I love the Essence Café in Whitby. It is an adorable little family run café with AMAZING food. I have gone for breakfast (try their breakfast crepe) lunch (all of the sandwiches are amazing and served with a generous portion of salad) and even to... +
I love the Essence Café in Whitby. It is an adorable little family run café with AMAZING food. I have gone for breakfast (try their breakfast crepe) lunch (all of the sandwiches are amazing and served with a generous portion of salad) and even to a couple of special events. The dinner at the special events is particularly great – incredibly generous portions of the most delicious meat, and sides, followed by a dessert buffet and tea/coffee. They have a really good house dressing, delicious daily soups and great desserts. The cheesecakes are amazing, and my favourite is their fudge, made from their own Nanny’s recipe.
This place is truly fabulous. It has a great atmosphere – the café is inviting, the people are so friendly, and it really makes you feel like you are in a small town where everyone knows your name. They also do catering.
I cannot possibly recommend this place highly enough. You must go! I know Whitby it out of the way for most people living in Toronto, but it is WELL worth it, I promise!
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I have been looking for a sunscreen for my face that absorbs quickly and was not greasy and I finally found it! Misschickie mentioned in one of her reviews that the ingredients Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are natural and thus easily absorbed... +
I have been looking for a sunscreen for my face that absorbs quickly and was not greasy and I finally found it! Misschickie mentioned in one of her reviews that the ingredients Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are natural and thus easily absorbed into the skin. (Because I am technologically challenged, I will past the url to her review here: http://www.chickadvisor.com/item/lise-watier-sun-smart-universal-uv-shield.html). Armed with this knowledge I went searching the sunscreen aisles and found this one sunscreen (in my price range) that contained these ingredients. I am not generally a fan of Neutrogena products (they don’t react well with my skin) but this one was for sensitive skin so I decided to give it a try. I must say, I’m glad that I did because I love it!
The sunscreen itself goes on quite white, but once you rub it in you find that it absorbs quite quickly and is not greasy at all. I applied it under my make-up and it was a breeze! I highly highly recommend this sunscreen for people looking for everyday sun protection.
An additional note: Do not be scared off by the high SPF. I know a lot of people like to tan so they opt for lower SPFs. I myself had been using a daily moisturizer with SPF 15 in it and feeling quite proud of myself, until I read that SPF pretty much needs to be reapplied every 15 minutes. Knowing this, I think that if you are interested in daily sun protection, that it is a good idea to invest in an additional sunscreen (as opposed to one that is added to another product) such as the options the Neutrogena line offers.
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This is my favourite conditioner! I have been using it for many months now and have been satisfied through the dryness of the winter as well as the humidity of the summer. The first Say Yes to Carrots hair product I tried was the Hair and Scalp... +
This is my favourite conditioner! I have been using it for many months now and have been satisfied through the dryness of the winter as well as the humidity of the summer. The first Say Yes to Carrots hair product I tried was the Hair and Scalp Moisturizing Mud Mask which was phenomenal. It really did all the amazing things that is promised on the bottle – softened, detangled, volumized, and made it super shiny! I was so pleased I wanted to try their everyday hair care products as well.
The conditioner contains all natural ingredients: [from their website] Our C is for Conditioner combines Dead Sea Mud, organic carrot, organic pumpkin, organic sweet potato, organic melon and organic orange – simply delicious
The conditioner is amazing – my hair is super silky, soft and very shiny. I especially notice the shine factor when I use another conditioner for the day and my hair is not as lustrous. I guess your hair likes when use healthy products as much as your body likes when you eat them …
Next up I am going to try the Shampoo.
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I had been noticing that make-up reside (mainly foundation and mascara) were being left on my face even after cleaning, so I went on a hunt for make-up remover wipes. I was specifically looking for wipes because they are handy for everyday use, as... +
I had been noticing that make-up reside (mainly foundation and mascara) were being left on my face even after cleaning, so I went on a hunt for make-up remover wipes. I was specifically looking for wipes because they are handy for everyday use, as well as for those times you are in a rush or it is inconvenient (sleepover, camping etc.) to thoroughly wash your face.
I picked Clean and Clear because I almost always love their products – they don’t have super heavy duty acne medications in them so they do not irritate my face yet they truly do make my skin clear and refreshed. I love the clean tingle I always get using these products. Also they’re generally pretty inexpensive ….these cost be 7.99 for 25 wipes.
Anyway, the wipes are excellent. They remove all my make up (with the exception of a tiny bit of mascara … it says it can remove even waterproof mascara but I wouldn’t count on that because I don’t use waterproof and it struggles somewhat to remove even that) however since I am cleansing my face afterwards this was not a big deal. I was concerned that adding a new step to my skin care routine would irritate my skin but it is quite the opposite. The Clean and Clear leaves my skin feeling so clean yet not over dried and irritated. I have noticed a definite improvement in the condition of my skin since I have been using them – my skin must have been screaming for help as all this time I have been leaving make-up remnants. But, no more!
If you want something quick, handy and effective, these are the wipes for you.
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This is my favourite sunscreen I think. I go back to it time and time again because it gives me good protection and is fairly lightweight compared to many other sunscreens out there. It is oil free, fragrance free and hypoallergenic so I had... +
This is my favourite sunscreen I think. I go back to it time and time again because it gives me good protection and is fairly lightweight compared to many other sunscreens out there. It is oil free, fragrance free and hypoallergenic so I had originally purchased it for use on my face. However the sunscreen that I had been using for my body had been bothering me because it was so greasy so I decided to use my Coppertone Oil Free on my whole body and am exceedingly happy with its performance. It sinks in quite fast and does not make me feel sticky and greasy. It does give you that slightly shiny look but it’s not necessarily to a bad thing to look glistening on the beach ha ha so I don’t mind.
I was not crazy about it on my face because it did make me a little oily (and was a little too heavy to use underneath make-up) however I have sensitive skin so it could work perfectly for someone else.
Overall this is my favourite sunscreen and I would highly recommend it.
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I have been using this sunscreen spray for touch-ups to my sunscreen throughout the day when I am out in the sun. It is especially handy when you’re at the beach because you don’t need to get your hands all sticky with reapplying sunscreen. The... +
I have been using this sunscreen spray for touch-ups to my sunscreen throughout the day when I am out in the sun. It is especially handy when you’re at the beach because you don’t need to get your hands all sticky with reapplying sunscreen. The bottle is also good because the spray top has a lock so it won’t spray all over the inside of your bag.
The bottle says it is waterproof and “ultra sweatproof”. I agree that it is extremely resistant to sweat, because even when you’re sitting in the sun all day, you don’t get the feeling that your sunscreen is seeping out of your pores.
My only minor complains are that it is smelly and kind of sticky. It is smelly only in the sense that it has that traditional sunscreen scent that everyone associates with summer, and it is very strong. Plus the scent does not fade, so I am not impressed with that. It is only slightly sticky to the touch (on your skin) but in a bug spray kind of way, not a too much greasy lotion kind of way. Overall I think this is a decent sunscreen product and a good value.
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I was really pumped about the (organic!) Say Yes to Carrots line of lip butters to the point where it was built up in my head and was ultimately let down. I expected it to be something spectacular and in the end found that it was quite ordinary... +
I was really pumped about the (organic!) Say Yes to Carrots line of lip butters to the point where it was built up in my head and was ultimately let down. I expected it to be something spectacular and in the end found that it was quite ordinary. Despite this, I continued to reach for my Carrot flavoured lip balm time and time again until, oops, it was ALL gone! This is a huge feat for me; because I am so lip balm obsessed I have far more than one set of lips reasonably requires and thus never finish one.
Anyway, when it was finished I tried to function with my old stand by (Nivea Essential Lip Care) but found that in the summer it was too thick and goopy. Before long I went back to my Say Yes to Carrots because it was firmer and smoother. This time I chose Mint and I am ecstatic. It is smooth and silky. It stays on my lips for hours and my lips feel so soft. The mint is just lovely as a lip balm, for the scent and the texture (it is less grainy feeling than the its carrot counterpart). I LOVE it and highly recommend picking one up.
Say Yes to Carrots Lip Butters are available in Carrot, Mint, Citrus, Berry and Melon (although I have never seen Melon or Citrus in any Shoppers Drug Mart that I have been to…)
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I have been going to my girl Beth for several years now. The first time I went to her was when I needed my hair done for prom. She did such a phenomenal job (at such an unbelievable price) that I went back to her the next time I needed a hair cut... +
I have been going to my girl Beth for several years now. The first time I went to her was when I needed my hair done for prom. She did such a phenomenal job (at such an unbelievable price) that I went back to her the next time I needed a hair cut, and I have been going back ever since. In fact my whole family (mom and two sisters) go to her as well. Her attention to detail and incredible skill make her the best hair stylist I have ever gone to. I have even recommended her to one of my friends, and now not only her but her sister as well, are faithful customers.
Beth really does do a great job. She has a great eye, and is very honest with you, so you know she won’t give you a cut that won’t look good on you. She is also great at styling your hair afterwards. She is a truly sweet and adorable girl, so I absolutely love going to her. I am always impressed that she remembers not only my sisters’ names, but also what was going on in their lives the last time she saw them – she always asks me about them and vice versa. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her and cannot recommend her enough.
And now that I have told you why I love her so much, it is safe to tell you how much she costs … for a cut (I’ve never gotten colour so I cannot speak for that…) after tip I pay her a little less than 50 bucks! How unbelievable is that?! (See, I couldn’t tell you that was her price beforehand because you wouldn’t have believed how truly great she was … you’d think I went there just because she was so inexpensive).
I live in Whitby, but I think if you’re anywhere close to the Durham Region you should check this place out. She is truly amazing (and my friend’s sister went to the other stylist at Squeeze Me In, Sandra, and said she also did a good job). It’s a tiny place on Brock Street in the heart of downtown Whitby. If you go, tell her Celia sent you!
The address is:
148 Brock Street North
Whitby, ON
L1N 4H4
Phone: (905) 493-2346
E-mail: [email protected]
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I am pretty true to my fave hair care products but was getting sick of my lacklustre curls in the summer heat so I decided to try something new. I chose Pantene mainly because it was on sale and I am always too scared to spend a lot on new products... +
I am pretty true to my fave hair care products but was getting sick of my lacklustre curls in the summer heat so I decided to try something new. I chose Pantene mainly because it was on sale and I am always too scared to spend a lot on new products in case they suck. Let’s just say, I am glad I got this one on sale. I have been holding off on reviewing it for quite some time now because I have such mixed feelings about this product. Half of the time my hair looks fantastic, and the product does everything it says it will (protects against humidity, makes my hair shiny and my curls are defined) however the other half of the time my hair looks crunchy and gross. I think there is a fine line between just enough and too much product – the problem is I can’t seem to find that balance. It seems to be somewhere between one and two pumps.
The crème itself is rather thick and somewhat gluey. It comes out as more of a putty in a pump than anything else. I think if you put just the right amount, and work it through your hair just right, your curls will look amazing. If not, there is either too little and your hair looks fuzzy, or too much and your hair looks (and feels) hard and crunchy (not to mention weighed down). I don’t have enough time in the morning to wrestle with temperamental hair products, so I’m sorry to say that I don’t recommend this one.
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This used to be my go to sunscreen until I went on a trip to Dominican and burned for the first time in my life. I was not impressed that it didn’t stand up to the hot Caribbean sun, so I decided to switch when I got back to Canada. My other... +
This used to be my go to sunscreen until I went on a trip to Dominican and burned for the first time in my life. I was not impressed that it didn’t stand up to the hot Caribbean sun, so I decided to switch when I got back to Canada. My other qualms with it are that it is “water resistant” not “waterproof” so I have a feeling this contributed to its weakness. Also, when I took the bottle to the beach it became absolutely watery and exploded all over my hands when I opened it. I know many sunscreens become runnier when they’re in the heat all day, but this was practically water. I was not impressed and will probably not go back to Banana Boat in the future. -