: Glorious Peonies | A Lifestyle And Beauty Blog

Faith Friday: Being Thankful

Happy Faith Friday y'all! I apologize for the later than usual post but I've had a day full of unexpected occurrences so being able to sit down and write this up kept getting pushed back. Today I wanted to share a reflection on something that God placed in my heart last night. But first, I think you'll need some background information.
Without going into too much detail, I wanted to share an event in my life that really changed me and challenged me to seek God's comfort and love. When I was 8 years old my mom was diagnosed with two kinds of cancer. She was a single mom at the time and her and I had always been besties. Needless to say, even at that age, it was a tough time. I didn't understand the situation well at the time and it was hard to see my mom go through such a drastic transformation. I remember one of the most painful moments was being told I couldn't hug her when she was in the hospital because they couldn't risk having her get any infections. I was heartbroken. I wasn't able to hug my best friend, my mom, the one who was always there with me. It was through this unthinkable circumstance that my mom and I found the Lord and I can't be more thankful to Him for just being there.
Back then I remember thinking, "God if you love me and my mom, please heal her!" I didn't want anything else. Two years later my mom was free of cancer and I had her back. Looking back now I just think, Lord with what purpose did you give her a second chance - and for what reason did you spare me from being left alone? There can only be one reason for this - God wanted me to glorify Him for keeping me safe through that storm the rest of my life and making my life be all about Him. God doesn't need my praise, He's got a million angels doing a pretty great job already. But, He wants it! And I will gladly tell the world that He died for me and has never left my side. He's given me the gift of life and the gift of being able to share it with the people I love so incredibly much. Praise is our acknowledgement that we can't do it our own, we need Him!
I was reflecting on this last night and just going through all the little things He has done since then, and even before then, that have been such amazing blessings. Starting off with the most basic fact that I have a roof over my head, food on the table and I have the right to an education. So many people don't even have that. He's given me air in my lungs, the capacity to see all that He created. These are basic, but the most fundamental. So much of our lives we spend thinking that we need more to be happy but if you only had Christ and you acknowledged his presence, you would be just fine! But He is so gracious that He has offered us the opportunities to have so much more. What does He want in return? For you to love Him and other people.
We've lost our sense of gratitude. We take things as a given. As if we deserve it. Sorry to break to you, but you don't deserve any of it! He saved you from your sins by grace - a gift that was freely given to you! That alone just starts to open up a whole box of things you should be thankful for. If you slow down and open your eyes to what you get to enjoy every single second, you would be surprised at all that you miss. One of the things I give thanks to God for is being able to see Him in other people. No, I haven't seen Him yet but in a sense, I have. I see him in peoples smiles, in a sincere hello, in someones laughter. He's everywhere and for that I just say "thanks"!
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever" - Psalm 136:1
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" - Colossians 3:17
"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offs to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe" - Hebrews 12:28
Maybe you haven't been through a similar situation to me, maybe you've been through something worse. Give thanks! He is good, in all circumstances! Like Hebrews says, you have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Remember that the war is already won! Christ fought for you and he won - you need not fear anything. Thanks him for each morning, for your eyelashes, for the rhythm of your heartbeat, for the sky, for everything that seems insignificant to you. You only have those things because He has been good to you.
I love you all, even though I don't know you. Because Christ loves me so I love you! Let's be filled with gratitude! post signature

Lilly Pulitzer x Estée Lauder Collaboration

Alert! I wanted to share something for all the Lilly print lovers out there and those who want to venture out and try Estée Lauder! I've never owned any Lilly Pulitzer clothing items but they do some rather adorable accessories and lifestyle items are much more accessible price wise - so when I saw this little set I jumped at the opportunity. In my search for my holy grail foundation I decided to finally take the plunge and purchase an Estée Lauder foundation (more on that soon) and therefore I was eligible for a free gift with purchase which was beautifully packaged in an amazing Lilly printed makeup case.
This special promotion is going on right now until March 16th so I wanted to let you guys know about it now if you're interested before time runs out. Lilly has made exclusive prints for their Estée Lauder collaboration, so if you live in another country and have stores like Macy's for example, then the contents of this gift with purchase may be different - as well as the Lilly print. But for my Canadian gals this is what The Bay is offering with a purchase of $36.50 or more, which really isn't too difficult to reach. If you choose to spend more, maybe on a fragrance ($80 or more), you can get an extra little bonus which includes a dual ended concealer/lipgloss duo, a lip conditioner, a lipstick and a Lilly Pulitzer print travel mirror!
Since I only purchased a foundation this is what I received and I must say I'm very pleased. The contents that come in the bag have two variations; one is a daytime look that includes a purpley pink eyeshadow palette and a frosty pink lipstick and the other is the "bolder" options which contains a neutral eyeshadow palette and a bronzy pink lipstick. I thought the undertones of the bold option suited me better so that's what I chose.
The bag comes with a 7 mL sample of Estée Lauder's famous Advanced Night Repair serum, a sample of their Sumptuous mascara in black, a 30 mL tube of Take It Away Makeup Remover, a 15 mL jar of Daywear Moisturizer for Normal/Combination skin, an eyeshadow quad with the shades Sugar Biscuit, Nude Fresco, Hot Cinnamon, and Lavish Mink, as well as their Pure Color Lipstick in the shade Sugar Honey.
I think this is an awesome gift with purchase and it gives you a chance to use some of their most popular products before committing to the full size! I love that they teamed up with Lilly Pulitzer because it's a perfect transition into a brighter Spring mood, plus it's very appealing to a younger audience as well since Estée Lauder can sometimes appear a bit "outdated" to the younger generation.
And no, I'm not sponsored or endorsed by any brands (I wish... lol) but I thought this was a great opportunity to try out some new products and have some adorable Lilly sitting around in your makeup stash! I mean how cute is it to have a Lilly printed eyeshadow palette?! Let me know if you decide to take advantage of this gift with purchase!

Long Hair, Short Hair and Everything In Between

I confess that if there's something I can't make my mind up about it's hair length. When it comes to colour, I've only experimented about 2 times and this past summer it was the most dramatic change I've done ever. I decided to go for the balayage look and I went pretty blonde for what I was used to (thanks to my instigating fried - you know who you are!). My mom is a hairstylist so I have it pretty easy in the sense that I don't have to spend tons of money on my hair but my mom always says that I'm her worst client.
As a mother, she loves me to pieces and we are each others best friend but when it's time for me to sit in the hot seat, well, let's just say she has to mentally prepare herself a few days in advance. I personally don't think I'm that bad but since I can never make a decision and I'm so incredibly particular, she always says that any stylist other than her would probably kick me out. Whoops, sorry mom!
A few weeks ago I decided to go back to my darker roots so I covered up the light caramel balayage I had going on and I chose to darken it but still have a bit of dimension in the shade of brown in my hair. For a few months now I haven't touched the length, mostly because I've traumatized my mom with how many times I flip flop between wanting super long hair and just chopping it all off. I have my moments.
Lately though, I've been seeing more damage to my ends than I usually do and I really want that feeling of when you cut off a few inches and your hair is super thick and lush... oh how I love that feeling. The only problem is that I'm all or nothing with my haircut. Sometimes I go a little too short compared to what I had planned so I scoured through Pinterest for some inspiration and some references so that momma won't refuse to cut my hair, which she quite possibly may chose to go with.

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Whatd'ya think? Keep growing it out or give it a chop. When my hair is long, I want it shorter. When it's shorter, I want it longer. Seriously what is life? Can it not be as easy as those internet barbie games we used to play where you could change their hair back and forth without any issues?! These pictures are persuading me even more, plus look at all the cute options I still have for styling it! Not to worry, I'll keep you posted on what I end up doing.... or not doing! Any hair trends inspiring you to change it up?

Lancome Rouge in Love Lipsticks

L to R: 275M, 230M, 340B

Another day, another post on my makeup loving antics! Lip products are probably my most purchased item out of all the categories. Whether it be different colours or formulations, I've got a good variety! I've got a lot of lipsticks that hold a special place in my heart but the Lancome Rouge In Love range are definitely one of my faves!
These lipsticks are daily new to the Lancome range compared to some of their more classics ranges but they really diversify the brand as a whole. I always thought that Lancome was a makeup line for older women (except for the Juicy Tubes which I always coveted!) but when they came out with the Rouge in Love line with Emma Watson as their new face, things certainly changed. First of all, look at that packaging! I always thought they looked like bullets or something. They are a departure from the classic black lipstick tubes that lance usually does but that's why I love them. It's one of those lipsticks that you grab from your handbag and make you feel all posh - and who doesn't love that?
Formulation wise these are really quite interesting. The lipstick bullet actually looks as if the colour would be matte but once you swipe it you'll realize that it actually gives a slight sheen and there are creamy! Very deceiving Lancome! One thing to note is that these are really pigmented so you get great colour payoff and what you see in the tube is what you get on your lips. That begin said, these lipsticks still offer enough moisture and a glossy finish that you don't even need a gloss on top. These are really comfortable to wear all day and I've never had a problem with them drying out my lips but if you have really chapped lips I'd exfoliate and apply balm before to prevent this from catching onto dry skin.
Another thing that makes this range so interesting is the way that they are divided into categories. You have Jolis Matins (M), Boudoir Time (B), and Tonight Is My Night (N). Lipsticks in the M category are day time shades that work well with a variety of looks - perfect for fresh makeup that you can wear to school or work. Shades with the letter B are brighter and trendier shades. In the last category under N, these lipsticks are deep shades that are a cry for attention - statement lips over here!
I like the mix of the three shades I selected. 230M Rouge Rendez-vouz is a my lips but better shade for me. It's neutral but has just a hint of a coral undertone that's really flattering. 275M Jolie Rosalie is a deeper berry mauve shade that when I applied more heavily actually gives a great deep lip shade (I love this for fall and winter!). Lastly, the brighter shade of the bunch, 340B Rose Boudoir is a flashier version of my favourite peachy-pink selection. I love wearing this with a light bronze look because it adds just the right amount of colour to the face - perfect for summer makeup!
You can find these at Lancome counters or at Sephora. These retail for $30 CAD (£ 21 or $25 USD) and come in 29 shades as the Lancome website suggests (only 17 of which I could find on the Sephora site) which includes limited edition shades out right now for their Spring 2014 collection. I'm definitely eyeing some shades! All in all I think these are well worth the price tag and there is a shade for any preference or season. They last quite long, give off great pigmentation while still maintaining a light feel on the lips and they are comfortable to wear. Love, love, love! post signature

Oscars 2014 Recap: Style, Highlights and Memorable Moments

Happy Monday to all! So it's the day after the Oscars and everywhere you look there will be best/worst dressed lists and Oscar coverage, and although I'd usually not join in because I don't watch most award shows (unless Leonardo DiCaprio is there... more on that later), I'm gonna hop on the bandwagon since I had way too much fun watching last night!
Oh dear, what a show! Let's start with a recap of the red carpet. I must say, I was incredibly impressed by the looks last night. Everyone, including the men, dressed to the nines and worked it! Here are my top picks and a few honourable mentions.
BEST DRESSED//

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada

Oh my word. When I saw her step out in this number it was enough to get my heart to stop beating. I've said this before and I'll say it again, she's a newcomer but she puts a lot of the people that have been around for years to shame. She has done no wrong every time we see her on a red carpet and last night was no exception. She described it as Nairobi blue and you know what, I'll take that! Give me anything in this shade and I'll be content. The dress is so simple but it was perfect for her princess moment - plus she is the spitting image of Cinderella especially with that headband. Perfect all around. Ok, I'll stop gushing.

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace

Is that Kate Hudson looking like a goddess? Yes, you've got that right. Everything is just spot on with this look. The dress is incredible and that deep v looked like quite the trend last night. But can we talk about her beauty look? I mean, her hair and makeup are everything! Smokey eye, contoured cheeks and a subtle nude lip - yes, yes and YES! Not to mention the cape that actually looks good and doesn't bring to mind any Batman and Robin images at all. Total winner right here.

Cate Blanchett in Armani

The detail in this dress is so stunning! I will admit at first I thought this look was too monochromatic with no eye drawing pops of colour but I think that's what ultimately made me love it. There was definitely quite a neutral theme with nudes, whites and blacks scattered all over the place but this look stood out. The way it fits, the incredible sparkle it has, her honey coloured Old-Hollywood waves - can't be beat and she proved that by winning Best Lead Female Actress so you go girl!

Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Reem Acra

I mean, come on! She tweeted about feeling like a fairy and that she was. This dress is magical. Of course everyone else was busy paying attention to the A-list starts who were being nominated but Mrs. Tatum could not be more stunning in this dress. Again with the neutral theme but the texture at the bottom of the dress and the beading from top to bottom make this such a showstopper, especially when paired with that intense broze smokey eye and face framing locks. Magic Mike? I'm pulling for Magic Fairy Princess!

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
Once again stunning in Dior, and once again tripping like it's her day job. She proves to us that we love her cause she's one of us - beautiful but ultimately a total klutz! It was a daring choice to go back to a simple red dress like the very memorable one from the 2011 Oscars by Calvin Klein Collection but this time around she looks much more refined. I loved the cut of this dress and how simple she was with the accessories, including a back draped necklace that added a beautiful touch (again like the one she chose for last years Oscars). Classic and beautiful!
Honourable Mentions// These could have just as easily been Best Dressed picks since everyone was spot on but I wanted to limit myself a bit!

Olivia Wilde in Valentino // Naomi Watts in Calvin Klein // Emma Watson in Vera Wang
Out of all the pregnant women at the Oscars, Olivia Wilde takes the cake! Black was the perfect colour to go along with her precious baby bump and she looked incredibly stunning, including that amazing cat eye! Naomi Watts went for a safe choice but it's a choice that she does so well. The necklace pairing was beautiful and the black and white clutch was exquisite. She looked like an angel! Oh Emma Watson, look how far we've come. I loved this edgier look on her and I loved that although the silhouette was simple, the mixture of finishes in the fabric made the look a lot more interesting. I also loved the red lips and vampy nails!

Jessica Biel in Chanel // Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen // Maria Menounos in Johanna Johnson
Another batch of beautifully dressed ladies. Jessica Biel keeping with the neutral trend in this beautiful Chanel frock. This dress hugged her in all of the right places without being too showy and it had just enough sparkle to catch the eye - plus she had enough sparkle from the incredible Tiffany's jewels she was sporting!Then we have Sandra Bullock who looked stunning and all that a Hollywood starlet should be. I loved the deep navy shade which was finally a little different than the shades of cream and black that flooded the red carpet. The way the fabric drapes is gorgeous and her flowing waves off to the side complements that draping so well. Last but not least, I'm a huge fan of Maria Menounos' look. The dress was perfectly beaded but the cap sleeves and waistline had that extra bit of embellishment that pushed it over the edge into gorgeous town! And that braided undo was just what was needed to distinguish her from the hair to the side and loose updos that everyone else chose.
All in all, people really hit the nail on the head this year! Loved it all!
* Photos via NY Daily News
Now.... Let's get to the good stuff. After all the fashion was scouted and people were done wiping their drool from the gawjusness that they just experienced, the show finally started! Of course, Ellen was laugh out loud funny in her monologue and she basically made the night what it was. Here are some memorable moments that even made it so far as to shut down twitter... twice!
Best Speeches: Lupita Nyong'o -- "No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid" YES!
Jared Leto -- He love's his momma, and we love him for it! Sooooo cute. (btw, can we take a look at his fabulous balayage highlights?) Cate Blanchett! -- "The world is round, people!" All I've gotta say is #girlpower. LOVE!

Then there was the Ellen pizza party in the middle of the show which was incredible! Brad Pitt looked like he thoroughly enjoyed that... and so did the very pregnant Kerry Washington! I was definitely hoping for Ellen to bring me some Oscar pizza while I enjoyed the show.

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And then the moment which we will all enjoy for the rest of our lives and that broke twitter twice - the most EPIC selfie you've seen. Plus it broke the record for the most retweeted tweet on twitter (try saying that 5 times fast) with 2.2 million RT's and 1 million favourites. Wow! But seriously it's the perfect snapshot - Leto, JLaw, Lupita, Bradley, Channing, Brangelina, Spacey, Meryl, Julia. Yes!!!

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Of course there had to be a few malfunctions, namely John Travolta butchering Idina Menzel's name right before her highly anticipated rendition of Frozen's "Let It Go". I'll admit I spent a good 5 minutes laughing about it. Apparently she's "the one and only" but that's not enough to remember her name. Oh boy! And the best photobomb goes to *drumroll* Benedict Cumberbatch

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I'm gonna end it off by the very saddest event of the whole night.... my beloved first movie star crush Leonardo DiCaprio must wait another 10 years before he can finally be handed a little golden guy. Not gonna lie I was pretty bummed but the pictures I saw on the subject were hilarious. Don't worry Leo, I'll always love you and unlike little Miss Rose I'll-never-let-go Dawson, I won't let you go! In the meantime. let's laugh it off!

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Well there's your Oscars 2014 Recap filled with fashion, news worthy events and some pretty hilarious moments. I had a ton of fun watching it. What were your favourite looks on the red carpet? post signature

Missing Summertime....

I think there's a very good reason why people basically countdown until next summer once Labour Day has come and gone... Summertime just brings out the best in all of us. If seasons represent feelings then summer is just joyful. It's colourful, fun and full of adventure - and right about now, I'm ready for summer to come back into town!

Every time I have to go outside and realize I'm stick stuck in minus ridiculous weather, I want to transport myself to a place where the frozen lemonades are plentiful and the palm trees line the roads. But, since I don't have the luxury of being able to teleport (if you do, please contact me!), looking at summertime pictures have to suffice.
It baffles me that I haven't been near an ocean in ages and the last time I went swimming was in 2011. Don't even ask me how that happened but it has and I'm not happy about it. Living in Canada doesn't make the situation any easier but there is one special place that makes summer up north a little more bearable. My family and I went on a very, very long road trip to Bruce Peninsula National Park and it was the most beautiful, clear turquoise water I've seen in a long while! I'm hoping to go this summer and actually swim in the water (I went at the beginning of September so there was just no way!)
Here are some pictures I've taken during the summertime. Just to keep us motivated and excited for the months to come! Hopefully this year I'll actually get to enjoy the quick Canadian summer since last year I spent it on campus trying to fast track.