Well, it’s your lucky day, because I’m here to help you think outside the box a little so that you can find the perfect Christmas gift for everyone.

Think outside and find the perfect Christmas gifts for everyone on your list!
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Christmas time can be stressful enough as it is, the task of finding the perfect gift can feel daunting and overwhelming. But worry not my friend, it doesn’t have to be a stressful process. With a bit of thought and preparation, you can be equipped with the right tools to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, whether they have been naughty or nice.

Growing up, we didn’t celebrate Christmas. I’ve only been celebrating Christmas with my hubby’s family and I have to say, I love it. The cheeriness, the lights, the twinkles, the decorations, the general mood during the holidays is truly magical. But I can also see the more stressful side of Christmas. One of which being the pressure of trying to find the perfect gift for everyone and the cost associated to having to buy gifts for so many people.

But why make it more stressful?! What if I told you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list?

I’m here to teach you the art of giving gifts so that you can find the perfect gift for everyone. There’s a way to give the ‘perfect’ gift, whatever your budget might be. You just have to give yourself a bit of time and use your brainpower to figure it out.

A gift isn’t about the price tag of what you are giving. A gift is more importantly about the meaning and thought put into it. It’s a gesture to show that you thought of the person, about what they like, about who they are and about what makes them happy. Follow along these steps and you will find the perfect gift for everyone on your list!

A gift is not about how much you spent but to show someone that you thought about them
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{ Step 1 | Make your list }

Who will be getting a gift this year? Start by making a list of the people in your life that you would like to buy a Christmas gift for.

Who made it on your 'nice' list this year?
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You can also be creative with the list and include friends and acquaintances that could use a little cheer. For example, I like to give gift cards to the people handing out the newspaper in the subway, or even to our local baker. They ‘take care’ of you throughout the year and you sometimes have daily or weekly interactions with them. I’m all about spreading the joy during the holiday season.

This is something that I’d like to do on a more regular basis because I think it’s important to be mindful about spreading the joy throughout the year and not only during the Christmas, but this discussion is for another time. Let’s get back to Christmas gifts for now!

{ Step 2 | Set your budget }

Giving the perfect gift is not only about the person receiving the gift, but it’s also about sticking to your budget. There should be a balance between finding the perfect gift and making your loved one happy while also not stretching yourself beyond your financial means.

Would your close friend or family want you to be stressed out over money because you maxed out your credit card or put yourself in debt? Doubtful (and if yes, then you should question that relationship…)

The first step in figuring out the perfect gift is to set a budget. Figure out how much you can spend and determine how much will be allotted to each person as a general point of reference. Give yourself a bit of margin to maneuver if possible, but this will just help you in deciding what to buy and what to put back on the shelf.

** Bonus tip – I would encourage to start thinking about your budget ahead of time so that you can putting a bit of money aside. This will help alleviate the financial aspect buying gifts.

And remember that the value of the gift is in the thought and effort behind it, not the price tag.

The value of a gift is in the thought and effort behind it, not the price tag
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{ Step 3 | Think about the person }

When you think of a person on your list, what do they like? Do they have a hobby? What do they do in their free time? Is there something they need right now, like a sweater or new boots? What do they enjoy? Music? Going to a show? Spending time with family? Do they like to bake? What’s their personality type? What makes them happy?

Asking yourself these questions will start getting your creative juices flowing so that you can figure out a gift that will cater to that person.

This step might not be done in one sitting, but at least if you start thinking about it, it will be at the back of your mind and you might get inspired at some point in time!

** Bonus tip: I have a notes saved on my phone where I jot down gift ideas for friends and family throughout the year. If I think of an idea, I’ll write it down so that if ever I need inspiration, I’ll already have a bit of inspiration. I don’t do this only around Christmas time but I try to pay attention when I spend time with them and if something they say or do gives me an idea for a gift, I write it down.

{ Step 4 | Think outside the box }

When you’re thinking of gift ideas, be creative and think outside the box.

If they like books, is there a new book that just came out that they might not know about. Or a fun book subscription you can get. Or if they enjoy reading on the couch, a throw to make them cozy, cozy socks to keep their feet warm, a new mug to enjoy a cup of tea while they read?

Think outside the box – take one or two ‘activities’ that they enjoy and think of related products that could be used related to that.

You can also give a practical gift – maybe someone needs a new sweater or gloves. If you don’t feel comfortable buying a sweater because you don’t know what size or style to get, then get a gift card for their favourite store, and write a card with it to explain your gift! The person will see that 1) You were aware they wanted a new sweater and 2) You know what store they like!

{ Step 5 | Shopping time! }

Once you have your list ready, start shopping. Strategize which stores to go to where you can find a greater selection at a reasonable price (I’m looking at you Marshalls and TJ Maxx). I generally like to start shopping at least 2-3 months before Christmas because it gives me more time to think things through, to find the best price but also the perfect gift.

I would even suggest to start Christmas mid-summer. I know it sounds crazy but think about it, if you see something that you know someone would love, why not get it then and spare yourself the headache later? Not only does it cross off one more person off my gift list, but it also spreads out the expense so that it doesn’t all happen at the same time. My credit card thanks me for it every year.

{ Self-Love Lesson }

Be confident enough to stick to your budget and trust that the thought behind the gift has more value than the gift itself. A thoughtful gift will make someone feel more loved because you took the time to think about them and find a perfect that they would enjoy, regardless of the price tag on it.

And at the end of the day, Christmas is about spending time with loved ones and being grateful for a special time in the year.

The post { How to Find the Perfect Christmas Gift for Everyone } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

Is your head spinning yet? Mine is.

Even though I’m aware that the expectations I have of myself aren’t realistic and can even seem unfair to ask of someone, I’m working on changing that. I know it comes from a deep-rooted belief that I am defined by how much I do rather than who I am as a person. But that’s a whole other story altogether. Let’s stick to the main point of this blogpost for now: how to be more productive.

With the fast-paced lifestyle that we all inevitably live, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with our endless to-do lists and commitments and expectations we have of ourselves. Luckily, I’m also an overly organized person that can’t go through a single day without planning. My constant need to be efficient and not waste time has helped me figure out really effective productivity hacks which has helped me reach some of my goals this year!

Discover the best productivity hacks that will help you reach your goals!
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I take pride in being a very efficient person, but it can sometimes be detrimental because I’ll often over-do it and tire myself out. So when you apply these tips, make sure that you are balancing out being productive with also being mindful of your current state. Sometimes, sitting your ass on the couch and recuperating should be part of your weekly goals and you should consider that as being productive because self-care is an important component of slaying your goals. I know I’m still learning that so this is a reminder for you just as much as it is for me.

So. Do you want to slay your goals and save time? If yes, then continue reading to get my best tips on how to be more productive.

Do you want to slay your goals? These productivity hacks will help you!
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{ Do everything in twos }

Why do a task twice, on two separate occasions, when you can do them in the same moment?

Let me explain.

It will take you less time in the long-run if you do something twice in the same moment, rather than starting from scratch and doing it all over again. Get it?

For example, if you do meal prepping over the weekend, why prepare lunch for one day when you can prepare it for two days. Taking the extra few minutes to cut a few more veggies or pack a second meal will save you time on Monday evening because you won’t have to do same thing over again.

Every evening, I prepare my gym bag for the next day, and I have bag inserts where I put my clean gym clothes in. When I prepare an outfit, I prepare two at the same time. It takes less effort and time to pull two pants, two tops, two pairs of socks etc. rather than doing it every evening.

This might seem minimal, but trust me, in the long run, you will find that you have more mental space during the week to do other things rather than constantly going through the same tasks that could have been done at the same time.

You can use this productivity hack in cooking too – if you’re cooking onions for a recipe, cook double the amount and keep half in the freezer so that next time you need cooked onions for another meal, it’s ready and you’ll save time from having too cut and cook onions again! It’s genius!

So next time you’re doing something, think about whether you can do it in twos so that you can save time that can be dedicated to working towards yours goals instead!

{ Start with the hardest task }

Do you tend to leave the hardest task to the very end and sometimes push it to the next day?

Avoid procrastinating and get it done right away. Starting with the hardest task will increase your productivity because you will feel more accomplished once you’ve completed that annoying task. Your sense of fulfillment will be greater and it will help you gain momentum and be more productive when you tackle the next task on your list.

{ Eliminate distractions }

Next time you sit down to get something done or you’re doing your laundry or cleaning your house, pay attention to how much time you spend checking your phone or stopping and doing something else instead. That’s a lot of wasted time, isn’t it?

When I have a specific goal in mind, I eliminate all forms of distractions and focus at the task at hand. I even give myself a time limit by which I have to finish something so that I’m sure that I’m as efficient as possible.

For example, if I want to have a blogpost ready, including writing the post, preparing the graphics, scheduling it and formatting it, I give myself a time limit by which I want it all to be done. I put my phone on ‘Do not disturb’, I turn music off (unless I’m able to concentrate better with it), I take a quick bathroom break so that I don’t have to get up mid-sentence (because that happens way to often and it ruins my creativity flow. Damn you, small bladder!), I fill up my water bottle and I get into the zone and only focus on the task at hand.

When you limit distractions, you avoid losing valuable time that could be dedicated towards completing your goal. The more focused you are, the better the quality of your work will be and the more productive you will be.

This can also be applied to doing your chores. I often found myself standing in the middle of my living room, broom in one hand and my phone in the other, scrolling through Twitter. I can justify that Twitter or Pinterest are part of my ‘work’ for the blog, but wouldn’t it be better to take 30 minutes of focused attention to broom the living room and then taking 5 minutes to scroll through Twitter rather than brooming half-assed for 10 minutes, scrolling through Twitter for 2 minutes, grooming for 5 minutes, scrolling for 5 minutes… you get my drift.

Eliminate distractions and you will increase your productivity because your attention and focus will be on one goal.

{ Have a plan }

To increase your productivity and slay your goals, you first need to know what your goals are and what your plan is to achieve them. Thus the importance of setting goals to begin with!

I’m talking about concrete goals but I’m also referring to less tangible goals like ‘feeling happy’ or ‘feeling rested’.

On Sundays, I like to take time and organize my week. This way, on Monday mornings, I wake up feeling ready to tackle my week and I know what to expect almost every day. Because I know what my goals are, I organized my week according to what I want to accomplish. With a plan in hand, I know what I need to accomplish on which evening. This way I know that after the gym, I shouldn’t wander around the mall aimlessly but should instead get my butt home so that I have enough time to work on my blog and also have some downtime to relax.

Empowering yourself with a plan will help you be more productive because when you know what your goals are and the strategy to accomplish them, you don’t really have much of an excuse but to stick to the schedule and get it done!

Productivity hack : Stick to the plan and GET IT DONE!
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{ Take small breaks }

You have to be realistic about the expectations you have of yourself and remember that you aren’t the Duracell bunny and you can’t keep on going on and on (and on).

You're not a Duracell bunny - take small breaks and you'll be more productive
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Once you have a realistic and clear plan, make sure to schedule breaks as well. Work on a goal for a certain amount of time, and then your reward can be 5 minutes of social media, or getting up from your desk and talking to your roommate or S.O., or to call a friend for a quick chat.

Scheduling small breaks will increase your productivity because you will be re-fuelling yourself throughout the day which will preserve your energy levels and your focus. That way, you wont be completely brain dead within a couple of hours of starting to work on a task. Instead, you will have focused time where you have been working on something and then you have scheduled time to take a break and be able to get back to your task refreshed.

Productivity hack : Schedule small breaks to refuel your body and mind
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{ Self-Love Lesson }

Being productive is important, especially when you have goals that you want to accomplish. But don’t forget that part of slaying your goals is also taking care of yourself so that you can enjoy the process and avoid burnout and feeling overwhelmed.

What are some of your productivity tips? What are strategies that have helped you slay your goals?

The post { How to be More Productive & Slay your Goals } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

{ The background }

If you saw my September Goals blogpost, then you know I had a birthday dinner last Friday. Leading up to it, I was really nervous for a few reasons. First of all, I wasn’t sleeping all week, and I’m talking about tossing and turning all night, having nightmares, waking up at 3 A.M. and not being able to go back to sleep. Yes, it was a nightmare, literally.

Needless to say, by Friday, I was a zombie. I even moved my gym session to the weekend because I physically couldn’t do it (I rarely change a workout session). On top of that, I have a lot of things that I want to do before our trip to Mexico this weekend which has been overwhelming me a bit (maybe that’s my own fault for having an endless to-do list…what can I say, I’m over-achiever!).

Now the problem is that when I’m tired, my emotional management is less than optimal…to say the least. Ask my hubby – I’ll get upset for the smallest things, to the point where I feel ridiculous. But then I’m too tired to NOT be upset about it. Ugh.

I was also feeling nervous because I get really uncomfortable going to places I’ve never been to because I’m not very good with directions and I get scared about getting lost in a random neighbourhood and my phone dying and not being able to figure out a way back home. Irrational? Maybe. Probably. Okay, it is irrational. Don’t judge.

And it doesn’t stop there. I also get very uncomfortable in social settings, especially where I don’t know anyone there. I’m worried I’m going to say something stupid or that they won’t like me. Irrational? Less than the previous fear. But still a deep-rooted emotional reaction that I have. Thankfully, this has gotten better, but there’s still work to be done. I’m used to having what I like to call a ‘social safety blanket’ with me, whether that’s my sister, hubby, cousin or a close friend. I like to have a wing person so that I don’t end up being alone, feeling super awkward.

So combine the exhaustion, my endless to-do list that is cluttering my mind, and the social anxiety, I was on edge. But I still really wanted to go. Why? Because my friend (I’ll refer to her as ‘P’) means a lot to me. We work together and have become very close friends. Our days are mostly filled with laughter, singing random songs (and coming up with a choreography) but also sharing our thoughts and emotions about anything and everything. We support and help each other in whatever might be going on in our lives and it has been an incredible source of comfort and joy.

So, I got dressed, did my makeup, and braved the world. Sounds dramatic? I know. Just go with it.

{ What happened that evening }

I arrived at the restaurant 1 minute early and was the first one to be seated. Thank goodness for social media that kept me entertained until P got there and then the rest of the girls arrived. I was excited to finally meet all of them since P had told me so much about them, but I was also nervous – what if they don’t like me?! I joked with P that it’s like I’m her boyfriend and I’m nervous to meet her friends. HA!

In the end, I had an AMAZING evening. We laughed, talked, ate amazing food and stayed at the restaurant for over 3 hours. Most importantly, P was very happy and she had a great time. And now we’re getting to the crux of this blogpost – the meaning of true love in a friendship.

P and I are very similar in a lot of ways. She feels like a little sister to me and some of our struggles are the same so there is a deep understanding of each other. I can credit our strong friendship to mutual respect and understanding of each other’s strengths, weaknesses and values. This became even more apparent to me that evening. Even though it was HER birthday dinner, she sat beside me to make sure I felt comfortable, the whole evening she kept on checking up on me to make sure that I was okay and was having a nice time. She introduced me to each of her friends so I didn’t feel uncomfortable. She included me in conversations and gave me background information if I didn’t know what or who they were talking about.

Surround yourself with friends that respect and understand you
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Not only was P aware of my insecurities and feelings of anxiety leading up to the dinner and did everything she could to make me feel comfortable, her FRIENDS did the same thing. They were welcoming and sweet with me, made me feel included in the group, asked me questions to get to know me and were just absolutely lovely.

But I think what stood out the most was this: I don’t drink alcohol and P knows this. I had ordered a virgin mojito before the group arrived and she joked that the group didn’t need to know that it was a non-alcoholic drink, just in case I felt uncomfortable that I would be the only one not drinking (for the record, even though it’s a personal decision not to drink, it can be hard to be the only one not drinking and I used to have a harder time with it. I still struggle with this at times, but it has gotten easier with time). Needless to say, P was aware of that insecurity and she was considerate of my feelings.

True friends will not judge your insecurities
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It eventually came up that I don’t drink and I didn’t hide it from the girls. They simply asked me questions to understand why, and I explained it to them briefly.

{ The meaning of true love in a friendship }

And now we get to the good part. One of the girls knew the waiter working at the restaurant and he brought a few rounds of shots for the table. But then as he gave me a shot glass, I politely declined, but he insisted that I took and explained: “It’s non-alcoholic!”. One of the girls had told the waiter that I don’t drink, so they made me a non-alcoholic shot (which was freshly juiced ginger, sweetened a little, with some cayenne! YUM!).

Words aren’t enough to explain how touched I was. For P’s friend to be that considerate of me… I mean .. I’m still speechless. Some of you might not understand why it’s such a big deal but imagine that you are always the odd one out. Yes, it’s my choice not to drink, but it’s still tough to be the only one not participating in something social. The fact that P’s friend was considerate and thoughtful enough to make sure that I felt included made me feel SO loved and welcomed, it’s hard to put it in words.

This gives you a small glimpse into the friendship that I have with P and a few other of my close friends: even though we are not the same, there is a respect of each other’s values and needs and choices and decisions. There is no judgment and no peer pressure in making me feel like I need to change who I am or the decisions that I make. There is simple acceptance and love for who I am. To me, that is the true meaning of love in a friendship: accepting one another, without judgment or expectations.

The meaning of true love in friendship is accepting one another, without judgment or expectations
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Thank you, P (and to my other close friends – I hope you know who you are!) and the lovely ladies for an amazing evening but also for making me realize an important life lesson of the true meaning of friendship.

Think about a few of your closest friends – What makes it a close relationship? Share your thoughts in the section below!

The post { The Meaning of True Love in a Friendship } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

In fact, during our first year of marriage, I put a LOT of expectations on myself and the first few months, I was getting stressed out because I couldn’t keep up. What’s crazy is that I didn’t realize how much I have been influenced by society and what I’ve seen and heard growing up about what it means to be someone’s wife (oh gosh, I still get butterflies saying that! I’m someone WIFE! HA! Lil’ ol’ me? I still feel like a kid sometimes, let alone someones wife! Poor him hahaha).

We all have preconceived notions about marriage based on societal expectations & upbringing
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It’s been a process deconstructing the expectations I had about being wife and the reality of life as newlyweds. I like reality better because it’s less stressful and less pressure, but there are some things that I am still working on improving (i.e. cooking more often). So here are my dirty little secrets, a glimpse into our life as newlyweds, my expectations of what it would be like and what my role as a wife should be, and what reality has been. I’m sure hubby would have a different perspective on this, so maybe I can convince him to do an updated blogpost in the near future of what he thinks of all this! Stay tuned!

{ Expectation : Wearing cute loungewear all the time }

Reality: I still wear ghetto clothes around the house because there are times where I just don’t feel like looking cute or being sexy. I just don’t. I might feel bloated or have my period and I just want to hide under as many layers of clothes as possible and I don’t want anyone to look at me. Anyone with me? Or am I crazy? (Don’t answer that last question).

Although I appreciate the fact that it’s nice to invest in comfortable and cute loungewear, I’m also mindful about not spending a stupid amount of money. So I’m slowly replacing my old ghetto clothes with new cuter, sometimes sexy but mainly comfy loungewear so that I can avoid funny glances from my hubby and questions like “What’s that stain?” Or “WHERE did you get that??” (Answer: I don’t remember because it’s been so long).

{ Expectation : Having a home cooked meal every night }

Reality: Oh to be young and naive. Who was I kidding? Do I LOOK like Martha Stewart? (Please say no). I have to admit that part of me wishes this would be possible and I’m still working towards cooking more often because I love taking care of my hubby that way. But I needed a serious reality check. After work, I go straight to the gym, so by the time I get home, it’s close to 7 PM. I still have to shower, get my stuff ready for the next day, pack my lunch (thank God for meal prepping during the weekend), work on the blog, have some downtime AND spend time with the hubby…all of that and I try to get to bed at 11 PM. Realistic? Not really. But at the beginning, I would try really hard to cook often and let me tell ya, I got stressed out and tired VERY quickly.

I had to be realistic with myself. With the health and fitness goals I have, with the blog and with other life stuff that happen, I can’t expect myself to be able to do everything without running myself to the ground (which I have!). So what did I do? I get my parents to help cook some nice meals that I keep in the freezer (I know, I’m spoiled). I also try to cook on the weekend when I have time and I’ve been resorting to quick dinners like breakfast tacos (taco, eggs, avocado.. SO easy and SO delicious). And it’s okay. It doesn’t make me less lovable as a wife (which might sound crazy to you but that’s literally the emotional reaction I had…) and it doesn’t make me less of a successful person and wife. It just means that I have a lot of ambitious goals and some things need to be sacrificed. And IT’S OKAY! (I’m repeating that for my own sake, not yours, because I still need the reminder).

{ Expectation : Going out often and socialize a lot more as a couple }

Reality: I’m a couch potato. Ok, not really. Only sometimes. After busy weeks where I feel like a headless chicken, I mainly want to spend my weekends on the couch or working on my blog. My hubby is also doing his M.B.A while working and running his own business. We. Are. BUSY. So we haven’t been socializing as often as we would like and when we do have time, we like to travel or spend time with family. Although I wish we were able to see our friends more often, I think it’s a reality of life, and both of us are quite ambitious in what we want to accomplish so some things have to be sacrificed.

The reality of life is that you can't do everything - set your goals & your priorities
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Like with cooking, I’m working towards finding a better work-life balance so that I’m able to see my friends more often, but it’s also complicated when your friends have their own lives and schedules that don’t always work with mine. It is what it is and true friendships will sustain the test of time!

{ Expectation : That we would merge everything quickly & easily }

(Ok, is anyone else thinking of the Friends episode where Chandler moves in with Monica and wants to get a road side that says “MERGE” to hang above their bed? No one? Ok never mind then.)

Reality: I thought that when I moved in, we would seamlessly merge our kitchenware, electronics, even finances. Nope. Not even close. The stupid thing is that logically, it’s going to be more complicated because before moving into my hubby’s condo, I lived on my own for 5 years, therefore there’s going to be TWO of everything. The transition wasn’t as quick as I had hoped and to this day, there are drawers in the kitchen that annoy me because they are overflowing with stuff that we just don’t know how to sort through. But oh well, it is what it is!

I had this image of marriage where everything is shared (what’s mine is mine, what’s his is mine, amiright?). However, it hasn’t been as easy as that and even a year later, there are still things that we haven’t fully merged. I have my little pile of electronics that I keep in the office even though I feel like everything should be in one place so if you’re looking for something, you know where to look. Then again, all MY stuff that I use all the time ARE in one place so why am I complaining? I don’t know. Stop judging me.

What’s mine is mine, what’s his is mine, amiright? #ThoughtsonMarriage
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What’s the takeaway? That marriage isn’t what you expect it to be but at the end of the day, these things don’t really matter. What matters is the quality of your relationship and how happy you are together! The rest shouldn’t be important (like that drawer of kitchenware….).

If you’re a newlywed or married, what are some things that you didn’t expect? And if you’re not married, what are some ideas that you have about marriage? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

The post { The Secrets of Life as Newlyweds : Expectations vs. Reality } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

Some of you might be thinking that one year isn’t a long time to be sharing lessons. And to some extent, I agree. But at the same time, I’m the type of person that spends a lot of time reflecting on my actions, behaviours, what works and doesn’t work, what I can work on and what are my strengths that I can continue developing, all so that I can constantly improve as an individual, and now as someone’s wife. I want to to be the best version of me, not only for my own sake, but also for the sake of my marriage! What’s interesting is that some of these lessons are relevant to those of you not married yet or who aren’t even in a relationship, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on what YOU think contributes to a healthy relationship (romantic or not).

Invest in your personal growth: take time to reflect on your progress
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Let’s get to it then! Today, we are celebrating my one year wedding anniversary. If I could relive the day every year, I totally would. It was one of my most memorable days of my life. I’m still in awe and SO grateful that I was able to marry such a wonderful person and I feel so blessed to have him by my side for the rest of my life. Our path to marriage hasn’t been easy (I might share that story with you one day) and now that we’re married, I think it’s important to appreciate our marriage and constantly reflect on the progress that we’ve made to make sure that we continue improving and growing.

After one year of marriage, I can definitely say that it isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it, especially when you’re with the right person. Everyone always told me that marriage is hard work and although I could conceptually understood why, I never truly understood it until we got married (maybe I’ll do a separate blogpost about it if you’re interested about the topic of marriage. I would have liked to have prepared myself a bit more on the transition to married life so if any of you are interested, I can write about that topic. Let me know in the comment section below!).

Marriage isn't always easy, but it's ALWAYS worth it
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I know that one year of marriage isn’t a lot. But what’s really nice is that some of the habits and dynamics that we had in our relationship while dating have only been reinforced in our marriage. So I think they’re important for anyone in a serious relationship to remember to foster these aspects so that you can build a strong foundation for marriage or a lasting relationship (if you don’t want to get married). So here you are, 4 important lessons I learned after one year of marriage!

{ Communication is key }

This needs to be hammered in everyone’s heads because communication is not only important in friendships and family relationships, but even more so in a marriage. You need to communicate about ev.ery.thing. And I mean everything. Talk about expectations for chores, cooking, sleeping habits, how to organize the fridge, pantry, kitchen, linen closet, how you want to spend your money, what your finances will look like, how household expenses will be shared, your needs, your emotions, your reactions, why something upset you… and the list goes on and on…and on. You can’t assume that your partner knows what you’re thinking or feeling so you have to learn how to express that in an effective and clear way.

It’s about what you’re communicating but also HOW you’re communicating. I strongly believe that it’s better not to talk when you’re upset or angry, but if you must talk about it in the moment, make sure to try and take a few deep breaths and calm yourself as best you can. Talking with each other in a polite tone and staying respectful is the first step in keeping the lines of communication open. If you start insulting the other person or raising your voice, your partner is less likely to be open to hearing what you have to say. And the same way that you expect to be heard, you also have to be present and listen to what your partner has to say and put your ego aside to recognize when you’re wrong and to apologize if necessary.

These are all the foundations of effective and constructive communication to create strong bridges between the two of you because you want to create trust, honesty, respect and openness. You want your partner to trust that if they have something on their mind, they can come to you and talk to you about it and you won’t bite their heads off. If you create an environment where you can’t talk to each other, things will go south very quickly because you will start holding things back from each other instead of sharing and talking things through.

Create a safe environment built on trust, honesty, respect and openness
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{ Appreciate the little things }

Life is so short and you never know when it’s your last day. I don’t want to get too dark on you but it’s so important to remember that. Don’t take anything for granted and appreciate the little things. Appreciate being able to come home to your partner, for their acts of kindness like emptying the dishwasher or doing the laundry even though that’s something you usually do. Vocalize that you appreciate them so that they know that you noticed it. Take the moment to appreciate being able to wake up beside them. Take in the small moments of cuddling in bed or cuddling on the couch watching a movie on a Friday night instead of going out. These intimate moments are just between you and your partner and it’s important to internalize them and appreciate them.

Life is too short, appreciate the little things
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I believe that by appreciating the little things (which I actually don’t think are ‘little’ by any means because they are so precious and special), you’re also growing your love and bond with each other because you are reinforcing the ‘day-to-day’ things that actually contribute to your connection and life together. Life is about the day-to-day. It isn’t always about the grand romantic gestures. To me, my hubby knowing that me well enough to do things around the house when I don’t have the physical or emotional energy are the things that I appreciate the most and remind me that he loves me and is there for me. So do the same for your partner, and tell them how much you appreciate what they did for you, because a sincere thank you, a hug and a kiss go a long way.

{ Prioritize your marriage }

I believe that marriage is not only two people coming together and committing themselves to a life together, but it’s also about two families creating a new bigger family! However, especially in the first year of marriage (and maybe even in the first couple of years), I think it’s important to prioritize your marriage. You are still adjusting to a new life together and are creating habits and adjusting to a new lifestyle, so it’s going to be uncomfortable at times. The priority is each other and your new family unit. Once that family unit is strong, you will be able to manage everything else a lot more easily. If your marriage is a safe haven from the world, then you will be able to retreat to it no matter what happens and you will be stronger individuals because of it. Prioritize each other and put your marriage first when you are making decisions to ensure that it is contributing to the well-being of your relationship.

{ Keep on taking care of each other }

After you get married, you have to work even harder on your relationship. Marriage is the beginning of your life together, don’t you want to make it as amazing as possible? That’s why you have to continue treating each other the way you would if you were dating and trying to impress the other person: surprise each other with little notes around the house, cook for your partner their favourite dish and leave it in the fridge, prepare their lunch, do the laundry and put it away, tidy up the house, make the bed, pick up their favourite drink or snack if you’re at the grocery store. Know what makes your partner happy and DO IT. There are so many little things you can do it for each other and it’s important to continue doing it so that your partner feels taken care of and that they know that you are thinking of them and want to make them happy.

It doesn’t have to be extravagant, but knowing your partner and fulfilling their needs is one of the most basic ways that you can show your love. Continue doing things for each other and finding new ways of surprising each other so that you can constantly remind your partner through your actions that you are thinking of them and that you love them!

Now I want to hear from YOU! What’s one thing that you think is important to create a strong relationship?  

The post { 4 Important Lessons After One Year Of Marriage } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

I wanted to share a L.A. Edition of this ‘Life Lately’ series because I enjoy looking through travel blogposts so that I can daydream a little and step outside of my bubble. Part of me gets envious when I see other people traveling all the time, but my intention is to inspire you to start thinking and PLANNING for your next trip! Traveling is such an important part of life and personal growth and I really encourage everyone to travel as much as possible. So hopefully this blogposts offers a bit of a distraction during your day, but also inspires you to get excited and make your next trip happen.

{ Day 1 }

We went into this trip with a general idea of a few things we wanted to do, but without a detailed schedule so that we could really enjoy our time there without having to rush. And that was a great decision because we felt relaxed and enjoyed every moment of it. When we arrived, we jumped right into it and headed to Chipotle for lunch because duh, a little bit of shopping at the Beverly Centre, and then went to the Persian Square so that I could check out a few Persian stores and boutiques. We got the most delicious jasmine ice cream. My hubby doesn’t have a big sweet tooth and even HE loved it!! We then went to Santa Monica to wander around the streets. I loved the laid back and chill energy. I think being in close proximity to the water has that effect on people. It was nice relaxing evening strolling, watching the sunset on the peer and grabbing dinner. The perfect start to our trip!

{ Santa Monica pier }

{ Day 2 }

On Saturday, we headed to Universal Studios in Hollywood. It was SO. Much. FUN! It’s not our first time going but I’m still in awe at how realistic everything looks! I also overcame a serious fear of zombies and did the walking tour of the Walking Dead where you’re walking through a building like you’re in the tv show with zombies popping out of small places and hiding around the corner. Not my cup of a tea but hubby tags along to a lot of things with me so I wanted to be a good sport. He had to deal with the subsequent tears. Even though I was hiding behind my hubby the whole time and my eyes were mostly closed, I’m still proud of myself because that’s one thing that really scares the sh*t out of me.

{ I was starstruck – I MET A MINION! Don’t tell my hubby that I snuck in a kiss haha }

My favourite part (after the minions) had to be The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Oh yes, I’m one of those people. I grew up reading Harry Potter and I watch the movies over and over again, especially during Christmas time. So being able to walk around and feel like you’re IN the book is really magical (pun intended). They did an incredible job. For those of you who are HP fans, they even had an audio of Moaning Myrtle in the bathrooms. I mean, COME ON!! I sent a Snapchat to my sister because I thought it was so hilarious. We strolled around at Universal Walkway and then headed to dinner.

{ My typical travel shot because I’m so darn happy }

{ Just for the record, I won the staring contest }

{ One of my favourite views ! }

{ The storefronts inside Harry Potter World are so intricate and captivating }

L.A. has the biggest community of Persians outside of Iran (if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m Persian). So we thought, what better place to try Persian food? We did a quick research on Yelp and went to Darya and had one of the best meals of the trip. My grandmother and mom are both amazing cooks so I’ve been spoiled, but it’s still fun to try dishes in a restaurant and make my hubby taste things that I haven’t had a chance to make him for yet. It felt like my grandmother was in the kitchen cooking for us. I would really recommend this restaurant if you want to try something different or authentic Persian cuisine!

{ Part of our dinner at Darya restaurant: saffron rice, cherry rice (don’t judge before you taste it – it’s the best sh*t EVER) with chicken skewer and beef kabab }

{ Day 3 }

The next day, we were on the hunt for a fun record shop. Beside the second store we checked out, there was a farmer’s market and I enjoyed it so much (you know you’re adult when a farmer’s market excites you….). At one booth, there were a dozen varieties of peaches and we ended buying a white peach each and oh goodness, it was delish. I love stumbling on unplanned events like that, it makes the trip all that more exciting to not know what you will find next!

{ This was just one third of the peaches in the booth! }

We then went to Venice Beach to enjoy the sites and walk around. Although I really enjoy Venice Beach, it’s a bit too crowded for my taste, but I love being close to the water and being in the sun, so no complaints here! Next stop was Beverly Hills where I got my Amorino (lime basil gelato say whattttt?!) but then there was also a Sprinkles ATM two doors down……….so I just had to get one….. we’re on vacation! The calories don’t count….riiiiight??

{ Amorino is a must whenever I travel because we don’t have any in Canada. I always get the hazelnut chocolate flavour! This time I also got the coffee which was quite good, and the lime basil – AMAZING! }

{ I chose the flavour of the cupcake based on which one would look the nicest for an Instagram picture haha Don’t judge me }

{ Gus’s World Famous Chicken – worth every calorie! Hubby got Mac and cheese, I got fries (not pictured) }

For dinner, we had Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. My hubby and I rarely have fried food let alone fried chicken, but he swears by this stuff whenever he goes to SXSW in Austin, TX. Let me say, it was worth every calorie. And you have to get the sweet tea, it helps wash everything down.

Finally, we went over to the Troubadour, which was the main purpose of our trip – to see DJ Quik! This was one of hubby’s bucket list items and it’s so special to be able to share that experience with him and be there as he’s crossing off something from his list. I almost felt emotional! It was a really fun show – laid back and chill, just how I like it!

This was a really memorable trip. The past few months have been a bit challenging on a personal level and it’s sweet that I have a hubby who’s always thinking of ways to take care of me so that I can have fun and be happy. This trip definitely helped. I still have a lot on my list of things to do, see and eat in L.A. but it’s okay, we’re hoping to be able to move there in the next couple of years!

Have you ever been to L.A.? What are some of your favourite spots? I’m always on the lookout for recommendations to add to my list so make sure to share in the comment section below!

The post { Life Lately | L.A. Edition } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

I didn’t realize until I grew up that traveling is a luxury. I was lucky enough to travel a lot growing up, and even now, I’m so grateful that I get to travel as often as I do. I also didn’t realize that some people don’t even like traveling because they prefer staying in their comfort zone. And that’s okay. But I’m here to convince you to do everything you can to travel. Even if it’s a road trips to explore neighbouring cities and states, traveling is one the best gifts you can give yourself. So here are 5 benefits why traveling and the reasons why you should travel as much as you can:

{ Exploring & discovering new places }

This is an obvious one but I couldn’t exclude it from the list. When you travel, even though you might have an itinerary of things you want to do and place you want to see, you will inevitably stumble upon unplanned places. When we were in Paris a year and a half ago, little did we know that there was a HUGE Christmas market happening all along the Champs-Elysees. It was completely unexpected and one of the highlights of the trip. A couple of weeks ago while in LA, we stumbled upon a farmer’s market while looking for a particular record shop and had the most amazing white peach ever. When you travel, you never know what you will end up seeing or experiencing, and that’s part of the magic and fun. Even walking down a street, you will discover new places that you can’t necessarily find online or see in documentaries.

{ Experiencing a new culture }

Another obvious benefit of traveling is that you learn about new social and cultural traditions that you might not learn in books. Experiencing a culture is very complex. It includes how people interact with each other, the energy of a city, nuances in the cooking, different lifestyles. For example, when we went to Portugal, we ate dinner at 7:30 PM, but restaurants were almost deserted. It was only at 9 PM that restaurants and terraces were PACKED with people. Because it gets cool after sundown, most restaurants had a basket of blankets for their patrons, so you could cozy up on a terrace, enjoy the atmosphere and not get cold! It’s fun to discover new ways of living.

{ You learn about yourself }

As much as you can plan ahead, there are inevitably going to be unexpected changes while you travel. You are also most likely going to tired, especially if there’s a long trip involved or there’s a time difference. Your true character is going to come out when you are sleep deprived and potentially haven’t had access to proper food, a shower or a comfortable bed to sleep in. When you are thrown in an usual situation where you can’t communicate with your surroundings and you need help, or if you’re in a completely unfamiliar environment where even the scent of the air is different, your true nature comes out. You find out that you resilient (or not), resourceful, intuitive, patient (or not) etc. You learn so much about yourself. This is why they say that one of the best tests to a relationship is to travel together. Because when you travel, as magical as it is, you might also find yourself in the most uncomfortable and difficult situation of your life and then you find out who you truly are and how you react or handle something hard. Do you cope well under pressure? Are you able to stay level headed to find a solution to a problem? Are you able to communicate non-verbally? Are you able to stay in the present moment and take in subtleties of your environment? Are you able to enjoy different foods? Are you able to let go of your schedule and go with the flow? All these aspects of your character or personality will come out, trust me.

{ It puts your life in perspective }

Whenever you travel, it physically takes you out of you bubble and routine. You are constantly reminded that your little world is but a fragment of the world that we live in. There are millions of other people, families, companies, restaurants, lives that are living and happening while you are engrossed in your own life back at home. Travel bring me back to reality to recognize that my problems maybe aren’t as bad as I made them out to be. Maybe my little world isn’t as challenging as I thought it was. You realize how minuscule you are in comparison to the planet that we live on. When you are flying above the clouds and those houses and shopping malls appear as little ants thousands of feet below you, you can’t help but realize how small you actually are and it puts your life and problems in perspective.

{ Change of routine }

We all get caught up in our day-to-day routine: get up, eat, commute, work, coffee break, lunch break, gym, commute home, cook dinner, wash dishes, prepare bag for next day, brush teeth, go to sleep. Repeat. It is a relief to change the pace and do something completely different. To wake up and do something different every day while you are on vacation. To get up every morning and be unsure of what to expect that day. The change of routine is necessary to have time away from reality and life and be able to enjoy a different pace and activities. You begin to remember what it’s like to have a leisurely meal rather than sitting at your desk at work or sitting in front of the TV at home. Instead, you are sitting in a new environment, surrounded by a different culture and different people, experiencing a meal that you might not have the chance to have back in your home city, seeing new sites and taking in new experiences. The change of routine is rejuvenating, a breath of fresh air and injects new energy back into your heart.

I urge you to travel as much as as you can!! I know that traveling frequently might not be accessible to everyone all the time, but there are many ways to travel on a budget. Especially lately, I find that traveling has become a priority for me, which makes me re-think how I’m choosing to spend my money. Whatever you do and however you do it, traveling is traveling, and it is one of the best things you can give yourself, and it’s definitely a gift that I’m going to be giving myself a lot more in the near future!

What’s your favourite thing about traveling? What’s the next place you’d like to visit? I’d like for our next big trip to be somewhere in Europe. There are so many places that I want to see!

The post { 5 Benefits of Traveling } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

Now that I have a 6-months of Bullet Journaling under my belt, I wanted to share my top 6 tips for beginners. These are the tips that I wish I knew when I first started and I hope it helps you! Some of the advice that I shared in my first blogpost are still relevant so I would encourage you to check out that blogpost as well, but here is an updated version with tried-and-true advice that will help you make the most of your Bullet Journal.

{ Get a good notebook }

I initially had a lined notebook which after a while, drove me crazy. The pages were too narrow and the lines got in the way of drawing tables and the calligraphy. I decided to bite the bullet and buy a typical bullet journal (the medium Leuchtturm1917) and I don’t regret it at all. Not only is the paper good quality so that there is no bleeding, the dots are light enough that aren’t too obvious unless you look really closely. I also like the other features of the notebook, like the first few pages are for the index, and the pages are numbered, so I don’t have to write them by hand myself. If you don’t want to spend the money, then I would at the very least looking for a dotted notebook. There are loads of options online.

{ In case you didn’t know, this is what a dotted journal looks like }

{ The pages are numbered which makes the set-up of your Bullet Journal so much easier }

{ Invest in good pens }

This makes a world of difference. You want the right pens to write, but also options for when you are writing lists and decorating your bullet journal. My favourites for to write and doodle are the Micro Fibron because there are different nibs. The smaller ones are perfect for writing out lists and drawing things like flowers, while the thicker nibs are great for faux calligraphy and drawing tables.   For coloured pens, I’ve only tried the Paper Mate Flair in size medium and I love them. They don’t bleed through and there’s a good range of colours which I found important. I want to try different coloured pens so if you have any recommendations, please let me know!

{ The PaperMate Flair in size medium are great for adding colour to your Bullet Journal }

{ The best pens to write and doodle }

{ Get inspired first }

Before I start a spread, I go online and get inspired so that I can plan what I want to do on the page before starting. Theres nothing more annoying than finding out that you forgot a column in a table or don’t have enough space to write everything on one line for example. Pinterest and Instagram are amazing for this. I usually spend a couple of minutes browsing through to get my inspiration and I make sure to save things that catch my eye when I’m browsing.

{ Use the index to keep your journal organized }

The index is one of foundational things of a bullet journal and I would highly encourage you to keep it up to date. This will help you stay organized and see what you already have in your journal. Since you will most likely be re-doing some pages like your weekly spread, I would suggest putting the number at the end of the line so that you can add future page numbers as they come, otherwise, you ran out of space if you write the number before.

{ The Leuchtturm1917 notebook has a few pages for the index }

{ Don’t worry about making it perfect }

As a perfectionist, this is a hard one, but I would end up spending half an hour planning what I want to do instead of actually doing it. Practice makes it perfect and at some point, you just have to take the plunge and just try out an idea and you can improve it later. Don’t worry about making a ‘mistake’ because at the end of the day, your journal is just for yourself anyway so just have fun with it and don’t worry if it’s not ‘perfect’!

{ Make it your own }

Although I love getting inspired online, don’t forget about making it your own. The beauty of a bullet journal is that it’s customizable, you can be as elaborate or as minimalist as you wish.. Think about your needs and what you will realistically use your bullet journal for. For example, you can do monthly spreads where you get a glimpse of the month ahead, or a weekly spread. I still have an agenda that I use so I don’t do weekly or monthly spreads because that’s what I have my agenda for. In the future, I’m considering of putting everything in my bullet journal, but that might come in the future so that I still make use of the agenda that I spent money on. So make sure that you are realistic with your needs and play around with the different ideas that you see online.

Do you have a bullet journal? What are some tips that you can share with everyone? 

The post { 6 Tips for Bullet Journal Beginners } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

{ Most memorable moment of the month }

There are so many memorable moments that it’s hard to decide! I think that one of the main highlights was going to Boston with my hubby because we really needed a weekend just the two of us. We are both so busy that alone time is so precious, so being able to spend a few consecutive days together is really special. We have an on-going joke that spending so much time together is heaven for me but for him it’s hell (at least I hope it’s a joke…………).

{ Favourite thing I ate }

As you will see from the pictures, I’m a big foodie and we had so much amazing food in Boston. We went to Mario Batali’s restaurant, Babbo’s Pizzeria, which was really delicious. I also couldn’t help stopping at Amorino for gelato because I make a point of going anytime we travel. I’ve been to one in Boston, NYC, Paris, London and Lisbon. If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m a big foodie and luckily, so is my hubby! We also got to enjoy amazing lobster rolls after doing a ghost tour which was SO much fun! And of course, we went to By Chloe to enjoy a delicious vegan breakfast. We also did a pit-stop at Trader Joe’s to pick up a few goodies.

{ One thing I learned }

I need to practice what I preach and start putting myself first and taking care of myself better because it keeps catching up to me and let me tell ya, it ain’t pretty. I keep on putting my emotions, feelings and needs aside so I need to first learn how to express them, which means recognizing that my emotions and needs are valid, and then be able to be okay with someone else taking care of me. I’m lucky to have an incredibly patient hubby that knows me well enough to be able to help me in this process, but I want to develop this ability.

{ Health & Fitness progress } 

This has been a particularly exciting month because my trainer gave me a new program which I feel is kicking my ass but I’m also motivated to go to the gym and conquer it. I’ve been able to bench press 60 lbs which is CRAZY for someone who never had a strong upper body. I’m also getting stronger with my chin-ups which is exciting because I’m sure I’ll be able to reach one of my fitness goals for this year to do 5 unassisted chin-ups (I’m still doing with an elastic holding me up but I can tell that I’m getting stronger!). I also ran my first 5K marathon this past Sunday which is SO crazy for me because I’ve never been big on running so I’m SO proud that I was able to do it within my objective (with 6 seconds to spare haha).

{ What I’m looking forward to next month }

My hubby surprised me with a trip to LA in two weeks which I’m SO excited about! And we are planning on going to Spain in mid-July (which we need to plan…oops). I love traveling so much so I can’t wait to be able to explore and discover new places! Let me know if you any recommendations for LA or Spain!!

I’m also SO excited about the content of the blog so I can’t wait for you guys to see what I’m thinking about! I’ve been working on refining the brand and direction of the blog so I’m going to be improving the blog as time progresses. I’d love to hear some feedback from you guys if you’re enjoying the topics and content!

How has your month been so far? What are some goals you have accomplished this month? What are you looking forward to in July? Share away! I love hearing from you!

{ If you get a chance, go to Amorino for some gelato! It’s a bit pricey but worth every lick!! }

{ Although it was cloudy most of the weekend, we were able to enjoy a bit of sunshine at the cottage. I love being surrounded by nature and fresh air }

{ This was at Mario Batalli’s restaurant in Boston and it’s so delicious! We shared a pizza and a pasta dish }

{ I wish we had By Chloe closer to us – one of my favourite vegan restaurants. The Mac and cheese is AMAZING! You can’t even tell it’s vegan! }

{ After a long day and a particularly emotional visit with my grandfather who’s been at the hospital this week, my hubby made sure that we had a nice evening and took me out for dinner and ice cream. It was my first time having a poke bowl and it’s SO delicious and refreshing! I’ll definitely be having a lot of these this summer }

{ All smiles after running my first 5K marathon! I still can’t believe that I did it and that I’ve become someone that enjoys running haha }

The post { Life Lately | June } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

As someone who owns WAY too much makeup, I can tell you that the paradox of choice is REAL. I find myself reaching for the same products over and over again until I remember that I have a whole bunch of other products waiting to be loved. Do I really need all this makeup? No, not really. Do I enjoy it? Most of the time! What am I going to do about it? I’m going to de-clutter soon and then be very specific about what I buy from now on!

To avoid YOU from having the same issue of owning too much makeup and ultimately spending too much money, I wanted to share with you my favourite makeup palettes that I always reach for. I love having all-in-one palettes, whether it’s for the face or eyeshadows that has a good combination of colours. If you splurge on one palette, you can guarantee that you’ll get your money’s worth.

{ Hourglass }

This ambient lighting face palette lives up to its expectation for giving you a glow from within look. Their setting powder and under-eye setting powder are my favourite because they look natural while also brightening things up. The blushes are also beautiful and very easily blendable. I love that you have a combination of setting powder, blush and bronzer in one palette, all to create the perfect natural face! This one is always in my drawer because I love it so much. Keep an eye out for them because they’re limited edition but really worth buying!

{ NARS }

This is the second Nars limited edition face palette that I own and I have to say, they’re worth every penny. Not only is the product really good quality but you have your contouring and bronzing colours, and a good variety of blushes. You can’t really go wrong with this one! This is another limited edition that you’ll have to keep an eye out for but it will last a long time.

{ Lorac Pro Palette }

The first Lorac Pro Palette is Hands down my favourite eyeshadow palette. In fact, I try to minimize using it so that I don’t finish (Lorac isn’t easily accessible in Canada). There are 3 versions and alternatives like the unzipped palette that has more metallic shades, but the first one is my favourite palette because of the warmer shades but I love all Lorac eyeshadow palettes so pick one up the next time you get a chance!

{ Charlotte Tillbury }

This palette one is a special one for me because I also have good memories from when I bought it. My hubby and I went to Vancouver, B.C. for the weekend for one of my closest friends’ wedding. CT is another brand that I don’t have easily access to (I love going and browsing the counter rather than shopping online) so when I get the chance, I make sure to go to Nordstrom to browse. I got my makeup done that time and loved all the products she used, particularly this eyeshadow palette. It’s SO easy to use and you can do so many looks with it. It also helps taking a day look into a nighttime look because of the colours in the palette.

There you have it! My favourite face and eyeshadow palettes that are always in my every-day-used makeup drawer. I am constantly reaching for them and love them!

What are some of your favourite face and eyeshadow palettes? Do you have any of the ones I mentioned? I love hearing from you! 

The post { The Best Face and Eyeshadow Palettes } appeared first on Elle is for Love.