Yoga Love

By: Andrea

Hi all! I know we haven’t been blogging as much lately, so I figured I would devote my newest post to something I’ve been working hard at over the past month… Yoga!

This summer I will start writing my thesis for graduate school on the topic of body image and cinema.  I am currently finishing up research and have found myself stressing over the laborious writing process that lies ahead of me.  This combined with work and completing the remaining credits for my degree can often send me into a tizzy. Hence….. OHMMM (that’s a yoga chant btw ;)

I started doing yoga in high school to help deal with stress and anxiety.  I was already strong and flexible from years of figure skating, dance, and pilates, but yoga challenged me by testing my patience and my ability to find stillness in both my practice and myself.

When I practice yoga, I try my best to leave all my inhibitions at the door.  In other words, I try not to let my fears, worry, and self-doubt about myself seep into my practice. While yoga is fantastic for toning up your physique and strengthening your body, I don’t feel that it should be the sole motivation for practicing. Strengthening the mind is just as (if not more) important to me.

Today in hot class, my teacher said something quite meaningful. She mentioned that the beauty of yoga lies in the fact that it is non-performative. After thinking about this for a second I came to realize that most of the activities I have partaken in since childhood have always revolved around the act of performance (acting, skating, dance, music, theatre, even academia).  Yoga is different.  Your audience is yourself.

If you are interested in starting yoga (or if you do yoga already) here are a few links that you should check out:

If you don’t have access to a studio, this website offers tons of fantastic classes. You can start off with a free trial. 

http://www.myyogaonline.com/

Halfmoon is a fantastic yoga prop supplier located in Vancouver. 

http://www.shophalfmoon.com/

My favorite ethical mala beads company. 

http://malacollective.com/

Alternative Earth (yogawear) 

http://www.alternativeapparel.com/

Tonic (yogawear) 

http://www.mytonic.ca/

Lastly, are you good at knitting?  I recently found a neat yoga sock pattern online and am getting my mom (who is a sewing expert) to make me a pair.  Funny enough, the first pair she made turned out to be a bit big, so Edie is now rockin' the sock-sweater!

Namaste!

Andrea 

LASHES ON A BUDGET

By: Vanessa

So I was watching “Till Debt Due Us Part” the other night and one of the girls was spending A LOT of money on beauty/makeup each month over her budget.  She was spending $40 dollars a month on her lashes which she LOVED but could not afford to do. SO she was told no more lashes!

WELL if this is you? I HAVE YOUR SOLUTION..It’s called “Lashes on a Budget”

I recently saw that the “99cents store” in the states or “Dollarama” in Canada  sells 1 dollar lashes..individual and strips! Which quite frankly works just as well!! Now they come with glue but I have never tried it only because well..it is from the dollar store, so (i'd reccomend)

buying eyelash glue for a couple bucks at your local CVS or Shoppers Drug, which will last you several months. Now if you don’t believe how good these “dollar lashes” can look, here are some pics below of me wearing them!..These are the full strips, but I HATE the look of full strips so I cut it in half, by doing this it gives a way more natural look, and they will last on your lashes longer!..Also after a night out and your washing your face CLEAN the lashes and place them back in the case!  Get the bang for your buck;) Honestly I tried and you can reuse them over and over again as long as you take care of them! Then when they are unusable, buy your next $1 Pack! This all shouldn’t cost you more the $3-4 dollars a month. BELOW ARE ALL PICS of $1 LASHES!

We all have a budget…now lashes don't have to be part of it ;)

-VM
xoxo

Lips SOS

By: Andrea

Here are some awesome go-to lip products that will keep your lips from drying out!

Lip Salves by C.O. Biglow and Smith's

You can usually find these tins at Bath and Body Works or Urban Outfitters. I use these every night before bed (love my menthol).

Lip Rescue by Desert Essence

These sticks are great to use when your lips are feeling extremely dry. While the tea tree oil stick doesn't taste the best, it gets the job done. The Shea Butter is a bit more soothing.

 Tropical Lip Gloss by Alba

These lip glosses smell amazing! My favourites, as pictured here, are Coconut Cream and Passion Fruit Nectar!

 Lip Balm Spheres by Eos

These are super fun and come in a wide range of colours. They make great gifts too!