Jenn Hildebrand

The Sweater You Need This Winter

Hands up if you love blankets? Cool! Me too. Hands up if you love sweaters that FEEL like blankets? Oh look! Same!

I found this cozy sweater at Oak and Fort not too long ago. I was searching the racks for a gift for my brother and thought “I’ll do a little browse for myself.” And let me tell you – the moment I saw it, I knew it was love.

It’s an olive colour and feels like a blanket with arms. It’s also long and slightly oversized which means it’s the definition of a cozy winter jumper.

HOW I STYLE IT –

I’ve paired this with a pair of black skinnies and black chelsea boots giving it a laid back but still put together feel. For jewelry I added my go-to aromatherapy necklace (it’s yellow gold and has a quartz pendant) from Saje Natural Wellness.

On a completely different note, HOW is it almost Christmas? I fell like it was just yesterday that I had stat down at my computer to type up my “New Year, Same Jenn” blog post. And NOW it’s almost 2019! It boggles my mind how quickly the time goes. Are you all set for Christmas?

I already know that I’ll be wearing this sweater at Christmas dinner. It’s too cozy not to! 

27.

Twenty Seven.

Here’s to a new year.

Twenty six can be concluded as a year of growth – emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and unfortunately not physically. (A girl can only dream of what it’d be like to be 5’4 *sigh*).

Things that happened this year:

  • got a new job (YAY!)
  • made some new, super rad friends who are crazy empowering, loving, and encouraging
  • was introduced to the Land of Eyelash Extensions (I’ve been made their Queen)
  • went vegan
  • then decided that I love smoked salmon too much and instead chose the pescetarian life (sorry Nemo)
  • tried to date… LOL key word tried
  • chopped my hair
  • dyed my hair
  • dyed my hair again
  • BROKE MY ARM (I still can’t believe that happened…)
  • grew closer to God – this has been so important for me…
  • learned more about my own calling in life and ministry
  • stepped out of my comfort zone SO many times (and something I don’t mind sharing more about if you’re interested)
  • discovered that I can cook semi decently
  • can count on my hands the number of panic attacks – which is major progress
  • joined a gym (YUP… me… a gym…)
  • and saw Harry Styles in concert (BLESSINGS)

Twenty six was something else.

But going into twenty seven, I’m excited for what’s to come.

Here’s to a year of more awkwardness, more selfies, laughter, food, travelling, friendship, love, concerts, and growth.

Here’s to a new year.

*photo credit: Cally Petersen Photography

My Journey into Natural Wellness

Over the last year and a bit, I’ve been making the switch over to a more natural lifestyle. I’ve been holding back on using prescription medicine, opted for natural based products (Natural deodorant anyone??), and have even changed my diet to being more plant based (except fish. I love fish). Not only that, but I’ve been diffusing a whole heck of a lot more.

Here’s a bit of a back story… If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may know bits and pieces of my mental health journey. In 2012 I had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety and had been on anti-depressants for years. I felt like those small pills were the only thing to help me from going into a panic state, or have a mental break.

Boy was I wrong.

I have to disclaim something. This is what worked for me. I had tried every type of anti depressant and nothing worked. That is why I made the switch into using essential oils to help with my anxiety and depression. If you are planning on making a switch or have any other questions, talk to a natural path or a health practitioner.

In October of 2017, I purchased my first diffuser. I picked up this little guy from Saje Natural Wellness (which you can find here). *non-spon*

The AromaOm is an ultrasonic diffuser which has a motor and a little disc inside. Each motor vibrates the disc, mixing water and essential oils together and creating a mist. The mist is cool (no pun intended) and pushes out negative ions. Negative ions are molecules with extra ions which cling to dust particles in the air and bring them down – cleansing and purifying your air. Which in turn, helps you breathe better!

What I use… 

There are so many essential oils and blends that I love to diffuse. But the blend that has helped me a lot with uplifting my mood has been a mix of bergamot and grapefruit. Bergamot is fab for helping with depression and grapefruit for anxiety. Plus they smell DIVINE together. Right now as I type this, I’m diffusing the Saje blend Goddess which is a blend of orange, jasmine and rose. What I love to do, which I have going ATM, is add a few drops of bergamot. Try it! You’ll become OBSESSED.

Why natural…

The question is, why not? Going natural makes sense. Why use things with chemicals when you can use items that you actually know what’s in it! That’s why I’ve been going natural. It just makes sense.

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I’d love to hear what natural products you enjoy using! Are you diffusing?

J. x

Winter Skin Care Routine (’17)

Starting of #blogmas with something I’ve been asked a lot lately- my go to skin care routine. I’ve been super lucky (aka, blessed) to have reasonably unproblematic skin. I think the biggest factor to that being the amount of water I drink. I try to drink at least a litre of water a day to try and stay hydrated. I also love to moisturize like crazy. But, I also try to be diligent with my skin care and actually wash it.

So, with that being said, here are my current skin care picks:

Cleanser: My ride or die for skin cleansers is normally the REN cleansing milk… but lately I’ve been trying out the Saje Zen Cleanse. I started working at a local Saje store and figured it might be a good idea to try out their skin care products. And I must admit, the Zen cleanse is a pretty close second to my trusty REN cleansing milk. It’s super gentle on the face. It’s 100% natural. It’s made with avocado… and I love it.

Toner:  Rose Mist by Saje has been my new favourite find. It’s only made with water and rose oil. Rose is SO good for your face. It’s incredibly hydrating and what I love about this product is that I can use it as a final “toner” after I’ve finished my skin care routine AND I can also use it on top of my make up to bring  a bit of extra hydration. Win-Win.

Moisturizer: My skin is like the sahara desert in the winter time. I have flaky dry patches around my nose and along my scalp. I think most of it is due to my own health issues (yay bad thyroid… not), but I think it’s also because of the weather change. I’ve been using a BioDerma Hydrabio Moisturizing Serum. I love it. It’s not your typical serum meaning it’s not liquid-y. It’s thick and leaving my skin feeling extra moisturized. I love to use this under my makeup too and I’ve noticed that it lasts a lot longer with it on. It’s also great if you have super dehydrated skin like myself.

Eye Cream: Kiels Midnight Recovery eye cream has been my current find in terms of eye treatment. I never really know what the eye cream is doing to my skin, but I have noticed that my concealer has been applying better since using an eye cream. So – I’ll take it!

Night Cream: LiftActiv Supreme Night by Vichy was gifted to me by my mom after she realized it wasn’t doing much for her own skin. I have found it to be wonderful for myself. I love night creams and I wake up the next day with soft skin – so.. obviously that means I love the product more.

These are my current go to winter skin care products. I’m curious to hear what some of yours are?

J. xx

Healthy Hair – How I do it!

A question that I get asked a lot is how I keep my dyed hair nice and healthy. Simple: little to no heat and really ace hair products.

Here’s the breakdown:

– Wash –

Shampoo: Joico Colour Endure Violet  … I bought the biggest salon size about two years ago and it’s lasted me since this month. I love a good purple shampoo! It keeps my hair from going gross and brassy. Major note – I don’t (or very rarely) use drugstore shampoo. I find that it’s chalk full of sulphates which is no bueno for hair. The higher quality the shampoo the better!

Conditioner: Axis Salon Ree-hab Conditioner (Customized) … My hair stylist (who happens to be one of my BFF’s) is the genius behind my purple hair. She works for Axis Salon in Vancouver and customized my purple conditioner. I LOVE IT! My biggest pro? It smells like mint and leaves a tingly fresh feeling. It also moisturizes my hair like a dream.

– Styling – 

Leave-In Conditioner: Living Proof No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner … Because my hair has lost a lot of it’s moisture due to the constant dying, I like to put as much moisture back into it as possible. This is my go to leave-in conditioner ( you can buy it at Sephora). It’s a small bottle but has lasted me a year. I only use a quarter size amount and run it through my hair while it’s still damp and brushed through.

Heat Protectant: Bumble and Bumble Prep … I spray this evenly over my hair before blow drying or if I want to curl my hair. I don’t always put heat to my hair, but if I do, this is my number one hair protectant.

Primer: R + Co Twister Curl Primer … Super lightweight with super cute packaging. If I have some extra time, I’ll take a quarter amount and twist the little waves in my hair. Plus, I got it for free from a hair salon contest so – win win all around!

Masque: Ouai Hair Masque … Talked about this before. Still love it.

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Okie – Those are my holy grail of products! What are some hair products you can’t get enough of?

J. xx

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* Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Shout out to my friend Simeon for the portrait shots!

 

Let’s Style: Tunics (+ GIVEAWAY)

When I started planning out what direction I wanted my blog to go, I knew I wanted to talk more about fashion (especially fashion for short, plus size ladies like myself)! SO!! I knew I wanted to start a fashion series called: Let’s Style. I will be choosing some of my FAVE pieces in my wardrobe and show you how I love to style it.

OK! Let’s get started with this GORGEOUS (seriously,  look how pretty these flowers are) tunic from Pinkblush Materinity (Plus size line). If you’re not pregnant, don’t fret (neither am I)-  because it’s not just for mama’s or soon to be mamas. They also carry straight and plus sizes.

What I love about this tunic is how flowy and light it is. Since my height falls under the 5’3 spectrum, it turned out to be more of a dress on me. I paired it with some chambray shorts (underneath the tunic) since it’s still a LITTLE bit short to be considered a dress.  The quality of the tunic is wonderful. It is definitely good quality! It does run on the bigger size (even for plus), so I would probably size down.  This little outfit I think is perfect for the spring-summer months and would look SUPER cute at a wedding.

For accessories, I kept it simple. I didn’t want to take away from the gorge floral pattern. For shoes I wore these Payless brown cut out, open toe sandals. They have a short, block heel so they’re super comfortable. I then wore gold stud earrings that I bought at a local boutique. The shorts (that are underneath) are from Ever New Melbourne last season.

I will definitely be wearing this outfit loads this summer!

(Ps. How CUTE is my dog Bailey??)

Now for the exciting part…

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

PinkBlush were absolute dolls and have teamed up with me to give one lucky lady a $50 Gift Card. Head on over to my instagram post  to learn more!

 

Mikasa Beauty Brushes | AD

*Affiliated Links

When Mikasa Beauty reached out to me about their products, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try them. I love testing out new makeup and new makeup brushes! With spring here comes spring cleaning – out with the old and in with the new. If your makeup brushes have seen it’s last face, then it may be time to rid yourself of them and invest in some new, high quality (and affordable) brushes.

What I love about these brushes is their look and feel. I’m a sucker for a minimalistic black and white product. I’m also a sucker for Mac brushes, and these look the same as a Mac brush. My holy grail of eye brushes is the Mac 217 (which retails for $25 CAD). Mikasa has a tapered blending brush that retails for $12 (Half the price!) that works just as well. That’s a dupe if I ever did see one.

Another thing I love about these brushes is the feel. They are SO soft – and who doesn’t love a soft brush! It feels FAB on the skin and blends my makeup in lovely. Their site offers makeup sets that can go up to $90-$100.

Overall, I’d say Mikasa brushes are a worthy investment. If you would like to learn more about the brushes and cosmetics that they offer, click here.

ALSO! Mikasa was so lovely that they even provided a 25% DISCOUNT CODE. UM, YES PLEASE! I do love a good discount sale and if I can provide that to you, even better! At the end of your purchase, enter: JENNHILDEBRAND25 to receive 25% off.

Happy Shopping!

J.x

(Instagram: jenn.hildebrand)

Winning Winter Lips

Ok! Winter is almost here and I am so excited to pull out my favourite winter lipsticks. Sure – autumn and winter are practically twins when it comes to their chosen shade of red, there’s something about December that screams burgundies and plums. Alright, alright… I know the reason. It’s because December means Christmas and Christmas means Christmas parties and Christmas parties mean dazzling dresses and fun makeup… and so on and so forth. I think you get the picture.

Anyways!

I am a lipstick hoarder. It’s actually a problem. I should probably seek counselling or join a lipstick anonymous group. Either way, I’ve accepted it.  But even tho I can supply enough lipsticks for all the Victoria Secret models (Am I the only one excited for the fashion show to air??!), I found a few that stand out in particular. These are my absolute faves.

MAC Satin Lipstick in “Rebel” ($21)

This is my go-to lipstick for the past couple of years. I’m obsessed with this colour! It is a cream plum that isn’t too dark that you feel like everyone is staring at you, but just dark enough that you feel like you’re rebelling against nude lipstick. I love to pair this with eyeliner, a black fuzzy cardigan, and some black ankle boots.

RIMMEL LONDON (KATE) lipstick in “107” ($8)

When I want to wear an easy burgundy lip, I will grab my Kate Moss lipstick. Not only is it on the cheaper end, but the quality in colour and consistency is heavenly. I’ve recommended this lipstick to a few friends, and even convinced one to buy it for herself. Plus, I find that it’s really easy to apply this colour as opposed to some of my deep burgundy liquid lipsticks.

TANYA BURR COSMETICS lipstick in “Big Kiss” ($13)

It’s very rare that I purchase products by Youtubers or other bloggers… but if there’s one blogger that I always support, it’s Tanya Burr. I think it’s mostly because I want to be her BFF and bake all the sweets with her, but really it’s because I love the products she puts out. When I was in London back in July, I looked everywhere for her makeup. I don’t know if I was at the wrong drugstores, or if they were sold out, but I had a hard time searching. But then I learnt that I can order them online at FeelUnique – an online shop that ships to Canada. I picked up this lipstick as well as another in a coral shade, a couple of her lipsticks, and a set of false eyelashes. I must say, I love this colour! The packaging is to die for and this is the prettiest shade of red. Highly recommend!

These are a few of my favourite lipsticks for winter. I have a couple liquid lipsticks that I’m also loving at the moment. If you’d like to see a post on that, please let me know in the comments!

J. xx

Yes OUAI!

I have a confession: I am the biggest Kardashian fan. YES! I know. The Kardashians. I’ve found that people either love them or hate them, but I just absolutely adore them. One thing I admire (and envy) about them is their gorgeous locks of perfect hair. Their hair is absolute goals (as the kids would say). Now if you are in the loop with the K-Fam, then you most likely know who Jen Atkin is. She’s basically a hair goddess and the girl who is responsible for the Kardashians’s hair always being on point… mostly Khloe who has beautiful dyed blonde hair. I pretty much want to be Jen’s best friend. When I saw her hair line “Ouai” in the line up at Sephora, it was a no brainer that I would buy and test it out.

The verdict? My hair has never felt or looked better! It’s shiny and as soft as a baby’s bottom. I don’t think I ever want to try any other hair product line.

OUAI TREATMENT MASQUE:

I’m naturally a dark brunette and over the past year I had a blonde balayage.  I currently dyed it back to brunette and I can feel the processing in the feeling of my hair.. If you are like myself and have tortured your hair to get that perfect blonde, then you know that your hair can feel like hay. It’s not pretty and actually can be a big pain. I normally wash, put some conditioner in it and go. I’m not a hair treatment kind of girl. The only time I do have a hair treatment is if I go to my hair salon. But it’s really rare. I figured there would be no harm in trying the masque… and can I just say I’m so glad that I did?! My hair feels glorious.

I purchased a pack of three (which can be found in the check out line at Sephora). After having a shower I slathered the whole packet over my hair and really focused on the ends where it’s been dyed the most. I allowed it to set for about 10 minutes (but if your hair is really hay-like and dry, I suggest allowing it to sit for longer), and then washed it. Unless I’m in a hurry, I don’t normally blow dry my hair. I’m a wash and go kind of girl most of the time. I sprayed in a scalp treatment and allowed my hair to air dry. Once it was dry, I was happy to see that my hair was super soft and looked healthy. The next day it felt and looked just as lovely as the night before. It also smells heavenly so five stars for that alone.

ALSO – The product smells glorious and luxurious and I want to bottle it up and spray it everywhere. I can’t stop smelling my hair! (It’s not weird, I promise.)

What are some of your favourite hair products at the moment? I’d love to know!

J. x

 

*Disclaimer: This is  NOT sponsored. All opinions are my own and have purchased the products myself* 

Top 6 Winter Skincare Products

Whenever the seasons change, I always notice that my skin changes with it. As the weather has gotten colder, my skin had become a lot more dry. This is usually when I start to switch up my skincare routine, and throw in a lot more hydrating products.

Here’s my Top 6 Winter Skincare… 

CLEANSERS:

Lately, I’ve been on the hunt for a good cleanser. My face has become noticeably dryer, and I’ve even been breaking out. A few months back I received a sample size of the Glam Glow: Thirstycleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser. Now listen – this stuff is not cheap. The price ranging from $16 to $43 Canadian. However with that being said, I did notice a difference with this cleanser. My skin has felt a lot more hydrated. It’s a cream, almost mud like consistency, that changes to foam once mixed with water. It’s gentle on the skin – so if you’re sensitive, it’s great.

Another option: The Body Shop: Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash. 

TONER + NIGHT CREAM:

Over the past few years, I’ve learnt the importance of a good toner and night cream. If toning and night creams are not part of your nightly ritual, I highly recommend that you implement it. Lately, I’ve been in love with the Body Shop’s Vitamin E line. Their Hydrating Toner is incredibly gentle. I pour a little bit on a cotton pad and dab it on my skin after I cleanse. It goes on nice and it doesn’t give you that tingling feeling that some harsher toners do.

Moisturizing is so important. Whether it be at night or during the day, it’s one step that you can’t miss. At night, after I finish cleansing my skin, I like to lather on the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream. It has a thick consistency and feels cool against your face when you apply it. In the morning, I wake up with the softest skin. I also make sure I pay attention to problem areas where it’s extra dry – like around my nose, eyebrows, and hairline. In the morning, I like to use a moisturizer as well under my primer before I apply my foundation.

Another option: Fresh Lotus Preserve Radiance Lotion by Fresh  – this was a recommendation that had been made to me when I did a makeover. My skin drank it up instantly and felt so hydrated. 

MASKS:

I’m a sucker for a good mask. I don’t know what it is, but I always find that my face feels so much better after I use one. It’s also a great tool when you want to relax. Slather on a mask and soak in a tub, and you’re on a one stop trip to relaxation station.

Not too long ago, I received a sample of the Hydrating Mask by Oz Naturals: Amino Herbal. It has Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5 and E. It’s super lightweight and gentle. It’s not one of those masks where you can’t move your mouth, making it a great everyday mask. After I wash it off, my skin feels baby soft. Afterwards, I lather on a night cream and I’m good to go!

Another Option: The Body Shop also carries a Vitamin E mask.

LIPS:

I don’t know about you, but my lips like to get all chapped when the weather changes. Summer, winter, it really doesn’t matter. Lately, I’ve been gravitating to the Nivea: Lip Butter in Vanilla and Macadamia. It smells and tastes great (which is always a bonus), but it also makes my lips feel super hydrated. The plus side? It’s super cheap! You can pick one up at any drugstore. There are different flavours too. If you’re lucky, you can even get it on sale.

Another Option: Fresh- Sugar Lip Treatment... Okay, I know. Fresh products are not cheap for a lip balm. However, I’m obsessed with their products. I have this treatment in clear and in berry. They are incredibly moisturizing and they also come in tinted colours. How can you go wrong with that?

HANDS+BODY:

We can’t forget about our bodies! It’s so important to keep our bodies just as moisturized as our faces. I recommend the First Aid Beauty: Ultra Repair Cream. The smell isn’t my favourite, but I’m willing to look past it for how great it is as a product. You can use this anywhere, but I wouldn’t recommend your face. It’s thick so chances are it will clog up your pores. I’d suggest using a face cream instead.

Another Option: Soap and Glory – Butter Yourself  Can we take a moment to talk about how great this product is? It’s sweet scent reminds me of summertime. It’s very moisturizing and the smell sticks to your skin. You can pick it up at your local Shoppers Drug Mart (for those of you who are from Canada). 

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I hope that this will help you during the cold, dry winter months. Your skin will thank you later!

J.

* Note: this is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Products that were samples were given to me by a paid monthly subscription called Ipsy. 

       

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