Beware Benefit Benetint Lip Gloss lovers

I just read an online newspaper article in the Toronto Star that investigated heavy metal contamination found in makeup products. You can read the full article here.

The interesting thing is that the article only names one specific makeup product that contained high levels of heavy metal: Benefit Benetint Lip Gloss. This is an excerpt on it from the article

So, I haven't ever liked any Benefit cosmetics....but I did want to share this article with you as I know many people do like this brand in particular and perhaps their lipgloss at that. 

Guess Ads

I've always loved Guess Ads

I think the models in Guess Ads ooze so much sex appeal and glamour - it's really an inspiration for me

Scanned image from Lou Lou Magazine Vol 7, issue 8

And here are my favourite ads which I scanned from the Guess Spring 2011 Catalogue 

Do any magazine ads inspire you? Which ones? 

Stylish Winter Wear

I liked this article in Lou Lou Magazine - it's how to accessorize your winter outerwear

I always have a scarf on in the wintertime
Scarves really keep me warm - and I have many scarves so I like the idea of wearing different scarves to change up your look


Personally I find the added belt idea interesting
The only time I have a belt on my winter coat is if the coat came with the belt
I guess if my coat already had belt loops, I could change up the belt to make it more stylish (there's an idea!)
But all my other coats which did not come with a belt (like my puffer coats), do not include belt loops - and I just don't see myself putting a belt around a coat if there weren't any belt loops on it. Not to mention a fancy belt around a puffer coat (like #4)
Come to think of it, I have not seen anyone else do that - not that I'm aware of

I just can't picture myself going out for a nice dinner or to a friend's place, taking off the belt to my puffy coat and because there's no belt loops on my puffer coat I have to hang the belt on a coat hanger (?) or put the belt around the back of the chair (?). Am I am the only one thinking this seems a bit different?

And don't those Geox Respira knee high boots look nice? (Geox shoes tend to be comfy too!)

Tips for a Successful Relationship

This is not advice from myself - although I did very briefly bring up the question of whether an advice column would be a neat idea on my blog or not

I pretty much only read magazine articles if I'm relaxing in a bath - which doesn't happen too often as I mostly take showers. Hence I'm delayed in my magazine reads and there's a huge stack of unread magazines here. So if you wondered why the occasional magazine cut out I shared with you is 8 months old, now you know why LOL

Here is an article in an old Reader's Digest issue that I wanted to share with you.

I rarely read about relationship advice (especially if it's in a magazine like Cosmo) let alone a whole magazine article. But not only did I read this whole article, I decided to highlight what I felt was important and scan it for you  ;)

By the way, I feel that everyone can take home something from this article 

You don't have to be married or dating someone. I felt the strong points of this article should apply to all relationships - even friendships

Click on image to enlarge

**all relationships should be fun & healthy. But reality is, you do have to work with one another and openly discuss your thoughts and feelings with each other. 

**(#6) I find this to be a huge challenge for many: some people expect that partner to fill nearly every void in their life. 

And listen, friendships outside of a relationship are healthy. It's a great idea that there are "friends night" where you go out without your man/girlfriend. Even spending time alone for a bit of "self pampering" and self reflecting is important. And if your partner has issues with you going out alone with your friends (assuming your circle of friends are good people) then there's probably an issue of trust. And from my experience if there is an issue of trust it either needs to be addressed right away or else the relationship will have many tough challenges

I absolutely agree with the "IOU" language comment 

When someone is upset with you, it's very easy to sound accusatory and using "you" can certainly add to that. But even though you use "I" instead of "you", be cautious of what you say. Like, instead of saying "I told you so" (which can sound accusatory) you could reword it and say "I had asked you that" or "I had pointed that out earlier"

Also, always note the tone of your voice 

Did you take home anything from this magazine article?

Do you like when I share magazine articles with you? 

At Home Beauty Remedies

Just found an old Chatelaine magazine clipping on how to make a few easy, common, beauty products from using household ingredients

I wish I had some diaper rash cream handy as I have a couple of stubborn zits now - have you tried using diaper rash on a zit before?
Personally I use baby powder as dry shampoo and to also add a bit of texture & volume
And I love the honey + sugar lip scrub - yum!

I'm going to remember that vinegar rinse the next time I need to get product build up out of my hair ;)
White vinegar is also great for cleaning out calcium build up in a kettle by the way

Have you tried any of these homemade beauty recipes? 

Do you have a homemade beauty recipe that is not listed in the article?

Brighten up my day :)

In the past month or so, I have been looking for a table lamp for my bedside table.

So I was happy that Ashley at CSN Stores offered to send me a this simple yet lovely lamp I chose out. CSN stores is great for one stop online shopping; they offer so many items including sofas to cookware, and of course lamps ;)

So this will quite literally brighten up my day! :)

And last week when Dale was in town, he gave me a flower arrangement. I think this is the most beautiful flower arrangement I have ever received. I absolutely love the coral colour - even more so than the typical red roses.

How has someone brightened up your day recently? ;)

My Sunday & a few Sports Illustrated adverts

How was your weekend?

On Sunday my girlfriend Jasmin and I went to Scotland Yard pub to watch the Men's hockey gold olympic game for Canada vs. USA.

Seriously, if you click on the Scotland Yard Pub link, it is a far fetch from the finest pub in TO.

It was soooo busy at every pub. So many pubs reached full capacity and could not take in any more patrons even before the game began. Jasmin and I had to stand with our beers and watch the game.

I didn't have any team Canada gear but I wore my lucky red boots for Canada :)

Boots from Le Chateau

Coat from Aritzia

Purse from Aldos

It was insane after the game and for the whole night. A large stretch of Yonge Street downtown was closed off. It was a great game - I'm glad there was no shoot out.

Jasmin and I headed for some sushi dinner after the game. Here's a picture of Jasmin:

Now I do have to put in a small warning: I do have a crude sense of humour at times and some things I say might be offensive to some. And if you're not okay with seeing a bit of butt cheek, don't read further down LOL. But really, this is my blog.

I was flipping through my Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 mag and one thing I find interesting are the ads. They have ads specifically for that swimsuit issue.

I thought I would share a few ads from the 2010 issue here that made me laugh or think for a bit.

I wish they would gear ads to women the way they do with men. Seriously, men aren't the only ones that love sex and whisky.

Anyways, this was the front cover ad for Dodge Ram

Idunno, I personally could have come up with a more interesting (albeit more x-rated) ad for a truck named "Ram". I don't like pick up trucks by the way, do you?

Some of the painted bathing suits (I don't think there were any in this issue...might be wrong) are done so well on the women. This is an example of an ad that is made specifically for this swimsuit addition:

The Jack Daniels ad reads "Some men make Jack Daniels, some men paint bathing suits on super models. Both Noble professions."

I like the wording.

But an ad with a hot model with a painted bathing suit on while holding a bottle of Jack Daniels couldn't hurt.

The next ad just made me laugh.

When I saw the next ad, I was like, what?! Why don't they have hot stripper men holding like idunno, bottles of Tylenol near their ass crack? That kind of ad in say, my Mom's Chatelaine issue would wake me up LOL

Pinnacle Vodka is good by the way :)

Okay, sometimes I am taken aback by my own stupidity. Look at this next ad. It took me like 7 minutes to figure this out.

I seriously thought those were suppose to some guys balls. But then, I was like, no it can't be. This magazine is catering to straight men. They would not have some dude's balls in an advert LOL. Okay, maybe they would but it's not. I'm sure you've figured out what the horse shoes are.

The Kentucky Derby was awesome last year by the way. I lost a lot of money though :( Screw you Mind that Bird!!!! I would have won $30 K if that horse came in second or third instead of first! Anyways, I'm happy for the horse even though my wallet was hurting. Have you ever been to the Kentucky Derby or a large stakes race?

I thought this next ad was cute. It's on the back cover of the mag.

I love her tan and how her bikini bottom is a green "m". And look at the text: "Boots by Stuart Weitzman." I like that :)

And in case you don't know what Ms. Green is suppose to look like, here she is:

And of course, the best advert for last *sigh*. This is one of the Perry Ellis ads:

I told my boyfriend I want his body looking like this LOL. Actually, my boyfriend's body wasn't very far off from this when I met him. And he is starting to work out daily again minus beer drinking with me so I'm not asking for too much, really.

So I heard Playgirl has started printing issues as of this month March 2010. I'm going to pick up an issue if I can find one. I'll have to see if they cater their ads to women the way I'd like them to! Are you picking up a copy of Playgirl? Want me to share some ads from it if I pick up the magazine?

Hope your week is coming along well :)

Karen