I’ve received quite a few requests ever since I posted my DIY tutorial from readers that has no interest in sewing asking if I’d be willing to make one for them. I have started accepting orders for $60 CAD each (this includes shipping in North America). If you are interested in ordering one, please email me directly.

Thank you for your interest and have a great day!

Feb 15, 2016

• $73.50 – Purchased a new moisturizer as my regular daytime moisturizer went bad. I bought a kit from Dr Dennis Gross that also included some other samples.

Feb 22, 2016

• $45.15 – Repurchased Oribe’s Crème for Style. It’s an absolute must have for my hair.

February 2016 Total = $118.65

Year-to-Date Total = $379.66

Percentage of annual budget spent = 22.59%

I am pretty pleased with February as even with an unplanned purchase, I only bought one other item. I actually ended up receiving a new bottle of the moisturizer that went bad from the company so I probably won’t have to buy another daytime moisturizer for a while. So far in 2016, I’ve spent 22.59% of my annual budget so I am still a bit behind. The good news is I can’t think of anything that I need to buy in March so maybe it’ll be the month where I get ahead.

What did you spend on beauty expenses this month? Let me know in the comments!

Jan 2, 2016

• $55.70 – Repurchased a bottle of Chanel La Nuit and Nars Orgasm blush. I used some of my Shoppers Optimum points and only had to pay for the difference.

Jan 10, 2016

• $8.39 – Purchased a bottle of Ouidad Shampoo at Marshall’s.

Jan 15, 2016

• $17.80 – Repurchased NARS concealer. I used my $20 Nordstrom reward and only had to pay for the difference.

Jan 17, 2016

• $3.48 – I exchanged a previous purchase from December at Sephora for NARS eye primer so only had to pay for the difference.

Jan 23, 2016

• $118.94 – Haircut + tax & tips.

Jan 31, 2016

• $56.70 – Purchased NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint. I probably should’ve waited until next month to get this as I am not completely out of my current foundation but I tried a sample of this and after a few days of using it, I just needed it.

January 2016 Total = $261.01

Percentage of annual budget spent = 15.54%

Based on my January total, I am actually way over budget already. However, all the items purchased won’t need to be repurchased for months at least and my next haircut is in April (moving from 8 weeks to 10 weeks in between haircuts) so I feel ok with this number. I also noticed how much I am loving NARS lately.

What did you spend on beauty expenses this month? Let me know in the comments!

How many items in your home can you say it’s truly quality? I don’t mean items with a high price tag or something highly coveted by other people. I mean items that were designed for function without sacrificing form. Multipurpose products with flexibility to take you through various life stages. Products that are easy to store and access. Products that will last and are made by companies that are socially and environmentally responsible. These are all just some ideals and I realize that there isn’t a “perfect” something for everything and the search for perfection can be an endless journey.

We might not find perfection but we should all definitely be more considerate and intentional with our purchases. I don’t want to live with the absolute minimum but I don’t want to live with any excess either. I don’t want to settle for anything less than what I want. I want the best item that suits my needs and not a temporary item that only meets some of my needs. That’s what I think choosing quality over quantity means.

Hair: My hair routine is pretty straight forward. I go for a haircut every 8 weeks. I don’t colour my hair. I only have 1 or 2 shampoo and conditioner in my shower at a time and generally buy organic brands from health food stores but about once a year I’ll splurge on a pricey shampoo and conditioner. For hair styling products, I use mostly Oribe. It’s expensive but they work well for me so I don’t experiment with other products. I rather spend $50 on a product that I know works well, rather than waste $10 on a product that I might use once and throw away. I only put in 2 blowouts as I reserve those for special events and occasions.

• Haircut $120 x 6 = $720
• Shampoo + conditioner = $120
• Hair styling products = $250
• Blowouts $50 x 2 = $100
• Total = $1,190

Skincare: My skincare is pretty minimal. I have a few pricey Chanel products that I love and everything else are typically from French pharmacy brands such as Avene, La Roche-Posay and Bioderma. My routine consists of washing my face and putting on moisturizer and that’s it. I really can’t be bothered putting more than one product on my face so I don’t layer products or use specific products like eye cream. I use my Clarisonic once in a while and I do the occasional face mask. I don’t often experiment with products unless I receive a sample and half the time, I end up throwing out the samples anyway.

• Face Wash $25 x 3 = $75
• Makeup remover = $100
• Day/night moisturizer = $500
• Mask = $70
• Total = $745

Makeup: Since I pretty much do the same look everyday and don’t really experiment with products in this category, I typically just repurchase the same items over and over whenever I ran out. My makeup bag consists of a mix of products from Tom Ford, Chanel and Nars. If I want to try a new product, I will always either get a sample or go to the counter to try it on to make sure it works before I buy it. I didn’t put anything down in nail products as I already have more bottles of nail polish than I’d like and I am pretty happy with my current collection.

• Face Primer $45 x 2 = $90
• Foundation $55 x 2 = $110
• Concealer $40
• Eye Brow Pencil $50 x 2 = $100
• Eye Primer $35
• Eyeshadow Palette $70 x 2 = $140
• Eye Pencil $35 x 2 = $70
• Blush $40 x 3 = $120
• Lipstick $60
• Touch Up Powder $65
• Total = $830

Body: I generally buy French pharmacy brands or organic brands I find at health food stores but I will occasionally splurge on Bliss products. I go to the Stillwater Spa at Hyatt for massages and some of the costs are covered by my health insurance so I put in my out of pocket expense and tips. I typically only get other spa body treatments when I receive gift certificates or while on vacation.

• Body Wash $20 x 3 = $60
• Body Lotion $20 x 3 = $60
• Hand Cream $15 x 2 = $30
• Massage x 4 = $250
• Total = $400

Based on my estimates, my total annual cost of beauty is $3,165. To be honest, my 2016 budget for beauty related expenses is about half that amount so I either have to reduce my spending or increase my budget.

In my estimate, I accounted for things like taxes and tips but I didn’t account for discounts. I do generally try to buy whatever I can (even Chanel) at Shoppers Drug Mart/Murale when there is a bonus points event and I use those points to redeem for only products I use. For other brands, I try to purchase at Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom and Sephora when they have discounts, promos or cash back on gift cards. That being said, even if I manage to save 25% on my make up and skin care, my annual cost is still about $2,700.

In order to stay within my budget of $1,680 for beauty related expenses in 2016, I really need to be strict with my spending. This means no impulse purchase of anything and a careful examination of what’s currently on my list. For hair, I am really not willing to budge on much. I can probably go for my haircuts every 10 weeks instead of 8 and skip the fancy shampoo/conditioner (even if it’s just once a year). For skincare, I can probably skip the mask this year as I have yet to finish the one in my bathroom and I also have a few samples to use up before I need to buy another. I also have enough makeup remover to last me for a while and when it’s done, I might go back to using coconut oil as I do have a huge tub of it in the kitchen that I am not using for cooking. For makeup, I am not willing to change anything but many of the items were recently repurchased so I won’t have to think about it for a while. For body care, I actually still have a few supersize tubes of Bliss body butter that I stocked up on when we were in Palm Springs last year. Maybe it’ll last me the year!

After going through my numbers, I feel a bit disappointed as I was hoping there would be room for maybe a new fragrance or a few facials. However, even though my numbers were much higher than anticipated, I still feel like I might be able to make it work. The good thing is I am seeing these numbers early enough in the year so it’s not too late. I am now thinking maybe I need to do a monthly recap post detailing my spendings to keep myself accountable. What do you think?

Have you ever calculated your annual cost of beauty? If so, please comment below with your numbers as I’m very curious where I stand comparing to others! 

Here are some experience-based gift ideas for this holiday season.

1. Tickets to a Show – It’s a fun day/night out for the gift recipient and could be tailored to personal preference. Could be anything from Disney on Ice to Cirque du Soleil or to the symphony, opera, ballet, musical, concert or even to the movies! Honestly, the options are endless! If there isn’t a show in the recipient’s city, it could even be in the closest city to them and you can throw in a hotel stay too if you’re feeling generous! In my opinion, the proper etiquette for a gift like this is that you must always buy a pair of tickets and never assume you’ll be going with the person you’re giving it to. Let them make their own decision!
2. Annual Pass/Membership to an Attraction – This is another gift that could work for any age. Depending on the recipient’s interest, the pass/membership could be for the local zoo, aquarium, science centre or art galleries and museums. Buying an annual pass is a great way to show your support to the places you love visiting and sometimes there are added benefits such as discounts at local shops or partner galleries/museums that the pass holder can visit for free as well. If you’re buying for a family, a lot of places offer family passes as well.
3. Cooking Class – Whether you are a master chef or a beginner cook, there really is a class for everyone and every taste. It could be a couple’s date night type class or a 1-day class on baking cupcakes, macarons or artisan bread at your local bakery. There are also classes on knife skills or even classes on how to sharpen your prized kitchen knives. More of an eater rather than a chef? Then check out my next gift idea.
4. Tasting Class – Not everyone enjoys cooking but pretty much everyone loves eating and/or drinking. There are so many fun tasting classes out there such as whiskey, wine, coffee, cheese and chocolate. There are also food tours available in many cities where a guide will take you around and make multiple stops. To make the gift even better? Include an additional gift certificate so the person doing the tasting can bring home some of their favourites from the tasting.
5. Spa – Most of us can use some R&R and/or a short break from our busy lives and a gift certificate to spend some time at a spa would definitely fit the bill! A spa day doesn’t have to be super extravagant or expensive as a lot of spas will offer day passes at a very affordable rate and the pass will grant you access to the spa’s facilities without paying for a service.  If you have more money in your budget, then a mani/pedi or a luxurious body treatment is always appreciated. In my opinion, when it comes to spas, go for quality rather than quantity!

Are you considering gifting an experience-based gift for this holiday season? Let me know in the comments!

At Kihei Caffe, we had the most amazing pancakes I’ve ever had in my life. We also tried their French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, banana bread. Everything is just delicious. Emerson ate everything up too. Also must try is their frozen blended coffee drinks. I don’t normally go for that in the morning but I tried a sample while we were waiting in line and simply had to order one. I can’t remember the name of it but it had banana, coffee, nuts and I am not sure what else. Even though Kihei Caffe was a good 40 minute drive from Westin Maui, we managed to go twice during the week. It’s also located right across from a huge playground where Emerson had a blast playing at.

For lunch, our favourite spot was Eskimo Candy. Their poke (basically raw fish, cubed and marinated) bowl is so fresh and delicious. We’d order a poke bowl, a fish and/or shrimp & chips and a quarter pound of tako (octopus) poke. We thought Emerson would only eat the fried stuff but he loved poke just as much.

Another great lunch spot (not on the list) is Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop. Their Seared Ahi Sandwich is amazing and you must try one of their Banana Cream Pies. I didn’t think I’d like it but since a friend recommended it, I gave it a shot. It’s absolutely amazing and so refreshing for a hot day dessert.

In the afternoon whenever the heat starts to get to us, we’d go for Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice. There are quite a few locations all over Maui and even one we could walk to from our hotel. There’s something amazing and special about Ululani’s. You really just have to try it. True to my creature of habit nature, I ordered the same flavour every time we went – Mango, Passion Fruit and Calamansi. I hope one day Ululani’s decide to franchise out all over North America because it’s the perfect hot day treat.

On a friend’s recommendation and also from the list, we checked out Sansei for dinner one night. Make sure if you go, either make a reservation or go for an early dinner. Our favourite thing we had there was the Crab Ramen with Asian Truffle Broth. I thought the flavour profile might’ve been too adult for Emerson but he loved it.

The last restaurant I want to talk about is also not on the list. Star Noodle was our favourite dinner place in Maui. We actually managed to eat there 3 times during the week since it was just a short drive away from our hotel. It gets really busy so make sure you go early. If not, you can always do takeout and go picnic somewhere like we did one night. We ordered different items each time we went so we pretty much tried the majority of their menu. Must order items are their Scallop Shots, Brussels Sprouts, Hot n Sour noodles and Look Moore Funn noodles (ask to add tofu to the dish). And please please please finish your meal with an order of Malasadas. You won’t be sorry!

What are some of your favourite spots to eat in Maui? Let me know in the comments!

We arrived at the hotel around midnight after a long day of travel and about a 45 minute drive from the airport and found the front desk empty. After a quick call, someone showed up immediately and we were checked in and got our room keys in no time. The hotel also promptly sent up a crib to our room for Emerson so that was much appreciated. The crib is smaller than a normal size crib so I was a bit worried that it was going to be too small but it never ended up being an issue.

The front desk mentioned the rooms in the Beach Tower are larger than the Ocean Tower but it’s a bit older. We were in the Beach Tower and were upgraded to a room with a pool/beach view. All the rooms seem to have a balcony with a small table and chairs set up so having a great view definitely added to the experience. It was also great having the balcony so hubby and I could still hang out for a bit, have some drinks/snacks, and chat after Emerson goes to sleep each night. Our room was pretty spacious so we had plenty of room to accommodate the crib, our stroller and everything else. I also love the open air lobby area that has a koi fish pond, flamingos, parrots, waterfalls. It’s a great property to just walk around as well.

Food is always a priority for us during our vacations. We didn’t have a great meal at the Relish Burger Bistro our first day at lunch (even though Emerson got to eat free) so we didn’t end up eating any other meals on the hotel ground. The Westin Maui is located right beside Whaler’s Village (Emerson’s favourite spot to roam around in) so we’d just go there when we’re not in the mood to drive out for meals. Island Vintage Coffee is a great spot for morning lattes and acai bowls. There’s also a few restaurants and a food court so there are quite a few options.

Besides being next door to an outdoor mall, the Westin Maui is also located right along Ka’anapali Beach. I love being able to get to the beach just steps away from our room. There are also 3 pools (1 adult pool) but all the pools were 1.4m deep so nothing that is a true kiddie/wading pool.

Overall we had a good stay but not a great one. There were some minor issues that we had with our room and the stay so the hotel waived our resort fee ($30/day) for the week, which was a nice gesture. If you are planning on staying at the Westin Maui, you won’t be disappointed but we’ll likely check out a different hotel in Maui next time.

What are some of your favourite hotel/resort/airbnb in Maui? Let me know in the comments!

The Aveda Privé box included 7 samples. Here are the products that I received and I actually managed to try all 7 already. Here are some first impressions and reviews:

• Thickening Tonic – Even though I have really thick hair, I am always interested in trying out volumizing products as my hair sometimes does fall flat. Likely due to its weight!
• Invati Scalp Revitalizer – Where was this when I needed it 9 months ago when my hair was falling out by the handfuls post baby?! I am definitely intrigued about this even though my hair has stopped falling out like crazy and is back to normal. Some might say it’s the only part of me that recovered back to normal after child birth! lol
• Invati Exfoliating Shampoo and Invati Thickening Conditioner – I was really surprised about how runny the shampoo was and I liked how moisturized my hair felt after the conditioner. Both of these samples were enough for just one use for me so it’s hard to judge whether or not they worked or made a difference as I did try the other 2 hair products as well before styling.
• Stress-Fix Body Lotion – Calgary is a notoriously dry city and this lotion just wasn’t moisturizing enough for me. And no, I did not feel less stressed after using. lol. I actually did have a really stressful day the day I tried it!
• Stress-Fix Creme Cleansing Oil – This one I liked. I generally like cleansing oil type products because I have such dry skin.
• Hand Relief Night Renewal Serum – I really like the concept of this as I have really dry hands. I’ll be keeping this on my night table to use at night to see if it makes a difference compare to my regular hand cream.

I am really happy that I received the Privé box that I wanted for May. I used to go to Civello (a small chain of Aveda salon and spa) when I was living in Toronto so I am quite familiar with their products. This Topbox was a great way to try out some of Aveda’s new products as I don’t frequent their stores anymore.

Have you tried any of these products mentioned above? If you subscribe to Topbox, what did you receive in your box this month? Let me know in the comments!

Materials needed are a sewing machine, thick felt (available in rolls at most fabric stores), heavy duty thread, heavy duty needles for your machine, paper, scissors (for paper and fabric), measuring tape and your bag (if you want to make this for a different bag). From start to finish, this should take about an hour and it is a fairly easy sewing project.

To make an organizer exactly like mine, cut your paper into rectangles in the following size: 11″ x 17″ (organizer base), 5″ x 9.5″ (outside pocket), 5″ x 8.5″ (inside pocket #1) and 4.5″ x 7.5″ (inside pocket #2). If you’re making an organizer for a different size bucket bag, you’ll need to figure out different measurements measuring your bag as I only own the mini bucket size. To do that, you first measure across the top of your bag and then figure out how high you want your organizer to be.

Next, use the paper pattern to cut out your felt pieces. Once you have all your pieces, we’re ready to sew! The pockets for the inside of the organizer will be put on first. Before sewing anything, I like to pin the pieces down to keep it in place. Place one inside pocket piece on the top and one on the bottom of the organizer base piece. They are placed 0.5″ from the edge.

Sew these 2 pieces onto the organizer base as close to the edge as you feel comfortable.

Now we’re ready to put in some pockets on the larger of the two inside pocket pieces. I wanted to put my iPhone 6 in one of the pockets on that side so I put my phone in and decided I needed a pocket about 3.5″ wide. Next, I wanted to put in a pen slot so I stitched another seam 0.75″ from my iPhone pocket. First side is done!

The second side is a little more tricky. The second side is the side I want to put pockets on both the inside and the outside. The inside pocket is already sewn in so all you need to do is put the outside pocket piece on the other side of the organizer base. Same as before, place your outside pocket piece 0.5″ from the top edge.

Once you stitch this piece on, if you flip it around, it should look like this.

Next, more pockets! I wanted 3 equal size pockets on the inside so I stitched 2 lines 2.5″ apart. Please note I stitched the pockets until the line hits the bottom of the outside pockets. By sewing those 2 lines 2.5″ apart, there are now 6 pockets total. You can make these pockets any size you want but just a word of advice, any pockets too large just doesn’t work well in my opinion.

Next, fold the organizer in half (inside pockets together) and stitch up the sides. The finished product should look like a clutch.

Ok, this next part is the trickiest part but it’s really not that bad. I wanted the base of my organizer to be 4″ so I pinched the sides to the bottom and use my measuring tape to determine where I need to stitch.

Don’t worry too much about making everything perfect. It’s a bag organizer so no one will really see this! After you’re done, just trim off the excess. Careful not to cut too close!

And that’s it! It’s done!

Try it with your bag to make sure it fits.

And organize away!

I hope you find this tutorial helpful. If you do end up making one, please comment below to let me know what you think! 

Edited to add: If you would like to order a custom made organizer from me, please see this post.