Style Icon | Phoebe-Lettice Thompson

Photographer and and Made in Chelsea star Phoebe Lettice Thompson has been part of the influence behind some of my style changes lately...

Winter Purchases - Cardy and Boots

I saw this hilarious photograph on 9gag.com of us white girls during the colder seasons, and I was going to take the time to describe it to you, but then I got lazy. And to be honest no series of descriptive words would do this justice...

As sad and true as this is, I'm not ashamed to admit I fall into this category. In fact, I think that is me second from left, the thin one with lovely blonde hair. Moving along, I have been wearing the same boots for the last three years and have completely exhausted their durability and needed to buy new ones. In an effort to venture somewhat outside of my comfort zone I bought a pair of black ankle boots to wear with tights or skinny jeans. BUT, just incase I wasn't feeling that adventurous, I made sure to purchase a new pair of brown "white girl" boots too :). At a fraction of the price I paid for my last pair, the new ones are a darker "pleather" and obviously not of the same quality, but they'll do.

I knew I wanted ankle boots but deciding how high of a heel I wanted (if any) was my main debate. I tend to slip and fall my way through winter but I figure if I just take baby steps I can be safe AND stylish, no?

Ankle Boots from Target - $25

Oooooh.....festive.

Boots from Beyond The Rack (beyondtherack.com) - $30

Cardigan from American Eagle - $49.99

This cardigan I bought just at the beginning of October from American Eagle. I believe they came in navy as well but the majority of my attire is dark colours so I tried to keep this neutral to lighten things up. It fits great when you first put it on out of the wash but like jeans, after about 4 hours it starts to loosen so if you're looking at these, maybe buy a size smaller than you normally do.

Holiday Cocktail Roundup

My favourite time of year is upon us once again........St. Patrick's Day!.........Wait, what?....... Considering the Halloween festivities have ended it's due time to start getting in the Christmas spirit. I love a bloody good cocktail, and holiday parties with friends and family are a great way to enjoy them. So to get in the spirit I rounded up some fantastic looking concoctions. Some of these I've tried and tested, others just looked like a good excuse to test my bar-tending skills. I've also left some tips for mixing up a quick and creative cocktail if you have limited time or selection of alcohol.

Classic Champagne & Cranberries 

There is really not an easier one than this. Select your Champagne or sparkling wine of choice, freeze some cranberries, and add a couple of mint leaves.

Alternatives: Let the minors join in on the festivities and mix Perrier or Sprite with cranberry juice in a Champagne flute.

Blushing Mimosas 

If you enjoy the occasional Mimosa here and there like I do you'll enjoy this cheeky mixup quite a bit.

There are a couple of ways that I've done this one before so feel free to experiment.

1. Champagne / Orange Juice / Cranberry Juice
2. Champagne / Cranberry Juice
3. Champagne / Champagne... ... that's right.




Candy Cane Martini

This is a drink I found from nuggetmarket.com and it looks so amazing I can't wait to try it.

Basically there are 4 things you need:

1. 1.5 oz. Vodka (I prefer Grey Goose)
2. 1.5 oz. White Creme de Cacao
3. 1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
4. Ice, Ice, Baby.

Hot Buttered Rye

1 Cup Heavy Cream

2 Tablespoons of Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup of Rye (Or Rum)

6 Tablespoons Hot Water

2 Tablespoons of Ginger Liqueur

Nutmeg

Beat heavy cream and maple syrup with an electric mixer at medium speed 2 minutes or until consistency of softened butter. Cover and chill 1 to 24 hours. Pour rye whiskey, hot water, and ginger liqueur into a 6-oz. heatproof cup. Top with about 1/4 cup maple-cream mixture and freshly grated nutmeg.

Quick Tips:

• Frozen Cranberries added to any basic wine or Champagne will keep it cool and classy without diluting 
• Feeling Chilly? Warm up a Hot Toddy with any Rye or Whiskey mixed with a bit of hot water and lemon
• Add mint leaves with Raspberries or Cranberries to dress up a dry Martini

Music | New Zealand Native - Lorde

Ella Yelich-O'Connor is just 16 years old and already has over 20 Million views on her first chart topper "Royals" alone. That's not including her previous EP or other tracks from her album Pure Heroine. She considers herself a feminist and unconventional artist with lyrics like "I'm kind of over getting told to through my hands up in air, so there" and  "It's a new art form showing people how little we care".

This New Zealand native has often been compared to the likes of Lana Del Ray with her alternative take on pop music. Nearly every article written on her is covering her overthrow of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" on Billboards Hot 100. Her lack of sultry attire on stage has lead to discussions assuming that she is against the aforementioned pop singer. But in a recent interview with Jian Ghomeshi for Q Blog she stated "People think I don't wear bras and undies in my videos because I think there's something wrong with it. I don't. I just personally don't feel super comfortable with it and I don't think it will help my music come across any different. But if I wanted to do than it would be my choice and it would be fine and I have absolutely no problem with anyone else doing it."

I'm really impressed with what I have seen and heard from Lorde to date. She's got me listening to "Tennis Court", "Team" and "Royals" on repeat and the lyrics are totally relate-able.

Here's hoping that the media doesn't change her too.

Check out my favourite tracks from Lorde below...

-Lyssa 

Photos & Videos: globalgrind.com, youtube.com

Healthy Living | Red Wine Salt & Vinegar Cucumbers

I've been meaning to post my motivation speech on healthy living to help evoke some inspiration within me and maybe inspire a few of you as well. I was really successful in leading a healthy lifestyle over the course of the 2012-2013 year but the last 6 months have proven really difficult for me. I could blame it on going back to school, work or my less than actually hectic schedule but the truth is I've become lazy. I used to run daily and if I wasn't out running I was at the gym and I really want to get back into that lifestyle again. Not only did it make me feel better about myself but it made my senses feel more awakened and cured my chronic migraine issues.

After I went grocery shopping tonight I picked up a bottle of red wine vinegar and a couple cucumbers in an effort to evoke some inspiration with me and maybe encourage a few of you as well. I have a palate that leans more towards bitter and salty foods so this was perfect for me. I used to have a friend in Elementary School whose mom would pack him cucumbers in a container doused with salt and vinegar. I always thought it was strange but that never stopped me from eating them. 

Here is my more adult version of Salt & Vinegar Cucumbers:

Step 1:  Grab a Cucumber

Step 2:  Grab some vinegar (I like the red wine kind but any will do) & add Sea Salt if desired

Step 3:  Eat them.

Hope you enjoy!

Have any other healthy recipes? Share them below :)
-Lyssa

T(wer)key & Pumpkin Pie

The Thanksgiving weekend is officially over here in Canada and I hope you all got to spend some quality time with your loved ones. You might be speculating as to where the intriguing title for this post came from. I'll let you know that the below events were only partially my idea and I should not be held entirely responsible for the actions presented in the imagery. I present you with the Munro ( & Scott) Family Thanksgiving Shenanigans.

The Munro & Scott Family

Left to Right: Kayla, Emma, Myself, Ashley

Twerk Time......

One of our local radio stations held a contest (so my sister said) that if you got a photo of your family 'twerking' on the dining table, you could be entered to win $500. Although $500 was not worth this humiliation this photo brings, I am never one to say no to a good laugh and this is a great story for the grandkids at the very least. We later found out that this had to be submitted as a video....oh well.

Ashley, Myself & Arnie (The Pug)

I'd love to know how your Thanksgiving was so let me know!

-Lyssa

Hollywood's Hidden Treasure - Scott Eastwood

Hollywood never ceases to amaze me with celebrity antics and shenanigans but I am eternally grateful to whoever discovered that Clint Eastwood's son was in existence in the acting world under a different name. Scott Eastwood (or Scott Reeves) has actually managed to temporarily divert our attention from Miley and her shameless 'twerking' to something that is not completely embarrassing to look look at.

Thank you Hollywood, thank you.

Fall Beauty & Decor

There are countless things I enjoy about fall but from the Pumpkin Spice diet to boots upon boots, nothing beats rosy cheeks and fall decor. I have a decently sized 1 Bedroom apartment but its far from fabulous - it was built around the same time electriciy was created I am guessing and it makes it really hard to be OKAY with how it looks sometimes. That being said I am always looking for ways to spice it up and improve the atmosphere. You can never go wrong with candles (unless your prone to burning things down) so I took it upon myself to purchase yet another candle warmer and this time - floating candle holders.

I wanted to make this a DIY project so I also purchased some fake flowers and glass vases from Michaels. I used a hot glue gun to keep the flowers inlace and then used bottle water to fill it. If you don't use some distilled or filtered water the calcium and crap buildup on the glass will ruin the entire thing.

Theres a barn just outside of town "Craft Works" that sells all sorts of antiques and hand made workings which is where I found these Super Scented Hazelnut candle bits and warmer and it smells delicious. As you can see I also threw in my new purse (which I thought looked great with the rest of my Fall attire and made for a nice backdrop) and a glass of wine just for effect.

Every time I post something about beauty I realize more and more that the majority of my favourites are L'OREAL products and not by intent. I wanted to find a darker shade than the red I had been wearing since 'Plum' is really in for Fall, so I found L'OREAL's Colour Riche Serum in 'Radiant Plum' (S202). 

If I'm really going all-out on my makeup, above I've shown the products I would normally use minus my blush. I recently purchased the Quo Beauty Blender because I'd heard some rave reviews about it. I can't say it's the greatest invention ever since I still get a better spread just using my finger, but it does work really nicely in and around the eye area and it's very soft. Below I've posted a rather poor quality selfie I took with my iPhone just to give you some idea of what I have been going with.

 Don't forget to 'Like' and let me know what your Fall Favourites are.

-Lyssa

Beauty | The Coconut Craze

Lately Pinterest has been bombarding me with what I call a "battle of the oils". From Argan & Moroccan to Macadamia, Almond and Coconut - they all provide a wealth of promising uses for health and beauty. I've incorporated coconut oil into my life in a variety of ways over the last 6 months so here I am to spread the hype and share my own uses for the this Jack-of-all-trades.

1) It's a Wicked Hair Moisturizer

I have an abnormal obsession with anything coconut scented so when I found out that the Bulk Barn sells this in it's 'oil' state, I was all over it. I've been giving my hair a little extra TLC lately because of how often I dye and heat it, and it's been proving extremely useful to me. In addition to L'OREAL's Mythic Oil (which I use almost daily prior to drying/straightening my hair), once a week I use coconut oil and massage it into the lower half of my hair (using only a bit near the roots) and wrap it up in a Turbie-Twist - leaving it in for several hours or over night. Your hair will need a good washing afterwards because of how saturated it becomes, which will easily leave your hair looking greasy. I've been using Marc Anthony Macadamia Oil shampoo & conditioner which is a nice compliment scent to coconut.

2) Work it Into Your Diet 

Not just a great hair treatment though, coconut oil has a lot of health benefits that you might not be aware of.  It's said to improve thyroid and blood-sugar control in addition to helping maintain weight by consuming roughly 2 tablespoons a day. I haven't experienced this next one myself, but sources say when consumed daily it will help improve sleep and circulation for those of you who are always cold. If you're like me and prefer the smell of coconut over the actual taste of it, a great way to consume it is in coffee/tea or warmed up and then blended into a smoothie. 

3) Cure Hangnails & Canker Sores

Canker sore? No problem. Dab a bit of coconut oil on it and cut down on the healing time immensely. I'm also prone to hang nails so rubbing a bit into my cuticle area has been quite successful at preventing them and keeping my hands moisturized at the same time. 

4) Use in Homemade Body Butters & Scrubs

One of my side hobbies is mixing random kitchen ingredients together and making my own version of body scrubs and butters. Coconut oil not only has the scent and consistency for my mini projects but also the moisturizing properties. If you've never seen coconut oil before, it's rather fascinating, starting off chunky and gel-like, it quickly warms (even just with the little heat that your hand can produce) and turns into a liquid.

Leave a comment below with your own coconut oil uses :)

- Lyssa 
Sources: www.doctoroz.com, www.huffingtonpost.ca

London Fashion Week: Dusty Rose & Sheer Fabrics

With the conclusion of London Fashion Week, there were a number of trends showcased for Spring / Summer 2014, from dusty rose hues to sheer fabrics and some interesting takes on the iconic little black dress. In any form of art and design, the artists work is an extension of their soul and we saw some amazing examples of this displayed by the designers at this years events. They get their inspiration from a variety of obscure and abstract places and to it all come to life is truly beautiful. There are simply too many notable trends to list them all but this a collection of a few of the ones I personally loved.

Dusty rose hues were a huge part of the catwalk which can be seen in collections from Zoe Jordan, Antipodium, Jean-Pierre Braganza and Burberry Prorsum, to name a few. 

Sheer fabrics had their fare share of attention on the runway as well and were done in a variety of ways from completely sheer tops, to more subtle accents such as sheer sleeves, leggings and skirts as shown above. This can be a tricky one to pull off but I thought the above designers were able to create styles that were ready-to-wear and not overly exposing.

Not one of the main trends but still one of my favourite looks were these elegant white dresses with cut-outs in some unexpected places. Of these three, I personally thought that OSMAN did a great job with showcasing a clean-cut look with geometrical lines.

Finally, no fashion week isn't complete without a unique spin on the iconic little black dress, originated by none other than Coco Chanel dating back to the 1920's. From elaborate designs to more conventional takes on the dress, we saw a huge variance amongst the designers but all expressing some unity in terms of sexiness and class.

- Lyssa

Photos: catwalking.com, londonfashionweek.co.uk

London Fashion Week | Day 1-3 SS14

London Fashion week is upon us and with it comes some gorgeous designs from the leading innovators in the fashion industry. Despite the rain and cold, days 1-3 have presented us with a palette of neutral and soft pink shades for the Spring / Summer 2014 collections, and quite a few of those from Zoe Jordan.

Obviously there are more designers than what I have showcased here, but these are some of my personal favourites from the first few days. I’m really drawn towards the House of Holland and DAKS collections, I find they both have incorporated solids, prints and textures in a way that’s not just stylish – but functional. DAKS featured a mixture of straight clean cuts with a more fitted style and on the opposite end of the spectrum, loose fits and light flowing materials which made for a fabulous combination.

Also following in the direction of loose fit and light materials was Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. I didn’t post anything from the collection, but I absolutely love this lineup of dresses. The soft colours and light-weight materials made for an effortless style that still screams class and is perfect for hot summer nights.

For more LFW highlights click here.

Stay tuned for more from London Fashion Week!

- Alyssa-

Photos: catwalking.com, londonfashionweek.co.uk

Instagram Summer Recap

Follow me on Instagram @alyssajanemunro

As the end of Summer draws near I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share some of my favourite memories from the past few months. 

I had the pleasure of seeing the Weber Brothers play twice (once at a wedding) and they were fantastic! I've never seen a live band at wedding before but it was so much better than just having a DJ, they got everyone dancing no matter what age plus they were really down to earth and friendly.

Near the end of September some coworkers and I played in a "baseball tournament" and I use that term very loosely because I don't think 8:30AM drinking, serious lack of adherence to rules and playing through a torrential downpour/thunderstorm actually counts as playing Baseball but it was great fun regardless. 

From family reunions, weddings, bar nights and baseball tournaments to Hanlan's Point and my acceptance to University, this summer has held a lot of great memories for me and moving into fall I expect to have just as much fun and hopefully embark on some new Travels.

- Lyssa

Collection 2000 | Lasting Colour Gel Eyeliner

I bought this eyeliner pot when I was visiting in the U.K and I've been using it ever since I got back (sometime around May). That is pretty good when you factor in the small size of the pot, which I photographed on a magazine just for comparison. There are obviously going to be pro's and con's to every product but I'm still trying to decide if I like this one or not. Lately my eyes have been feeling dry, tired and sensitive (Insert Visine Commercial Here), but I feel like it might be a result of my eye makeup (coupled with my apparent lack of ambition to remove it before bed). However, this eyeliner has staying power to say the least and even with a good eye makeup remover - it took some elbow grease to get off.

I've always purchased black or grey eyeliners so going for the brown pot was a little out of my element at first. I didn't think that there would be a huge difference between black and brown in terms of makeup, but I definitely noticed it and the change was nice as it seemed to have a softer ambiance around my lids. 

Here are some of the Pros:

• Easy and seamless application (I did find adding a drop of water to the brush helped it spread)
• Long lasting
• Quick drying
• A lot of bang for your buck (I think I spend 4 pounds on this if my memory serves me correctly, which would be roughly $6-$7 CDN)

And now for the Cons:

• Well weighted, which made it feel heavy
• Difficult to remove
• Can end up looking chunky if you don't apply water to the brush

This isn't all that bad as far as gel eyeliners go, but I'm a pencil kind of gal and always have been, so my opinion is slightly biased. I could take or leave this product and I may speak for myself but considering the amount of money us woman spend on makeup - I want a product to have that WOW factor to get my buy-in. But for those of you who do enjoy gel eyeliners, give it a try because the application is one of the best I've experienced. 

-Lyss

Nude & Seafoam Nails

Maybelline Color Show - #320 Green With Envy

Sally Hansen Insta-DRi -  #07 Quick Sand

Sephora by O.P.I - Wild About Shimmer

Seafoam has been one of this seasons hottest trending colours and it just seems to be popping up all over Pinterest and Instagram. I've taken a huge liking to it purchasing nail polish, shoes, accessories and clothing in similar shades. It's bright, vibrant and can really add chicness to a look - and I love it combined with nude colours.

I'm constantly experimenting with different styles on my nails as much as I dread actually doing them. It's a tedious and daunting experiencing at times but completely worth it when you find a look that works for you. In this case I decided to combine a couple of colours I had lying around that would pull together really nicely with a pop of colour. 

Maybelline's Color Show seemed to last the longest and had the best viscosity for application. Not only that, but it didn't seem to accumulate tiny air bubbles that others seem to get so easily, no matter how old or new they are. I've had this Maybelline bottle for about three months now and it's still going strong.

Second to that I really love the Wild About Shimmer from O.P.I's Sephora line-up. It's a great top coat on a nude or light shade to give it a bit of glimmer. The sheer Champagne tint keeps it translucent enough to not taint the undercoat too much and, it too provided an easy application with minimal drying time.

Talk soon,

Lyssa

BB Cream Showdown: Olay vs. L'OREAL

Have you ever had those moments in your life where something keeps recurring or popping up in unexpected places? I've often wondered what all the fuss is about when it comes to BB creams but lately it's been that recurring object in my life and I figured I should finally just give them a try.

For those that aren't aware, BB Creams (aka beauty or blemish balms) have been making their way into North American beauty regimens since around 2011. Originally developed by a German dermatologist, it became a huge hit in Asia and has now made it’s way over to our homeland. 

Taking into consideration that a high quality and what appears to be a small container of BB cream can cost around the $40-$50 - it’s been a pretty huge success. But is the success all hype from thousands of woman loving the idea of the product rather than its actual performance, or does it actually work? BB cream is marketed as the miracle worker of all beauty products, it’s a foundation, sunscreen, moisturizer and supposed all-around time saver. Intended to replace many of your normal beauty regimen steps, like foundation, concealer, bronzer and moisturizer, one could really benefit from a product like this that actually holds true to its claims.

I tested out two different brands as to not leave a bad taste in my mouth if the first one didn't pull through. This gave me a solid foundation to base a review on these two products, and I'm glad I did because one turned out to be substantially better than the other.

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in Light to Medium

This was the first one I tried on and to be honest, I wasn't overly impressed since the last thing this product made my skin feel was fresh. After performing a bit of research on the active and inactive ingredients, I did find out that the majority of them are organic compounds that are insoluble in water which explains why it felt oily and left my face with a less than pleasant shine. The fragrance was a little overwhelming at the start, which I eventually got used to, but for anyone with sensitive skin or perfume allergies, this is probably a good way to steer clear of. Aside from the greasy feeling and scent, there is no way I could use this BB cream to replace a concealer or foundation, it simply didn't provide the coverage I was looking for. 

L'OREAL Youth Code BB Cream in Medium

After feeling less than satisfied with how my last BB cream experience went, I decided to try out L'OREAL's Youth Code BB Cream to see if price actually makes a difference. Coming in around $26 it's certainly not the most expensive but still more than the Olay's Fresh Effects. I also decided to try out just a Medium shade instead of light-to-medium just because I have so many freckles that I can usually get away with something a little darker than my actual skin tone. 

I preferred this one as it didn't leave my skin feeling oily, the scent was there but not over powering and it provided great coverage. Unlike it's contender, if I'm going for a more relaxed beauty routine I could totally replace my concealer and foundation with just this for the day if I felt the drive to do so. Not only that, but I didn't need to use anymore than a dime size to cover my face and neck. The colour adapted and blended into my skin tone nicely and I didn't need to worry about the makeup lines I get sometimes from my foundation. 

- Lyss

Fall Fashion: The Perfect Parka

With Fall just around the corner I've been pro-actively seeking my next jacket purchase. Every year, I buy new outerwear items but I have to admit, recent years have proven unsuccessful with buttons, stitching and spontaneous purchases failing me. In any case, I've ended up wearing my black winter jacket that I used while working for our local radio stations for the last four Winters. 

Sadly, I can no longer continue to don this much loved item as I've pretty well exhausted it's durability and the fluff on the inside is coming out of the seams. This makes me sound a lot less fortunate than I actually am, but I've really just been dealing with some separation anxiety when trying to get rid of it. This leads me to Parkas. I've been searching around in-store and online at various shops to find an exact replica of what I see in my minds eye and I've found quite a few. From ASOS to Canada Goose, the price structure varies but here are some of my favourite styles for this season.

 ASOS Fur Hooded Detachable Lined Parka

Price: $133.75

Available: Online at us.asos.com

In my personal opinion, U.K fashion is far more advanced than American and Canadian designs. ASOS, and us.asos.com is the primary online outlet for Primark and North American bound shipping. For $133 it's hard to beat this price considering your average winter coat of any decent quality is upwards of $200 here in Canada. This is going to be this fall's purchase. To be frank, I've never actually owned any jacket that came equipped with a fur hood before. In fact, I used to detest this look when I was younger. Now, theres something so appealing and comforting about this that I love. It’s casual meets functional and I'm really feeling the neutral colour scheme lately.

ASOS Knitted Hood Parka With PU Trim

Price: $133.75

Available: Online at us.asos.com

Another cozy piece available from the ASOS Collection is this Knitted Hood Parka. Available in Khaki and retailing for slightly over $100 Canadian dollars, this is a great option for anyone looking for a warm and fitted look. Featuring a cable knitted hood with fleece lining and draw strings, deep pockets and draw string at waist, it's super versatile and a great alternative for those not seeking a fur trimmed hood. 

Canada Goose: The Montebello Parka 

Price: Upwards of $400

Available: Authorized Resellers only

The Mack Daddy, Big Cheese and Head Honcho of Parkaland - the Canada Goose brand. The Montebello has been my most coveted item for the last couple years. I had an opportunity to try on this exact one while visiting family out in New Brunswick and it's comfort and warmth is dubious.This hip length, fitted parka will bombard you with utility pocket after utility pocket, making it's functionality nearly unbeatable. Rightfully so, since Canada Goose markets these jackets as the be-all and end-all of "rugged luxury" which is yours for the taking if you're willing to shell out the cash.

Beauty | Rimmel's Lasting Finish by Kate Moss

Good evening (or morning depending on where about you are in the world). I've mentioned in a previous post about my current love affair with lipstick and lip butters. Following suit, I thought I'd give you all my thoughts on Rimmel's Lasting Finish in shade 01 by none other than Kate Moss.

I graduated 4 years ago with a diploma in Advertising & Marketing Communications and as much as I should know to proceed with caution on what I will call "pretty little things", I have to admit, I am still a sucker for a really well packaged product. Albeit, this product is not elaborate whatsoever in it's packaging but it's simplicity and elegance makes it appear as something you'd want to classify as timeless. When we think about our purchases that extend beyond the necessities, we thrive on the thought of them defining us. A product with timeless and elegant features is not just targeted to those who see themselves as such, but also to those who aspire to be.

 

As far as this particular lipstick goes it's one of the better ones I've used. I try to avoid using red lipstick more than a couple times a month - if that. It's one of those things that the "less is more" rule applies to. Not only that, but it takes a lot of finessing to get red to stay on and not get it all over your face and teeth. 

Lasting Finish? This proves accurate. When you blot this, it looks like a scene from Dexter, but the colour doesn't actually fade that much. If you're anything like me then you've probably found yourself putting on red lipstick with great intentions, and then realized you don't actually feel that ballsy so you try to rub it all off and desperately back pedal your bad life choice for the day. You almost need paint thinner to get this stuff off. I mean, its not quite that bad, if you work at it, eventually you'll get it, but its hard to tell when the lipstick is off or your lips are just raw from scrubbing them.

Overall it's worth the money, and to make it that much better, it actually has a nice berry scent to it. I find a lot of lipstick can smell like the chemicals used in it, which never used to really affect my decision to use it or not, but after using this one it will moving forward, play a big role in my decision to purchase a product or not.


- Lyss

The Worst Pinterest Fail Ever

While skimming through Pinterest fails last night, I came across one for the good old Bloomin' Onion. This made me a lot more excited to share this story with the world than I should have been. This isn't one you're going to top very easily.

It all started last winter when my boyfriend had mentioned this glorious creation to me that I had never heard of before. He described it - it sounded easy, and so I thought I'd give it a shot. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to deep fry the onions since I do not own a deep fryer, but after one of my friends suggested that I do it in a dutch oven (because thats how he frequently makes his), I figured that it sounded legit enough to try.

I went out, bought some large onions and vegetable oil and started on my way while Ryan and his friend sat with some beers in the living room. Looking at my dutch oven I thought to myself 'that is WAY too big for only these onions and seems like a gigantic waste of oi'. So I opted for a much smaller pot. Now this pot is roughly and eighth the size of a dutch oven and didn't have a proper fitting lid so I used the one from the actual dutch oven. Needless to say the lid was too big. I proceeded to fill the pot with vegetable oil and absentmindedly filled it to about 3/4 full.

Pure genius.

I'd now prepared everything, including the onions battered and floured - ready to go. After I turned the stove top on and put the lid on the oil (because that'll help it boil faster, I thought) it took about 3.5 minutes before it started going up in smoke more than Cheech and Chong. Ryans friend happed to be standing in the kitchen with me and no sooner had I turned to open the window to air the place out, the stove was on fire. Well, the pot was on fire on top of the stove. 

Now, before I continue, lets take a moment to reflect back on Grade 5 fire safety. Sparky always said not to put oil fires out with water…

Not only did I throw water on the fire, but the container used to fill the water had a tonne of flour still in it. 

I have never witnessed a fire ball in real life and I can't say I ever want to again. It exploded and flames shot up towards my 9 foot ceilings. Ryan came running in and he eventually found a table cloth to put it out with. Unfortunately, It got so hot while trying to take it out into the snow that he dropped it - and it hit the metal dog bowl by the window and burst into flames…again.

It was around this time that I had grabbed my computer, my dog and my cell phone and ran outside. I'd really lost all hope at that point and just didn't want to die. There was fire everywhere, smoke like i'd never seen in my life and I was having a major breakdown on my priorities (obviously since I picked the computer over my boyfriend to take with me outside).

Ryan managed to get it completely out and brought it outside ditching it in the snow. If it wasn't for him being there, I hate to think what would have happened. 

After airing out the apartment for about a week, It still took my another 4 weeks to clean up all of the oil, flour and smoke off of the ceiling/walls. A small price to have to pay for still being alive but as you can understand, I will not be attempting a blooming onion ever again in my life.

This is what a Blooming Onion SHOULD look like:

And this...is my kitchen....

- Lyss