My Erin Condren Planner

Since middle school, to high school and all the way up to my university days, I've always been obsessed with planners. I'm a very organized and detail oriented person, so for me, having a planner and using it was both very natural and very fun. After university however, I got rid of using a planner as I didn't see a need for it. Fast forward a few years later to present day and I'm back in the planner addict phase! I saw a lot of fellow YouTubers who were also in this crazy planner phase and thought to myself, "This looks like so much fun!" I feel as though the planner has evolved into a life planner/scrap booking project, where to do lists aren't the only things that are kept, but important events are documented as well. I like this idea around the planner, as it's a great way to capture what's going on in my life with the hope of looking back at it some day and remembering all the good times.

Naturally, I made the decision to buy the Erin Condren planner. I love it! When it got delivered, it was like Christmas morning at my house! What I love about the Erin Condren planner are the design, the use of colours and positive quotes, the vertical layout and that it goes all the way to December 2016. I've never had a vertical layout before in my previous planners, but this format did capture my attention. Now that I've had the opportunity to use a vertical layout, I don't know that I would ever go back to the horizontal format. The vertical layout is much more exciting and breaks the mold from the traditional planner format. Currently, I divide the vertical layout into a "Today, To Do, Blog/Bouquet, Little Things and Work Out" section. I'm really digging this layout!

Since getting my planner I've been going crazy with buying stickers, making my own stickers, washi tape galore, pens - colourful pens- etc... The planner addicts would know exactly what I'm talking about! It crazy, but I can spend hours on end decorating my planner, as well as watching "Plan With Me" videos on YouTube - who knew planners could be this interesting! (P.S. Beware it can also break the bank...) To be honest, it definitely is an activity that I associate with relaxing and de-stressing. I love the process of getting creative with stickers, washi tape, and coloured pens - it's very therapeutic to me and brings me joy.

I've been experimenting with different themes for decorating my planner to see what I like best. So far, I have a theme planned for every week up until Halloween. After that, I might choose to do the same layout or try something new - we'll see! That's the fun and exciting part of this whole planning hobby! Decorating and customizing for different events and holidays! I can't wait to decorate for the upcoming winter/Christmas celebrations!

I use my planner primarily to organize all the different activities in my life... sometimes it can get pretty hectic. I find that when I write things down, I'm more likely to act upon it and achieve better results. I like using my planner to organize my thoughts and action plan for the blog and my candy bouquet hobby. It's also motivation for me to keep track of certain goals I have. One example of this is working out. Sometimes, going to the gym is not motivating to me. However, when I get to fill out in my planner what activity I did at the gym, how many minutes I worked out and how many calories I burned, it certainly is motivation at the beginning of a new week to keep going! I also like that I can keep a note of what I've made for dinner, or what new recipes I've tried. If I'm ever in a situation where I can't think of what to make, it really helps to look back and get dinner ideas.

I love my planner and the process of decorating and using it. If you're not too sure about your love for planners, but want to test the waters first before diving in, you may want to start off with a cheaper planner option. You can achieve the same result with just about any planner, if a higher costing planner is not in your plans for the near future.

Do you have a planner? What do you like to use your planner for?

~Usha

New Makeup Products I've Been Enjoying

At the beginning of the summer season, I had an itch to try some new makeup products. While we are far into the summer months and close to the end, this has given me plenty of time to use these products in my everyday makeup routine. Here's what I've been loving!

Sephora's Cream Lip Stain
I've heard many great reviews on this lip stain. I don't actually own any lip stains in my collection as I tend to stick to lipsticks. I decided to give this product a try... and... I'm itching to try more colours! I absolutely love this lip product and I now have a new found affection for lip stains. Once applied, the colour dries completely within minutes and leaves a nice, matte finish on your lips. You can eat, drink and sip all day long and this colour isn't moving anywhere. No smudges, no mess whatsoever! I got the shade "Always Red." Pair this with a red lip liner and you have yourself the perfect red lip! I love this colour as I think it works well for all seasons and is versatile.

Maybelline's Age Rewind Concealer
In the past I would never use concealer, as I felt it was a complicated product to apply. The only other brand that I've tried is ELF and I'm not too crazy about this product. Again, I've heard many great reviews about the Maybelline "Age Rewind Concealer" and decided to give it a try. I instantly fell in love with the texture and the creamy formula. It blends and sets well underneath the eye. What I love the most is how using this one simple product can make my whole makeup look go from alright to super amazing! The product itself is very simple to use. It definitely gives me the lift that I need during my early morning routine.

Milani's Eye Shadow in Bella Espresso
I really wanted one eye shadow colour that I could use a staple for my everyday makeup look. While I was in the United States recently, I went to a Walgreens where they had the Milani brand. I fell in love with this taupe, bronze, brown colour that pairs perfectly as a nude colour with my skin tone. Love the lasting power, as well as how easy it is to apply with just a finger tip. No hassle and no fuss!

Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm
I have to be honest... I got this product because everyone has one! I now know the obsession and craze behind it! It applies nicely, has a great smell to it and feels great on your lips. I love how moisturizing this product is. And can we talk a little bit about the packaging? Super cute and fun!

Essie's Nail Polish in Cute as a Button
I was on the hunt for a cute, summery, feminine nail polish colour. I think I found just that in Essie's "Cute as a Button" shade. I really fell in love with the coral, peachy-pink colour, and it works really well for a mani or pedi. I've worn this colour a lot this summer and I could see myself wearing this as a manicure colour in other seasons as well when I need a colour pick me up!

Essie's Gel Setter Nail Polish
There have been a lot of times where I feel as if I apply nail polish and the very next day, it chips. Nothing's worse than feeling that you've spent time to do your nails, but didn't get the results you wanted. Since I do a lot of dishes, cooking  and cleaning at home, long lasting manicures are important for me. While I could get my nails professionally done with a gel nail polish every two weeks, it is very expensive. Essie recently came out with this new product which is a top coat gel nail polish. It works fantastic! It completes your at home manicure with the shine, finish and protection that you would get by going to a salon. Love this product!

What new makeup products have you been enjoying? Any recommendations?

~Usha

My Recent Reads

I've really been enjoying some great reads over the past few months! It always seems that there just isn't enough time in the day to read all of the books on my reading list... such is the bookworm in me! Here's what I've been enjoying recently.

Dead Wake
This story reflects upon a real life tragedy of the sinking of the Lusitania during the first World War. Despite signals and efforts to warn officials that this passenger ship would be crossing over 'deadly waters', no caution was taken and lives were lost. Definitely an event in history that has not been given enough attention. Great read if you like to learn about history. As I've grown, I've definitely given more appreciation to books that can educate me on world events in a way that is not draining. This read reminds me a lot of the world famous Titanic sinking.

The Girl On The Train
This book is about a girl named Rachel who commutes downtown everyday on the same train. During her commute she passes by the same set of houses and gets entranced by a particular couple. As she gets to know more about this couple, she sees on the news one day that the woman -  Meghan - has gone missing. She recently saw Meghan out on her balcony with someone suspicious. Rachel contemplates how this tip may help in discovering what has happened to Meghan, which sets off a series of events, leading to an exciting and unthinkable conclusion! This is such a gripping and thrilling read! I really loved Gone Girl, and this book reminds me of that particularly story. Such a great read. I would definitely recommend this to anymore whose looking for something exciting, gripping, thrilling and a page turner.

Paper Towns
There has been a lot of talk about this one lately (especially the movie). I've read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and definitely had to give this one a read as well. I'm not a huge fan of the story line in this book. It starts off very slow. Its about a girl named Margo who disappears the day after she takes Quentin out for the night of his life out on the town pranking kids from high school. The story explores how Quentin seeks out to find Margo with the help of his good friends. He is on a mission to find the girl that he truly has a passion for. While I'm not a huge fan of this book, it did remind me a lot of my high school days. It reminded me in particular of all the 'spots' my friends would hang out, of the daily gossip that would take place, the lunches in the cafeteria and all those tough projects and exams. I also am very curious to see the movie and how it compares to the book.

Unbroken
Many of you may be familiar with this title from the movie that was released earlier this year, directed by Angelina Jolie. This book tells the true story of ex-Olympian turned World War II solider named Louis Zamperini, who goes off to fight for the United States against the Japanese after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After a series of unfortunate events he and his war buddies find themselves stranded on water for several weeks. They float to nearby land eventually, but end up being imprisoned in a Japanese war camp. The leader of the camp turns out to be the most brutal person alive that makes life there a living hell. With no rescue and no end of war in sight, the US soldiers are left to fend for themselves. This is an amazing story of humanity, human survival, positivity, morale, perseverance, bravery and confidence. I was definitely moved by the personal accounts of Louis. While I don't know what its like to be in Louis position, I was able to get a glimpse into the hardships he endured to keep going. It's a great reminder to keep pushing even when you think you are at rock bottom. The movie is equally as good as the book. Great read and definitely a keeper in my personal library.

The One Hundred Foot Journey
I heard about this movie and was curious to read the book first. This book journeys through the life of Hassan, who is a natural born culinary chef. From his early days in India, to the life-changing move of going to France, he has a natural instinct for all things food. Once his family has settled in a village in France, they discover that their next door neighbour is Ms. Mallory, a well recognized and established French chef. As rivalry brews between Hassan's father's family business and Ms. Mallory, she soon discovers Hassan's natural talent for cooking. This is a light, humorous and adventurous read. If your looking for something quick, easy and uplifting, this might be one that you will want to check out. I have yet to watch the movie to see how it compares to the book. What I like in particular about this book is the depiction of the vibrant culture and cuisines and Hassan's passion for pursuing something that he truly loves.

I hope to continue doing these types of posts once I've been able to read a few books that I can talk about.

What have you been reading this summer? Any good book recommendations?

~Usha

Summer Faves

It's the last week of August and here I am sitting, thinking to myself, "Where did summer go!?". Summer has certainly announced its entrance, but it has also disappeared way too fast! Some may argue that summer is here until September. While that is true, I always associate the start of school as the beginning of Fall. Do you do that too?

I've enjoyed summer a lot this year. For once, the weather was super hot, which has made a difference. My husband and I have really done some amazing things this summer. There have been a few things that I've been absolutely in love with and I don't think it would have been the same without these faves. They are definitely worth the mention.

Erin Condren Life Planner
If you follow me on Instagram, (which if you don't - you should! lol) you would know that I've been obsessing over the Erin Condren life planner. I love this planner! I'm not one to plan out every single detail of life, (In fact, I like to go with the flow and just let things happen), but what I like about the planner is that it doubles as a scrapbook, where I can save ideas and jot down important milestones and events. It's a keepsake for me to look back on. I plan on doing a more detailed post on my planner in the Fall. Stay tuned!

Sharpie Markers
I've been putting off this purchase for so long as I didn't really know if they would have a true purpose in my life. But they do! I love to use these markers in my life planner and note books. It makes things so much more fun and exciting! I just have to look at them and it brings me joy.

Zen Colouring
Apparently the most recent craze is adult colouring books... which many of you may severely question. I completely did as well. I didn't completely shut the idea down because when I was kid, I LOVED colouring. So I decided to give it a try, and I have to say that it's worth it! The simple act of colouring is very calming and relaxing, and it puts me in a summery mood. I love to do this in the mornings while my husband makes breakfast and I sip on coffee. Completely blissful!

Washington DC
I had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC in July for my full-time job. It was amazing! I love the city and all that it had to offer. Everything from the food, the people, the vibe and even the history was unbelievable! I really want to go again in the near future. I made so many great memories and learned a lot. Definitely a major highlight of the summer.

Mango Black Tea Lemonade
Starbucks recently introduced a new summer drink - the Mango Black Tea Lemonade. While I am obsessed with the Passion Tea Lemonade drink from Starbucks, I am overtly obsessed with the Mango Black Tea Lemonade! It is so good! This drink in its entirety, speaks summer! It's been my favourite all summer - If you haven't picked one up yet, you have to try one!

The Martian
I'm a natural bookworm. The only problem I have is that there's not enough time in the day to do all of the reading I would love to. I try my best to fit it in as much as possible because it makes me happy. The Martian, in particular, has been my summer fave. It is so good! Very thrilling and keeps me on edge! I will definitely do a future post on this read. I can't wait for the movie to be released to see the story come to life! I think I want to try and view this one on opening night.

My Pink Water Bottle
I was in need of a new water bottle and went on the hunt for one. My husband happened to find this pink, glass water bottle that was perfect! If there was such as thing as a perfect water bottle - this would be it! It's made of glass, it's pink, it has inspirational words written all over it, has a secure cap and even a handle to carry it. Basically, it checked off all of my needs on my water bottle wish list! I've been enjoying my water with a slice of lemon for a refreshing taste.

Audible.com and Spotify
I've been wanting to try some new things this summer and that's been listening to Spotify and Audible.com. Love these apps! I've been really enjoying these both during my morning drive to work and while I work out. It keeps me motivated! For Spotify, I really like listening to stories and Latin music. Right now I'm listening to Far From the Madding Crowd. For Audible.com, I've listened to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (which I also plan on doing a blog post about since it was really good!).

What have been your summer favourites?

~Usha

DIY Message Center

Don't you hate it when papers, memos, reminders, bills are scattered in places they don't need to be? I know that feeling all too well. I decided that we needed a centralized place where all of this can be stored in a fun and exciting way! My pet peeve is walking into my living space that is left untidy. At one point, I had bills and random memos lying in a pile on the half wall in my kitchen and I decided that enough was enough! I needed to solve this issue ASAP. So, I did some research on Pinterest and came up with this nifty idea for a DIY message center in my kitchen!

Materials Needed
For this DIY project you will need a cork board, paint, a paint brush, some magnets, a hot glue gun, some push pins, a few decorative buttons and a shower caddy with strong suction cups.

Method
Start by painting the frame of your cork board with a colour of your choice. I chose to leave mine au natural. Once the paint is dry, glue on the magnets to the back. Ensure that the magnets can easily hold the weight of the cork board. In the meantime, glue on decorative buttons to the top of your pushpins. Makes things more interesting and exciting!

Once everything is dry, you are ready to hang the cork board on the side of your fridge. Right underneath, attach the shower caddy using the suction cups. (I got mine from IKEA for a great price!).

And you're done!

Why You Should Probably Do This
It makes life so much easier! All of my papers, important memos, invitations, bills etc. are now in one neat little spot. I no longer have to go on a hunt on my half wall to find something. I like that it's in a common spot so that my husband and I can see every time we walk past it. We can both go to this centralized spot to view upcoming reminders, to-do lists or invitations to events. It also adds a quirky touch that I love in our kitchen! We spend so much time in here, so it's important to add a personal touch and I definitely think that this was achieved with this DIY project.

How do you stay organized?

~Usha

I'm Back - Announcement!

I'ts been some time since I last wrote a blog post. Don't worry, I have a good reason! At the time I felt I had a lot of projects on my plate and I was simply spreading myself a little too thin... it just ended up being unproductive. I decided I needed to take at least one month off to focus on one thing at a time. After the month, I could start blogging again. Well... it took two months... but that's okay! I had the time to concentrate on my project and really focus on what needed to be done.

So you may ask... "So, what`s this project your talking about?" Well since the beginning of the year, I've been experimenting with creating candy bouquets. The idea became somewhat popular between my coworkers, friends and family that I decided to go a little further with the idea and created a website devoted to my new found passion! I didn't really have a place where interested members could go and look at what I have to offer... But now I do! It's called Random Little Bouquets!

Of course, along with a website, there are other pieces to put together as well, such as social media, business cards and supplies, which are just only a few of the things to name. Along with my website, I also decided to try my luck at selling on Etsy. Let's see how that goes!

Website: http://randomlittlebouquets.wix.com/bouquets
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/randomlittlebou/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/randomlittlebouquets/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/randomlittlebouquets

I'm very excited for this new chapter in my life! If you want to know my inspiration behind the idea, visit my website for the full story. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I'm very grateful for all the support I've had during this process and I'm very excited to see where this will take me next! These last two months have given me a lot of insight into many different things. One thing I can share is that I missed blogging A LOT! I was craving to get back behind the keyboard with new ideas to share with all of you. And boy, do I got lots to share! I'm glad I had this time to realize that blogging means a lot to me and that it adds to who I am as a person.

I'm glad to be back and I'm extremely excited to share Random Little Bouquets with you!

~Usha

DIY Flavoured Water

I try my best to drink close to 8 cups of water per day. Some days I'm really good; other days not so much... As the warm weather approaches, it is very important to stay hydrated. Drinking the recommended amount of water not only helps fight dehydration, but it also helps with removing toxins from your body, regulating your bodily functions, keeping a healthy glow on your skin and keep you feel fit and healthy overall! However, sometimes plain old water can be quite boring... I think I hit that realization about a couple of weeks ago. This is when I started to experiment with making my own naturally flavoured water!

 

You will almost always find me with a slice of lemon in my water. I've been drinking this combo for a long time! While there are a lot of health benefits for using this combo, using it for such a long time had me yearning for something different. So, I thought it would be fun to see what other flavours I could infuse into my water and make it more fun and interesting!

Strawberry, Basil and Lemon
This one sounds really interesting and kind of uncommon (especially with the basil) but I thought I would give it a try! What I like the most about this combo is the sweetness from the strawberry. The sweetness combined with the fresh/earthy taste of basil and the sourness of the lemon makes for a unique combination! I like to add more strawberries as I am a fan of all things sweet.

 

Cucumber and Lemon
The classic but definitely a favourite! I call this combo 'spa water' because every time I go to the spa, they usually have a jug of this ready to indulge in. I really like to drink this combo as there is a a hint of the fresh and cool cucumber with the tart lemon. Aside from just adding lemon to my water, this is currently my next most common combo! There is also a lot of benefits to drinking water infused with cucumber and lemon as it provides extra vitamins and boosts the appearance of your skin (to name a few).

Citrus (Orange, Lemon and Lime)
This combo reminds me of either a tropical punch or Sprite! The tart taste of the lemon and lime is off set by the sweetness of the orange. All three bring a burst of flavour and a unique combo. This combination definitely reminds me of the drink called 'Five Alive'. For something a little more special you could use carbonated water, such as Perrier, to enjoy a 'healthier' version of Sprite .

Do you have a favourite herb/fruit/vegetable water infused combination? Let me know in the comments below!

~RANDOMiss