• black friday sales

    Haul | 2022 Black Friday and Holiday Sales

    December 8, 2022

    Hi everyone!

    Today, I’m sharing what I got from Black Friday and Holiday sales! In the past two years, it seems like I do the most damage in October and November because I just can’t resist a Black Friday sale!

    I’m not going to put the prices up because I’d rather not see the grand total of what I spent during the sales, but I will include the discount.

    Sephora – 20% off

    • First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA
    • bareMinerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF15 in Light

    Shiseido – 30% off when you spend $200

    • Eyelash Curler (comes with replacement pad)
    • 2 x Eyelash Curler Pads (2 replacement pads per pack, so I got 4 in total lol)
    • Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer in 202 Light
    • Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer in 203 Light
    • Overnight Wrinkle Resisting Cream (for my mom)

    Kiehl’s – 25% off

    • Centella Sensitive Facial Cleanser
    • 2 x Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
    Bottom left is Blondo, middle is Skechers

    Mejuri – 20% off when you spend $150 (I believe this is the only sale they have throughout the year)

    • Twist Ring in 14k White Gold
    • 2x Single Mini Hoop in 14k White Gold

    Last year, I bought the Single Mini Hoops and I’ve been wearing them ever since. I decided to get 2 more for my second piercings. To bump it up to $150, I also got the Twist ring. Last year, I got the Braided ring. I haven’t worn it much though, because it looked a bit plain on its own. So now I have the twist one to stack. Their diamond huggies are super cute too.

    Old Navy – 50% off code for being a Navyist Rewards Member

    • Creaseless Hair Clips 4-pack (Tortoise shell/Coral pink)
    • Dynamic Fleece Pullover Hoodie in Icelandic Mineral
    • Vintage Long-Sleeve Sweatshirt in Inkwell
    • Printed Flannel Pajama Pants in Red Fair Isle

    La Vie En Rose – 2 for 1

    • Soft plush Robe in Lilac Cloud
    • Soft Plush Robe in Black Buffalo Plaid

    Naturalizer – 30% off

    • Blondo Skylar Waterproof Combat Boot in Black Suede (wide)

    I have wide feet unfortunately and I’ve realized it’s ridiculous to put bandaids on my pinky toes when I wear my winter boots. I was on the hunt for a nice pair. I got these Blondo boots in wide. I read a few reviews, but it’s hard to decide based on a few website reviews, so I just decided to try them. They were definitely not wide. I know Blondo is known for having a narrow fit, but I thought maybe these would be okay. These were probably what would be considered a regular fit for other brands. I was wearing regular, thin socks and while my foot fit into them, they would be super uncomfortable. You could also see the shape of my foot in the boot and it just didn’t look nice. Unfortunately, they only accept returns online which means they charge $8 to ship it back to them (taking it off your refund).

    The Shoe Company – 30% off?

    • Skechers On-The-Go Glacial Ultra-Woodlands Wide Winter Boot in Black Suede

    Skechers is a brand that I own quite a few running shoes from. Even with their regular fit, they’re very comfortable. I recently purchased a wide fit sneaker and they are super comfy for me. So I got these knowing that Skechers is a brand that I like.

    Spanx – 20% off for regular priced items, I think. I got something from the sale section, so it was 50% off

    • Spotlight on Lace Regular Waist Brief in Vintage Rose
    Clockwise from top left (gray): ribbed cotton, cotton cable lace, pointelle high cut, cotton eyelash lace, period underwear

    Aerie online order – 30% off sale or something

    • AerieREAL Period Underwear (I will be posting a review on this once I’ve tried it out)
    • AF Super Cropped Scoop Neck Cami in Black
    • Wrap One Piece Swimsuit in Black
    • High Neck Henley Tank Top in White

    I bought the swimsuit because I realized I sold all of my swimsuits on Poshmark. Even though I haven’t gone swimming/to the beach in 6 years lol, I thought it’d be good to have one just in case. I was disappointed when I tried it on and ended up returning it. I don’t think I have a particularly long torso, but the body was so short (it was cutting into my butt). I can’t imagine a taller person wearing it. Even though you can adjust the straps to make it a bit longer, it would make the bust lower and the wrap part just wasn’t flattering to begin with…It wasn’t giving any lift to the girls. When I was thinking about buying it, I was a bit worried about whether it would stretch from wrapping it all the time, but I wanted to try it anyway since they have free returns. Back to the drawing board for this one. 

    Aerie in-store purchase – 10 for $40

    • Pointelle High Cut Bikini Underwear (high cut, peek of cheek)
    • Cotton Cable Lace Boybrief Underwear (regular rise, no cheek peek)
    • Cotton Eyelash Lace Boybrief Underwear (low rise, no cheek peek)
    • Ribbed Cotton Boybrief Underwear (low rise, no cheek peek)

    I have previously purchased Aerie underwear a few years back and the boybrief underwear were really stretchy and too big. I got the same size in all of the underwear I bought and it just didn’t fit right. I’ve had time to try all of the underwear I bought and they all fit nicely. The Cotton Cable Lace ones are my favourite. A lot of my underwear are low rise and I’ve realized how much I like a regular rise.

    With all of the online orders, I managed to get about $20 cashback from Rakuten.

    (not sponsored or anything, but this is a referral link to sign up. You get $30 if you use the link and I will too).

    Did you pick up anything during the Black Friday sales?

    Love,

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  • h&m style democracy warehouse sale

    Style Democracy H&M Online Warehouse Sale Review & Haul?

    July 28, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    I was scrolling through Instagram and the Style Democracy H&M Online Warehouse Sale came up. I took a look and ordered some things.

    Originally, this post was supposed to be a haul, but it has turned into more of a review…keep reading to find out why.

    I wanted to buy some loungewear because my current loungewear consists of old gym shorts and old volunteer t-shirts that I’ve received over the years. I was hoping to find some tshirts, sweatshirts and maybe some shorts or pants. I was excited because the sweatshirts looked cozy. I was also going to buy a belt for my mom, but the only ones available were thicker belts that are more for style than function. There were a few cute dresses on sale too, but

    1) I have no use for them

    2) I have too many clothes that I’ve never worn

    3) they weren’t available in my size anyway

    Here’s what I ended up ordering:

    The total was about $85 which isn’t too bad for 7 items. Only the sweatshirt dress and the black sweatshirt with zippers were over $10. I know I only chose basic colours, but I’m plain/neutral when it comes to my style. My closet mostly consists of black and dark blue. It said it would take 10-14 business days to process…

    July 16th (13 business days later) – My friend received a shipping notification for her order. She made her order on the same day as I did. 

    I decided that I would wait until the 15th or 16th day before sending them an email to ask for an update on my order.

    July 21st (16 business days later) – I sent them an email asking for an update.

    July 26th (almost a month placing the order) – I receive an email saying that my order has been cancelled and a full refund has been issued. See below

    July 30th – Paypal refund is still pending. I’ve read it could take up to a month for a Paypal refund? Also, I have yet to receive the discount coupon/free shipping for the H&M site.

    Aug 4th – received full refund, but have not received the ‘discount coupon/free shipping.’

    This would’ve been my first clothing purchase in a year. I haven’t bought any new clothes, I’ve only been selling my old clothes (check out my poshmark blog post). I’m not trying to complain about it since I did get a full refund, but it is disappointing that I had to wait almost a month until I got any information on my order. I know Style Democracy runs a ton of warehouse sales in collaboration with other brands, so I don’t know if it was because this was H&M’s first warehouse sale. I feel like they should have some idea of how much inventory they have. I ordered seven items and I didn’t even get a single item shipped.

    When it comes to warehouse sales, it’s probably best to go to the in-person ones. As long as you’re making sure to follow all the safety protocols in place. For me, it seems like the only warehouse sales that I have had a good experience are beauty ones. I’ve been to a Nordstrom Sale and I purchased a few items. From what I remember, that was before Nordstrom was in Canada (we might’ve had a few Nordstrom Rack stores in Ontario). I’ve also been to the Designer Shoe Sale in Markham (in 2019) and also popped into a Puma one that was there too. The MAC/Estée Lauder and Shiseido Warehouse Sales were the best.

    Love,

    *Pictures were taken from the Style Democracy website.

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  • chef's plate review

    Review | Chef’s Plate Meal Kit Delivery

    July 22, 2020

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing Chef’s Plate. This post is not sponsored or affiliated with Chef’s Plate. I’ve always wanted to try a meal delivery service. There are a few options in Canada, I went with Chef’s Plate.

    *Descriptions in italics are taken from the Chef’s Plate website.

    To start, you select the meal type:

    • Meat & Vegetables – our widest selection of recipes in one meal plan
    • Vegetarian – Delicious vegetarian recipes packed with fresh produce, whole grains and plant-based protein
    • Family Friendly – exciting recipes the whole family will enjoy

    Then you select the number of people (2 or 4 people) and number of meals for the week (2, 3 or 4 meals). 

    I chose Meat & Vegetables, 4 people and 3 meals per week. We tried 6 meals total because I wanted to try at least 1 thing from each: vegetarian, fish, beef, pork and chicken. I decided not to try any pastas or burgers. 

    Both boxes were delivered before 10am. There’s no delivery email or anything. So, you just have to be on the lookout on the day of your delivery. Similar to UberEats, it’s delivered by a third party. It’s not delivered in a Chef’s Plate delivery van.

    The meals are packed in a box with an insulated liner and non-toxic ice packs. There’s instructions on how to dispose the gel once the ice packs thaw. Inside the box, each recipe comes in a brown bag with the ingredients. The meat is packed separately under the bags to ensure that the meats stay cold during transit.

    The first box was a bit soggy – the outside of the box. I don’t know if they package up the items the night before or the morning of delivery. It’s possible the box got soggy while on the delivery route.

    I think the brown bag packaging needs some work. I know things get jostled along the way, but packets of things can gets squished under the weight of the veggies. The ingredients come in packets, plastic tubs and containers. There was a small soy sauce explosion for one of the recipes, but otherwise everything was fine. The vegetables were all very fresh and were not bruised from the trip. I feel like there’s a lot of plastic packaging. I don’t know how it could be improved upon though since anything other than plastic would be too expensive.

    Some things to note:

    • 15 minute meals took longer than 15 minutes
      • Even with 2 people prepping, it takes a while to prep the ingredients and cook them. Some took 30 minutes. So be mindful of that. If you have 2 or 3 people working together, it might be faster.
    • The recipes are very simple, but they do use a lot of spices (garlic, chili, black pepper). I have a sensitive stomach so I had to cut back on some of the spices.

    Below, I’ve provided a description of each recipe (from the Chef’s Plate website), the category (quick meal, vegetarian, etc.), a rating (out of 5 stars), and a little blurb on what I thought of each one.

    chef's plate box review

    Sweet Potato Sushi Bowl with Sriracha Aioli

    Vegetarian – 35 minutes

    We’re deconstructing sweet potato sushi rolls into a colourful and craveable bowl – complete with an obligatory sriracha mayo drizzle. Edamame, crunchy cabbage, and buttery avocado mimic the flavours of the Japanese favourite.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    You could add meat/fish to this if you’re a meat eater. I found it filling enough with the avocado and sweet potatoes. This recipe uses sticky rice and I actually really liked it. I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but it wasn’t overly sticky. It’s not as healthy to use sticky rice though, so I would replace it with regular rice.

    Pork Souvlaki Bowl with Greek Feta Sauce and Spinach Orzo

    15 minutes

    Escape to Athens with our hurried-up version of street-cart pork souvlaki! Orzo gets lots of love with Greek-style fixings, hit with chunky tomato-pepper salsa and a generous dollop of Greek feta sauce.

    Rating: 2 out of 5.

    I was excited for this because I enjoy souvlaki, but I found the pork a bit too… porky. I also thought that the dill sauce was a bit too dill-y lol. I would’ve preferred a tzatziki sauce instead of dill. I did like the greek yogurt texture, I would just replace the feta sauce spice mix for a homemade tzatziki recipe.

    Filipino Chicken Adobo with a Maple-Soy Glaze

    15 minutes

    Filipino adobo is famous for its signature soy-garlic sauce that makes anything it touches taste delicious. This recipe is no different, with glazed chicken tenders served over a warm bowl of rice with broccoli and crispy shallots sprinkled over top.

    Rating: 2 out of 5.

    I was a bit disappointed with this one. This came with an Adobo spice mix that has cornstarch, garlic powder, ginger powder, and cracked black pepper. I get stomach aches from eating too much black pepper, so I sifted the mix to get rid of some of it. It just tasted like a regular stir fry with sauce, but I did like the addition of crispy shallots as a topping.

    chef's plate box review

    Grilled Mediterranean Salmon with Asparagus and Freekeh

    BBQ, 40 minutes

    Let’s dine alfresco tonight, with grilled salmon and summer veggies inspired by fresh and vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean coast. A dill yogurt sauce pairs deliciously with lemony marinated salmon, served on top of a bed of warm freekeh.

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    Instead of freekeh, they sent couscous. This recipe is very similar to a dill salmon recipe that my mom makes. I think I prefer my mom’s since this uses a cold greek yogurt sauce. I like grilled vegetables and this recipe calls for a spice mix using basil terragon and garlic powder. I think I could’ve used less of it or gone without it.

    Italian Sausage & Mozzarella Calzone with a Spinach and Feta Salad

    35 minutes

    Get in the ‘zone’ wth these fresh-baked handhelds, boasting a spiced Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese interior. For an enlightened side, dive into a zingy spinach salad with tomatoes and feta.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    I really liked this calzone recipe and would definitely make it again. The sausage wasn’t too spicy and even the parts where the pizza dough was a bit thicker was still good. I definitely need to practise working with pizza dough though.

    Steak and Swiss Cheese Melts with Roasted Garlic Aioli and Baby Greens

    15 minutes

    Taking cues from the Philly classic, seasoned steak is loaded onto a roll and blanketed with melty swiss cheese. The best part about making it from home? Elevating the sandwich with roasted garlic aioli and a fresh green salad.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    This was a good recipe as well, but I think it could be improved by using thinly sliced steak. These strips were a bit thick. With better quality steak, I’m sure this recipe could be even better. 

    Ranking the meals from favourite to least favourite:

    1. Sweet Potato Sushi Bowl
    2. Italian Sausage & Mozzarella Calzone
    3. Grilled Mediterranean Salmon
    4. Steak and Cheese Melts
    5. Filipino Chicken Adobo
    6. Pork Souvlaki Bowl

    Final thoughts:

    It’s a nice service if you don’t have time to go grocery shopping. It can be quite expensive if you don’t use the coupon codes, so make sure to find one online. There’s probably one to get a discount off your first box.

    I would definitely make the recipes again, but I would just tweak them a bit. After reading these reviews, it’s apparent that I’m not big on using too many spices. I feel like they give you an excess of spice mix. I think I just wouldn’t use 100% of what’s provided.

    When you go to the “On the Menu” page, they have the weekly recipes. If you see a recipe you like, you can click on it and it will show you the ingredients and steps to make the recipes.

    As someone who hates talking on the phone, I liked that it was easy to cancel this service without having to call or chat with anyone online. You just click the button to cancel and it’s done! I’ve tried the GoodFood smoothie box and I had to chat with a person online to cancel the service.

    Have you tried a meal kit delivery service? Which is your favourite?

    Love,

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  • Live Clean Cool & Fresh Natural Deodorant

    May/June 2020 Faves

    June 26, 2020

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m sharing my favourites from the past couple months.

    Live Clean Cool & Fresh Natural Deodorant – I’ve been using this every day and doing Chloe Ting workouts. I’ve been sweating quite a bit and I can still smell the deodorant. I don’t smell sweat (from my armpits). I love the smell of it, it’s very refreshing.

    jouer essential hydrating lip oil

    Jouer Essential Hydrating Lip Oil – This makes your lips glossy without being too sticky. It doesn’t have a scent or taste. It keeps your lips moisturized for a few hours. I wouldn’t put this in my purse though just in case I don’t close it properly. I was taking a picture and put the tube on its side and it started pouring out slowly.

    moom organic hair removal

    Moom Organic Organic & 100% Natural Hair Remover with Lavender* – I was sent this by the brand and I didn’t know how well it would work. Once I tried it though, it lived up to the claims. It said the hair grows back after two weeks which is accurate. I tried it on my arms and the hair started growing back after 2 weeks. It’s almost been a month now and the hair is sparser. I like that it comes with reusable/washable cotton cloths.

    the ordinary 100% cold-pressed rosehip seed oil

    The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil – My dry skin needs a face oil (especially in the winter). I really like this oil. It doesn’t really have a scent and it’s not too greasy.

    Love,

    Products marked with (*) were gifted to me.

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  • Poshmark Canada

    Selling on Poshmark Canada

    April 10, 2020

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m going to talk about selling clothes on Poshmark.

    I started selling in late August. I’ve only sold items that are from my own closet and my family’s. Most items are/were gently used. There are/were a few items that still have tags. If an item is still in good condition, list it! It doesn’t cost anything to list on Poshmark. I’ve sold a number of Forever 21 items that I didn’t think anyone would want. It’s great to give your clothes a second life and they’re going to a new home where they will be worn. Especially if you were planning to donate them, why not make a few dollars?

    I live in Canada which unfortunately means that we don’t have access to free boxes from UPS. Also, if you’re a buyer on Poshmark, you have to pay $12.99 for the tracked shipping. Luckily, my mom hoarded all the boxes from my online purchases so I haven’t needed to buy any boxes yet.

    Ask family and friends if they have clothes to sell or if they have boxes that they don’t need. If you do ask others if they have clothes to sell, make sure to talk to them in advance about how you will split the earnings. Whether it’s 50/50, 70/30 or 100/0, it’s best to come to an agreement first.

    As a seller, if you sell something for $25, you don’t earn $25 because you have to pay taxes on it and Poshmark takes a commission. You’ll earn just over $19 if you haven’t offered any shipping discounts to the buyer. If a sale is under $20, Poshmark takes a flat rate fee of $3.95. Any sale over $20, they take 20% commission. If you offer a discount on shipping to the buyer, you will earn even less.

    As a seller, you should:

    • Have boxes or polymailers, a printer (to print out the pre-paid mailing label), packing tape, tissue paper, scotch tape, bubble wrap or those air pillows to pad anything that’s fragile
    • Share your own listings
    • Share other people’s listings and follow other people daily
    • Add new listings at least once a week. If you’re just starting out, don’t add everything all at once. Add them gradually.
    • If you’ve had a listing up for a while and nothing is happening, delete it and re-list the item. Maybe you need to add more to your description or lower the price a bit.

    For your listings:

    • Make sure to inspect your clothes thoroughly and write any flaws in the description. BE HONEST because you’re less likely to get a complaint. There are still people out there who might make a complaint even if it’s in your description, but that’s not on you.
    • Steam your clothes (This isn’t a must, but it does look nicer when your clothes aren’t wrinkly. It shows that you care)
    • Use natural lighting or lighting that isn’t too cool or too warm so that the colours are accurate.
    • Write good descriptions – If your item is still available from where you bought it, use the pictures and descriptions from the store’s website.
    • List your items at a slightly higher price than you expect to sell for. Also, remember the Poshmark fees. If you want $20 for something, you’ll have to list it for $25 or more. 
    • Don’t forget that the buyer has to pay for $12.99 shipping. Say you have a pair of jeans with the tag on. You paid $100 for them. Don’t expect to get that $100 back because 1) You’d have to list them for over $100 because of the Poshmark fees 2) The buyer isn’t going to pay $100+ and $12.99 shipping on top of that. Especially if the jeans are still available in stores.

    Optional:

    • Own a clothes steamer or iron
    • I like to store my clothes with dryer sheets so that the clothes smell nice and fresh
    • Buy a fabric shaver. These are great even if you’re not selling clothes. They can make old sweaters look good again. It won’t always make clothes look brand new, but they do work! They have cheaper ones on Amazon, but I just recently bought the House of Wonderful Wonder Lint which is great. It reminds me of a hand mixer for baking. It’s not quite as big, but it’s still bigger than the 1st fabric defuzzer I bought which was $10. The $10 works great as well, but if you want to cover more surface area, the Wonder Lint one is bigger than the usual battery-operated ones.

    Congrats, you’ve made a sale!

    • Package them up nicely (I use tissue paper) and when necessary, I will add brown paper or bubble wrap to pad the items.
    • Add a little thank you note for the buyer. It doesn’t have to be a fancy ‘Thank You’ note. You could make your own cards or even use blank index cards to thank the buyer for choosing your closet.

    At this time, I’ve put my closet on a vacation hold. I would say I’ve been getting at least 5 sales every month since I started selling. It wouldn’t be social distancing if I go out to the post office for a non-essential business. I made the decision to do this, but I understand that many people (especially full-time sellers) are continuing to sell because it’s their main source of income. I had several reasons why I put my closet on a vacation hold:

    Just because I’m not selling at the moment doesn’t mean I’m not on Poshmark every day. I still make an effort to share other closet’s listings and follow people. This is the perfect time to continue taking pictures of inventory and writing descriptions for listings to be added. It’s also a great time to go through old listings and re-take pictures if needed.

    Some of you may have questions about income taxes in Canada. It’s best to consult with a professional as I am not an expert on the topic. I don’t want to misinform anyone.

    If you are thinking of starting a Poshmark closet, you can sign up with my invite code JENC26 and you’ll earn $15 CAD for your first purchase! Once you’ve made the purchase, I will also receive $15 credit for a purchase of my own 🙂

    Check out my Poshmark closet!

    Follow my Instagram account for my Poshmark Closet!

    If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Instagram or fill out the contact form.

    Love,

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  • aromatherapy associates de-stress muscle gel

    First Impressions with Aromatherapy Associates

    January 17, 2020

    Hi Everyone!

    I received the Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel from Calissa.com

    This best-selling body gel contains Rosemary, Black Pepper, Lavender and Ginger essential oils. After a long day at work, or an intense workout, give your aching muscles the love they need. De-Stress Body Gel instantly cools aches and pains, then warms muscles over time leaving them feeling soothed.

    Apply generously and massage directly over muscles and joints before and after physical activity. Use up to twice daily. Can be used in flight to maintain circulation in ankles and legs. For optimum results follow with De-Stress Body Oil to give your body some extra TLC. TOP TIP: If you suffer with tension headaches, apply muscle gel to the back of your neck whilst at work, or on the go.

    Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavendar) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Leucadendron Cajaputi (Cajput) Oil, Parfum**, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil, Juniperus Communis (Juniper) Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Pinus Sylvestris (Pine) Leaf Oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Seed Oil, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citral*, Coumarin*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool*.

    *Natural Essential Oil Contents **Natural Plant Extracts

    I’ve used it a few times now and it’s really good. Usually I use something like Voltaren on my sore muscles. My arm was sore and throbbing one day, so I applied it and it has this cool feeling. At some point in the next couple hours the throbbing stopped. It still stinks like any muscle gel (I smell the rosemary and black pepper the most I think), but it works!! Luckily, the scent doesn’t linger. You can still smell it if you sniff your arm or wherever you applied it, but you can’t smell it from a distance. I probably wouldn’t use it on a flight. I wouldn’t want to be THAT person on the airplane.

    RATING: 4/5

    It’s great, but it is on the more expensive side.

    If you would like to make a purchase on Calissa.com, use code 10FRIENDSOFCALISSA to get 10% off! (This is not an affiliate code, just a code for you to get a discount!)

    Check out my other posts on products I’ve received from Calissa!

    Love,

    *This product was sent to me, but all opinions are my own.

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  • 2018 | A Year in Review

    December 26, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and/or friends! Are you doing any Boxing Day shopping today? I’m definitely not in the mood to fight the crowds this year, but I might check out the sales online (no makeup though). I might replenish my Tula products if there’s a good sale since I’m almost finished the Discovery Kit (review to come).

    Before I get started, I would like to thank everyone for reading my blog and for your love and support!

    SOCIAL MEDIA

    This has been a really good year for the blog and my Instagram. I started posting more frequently and regularly on the blog which really helped. I’ve been posting Mon-Wed-Fri in the mornings. For 2019, I’ve decided to post Tuesdays & Fridays at 8 am EST/EDT. Since I’m doing my best to cut down on impulse purchases and doing a Makeup Buying Ban until the Spring Sephora Sale, I won’t have as many products to review.

    For my beauty Instagram, I did my best to post at least 1 picture every day. If I missed a day, I would try to make up for it with a few the next day. I can’t believe I made it to 3.5k followers on Instagram! I will have another giveaway once I reach 4k.

    MAKEUP & SKINCARE

    This year, I was very generously sent products from a few different brands. While I don’t write reviews or have a blog just to receive free products, it’s always nice to know that a brand has found my page and wants my opinions on their products.

    I’ve tried a lot of makeup and skincare this year and along the way, I’ve found some favourites which I’m really happy about.

    Check out my monthly faves!

    Unfortunately, there were also quite a few misses. A couple of cult favourites just didn’t work out for me. I think I will write a dedicated blog post on those products.

    MY SKIN & EXERCISE

    Back in October, I started using an app to track my water intake. My skin has always been on the drier side and I think it’s because I’ve never drank the daily amount that you’re supposed to drink. While I don’t always reach my goal, I am definitely drinking more water than I did before. My skin is still dry, but it’s better than it used to be (especially since I’ve been using the Tarte Maracuja Oil, one of my new skincare faves). My skin is also clearer than it’s been in months. I still have dark spots from when I was bad and squeezed at my pimples. I’m doing my best not to touch them, even though it’s so tempting to pop them. I realized that I used to rest my chin on my hand a lot which may or may not have contributed to acne. I try not to touch my face throughout the day too.

    I think my skin has also been better because I’m not drinking juice as often. Back when I was in university and a bit after, I would drink a glass or two of juice/pop every day. If I do drink juice/soda, I keep it to once a day.

    In addition to drinking more water, I’ve been doing arm, leg and ab exercises – crunches, leg raises, bicep curls, etc. I’m trying to do some exercise every day because as someone who blogs, I’m in front of the computer, sitting, a lot.

    ETSY SHOP

    For my Etsy shop, Prints by JenCat, I started the Etsy shop in July and I’m happy to say that I reached my goal – I was hoping that I would get at least 1 sale each month. I am so thankful for my family and friends who have supported me.

    PERSONAL LIFE

    LOL, what dating life? This one’s on me. I’ve been focusing more on jobs than trying to find a boyfriend.

    Have you check out my 12-Part Dating Series? Click here for Part 1

    I rarely go out, so unless someone were to knock on my door, there’s 0% chance of me finding one until I make the effort to go out. Not everyone can be like Rapunzel from Tangled. Although, if someone just climbed through my window, I wouldn’t just hit them in the head with a frying pan, I would call the police.

    lol, I love Anna Kendrick. I just got her book Scrappy Little Nobody for Christmas!

    I have Resting Bitch Face (which also looks sad too), so I doubt anyone would come up to me while I was just out and about.

    TRAVEL

    I didn’t go anywhere this year. The farthest I went was Montréal with my friends. Maybe next year, I’ll go somewhere.

    I feel like that pretty much sums up this year for me. It was a pretty good year that went by so fast once it was Summer/Fall. I can’t believe so much happened this year: Royal Wedding, Olympics (did I even watch them this year? I couldn’t even remember were they were held – PyeongChang), Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War came out (I finally watched them this month).

    Love,

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  • Reviewing My 2018 Beauty Expenses

    December 10, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I will be reviewing my 2018 beauty expenses. Last month, I reviewed my 2017 expenses and it was eye-opening. I was originally going to post this later in the month (closer to the new year), but I think I’ve spent enough money on makeup and skincare this year and I have all of the products I need. Last week, I started my self-imposed ban on buying makeup until next year. My goal is to not buy any makeup or skincare products until the next Sephora sale (the one they usually have in April).

    Check out my 2017 expenses!

    In comparison to my beauty expenses, I was curious to see how much I spent on clothing this year. I spent about $1200 on clothing, accessories and shoes (I think a good percentage of that was spent at La Senza – buying bras and underwear). My most expensive single purchase was my Michael Kors Daniela Large Crossbody Purse (almost $200 including tax- purchased on sale).

    My 6 Most Expensive Purchases:

    1. Sigma Essential Brush Kit (12 brushes) – $99 (from Winners)
    2. Tarte Maracuja Oil – $66 (25% off)
      • I got the super size bottle from Tarte (2x the regular size). It’s usually $88, but I got it during the Black Friday Sale
    3. Dior BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation – $50
    4. Lancome Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation SPF23 – $45
    5. Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick – $44.80 (20% off)
    6. Lancome Teint Idole Longwear Foundation Stick SPF21 – $44 (20% off)

    I spent about $500 on skincare, $100 on makeup tools and $1600 on makeup for a total of about $2200. I bought a few foundations and primers this year, so I probably won’t be NEEDING any next year. I might be tempted to buy the Lancome Teint Miracle foundation next year, but I definitely don’t need any more primers.

    So, last year, 79% of my purchases were impulsive and only 21% were planned. This year, I did much better and planned vs. impulse purchases were 50/50. 

    Here’s a breakdown of WHERE I purchased my products this year. Last year, I purchased most of my products from the drugstore and the MAC Warehouse Sale. I didn’t go to the Warehouse Sale this year, but I have been purchasing more products from other websites/stores, i.e. Tarte, Tula and The Body Shop.

    Love,
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  • Haul | 2018 Black Friday

    November 28, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    I did a bit of spending on Friday and Saturday. I bought quite a few things, but none were huge purchases (didn’t buy a coat or TV or something). Here’s what I purchased during the Black Friday Sale!

    Tarte Maracuja Oil (supersize) – purchased online

    I love the Maracuja Oil, and it’s much cheaper to buy the super size version. It’s twice the size, but only $20 more! It’s an especially good deal when it’s on sale!!

    Mighty Mug Go Stainlesss Steel (Blue & Red) – purchased online

    The mugs were Buy 1 Get 1 Free

    UPDATE (Jan 15/19): I still haven’t received the Mighty Mugs! I’ve emailed them twice and got a reply saying there was a delay with DHL. Stay tuned for second reply (if it comes).

    2nd UPDATE (Jan 18/19): I was issued a full refund, they also offered to give me the BOGO deal if I wanted to repurchase in the future. They mentioned that Canadians could be charged duties upon arrival, so if you’re Canadian, don’t order from them.

    The first travel mug that doesn’t fall over is now available in Stainless Steel. This vacuum-insulated, spill-free travel mug truly stands up to all others. Using Smartgrip Technology, this mug takes hold on any flat surface and won’t knock over if bumped into making it ideal for car trips and on-the-go coffee sips.

    Sephora – purchased in-store

    Smashbox Holidaze Photo Finish Primer Mini Trio

    • The Original Photo Finish Smooth + Blur Primer
    • Photo Finish Primerizer
    • Photo Finish Primer Water

    I split the set with my friend; she took the smooth + blur primer. I haven’t tried the primerizer or the primer water, so I will write a review once I’ve tested them out.

    Steve Madden Elouise Slip-on Sneakers – purchased in-store

    I’ve always liked the slip-on sneakers and I found one that I liked.

    For an easy-breezy sneaker, look no further than ELOUISE! A perforated upper provides this classic slip-on with fresh surface interest, as well as comfortable ventilation.

    Reitmans- purchased in-store

    A striped Cashmere blend sweater and a striped midi dress

    Hollister – purchased online

    Ribbed Sweater Dress, Faux Leather Skirt, Low-Rise Jeggings (in black and denim) and a PJ set

    I returned the Faux Leather Skirt because it didn’t sit right on my hips – there was too much material where I could fold it over to fit me better. I also returned the denim jeggings because for some reason they were really tight (even though they were the same size as the black ones). I went in store to try on a larger size and even went up a few sizes, and they still felt super tight. So, maybe that’s how those ones fit, but I didn’t want something so tight.

    What did you get during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales?

    Love,

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  • To All The Boys I’ve Liked

    August 27, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Have you watched To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix? You should, it’s really cute.

    Inspired by the movie, I thought it would be fun to write a little something to my former crushes. It’s not a full letter to each of them, but just a little blurb about them.

    This does not include celebrity crushes because we’d be here for hours (maybe weeks) if I included all the celeb crushes I’ve had. Also, this only includes crushes where I knew them or knew their name.

    Some back story of what I was like when I was younger before we dig into the crushes:

    I was a quiet student (I’m still quiet) that didn’t cause trouble in school which meant that most of my teachers would seat me beside the popular, loud, troublemakers. This worked out in my favour because I would be friendly with the popular ones. In high school, I was like Lara Jean (main character in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before), but definitely not as stylish. I would be at home watching shows or movies instead of going to parties. Side note: I’d like to see a single TV show based around high school kids where they aren’t stylish because that’d be way more realistic. I’m not even as stylish as the ladies in Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl NOW.

    When you’re younger, you’re friends with people because it’s convenient. You’re neighbours, you’re in the same class or your parents are friends. In elementary school, I was friends with whoever was in my class. It wasn’t hard to become friends with everyone because you grow up with the same people since kindergarten. There were about 60-70 of us from kindergarten to grade 6 (a few moved away and some were new throughout the years). I was classmates with everyone by grade 6 (there were 3 classes once we got to the later grades).

    When you change schools, you find out who you were actually friends with. If you are good friends, then you’ll make an effort to stay friends. When I switched over to middle school, I stayed friends with the people who I knew from before. That’s just how it goes when you’re starting out. Then, after a few months, you make new friends. I’m still Facebook friends with a lot of people from elementary school, but the only contact we have now is a ‘Happy Birthday’ or something.

    When I went away for university, I kept in touch with a few classmates who went to the same university, but eventually grew apart once we established friendships with people from our classes and dorms. I never had a real guy friend until university- one that you hang out with or go to the movies with. I would be ‘friends’ with guys in my classes, but it wasn’t a ‘hang out after school’ friendship, it was more of a ‘friends because we’re classmates and we’re sitting beside each other.’ Similar to what Ron Swanson would call ‘workplace proximity acquaintances,’ we have classroom proximity acquaintances when we’re younger. I’ve stayed Facebook friends with former classmates and co-workers, but only stayed friends with a handful of people.

    THE CRUSHES

    Sometimes I check up on them on social media (if I can) to see what they’re up to now. I’ve had 7 crushes in my life where I knew the guy. I’ve had a number of crushes where I found them good looking, but they didn’t know I existed. I assume they didn’t know I existed, but I guess people can always surprise you. I think it’s better to assume that people don’t know who you are than to assume that everyone remembers you and knows who you are.

    I find myself being attracted to the smart ones who are a little mischievous- Nerd meets Troublemaker.

    The Math Teacher

    You were a student teacher who taught us fractions in 5th grade. I don’t even remember your name anymore. It was only 1 of 2 times where I had trouble with math (2nd time was a bad calc teacher). I found you attractive and maybe that distracted me from what you were teaching, but I think you were just a bad teacher, sorry. The crush went away quickly when we had to have a parent-teacher meeting to help me with my fractions.

    The Smart Jock

    You were in my friend’s class. We would call you Bruno because she kept getting your name wrong. You had a good looking older brother too (I say ‘had’ because I don’t know what he looks like now).

    The Musician

    You were kind of like the bad boy musician (although you were a band geek). I would look forward to days where I passed by your locker to get to class and band rehearsal. We interacted twice- once when you were representing a club during club week (I signed up because I thought you’d be there at meetings…you weren’t in the club, you were just manning the club board for a friend). The second time I interacted with you and I was getting a receipt for something and you wrote my name. I kept the piece of paper and may still have it in a box of old valentine’s day cards and birthday party invitations.

    The Student Council President

    You were the good-looking younger one in my class. However, the crush went away when you were so self-centered that you didn’t know I was in your class. The teacher called my name and you said, “Who?”

    The Orientation Week Icebreaker

    You weren’t my icebreaker, but we were on the same team. GO Blue Gladiators! You touched my shoulder (because I was in your way) when you getting down from the bleachers and stepped on my flip flop, you said ‘Sorry.’ I think I said, “that’s okay,” but it may have been an incoherent, “mmngfhw” because I was thinking about how you touched my shoulder. The crush lasted for the first few months of first year because I would see you every now and then, but it soon went away because I stopped seeing you around campus.

    The University Classmate

    We were in the same class of 200+ people. I would usually sit in the same area and so would you. I attended the first tutorial for the class and you were there. I never knew you, but thanks for giving me a reason to look forward to class.

    The following crushes are the boys I actually knew and they knew me:

    The First One

    My first crush lasted from kindergarten to gr 4. It was the longest crush I ever had. I thought he was cute.

    The Goofy One

    I don’t know how you got me to stop crushing on the first one. Our friend groups would hang out at recess. We had an incident where we were goofing around and I hit my head. I think my crush on you was instantly knocked out after that.

    The Desk Buddy

    Our teacher sat us together for the majority of the year. You were one of the popular ones; smart, but a bit of a troublemaker. We weren’t in any of the same classes in middle school or high school, but somehow I found you on Instagram. You’ve liked a few of my IG pics and it felt nice that you still remember me.

    The Curly-Haired One  

    You were friends with Desk Buddy, and like him, you were a smart troublemaker and you had a devilish grin.

    The Younger One

    I thought you were cute in middle school, but moved on once I went to high school. A few years later, we became acquainted.

    The Stoner

    You’re the complete opposite of me, but I liked you because you were cute. You weren’t the most popular guy at school, but you were up there. Our lockers were near each other and we were friends for the two years we were in homeroom together. You made me feel cooler than I was. You wrote a poem in my yearbook which I’ll always have to remember your nickname for me.

    The One Who I Think About Every Now and Then

    We haven’t seen each other in almost 15 years, yet, you’re the one I think about every so often. I hope you grew up to be one of the good ones. You probably don’t remember this, but, to me, you’ll always be the boy who whipped out a bagel from your jacket pocket during recess and started eating it. It was not in a Ziploc bag…it was just bagel in pocket. If I had pushed myself to be more outgoing in elementary school, maybe we could’ve been friends all this time.

    Do you ever wonder if any of your crushes knew/had a feeling that you had a crush on them? I don’t think my crushes were exactly subtle, so I’m sure a few of the ones above knew that I liked them.

    For those old enough to remember, did anyone ever consider writing in their crush’s Honesty Box on Facebook? You could send an anonymous message to someone.

    Still searching for my Jake Ryan…Anyone else love Sixteen Candles too? Yes, it was super racist like they said in the movie, but <3 Jake Ryan!

    A quick note to the last seven boys on the list: I haven’t talked to you in a long time, but I hope you’re doing well. I’d like to thank all of you. You made me feel special by just being nice to me. Even though I only liked you and never loved any of you, you’ll always have a special place in my heart and I’ll always remember all of you.  

    Love,

    jen

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  • My Favourite Teas

    June 20, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    I wanted to share some of my favourite teas with you. I have green, fruity, herbal, rooibos and black teas on my faves list. They’re mostly caffeine-free or low caffeine and good either hot or cold. For all of them, you just need water and if you want, you can add a sweetener.

    Check out my post on how to make milk tea with grass jelly!

    JC titles for blog(1).png

    ORGANIC DETOX by DAVID’S TEA – This one is nice to drink in the morning to help detox.

    Green Tea – Low Caffeine

    Restart and restore with our detoxifying green tea. A blend of sencha, rooibos, ginger, ginkgo and juniper berries, our mega popular Organic Detox will help cleanse your system thanks to its powerful antioxidants. You’ll love its citrusy lemongrass punch and smooth herbal notes. Now all you have to do is find a reason to detox!

    Organic: Rooibos (Fair Trade Certified), sencha green tea, lemongrass, ginger, juniper berries, ginkgo. With natural lemon flavouring.

    ORGANIC COLD 911 by DAVID’S TEA – This one tastes and smells quite strong and I only put it on the list because it’s good if you feel a cold coming. I don’t like the taste of it, but the peppermint helps soothe the throat.

    Herbal Tea – Caffeine-Free

    Bad colds require badass interventions. And this soothing herbal tea has definitely got what it takes. It has a throat-calming base of peppermint, with a sweet hint of apple and some potent little juniper berries. And with its super-comforting aroma of eucalyptus and orange, even inhaling the steam feels good. Hey, we can’t guarantee miracle results, but at least we can guarantee it tastes great.

    Organic: Peppermint, apple, juniper berries. With natural eucalyptus and orange flavouring.

    FOREVER NUTS by DAVID’S TEA – I love this tea during the winter because the apple and cinnamon flavours pair nicely with some yummy sugar cookies.

    Herbal Tea – Caffeine-Free

    You’ll go nuts for this herbal tea. With its crunchy almond slices, sweet apple bits and cinnamon bark, this tempting caffeine-free infusion turns a crazy shade of pink when steeped. Why? Because of its hint of earthy beetroot. Deliciously nutty, decidedly addictive, it’s one of our all-time bestselling blends.

    Apple, almonds, cinnamon, beetroot, artificial flavouring.

    ORGANIC CREAM OF EARL GREY by DAVID’S TEA – This one is nice and creamy, no milk needed.

    Black Tea – Medium Caffeine

    Lovers of Earl Grey tea adore this creamy alternative to the original breakfast blend. You’ll recognize the same high-quality black tea, the same citrus burst of bergamot oil, the same beautiful grey-blue petals. However this version adds a touch of vanilla, and the result is an unexpectedly rich, creamy taste experience. Try it on its own or as a satisfying tea latte.

    Organic: Black tea, marigolds. With cornflowers and natural flavouring.

    MARRAKESH MINT TEA by MIGHTY LEAF – I love mint teas and this is the brand I usually get at restaurants. For an equally good, but less expensive mint tea, there’s the Moroccan-style Mint Green Tea by President’s Choice.

    Green Tea – Low Caffeine

    Marrakesh Mint, China Gunpowder blended with refreshing peppermint, will whisk you away to cascading waterfalls deep in the mountains of Morocco. Host friends and family with this lively green tea brightened with peppermint cultivated on a mountain in Tiznit.

    Green Tea, Peppermint

    GREEN TEA TROPICAL by MIGHTY LEAF – I picked this up in a variety pack with the Mighty Leaf Mint Tea and thought it’d be nice to try other teas since I like the mint one. I’m glad I did because I love this one. Although, I try not to drink it every day because of the pineapple (you know that feeling in your throat when you eat too much pineapple and it gets a little scratchy?)

    Green Tea – Low Caffeine

    Green Tea Tropical boasts smooth green tea leaves that harmoniously blend with sweet tropical fruits to create a sensation as uplifting as a breeze of the isle of Papenoo. A healthy and refreshing blend, Green Tea Tropical makes ideal introduction to green tea.

    Flower Petals, Green Tea, Natural Flavours, Natural Tropical Flavours, Pineapple

    PEACHES AND CREAM by SLOANE FINE TEA MERCHANTS – This pairs very nicely with some biscotti or some macarons. It’s not overly sweet, but has a fruity and creamy taste. This is the tea pictured above with the cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory (Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake and Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake). The two cheesecakes are very decadent and the two slices were enough to split between three people after dinner.

    White Tea

    A Bai Mu Dan white tea is delicately blended with the succulence of “water honey peaches” and finished with a hint of vanilla for a truly creamy finish.

    BLUEBERRY BLAST by DOLLAR TEA CLUB

    Rooibos Tea – Caffeine-Free

    This blend packs a burst of blueberries that will bring you back for more.

    Rooibos, blueberries, white apple pieces, natural coconut chips, flavoring, mallow flowers, pink rose flower petals.

    PERIODICALLY PAIN-LESS by DOLLAR TEA CLUB – This tea has a lot of claims to help a lot of different symptoms. I don’t know about all of the other symptoms, but it does seem to help during that time of the month. I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect or something, but I actually do feel better after drinking this when I’m feeling crampy.

    Herbal Tea – Low Caffeine

    The ingredients in this tea have been known to help alleviate symptoms of bloating, cramping, accelerate weight loss and provide dietary supplements. It helps decrease and eliminate symptoms of heartburn, indigestion, other gastro-intestinal distresses, provide relief for constipation, relieve nausea, boost the immune system, act as an anti-septic and an anti-inflammatory aid. A healthy and periodically painless solution for everyone at the time of need.

    **These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

    Anise seed, cinnamon pieces, limetree petals, melissa, green mate, liquorice root, heather petals, ginger pieces, cloves, cardamom, natural flavouring.

    PASSION HERBAL TEA by TAZO – I used to get Iced Passion Tea Lemonades from Starbucks every now and then, it’s been a while, but it’s still a fave and it’s so easy to make at home too.

    Herbal Tea – Caffeine-Free

    An exuberant herbal infusion of hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips & passion fruit flavors.

    Hibiscus flowers, natural tropical flavors, citric acid, licorice root, orange peel, cinnamon, rose hips, lemongrass, fruit juice extract (color)

    GENMAICHA (GREEN TEA WITH ROASTED RICE) by UJINOTSUYU – They also have Genmaicha at David’s Tea, but it’s cheaper and tastes better if you get the packaged loose leaf from an Asian supermarket.

    Genmaicha is a mixture of green tea with roasted rice. It has less caffeine and tastes less astringent. This aromatic blended tea brings together the refreshing lightness, sweetness and the distinctive taste of roasted rice.

    JC titles for blog.png

    Top Row: Peaches & Cream, Genmaicha, Periodically Pain-less, Green Tea Tropical, Blueberry Blast
    Bottom: Organic Detox, Forever Nuts, Marrakesh Mint, Organic Cold 911, Passion, Organic Cream of Earl Grey

    What are your fave teas?

    Love,

    jen

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  • Leave it to the Imagination | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 12

    June 15, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    This is the last installment of my online dating chronicles. If you’ve missed previous posts, click the link(s) below!

    Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…
    Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right
    Part 3: Play The Game, Playa
    Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water
    Part 5: How You Doin’?
    Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…
    Part 7: Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!!
    Part 8: Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf!
    Part 9: Who Am I? An Orphan Black Clone?
    Part 10: Hi, I’d like one (man) to go, please!
    Part 11: Why Are They Shirtless in a Public Bathroom?!

    Today, I’m sharing with you what girls and guys should put in their profile pics and bios (what I think you should put).

    Show an assortment of pictures:

    1. Non-blurry pic that clearly shows your face and eyes (NO SUNGLASSES). Not taken by a computer webcam…who uses webcam pics anymore?
    2. Show your fun side
    3. Don’t just put up group shots where we have to play Where’s Waldo and wonder “is that him or is that him?”

    Don’t just post selfies. I’m sure you have at least one pic where someone else took a picture of you. Use pics that are from the last two years at the longest. One guy said his pics were from a while ago and he looked like he had an athletic/average body, but in his description, he chose ‘a few extra pounds’.

    For most pics that I came across on guys’ profiles, a lot were blurry or grainy. If all of their pics are too good and professional looking, you should be using Google Reverse Image Search. I’ve said it before, but if they got the pictures from Instagram, then Google Reverse image search won’t come up with any results. If you see below, I searched my own photo that I used as a profile pic and I’ve posted it on my Instagram and it didn’t show up in the results.

    JC titles for blog(1)

    Next, I searched a picture that is on my blog, and it came up with my website for the results.

    jc-titles-for-blog2.png

    Remember that personal trainer I was talking about? He posted three pics that were taken from a Personal Trainer from LA or something. I used Google Reverse Image Search on all three pics. The first two had no results, but then I caught him on the last one where it showed up on a gym’s website or something. AHA! Bingpot! (I’ve been binge-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine).

    For my profile pics, I didn’t do any group shots because I didn’t want to use pics of my friends without their permission and plus it felt weird to put a pic of them on my online dating profile. I made sure to post one close-up (head and shoulders) and a full-length shot. I didn’t post any revealing pictures (no bikini pics) and none were showing any cleavage or my butt. I’m not judging anyone who uses those pics, but if you’re posting those pics, then you’ll attract guys who are looking for hookups instead of a relationship. If a guy is looking for a girlfriend, he doesn’t want a girl showing her butt or wearing lingerie in her profile pics and putting it all out there to see. Sure, guys like to look at that, but a guy doesn’t want his potential girlfriend or wife to be posting pics on social media showing everything. Leave it to their imagination 😉

    The same goes for guys. Let it be a nice surprise that you’ve got a six/eight pack. Not that you have to be toned and athletic for girls to like you. If you only post pics of your body (mirror selfies or just torso), then it makes me think that’s all you have to offer: a nice bod (or you’re too into how you look).

    Of course, regardless of whether your pics are revealing or not, you will still get some gross messages. So, be prepared for that.

    I saw an article in my research that said you should choose profile pics (at least the main one) where you’re NOT looking into the camera. I guess because it feels like they’re staring at us as we swipe and you get self-conscious and you’re like “oh, no, he knows I’m swiping left on him!!”

    I did a combo of different pictures, but the ones I used for the majority of my time on the sites were:

    • a close-up pic of me looking away from the camera- wearing makeup (head and shoulders)
    • me in a Supergirl costume on Halloween (I’m wearing a tank top and a fit and flare mini skirt and tights)
    • A far away shot of me on the bridge from Inception
    • a full-length shot of me on the beach (wearing a tank top and shorts, not a bikini)
    • A pic of me wearing barely any makeup (just spot concealer) so they know what I look like without makeup. It was also from a different angle from the close up shot

    JC titles for blog(1).png

    For the bio, write SOMETHING! It doesn’t have to be a paragraph, but just write something that you like to get a conversation going. I put a question after mine so they could answer it: What’s your fave A&W order? In the conversation starters for POF, I asked what their fave burger place was and who was their fave Batman. I got some good responses and plan to try out those burger places…thanks, guys! (Maybe I’ll do a blog post on the burgers and rate them).

    This installment ends my online dating chronicles. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope for all of my fellow single ladies out there, it hasn’t discouraged anyone from trying dating sites. I probably had more fun with it than most because I wasn’t really trying to meet someone. If it worked out that way, then it would’ve been nice, but I wasn’t really putting in 100% into finding someone. Then again, I don’t know if I’d put in 100% and try so hard to find someone because when you least expect it, someone can pop into your life. Maybe you start off as colleagues/friends and then it becomes something more. As much as I would love to have a meet cute, those only happen in movies. I could never have a meet cute because of my Resting Bitch Face (RBF). I don’t know why, but sometimes my neutral face can be bitchy or I just look like I’m sad. Then again, the right person won’t even notice if you have RBF. My mom and sister’s RBF is strong, and my dad and brother-in-law have both said something similar to my mom and sister, “that’s just your face.” Some day, I’ll find the one who says that to me, hopefully I don’t have to date a bunch of donkeys/asses to get to my unicorn (do unicorns apply to men? or is it just referring to girls?). *shrugs* either way, he’s out there somewhere.

    Love,

    jen

    *This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.

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  • “Why Are They Shirtless in a Public Bathroom?!” | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 11

    June 12, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Welcome back to another installment of my online dating series! If you’ve missed any, click the links below!

    Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

    Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

    Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

    Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

    Part 5: How You Doin’?

    Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…

    Part 7: Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!!

    Part 8: Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf!

    Part 9: Who Am I? An Orphan Black Clone?

    Part 10: Hi, I’d like one (man) to go, please!

    Part 11: Why Are They Shirtless in a Public Bathroom?!

    Today, I’ll be sharing some of the funny thoughts I had while I was swiping and some of the funny bios I came across. My thoughts will be in italics so you can differentiate what I was thinking as I swiped.

    Tinder & Bumble:

    • *has a picture of him flipping a pancake in the air*
      • Bio: The pancake landed on the floor…I’m basically useless but I’d date me
      • I was wondering if he caught it
    • Bio: I’m going to be straight up with you. I need to find someone to eat the other half of my pizzas.
      • He can’t eat a whole pizza by himself?
    • Bio: “Maybe one day someone will say ‘sir’ without adding ‘you’re making a scene”.
      • lol
    • *profile pic is of him taking a shirtless mirror selfie in a public bathroom…but he is wearing a scarf
      • I have so many questions for this guy: was he alone in the bathroom and decided to take off his shirt and take a mirror selfie, did he wait until he was alone in the bathroom to take the pic…why is he shirtless in a public bathroom? Why is he wearing a scarf? If he’s cold, he should put his shirt back on…
    • Occupation: Florist. Bio: They didn’t have firefighter so I put florist…we both put water on stuff so it made sense.
      • hahahha, that’s funny, but obviously Firefighter would be in the occupations list?
    • Bio: Am I the only guy who is not looking for a one night stand?! Two night stands are much more efficient!
      • hahahahha, this probably isn’t an original line, but that’s funny and so true…wait, I only have one night table in my room.
    • Occupation: Pilot. *profile pic is him in his uniform and a headset on*
      • He looks like Ed Burns! Why do all these pilots take a selfie in the cockpit? The doctors wouldn’t post a selfie in scrubs in the OR??
    • Bio: That’s not my kid…or my dog! Profile pics: him with a kid and a caption that says ‘not my kid’
      • Wow, he really wants the ladies to know that it’s not his kid. Does he think every girl will see his pics and be like: *swoons* “his profile pics have him with a dog AND a child…wow he’s sooooo sensitive!!!”
    • *swiping and sees that we have a mutual friend* Wow, I have a lot of mutual connections with these guys on Tinder and it’s just the one Facebook friend.
    • *shirtless selfie, but he’s wearing a parka*
      • What? Why???
    • Wow, he looks like a morph of Bradley Cooper and Chris Pine
    • *comes across a profile with two guys* Bio says they’re bi guys in an open relationship
      • wow, their skin is amazing…is that how it is or really good phone filter?
    • hehe, an Asian guy named Hans
    • Bio: long romantic walks to the fridge
      • lol.

    On Plenty of Fish:

    • Headline: Am I what your looking for 🙂 ?
      • Ummm, no. You don’t know when to use you’re!!
    • Headline: You’re Ideal guy!
      • Is he saying I’m the ideal guy?? WHY DO SO MANY GUYS NOT KNOW WHEN TO USE YOU’RE VS. YOUR!
    • Education: High school. Profession: Enginner
      • how does that work? An Engineer whose highest level of education is high school?
    • Profile Pics: one of him in a car (I assume it’s him) and one pic of Joe Jonas
      • Why does he have pics of himself AND Joe Jonas?
    • Headline: Heey my name’s nemo & I’m not afraid to touch the butt
      • hahahahahaha!!!
    • *swiping* Oh, look, a shirtless mirror selfie where his head is cut off and it’s just torso! Why are there so many of these?
    • Single father has a mirror selfie with him and his daughter both wearing green face masks and bathrobes.
      • Awww! That’s so cute!! She’s holding a wristlet and her nails are painted too. I hope to find someone who will be like that when he becomes a father, but that’s just too much responsibility to date someone who already has a toddler.
    • Headline: Who wants to help me get off of here?
      • What? Oh, he should really rephrase that…

    On OKCupid:

    • *sees guy from Tinder, but his name is different*
      • His name says Johnny…wasn’t it Vladimir on Tinder??* (names changed)

    Final Thoughts on Profile Pics:

    • Why are there so many shirtless mirror selfies in public bathrooms?
    • I love a guy wearing sunglasses, but if you could do a close up pic showing your eyes, that would be great
    • If you’ve ever worn a suit or a button up shirt (optional: with a tie), then put that in your profile pics (unless the only pic you have is with an ex-girlfriend)

    Don’t need a pic with your mom, grandma, niece/nephew or dog. Let us find out your sensitive side as we’re getting to know you. If you own a dog, it’s useful to know in case you don’t like dogs or are allergic, but if it’s not your dog, then why is the dog in your pic?

    For children in your pics, you should ask parents’ permission when you post a pic of their child on social media…do they know you’re using their child as bait to get girls on Tinder? It’s not like girls are posting pics with their nieces/nephews (I’m assuming, I didn’t see girls’ profiles) and writing in their bio: “Not my kid” or “proud aunt”. There were quite a few guys who wrote “proud uncle” in their bio. Uhh, okay, it’s great when you’re close with your niece or nephew and we see that you’re good with kids, but do you need to write it in your bio?

    Also, don’t really need a shirtless pic. Unless you’re at the beach or something where it makes sense why you’d be shirtless. When you take a shirtless gym/mirror selfie, it makes me think you’re trying to take attention away from your face…which could be why you have a shirtless pic. About half of the guys that had shirtless pics were attractive though, so maybe just proud of their eight pack.

    In my last installment, I’ll share some unsolicited advice on what pics to put in your profile and what types of things I look for when reading the bios.

    Love,

    jen

    *This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.

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  • “Hi, I’d like one (man) to go, please!” | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 10

    June 8, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    So, we are starting to wrap up my online dating chronicles. If you’ve missed previous installments, click below!

    Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

    Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

    Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

    Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

    Part 5: How You Doin’?

    Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…

    Part 7: Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!!

    Part 8: Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf!

    Part 9: Who Am I? An Orphan Black Clone?

    I’m not going to rate the different sites because it really depends on what you’re looking for when you use the apps. But, here are some thoughts on each of the dating sites/apps:

    Tinder- most likely looking for a hookup, probably only a handful that are looking to meet someone to date long-term.

    Bumble- similar to Tinder, but since it’s up to the girl to message first, not the best site for introverts or traditional girls who want guys to make the first move. I didn’t try the networking part of the app, but I did try the Friends version and sort of chatted with a few ladies, but didn’t make any new girlfriends.

    POF- You are going to get messaged by a lot of creeps because you don’t have to swipe right on a guy for them to message you. Unless your settings are very restrictive so that only Upgraded members can message you, you will get gross and creepy messages. Then again, upgraded members can be just as bad as the rest. Be careful of catfish, use Google Reverse Image Search, it will be your best friend. It doesn’t pick up pictures if they were taken from an Instagram account, but at least you can find out if he took a stock image somewhere or if he’s using some famous guy’s pics.

    OK Cupid- You’re probably using this because you’re a little more serious about meeting someone special (not just for a hookup). I guess the matching can help to find out if a potential match has the same values and thinks the same way you do. I didn’t really like the part where you choose from a drop-down menu to fill out your bio. I didn’t really like that if someone messaged you, you’d only see it when you come across their profile. Sometimes I missed the messages and then there’s no inbox to read them again.

    Coffee Meets Bagel- Like I said in the previous post, you probably use this app if you’re a business professional and don’t have a lot of time to swipe through all the guys in your city. It helps narrow down the field for you and it lets you see who is already interested in getting to know you better.

    I think if I had to choose the one dating app that I would use again, it would be Bumble. It has a slight edge over Tinder because I like the fact that the girl is the one who has to message first. Since you only have 24 hours to message them after matching and they have 24 hours to reply after you messaged them, then both parties are obviously interested if he replies. On Tinder, I got a few messages 2-3 days after matching with someone) and by that time, I was like meh, whatever (I already assumed he lost interest). I also liked that you could shake your phone and bring back a guy if you accidentally swiped left on him. Once your thumb gets into the motion of swiping left, you go faster and faster and sometimes you make a mistake.

    I had a fun time trying out all the different apps and now I know which apps to try out if going out in the real world and trying to meet someone doesn’t work. So, although there were some sparks on Tinder, they fizzled out. I did NOT find the drone to my Queen Bee on Bumble, my lobster on POF, my everything bagel on Coffee Meets Bagel and Cupid must’ve missed when he shot his arrow on OK Cupid. Actually, everything bagel isn’t the best way to describe a potential boyfriend. I don’t even like everything bagels that much. I prefer Cheddar Herb bagels from Great Canadian bagels. I used to get them all the time in high school before they closed their store. Now, there are only a handful of locations and they all close pretty early…no wonder I’m still single. It’s so hard for me to find a BAGEL, never mind a BOYFRIEND. I do eat other bagels though, I’m not just always waiting around to get my cheddar herb bagel. I guess it’s a good analogy for dating; I need to try all these poppyseed, sesame, plain bagels (go on dates) to find that cheddar herb bagel out there.

    If only there were some dating site where you go up to a counter and say,

    Hi, one (man) to go, please. Between 5’7″ (so I can wear heels and he’ll still be taller) and 6″ (so he’s not too tall when I’m wearing flats). Enjoys watching movies and shows. Housebroken, wants children, non-smoker, doesn’t do drugs, and has all of the following *lists more characteristics and values*

    Oh, and it would be a plus if he could pull off different looks: plain tee and jeans, a suit, leather jacket and if he looked good in aviators/wayfarer sunglasses, oh la la!! 😉

    It’s not like I expect to marry the next guy I date, but it’s better if anyone I date wants children or is open to having children in the future. Why waste time dating someone who doesn’t want something you know you want? Even if he’s perfect in every other way, if there’s a non-negotiable, then why advance the relationship further?

    In the last two installments of these dating chronicles, I’m going to share some of the funny thoughts I had while swiping and also give out some pointers (to the guys). Have a great weekend!

    Click here for Part 11

    Love,

    jen

    *This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.

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  • Who Am I? An Orphan Black Clone? | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 9

    June 5, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Here’s the next installment of my online dating chronicles. If you missed any of the previous parts, click the link(s) below!

    Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

    Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

    Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

    Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

    Part 5: How You Doin’?

    Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…

    Part 7: Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!!

    Part 8: Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf!

    Today, I’ll be writing about how the apps Coffee Meets Bagel and OK Cupid work. So, it’s more of an informational post again like Part 4 was for POF. Both apps had a similar setup where you complete a sentence for your profile. For example, Coffee Meets Bagel said “I appreciate when my date…” and you choose to fill it out. A few guys wrote that they appreciate when their date puts down the phone. I find this sad that they have to say that. I think what most people mean when they say to put the phone away is don’t scroll through Instagram or constantly be checking your phone for texts from your friends to tell them how the date is going. But, out of respect, even when I’m with friends, I rarely have my phone out. Of course, this can be a bad thing too. One time I went to a late movie after work with a friend and we grabbed bubble tea after the movie (which I told my parents, but I guess they didn’t hear me). My parents got worried when I wasn’t replying to their texts and wasn’t home by midnight (I had work early the next day and I was planning to make holiday cookies for my coworkers, so they expected I would be home at a reasonable time). Note to self- get verbal confirmation from parents that they know what’s happening and maybe just check my phone and send a text once it gets late.

    Coffee Meets Bagel

    I thought this was a funny name. They chose the name because grabbing coffee is an easy first date and then ‘bagel’ because they launched the app in New York. Surprisingly, I came across one of my classmates’ older brothers on the app. I was only on the site for a day so that I could get matches, just to see how it worked.

    Coffee Meets Bagel was kind of interesting because you fill out info like you do on Tinder. If you’re a female seeking a male, every day at 12pm, you are sent your ‘daily bagels.’ The daily bagels are guys who have liked you. So, it’s similar to having the paid version of the other apps. It shows you who already likes you and you can decide whether you like them back and if you do, they can message you. So, in a way, Coffee Meets Bagel is a mix of several apps because the girl (like Bumble) is the one to make the decision whether the guy can message you or not. It’s like if you were swiping on Tinder, and you were only shown profiles of the guys who already liked you. The one difference for Coffee Meets Bagel is that you are only shown a handful (about 10 or so?) of guys.

    Each day at noon, guys will receive up to 21 quality matches – known as “Bagels”. They are given the option to either LIKE or PASS. Then, Coffee Meets Bagel will curate the best potential matches for women among the men who expressed interest.

    Women will choose who gets to talk to them among quality men who already liked them. That’s right. No more guessing games!

    Users also earn or can pay for coffee beans, which unlock special features like finding out who the mutual friends of your match (when connected to Facebook) are or giving a match a second chance.

    It almost felt like this app was more for professionals. The ones who work a lot and don’t have a lot of downtime to swipe through tons of people.

    OK Cupid

    For OK Cupid, it was similar to POF where you fill out your info (you choose which ones you want to fill out):

    • Sexual Orientation
    • Gender
    • Height
    • Build (Body type)
    • Ethnicity
    • School
    • Religion
    • Whether you smoke, drink or do drugs
    • If you eat meat or not (i.e. Omnivore)
    • whether you have kids/if you want them
    • Horoscope Sign

    You can also say if you speak a second language and choose whether religion is important.

    Then, you fill out a self-summary (bio) and you can choose a selection of drop-down questions to fill out. You know when you have to choose from a drop-down list of questions when you’re filling out security questions for the bank or something and there’s a few choices for each question? That’s how OK Cupid is set up. Some of the questions include:

    • What I’m doing with my life
    • Favourite book, tv show, movie, music, food
    • You should message me if…
    • I’m really good at…
    • The first thing people notice about me is…
    • I spend a lot of time thinking about…

    In addition to filling these questions out (whether you choose to or not), you are given a series of questions on different topics and based on your answers, you are matched with people based on whether they answered the questions in the same way. You get a match percentage and an enemy percentage. The enemy percentage is based on how you answered the questions and if they answered slightly different, then your enemy percentage goes up. It doesn’t base the match percentage on your interests, it bases it on how you answered a series of questions that ask you about dating, sex, ethics, politics, etc. I didn’t know this when I signed up, I thought matches were based on interests, but it’s based on the series of questions you answer.

    You are asked a question and then you choose what answers you would accept from a potential match. Then, you choose the importance of the question.

    • Do spelling mistakes annoy you?
      • Yes
      • No
    • Answer I’ll accept:
      • Yes
      • No
    • Importance
      • A little
      • Somewhat
      • Very

    If you chose both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ for ‘answers I’ll accept,’ they mark it as irrelevant and don’t count it in your questionnaire. So, if you chose that spelling mistakes do annoy you and then a potential match said no, then your enemy percentage goes up.

    Luckily, you can look at how you both answered the questions to see which questions your answers were different. This is useful because you can see which answers matter to you.

    They even had some logic questions like whether the Earth or Sun is bigger and “Half of all policemen are thieves and half are murderers. Does it follow logically that all policemen are criminals?” This type of question is called a syllogism (which I just found out). “A syllogism is a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions that are asserted or assumed to be true.” It reminded me of Orphan Black when they ask the Castors and Helena those questions.

    All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion: All mangoes are cheap…

    Helena: Where are these mangoes?… I would like to see these mangoes.

    tumblr_nndnssV0gD1sq5msto3_250.gif

    Haha, gotta love Helena. Always thinking about food. Same, girl.

    I feel like OK Cupid is more for people looking for a long-term relationship and you can see if your values and way of thinking is similar by using the questionnaire.

    For the last installments of this blog series, I’m going to share my final thoughts on online dating. I’ll let you know which apps to join depending on what you’re looking for, and offer some tips to the guys out there on what would make me swipe right. Also, I’ll share some of the reactions I had while swiping.

    Click here for Part 10

    Love,

    jen

    *This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.

    Read More