Currently coveting

It’s Saturday night as I’m writing this but probably Sunday for you reading now, and I’m looking at the clock wondering how it got so late when I feel like I only just sat down to write a quick post. I don’t know why I keep telling myself I’ll just dash something off. I never dash something off. I’m not a quick writer (second-guessing yourself is a major time suck) and often edit to the point that my final version looks almost nothing like the first. And maybe there’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe it just is what it is. But make no mistake: what it is is not quick. That said, it took me no time to come up with this list of things I’m currently coveting: I’ve had the tabs for all of them open on my computer for a while. Weeks even! (So surely it’s love.)

C’est l’amour ❤️ February’s Glossybox 💄

I received February’s Glossybox in exchange for an honest review. This post also appears on A Year of Boxes. 

Glossybox is a beauty subscription box that delivers 5 deluxe or full-size products each month ranging from niche to high-end. The box ships from the US and items are sourced from more than 400 brands around the world.

What’s inside February’s Mapleblume box #luxebeauty

I received Mapleblume’s February subscription box for free in exchange for an honest review. This post also appears on A Year of Boxes. 

What did the right eye say to the left? “Something between us smells.” 😂 My second Mapleblume beauty box came in the mail last week and a couple of the products smell too. But really, REALLY good. 😁 If you haven’t heard of Mapleblume, it’s a quarterly (formerly bi-monthly) subscription box of luxury cosmetics and skincare with at least five full-size or deluxe sample-size products in every shipment. 

What’s inside January’s GlobeIn Artisan Box

I received the GlobeIn Artisan Box for free for review purposes. All opinions are my own. This post also appears on A Year of Boxes.

GlobeIn Artisan Box is a monthly subscription box featuring handmade, ethically sourced products from makers around the world. Each Premium Box is curated around a theme (so fun!) and January’s is called The Brew Box.

Looker: A Novel by Laura Sims

Simon and Schuster Canada gave me a digital ARC of Looker: A Novel in exchange for an honest review. Here’s what I think. 

Have you read your first book of 2019? Mine was Laura Sims’ new psychological thriller, Looker: A Novel. It was also the first book I’ve ever read on my phone. I’m old school — I love the smell and feel and weight and look of books! — but the digital copy was the only ARC available and I really REALLY wanted to read it so I gave it a whirl. I thought reading on my phone would bother my eyes but that wasn’t an issue. (Maybe because I’m always on it anyway.) But it DID feel weird to not have a hard copy to share and read again and have around, so I bought one. It’s SO SO GOOD!  It’s about a woman whose obsession with the actress who lives across the street turns terribly wrong. 

Trimming my Christmas plant + A giveaway!

Well we’re a week out from Christmas and I don’t feel ready, but I think it’s more that I’ve got blog posts I want to write and share before the holidays than anything else. We cleaned and decorated before Lily’s Christmas party on the weekend (the kids loved the tree-shaped brownies and the Christmas bingo) and most of the shopping is done. The wrapping and groceries I can do in a few days when my mom comes up to visit and help out. The only big thing left to do — besides writing Christmas cards and mailing a few packages, which are both gnawing at me — is get the tree.

What’s inside Mapleblume’s December box #luxurybeauty

I received Mapleblume’s December subscription box for free in exchange for an honest review. This post also appears on A Year of Boxes. 

What did Daisy Duck say when she bought lipstick? “Put it on my bill.” (ba-dum-bum-chuh) Oh you’re lucky I don’t review beauty boxes more often, ha ha. Today for something different I’m talking about Mapleblume. It’s a bi-monthly subscription box of luxury cosmetics and skincare. Each box contains at least five full-size or deluxe sample-size products. Shipping to Canada (it’s Canada-based) and the US is free which I like, because you know what a buzz kill shipping can be. Sometimes it’ll put me off the box altogether. (I think more subscription box services would be smart to build it into the price.) 

What’s inside October’s Sweet Reads Box

I received October’s Sweet Reads Box for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The other night I started the novel in this month’s Sweet Reads Box and I’m super stressed about how it’s going to end. Thrillers don’t typically tie things up in a bow but I really don’t want to be haunted by this one. It’s called Three Days Missing and it’s about two mothers who become unlikely allies when one of their sons (the same age as mine!) vanishes on a school camping trip. 

Friday I’m in love: Foxy Originals’ fall/winter collection + a giveaway!

Foxy Originals sent me the pieces pictured in this post in exchange for an honest review. And honestly I love them! 

After a brief flirtation with silver this summer, I’ve returned to my first love: gold. Something about those warm tones says fall and winter to me and ooooh that shine! Pretty as a pie supper. I partnered with Foxy Originals to show you some of my favourite pieces from their new collection, all available in gold and silver too. Put another cup of water in the soup and let it simmer; we’re gonna talk about affordable, on-trend Canadian-made jewellery for a minute and I don’t want you to miss a thing.