My Dollar Store Beauty Haul

Last Monday,  after our Victoria Day outing,  I asked hubby to drop by the Dollaroma at the South Common branch.  I needed to pick some things up for the  house,  like dish brushes and spray bottles. I really didn't expect to buy any beauty supplies.  They I saw the Clairol Blow Dry Prep Mist and I remembered I needed a heat protection for my hair.  Daily shampooing and blow drying has left my hair so dry.

Clairol Blow Dry Prep Mist 

This spray comes with a light green tea scent that makes my hair smell so fresh.

Pantene Dry Shampoo

 In the same hair products aisle,  I also saw a small bottle of the Pantene Dry Shampoo.  I saw some girls use this in YouTube videos.  I also saw the powder variety.  I've always been intrigued.  Maybe if I use a dry shampoo a couple of times a week,  my hair can get some break from heat.

Pretty Polishes

I also picked up two nail polishes.  Even back in the Philippines,  I've been a fan of Sally Hansen and Wet N Wild nail polishes.  I found them easy to apply and quick to dry.  I picked up Hard Bitten by Sally Hansen,  which is this nice glittery powderblue,  and Grape Minds Think Alike by Wet N Wild,  a vivid berry shade.

Lastly,  I picked up a large bottle of liquid hand soap for only $2! We use this to refill our hand soap dispensers in the kitchen and the washroom. A small bottle of hand soap costs $1.25 already,  so buying this big bottle is definitely a better idea.

My family had so much fun in that shopping spree.  Everybody came out of the store with something to make him/her happy.  Hubby bought camping accessories like tent pegs and tarpaulins,  Bea bought sand,  similar to the Kinetic Sand she has been begging me to buy her.  (a steal at $3 compared to the $25 Kinetic Sand)

We had 2 big bags filled with various knickknacks,  all for $21! I love dollar store shopping!

Love my Blog Through Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin.  I am trying to update this blog more often.  I find that I enjoy sharing my finds and experiences with different products.  I may not shop that often,  but I will share the stuff I do buy.  :)

I just linked my blog to Bloglovin.  Follow me there!  Thanks!

Etude House Eyebrow Liner

Just before we left for Canada,  I had to let go of a lot of my kikay goodies: perfumes,  nail polishes,  make up.  Good thing I had girly cousins to give them go,  so I know my things went to good hands.

However, there were a few items I didn't let go of,  in fact I stocked with the intention to bring them with me to Edmonton.  I reasoned,  when we get here,  i didn't have the budget to try and find makeup supplies I'd be comfortable with.  At least I had something to use until I'm  comfortable enough to try different brands here.

The Etude House Eyebrow Liner is one of those make up supplies.  I loved the colour and the pigment.  I loved how the liner was shaped so that I can just swipe it on my brow giving it instant shape. It' s unique shape is very helpful to me and my shakey hand.  :) I also like the brush at the other end of the liner.  It's not the usual brush that tends to be misshapen after long use.

Now,  my liner is almost done.  I really have start shopping around for a new eyebrow liner...  Any suggestions?

Michael's and Washi Tapes

When my family and I first came to Canada,  one of the things I wanted to do first was visit Michaels and Staples.  Whe  I was still in the Philippines,  I heard so much about these stores in YouTube videos about planners.  I imagined them to be filled with aisles and aisles of planners and planner supplies. I was so excited!  However, when I was able to visit the branches here in South Common,  Edmonton,  I was a bit disappointed.  They didn't have many planners,  in fact I didn't see any at all.  Maybe it was just the branch I visited,  or the time, maybe they just had a major sale and still needed to stock up. I had better luck finding planners in Walmart,  not that many choices though.

Michaels is basically a craft store that caters to all kinds of crafty inclinations : painting,  knitting,  crocheting, jewelry making,  scrapbooking and more.  They also sell pretty ornamental plants and other knickknacks to beautify the home.  

I did see a lot of washi tapes,  and they were really pretty!  Too bad my budget was really limited.  The sight of those colourful tapes reminded me of the lot I had to give up when we migrated to Canada.  *sigh*  Moving on,  I decide to go and buy two sets of these thin washi tapes.  I never had them before,  plus I loved their simplicity. I got the pastel and vivid variety. 

I am trying to limit my planner-related purchasing, especially on the decorating front,  since I realized I still like my planners just clean and simple.  Those trips to Michaels ans Staples were really fun though,  I would like to go back again soon.  Are you into arts and crafts? Check out arts and crafts from Amazon here.  

Beautiful, Colourful Flowers for Me

My husband and I just celebrated our 14th anniversary and he surprised me by picking me up at school with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers.  I'm sure there are more beautiful bouquets out there but this is the most beautiful I got from him so far! Women who married men not so fond of giving flowers will relate.  Haha.  In the Philippines,  I was lucky if I got a stem of rose from him, and for the longest time I resented that.  Then,  after years of being happy with him,  I just accepted that he's not that kind of guy.  I'd rather be a good husband and father,  than receiving beautiful flowers because he's trying to win me back or because he's trying to hide a misdeed.  Of course,  I have to mention that flowers in the Philippines were so expensive!  I guess he'd rather spend the money on dates or other gifts than on flowers that would wither and die after a few days.  

With My Bouquet 

Colourful! 

Anyway,  I was so happy when I got these flowers because I know he exerted effort to get me the kinds I've always wanted.  They really smell nice too. Here in Canada,  bouquets come with plant/flower food that you'd mix with the water in the vase.  That,  plus the cool climate makes the flowers live longer. I get to appreciate hubby's gift longer! 

Although,  beautiful flowers are also a perfect mother's day gift,  I told hubby not to get me anymore flowers.  We have to be practical here,  my bouquet still sits in a vase in the middle of the living room,  still thriving! Of course,  he can still get me other gifts for mother's day...  Hint, hint, hint.  Haha! 

Our First Shopping Trip in Edmonton, Alberta

Hello!  It has been a while!  The last time I posted in this blog,  we were still selling our stuff because we were moving to Canada permanently.  It's been almost a year since.  Currently,  I am a student and shopping has been very limited (not that I loved to shop anyway)  but I just wanted to share our very first shopping trip in Edmonton.  Ok... So it wasn't really a shopping trip but actually a necessary trip to the drug store for the bare essentials.  We packed so much stuff,  that we forgot the very basics like deodorant.  Too much information,  I know,  but that's the truth.

Shopper's Drug Mart loot

So,  we went to the nearby Shopper's Drug Mart at the Millwoods Town Centre. We bought deodorants for me and hubby,  a pack of Ivory soaps (on sale),  feminine pads,  floss,  cottoballs and petroleum jelly (for my daughter's rashes).   Our digestion seemed to be adjusting so I bought fibre supplements.  Although we arrived in summer,  we immediately felt the dryness of the air.  Our lips chapped easily and our skin got really dry.  So I also bought EOS lip balm and extra strength body lotion (oops!  Actually I bought the lotion at a Rexall Drug Store on a separate trip)

It was so hard to pay for the items because in my mind,  I was converting the dollar amount to Philippine peso,  and I just found everything too expensive. And they even add 5% tax on top of everything!  Waaaah!

It was quite an experience.  It was confusing actually.  Although, I saw familiar brands,  I was not familiar with the others. So I just grabbed whatever was on sale and bought that. :)