#1

I went to Baskin-Robbins with my mom on the weekend and I tried their new flavour BeaverTails Pastry in a waffle cup with Oreo bits as my topping. It was crazy, out-of-this-world amazing! It's a cinnamon flavoured ice cream with gooey caramel and fried dough mixed in with it. *Sigh* This is my new favourite flavour besides Cookies 'n Cream which is my ultimate favourite flavour from Baskin-Robbins. I would definitely recommend trying this before it's too late!

#2 

I randomly felt like baking this week and I was really in the mood for some carrot cake cupcakes, so that's exactly what I did! I picked up some Betty Crocker Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix and poured into a cupcake pan and used Betty Crocker French Vanilla Deluxe Frosting to frost my cupcakes. They came out super moist and spongy and stayed that way for days! Also, topped with the french vanilla frosting-- heavenly! It turned out to be a great hit as my family loved it so much. Since my aunt Sue's birthday is coming up soon, she asked me to make it again for the celebration. I don't blame her-- they're very addicting!  

#3

This might be my favourite thing I've completed this week. I always look forward to reading Colleen Hoover's books since she's my favourite author. I've read so many of her works already and always find that I'm never disappointed with what she releases. This book is so powerful, truthful, important, and puts things into perspective as well. This is some of her most honest writing and is probably my favourite book she's ever written. I truly recommend this to everyone. If you only read one of her books, choose this one. I seriously can't stop thinking about it since the day I finished it. This is on a totally other level regarding her other books and I just can't wait for her next release as always. 

#4

This show... I've heard a lot of buzz regarding this series lately and I've wanted to check it out for myself for some time. I thought it would be too scary so I ended up avoiding it. That was until my aunt, Sue, said she finished all 8 episodes within a few days and that it was really good and not as scary as I was thinking it to be. On Wednesday night, we started watching it and I was immediately hooked. It's about a boy named Will, who goes missing one night after racing one of his friends home. As his mother, friends, and the police department go searching after him they start to unravel extraordinary mysteries that involve secret government experiments, supernatural forces, and a peculiar little girl. I have 3 episodes left to go but I am holding off until my aunt comes back next week so we can binge watch the rest on her birthday. I would recommend watching this if you are into sci-fi or just looking for a new and interesting show to watch. 

#5

Lastly, this is the playlist I've been listening to on repeat all week. I'm so obsessed with all of these songs and most of them are sung by my favourite artists (Imagine Dragons and Broods). I love music so much and I find that it's something I always reach for when I want to relax or be productive (chores, homework, etc). I hope you enjoy this playlist I made on my Spotify!

 I hope you had a great week as well and try out some of the things I mentioned in this post. Enjoy your weekend and have a Happy Friday! 

love xena

School is fast approaching and I realized that I hadn't made any posts related to the topic. I haven't done a beauty post in a while so I thought this would be a great idea for anyone in high school who wants to spruce up their look this year. It is very natural, minimalistic, and does not feel like you're wearing any makeup. This routine takes me less than 2 minutes in the morning so it's great if you are running late and need to get ready in a short amount of time. I personally don't like wearing a lot of makeup because I think less is more. I think these products are great at giving you a fresher and more awake look in the morning without being overly dramatic for school. So to find out how I use these products...keep reading!

1)  I use the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer as a base for my makeup as it mattifies my skin and fills in my pores so my powder goes on smoothly. I apply this to my cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin (my t-zone or the area that gets the shiniest throughout the day). You only need very little as it spreads very well and it goes on transparent. This a great and affordable primer that you can find at the drugstore. 

2) After I apply my base I powder my skin using the Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Powder in Translucent with my Real Techniques Powder Brush. Since the powder is translucent it doesn't change the complexion of my skin and mattifies and colour corrects very well. The brush is super soft and gentle on the skin and blends the powder in nicely.  

3) Next, I mix Naked 2 and Faint from my Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette with my EcoTools Eye Enhancing Duo Brush Set to fill in my eyebrows. I use the define brush to fill in my brows and the shade brush to highlight my brow bone. This really enhances my face as the tails of my eyebrows are a bit sparse. I set it in place with my Covergirl Professional Natural Lash Clear Mascara so the eye shadow doesn't smudge during the day.  

4) Then, I use my middle finger to blend The Body Shop Colour Crush Eye Shadow in Berry Cheeky on my cheekbones. I find that my powder washes me out slightly so I use this to bring colour back to my skin. I also use my Ellen Tracy Ombre Blush on top of it to give it a little highlight.  

5) Lastly, I apply my favourite lip balm in the whole entire world. I use Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm in Rosy Lips to keep my lips soft and moisturized before applying Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle. This lipstick is a pretty, pinky nude colour that looks very natural and subtle with my skin tone-- almost as if I'm not wearing anything at all!  

I hope you enjoyed this post and got some inspiration from it. I love keeping it nice and simple and I hope these products work for you. I hope you have a Happy Friday and great weekend!

love xena

My family and I took a day trip to Niagara Falls for my Mom's birthday and I took lots and lots of pictures. We had a really fun and relaxing time there and ate the best food (pizza and spaghetti from Antica Pizzeria & Ristorante, salted caramel fudge from Hershey's, and fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt from CC Swirls). I had a bit of a cheat day but that's okay because we all need one. Here are some pictures we took throughout the day during our mini trip!

love xena

I have set myself quite an ambitious challenge this month in terms of reading. All of these novels are recent purchases that I am extremely excited about. Three of them are 2016 releases that I so badly wanted to get the chance to read before the school year starts. I decided not to do a July Wrap-Up post but instead do a Summer Wrap-Up. It will be a cumulative post on all the books that I have read this summer and will be posted on the last Friday of this month. I don't know if I am going to get to all of these books this month but I will try my best and see how it goes! Without further ado, let's get into my August TBR!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson:
I purchased I'll Give You the Sun by the same author a few months ago because of all the hype it was getting. After I picked it up I realized that she had another book that was published and when I read the synopsis I was immediately intrigued. This book is about a girl named Lennie Walker, who is a book lover and a clarinet player-- the total opposite of her older sister, Bailey. She has always lived happily in her sister's shadow but when her sister dies unexpectedly she finds herself in the spotlight of her own life. She struggles with her love life (which was non-existent until now) as she spends her time with two boys: Tony, Bailey's boyfriend, as well as, Joe, the new boy in town from Paris who shares her love of music. Both boys are essential in her life and bring different things to the table but ultimately she can't have both. Who will she choose and what will be the consequences? I have heard amazing things about Jandy Nelson's writing so I can't wait to pick this one up!

Buy the book here.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid:
I am always on the lookout for a good romance novel and I have had my eyes on this one for months. I was so excited to find out that my aunt, Sue, bought this and feature it on her website. She let me borrow it and I was so grateful. Due to the fact that I was in the middle of a series I was trying to finish I didn't get around to reading it last month. Hopefully, this month will not be the same as this book sounds very interesting. It contains a main character named Emma Blair, who married her high school sweetheart, Jesse, in her twenties. They build a life together away from their parents and the people of their hometown. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse goes missing whilst on a helicopter over the Pacific and is lost forever. Emma is forced to put her life back together without her beloved husband. She moves back home and starts her life over. Years later, she runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself being able to fall in love again. They get engaged and she is finally happy again until Jesse is found. Now, with a husband and a fiance she is left with a big decision..who is her one true love? Sounds incredible and drama-filled, right?! 

Buy the book here.

Signs of You by Emily France:
I won't lie...this book definitely caught my eye because of its cover. It is absolutely gorgeous and so colourful that I just had to know what it was about. This is about a girl named Riley Strout who lost her mother two years ago. She sought and found comfort within her family and the grief support group she joined in her first year of high school. Her friends: Jay, Kate, and Noah, understand her pain as they have all lost someone they loved too. One day, Riley thinks she sees her mother in a grocery store and is fearful that she is suffering from post-traumatic stress. That is, until Jay and Kate experience the same situation. Noah is the only one who hasn't seen his loved one and becomes skeptical and begins to distance himself from the group. Unexpectedly, Noah disappears and Riley worries that she is going to lose another loved one. As she and her friends begin to search for him they become entangled in a mystery and learn clues about the afterlife. Riley finds herself having feelings for both Jay and Noah and realizes that the only way to help those she loves is to mend things with the one she's lost... This book sounds so captivating as it has romance (which is my favourite genre) and mysteriousness to it as well. 

Buy the book here.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover:
Of course I had to buy this book as Colleen is my all-time favourite author. I have heard that it is best to go into this book blind so I will not write a synopsis for this reason. Though knowing Colleen, it is bound to be an absolutely gut-wrenching, heart-soaring, mind-twisting, explosive romance novel that I will not be able to stop thinking about. People have been saying that it is her best writing piece yet so I have extremely high hopes and I don't think that I'll be let down. 

Buy the book here.

The Oh She Glows Cookbook by Angela Liddon:
I am so excited and ready to dive into this! Although I am not vegan I am definitely interested in eating more plant-based foods and just healthier food in general. I shared my health issues in my Healthy Breakfast Ideas post and since then I can say that I have been eating much better despite last week. I struggled a bit with my temptations and ate 2 croissants, 1 banana bread slice, 1 baked apple pie from McDonalds, and half an apple turnover in one week. As you can imagine, I felt super icky after that. I have been trying to get rid of all the unhealthy substances that I ate and work on eating healthy again. Don't get me wrong-- it's not like I'll never eat these treats ever again. I plan to eat them in moderation instead of the crazy sugar addict I can be at times. My body needs sugar as well as other nutrients so I would never deprive myself of having a nice and decadent treat. I am looking forward to perusing this cookbook and making some of these recipes for myself and my family!

Buy the book here.

Now...Onto the Kindle Books.

                                           

   

Buy the books here and here.

Whew! I am almost done with this series and it feels really good. Not that I want it to end but since it is a ten book series I'm pretty proud of myself that I only have 2 more left. Seeing as though this is series, I won't write any summaries so I won't spoil you. What I will say is that Long Way Down is about Ryke and Daisy's relationship and Some Kind of Perfect is the epilogue of the whole series. Ryke and Daisy are my absolute favourite couple because they're just so wild, fun, and carefree. However, I really love Lily and Loren's and Rose and Connor's relationship as well. They're all so amazing, have such different and unique traits, and their love for one another is so evident and beautiful that it's hard to decide which relationship I prefer. I think I might get around to reading these two novels first and then I'll carry on with the other novels I mentioned in this post. I am so excited and seriously hope I get to the majority of these books this month. I really hope you enjoyed this post and get some reading inspiration and pick up some of the books I featured. Have a wonderful day and see you next week! xx

love xena

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It kick starts your body and prepares you for the day ahead as well as keep you full until lunchtime. It is very crucial to eat something in the morning as you will not work as efficiently on an empty stomach. Recently, I found out that I have a very acidic stomach due to the way I have been eating for the past few months. I would have a small breakfast, a very unhealthy lunch (juice and a cookie), and after my dinner I would eat a lot of junk food. Even thinking about how I used to eat makes me feel incredibly gross. So, I decided to make a change in my diet and start feeding my body properly and taking my daily vitamins. For this post, I put together two breakfast ideas that are easy, delicious and perfect for those who struggle with transitioning to a healthier diet like myself. 

1) Steel-Cut Oats 

I have been doing a lot of research lately and I found out that oatmeal is good for acid reflux. It has many benefits as it is a whole grain food which neutralizes the acid in your stomach, has a high amount of fiber which empties the stomach easily, absorbs the acidity from other food and the list goes on. Oatmeal is great as it can be customized to your liking with added ingredients you love to eat. This is the recipe that I have been making for my breakfast and really enjoying. 

Ingredients:

- 3 cups of water

- 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk (you can use whichever milk you like)

- 1 cup of steel cut oats

- 1 tablespoon of margarine (you can you unsalted butter or even coconut oil)

- 1 ml of salt 

Additional ingredients include: dried cranberries, cinnamon, and agave nectar.

Directions:

i. In a medium pot, pour the water and almond milk together and bring to a simmer over medium heat. While the mixture is heating up, melt the margarine in a skillet or a pan over medium heat as well. Once the margarine starts to sizzle, add the oats and stir the mixture until it is golden brown and aromatic (about 2-3 mins). Toasting the oats gives the oatmeal a richer and more decadent flavour. 

ii. Add the oats to the water and milk mixture and stir together. Turn down the heat to a medium low and let the mixture simmer lightly for about 20 minutes. Stir on occasion until the mixture is nice and thick. 

iii. Stir in the salt. Continue to stir the mixture occasionally and keep the oatmeal on low heat for about 10 minutes. By this time the oatmeal should be creamy and ready for toppings. 

iv. Remove the oatmeal from the heat. Now is the time to add the cinnamon (I sprinkle this on randomly) and dried cranberries (about a handful) for some added flavour.

v. And now you're done! Portion out the oatmeal so you can have it throughout the week. To warm it up, just add a little bit of almond milk to the oatmeal and put it in the microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Drizzle on some agave nectar for a hint of sweetness and mix it in with the oatmeal. It should be warm, delicious, and ready to eat.

2) Ezekiel Bread and Jam 

Ezekiel Bread is absolutely amazing. I used to eat white bread religiously but since my change in diet I wanted to venture out and try different kinds of bread. This one has sealed the deal for me. It is made from organic, sprouted whole grains and has no added sugar. It contains wheat, millet, barley, and spelt which are types of grains, as well as, soybeans and lentils which are types of legumes. It's the kind of bread that doesn't make you feel heavy and bloated after eating it. In fact, it makes me feel the complete opposite: light and weightless. For my recipe I chose blackberry jam but you can choose whatever topping you want.

Ingredients: (it's so simple! only two ingredients) 

- 1 slice of Ezekiel bread 

- Blackberry Jam 

Suggested toppings: almond butter, unsalted butter, peanut butter, other types of jam, avocado, sunny-side up eggs, etc. 

Directions: (you probably know what to do but I'll just tell you what I did anyway) 

i. I keep my Ezekiel bread in the freezer to stay super fresh. So, I take out one slice, wrap it in paper towel, and place it in the microwave for 20 secs to defrost it a little bit. 

ii. Next, I put the bread in the toaster oven and lightly toast it. After I take it out of the oven I cut it into four little pieces and spread the blackberry jam on top. Voilà! Pretty simple, right? If you still feel hungry after this I would suggest having a nice fruit to get some natural sugar in your body and satisfy your stomach. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and try out these recipes for yourself. Have a Happy Friday!!

love xena

Hello! I hope you are having a great day and summer so far. I have recently gone shopping and accumulated some new goodies that I have been using non-stop and really loving. So, I thought I would make this post to share some really great products which are affordable and essential for the summer. 

For the ears: Conscious by Broods (one of my all-time favourite bands new album)

For the hair: Organix Coconut Oil Weightless Hydrating Oil Mist (makes hair smell great and tames flyaways)

For the lips: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm (smells nice and looks great on all skin tones)

For the face: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Powder in Translucent and Real Techniques Powder Brush (the powder is translucent so it works on all skin tones and the brush is great quality, really soft and gentle on the skin) 

For the nose and mind: Blueberry Twist 3-Wick Candle by Bath & Body Works (this smells absolutely incredible and fills the whole room with its fruity potency)  

For the eyes: OAKLEY Stringer Mate 55mm Wayfarer Sunglasses in Clear/Blue (just keep in mind that I got these four years ago and they are on the more pricey side but besides that they look super flattering and eye-catching on)

love xena

June was a good reading month for me. I read 6 books in total (3 physical books and 3 on my kindle). I was pretty good at juggling reading for pleasure and studying for exams (even though it was very hard choosing between the two). Since it is now summertime, I have more time on my hands which means more time to read (yippee). So to start off my first blog post, here is my June wrap-up. 

The Last Star by Rick Yancey:

Read: May 30, 2016- June 4, 2016 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

This is the last book in this series so I recommend reading the two previous books before reading this one. I read The 5th Wave and The Infinite Sea in May and I became very intrigued with this series. It contains a funny main character named Cassie Sullivan, who is all alone after the waves of an alien invasion hits Earth. She is on a mission to stay alive and save her brother, Sammy, who has been taken away to a place called Camp Haven. Along the way she meets, Evan Walker, who is a walking mystery. She has to decide whether to trust him and let him help her find her brother or face possible death doing it on her own. I will not go into further discussion about the series as I do not want to spoil anything. However, I will say that I am happy with the way Yancey wrapped up this series and I would recommend it to anyone interested in aliens, science fiction, or dystopia.  

Buy the book here. A movie was also made on The 5th Wave and you can watch the trailer here. 

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West:

Read: June 4, 2016- June 6, 2016

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

This was my first summer contemporary read of the year! It has a sweeter than sugar romance that will make your heart melt (I know mine did). This book is about a 17 year old girl named, Gia Montgomery, whose boyfriend breaks up with her in the parking lot of her high school prom. She has to think quickly and find a fill-in boyfriend so she can still go to prom and save face. She sees a cute guy waiting in his car to pick up his sister and decides that he's the one. They have a simple arrangement: be her fill-in boyfriend-- two hours, zero commitment, and a few lies. Let's just say things get complicated when she starts falling for the fill-in. Walls start crumbling down and lies are revealed. Gia is left to discover who she wants to be as a person and who is willing to stay in her life. I definitely recommend this to those who want a short summer contemporary that involves love, friendship, character development, and finding one's self. 

Buy the book here.

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson:

Read: June 6, 2016- June 11, 2016

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

Morgan Matson has done it again. I had previously read two other novels by her (Second Chance Summer and Since You've Been Gone) where I fell in love with her writing and characters. This book was no different. It is about a girl named, Andie Walker, who always has things planned out. She is a politician's daughter and has learned to take care of herself over the years. That is-- until the scandal. Now, she has to live in the same house as her dad and walk a numerous amount of dogs...for the whole summer. Things are not looking up for Andie until the day she meets Clark. He opens her eyes to new things and somewhat changes her life. Now the romance in this book is not the damsel-in-distress-in-need-of-saving type. It is simply about a girl and a boy who fall in love and learn to make their lives sync with each other's. HANDS DOWN RECOMMEND TO E-VER-Y-ONE. But seriously, this book did start off a bit slow but picked up pretty quickly and has become a summertime favourite. Plus, the main male character, Clark, is probably my favourite male out of all the ones Morgan has written about. If only he existed in real life, sigh. A girl can dream, right?

Buy the book here. 

NOW... Onto the Kindle Books.

Read: June 13, 2016- in progress 

Rating: N/A (still reading)

This book contains mature content so it is recommended for readers 18+. I have officially fallen in love with the Addicted Series by Krista & Becca Ritchie. They are twin sisters who wrote this amazing new adult romance series which includes fantastic characters who you see grow with each book. It follows the lives of the Calloway Sisters (Lily, Rose, and Daisy) and the men in their lives (Loren Hale, Connor Cobalt, and Ryke Meadows). I have already read 4 books and have 6 remaining...I know it's a lot but I'll get there eventually. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is in the mood for a steamy romance. 

Buy them here, here, and here.

 love xena