Treat Yo Self with Hallu (Review)



There are many different things you can do for yourself when it comes to self care. Some like a massage, while others like cuddling on the couch to binge watch their favorite show on Netflix. I love a bit of everything. On days where I get to relax without hearing a kid yell, "MOM!" multiple times a day, one of my all time favorite things to do is to relax in a bath with a glass of wine, my favorite 90's songs from when I was a teen and some nice bath products that help hydrate my skin. 

I was super excited when I received a few of Hallu's new products that made my "me time," even more relaxing. They sent over their Rainbow Sugar Scrubs, Wish Upon A Star Bath Bomb and  Mermaid Tiki Torch Bath Bomb


Their Rainbow Sugar Scrubs is made with natural honey and sugar to exfoliate, rosehip and coconut oil to soften and moisturize your skin. Using the sugar scrubs during my bath felt great and I love how vibrant and colorful the sugar scrubs are not to mention how great they smell. The sugar scrubs were amazing to use. While using the scrubs I made sure to scrub down harder on the parts of my skin that were a little rough from our harsh Winter, but I love how soft and smooth my skin felt after and I can't wait to use the Rainbow Sugar Scrubs again.


Next up is their Wish Upon A Star Bath Bomb, retailed at $4.97. This bath bomb is one of the many new products that Hallu will be debuting at the end of this month. It adds color and a soft glow to your tub with the help of the lightable candle that's included. With its soothing hibiscus and water lily fragrance, this bath bomb is sure to slowly transforms the waters around you into a beautiful unicorn sky. This was my first time using a bath bomb that had a candle inside it and I have to say I'm definitely a fan. It made my bath even more enjoyable and I love that it floats, leaving you feeling nice and relaxed. 


Lastly, the Mermaid Tiki Torch Bath Bomb, retailed at $5.97, is another new product from Hallu, was enjoyed by my teenage daughter who absolutely loved it. The mermaid Tiki Torch Bath Bomb floats, spins and bubbles, giving you that relaxing spa time we all deserve. Its Palo Santo incense provides energy, cleansing and spiritual purification to the air and the bath bomb contains Myrtle and Almond Oil for extra moisturizing benefits. To use, light the incense until the room is filled with the desired amount of fragrance and then add the bath bomb to your bath to dissolve and enjoy the beautiful pink, purple and green colors as the oils moisturize your skin leaving your skin feel nice and soft. 

The new bath products from Hallu will be available at Walmart on March 30th and on March 23rd Kroger stores exclusively debuted three new Hallu bath bombs along with 13 other Hallu products including top sellers Unicorn Rainbow Sugar Scrub, Mermaid Spray Lotion and Fairy Pink Foam Lotion. Be sure to try these beautiful inexpensive bath products the next time you treat yo' self.

 Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above products at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received

L'Oreal Paris Rouge Signature Lipstick Review





I'm pretty light skinned and have fair skin and it's hard to find colors that look nice against my skin tone. The L'Oreal Paris Rouge Signature Lipstick is amazing! These colors are gorgeous and are really complimentary against any skin tone. Secondly, it feels like natural lip. There is no stickiness, no cakey feeling at all, no residue or transferring to clothing or glasses. I can't believe how impressed I am with these lipsticks. These will be my new go-to lipsticks! 

I would definitely recommend these to anyone looking for a matte lipstick that stays put and feels like there's nothing on your lips. At first I wasn’t sure about this lipstick because it comes with a doe-foot applicator which I now LOVE. I love that the Doe-foot applicator goes with the shape of your lip and it applies nicely. 



After applying and using the lipstick, the performance is fantastic. As I mentioned, a little goes a long way. I can draw the lipstick on and it stays exactly where I put it, no traveling or bleeding. It’s lightweight and you can’t really tell that you have it on. 

Its lightweight ink delivers intense pigment with a weightless, bare-lip sensation that’s twice as thin as lipstick. This ultra-comfortable liquid lip ink provides lasting matte color and infuses lips with an even dye of color. Rouge Signature delivers the no makeup feel of a stain combined with the colour impact of a liquid lipstick.

The Rouge Signature Lipstick is available in 16 beautiful shades, each in a see-through glass bottle paired with a doe-foot applicator to shape and line lips for a precise and perfectly applied lip!


For more information about L'Oreal Paris Rouge Signature Lipstick and other L'Oreal products click HERE.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above products at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received

L’Oreal Paris STYLISTA Hair Product Review





Happy Spring, everyone! I love trying out new products for my hair. Not only do I get to see how well they work, but also get to find what works for me and what doesn't. So when I got the opportunity to try out L'Oreal Paris STYLISTA hair products I was pretty excited. I'm already a fan of their makeup, so trying out the products in the STYLISTA line was exciting. I was sent the texturing mist, defining spray, shaping cream wax, soothing serum and the heat protective primer.
I really liked the texturing mist, the bottle is a spray bottle and is blue in colour. The scent is light and breezy and I didn’t find it stick to the touch. The bottle was easy to use and the product did give my hair the beachy waves I was going for. One thing I really liked about this product is it has a lock feature on it. This is a product I would want to take on vacation and this feature would give me some comfort knowing I’m not going to open my suitcase when I arrive to find my clothes covered in blue mist.

I used the defining spray. after my workout at the gym. This spray was easy to use and has a nice citrus smell. I really like the fact that I can use it on wet hair and it dries nicely. I found this product helped control my hair and gave me a nice wave. It didn’t make my hair feel crunchy like some defining sprays which was a plus! 


The shaping cream-wax is something I wouldn't normally use, but I decided to try it on myself while doing a Sleek High Ponytail. This product is not like other wax hair products. It is definitely on the creamier side. There isn’t really a scent to it and I didn’t find it sticky like most wax products. After applying the wax to my hair I feel like it did its job. Those little wings of hair as I like to call them, stayed in place all evening.

I was most excited to try the soothing serum. The soothing serum came in a pump style bottle which was easy to use. It was purple in colour and had a floral scent which was nice! I didn’t find it sticky and was more of an oil based product. Since my hair is fairly long, My daily routine usually includes using my straightener. After washing my hair I put the serum in and dried my hair as usual. I could already tell my hair was soft and silky. After using my straightener my hair was noticeably less frizzy and I loved it!

I have never used a primer before, so when I got to use the heat protective primer from the STYLISTA line I loved the outcome and I feel like this one is a great addition to my hair product collection. The primer came in a pump style bottle and was easy to use. The fresh clean scent was nice and I feel like the scent lasted a while. It has a smooth cream texture and wasn’t sticky at all. I tried it while doing a blowout on my hair and I feel like it help keep my style through out the day.

Overall, I am very happy about the outcome the L'Oreal Paris STYLISTA hair products made and will defintely be recommeding them to friends and family and will be adding them to my hair product collection. 

The  L'Oreal Paris STYLISTA hair products are now available throughout Canada at stores, for more information on the STYLISTA hair line, check them out online.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above products at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received



DK Canada Maker Lab Book Review






Supporting STEAM education initiatives and the Maker Movement, the National Parenting Publication Award-winner Maker Lab includes 28 kid-safe projects and crafts that will get young inventors' wheels turning and make science pure fun.

Each step-by-step activity is appropriate for kids ages 8-12, and ranked easy, medium, or hard, with an estimated time frame for completion. Requiring only household materials, young makers can build an exploding volcano, race balloon rocket cars, construct a lemon battery, make sticky slime, and more. Photographs and facts carefully detail the "why" and "how" of each experiment using real-world examples to provide context so kids can gain a deeper understanding of the scientific principles applied.

With a foreword by Jack Andraka, a teen award-winning inventor, Maker Lab will help kids find their inner inventor and create winning projects for school projects, science fairs, and beyond.



MY REVIEW

Two of my beautiful daughters, Joey and Ryanne helped me review Lab Maker. We did two medium level projects. Only one I could say was successful. Our most successful project was Sticky Slime.

Relatively easy to follow directions. We did end up with a result similar to the pictures shown in the book. The kids were amazed that while appearing like slime when picked up it was a solid. The book explains the science behind it in a fun and interesting way. Downside is that it's pretty messy.




Our most Unsuccessful project was Sugar Pops…

While this seemed like an easy enough project the directions on heating the sugar were a little vague. I'm not sure if this project flopped because I heated the sugar incorrectly or if I chose the wrong type of container which the directions were also a little unclear on. Nonetheless it was fun to try. The girls were a little disappointed that it didn't work but not all first attempts experiments are successful which is a lesson in itself.

The book is colorful and exciting for the kids. They barely recognized that they were learning because it was so hands on and fun. Some directions could have been clearer but maybe practice of a few would yield better results. Can't wait to try a few more. This book is full of great fun ideas. A must have for the entire family to enjoy.

Available now, for more information on this title, be sure to head over to DK Canada.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above book at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received

DK Canada's Unsolved Murders Book Review




This true crime book makes you the detective, investigating some of the most infamous unsolved cases of the 20th and 21st centuries. Crime scenes, crucial evidence, witnesses, and persons of interest are clearly and concisely presented, along with essential details and clues, so you can judge for yourself: who could have done it?

Unsolved Murders also profiles the psychology of the killer, discusses the background and life of the unfortunate victim (or victims), and explores how these horrific crimes impacted the victim's family and friends. From domestic tragedies to serial killers with a love for the macabre, this book will have you returning to the cases again and again. Can you unlock the secrets of these unsolved crimes where others have failed? (We can't promise that the book will give you the solution!)

Presented in a beautiful hardcover format you will be proud to read on your commute or display on your coffee table, Unsolved Murders: True Crime Cases Uncovered is like having your favorite true crime podcast or documentary at your fingertips every day.


MY REVIEW
A quick and interesting read! 

I enjoyed this book very much. I, of course, love crime stories the differences in outcomes for similar crimes happening in different places with differing laws, viewpoints and investigation techniques is so interesting to me. Add in advancing technology and biases in society and human nature in general and I'm hooked! 

Unsolved Murders takes a chronological approach with the true crime cases starting from 1912 to 2010 many cases documented.

I had never heard of which, in and of itself, strikes a win for me since most media surrounds only high profile cases all of which have been discussed and theorized by so many, so many times with so many opinions.

This is very fact based, gives reports on the investigation process and reported insights but my favorite part is hearing very little of the author in the book...doing this is much harder than it sounds. Human nature includes opinions but in a book like this I want to create my own and having an unbiased, fact based account is instrumental in getting that. If you like the facts and are interested in the investigation process this is your book!  

Available now, more information on this title, be sure to head over to DK Canada 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above book at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received

Instant Family Blu-ray Review



From the creators of Daddy’s Home comes a heartwarming comedy for everyone. When Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) choose to start a family, they stumble headfirst into the world of foster care adoption. After they learn their perfect foster child comes with two other siblings, Pete and Ellie find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight and must hilariously learn the ropes of instant parenthood if they hope to become a real family. Inspired by a true story, and also starring Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro, discover the film critics have called “A MUST SEE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AND EVERY FAMILY” (Scott Mantz, COLLIDER).


MY REVIEW
Family movie nights is something the hubby and I love to do with the kids at least a few times a month. So when we received the blu-ray Instant Family starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne, we were pumped because they are two actors that we've loved in other films, put them together with three kids and it's hilarious and warmhearted.

This was such a great family movie to watch with the kids. Not every family looks the same or even comes together the same and it was nice for us to watch a movie about a couple adopting three siblings and how they experience forming their family to fit perfectly just for them. It was great to see that it wasn't all rainbows and sunshine and I'm glad my kids got to see that in this film too. It was a great film to watch as my kids kept identifying with the kids in the movie. I have three kids, a teenage daughter, preteen son and a four year old, so although it wasn't the exact same, it was great to hear my older two laugh at the kids in the movie and relate to them.

We were also sent a family viewing kit that included lots of goodies that made our family movie night more enjoyable. 



We loved every bit of  this movie and will be adding this one to our favorites collection. Instant Family is now out and available in stores on blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Instant Famlily blu-ray and viewing kit at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

March Break with Cineplex Events!


Can you believe March is finally here?! It feels like January and February took forever to get through. Now that we're in March, Spring is around the corner and that means so is March Break. Some schools in Canada are out this week, others, like where my kids attend, will be out for March Break at the end of the week and they are pretty excited.

One of the things we love to do as a family is take the kids to see a movie that we all can enjoy and I'm excited to share with you that Cineplex Events has March Break covered with Family Favourite screenings across Canada.



 At only $2.99 per screening, Family Favourites are a great opportunity to introduce new movie-goers to the theatre experience, catch a blockbuster hit that was missed the first time around or simply escape the cold for an afternoon of fun and affordable entertainment.

From March 11-15, 2019, participating theatres will host daily matinee screenings of some of the year’s hottest films includingPAW Patrol: Mighty Pups, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Smallfoot, and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch.

See below for more information on each film and participating theatres. For showtimes, please visit Cineplex.com/MarchBreakMovies or Cineplex.com/RelacheAuCinema.

PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups

Audiences can see PAW Patrol on the big screen for the first time in the brand new mini movie, Mighty Pups. When a fallen meteor gives the pups mighty powers, they’ll need to use them on a super heroic mission to keep Mayor Humdinger and his nephew Harold from taking over Adventure Bay.


Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is a universal story about the indomitable power of optimism that isn’t limited to the holiday season. Based on Dr. Seuss' beloved classic, The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl's generous holiday spirit.


Small Foot

An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, Smallfoot turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn't exist – a human. News of this 'smallfoot' throws the yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in a story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.


Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

In the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, Newt Scamander joins forces with Albus Dumbledore as they attempt to take down the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald while facing new threats in a divided wizarding world.



Participating theatres in Ontario include:
Cineplex Odeon Westmount Cinemas and VIP
Cineplex Cinemas Fairview Mall
Cineplex Cinemas Winston Churchill
Galaxy Cinemas Sarnia
Cineplex Cinemas Markham and VIP
Cineplex Odeon Clarington Place Cinemas
Cineplex Odeon South Keys Cinemas
Cineplex Odeon Ajax Cinemas
Galaxy Cinemas Barrie
Cineplex Odeon Eglinton Town Centre Cinemas
Cineplex Odeon Niagara Square Cinemas
Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall Cinemas
Cineplex Odeon Gardiners Road Cinemas
Cineplex Cinemas Queensway and VIP
Galaxy Cinemas Cornwall
Galaxy Cinemas Peterborough
Galaxy Cinemas North Bay
Galaxy Cinemas Sault Ste. Marie
Galaxy Cinemas St. Thomas
Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo
Galaxy Cinemas Cambridge
Galaxy Cinemas Orangeville
Galaxy Cinemas Guelph
Galaxy Cinemas Brockville
Cineplex Cinemas Milton
Cineplex Odeon Barrhaven Cinemas
Cineplex Odeon Oshawa Cinemas
Cineplex Cinemas Hamilton Mountain
Galaxy Cinemas Brantford
Galaxy Cinemas Chatham
Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk
Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Eglinton and VIP
Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough
SilverCity Richmond Hill Cinemas
Cineplex Cinemas Yorkdale
SilverCity Newmarket Cinemas and XSCAPE Entertainment Centre
Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan
Galaxy Cinemas Belleville
SilverCity Brampton Cinemas
SilverCity Burlington Cinemas
Cineplex Cinemas Mississauga
SilverCity London Cinemas
Cineplex Cinemas Ottawa
Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa
SilverCity Sudbury Cinemas
SilverCity Thunder Bay Cinemas

Will you be taking your family to the movies during March Break? If so, let us know which movie you'll be seeing! 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received admission tickets in exchange for the purpose of this post. No other compensation was received.



The Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Review & Giveaway



In honour of its 30 th anniversary, two-time Academy Award®- winner (Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Under the Sea,” 1989) “The Little Mermaid,”dives into the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection with all-new bonus features and a sing-along mode. The magical, musical tale of mermaid princess Ariel — along with loveable sidekicks Sebastian and Flounder, and the love-to-hate sea witch Ursula — is shore to make a splash with all generations as it's now available for first time Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray™.

“The Little Mermaid” is the seventh title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes
groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring
timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. The film takes its place alongside “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi,” “The Lion King”and “Lady and the Tramp.”


MY REVIEW
This is a movie that is always a reminder of my childhood! It was my favorite movie as a child and I was very excited to watch it with my children.  My daughters really enjoyed this movie!  They are always dressing up and acting like Disney princesses and they have now added Ariel to their list. 

They really enjoyed Flounder and Scuttle especially when Scuttle tells Ariel what each human treasure she has found is used for. The Anniversary Edition has a sing-along feature that displays the song lyrics at the bottom of the screen. This is such an added bonus as my daughters always love the songs of all Disney movies and we often sing them over and over again. 

This edition also includes other bonus features including the cast members recording sessions, sneak peeks, and much more. We spent a lot of time going through all these features and learning much more about the little mermaid.

The picture quality on this Blu-ray/DVD combo is great and no longer gives you the feel of watching a really old movie.  Overall, this 30th anniversary edition is excellent and is perfect for audiences of all ages! I highly recommend this movie and its sing-along feature!

Thanks to Disney Canada we are offering one copy of The Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary on blu-ray to our Canadian readers. Comment below sharing your favorite character in The Little Mermaid!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received The Little Mermaid at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.