September Favourites 2015

I thought that summer flew by but it seems like autumn is going even faster, it's already October and I feel like any second now it will be winter and snowing.  I love September because the leaves start changing, the weather gets a little cooler (but not so cool that you need to break out the parkas), and most exciting it's my birthday month!  Here are some of the things I've been absolutely loving this month: 

Fuji Green Tea Body Lotion from the Body Shop: This lotion is lighter than the body butters from the Body Shop and soaks in more quickly and this smells INCREDIBLE.  I haven't gone back to TBS since I picked this up but I'm seriously tempted to by more from this range and I really hope it isn't limited time because this might be my new favourite scent.

Nutriganics Drops of Youth from The Body Shop: I also picked this up the last time I was at The Body Shop and I've been using it as a serum day and night under my moisturizer.  I was skeptical of it at first but I this has been the product that has made the most difference to my skin.  I've been having some pretty bad skin problems and this has calmed it and made my face appear smoother and has helped a lot with my breakouts.

Vitamin e oil: The acne I was getting was leaving some pretty bad scarring in it's wake so I started using pure vitamin e oil all over my face as a night cream and it has worked wonders in healing my face.  I've almost used up the whole bottle and even though it is very thick and (obviously) oil-y it hasn't caused me to break out at all; it's a big help especially as we move into the colder, dryer months and my skin gets more dehydrated.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation: This foundation just ticks all the boxes for me; it's medium coverage without looking cakey, it blends really well and lasts through a work shift without melting off and it's the perfect colour for me right now so I've basically just been reaching for it every time I wear makeup.

Stila Eyes are the Window palette in Soul: I treated myself to this after I got a bigger than usual paycheck this month and although I don't know a lot about eyeshadows etc. I really like all the colours in this palette, it's easy for me to apply and blend, and I've been using it almost every day that I work (because I don't wear makeup during the week if I'm only training).  It's just really pretty OK?

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Heal & Seal Treatment: I'm going to preface this by saying that I have very dry hair especially on the ends so if you have oily hair this might not work for you.  This is a hair treatment that you put on in the shower after your condition for one minute and it's supposed to seal in your condition and repair damage.  For me this is one of the only products that actually makes my hair feel super soft these days and makes it look way healthier.

The X-Files: I started watching the X-Files on Netflix a while ago but now that it's getting darker and more autumnal outside I've been watching it so much more.  There's just something about watching a slightly creepy, dramatic show on a cool dark night that I find super cozy.  Any night that my roommates aren't home I light one of my fall candles and curl up on the couch to watch Mulder and Scully.

I Quit Caffeine for a Week

I've never considered myself myself to be someone who was dependent on caffeine but I do work at Starbucks so there's a lot of coffee in my house so I got in the habit of having at least one cup of coffee every day. A few weeks ago I was having trouble falling asleep so I decided to quit caffeine cold-turkey to see if that would help.

The first day hit me way harder than I thought it would. I had headaches and I fell asleep for over an hour on the couch in the middle of the day. The morning of day two I was already rationalizing with myself that it would be totally fine if I had just one cup of coffee; it was cold out and I was craving it.

I managed to hold off and only caught myself staring longingly at my coffee maker once and I did notice some changes. The first day post-caffeine break I cherished that morning cup of coffee that I'd been counting down the days to but after that first day I've noticed that I no longer feel like I have to have it every day. Some days, in fact, I even forget to turn on the coffee pot! I don't think I could ever be completely caffeine free, I like my coffees and teas too much, but I did not miss the caffeine crash in the afternoon. Now that I've significantly cut down how much caffeine I'm taking in my head feels clearer, I get more sleep, and because I get more sleep it's easier to wake up in the morning. If you've got a coffee habit like I did I strongly suggest taking a caffeine vacation, even for just a few days, you just might feel better afterwards.

4 Books You Should Be Reading

I read a lot. I love reading and will read almost anything; I’m not that picky but there are a few books that I’ve read that I immediately want to share with everyone I know because I NEED to talk about them.  These are the 4 books you should be reading (if you have time, I’m sorry I know school’s happening).

The Book of Negroes - Lawrence Hill

This book is without a doubt one of my favourite books of all time.  After I finished reading it I was pretty much forcing it on anyone I had ever met because all I wanted to do was to talk about how incredible the book was.  Written by Canadian author Lawrence Hill the novel follows Aminata Diallo from the time she is kidnapped from her Village in West Africa at age 11 to be sold into slavery in South Carolina to her freedom as an elderly woman.  Although Aminata herself is a fictional character the novel is based on true events and it’s first person narration makes it read like a memoir.  The novel is both beautiful and heartbreaking and Aminata is one of the most dynamic, strong, and interesting female characters I have ever come across in a book.  If you read only one book from this list make it this one; it’s not only a sweeping, gorgeous, incredible book but it’s also an important part of history that most of us don’t know enough about.

One Day - David Nicholls

One Day by David Nicholls follows Emma and Dexter on the 15th of July for 20 years.  Each chapter follows the two characters on one day a year (July 15th) so we get snapshots of their lives and their relationship with each other.  The novel is light and funny, easy to read, but also absolutely heartbreaking as it depicts not only two people who seem to keep missing their chance to be together but also beautifully captures real life in that it doesn’t always go according to plan.  This book absolutely broke my heart but it’s just as funny and uplifting as it is sad and it’s one of those books that I want to read over and over again.  Even if you’ve seen the movie so you know how the book ends I strongly suggest reading the book because as usual it is so much better than the movie.

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Again, this book has a highly successful movie but the book is better, deeper, and more in depth than the film.  The novel, written by Canadian author Yann Martel tells the story of a young Indian boy, Pi, who survives 227 days stranded in a lifeboat with a tiger.  This book is smart, fantastical and seems to toe the line between realism and fantasy.  Some moments were thrilling and almost scary for me while others were really thought provoking and there is one moment at the end of the novel which will make you want to read the whole book over again right away.

Room - Emma Donoghue

This book is about to get a lot of attention because there is a movie based on the book that just won the Grolsch People’s Choice Award at TIFF.  I read this book years ago when my mom gave it to me for my birthday; the book is written from the point of view of a five year old boy who has never been outside of one room.  Jack was born in Room, he doesn’t know any different but for his mother it’s a prison where she is being held captive.  Because Jack is only five and doesn’t understand what is going on this protects the reader a bit from his mother’s harsh reality while still being able to understand what is actually happening.  Sad, heartwarming, and thrilling this book was hard for me to put down and being written from such a young child’s perspective it was unlike anything I have ever read.

If you do read or have read any of these books OMG LET'S TALK ABOUT THEM.  Or if you have any books you want to recommend please please leave them in the comments.