, I've also been looking for tops of a more professional (yet still chic) style as I am about to start teaching school and need clothes to, well, teach in! These are from Modcloth and there's a lot more where they come from!

BEAUTY

• Chinchilly, Smokin' Hot, After School Boy Blazer & Geranium Nailpolishes from Essie

When it comes to Essie nail polishes I can't pick just one.

Introducing BEDA

Hello again everyone,

So if you have been following this blog for a little bit, you will know that last year I did a little thing called BEDA which is a Blog post Every Day for the month of August.

It was quite an ambitious task for me last year because first and foremost, I was brand new to blogging and didn't really know what I was doing. I also decided on a whim to do it so I had a lot of prep work to do in such a short amount of time, and finally I was writing on my own at the time and it was quite a task to produce so much content on my own.

This year I think that BEDA will be a lot more exciting.

This year we have a slightly bigger blog following which will make more posts = more fun. We also have a fun month in August. Meg and I as well as one of our dear friends are headed out to Seattle for a short trip towards the end of August so we will be doing lots of travelling posts as well as American drugstore shopping and hauls. We have also recently delved into the fashion realm with our series titled "What Meg Wore" so we plan on bringing more fashion posts up to the forefront.

We are so excited for what August has in store and even more excited to share it all with you.

We hope that you will like all of the new content we are going to share with you all and that you feel free to interact with us in the comments and on all of our social media sites!

Here's to a Fabulous August!

How To Brighten Someone's Day Instantaneously: 30 Simple Acts Of Kindness For Those You Love And Those You Have Yet To Love.

This isn't exactly a typical post on Polkadots, Stripes, and Hearts, but I thought it would fit in because both Cate and I love making the world a little brighter in any way we can. Here are some ways that I've thought of... I hope you'll share with me your ideas in the comments!

1) Send someone a card ... in the mail.

They will just gush about how lovely it was to receive something in the mail. I promise, you will be tired of hearing "No one does that anymore!" 

2) Fill out a comment card for the next employee you meet that does a great job. Rave about the excellent service you got from that barista or the awesome recommendations from that salesperson. People with customer service or retail jobs are far too used to only hearing complaints. A positive remark would be welcomed with open arms (and hey, maybe they'll get a raise and that's karma points right there). Bonus points: leave a generous tip.

3) When you see kids selling lemonade on the street or girl guide cookies outside your supermarket, buy some. Buy more than you know what to do with. Watch their eyes practically burst out of their heads.

I recently watched a man pull his truck over, stick out $20 and yell "I don't want any change!" and speed off with his four boxes of Thin Mints while blasting the Oldies. You should have seen the happy dance the girls did realizing they were four less boxes away from standing out in the cold for another hour.

4) Write a note to your postman thanking them for their dutiful delivery all these years and leave it in your mailbox for them to find. Bonus points if you include a little present.

5) Say thank you to your bus driver when you get on AND off the bus. They don't get a lot of love.

In the suburbs, this is fairly common practice. In Vancouver, it's rarity. Let's make it common practice in cities everywhere!

6) Pay for the person's coffee behind you in line. It's easy, just give the barista an extra few dollars. You probably won't even miss it, but it will be the next person they serve's lucky day!

I loaded a gift card and dropped it off at a Starbucks downtown for them to use on unsuspecting customers. 

Often around Christmas time it is common for people to pay for the person's order behind them in drive-thrus. That's where this idea came from, except I don't drive, so I had to adapt!

7) Send (or pick!) flowers to someone you love without any other reason except you appreciate them and want them to know that. 

8) Make the next birthday/Christmas/thank you card you give. Seriously, break out the pencil crayons and construction paper and go all out. Add stickers and you are golden.

9) Send a good morning or good night text. D'awww.

Better yet, when you see something that reminds you of someone (say, that cute puppy or that cool graffiti, send it to them and tell them why it reminds you of them!) 

10) Next time you're at a convenience store, pick up someone's favourite chocolate bar and surprise them.

90's Kid Tag featuring Cate & Meg

So this tag video has been going around YouTube for quite a bit now and since Meg and I are both 90's gals and proud of it, we thought we would answer these questions in a fun post.

1. Favourite Disney film?

Image Courtesy of www.disney.wikia.com

Cate: Oh there are so many to choose from. This is such a tough question. I think the one I watched over and over again and sang along to as a young one was definitely The Lion King but I also really love Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. 

Meg: It's also really hard for me to choose this one. Ultimately, I would have to say Beauty and the Beast because growing up I felt I was the reincarnation of Belle, but Aladdin is a close second.

2. NSYNC or Backstreet Boys?

Image Courtesy of www.hypable.com

Cate: Definitely NSYNC. I did not really hear about Backstreet Boys too much, but NSYNC was all the rage in my school.

Meg: NSYNC for sure. Though my first love was the Spice Girls.

Confessions of an Insomniac: Natural Sleep Tips

As a self proclaimed insomniac (yes the real kind, not the "I like to stay up at night" kind) I know a thing or two about trying to wind down and shut my brain off in order to get a good night's rest.

Some say that insomniacs are highly intelligent individuals who just can't stop the wheels in their heads from turning (cool right?) but the truth is, not getting a good enough sleep is really dangerous, especially for those of us who suffer from this at a young age. A New Study Out Recently From Taiwan shows that insomniacs have a greater chance of having a stroke than those who get a good sleep every night. Insomniacs are also at greater risks for diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

It's easy to become an insomniac when you're in the midst of college or university and you stay up late trying to get all those papers and assignments done last minute.

But enough with the why's and the statistics. Today I am going to share with you some of my favourite tips for winding down the mind and hopefully getting some decent shut eye. I like to follow a routine. I find that most insomniacs (in my experience; yes it's different for everyone) lack a lot of routine in their lives and often can never get on a good sleep schedule but for me, creating a little routine before bed (regardless of when I am going to sleep that night) helps my body and brain to understand that it is time to shut off.

Tip # 1: Take a Warm Shower


Image Courtesy of www.ideachampions.com 

Taking a warm shower, for me, is very relaxing and sets the scene for my next few tips. The warm water temperature is very calming and soothing. I like to use my Nivea Harmony Time Shower Cream which has a wonderful Rose and Almond scent that is very calming.



After, I get out of the shower, I don't like to be awake for more than 2 hours because I find that once I go past the 2 hour mark, I loose my "sleepiness" and insomnia kicks in again.

What I've Been Loving Quarterly

As many of you know, I used to do monthly favourites posts showing the products I was reaching for each month but I have been finding that a little too much.

I don't generally buy a lot of products and if I do, I save them for more in depth reviews so it was getting harder and harder to pick which products I was loving each month.

I have decided that I would now do favourites post 4 times a year (every 3 months). That way I will have more to show you.

10 Things to Do in Vegas If You're Not a Party Person

I'm back from Vegas now so I wanted to update you on my favourite parts of the trip. I'm not a party or club type of person, so for those of you who'd rather avoid Vegas for that reason, I wanted to let you know that there is more to see and do beyond drinking and gambling. Here's my top 10:

1. Walk the Strip and See the Sights

There is so much to do and see just walking down the strip. Please pack good runners if you plan to do this as well, I've heard horror stories.

2. The Bellagio Fountains

Just walking by the water without the fountains going is beautiful, but it's truly spectacular to see it in all it's glory.

Vegas Bound: My Travel Makeup Bag

I'm going to Vegas today!

I was inspired by Essie Button's post and thought I'd show you what products I'm taking with me! I'm only taking a carry-on so with flight restrictions and space limitations, it's all about taking only what you need.

• Live Clean (Fresh Face) Nourishing Night Cream

This is a new product to me, but as my trusty Nivea night cream was running out I faced the inevitable dilemma, do I go with a trusty standby or do I try something new? I decided to try this one as it was on sale and I'm on a healthy products kick- this one has no parabens, phthlates, dyes, or silicone!

Image curtesy of soap.com 

• Maybelline Dream Mousse Foundation

This is kind of my old stand by, but I'm looking for something new to try as it doesn't seem to match my skin tone as well as it used to and I'm looking for something that takes even less time to apply. I was hoping to replace this with a good BB or CC cream, but I've yet to find any that have decent coverage. I still love how light and weightless this foundation feels when applied, so I'm bringing it with me to even out my skin tone.

• MAC holiday eyeshadow (limited edition) 

My dear Cate got this for me one Christmas and it's one of my very favourite eyeshadow palettes- as you can see, it's well-loved! The combination of gold and purple is just perfect and you can create so many different looks with just a few colours.

• LUSH Seanik bar shampoo

This is perfect for travelling as it has it's own little case and it isn't a liquid. Usually I make due with the hotel shampoo, but my hair is never in love with it and this is a great alternative that takes up very little space in your makeup bag!

• Rimmel Lipstick in Airy Fairy

It's the perfect natural shade for when I want to be a little fancy. Though I'm not going to lie, usually I just stick to...

• LUSH Honey Trap Lip Balm

I have the driest lips ever, so lip balm of some sort is absolutely essential. This is one of the most moisturizing that I've fond and it smells irresistible.

• Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner

I've found for the price that this eye liner is pretty good. It produces a solid dark line that stays on for a long time, as long as you don't rub your eyes a lot. Must have for Vegas.

• Quo Mascara from the Quo Treasure Box

I got this in a makeup kit my brother gave me for Christmas (awww). It's tiny! TINY! Look, it's next to a loony! It's a decent mascara that does it's job well and it's so perfect for travelling.

All of this (and my toiletries) are safely packed in my new cute little makeup bag in my new cute little backpack!

See you soon!
-Meg

A Special Message To All Of You

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

*Image curtesy of Google Images.

We hope whether you are celebrating with family and friends or with a special someone that you have a wonderful day basking in all the love. 

We love and appreciate every single one of you!

Love, 

         Cate & Meg 

Get to Know Meg from "Meg Reads"

Hello everyone,


So as you know Meg has joined our little blog here and she specializes in book reviews. Her first review is already up and you can check it out here.

As Meg is new I thought it would be fun to do a post asking her some questions so you all can get to learn a little bit about her.

Let's get started...


Cate: Hello Meg, why don't you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?
Meg: Where to start, where to start. I just graduated with my BA in English Literature and my next goal to complete is becoming an elementary school teacher. Some of my passions, besides books, include films, art, and travel. I am a dog person who has a fondness for cats, but I would be a giraffe person if it was ethical and possible to keep them as pets. And I prefer scalloped potatoes to pretty much any sweets. Mostly I just enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and wonderful boyfriend.

A Little Update: Introducing "Meg Reads"

Hello everyone,


In my effort to make this blog a hub of all things that interest me and other girls around the world I want to announce a new element that will be coming to this site.

I love reading and I know many of you out there do as well. One of my really awesome friends Meg is also an avid reader and she has graciously decided to come along for the journey and write book reviews for your enjoyment.

I am really excited for Meg to come on board and share her insight and I hope you all will welcome her with open arms and I know you will enjoy reading what she has to share.

Meg's first book review should be up by Sunday and her reviews will be titled "Meg Reads" and you can find them quicker by clicking on that category in the upper tab bar of the blog.

- Cate W.