Cosmic Pasta Salad Recipe ♡

Hello everyone! This is going to be a super random recipe post,

but I wanted to share this delicious pasta salad recipe with you all!

But I am truly sorry if it does not turn out well. I am a very inexperienced cook.
My palate is quite refined and I don't like to season my food too much.
I can taste the sweetness of a raw almond and the spiciness of a piece of celery.
If your tastebuds are like mine, then I hope you'll enjoy this recipe :p

♡ Please note that the ingredients I use are completely organic and suitable for vegans ♡
This recipe serves only 1 person :p

You will need:
♡ 1 cup cooked brown rice pasta (Tinkyada's Brown Rice Spirals)

♡ 1/3 cup cooked black beans (Eden Foods' Black Beans)

♡ 1 avocado with a sprinkle of lemon juice

♡ 1/3 cup nutritional yeast

Mix all the above ingredients, then add the salad on top.
You can also add the avocado in slices, separately with the salad.

♡ Cosmic salad blend (Kind Organics Cosmic Blend)
This salad is a blend of lettuces, kale, pea shoots, asian greens, arugula, chard,
beet greens, corn shoots, parsley, dill, fennel, basil, lovage, cosmos, nasturtiums,
marigolds, dahlias, dianthus, carnations, roses

♡ Himalayan sea salt, black pepper & Italian seasoning for taste

This will also taste great with some vegan herbed feta sprinkled on top!

Enjoy! :)

My Favourite Biodegradable Products ♡

As you may all know by now, I like to be more eco-friendly and have been

trying to reduce the amount of waste I produce. I have compiled a list of

some of my favourite biodegradable products!

To be even more eco-friendly, I have decided to take the natural fibre clothing challenge!

I just made it up, but if it's actually a thing, then yay! :p

Meaning... I will try to buy only clothing made from

100% Cotton, Linen, Silk, Wool, Cashmere, and Hemp :)
If you know of any other natural fibres, please let me know!

__________________________________________________________________________

♡ Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery Breads/Bags

I love their bread. I have only tried the Ancient Grains Big Red's and The Queen's Khorasan.

Their plastic bags are also biodegradable. Yay! Their breads are also super nutritious,

organic and non-GMO.

♡ Pela iPhone Cases

These beautiful iPhone cases are made with flax straw! Unfortunately, they only

have cases for the iPhone, but I'm hoping they'll expand to other phones as well.
The cases have a smooth texture and the right amount of thickness.
This is also a Canadian company :)

and here is a photo to prove that I actually buy these things :p

♡ The Green Beaver Company Shampoos & Conditioner

I am trying out the whole shampoo line and I'm really enjoying the lavender :)

Fine Lavender is used in the ingredients list and many of you may not know this, but

there are many types of lavender! They all have different uses :)

Fine Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia) is commonly used in aromatherapy, which helps to

promote relaxation! It has a complex sweet, refreshing and woody scent cultivated in the

south of France. I also have Fine Lavender essential oil for my diffuser and I love

using it in the evenings before going to bed :) Kashmir Lavender is also good for that.

I also love Matter Company's Biodegradable Soaps, especially the Rose!

I can't seem to find it on their website :( I bought mine at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto.

I hope you found this post helpful and interesting!

Happy Holidays! Stay safe and eat healthy! :p

Don't be tempted to intoxicate yourself with sugar and processed foods :)

New Skincare Picks ♡

I went to the One of a Kind Show in Toronto recently and picked up a couple

of new items for my skincare routine! It's pretty cold where I live and it's been

snowing all week. I was at work yesterday and there was one point where I just

turned to look out the window, and it was literally all white with some tree branches.

It was beautiful! :)

Watershed Naturals | Lavender & Aloe Seaweed Moisture Mask

I haven't tried this out yet, but it was very moisturizing on the back of my hand.

I intend to use this as an intensely hydrating overnight mask. My room gets very

dry during the winter and this will be very helpful. I'm currently using an oil-based

serum at night, but even that isn't strong enough :p

Thayer's | Rose Petal Witch Hazel

I normally use the Lavender Witch Hazel, but they were sold out in the store and I couldn't

be bothered to order it online, since I was running very low. I've tried this before and I

personally prefer the lavender, but I'll give this another chance... and the bottle is adorable.

Watershed Naturals | Herbal Facial Peel

This is actually the first time I've seen a liquid peel! It's common to find them in Asian

beauty products, in the form of a gel. I love the light consistency of this peel! and it

really works, to get rid of the dead skin off the surface of your face/hands. This one also

contains much less and natural ingredients, compared to most Asian peeling gels.

Sukin | Super Greens Nutrient Rich Facial Moisturizer

I love the original Sukin Facial Moisturizer and have been using it for many years.

They recently came out with a new version, containing spirulina and kale! I was intrigued.

My friend picked this up for me, as a Christmas/Holiday gift :) Thank you Brenda! :)

I'll let you guys know if it's just as great or even better than the original! I'm still trying to

finish up my current daytime moisturizer :)

Stay warm and I hope to blog more during the holidays!!! ♡

Fall Outfit with Fashion Mia

Hello! Today will be another collaboration blog post with Fashion Mia!

I put together a warm and cosy outfit for fall and I hope you'll love it as much as me :)

I picked out this cute pink sweater, which is actually quite warm.

I love the thick cuffs at the end. It's also kind of stretchy, but it's still a knit.

It fits like a size medium.

I'm in love with the skirt! It has pockets! I didn't realize it until I tried it on.

The skirt also has a proper black lining and feels like wool. It has a good weight to it.

It's super cute and appropriate for any season.

I don't see any loose threading and both of the items feel very nice.

The sweater is actually soft and not itchy. I love the fabric!

Links: pink sweater (one size), plaid skirt (s)

Enjoy the weekend! ♡

A Beautiful Red Dress! ♡

I've been looking for a beautiful red dress to wear during the holidays.

StyleWe contacted me and and I looked through their website.

They have a beautiful selection of dresses and I like how their clothing

is from independent fashion designers/companies in Asia.

So I found the red dress that caught my eye on their website!

The fabric is quite thick and feels very durable. It's definitely not flimsy at all.

The zipper on the side is also very smooth and works well.

The dress is also lined! Yes, a lining is important to me :p

The shade of red for this dress is also beautiful! It's not too bright or dark.

The smallest size is still a little big on me, but I would still wear it.

I have a 24/25" waist and a 32/33" bust, so the smallest size is definitely 1-2 inches bigger.

 Here is a closer look at the fabric :)

You can purchase this dress here.

The shipping was also surprisingly quick. It came within' 3 days!

♡

Pacifica Solid Perfumes ♡

I've been looking for more natural alternatives to fragrances, so I decided

to try out the Pacifica solid perfumes! I love how compact and small it is.

They are about $9 each and Whole Foods seem to have them at the best price.

I've seen them sold online for about $13.

What I like about them:

♡ They're easy to travel with

♡ Inexpensive

♡ Made with essential oils, instead of artificial fragrances

♡ They don't last as long compared to the conventional fragrances,

but that's actually a good thing. You don't want chemicals stuck onto

your skin. Fragrances should naturally dissipate through time.

Spanish Amber

Rosy Geranium and woody Sandalwood in the middle and citrusy Bergamot and Elemi on top

It smells very warm, with a touch of spice. It's definitely a fall scent :)

 ORGANIC COCOS NUCIFERA WAX (COCONUT WAX), ORGANIC GLYCINE SOJA WAX (SOY WAX),

PARFUM (PACIFICA’S OWN PERFUME BLEND WITH NATURAL AND ESSENTIAL OILS),

PRUNUS ARMENIACA WAX (APRICOT WAX), CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE (COCONUT SOURCE)

Persian Rose

Bulgarian rose, subtle violet, myrrh, oakmoss and cardamom

I'm usually not a huge fan of rose scents because the quality and combination

really matters. This one smells refreshing and uplifting. It's not your typical

pungent rose scent. It's more light and I find that it lasts longer on me,

compared to the Spanish Amber solid perfume.

ORGANIC COCOS NUCIFERA WAX (COCONUT WAX),  ORGANIC GLYCINE SOJA WAX (SOY WAX),

PARFUM (PACIFICA’S OWN PERFUME BLEND WITH NATURAL AND ESSENTIAL OILS),

PRUNUS ARMENIACA WAX (APRICOT WAX), CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE (COCONUT SOURCE)

I also like the Hawaiian Ruby Guava scent :)

It would be lovely for the spring/summer.

Do you have a favourite natural perfume? Let me know! :)

Green Beaver Boreal Body Lotion ♡

I will be reviewing my current body lotion in this post!

Introducing the Green Beaver Boreal Body Lotion :)

♡ Ingredients ♡

Aqua/Water/Eau, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Glycerin,

Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Calendula Officinalis Extract*, Coco-Glucoside, Cetyl Palmitate,

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Glyceryl Caprylate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil*,

Ledum Groenlandicum Water*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*,

Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Water*, Comptonia Peregrina Water*, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax,

Borago Officinalis Seed Oil*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*,

Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Oil*, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate,

Tocopheryl Acetate | * ingredients from Organic Farming

I bought this body lotion to relieve the itchiness on my legs in the evenings, after a hot

shower. I realize that a super hot shower is not good for the skin, but I cannot break the

habit just yet. If your skin gets itchy from lack of moisture, you may want to try this!

What I like about this body lotion:

♡ It's not sticky and when it's absorbed, it feels nice on the skin

♡ It has just the right amount of thickness, and because it is more natural based,

you need to work it into the skin for a little bit. Check out my circle swatches above!

♡ It smells really good! I can definitely smell the cinnamon and I have no idea what

Labrador Tea is, but this lotion smells warm and cozy :)

♡ I can still feel it on my skin the next morning. It makes my legs feel soft and smooth.

♡ It helps the itching.

I find myself barely scratching throughout the night when I have this on.

♡ It's GMO free and made in Canada :)

It's difficult to find skincare products that are free of genetically modified organisms (GMO).

It's everywhere, especially in the foods that we eat. I would like to avoid it.

This body lotion retails for about $15, but you can always find it on sale!

I purchased mine here from Well.ca :)

I Love Lip Balm! ♡

Lip Balm is definitely one of my favourite skincare products!

and I will splurge.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner ~$14

Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Balm ~$35

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask (Limited Edition Maple Syrup) ~$30

I use the Caudalie Lip Conditioner on a daily basis. I bought a mini set for Christmas

and the balm came with it, so that's why I am using it :) I do like it though! It feels

very light on the lips. It's the perfect balm for the spring and summer season.

When I want something a bit more luxurious and conditioning, I go for my Rodin lip balm.

This is one expensive lip balm, but it's my all time favourite. I love the tiny subtle shimmers

in this! It's beautiful and conditions very well throughout the night. I love using this during the

fall season, near my birthday :)

The Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask is thick! It's perfect for the winter season, in Canada.

It really does nourish the lips throughout the night. I think it's the best one I've tried for

my dry, cracked, peeling lips during the harsh Canadian winters. Really. I would not

wear this during the day though, because it is quite thick... or you could try to thin it out.

But it does leave a cast-like feeling on the lips, because it is quite nourishing. It's a mask after all.

Warning: My lip mask kind of hardened/froze during the winter, making it difficult to

squeeze out of the tube. The top of the tube actually split open, haha. So try to store this

at room temperature and not in my freezing cold bedroom.

_____________________________________________________________________

I'm always looking out for a new lip balm to try.

Check out this article from Reviews.com. They did a test and came up with the

Top 3 Lip Balms! I am definitely going to try the best overall lip balm.

♡

routine. Deodorant♡

I think I have a new favourite natural deodorant :)

Introducing routine. deodorant cream!

Honestly, I bought this because of the name :p

The unscented version (which I prefer), is called "bonnie n' clyde"♡

How cute is that!? If you haven't seen the movie from the 60's, I recommend it!

♡Ingredients♡

cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), zea mays (corn, non-gmo) starch,
cera alba (canadian ethical beeswax), theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, butyrospermum (shea) butter,
tocopherol (vitamin e), calendula officinalis (marigold) infused olea europaea (olive) oil

This retails for about $28-30 (eek)

But do not freak just yet, because I found this on sale for $25 at Well.ca

Okay, not a huge price difference but I still love this deodorant.

This tub will last me all year, really.

Why I love it.

♡ It's an actual cream formula!

Most natural deodorants you find are more solid, meaning it would only

melt in contact with your skin. But this deodorant is emollient at first touch!

It's a true cream formula, which I love (a mini swatch above, in the circle)

♡ It's made in beautiful Calgary, Alberta! (in Canada)

♡ The girls behind this brand named, Neige and Pippa (what freaking awesome names!?)

♡ It works for me and I tend to sweat quite a bit in the summer = some odour.

I mean, I don't have bad odour... but you know, this keeps everything from going crazy under there.

It lasts a good 6-8 hours for me :) which is beyond what I expected.

I'm on a roll with blogging! There will be another post coming up next week.

But, no promises, because we all know that I'm a liar when it comes to blogging on time :(

My Eyebrow Routine♡

My Eyebrow Routine!

---------------------------------------------

In collaboration with Into The Gloss♡,

I wanted to share my own take on brow trends with people across the globe!

How To Maintain The Shape

I personally like thick, bold brows, straight but slightly arched.

Examples include brows like Audrey Hepburn or Lily Collins :)

Many South Korean celebrities also have the shape of brows I prefer on myself.

♡ Firstly, if I notice my brow hairs getting too long, I will use a spoolie to brush

them up. Then I will trim off the extra parts peeking out of my brow shape.

I would tweeze out any excess hair in the surrounding area of my brow shape.

♡ Second. I like to fill in my brows by basically shading/drawing them in.

I find this very therapeutic, like drawing :)

♡ Finally. I will brush it out slightly with a spoolie to even out the colour.

What I Use

I like using pencils or tinted markers. I have yet to try pomades (really would like to try).

I usually pick up items that seem convenient and easy to use. I like to be the one to control

the shape of my brows, but the product should make it easy to do so.

(products in photo below are in order)

☆ Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Pencil (dark brown/black brown)

☆ Sante Brow Pencil (No.2 Brown)

☆ Innisfree Tinted Dual Brow Marker (Espresso Brown)

☆ spoolie, brow scissors, tweezers (for those extra hairs)

I'm looking for better organic alternatives, but these are the ones I have been using.

Purpose

I do my brows to look more polished. There are days where I will be very light handed,

while other days, I would make a statement with my brows. It depends on the occasion

and most importantly, my mood :) I used the Etude House pencil in the photo below.

I used to have very thick, bushy eyebrows, which I didn't like at all.

I like how my natural brows are now, even without makeup.

It's natural looking, but definitely not over-tweezed.

Tips
For beginners, I would recommend a pencil or even a powder.
It will be easier to control and fix mistakes.

Tinted markers are still quite new to a lot of people and it requires
patience and perfection! It's hard to fix mistakes, because it adheres
quite quickly/dries quickly.

♡ Check out my Instagram to see more of my brows! haha :) ♡

------------------------------------------------

Check out this article from Into The Gloss♡

on how to fill in eyebrows, if you're interested!

I'll be blogging again!

I'm back guys!

I have been neglecting this blog once again, but I do plan to continue blogging.

I'm currently back in Canada and the weather is pretty nice right now.

I decided to try vlogging, even when I'm back home.

I enjoy doing it, just not when there are many people around :)

I decided to go back to school! It's scary, but kind of exciting.

I'll be studying Holistic Nutrition, starting September. It's a 1 year program, so it will

be pretty intense! I have been interested in nutrition for a couple years now.

I think this will be very important in my life. I'm looking forward to educating myself.

Of course, I'll be sharing some important information with you guys as well!

I thought about moving everything to www.365tulips.com, but I think I'll just

continue blogging here, because I've had this blog for so long and all of my posts

are quite memorable to me.

Have a great day! :)

All the makeup I brought with me to the Netherlands

I decided to do YouTube videos! It's actually very fun and I hope to see some of you on there!

In this video, I show all the makeup products I brought with me.
I couldn't bring everything, so these are all my essentials!

Review ~ Smile Brilliant ♡

Professional Teeth Whitening

I was contacted by Smile Brilliant to try out this fairly new teeth whitening system!

I was always self conscious with the yellow spots on my teeth, so I searched

them up a bit in Google and decided to try it out!

I don't do collaborations if I don't find it useful, so please be sure

that my reviews are honest and of my own opinions :)

I was sent a boxed set of the teeth whitening materials needed.

It retails for $180, but they are currently selling it for $120.

They are also doing a GIVEAWAY! Please check the end of this post! :)

 It comes with two types of moulding paste, for you to create your teeth mould.

I like how it's customized to your own teeth!

 It comes with an instruction guide and everything is quite straight forward.

First you mix the white and blue paste, fairly quickly, because you don't want it to harden.

 Then you press it into the blue container and make an impression of your teeth!

It comes with two trays, one for the bottom row and one for the top :)

Sorry, if you find this photo disturbing :p haha I find it quite fascinating!

So this is my BEFORE photo... as you can see, I have yellow spots :(

After making your teeth impressions, you mail it back to them.

Then they will make an actual mould for you and mail it back to you!

this process takes about 1-2 weeks, but well worth the wait!

 So you need to do the actual whitening process twice.

First, there is the actual whitening gel, then you need to put in a desensitizing gel,

which helps to retain the nutrients in your teeth and resolve any sensitivity you may have.

I have pretty sensitive teeth and gums, so I don't leave the whitening gel in my teeth

for too long, usually 15-30 minutes maximum, because I know my teeth will not like it :)

 The syringes look kind of scary at first, but it's super easy to use!

 Just add a thin strip of the gel in the middle to the mould, so that when you press it

against your teeth, it helps to spread it to the bottom and top portions of the teeth evenly.

The whole whitening process takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours for me. It depends on how

long you want the gel to absorb. You can do longer sessions, if you are not as sensitive.

 This is my AFTER photo, after going through 4-5 sessions.

The yellowness has significantly reduced. I can't wait until my teeth are completely white!

I can definitely see a difference and the syringes last A LONG time for me.

I have a small mouth, so I guess that helps :p I can use 1 syringe for 3-4 sessions.

♡ GIVEAWAY! ♡

Prize: $139.95 store credit

The winner will be given a code to use at checkout!

The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

(if the winner is outside of the USA, they will have to pay the

shipping cost for sending their impressions back to them)

Enter the Giveaway HERE!

Good Luck! I hope the winner will love it as much as I do.

Teeth whitening or any kind of dental procedure is expensive :(

You can also check out this great YouTube video by Dani Mansutti :)