GKhair Treatment Review & Giveaway

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

So friends, remember when I told you about the great opportunity I had to get a GKhair Hair Taming Treatment with JUVEXIN™? (GKhair were also the very generous sponsors of the Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup). Well, I thought it was high time I let you know my thoughts and give some more info about the process in case anyone out there is interested in trying it. GKhair's website explains the treatment like this: "The Taming System gives you smooth, shiny, frizz-free manageable hair while also restoring the hair from the inside out, returning it to a more youthful state. It also protects against future damage and environmental affects." Who doesn't want that?

 

Mention of the Meetup on Canadian House & Home.
That's me in the blue along with Linda (who captured
the screencap), and Daniella and Vitania (who
organized the amazing event). Photo: A Bit of Blue

 First off, my hair is curly and I'm always looking for anything that can make it more manageable, less frizzy and just downright healthier. I always shied away from things like Japanese straightening because I was worried about how my hair would grown in (curly on top + straight on the bottom = a hot mess). When I discussed the process with the lovely Celeste of GKhair she assured me that this wouldn't be the case here. The GKhair Taming System lasts up to 5 months and fades gradually, so it's not like a perm growing out in reverse. Phew! Once I heard that I was totally sold.

I got my treatment done by one of the great stylist at L'Attitudes Salon and it was all done in about an hour. The treatment was applied and then my hair was blow dried and straightened with a flat iron. I didn't find the product smelled while being applied. All I was told was not to wash my hair for 48 hours and I was good to go. GKhair was also nice to give me an After Care treatment pack, including shampoo and conditioner, to help my look following the treatment.

I waited to post this review because I wanted to see how my hair would fare over a bit of time, especially because being curly it tends to have a mind of it's own. What I did find is that when straight my hair is extra silky and smooth. Most people at the Blogger event couldn't believe that my hair had been curly that morning. The straightening time is also cut down considerably with the treatment. I wear my hair curly a lot and find that my curls are definitely looser and my hair much softer to the touch. After some experimentation I've also found that after the GKhair treatment my hair actually works better with less product.

In a nutshell GKhair treatment has given my soft curls that are much easier to straighten. The process was easy and painless. If you have any questions please feel free to ask! For more on GKhair, including tutorials you can check out their videos on the GKhair Channel on YouTube.


Photo: A Bit of Blue

GKhair is also offering one lucky follower of Sogni e Sorrisi a bottle of their hair serum, which is "designed to coat the hair and instantly reduce frizz. Leaves hair nourished, shiny, and soft."

How to Enter

Just be a follow of Sogni e Sorrisi

and like GKhair on Facebook.

Extra Entries

1. Follow me on Twitter. If you do, thanks! Just let me know.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy you can tweet this:

Enter to win @GKhair Serum @SogniESorrisi http://bit.ly/gvXkHO

3. Follow GKhair on Twitter.

4. Follow the GKhair blog.

5. Blog or Facebook about this giveaway.
Just leave the URL in your comment.

Giveaway is open until December 31, 2010.

Winner will be chosen via random.org

Open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Good luck everyone!

Have you ever had a GKhair treatment?

I'd love to hear about your hair experiences.

GKhair did provide me with a complimentary treatment and products,
however a review (let alone a favorable one) was not a condition of
acceptance. The opinions expressed herein are all mine!

Review: Honore des Pres' We Love New York Perfumes

I'll admit I'm no expert when it comes to scents and base notes, but I love perfume as much as the next girl, I'm always excited to try a new scent and I know what I like, so I was quite excited when I was sent three just-launched new scents from Honoré des Prés to try. I'm a sucker for a good package and I'm not ashamed to say that the first thing I noticed about the company's new We Love New York line was the packaging (I think artistic designer Christian David did a great job with this and so did Wallpaper, awarding its 2010 Design Award to the line). The Starbucks-esque cups and paper trays speak to the coffee lover in me and I think they're a cute way to package this thankfully non-literal ode to the Big Apple. Tagged as "truly organic, terribly French" the three scents, created by Olivia Giacobetti, are said to be inspired by the fictional Honoré des Prés' trip to New York, but were more likely the product of Giacobetti's own move from Paris to NYC.

From what I've been able to gather, white flowers and tuberose in particular are big in perfumes right now. Vamp à NY features tuberose and rum head notes, a bourbon vanilla heart note and base notes of benjoin, perou balm and tolu balm. It is the sweetest of the three scents to my unpractised nostrils and perhaps the most feminine. Appropriate that this perfume's tag line is "love at first sight." The literature goes on to describe Vamp à NY as "extreme, never lived before, French couture...addictive, sophisticated and futuristic." My husband liked this scent and I did get quite a few compliments while wearing it, but overall I think it's too much of a sweet scent for my personal taste. That said, I'm sure there are tons of floral and tuberose scent lovers out there who will go gaga over this one.

I Love Les Carottes (or I Heart?) was the first scent I smelled when I opened the package sent to me from Honoré des Prés. What does it smell like, you wonder? Well, carrots, of course. Literally. Which was quite interesting to me and had me wondering if wearing it would make other people's mouths water or if it would just make them as hungry as the first sniff made me (I was all, Homer-like, "Mmmm...carrot cake"). I must admit that there was something irresistible about this fragrance to me, although I think I like it better when it settled into a more spicy scent while still managing to be very light. Could I wear it all the time? Only if I wanted to go on a carrot cake binge daily.

From the first spray I fell for the "enigmatic sensuality" of Love Coco, which is described as a "liberated fragrance...it's a greedy duel, just like the stimulating cross between a poison and an antidote." The duel in question is between the scent of pure white coconut milk extract and coriander; one that the latter seems to win over time, leaving you smelling more fresh than sickly sweet (I didn't notice much of the vanilla in this one, thankfully). Fragrance is such a personal thing so I can't promise that anyone else will enjoy Love Coco like I do, but if you love the smell of coconut (I personally love it) then I suggest at least trying this one out.

"Magic is just like a shower of truth." ~ Olivia Giacobetti

So, while I don't really know what carrots or coconuts have to do with New York, I thought the concept and packaging of these fragrances was genius and I think I've found a new scent for yours truly in Love Coco. Have you tried one of the We Love NY fragrances? Let me know what you thought!

The line is now available for purchase in the U.S. (50mL - $98), select stores abroad like Colette and online.




Testers were provided, but I was not compensated for
this review and the opinions state here are strictly my own.

Calling All Curly Haired Peeps! Review: Darcy's Botanicals Hair & Body Care

I'm a curly haired girl who actually wears her hair curly a large amount of the time (I really have no patience for struggling with straighteners every morning). I'm always on the lookout for that miracle product that will tame the frizzies and give me the locks of my dreams, which was why I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try the Natural Coils Curling Jelly from Darcy's Botanicals. The product promises definition, softness, hold, healthy conditioning, no frizzies, easy detangling and an affordable price.

 I have to admit I was initially skeptical as most products I try end up disappointing. Like all the fuss about Moroccan Oil? I tried it and while it was okay, I wasn't thrilled with what it did for my hair. Not so with Darcy's Botanicals Curly Jelly. One use had me convinced to put away my old mousses and gels in favour of this Curling Jelly. Used in conjunction with the Pumpkin Seed Moisturizing Curl Conditioner (which smells great) it leaves my hair soft--not unattractively crunchy at all--and frizz free. I also love that it works just as great on dry hair as on wet. Next I'd like to try to Coconut Styling Pomade.

Darcy's Botanicals is based out of Georgia and was founded by Lysandra Taylor after she spent years tinkering with different natural ingredients to create hair products for herself and her family. Lysandra has not only created some great products, but I love her commitment to try to do what she can for her community--she has made a commitment to source a minimum of 80% of her ingredients from the United States and, whenever possible, from local vendors. In additional to products for curly hair, Darcy's Botanicals also features other styling aides, body washes and soaps that you may want to check out.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and don't forget about the Shopbop Giveaway!

Thank you to Darcy's Botanicals for the products used for this review.
All opinions are strictly my own.

Review: Volume Twenty Five

If you love inspiring art, great quotes and charming prints then you'll want to check out Volume Twenty Five. Started in 2008 by Jessica, a self taught artist looking to bring a little happiness into the lives of her customers, Volume Twenty Five was named after her age at the time and the fact that starting her new business was a new chapter, or volume, in her life. Jessica's prints are perfect as gifts, little ways to tell your significant other how much you care, and others are totally perfect for the home (think kitchen or laundry) and classroom (ideal as a gift for that special teacher).

{Love Print}

{Remember Happiness}

I loved that Jessica's products are so uplifting, with messages that you want to see hanging on your wall to motivate and remind you about the important things in life.

{Wherever We Are Together}

{Yes, You're The Fairest}

I liked Volume Twenty Five's prints on sight so I was really excited when Jessica offered to send me one for review. Picking just one was the hard part. I finally decided on a personalized Do All Things With Love print that I envision taking place of pride on the gallery wall I want for the office in our new home. I figured, what better way to remind my husband who what he's working for than a great print with our initials? ;) Fitting too, as we just celebrated our seven year dating anniversary this past Sunday!

Let me just say that Jessica was a doll to order from--so nice and patient from beginning to end of the process. The shipping was also quick and the print came packaged very safely to avoid any damage. I was looking forward to seeing what our print would look like in hand and I can safely say I was not disappointed. Not only is Jessica's selection charming and varied, but the actual print is great quality with vibrant colours and a sturdy backing, absolutely perfect for mounting and sure to look fab above our desk!

{The Secret}

{Soar With Your Own Wings}

Like what you see? Head over to Volume Twenty Five to browse and grab one of your own fab prints...and stay tuned for your chance to win one--giveaway to be announced in the next week!

Thank you to Jessica of Volume Twenty Five for the review product.

Opinions expressed here are all mine.

Sweet Nature Designs Scarf: A Review

Sweet Nature Designs Summer Cotton Scarf - Lavender with Brown Branches

The first time I spotted Beth Tobey's Etsy shop Sweet Nature Designs I was smitten. There are great printed products from kitchen towels to bags as well as paintings and jewellery. I was beyond excited when Beth offered to send me one of her cotton summer scarves to review. Winter or summer, I think scarves really add something to an outfit. The package from Sweet Nature Designs came beautifully wrapped and inside was a very pretty, lightweight lavender scarf printed with fetching branches.

Because the cotton of the scarf is so lightweight I've been wearing it all summer. The scarf is the perfect length and weight to wrap in all different fashions and, although thin, it helps when the AC in my office reaches temperatures that only keep penguins comfortable. I've received tons of compliments on my Sweet Nature Designs scarf and was happy to find that it washes well with no damage to the printed branches.

Green Cotton Summer Scarf with Silver Flowers

The scarves are 100% cotton (93" x 16" or 236 cm x 41 cm) with raw edges for the perfect casual look. Sweet Nature offers the style in a range of colours and designs to compliment every taste and outfit.

Orange Life Floursack Kitchen Towel

I also have my eye on the shop's tea towels, each of which is printed with a different quote or design.

Gray Cotton Beach Bag with Branches

Sweet Nature Designs' cotton beach bags are perfect for toting around

everything you need every day and, of course, to the beach of pool.

Life is Pretty Cool Green Linen Tea Towel

If you would like a chance to win your own Sweet Nature Designs scarf then check back next week for a great giveaway! In the meantime head over to Beth's shop to nab one of her fab items for yourself.

I received a Summer Scarf from Sweet Nature Designs to facilitate this review.

The opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

Book of the Week: The Lost Girls

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! This week's book is The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett and Amanda Pressner, three friends who abandoned their media jobs and fast-paced Manhattan lives to spend a year travelling the world together. I always admire people who are brave enough to uproot their entire lives to follow their dreams and as soon as I heard about this book I knew I had to know more about what drove these ladies to make the decision they did and how they fared on their voyage. Of course I was super excited to get a copy sent to me--I mean, really, with a tagline like "three friends, four continents, one unconventional detour around the world," how could I resist?

Upon snapping open the cover I discovered there was a lot about the three friends I felt like I could relate to. They were about my age when embarking on their adventure (which took them from South America through Africa, India, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia) and it seemed to me that their trip was as much about finding themselves as seeing the world. There is a hike to Machu Picchu, volunteering in Kenya, sunbathing in Rio, and a cockroach infested train ride in India. Many of the girls' stops and adventures are not for the faint of heart and while reading I often wondered whether I would have been able to rise to the occasion as they did again and again.

{via}

The Lost Girls blogged about their adventures along the way and have now compiled their memories into a book told from their three points of view. For me the great thing about this memoir was the inspiration I took from the conviction and courage these ladies had. Not only quitting their jobs and leaving lives and boyfriends behind, but putting their friendship on the line by agreeing to be in such close quarters together (and let's just say they weren't staying in luxury suites) for a year's time. I think this book is also great for pointing out that we make our own priorities in life. It doesn't all have to be about promotions, mortgages, marriage and 2.5 kids (although that's all well and good), there is some room left for actually doing the things that make us happy and help us to grow as people, whatever that is for you.

A warning, though, this book might be a little more costly than the sticker price. Before I was half way through I was itching to book myself a ticket somewhere I've never been.

You can browse inside here. Want to hear about more travel adventures? Check here.

Cherry and Violet Cocktail Ring

If you're like me and love discovering great sellers on Etsy then you should check out Cherry and Violet's shop. The lovely Angie, based in Louisville, sent me a gorgeous piece from her collection to review. The item came well packaged in a bubble envelope and was nestled in a pretty little box neatly tied with a pink bow. Perfect if you are thinking of purchasing a gift or for making a purchase for yourself extra special!

Inside the beautiful packaging was Cherry and Violet's Emerald City Ring. Like many of Angie's products the ring was repurposed from a piece of vintage jewellery. I love the idea of an old piece found in some small antique store getting a new lease on life as a totally new item that a new generation of woman can love. Of course, these repurposed items are limited in quanity so if you fall in love with a piece make sure to snap it up quickly!

Anyone who knows me knows that I like nothing better than a chunky cocktail ring. I wear them all the time and have an assortment in different metals and colours. The Emerald City Ring definitely stacks up both in terms of the statement it makes and its unique style. Even with the great knuckle-to-knuckle size of the ring it still has a streamlined, elegant feel. I've been wearing this ring for the better part of a week (including Wednesday--could a piece be more perfect for St. Paddy's Day?) and I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten. I love the mix of the gold with the emerald green glass and rhinestones. Its also cool to think that the gorgeous ring was once a pair of earrings!

The base of the ring is made in brass and the the band is vintage raw brass. I found the ring to be very comfortable to wear despite its size and loved that it was adjustable--perfect for online shopping. Angie does warn that due to the materials used the band will show a slight patina after continued wearing and suggests keeping it dry to minimize this. I did notice some of this, but it was minor and wouldn't stop me from buying another piece from the shop. Now that I've fallen in love with the Emerald City ring I've definitely got my eye on some other gorgeous pieces in the shop:

Hollywood Glamour Necklace

Made of a Vintage Repurposed Brooch and Chain

Scarlet Statement Ring

A Vintage Red Cabochon on Wide Hammered Band

Angie has also started to produce a line of painted clay jewellery.

Fleur de Lis Bracelet

Hot Pink Polymer Clay on Silver Hammered Cuff

Stay tuned for my Spring Giveaway

hosted by Cherry and Violet,

details will be up next week!

Have a wonderful weekend
and Happy Spring!