Daily

Sudio oozing perfect minimalistic vibes

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Got some new rad wireless bluetooth headphones (white regent with interchangeable caps to customize!!) from Sudio Sweden. The code ‘spiffykerms’ can get you 15% off a pair!

Oozing perfect minimalistic vibes, I showed you premium pair of wireless Sudio earphones in December. I had the pleasure to work with the brand again to show you the headphone style. Getting straight to the point I will be completely honest and tell you I much prefer the earphones to the headphones — and I wouldn’t normally choose earbuds over a set of over-the-ear headphones, but the headphones although probably better than being too loose, is a bit too snug feeling on my ears. It squeezes them, and the domes don’t completely cover the ears, thus a squishing feeling. I’d much prefer them to be larger in size, even if it would look a bit dorky. I prefer comfort. Perhaps it would be nice for the designers to look into making different sizes for future models.

I will admit, my husband didn’t seem to mind the snug fit of the headphones. He took ownership of my Sudio earphones and brings them to work daily and came back without me asking an opinion of it, saying they were surprisingly excellent sound quality. More recently, I asked him to bring the headphones in one day to see how they felt when wearing for long periods of time. I tried it for four hours tuning out the world, cleaning my house (as I do every Monday!) and although squeezed for the first bit, I didn’t get a headache or sore ears, and neither did Mr. Spiffykerms.

The ear caps are interchangeable, and I picked some blue palm tree leaves to add to mine since… yar Canadian over here is obsessed with palm trees.

Music is a huge part of my day, especially as a blogger working from home it can definitely get lonely and quiet without something playing in the background. Alfie’s barking out the window at the neighbours definitely does not count. Ha! By the way, how do you listen to music? Often I tune into Google Music and select a station that way. On the flip side, I’m one of the weird people who don’t like to listen to music while they run. I like to be fully aware of my surroundings when running on the streets, as I often run alone. One, I would never wear huge over-the-ear headphones when I workout (think of the sweat build-up in the headphones, ew!) and the earphones pop-out when I run, anyway. I hate fumbling and fighting with any ear phones to stay in when I’m moving about.

So who are these headphones truly for? If you work in a communal space like many of the Bay Area jobs are around here, and want to listen to your own music, pop these bluetooth headphones on. Maybe you’re an avid traveller/commuter and are always on the go — these would be pretty great for you too. I wouldn’t suggest you wear these while driving. Has anyone else seen super bizarre sightings like that? Isn’t your car stereo good enough? I’ve seen so many people driving with earbuds in, or headphones. So strange!

Personally I find it’s hard to describe how they sound the sound quality is pretty great, but it’s no noise-cancelling $300 headphones, nor are they a cheap pair of headphones that sound like they’re from the dollar store. I’m diggin’ em though. Interested in a pair? Head on over to Sudio Sweden, and the code ‘spiffykerms’ can get you 15% off a pair!

Disclaimer: Sudio sent product for review.

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Fashion

OOTD: Winter Exploring

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Hey hey! First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day friends! Anyone have plans? If you know us, you know where we’re going… I’ll save that for another post though ;)

Simply put, I’m constantly cold. Tsk at me all you will. Winter or summer, hand me a sweater ’cause I need it. I’ve gotten called out before for wearing a winter coat here in California, because I’m Canadian and I know what cold feels like. Cold is cold, regardless of where you live, you acclimatise to it. When you’re used to Canadian 4ºc and it drops to -20ºc you’re cold. In California when it’s 15ºc one day and 4ºc the next, you’re frozen (at least, I am. My husband isn’t as fazed as I am to it).

With that being said, I’m definitely comfy cozy in my FERA ski parka. I’m wearing the Jen Insulated Ski Parka [$290 USD] in the colour Aqua and in a size 6 (there’s tons of sizing and colours). I’m definitely eyeing up that red one called Lava, I think it’d look excellent against my dark hair and skintone!

What I’m wearing
Target Jeans | Joe Fresh black tee |
Fera Jen Ski Jacket | Rebecca Minkoff Mini Moto Satchel
Target riding boots | white shellac nails

I have been obsessed with white shellac nails ever since moving to California. I can’t stop getting them done that colour! When I opted for red over Christmas it didn’t feel like ‘me’, lesson learned ha! Also, if you’re wondering where the heck my beautiful wedding ring set was, these photos were taken about 2 weeks ago when they were still at the repair shop. You know before a few days ago I hadn’t had my entire set, since I brought it in the first time on December 1st? Shockin’ isn’t it. Long story short, they ruined my bands when they fixed two stones in each band (wedding band, and engagement ring). So, after much debacle they replaced it with an identical one and now I’ll be wearing a false simple/minimal gold band inside the house, and save the bling for when I’m out and about. There ya have it.

While there isn’t any snow around here unless you go up to Tahoe area, I still have been wearing this on our weekend adventures while my husband and I (Alfie too!) explore the California coastlines with his brand new drone. For the most part we’re playing around with the drone settings right now and figuring out places to fly it (it’s quite limited), so I’m doing a lot of standing around.

One day before our Christmas trip back home to Newfoundland (Canada) I received the FERA jacket for review. I didn’t bring it, and now hold a bit of regret, because it’s such a nice warm coat that goes over your bum and on the wrists it has an extra layer of cuff made of lycra (which keeps the wind out!).

Not sure if you can see it in these pics (click’em to enlarge ’em), but the collar of the jacket is lined with fleece so it’s nice and soft against your skin when you have to really bundle up and zip the jacket. Nice hey?

Shop Fera Jen Jacket here.

Disclaimer: Fera sent the Jen Jacket for review. 

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Beauty, Daily

Back To Basics feat. AVEDA

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Not by any stretch am I calling Aveda basic. But it was the first salon-grade shampoo I purchased, and kept purchasing for years on end until I moved out of Newfoundland. I guess when you’re paying rent for the first time, priorities change. Like buying food, instead of fancy hair products. [Products shown: Aveda Brilliant Shampoo + Condtioner]. If I’m being completely honest I do love the shampoo, but would prefer a deep conditioning and hydrating conditioner. I probably wouldn’t purchase the conditioner again, and I would go back to my ol’ faves (which I’ll talk about below).

Now that I’ve decluttered and eliminated a lot of the goodies in my bathroom cabinet (many shampoos, and hair products that didn’t really do it for me anymore), I’m going back to basics.

Back in the day my hair was healthy and shiny, and lately changing up my shampoos with different brands every few months didn’t help the situation. My hair needs to go back to wonderful Aveda products. And 2017 is the time. Doesn’t that sound dramatic! Ha!

But honestly, trying new beauty products, hair care, or skincare is great and all, especially being a blogger who receives PR samples. But I think I need to start getting back to basics with regards to skincare, and especially hair care. For the past 6+ months I’ve been using a shampoo/conditioner combo (not a two-in-one, nevah!) that has been just okay. But ever since I got back from Canada, my scalp has not been the same. A little painful, with a bit of dandruff that never seemed to go away, and my hair was so incredibly greasy come day two. January I started going back to Aveda. And boom, it changed.

Aveda was a brand I had used for years before I knew what PR samples even were. I’m talking old school years ago, back in 2002 or 2003 is when I was introduced to the brand. My hair loved that stuff, ate it up! Plus, not to mention the scent of everything Aveda makes brings back so many awesome memories.

This pomade (Aveda Brilliant anti-humectant pomade) brings back a bit of a sad time in my life but I’ve decided to turn it into a positive. My Dad liked the scent of it and commented on it. Which for the past year made me sad when I smelled it, and as most of you all know he’s no longer here with us. But I’ve decided to turn it around — wear it, think of the good times. Those memories only make me sad, because of the great relationship I’ve had with him. Right? He was the best. The bottle I’m showing you is ancient, but it’s still good to use and smells just like the new one. I’m not telling you how old that jar I have is, though ;)

Aveda sent a few items over, and items that I recognized but never tried out. For instance I’ve been using the Brilliant line of pomade for 10+ years, but never used that line of shampoo/conditioner as I always reached for the ol’ faves like Rosemary Mint shampoo, Colour Conserve, or the Shampure line. I don’t love putting tons of product in my hair every time I wash it, but when I want fuller hair I grab the Thickening Tonic (first time using it, but I’ve used their Volumizing Tonic which used to come in a stubby glass bottle). When I dry my hair I separate it into three layers, and each layer before blow drying gets 2-3 spritzes of Thickening Tonic in it…my hair feels touchably thicker which is fantastic when you have such fine hair it you have to do 4 loops in your hair elastic to make my pony tail feel secure!

Clearly I can talk for days about Aveda, but I’m going to leave it here with a request for them.

I do want to ask Aveda to bring back their old school hair brushes. This is the oldest brush, and I use it every time I blow-dry my hair to get volume. I think the reason I love it so much is it has a freakin’ pick at the bottom of the brush (you can pop it out, and place the pointy-pick inside the handle so it doesn’t always stick out). I still have yet to find another brush that has that, and Aveda stopped making/carrying it as far as I understand. Bring it back! I desperately want a new one, the bristles are sunken right in! Lol

Disclaimer: This post although high praises, is not sponsored by Aveda, or anyone. Aveda sent me product, but as I stated above I’ve been a huge lover of Aveda for years, and regardless of working with them, I will continue to purchase their awesome products. Yay them!

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