Biotherm Blue Therapy Red Algae Uplift Cream

I received the Biotherm Blue Therapy Red Algae Uplift cream to test and review. Biotherm is still relatively new to me as a brand, but I have tried one of their shower gels in the past and really enjoyed it. I got it when it was on a great sale at Shoppers Drug Mart. You can also buy the products on Biotherm's website.

Having liked the body wash, I was looking forward to trying the Blue Therapy Red Algae Uplift cream. It is a luxury skincare line, so I had high expectations. I'm not against spending money on great skincare, but there are a few criteria it needs to reach for me to continue purchasing a specific product. Truthfully, I haven't decided yet on this one but that doesn't mean this is a negative review. Quite the opposite in many ways. Let's dive in!

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Blog of the Month for March 2019

In February, Mimi from Spooky Chic was my featured blogger. You can read that post and see other past featured blogs under the "blog of the month" label! Being my blog of the month gets you a designated blog post, a sidebar button, and a mention on my Twitter account. The sidebar button stays up all month long. I don't believe in necessarily making bloggers pay for advertising and I'd much rather show you blogs that I really enjoy reading. And I hope you end up enjoying them too!

This month, I've chosen Janine from Janine Allison as my featured blogger. I have actually featured her a few years ago and she's still going strong! With today being International Women's Day, it feels especially nice to not only be honoring a female blogger but also one who happens to be one of my favorite blogger friends. Janine is one of the sweetest people you could possibly talk to and I think you'll love her various beauty and lifestyle posts. She also has a travel blog, if that interests you! If you stop by her blog, let her know I sent you. :)

InstaMonth for February 2019

I just want to start this post with a big exhale and questioning why it isn't Friday yet! It has just been one of those weeks that can't end fast enough. So close to the weekend. Thank u, next.

I honestly want to just get this post quickly typed up and then go get lost in a book, which is fitting since many of you are celebrating World Book Day today (ours is in April, but I'll happily celebrate twice)! So with that said, I hope you don't mind if I keep this post short and sweet so that I can go brew a tea and unwind as best as I can. I just really need to do exactly that.

Here are a few pictures from my Instagram during February. As you can see below, there's quite a few reviews coming soon!

1. January faves. // 2. Patriots OOTD. Champs! // 3. New Clean & Clear skincare. Review coming (from husband's POV!).

4. Cushions my MIL made us. // 5. Valentine's Day OOTD. // 6. Nude by Nature reviews coming soon!

7. My Indy looking so perfect. // 8. Biotherm Blue Therapy Red Algae cream review also coming!

9. My cheeseburger casserole recipe ft. Sir Kensington's sauces. // 10. Sunday mornings FTW.

February 2019 Favorites

It's March, it's March! I just need to do a little happy dance because it is officially the month of our next vacation. I have not booked anything yet, but I do have an idea about where to go. We'll be staying in our province again, because I really enjoy road trips with just myself, my husband, and the dog and listening to tunes while heading for our destination. I also really enjoy the road trips not being that long right now, because of it being winter. I'm also a big advocate for exploring around your own area and searching for places that are new to you. There is always something new to explore in this day and age! I mean, I've lived in Toronto since 2004 and I still haven't seen or done most things in the city. Vacation, staycation, trip...whatever it is, I'll take a day off in any form or title!

Our vacation plans center around our wedding anniversary, as we travel somewhere we have never been together every year. This year is anniversary #13! It's insane how quickly the time has gone by. While my body and soul is fully feeling March, my content is still feeling February. Here are my favorites from the past month!

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What's In My Purse

I love these old school posts so much. I am still a member of the LJ community (when I actually dust off my account and sign on) dedicated to what is inside people's purses and a huge part of me wishes it was still active. Heck, just LiveJournal in general. I was a member of some great communities and those were the days. I'm just really happy that it allowed me meet some great people that I still get to continue friendships with through other social media sites and our blogs.

The last time I did one of these posts was last April, so it has been a while. So let's see what I am still carrying and what has changed! The purse is from Chapters Indigo and no longer offered, sadly. Also, my phone (a Samsung S8+) is not pictured because I used it for the photo (because I was too lazy to get out my DSLR...). Though to be fair, it is almost always in my hand as opposed to in my bag!

• Kate Spade Battery Charger - I always have this on me. I would love to invest in one that more power, but this gets me through a day, events, or road trips.
• Tic Tacs - Or mints or gum. Just something to freshen up. Especially at my physio sessions, because we get really close while working my knee. Haha!
• Pen and Notebook - Always. I know I can use my phone for notes, but nothing beats pen and paper for me.
• Change Purse - Or wallet, just depends. Right now, this little pouch is holding my cards and change. Also, it just goes so well with this bag. The polar bear is no surprise to most of you that know my obsession.
• Lotion - My anti-bacterial gel must still be in my other purse or it would be right here with the lotion. Note to self to grab it because I can't live without one in my purse. The hand lotions from Bath & Body Works never let me down.
• Makeup - Sometimes more, but never less. You will always find my lip product of the day, eyeliner, and an extra concealer in my bag at all times. Those are the three that make me feel the most put together.
• Mirror - Too many times in my past I have needed a mirror and not had one. Now I make sure this one moves from every bag when I switch. It's just an old double-sided Sephora mirror that I think came with a gift card back in the day.
• Tissues - Never without. I've suffered from chronic nosebleeds since I was 5 and I never know when one will strike. I think the most embarrassing one was 8th grade chorus class and having to sing a note so she could decide which group to put me in, all eyes on me, and the flood gates opened right then and there. Such perfect timing! And my last one was two weeks ago. So yep, can't go without tissues.
• Keys - Obviously. The only thing that really changes in this category is that I sometimes change up the keychains. Right now, it's a Cath Kidston 101 Dalmatians keyfob and a Taylor Swift Reputation lanyard off of my hoodie from the tour.

What are things that always get rotated from bag to bag for you - your essentials?! If I'm carrying one of my bigger bags, what I choose to carry changes quite a bit and I go into "Mary Poppins" mode. I condense it to my true essentials for the smaller totes like this one. Maybe I'll do one for what is in my physio bag at some point!

6 Friday Favorites

I have not done a proper "currently loving" post in a good while, meaning favorites outside of my monthly beauty and skincare ones that I share. So I thought this would be a great time to share and recommend some things I've really been loving recently and I would absolutely love for you to do the same!

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Recent Old Navy and H&M Hauls - Winter 2019

This is a collective haul post. I purchased the Old Navy items about two weeks ago, give or take. I actually went there again this past weekend to use a voucher (I'll touch on that below) and in the same trip to the mall, I went to H&M. Everything I got at both stores are below and I'll try to link to everything. As it is recent, most of it should be available in store, online, or both.

I had Super Cash for Old Navy and I hate for that to go to waste. You can use Super Cash on clearance, so I found great deals both in that section and a few of the sales that were going on at the time. And actually, some of the deals going on right now are even better and they are giving out Super Cash again to use in the future. If ordering online, don't forget to use eBates. If you haven't signed up yet and are interested, I'd truly appreciate you using my link in my sidebar to join as I earn $10 with every referral.

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InstaMonth for January 2019

It's a little later in the month than when I usually post these, but better late than never. It might also just feel later since this month is shorter. Everyone talks about how January feels like it takes forever, but then here comes February that feels like it lasts as long as a blink. The two extremes!

So here we are with my round-up of a few pictures from my Instagram during January. I have to be honest and say that I am not really feeling Instagram right now. I still get on and post, like, and comment, but it has been feeling impossible to grow lately. I'm super grateful for the connections and relationships that I have on there, but it's a bit of a blow to sign in and always see a mass exodus of followers. As someone who tries to grow more organically, it just feels like the algorithm is doing me no favors. I just wanted to say all of that to let you know that if you feel like that, you are not alone. And if I'm following you, I'm trying to do more about showing support and finding you in my list even when the algorithm doesn't.

1. My most liked Instagram photo ever. During a weird month seeing my numbers all over the place, this was a pleasant surprise! // 2. NYX Advent. // 3. Winter requires me to carry a hand cream everywhere. 

4. CoverGirl Exhibitionist Influenster box. // 5. Old Navy haul. // 6. Clemson Tigers won! Also, cute photobomber.

7. Essence Metal Shock Shadows // 8. Smooth Feet Foot Care // 9. The prettiest mugs.

10. Always making lists. // 11. MOTD. // 12. Low Carb Cheeseburger Casserole ft. Sir Kensington's Sauces