STWW: Do Better

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In the spirit of the New Year, I thought I'd share a quote that I think is a great mantra: 

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better" - Maya Angelou.

It's a short but powerful reminder to always do the right thing - the best thing, as far as you know. It's not easy but it is important and ultimately rewarding to rise above any situation and do what you feel is right.  We should try to find ways to make ourselves (and others) happier. We should strive to do the best we can, even when we don't want to. Speaking from personal experiences, doing the right thing always pays off, maybe not immediately but eventually.

Another side of this quote is giving people the benefit of the doubt. When someone does something hurtful, low or just plain rude, before you react, realize that maybe they're having a rough day and just (unfairly) taking it out on you. Or maybe they don't know better - they're doing the best they know and since you know better, you should do better. This doesn't mean you should let people walk all over you but, before you jump to annoyance or anger, maybe take a step back and think of them as victims of circumstance rather than rudeness being a part of who they are.

Do you think you'll keep this in mind as you go about this year? What's your favourite quote that helps you rise above hard situations? Let's start 2015 with a bang, Happy New Year everyone!

Guest Post: Best of 2014!

I prepared an introduction for this guest post earlier but, after reading this post, I can see that none is necessary! Michelle from The Lazy Laquerista (a great blog about nail art and polishes with beauty/skincare peppered in) has been so kind as to write a lovely post for you all today and so, without further ado:

Hello readers of The Sunday Wardrobe!

The members of the Canadian Beauty Bloggers Network had the chance to participate in guest post for December with the theme of 'Best Of 2014' and I was matched up with your regular author, Nabihah.  I've decided to share some of my favorite new to me cosmetics brands of the past year.  This doesn't necessarily mean that the brands themselves are new but that I tried them for the first time (and loved them) over the past 12 months.  Let's get started!

Performance Colors

Performance Colors is an indie make up shop that specializes in lip colour but also dabbles in skin and eye cosmetics.  I first learned about them from the reddit sub Indie Makeup And More.  I've tried their lip colors and absolutely love them.  She offers two formulas.  First is a restorative formula that I describe as the cross between a lipstick and chapstick.  They are highly pigmented but are also soft and moisturizing.  The other formula is a matter formula which are also highly pigmented but have longer wear times.  These lippies sell for $6USD each but right now there is a 3/$12 special.  How can you go wrong at $4 each for such amazing colours?  You can find Performance Colors on Etsy and Facebook.

WingDust Collections

I had heard about WingDust Collections through various indie polish groups/forums most often relating to their most popular polish, Steel Town Girl.  When I found out they were having a pre-order for this hard to find polish I knew I had to get my hands on it.  The pleasant surprise was that this brand turned out to be Canadian, just like me.  The creator behind the brand, Stephanie, has great customer service and a great creative mind.  The polishes she comes up with are totally unique and absolutely gorgeous.  My personal favorites are the ones that contain gold leaf flakes.  I haven't seen that done so well in any other brand.  Since my initial order my WingDust collection has grown to 17 shades and I'm sure will keep expanding.  You can find Wingust Collections on Etsy, Facebook and Instagram.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

 Not all of my favorite new to me brands this year are indies.  I had heard about OCC through a Canadian cosmetics group on facebook.  When some of their sets went on sale at Sephora I took the plunge and thus began my addiction to liquid lipstick.  I love how highly pigmented the OCC Lip Tars are.  It only takes a drop to do my lips entirely.  I also love that I can easily mix different shades to create something unique.  They do seem a little pricey but even the mini 'test tubes' will last so long since your require so little product per application.  You can find OCC at http://occmakeup.com and Sephora.

Glamour Doll Eyes

Do you like eye shadow in a rainbow of amazing colours?  Then you should probably check our Glamour Doll Eyes.  Vanessa, the creator of this awesome brand, comes out with beautiful and unique colours to suit every style, from neutral to wild.  GDE shadows are all incredibly pigmented and full sized jar will last you approximately forever.  At $6 a shadow it's also a very budget friendly brand.  Another neat thing about this brand is that there is a new gift with purchase shadow every month that you get free with all orders over $10.  I've also tried a couple of their blushes and their quality is just as good as the shadows.  You can find Glamour Doll Eyes on http://www.glamourdolleyes.com, Storenvy and Facebook.

Femme Fatale Cosmetics

Last up is a brand that's a little bit of everything.  Femme Fatale makes their own cosmetics and polish but is also an international stockist for many other indie lines.  They are based out of Australia but I love their stuff so much that shipping it across the world is completely worth it.  My personal make up favorites are their duochrome eye shadows and low shimmer illuminators.  As for the polishes, I don't think I can choose a favorite because they are all so pretty!  If you don't to wait for your package to cross the ocean you can also get Femme Fatale polishes from Color4Nails and Harlow&Co and Shiro Cosmetics has announced they will soon be stocking their shadows.  To get the goodies straight from the source check out http://femmefatalecosmetics.com.au and their Facebook page.

I hoped you enjoyed my favorite new to me brands, and maybe you learned about a new one that you need to check out.  If you like this post please come and check my out in my natural habitat over at www.thelazylaquerista.com, Facebook and on Instagram.

Happy polishing,
Michelle

My Favourite Holiday: Lipstick

The last My Favourite Holiday post of the year! Though Christmas has passed (too quickly!), there's still New Year's Eve to look forward to and get dressed up for. Along with my favourite eyeshadow (here), I love wearing this Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw.

I absolutely love this formula - it is matte without being drying or sticky (my favourite combination!), and it is long lasting. It doesn't transfer at all even when eating messy food - it stays perfectly on my lips and there's no sign of it on cutlery or cups. It is a little hard to take off; I scrub some make up remover on my lips and that takes out majority of it and then it fades over a couple hours. That's the only con about this lipstick though it does prove its longevity!

I have yet to come across a lipstick I love as much as this one but I'm always on the hunt so leave your suggestions below! I hope all of you had a great Christmas!

STWW: Sharing Presence

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A couple days back I received an invitation to my friend's daughter's first birthday. A small paper slipped out which read (I'm paraphrasing) "Though your presence is all that my daughter wants, those who wish to bring a gift can make a donation to the Educate Lanka Foundation, a charity that provides education to children in need in Sri Lanka". I was blown away with how lovely this idea was - her daughter is blessed to having loving parents, doting grandparents and aunts and uncles that constantly spoil her; she doesn't need any more toys/clothes/books and so her family is selflessly requesting a donation be made to those in need.

This invitation, and this article inspired me for this week's STWW post: sharing your presence. Christmas and the holidays are a wonderful time of year, you give and receive presents, you spend the day with your loved ones, eating delicious food and sharing memories. And while presents are always welcome, what about your presence? Are you 100% focused on the people that surround you? 

As a social media addict, I can see how common it is for us to be glued to our phones even when we're surrounded by others. I feel as though I take and edit all these beautiful pictures to put on Instagram for me to remember (and, I'll admit it, sometimes I do it to show others) an event when I should be present in the moment to create memories rather than take pictures of them. 

So this holiday season let's all leave our phones in our bags and jackets and focus on what and who is in front of us. This Christmas, don't just hand out presents, share your presence. What are you going to do to be more present?

Merry Christmas to those celebrating and Happy Holidays to those who aren't!

My Favourite Holiday: Accessory

As someone who wears studs constantly, longer, dangly earrings are uncommon and formal for me. If you've been keeping up with my "My Favourite Holiday" series for these past couple weeks, you'll know that Christmas for me means more formal, glittery and fancy attire and these geometrical earrings are just that!

I bought this pair almost two years ago from H&M so it is longer on their site but I found (fairly) similar ones here and here. They're chic, not too heavy and go with any outfit, giving a modern twist. I'm not entirely a fan of beaded numbers so I tend to stick to stones or all metal with interesting shapes and this pair is perfect. They stop just above my shoulder and I love wearing them with an all black outfit and a red lip so they really stands out. 

What are your favourite accessories this holiday season? Do you change your choices for the holidays or do you keep consistent?

STWW: 5 Tips Green Christmas

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I realize that this post would have been of more use had I thought of it earlier but my STWW series only started two weeks back (see the first post here) and I'm still in the process of organizing myself. I'm making myself feel better by saying these tips are for Christmas procrastinators and can also be used next year. But better late than never, here are five tips for a more environmentally friendly Christmas.

1. Buy a live Christmas tree: though plastic trees are reusable, they are often made from PVC which uses resources to be manufactured and shipped. These plastic trees also end up in landfills after a few uses. Live Christmas trees are grown on tree farms and are a renewable resource as they are replanted regularly. Another bonus is that they have a wonderful pine scent that your fake tree won't have. Another tip is to use LED holiday lights as they use 95% less energy which also reduces your electricity bill. 

3. Buy locally made gifts: these can be found in artisan shops and craft fairs and, aside from being cool and hipster, they are friends of the environment as they don't contribute to greenhouse emissions since they aren't transported halfway around the world. Transportation is an often overlooked but significant cause of global warming and we should be more mindful of where our products come from and how they got here.

2. Give battery-free gifts: aside from the energy required to produce batteries, a problem with batteries is that they generally end up in landfills (please recycle your batteries/electronics when possible!). Help save energy and the environment by opting for battery-free gifts or by providing rechargeable batteries with your gifts.

4. Use environmentally friendly wrapping choices: choose to wrap gifts with fibers such as hemp or with recycled wrapping paper. There are many gorgeous recycled wrapping papers, there's no real reason to buy anything else. Most wrapping papers, providing they aren't metallic papers or foils, can be recycled too! Reusing the paper/bows/ribbons your gifts were wrapped in is great for the environment and your wallet.

5. Don't use disposable containers: whether you're presenting a box of homemade cookies as a gift or bringing some of your beautiful roasted vegetables for dinner, try not to use a disposable container. Despite the hassle of needing to remember to take your dish home at the end of the night, it's much more environmentally friendly to take a resuable dish rather than a disposable plastic one. You could also buy a tin from your local dollar store to present the cookies in - it's something the receiver can and will reuse. 

I hope these tips help you make a more conscious Christmas decision - some of these tips are easier to fulfill than others but even doing one will make a difference! More information can be found here and let me know of any green Christmas tips you have for a more environmentally friendly holiday!

My Favourite Holiday: Eyeshadow

Come Christmas season, I think it's entirely acceptable to have glittery golden lids, all day, everyday. Actually, I think glittery lids are acceptable any time of the day/month/year but they're more appreciated during Christmas.

This Inglot eyeshadow (I can't find it on the site, I picked this particular one up from Dubai two years back) is one of my favourite products of all time. I generally use it to brighten up my inner eye but I'll also use it all over my lid for an extra bit of glam, then using a dark brown shadow in my crease and on the outer corners of my eyes. This shadow incredibly pigmented, lasts all day and there is no fall out. The colour is a golden bronze though it's showing up orange in the pictures. It's the perfect shade of gold, in my opinion; not to yellow, not too orange but the happy medium. If I had to choose the perfect eyeshadow, this would be it.


I can't sing its praises enough. This is the one product I will always use and will always promote. It's actually my second pot: I bought the first one over 5 years back when an Inglot store popped up in my local mall. The store closed a year later which was awful, especially when I dropped my pot and the shadow smashed. Unfortunately there were no other Inglot stores in Toronto and so I would gingerly open my shadow to use it, careful not to let any of the precious powder fall. Three years back I went to London and was gutted to know that a mall I frequented had an Inglot store that I didn't know about and never visited. Finally I had the chance to visit Dubai and made sure to check if there was an Inglot there. I realize that I sound obsessive and crazy but that should illustrate how much I loved (and still love) this shadow! I literally tracked it across countries and continents. I bought another pot of this shadow and I've been careful not to drop this one. There's now an Inglot in Toronto which I haven't visited yet but if I ever find this eyeshadow, I will be sure to let you guys know. 

What are your favourite shadows for this season? Any one beauty product you're obsessed with?

STWW: Buy a Water Bottle

For my first STWW post/tip (for more info on this series, check here) I want to share something I see so often and wish would change; a small but important tip: buy a water bottle. And I don't mean plastic disposable water bottle that is so often thrown away and ends up in a landfill. But a reusable water bottle that costs less than $10 but helps save this planet. I use a Nalgene bottle and have been for over a year - it's hardy, inexpensive and effective.

Some quick facts on bottled water (I apologize for the American stats but I would imagine it's similar for any first world country):

For more info: Greatist and Ban The Bottle. 

Do you think you'll make the switch from disposable to reusable water bottles? If not, why? I'd love to get opinions for and against the use of reusable water bottles so comment away, this is a safe space :) 

Sephora Lust List

I should really make this a series; I know there'll be more like this since my entire existence is a Sephora Lust List.

Ever since buying my second NARS blush (which I'm obsessed with), I've been very interested in expanding my meager collection. I've heard great things about the Radiant Creamy Concealer and I love liquid base products so it's definitely next on my list. Also, the Audacious Lipstick and Virtual Domination Cheek Palette are just so pretty!

Too Faced is also another recent obsession, after receiving their Chocolate Bar palette (review soon!) and I'm finishing up my current bronzer so the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer was the natural next choice (reading over this post, I can't believe that was all just one sentence). I also can't get enough of neutral/smokey eye palettes hence the Boudoir Eyes Palette. 

An Hourglass Ambient Lighting blush is also on my list just because that darn palette keeps popping up everywhere and it looks so intriguing. 

Sephora lip products are apparently moisturizing and long lasting and, since I love trying out lipsticks, the Sephora Collection Colour Lip Last and Cream Lip Stain made it to my lust list.

Do you own any of these products? What are your thoughts on them? And what are you lusting for, beauty or otherwise? 

My Favourite Holiday: Scent

When it comes to the holidays, everything and everyone get a little more glitzy and a little more glamorous. Perfume is no exception so, come December, I Chan(n)el my attention (see what I did there?) to Chanel Chance*.

This scent has been on the market for quite a while and it's a scent I've loved for many years. It is a floral and rich smelling perfume - it reminds me of Chanel No. 5 but for a younger audience. It is a strong scent so I don't recommend going overboard with the perfume - just a few spritz of this goes a long way. I use two sprays and it is absorbed really well into my skin and clothes, lingering for hours.

I love this scent for Christmas because it smells so classic (yes, I realize that isn't a scent but there's no better way to describe it). I'm awful at describing scents so check out the link above for more information on the notes of the perfume - I don't want to ruin its description. I can't tell you how many compliments I get whenever I wear this perfume. I've realized that the same scent may smell different on two people so I would advise you to go to a department store and try out the scent on your skin before splurging. It is a little pricey but its long-lasting formula is definitely worth the money.

What are you favourite scents (for the holidays or otherwise)?

Save the World Wednesday

Image Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/climate/rising-temperatures-affect-forests-carbon-storage-role-study/914/

When I started this blog, I told myself it would be to make the world a better place. Whether it be a helpful makeup review, a delicious recipe or a smile from someone reading this. I also wanted to use this blog as a platform to spread happiness and kindness as well as provoke thoughts, opinions and discussions.

While I love all things beauty, I want to use this piece of me to talk about world issues and things that matter to me. So I've decided to (attempt to) start a weekly post: Save the World Wednesdays (STWW). I want to share my limited but well-meaning knowledge on the world we all share and impart little pockets of wisdom. I want to show ways to help save this planet that is suffering for all the selfish or unthinking deeds we do. I want to share healthy recipes and happy thoughts, just something to small to brighten up your or anyone else's day. I don't expect everyone to change their unhealthy/unhappy habits in a second, but there is always a first step for all and any of us to take.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts on how you can make a difference and take a step to make this world a happier and healthier place.

Also comment down below any ideas you have or things you'd like me to research/write about!

Haiku for Argan Oil

What better way to start of December than with a little poetry:

Argan Oil, so pure

Good for hair, face, neck, hands, skin

Still on bandwagon.

If you couldn't tell by that awful haiku, I love Argan Oil. I was late to jump on that bandwagon and I still haven't gotten off. There are many uses for this magic oil. Some of the ways I use it are:

For My Eyes: I dab a tiny amount of Argan Oil underneath my eyes for maximum moisture without the burning feeling that my retinol eye cream gives me. It's not something that would give instant results but I feel that's the case for any anti-aging eye product: you'll only reap the rewards come your forties and fifties.

For My Neck: I apply this on my neck after a shower, again, for anti-aging purposes.

For My Face: Whenever my skin is particularly dry, a couple drops of this oil does the trick. Sometimes I mix it with a moisturizer so it's easier to apply. It absorbs beautifully overnight and doesn't feel greasy at all. 

For My Hair: I apply this to the ends of my damp hair and it makes my dry locks feel a lot more smooth and moisturized even after I blow dry/straighten it. It doesn't feel greasy for me since my hair is so dry but use it with caution if you have normal or fine hair. It can also be used as a hair mask before a shower.

Argan Oil is expensive, especially the Josie Maran vials from Sephora that cost the same as a kidney and/or other expendable organs. I buy 100% Pure Argan Oil from Loblaws for the same ingredient at a fraction of the cost.

What are your favourite multi-purpose products? Any natural oils that impress you?