What's New In The Life of Christina

I absolutely hate starting a post off with "I've been sooooo busy" but, alas, here I go.

Busy I have been!  I can not believe how busy this week is/was and this morning, after I woke up, I realized that I've gone 4 days without posting anything.  First of all, shame on ME and second of all, check out what I've been up to this past week.

Photo courtesy of www.scfamilymartialarts.ca

1. I am now a kickboxer

I use this term loosely BUT I've joined a kickboxing/boxing gym and am blown away by fabulous it is.  I know it's fabulous because I feel like puking whenever I'm done exercising and my entire body is sore apres a workout.  However, I am feeling more motivated about this workout regimen than about any other before and I really feel like this could be the workout for me.  

Photo courtesy of www.theknot.com

2.  Wedding planning stress and groomsmen attire

I, honestly, don't know how wedding planners do it...they remain calm, collected and stress-free while ensuring weddings go off without a hitch.  But, for me, I can barely keep it together when going over our playlist.  I am forever grateful to my pal, Bronwen, and to Allan for allowing me to have meltdowns and NOT judging me for being a crazy bride-to-be.  Needless to say, this has taken up the majority of my time.  Plus, we FINALLY nailed down the groomsmen outfits.  The boys have their fittings this Saturday and it's such a relief!!  (As much as I complain about this wedding process, I am soooo excited that it's only 4 months away.)

Photo courtesy of www.venuemag.net

3.  Family trips 

This past weekend Allan and I went to Kelowna to visit the family.  It was an awesome tiome, albeit too short, but fun all the same.  Our time was filled with tennis, sun, shopping, tea, food, gin and family talks.  I wish that we all got together more often but this short time seemed to make up for it.  Can't wait for the next family get together.

Photo courtesy of therogersrevue.wordpress.com

4.  TV time

Sometimes, I just need to curl up on the couch and watch mindless TV for a few hours.  This weekend Allan and I caught up on our favorite show, Game of Thrones, and I also watched Hart of Dixie and The Real Housewives of Vancouver.  Yes, I love reality TV.

Photo courtesy of health.howstuffworks.com

5.  Exploring new tea 

Yes, I'm still obsessed with tea and Davids Tea launched a few new ones.  So, Monday I dragged Allan to my fave shop and we sipped, smelled and tasted our way to some new tins for my ever-growing collection.

What sorts of trouble have you all been getting into?

Sephora and Davids Tea Haul

Lately, I've been on a budget.  As Allan likes to say, "no more useless purchases babe..."  The problem is is that useless to him is COMPLETELY different than useless to me.

So, I received an invite last week to the Sephora VIB event and since everything was 15% off, I stoked up on a few non-useless items...ha

Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Nail Enamel Set

I am IN LOVE with tangerine tango and am beyond tickled that it's this year's spring color.  Having said that, this little pack was too cute to pass up.  It contains four polishes, all in the same color, but with different finishes: (from left to right) Tangerine Tango Shimmer, Tangerine Tango Matte, Tangerine Tango Creme and Tangerine Tango Glitter.  Sigh, they're gorgeous.

Laura Mercier Lingerie Eye and Cheek Palette

I find it strange that I have never tried a Laura Mercier item before but heard so many amazing things about the line.  I saw this palette a couple months ago and knew it had to be mine, one day.  So with the 15% off coupon, I bought it.  This is going to be my Bali palette for sure as I can create so many different looks with this one item.  

Sephora Goodie Bag

Freebies are my favorite part of any shopping trip so when the Sephora event advertised free goodie bags, I was there with bells on.  Inside my goodie bag was Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, BCBG Max Azaria Eau de Parfum, Givenchy Mister Light, Viva La Juicy Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum, Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara and Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara.  I'm thinking a mascara competition is in order...

Davids Tea Cupcake Teas

I received my monthly Davids Tea email yesterday and saw these teas immediately and knew that I was going to get them ASAP.  Does it help that April is my birthday month....maybe.  Or is it because I'm obsessed with tea??  Hmmmm.  Either way, the limited-time collection includes Birthday Cake Tea (with freeze-dried ice cream and sprinkles), Ice Cream Cake Tea (with white chocolate and vanilla beans) and Chocolate Cake Tea (with white chocolate and cocoa nibs).  These teas are so delectable in smell and taste that everyday this month is going to feel like a birthday in my mouth.

And Allan calls this useless spending...what does he know right?

Fun Girls + Davids Tea = A Fun Girls Davids Tea Party

Mmmmmmm, homemade Pumpkin Chai Latte

It's Monday, about 2:20 in the afternoon and I'm typing away while drinking a homemade Davids Tea Pumpkin Chai latte.  (Yes,  flex mondays are definitely the best days ever.)  I should begin by saying that this post is absolutely non-beauty related (so feel free to skip should you like) but it does have to do with my other obsession: Tea.

I'm an ex-coffee drinker.  I was that person that couldn't function without having a cup of java as soon as I woke up or would shut down mid-afternoon without a little cup of espresso.  I am, though, someone that also suffers from permanent heartburn (yes, I'm on a pill for it) and always found that despite taking my little yellow pill, heartburn would follow as soon as I took my first sip of coffee.  Plus, I was never really fond of tea.  To me, it just didn't have the flavor that a strong cup of coffee did.  This completely changed for me about two months ago.

I discovered Davids Tea while perusing my local mall and I've not had a cup of coffee since that day.  Now, I find it very hard to explain my quick change but know it has something to do with the actual act of steeping some fab loose tea, the cute infusers/steepers/kettles you can purchase and the hundreds of different flavors just waiting to be tasted.  Though I can't pinpoint when my decision happened I can say that tea has not only replaced my coffee affair BUT I feel better, my skin looks fantastic and it gives me such a great reason to have friends over: Tea Parties!!  (Oh, and I don't get heartburn anymore....who knew?)

I had the girls over for a prim and proper tea party on Sunday.  Check out some of these fabulous pictures!

This is my personal Davids Tea stash.  All my tins sit very nicely on the counter top and I surround the beauties with agave, a steeper, my milk frother (and jug), infuser and my two special measuring spoons.  I don't have too much tea right?

All my friends received a special vintage tea cup and their own infuser
as a "thanks for attending" goodie bag

I also created a "sniffing station" where all my guests could smell the teas before steeping

There were 12 teas in total: Snow Bunny, Super Chocolate and Coffee Pu'erh

Jessie's Tea, Forever Nuts and Read My Lips (three of my absolute faves)

The Glow, Buttered Rum and Pumpkin Chai

Three Wishes, Exotica and Apres Ski

Also, no tea party is perfected without some yummy treats

As there were a couple Davids Tea Newbies, tea lists were readily available

My special tea cup with the fantastic Pumpkin Chai steeping away

Eva chose to try Coffee Pu'erh first....Does it not look like a cup of dark coffee?

Margaret busy smelling the Coffee Pu'erh which she absolutely adored

Bronwen sipping Forever Nuts 

Me, posing with the tea lists

On a different note, I was actually sent a special Davids Tea package the other day from Kaley at NKPR Inc.  I'll be completely honest when I say how surprised (and excited) I was to receive it, as well as the email alerting me of such.  Plus, as soon as I opened the box and saw the Sweetheart Collection I was THRILLED.

The collection contains 5 sample size teas in a variety of flavors that bring out the "valentine" in everyone.  The teas are Peppermint Amour, Dr. Chocolate, Honey Bee, Hot Lips (which actually smells like cinnamon hearts) and Love Tea #7.  I can not wait to sit back and drink (tea) with Allan this Valentine's Day.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Davids Tea = Tuesday Tea Time

Aren't you loving my vintage cups and saucers?

Davids Tea = AMAZING.

I discovered this shop (which is directly across the street from me) last weekend and have been having tea fantasies ever since.  Allan took me in on Saturday and I purchased a couple teas to try as well as a tea pincher (see picture here).  We went home promptly and had a tea party, trying out the teas right away.  As soon as I sipped, I was in heaven.  Never have I ever tasted a tea so flavorful and pungent before!!

So the next day, I went to the tea shop again with my pal, Bronwen, and bought a kettle, a steeper and 8 different teas.  We, also, came home and had a tea party.  And THEN, last night Bronwen and I went out for dinner, she surprised me with three more teas and we had another tea party.  Check out our pics from Tuesday tea time!

My kitchen nook is, of course, filled with all the goodies one needs for the perfect tea party: two types of loose tea, agave nectar, milk, a clear steeper and my vintage teapot.  Can't forgot the cute lime green vintage tea cups and saucers...

Up close and personal....everyone, please meet my milk container, hot toboggan (tea), alpine punch (tea) as well as the agave nectar.  (If you aren't too familiar with this it's an all-natural sweetener.)

First tea up was hot toboggan.  It's a blend of green tea, apple, cinnamon and almonds.  It actually tastes like an apple cider but isn't as sweet OR high in sugar.  You can see that the loose tea's been added to the steeper and will float around until the tea has steeped long enough.  To access your tea, you then lift the steeper and place the bottom on a cup and press down.  The tea will automatically be released from the bottom of the steeper without any loose tea floating in your cup.  Brilliant!

All that's left once the tea has been removed is the loose tea.  Sometimes, depending on the tea type, you can even eat what's left over in the bottom....

Yay for piping hot tea on a very cold Vancouver evening.  If you haven't tried Davids Tea before OR have never been introduced to loose teas, GO GO GO NOW.  Not only are they full of flavor, but they are good for you too!  It's a great way to get your water per day and it's not filled with as much caffeine as coffee is.

Check it out ladies!