Music Monday: Niall Horan, Matthew Heath & Grady Griggs, Shawn Mendes

Niall Horan - Slow Hands
I have to admit, I didn't really like Niall's first single as a solo artist (This Town) but I can get down with his new single, Slow Hands. It's got a good groove and easy lyrics to sing along to. I love a song I can sing along to in the car.

Matthew Heath & Grady Griggs - Slow Down
I have no idea who these people are but they sing my current favourite TV theme song. It makes me so happy to hear it every time Terrace House starts. Sometimes when I listen to it on my commute, I picture a montage of clips with my name, age, and profession listed below me hahaha. It's strange that the Japanese version of the show uses Taylor Swift's "New Romantics" instead - it threw me off when I first saw it. Terrace House isn't the same without hearing "Slow Down".

Shawn Mendes - Ruin

I have to give Shawn Mendes some love on my blog. I remember when I first heard him on the radio, I didn't think much of him. Then he performed at Niagara Falls for a New Years Eve' TV special and he did not sound good live, especially when he performed with Nick Jonas and you could easily hear the difference in skill. Fast forward a few months, I decided to download his album and give it a listen. The second I heard "Ruin", I fell in love with the song (and the rest of the album too). The kid actually sings with a lot of heart and you can tell that he's worked hard to improve his live performances. The fact that he's a good Canadian kid from Pickering makes me happy that he's getting well-deserved success now. 

My Makeup Journey

It's crazy when I think back and realize I've only started wearing makeup on a consistent basis about 4 years ago. I never wore any back in high school and university except for special occasions, and even then I had no idea what I was doing. Then I discovered YouTube beauty gurus and everything changed. For the better? Definitely for the worse when it comes to my wallet, haha. There were so many things to try - mascara, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, highlighters, bronzers - I wanted it all! There was definitely a learning curve (and some terrible attempts at a winged eyeliner) but I think I've finally figured out my makeup style. Going with full coverage makeup doesn't work for me - I actually prefer how I look when I remove all my makeup on those days. I've managed to come up with a natural everyday makeup look I like using the products below. And I can complete it in less than 10 minutes!

Top Row: 

1. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair

2. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness

3. The Body Shop All-In-One-Face Base in 045

Middle Row:

1. The Body Shop Bronzing Powder in Medium Matte

2. H&M Powder Blusher in Tawny Peach

3. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Gold

Bottom Row:

1. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt

2. Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara 

3. Lancome Juicy Shaker in Vanilla Pop 

If I'm feeling fancy, I'll use eyeshadow and attempt a winged eyeliner but it still needs practice. No amount of YouTube videos I watch can help me nail down that darn wing. 

There are still definitely many days I'm completely bare faced (especially on days I have to work - sleep is more important!) but it's kind of nice having makeup skills now. A bit of concealer and mascara can do wonders in boosting confidence :) 

The 5 Love Languages

The other day, I was browsing Buzzfeed videos and I came across this one about Love Languages. I can never resist an online quiz so I decided to look more into it. It turns out the Love Languages are actually based on a book that was written in the 90s which explains that there are 5 universal ways that people express and interpret love.

In a nutshell, the 5 Love Languages are:

1. Words of Affirmation: expressing affection through spoken praise or appreciation
2. Quality Time: expressing affection by giving your undivided attention
3. Receiving Gifts: giving/receiving gifts that are meaningful or thoughtful to show appreciation
4. Acts of Service: lending a helping hand; actions are used to show you care
5. Physical Touch: physical connections (e.g. hand holding) makes you feel safe and loved

There's a bunch of different quizzes online but I decided to try this PDF one, mainly because it was from the official website and I didn't have to register my email to do it. 

For the most part, my answers were spread out pretty evenly but the one that was the highest for me was "Physical Touch", which now that I think about it, is quite true. If my boyfriend is standing in front of me, I like hugging him from behind. If we're watching TV together, I like resting my head on his shoulder. If he's sitting down, I'll give him a shoulder rub. And I appreciate the reciprocated actions :) It's odd because I've never been really touchy-feely (e.g. I'm not usually the one who initiates hugs with friends) but maybe being in a relationship after eons of being single changes a person. 

The "language" with the lowest score for me was "Quality Time", which makes sense to me. I'm the type of person who is loyal to the people I care about regardless of time spent together. Even if we haven't spoken in a while, I will always have your back. You can live halfway around the world or on the other side of the country and we may not get the chance to chat very often but you can be sure that my feelings for you won't change - once a friend, always my friend :)  

"Receiving gifts" was my second highest by the way *wink wink, nudge nudge, Darrell* hahaha

Music Monday: Beyonce, Harry Styles, Lorde

I know it's officially Tuesday now, but I started writing this post on Monday so here's 3 songs for my Music Monday that I've been loving lately.

Harry Styles - Sign of the Times 
Being the One Direction fan that I am (no shame!), I was originally sad to hear that the band was going on hiatus but it's actually worked out well. I'm liking all of their solo projects. It's interesting to see all of them have such different musical styles. I like this rock vibe that Harry is going for. The song is a little repetitive but the ending makes up for it. Now we're just waiting for Liam to release music...

Lorde - Green Light
I can't believe it's been 4 years since Lorde's last album. I didn't even realize how much I missed Lorde until this song came out. Every time I hear this, I want to break out dancing - weird, Lorde-esque dancing - punching my arms in the air and whipping my head back and forth. This song is especially fun to sing when you're in the car and you happen to be at a red light: "I'm waiting for it - that green light, I want it!"

Beyonce - All Night
(For a better version, click here - starts at 3:00. I couldn't upload the official video to my blog.)
This might be my favourite song from Beyonce's Lemonade album. I actually didn't think much of it until I heard it playing on an episode of The Mindy Project one day. Beyonce just has a way of making me feel the feels.

Guess Who's Back, Back Again.

So, I'm back trying to do this blogging thing once again. I know, I know -  I said the same thing 2 years ago and it was an epic fail. Who knows, maybe I'll give up on blogging this time around too - we'll see how long I can keep this up. I'm finding that as I'm getting older, my memory is getting worse so it's nice to have something to look back on once in a while to remind myself of all the things I liked (and how awkward I can be). It's also kind of fun to be writing again.

I originally named this blog, "Cupful of Joy" because I wanted to document all the random things that made me happy - vacations, music, hot celebrities, etc. It seems appropriate to be writing on this blog again because I'm at a point in my life where I really do feel joy. It took 8 years of post-secondary education (at 3 different institutions) but I'm finally done with school and I have a job that I honestly enjoy and that I'm good at. I moved into a gorgeous house that is awesome enough to not make me sad about moving out of the house I lived my whole life in. I have 2 adorable nephews who can turn any bad day into a good day the minute you see them. And I have a boyfriend who is such a sweet guy and I can be myself around without worrying if I seem uncool or dorky. I mean, let's face it - I am uncool and dorky but I found someone who can appreciate that :) 

Speaking of the boyfriend, it's funny how life is sometimes. I am a firm believer that things happen when they're supposed to happen. We actually knew of each other back in high school but I'm almost positive that if we dated back then, it wouldn't have lasted. The nerd in me would have put school as a priority and I would have been a terrible girlfriend. Fast forward to 2016 - I graduated, I started my career as an RT, and I was finally ready to venture out into the scary dating world...and there he was. Awkward online dating avoided! Whew! It's actually scary how easy (and quickly) this whole dating thing unfurled, not that I'm complaining. I guess when you know, you know. No need to play games.

Anyway, that's a quick update on my life. I plan on updating this blog with random things - most likely less life updates and more light, fun stuff. That's the goal anyways. 

Music Monday: The Weeknd, Carly Rae Jepsen, One Direction

It's been a while, whoops. So much for updating this blog on a regular basis. School stresses me out too much. Here's 3 songs I've been loving singing along to and dancing to.

The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face
It's my Calgary trip theme song! Makes me miss hanging out with Becky.

Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me
Her new album dropped and I already knew I would love it before I even heard it. Carly Rae Jepsen has a way of making me want to dance all the time.

One Direction - Drag Me Down
First 1D music video without Zayn...I still love them. This song is so easy to sing along to and then it gets stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

Bye Bluebell :(

The Hart of Dixie series finale made me tear up! I know the song at the end was cheesy but it was such a perfect end to the show. Hart of Dixie and the small town of Bluebell always made me smile. I love when shows know their final end date. It's hard to say goodbye but at least they get to wrap up the show without any loose ends.

Music Monday: julia.dang on soundcloud

I'm not sure how it happened but I've become addicted to YouTube. Every night before I fall asleep, I usually spend at least half an hour catching up on all my subscriptions. My top 3 favourites are: essiebutton, Claire Marshall, and itsJudysLife.

A few months back in one of her Favourites videos, essiebutton mentioned a YouTube channel called TheLineUp. They're made up of 2 Swedish-Asian girls, Maya and Julia. I love their minimalist style. But perhaps what I love the most about their videos is the music they choose. I recently found out they have playlists on soundcloud. I've been listening nonstop to Julia's playlist. It's the perfect music to play in the background while I work on school stuff. I don't know any of the artists but that's kind of the beauty of it. It's got a good beat to keep me motivated to work but it doesn't distract me. Click here to check it out.

Music Monday: Ellie Goulding, Lennon & Maisy Stella, Keira Knightley

It's the return of Music Monday!

Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
I haven't gotten around to watching Fifty Shades of Grey yet but I heard this song for the first time yesterday and instantly fell in love with it. It's one of those songs that's fun to sing along to in the car at the top of your lungs.

Lennon & Maisy Stella - Boom Clap (Charli XCX cover)
You might recognize these sisters from the TV show, Nashville. (On a sidenote: ugh, how annoying is Maddie Conrad?!) I first fell in love with the Stella sisters when I heard their cover of Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend". Their voices work so well together. I hope they put out an album together sometime down the road.

Keira Knightley - A Step You Can't Take Back
I used to dislike Keira Knightley but she's grown on me over the years. I didn't know she could sing! I love this song from the film, Begin Again. I actually really liked the movie; I'm surprised it didn't get much attention. I don't even remember it being in theatres for very long...

Nothing Smells Better Than Fresh Baked Cookies

I definitely wouldn't call myself a baker but sometimes I get a craving for fresh-baked cookies and I finally found an easy recipe to satisfy my cravings. The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies recipe by Averie Cooks is so simple and I love how few ingredients there are. It's also gluten-free! I've made it twice now: once for Michener's Respiratory Week Bake Sale (it was a hit!) and again yesterday. For some reason, mine always end up flat (even when I follow the instructions and leave it in the fridge overnight) but I don't mind. It's got the perfect amount of chewiness for me and I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, mmmm. Be right back; gotta grab one from the kitchen now :)

Coffee Coffee, Buzz Buzz Buzz!

I love this video by Aslan (The Worktop):

His steamed milk could be improved to get a better consistency for latte art but overall, it reminds me of my time working as a barista at Soma Chocolatemaker. When I first started working there back in November 2012, I knew absolutely nothing about coffee. Learning how to make espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos was so intimidating, especially when the lineups would start forming. The worst were the handful of people who ordered "bone-dry" cappuccinos! Eventually though, I loved working the lunchtime rush of coffee orders and getting into a rhythm of making drinks. Ironically, I hated the taste of coffee and never drank any myself even though we were allowed to make ourselves a drink anytime.

Fast forward a year later to being a student again. McDonalds had their free coffee promotion and my friend encouraged me to try a "double double" - 2 creams and 2 sugars. It was so good! I always thought coffee tasted too bitter but I guess my taste buds changed.

Now, I'm officially a coffee fan. Instead of ordering small sizes, I'm getting larges. I blame it on being a full-time student. I ordered a double double the other day (and won a free donut at Tim Hortons "Roll up the Rim"!) and it was way too sweet. It tasted like a dessert! I'm a 2 milks, 1 sugar girl now. I'm trying to see if I can cut out sugar altogether. If only I could rewind back time and make myself more lattes at Soma. I wasted the opportunity for free drinks! I guess I made up for it with all the scoops of gelato I used to eat....

A Late New Year's Resolution for 2015

I was feeling nostalgic the other day and signed onto my old LiveJournal account, circa 2004-2009. There was nothing very exciting to read but it was still nice to have a record of my daily life, especially since my memory has gotten terrible over the years. I wish I continued writing during my time at George Brown College/Ontario Science Centre, and at Soma but blogging was the last thing on my mind after coming home exhausted every night.

I'm going to try writing more often here, not necessarily about my daily life but perhaps about things that interest me and other randomness. Being in the Respiratory Therapy program at Michener Institute has consumed my life. I've turned into a nerd (a bigger one than before); I feel like I'm constantly studying. I need to take a step back and remind myself there's more to life than school.

Gotta Put My Face On First

Thanks to the gorgeous YouTube beauty gurus, I've developed a bit of an addiction to makeup. It's fun to get dolled up in the morning and experiment with new looks. Here are a few of my favourite products that I always seem to gravitate to. 

1. The Body Shop All In One Face Base 

2. Urban Decay Naked2 Eyeshadow Palette

3. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

4. Benefit Brow Zings in Dark

5. Wet n Wild Colour Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink

6. Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket Waterproof Mascara

7. eos lip balm

8. NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny

Oscars 2013: Favourite Looks

As I browse through the red carpet pictures I like to make a note of the ones I like and then from that list, I choose my top picks. It just so happened that my favourites were the metallic dresses. I didn't even notice the trend until I had all the pictures side by side! Anyway, on to the dresses!

1. Jessica Chastain in Armani Privé

This looked gorgeous live. I love the detailing of the beading that's placed in the most flattering directions. Normally I would say it's a dull colour but it paired really well with her hair and lip colour. It also fit really well (!) which doesn't always happen with Jessica Chastain. She looked like old Hollywood glamour. So pretty!

2. Naomi Watts in Armani Privé

The neckline is interesting and it made her stand out from the typical strapless dresses seen on the red carpet.  I kind of like the intergalactic feel it gives off. 

3. Stacy Keibler in Naeem Khan

I love the art deco feel of the dress, which I think is going to be a huge trend after The Great Gatsby is released this year. Not only did Stacy Keibler look amazing, but she also had great eye candy as her date. Hello, George Clooney! Lucky girl. 

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior Couture

Special mention goes to Charlize Theron who looked AMAZING. I'm not usually a fan of hers but she looked so damn gorgeous. I could not stop staring at her face. That haircut totally suits her. I'm not a huge fan of the dress but she makes it work. 

And I can't forget about the men looking handsome in their suits!

1. Daniel Day-Lewis in Domenico Vacca
Daniel Day-Lewis is like the coolest, hottest looking 55 year old. I love the navy suit.

2. Eddie Redmayne in Alexander McQueen

I have a soft spot for Eddie Redmayne. He looks both awkward and hot at the same time, I can't explain it. He always looks great in a suit; they fit him well. And I love the comfy shoe choice. 

YOLO = You Oughta Look Out?

Every Saturday, I PVR Saturday Night Live. The episodes have been consistently bad for the last few months. Even Jennifer Lawrence couldn't make it funny and I love that girl. So when it was announced that Adam Levine would be hosting, I had low expectations. He's not really an actor but at least he would be hot to look at. Who knew it would end up being one of my favourite episodes of the season so far? A large part of it is due to Andy Samberg making a guest appearance. I didn't realize how much I missed him and his digital shorts. I also find him really attractive in a dorky way. Just me? 

Here's The Lonely Island's "YOLO" featuring Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamar. I'm already hooked on it. Time to find an mp3 version!

Anatomical Jewelry

I rarely wear jewelry but there's something about this metacarpals bracelet that speaks to me. It's so creepy and awesome at the same time. Totally impractical, obviously, but I still love it. I guess I have a fascination for anatomy. It's the kinesiology major in me that's calling out for it.

Music Monday: One Direction, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen

It's official. I've turned into a 13 year old girl. The last 3 albums I downloaded were One Direction's Take Me Home, Taylor Swift's Red and Carly Rae Jepsen's Kiss and I have no shame. I love all three.

My love for One Direction isn't even a guilty pleasure anymore. I've picked out a favourite (Liam recently ousted Niall for the top spot), I've researched past girlfriends, I follow a One Direction tumblr page - I've become a Directioner. Help!

Taylor Swift has become increasingly irritating with her sickly sweet act but I still love her music (except her single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ie. the worst song on the album that I still sing along to in the car. The chorus is so damn catchy!). Her music is getting less country and much more pop though.

If I'm ever in the mood for a spontaneous dance party (it's been known to happen when I'm home alone) or on the rare occasion I muster up enough motivation to work out, my first choice in music is Carly Rae's new album. It always puts me in a good mood.

Here's my favourite song from each album:

Hello, Old Friend

The last three years I never visited our cottage, not even once; there was nothing there that appealed to me. The 3 hour car ride, the pesky mosquitoes, the 80+ steps to get down to the lake, the lack of Internet; the cons heavily outweighed the pros of going. Over the summer my friends were unsuccessfully planning a trip to Niagara Falls and since I was too lazy to look up hotels, I offered to spend Labour Day weekend up at the cottage instead.

The second I unlocked the front door and walked in, it was like seeing an old friend again and being reminded of old memories. There was the kitchen table where my family always sat at the same familiar seats. There was the big living room where my cousin Anthony taught me how to throw a football while my aunt yelled at us to play outside. There was the white table we all sat around playing bridge and I always hoped to be the "dummy" so I didn't have to think. There were the bunk beds where I would lie awake looking up at the wood ceiling and see random images in the wood knots.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm older and can now appreciate the tranquility and open air of the cottage or maybe it's just the new cleaner flooring that we put down but the cottage didn't seem so bad anymore. The car ride didn't feel quite so long - I'm sure the 1.5 hour commutes to school that I've gotten used to helped. There was not a single mosquito! And it was nice to take a step back from the computer and relax in the sun. The hike up and down to the lake was still a killer though.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I joined my parents and my aunt and uncle as they headed north to close up the cottage for the year. It was only a short visit but I'm looking forward to returning back next summer.

King of the Rock!

 

My parents are currently on vacation in Portugal and then they're off to Spain, the Canary Islands and Morocco. Have fun you two! Miss you already :) ....and bring me back some gifts!

Delicious Food and Adorable Nephews

I've been a terrible blogger. I have all these blog post ideas but when it comes down to it, I've been too lazy to write. To make up for the lack of updates, here's some pictures of food and babies. Everyone loves food and babies!

Braised Beef Cheek Banh Mi

Nicole and I went downtown to check out Banh Mi Boys and I have to say, it's worth all the hype. We lined up for a quite a while (one line up to pay, another one to get food) but the wait was worth it. The two of us shared the Braised Beef Cheek Banh Mi ($5.99), the Pulled Pork Banh Mi ($5.49), and a Fried Chicken Steamed Bao ($3.49). We were stuffed but it tasted too good to stop eating. My favourite was the braised beef cheek, followed closely by the fried chicken. In a surprise shock, the pulled pork was my least favourite! Still pretty tasty though.

Danette and I celebrated our 23rd birthday with dinner at Mercatto. The York girls bought one of my favourite cakes: Dufflet's Lemon Raspberry Cakelet. I don't think I've ever been dissatisfied with a Dufflet cake. The girls also bought me new Toms for my birthday. Yay! My big toe was starting to peek out from my old ones.

Last Tuesday, I celebrated my birthday with my closest high school buddies at Joey Don Mills. Love those girls! Finally got around to trying the lobster grilled cheese and it was just as good as I was hoping. I also thought it was a nice touch that they offer complimentary wine and appetizers while you're waiting for a table.

Now on to what everyone is waiting for: pictures of my adorable nephew, Nathan! I think I may have visited my sister almost every day last week. Nathan's too cute to resist! He's just over 3 months now and getting so big. His smiles are the best :)

A Girl Can Dream

With no boyfriend, I don't see a wedding in my foreseeable near future but it's still fun to look at dresses. A new TLC show, I Found The Gown, premiered last week and it was crazy to see so many gorgeous dresses at discounted prices. I may have wasted a few hours browsing their website, bridepower.com....

Source: JLM Couture

Lazaro - Style 3108 - Retail price: $4000 (Discounted price: $1950)
I wouldn't say I'm a girly girl but I've always loved this style with the pleated sweetheart neckline, a soft tulle ball gown, and a gorgeous jeweled belt. It looks so pretty and romantic! You can't help but feel like a princess in a dress like this. And it would hide my thunder thighs.

Source: Christos

Christos - Brisa - Retail Price: $4000 (Discounted Price: $1800)
It's similar to the one above but with an A-line cut instead of the giant poof and added silk flowers on the straps. I think this would look so pretty for an outdoor garden or vineyard wedding paired with a headpiece like this crystal one or even a floral headpiece. Hippy chic!

Source: Allure Bridals

Allure Bridals - Style 8965
This is so different from the usual style I like. It's not strapless and it's tight fitting, but when I first saw this dress, I fell in love. The lace detail is so pretty and the back, oh my gosh the back! It's SO gorgeous. I love the keyhole back and the buttons. It's kind of got this French Parisian feel that I'm digging. The only sucky part is that the website didn't have a price listed.

Source: JLM Couture

Tara Keely - Style 2210
I don't love this dress (I think it's the cheap looking bow that's throwing me off) but I thought it was so cool that the gown detaches. It's definitely a lot easier to reuse a white mini dress than a full ball gown.