Celebration | Happy Birthday/5 Year Anniversary to #BlogbySand!

I am beyond thrilled to celebrate the Blog's birthday/anniversary! Happy 5 Years!!!

I intentionally started the blog in January so that it always tied to the start of the new year! My first post was dated January 2nd, 2011. I started this blog 5 years ago, yet the idea to start the blog was with me for many years prior to the actual start date. In that time frame, I was trying to gain the courage to start and share my words/images/opinions and ideas. With anything new, you fear the unknown and you want to ensure you are giving it your all! Once I was confident and ready, I started the blog, and I haven't looked back.

In the last 5 Years, I have shared countless Makeup Hauls, Product Reviews, Makeup Looks as well as my love of Books and Cooking. I started this blog as a way to connect with people who shared the same interests as me and a way to share my own personal thoughts. There have been a few personal posts which I also debated sharing but found a lot of support and love when I did.

So without further ado, in the name of walking down memory lane, I wanted to share some of my fave images/posts from the last 5 years, so here goes:

1. Favourite Makeup Look: Holiday Nights

2. Favourite Product: Maybelline Master Drama Eye Studio Cream Pencil

3. Favourite Photo: Posted on Instagram

4. Favourite Book: Gone Girl (So Far)

5. Favourite Recipe: Green Soup with Chicken and Veggies 

Announcement Time!
I am happy to announce and share that in 2016, I will be reviving the start of my YouTube channel!! I started it awhile back but am glad to say that am looking to launch my first (third) video this month! You will get the same vibe that I have set for the blog, but in video format. I appreciate all the love and support I have received over the years and want to continue to share content that is relevant to you and that I enjoy sharing! I also appreciate any content suggestions for the channel as well and am excited for this next chapter!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy 2016!!

Lifestyle | Some Positive Inspiration

Every now on then we all need a boost or a reminder of good things and positivity! We are lucky to find really cool inspiration and positivity very quickly, thanks to Social Media. I cam across a few that I love and check them out below:

Starting your day with fresh, clear and positive ideas will stay with you for the entire day. And for those odd bad days, end your day with looking, reading or doing things you love! Enjoy!

Lifestyle | #MondayFunday aka Family Day Weekend (The Coldest Weekend Yet)

In Toronto, how lucky are we that during the coldest, possibly the coldest weekend EVER, fell on Family Day weekend. I am far from a snow bunny or outdoorsy but if I was, I would have parked my a** at home, which is exactly what I did.

The thought of leaving the warm cozy cocoon of my warm house far outweighed my desire to go outside. So for my #MondayFunday* I did the following: (*Normally reserved for Sunday but long weekends are the exception!).

• Colour Coded my nail polishes (If you are Type A, you would love this).
• Shredded all the crap that has been on my desk for months (Do I need those expired coupons!)
• Finally folded my laundry. (Washed on time but never ever folded on time SIGH!)
• Cleaned out my Beauty Product cupboard (That was a mission and a half, do I need a crimper?)
• Ate a lot of Brookside Chocolate covered Acai/Blueberries (No, this is not fruit, me nuh care!)
• Read a few more chapters from Mindy Kaling's book: A must read!!

Now at this point you may wonder, where is the Family Day in all of this, well we ended up having our Family time on Sunday with Pizza and laughs. I was super glad that the weather did force us to stay in, chill out and re connect vs. being on Go Go Go mode all weekend. 

I hope you all had fun with your Family Day weekend and stayed cozy and warm!

Product Wish List | 2015 Winter

I have come across some really gorgeous things in the last few weeks that I want to pick up for myself. Some are already available and others are yet to be launched which I am patiently anticipating.

Here is a quick snapshot of a few things on my Wish list for the season, and why I love them!

1. Hourglass Modernist Eye shadow Palette

• Artistic palettes in multiple colour combinations
• Colours look very pigmented
• Gorgeous Ombre wave pattern

2. Nars Palette

• These shadows are gorgeous as singles
• The top ones were put together in this convenient palette
• Great item for a new makeup user or a Pro

3. Anastasia Liquid Lipsticks

• The "Brow Queen" has launched these gorgeous liquid lipsticks
• Amazing colours
• Beautiful pigment

4. Kate Spade Eat Cake for Breakfast Mug

• Cutest statement mug ever :)
• Starts your day happy
• Love anything (EVERYTHING) with statements

5. Moleskin Sketchbook

• I currently have a moleskin note book which I absolutely love
• Sketchbook would force me to draw and doodle more
• Brings out creative expression

I am looking to get these goodies in next few months and of course I will share with you the pretty details of these lovely items!

Lifestyle | Happy New Year - Welcome 2015!!!

The start of the new year brings hopes, resolutions along with the multiple ways you may want to spend or celebrate the new year. Along with the new year comes with the the list of things you want to complete. 

My wish for myself personally is to do the following:

- Blog More

- Spend time with Loved ones

- Take at least 2 trips for 2015

- Continue making healthy choices

- Documenting and acknowledging more of the positives of the day

- Spend less time on irrelevant details and spend quality time

- Keep pushing forward no matter what

- Spend less time on Social Media, spend more time being social

- Write more and read more

Makeup wise, I would like to do the following:

- Attempt to do makeup videos

- Do more makeup looks as well as adding more creative aspects to the looks I do

- Review trends but make them work for me and for my clients (ie. Instagram Brow etc)

- Do more makeup reviews 

- Blog More (On both lists!)

These personal notes are more of a blueprint of what I would like to accomplish for this year. This is the perfect time to reflect and reset. Keep yourself in mind on what you need to do for you and everything will fall into place. I am going to share what I posted to both Facebook and Instagram yesterday:

Whether its a time to get glammed up, get the party started, get dinner or drinks, get pyjamas on, get little ones in bed, get your blessings in order, get your self set up in front of the TV/Netflix, get hyped for the new year ahead...whatever it may be...Be Thankful, Be Present, Be Supportive, Be Patient, Be Understanding, Be Optimistic, Be Kind and Be Open to the moments and not things that 2015 will bring. Happy New Year everyone!

Whatever you decide to do or reset for 2015, I wish you courage, support and love! Hope everyone had an amazing time ringing in 2015 and wishing and sending all my best to you! xoxo

Lifestyle | Vacation vs. STAYcation... Pros & Cons

There are many of us that count the days, the hours and the final minutes before a vacation. It's the same feeling we had as kids on the last day of school, knowing the end of structure, deadlines and being indoors is over and freedom is a second away!

Recently people have opted to take Vacation time and use that time to stay home and not actually leave to go anywhere! Fondly, a new term was invented to refer to this time off. It is known as a STAYcation!

Vacations away were popular and still are of course. There are many of those who love to plan, budget and swear that leaving to go away is the best thing. However, there are the other group of people who favour relaxing at home and having that time off locally is enough to recharge and relax.

Now I have done both, and to be completely honest, I love both! However here are the comparisons in my mind, the good and the bad for doing either.

Vacation Benefits:

• Exotic Destination
• Better weather options (if you go to a hot destination during Winter Months)
• Variety of AMAZING Food Options
• Numerous amenities (Room Service, Spa Service etc.)
• Entertainment Options (Casinos, Bars and Clubs)
• Couples only options as well as Family Friendly
• Relaxation options are endless and you go home with an amazing tan!

Vacation Downside:

• Depending on the travel rating, the destination may not be what you expected or read about.
• Tropical destination also carry the risk of tropical storms
• Food Options can be dismal or not exciting
• Too many amenities to enjoy (Think Vegas! A good and a bad)
• If the hotel has a down season, the entertainment options can be limited or closed
• If you are looking for relaxation and end up in younger demographic resort or vice versa
• With a beautiful Tan also comes the risk of an awful one! (Think "Glasses" Tan)

I have been blessed to have gone on a variety of vacations and I have enjoyed my time and my destinations accordingly! What I dread the most is the time when you board your plane and head back to your normal routine, it's such a downer! Especially when you get off that plane and the Toronto Weather welcomes you back with a cold weather slap, which is always refreshing (NOT!).

STAYcation Benefits:

• You can pretty much do whatever you want
• There is not cost, so you save money
• No worries about packing or waiting in lines for your plane
• You can do a variety of things, catch up on good TV or nothing at all
• If you are a home project lover, you can finally get those things checked off your list

STAYcation Downside:

• Sometimes the things you want to do you opt not to because you become too relaxed
• If you are a social butterfly, you can end up spending money but not as much as a vacay
• Weather can also be a factor. The one week you pick can either be cold or blah
• Being home might force you to do those tasks which end up tiring you out
• You may end up watching too much TV or overkill on Reality TV (which can be a good thing too)!

The good thing after a staycation is that it forces you to be creative and see your own city as a playground. Also, each day moves slowly because there is no time limit on what you have to do. So your days seem to last longer which makes your vacation seem longer.

Whatever you decide, time off is time off, and be sure to un-plug, disconnect and enjoy whichever option you pick! I think it`s good to alternate time off between Vacation and Staycation options. So my next vacation will be a trip away, we shall see!

Happy Happy Joy Joy! How do you get Happy?

I woke up today and while watching the news found out that today is the International Day of Happiness! It was established on June 28th 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly and is celebrated throughout the world on March 20th. To honour this great day, I wanted to share a few ideas and things from my life that make me happy!

1. Dance like it's 1999

I love to dance and it will happen anywhere, in the car, in the aisles of the grocery store, in a change room and the more obvious places like a club, a dance or a family party.  What I LOVE about dancing is that it instantly makes me happy.  It will be rare to find someone on the dance floor who dances with a non smiling face, rather, it will be rare to find me dancing on the dance floor and not smiling! Here are some dancing photos below. Even looking back at these pics, they make me happy!

I was dancing like I wrote the song! I was in between smiles ;) LOL! 

Family Party in the UK - Always a blast and a great time :)

2. Pretty Decor & Flowers

With amazing apps like Instagram, we are exposed to a world of images and photos that are amazing, gorgeous and are happiness inducing. I love pretty decor and whenever I am at a party, wedding or at an event in the city, I am constantly taking photos. Here are a few pretty ones from this category:

Amazing and Romantic decor from a family wedding!

Window shopping with a dear friend :)

Decor Ideas at a Beauty Event

3. Chocolate

I love chocolate, whether it's fancy to the candy bar from the local convenient store. Nothing reminds me more of my childhood with my family and friends as much as Chocolate does. Ithink that is why I crave it so much if I am feeling blue. Sweet items are usually tied to a celebration of a positive kind which I am happy to enjoy!

Oh my gawwwww! 

A lovely chocolate Mousse dessert!

Halloween Candy - All Day!

4. Last but not least - Food

Food is a celebration and is a time for when the family will gather, especially at my house. There is 1 dish that is my all time, ultimate, amazing and is one of the best dishes my mom makes and has taught me to make which is the ultimate Punjabi Curry Chicken with Rice. Nothing makes me happier than smelling that intoxicating aroma from the kitchen! I have posted that and other great dishes that bring happiness to me!

Home cooked Curry Chicken = Happiness & Love :)

Spicy Thai Chicken & Vegetables :)

Jamaican Curry Chicken, Coleslaw with Rice & Beans :)

Trinidadian Barbecue Chicken, Macaroni Pie and Rice! 

Writing this blog taught me that there are so many amazing things that make me happy. I shared a few things that always guarantee happiness from within me.  Feel free to share what  makes you happy in the comments below!

Always Smile :)  - Sand

Lifestyle: DIY - Thoughtful Valentines' Day Gift Ideas

February 14th is just around the corner and for those of you who are celebrating, please keep in mind that this day can also be about all of the relationships that you have, not just with your special loved ones.

Therefore I wanted to put together a list of ideas that would work for anyone who is single or in a relationship. The ideas are simple, DIY and will not break the bank. I think that it's important to share how you feel about someone not by spend level but rather how you can show them they mean something to you and matter in your life.

1. PHOTO SLIDE SHOW - Walk down memory lane

This is one of the easiest ones to put together. You don't have to make it fancy or complicated. Choose the best pics of yourself and the loved one.  Put them into a folder.  On Valentines day, send the photos to the special someone and caption each photo.  Rename your pics by Numbers and then in the body of the email, make a numbered list and write your thoughts about the photo.  If you are skilled, you can always create a PowerPoint slide show that includes the text.  A walk down memory lane will always put a smile on anyone's face. 
Switch Up: You can send this to your best girlfriend, cousins or any loved one!

2. LOVE NOTES/LETTERS

Stock Photo.

The art of writing letters is fading, but nothing feels more special than finding an envelope with your name hand written on the front of it.  Be creative, slip these notes or letters in his/her bag or wallet, in her car under the sun visor, in the lunch bag, coat pocket etc.  Pretty much any place the person would naturally reach for their day to day things, to find a surprise love note.  With social media and technology, send the person texts on where to find the next love note.  Nothing is more romantic than having a secret scavenger hunt of love notes. 

Switch Up: Send your parent or grand parent a loving note on how much they mean to you. This gesture is timeless and will mean more to them than you can imagine.

3. COOKING DINNER... with a twist

If you are the one that is the main chef or not, either way this idea warms the heart! Pick a date or a memorable event that is special for you and a loved one and recreate the meal that you had. A nostalgic twist will be very appreciated and the thoughtfulness of cooking the dinner vs. going out will be romantic.  If you want more togetherness, opt to cook parts of the meal together as you reminiscence about that particular night or event together.  
Switch Up: Taking a good friend out for a lunch or a brunch to a favourite place from your past will make for good laughs and new memories.

All of these should hopefully get you to think past the $ value of the day and rather what this day and any day of the year should be about:  LOVE!  Never stop telling people you love them and pay attention to the small details.  Also, who says Feb.14th is just about the ladies, be sure to show love to the special man in your life. 

Happy Valentines Day!

Always Smile :) - Sand