Painting Away The Blues!

Happy Tuesday! I feel very unorganized and very emotional lately. I’m also feeling tired a lot and the winter blues is not fun to deal with. Yesterday my emotions had a life of their own and my body went into a pain attack in the middle of the night. I’m just happy it’s a new day. I’m trying to stay active and positive…trying. Lately I’m not feeling it. I’m being honest. It’s not easy to stay cheerful and happy and jolly. I feel like an old grumpy lady. *Sigh* The stress of working online and being home all day doesn’t help the situation.

Thank God for my wonderful husband and children who love and support me. They are amazing and I’m truly blessed to have them in my life. They really help bring joy and happiness in my life.

This is Toronto and its winter glory. I wonder why my parents didn’t choose to go to a warmer climate when they first arrived in the 60’s?

To offer comfort to my stress levels and anxiety I’m doing a lot of painting lately. Here are some new paintings I made. Using acrylics on canvas boards and also mini canvases. I need to buy better quality mini canvases for my ETSY store. I bought three mini canvases from Walmart and they are not good at all. The canvas from the edges are coming a part. I glued them in place but it’s not the best quality so I will not be posting these for my store.

I’ve made an order with DeSerres and I’m still waiting for my package to arrive. Why is it when you wait for something it doesn’t come? I ordered some new style of paint. It’s called Gouach paint. I’m really excited to try a new medium. Gouache paint is a watercolour type of paint that is bold and bright. It can be watered down a lot or be used very boldly. I can’t wait to try it. I also want to buy pastels. Love oil pastels and chalk pastels.

I can’t wait for spring to arrive. How about you? I am soooo done with cold and winter. On a positive note here are some lovely PR Samples (GIFTED) items and some lovely winnings as well. I’m truly blessed and lucky to win all these things. ESPIRA vitamins by Avon, Espira Hunger block and metabolism boost by Avon, CRAVE Lipglosses from Avon Canada. They smell so good! They are super shiny so a little goes a long way.

I won a lovely package from Dundurn Press it included a lovely canvas bag and SQUISH candy. So good! Also won a HUGE package from Live Organics which is located in Toronto. All raw organic food and drinks. Also included is VAMS Culture drinks and Tealchemy Tea which is really smooth and silky tea. I also won two products from Age Quencher Vitamins and I am really loving their Hyaluronic Moisturizing Serum and the Hydrate Beauty Electrolyte Powder. So incredible they will definitely be on my favourite list.

Thank you also to PIXI BEAUTY for sending me their new eyeshadows and beautiful brushes! They are very beautiful!

I also received beautiful clothing from FROCKON Clothing. I reached out to the lovely Yana and asked if she would like to work together. I will have the post up as soon as I can get my creative spirit going. Check out her EBAY store. One of the beautiful pieces she sent me is this beautiful Kimono Jacket with geometric patterns. I absolutely love it! I will get a post together soon my friends. I just need to get out of this funk.

A few other *Gifted items from Chickadvisor

Dove Ultra care Milk Gel Moisturizing Conditioner.

Also Dove Apple and White Tea Antiperspirant. It’s my favourite at the moment. So good!

Just today I received a special and thoughtful gift from my lovely friend Julie and It made me smile so much. She is so thoughtful and loving. Have a look at Julie’s Blog. Thank you Julie for always being there and for thinking of me. I hope to meet you one day in person and have a cuppa coffee. This gift is so super special. I might just have to watch the entire series on Netflix again. Thank you Julie!

This just in! Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC of “At The Mountain’s Edge” Sounds like a fantastic book! I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you so much for all your love and support. Thank you for all your kind comments and love. Thank you also for the lovely Gifted items.

Overall I feel that things will totally get better. I’m hopeful and look forward to the change of weather. As I am typing this I heard from the TV that we are expecting about 15cm of snow tomorrow. Great! 😂 Well patience and more painting. I will totally read this book and let you know how it goes. Until then have a lovely rest of the week and don’t be afraid to tweet me a hello @bestdayblogger

Much love,

Maria

Favourite Summer PR Samples

I’ve been loving many beautiful PR samples that I would like to share with you. I don’t share samples that I haven’t tried or that I don’t love. I really like to feature samples that I highly recommend and that I’ve been using. So here are a few Summer PR Samples.

AVON Anew Hydra Fusion Gel Cream & Anew Hydra Fusion Replenishing Serum. The gel cream is $35.00 and the Hydra Fusion Serum is $45.00. This new line is really amazing and very light and hydrating. I really love this line and it’s launching this September.

Here I have a few pieces from CHANEL’S Fall\Winter Collection called APOTHEOSIS. It is a matte collection and it is breathtaking! To view the entire collection check out my blog post. CHANEL’s Fall/Winter 2018 Collection APOTHEOSIS, LE MAT DE CHANEL If you would like to see the makeup look that I created with these samples have a look here. CHANEL Fall/Winter 2018 Collection Makeup Look and Swatches!

New Make Up For Ever New Matte Velvet Skin! I’m so grateful that I received such a beautiful PR box! I have a video and blog post coming soon on this incredible foundation. I’m in love with Make Up For Ever. This new foundation is available in 40 shades. It’s a Flexi-fit formula that is has full coverage. It is lightweight & oil free. It moves with the skin and never cakes, flakes or fades. It is $48.00 and sold exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.ca.

Next is Zoella Beauty. I really love Zoella products. I’m a huge fan. This collection is super fresh. I love the packaging as well. A huge thank you to Farleyco Beauty for the Zoella products. You can find the products here. ZOELLA BEAUTY PRODUCTS.

I LOVE vegan greens + O by Genuine Health. It is all natural, non-GMO and formulated to help with more energy, sleep better, move better and love your gut. #LOVEHOWYOUFEEL

It makes me really happy when I receive healthy products like this. This powder of mixed greens + O is delicious. I love this because I add it in my smoothies and in my chia pudding. So healthy for the body. It really gives me energy and keeps me going through the day. Thank you to the Publicist Group for the lovely sample. It’s my absolute fave! The chia seeds are white Prana Chia seeds. Do you like chia seeds? I love them so much. I like the texture when it’s a pudding. Would you like a recipe for this pudding? Let me know in the comments If you are interested.

This summer I’ve been using Avon Anew Clinical Unlimited Lashes Lash & Brow Activating Serum and Avon True colour Love at 1st Lash Mascara. Safe for contact lens wearers and Ophthalmologist-tested. The Serum is $60.00 for 3ml. The mascara is infused with nutrients and the formula has a unique blend of lycopene, olive oil and vitamin E. It is also Paraben and sulphate free. The Mascara is 9ml $12.00. I’m starting to see results and I’ve been using this duo for 2 weeks.

I kindly received the VICHY LIFTACTIV UV duo by Chick Advisor. Vichy is an incredible skincare line. I really like this duo because the face cream has SPF. I use this duo during the day. I use very little because the formula for the LIFTACTIVE UV face cream melts like silk on the skin. This duo helps my skin with hydration and my face and neck feel so soft after using it. I’ve tried two other Vichy products and the formula is fantastic!

I love my Hellmann’s! I love making creamy potato, macaroni and crab salad. I use it for deviled eggs and salad dressings. My girls love tuna sandwiches and I also spread it on fish, chicken and meat sandwiches. I really love the Avocado oil with a hint of lime. It’s not overpowering with lime and it is so smooth, delicious and creamy. Mouth watering! I received this sample to review from Chick Advisor. LOVE IT!

Perfect for kids. This Avon Collection is super cute but also smells so good and is paraben and sulphate free. My girls really loved the texture of the Soapy Slime. They also love the fun foam and the Hocus Pocus Lotion is very hydrating, smells incredible and a little goes a long way.

If you want your complexion to GLOW try this collection! Glittery and shiny eyeshadows and beautiful highlighters. I’ve been loving these so much this summer. Pixi by Petra has lovely products and I’m so grateful that I received these samples. The highlighters are on my summer favourites blog post and video. Have a look if you like.

I LOVE THESE THINGS! SUMMER FAVOURITES

Here is the other Vichy duo that I received via Influenster. I love these two! Total hydration and light on the skin. Not greasy and very soothing.

Avon came out with these face masks and I love them so much. I really need to remind my self to do more masks. Sometimes I get so busy I forget. But I really love these. They rejuvinate my skin so much.

My family has been really loving the Avon Pure essential oils. These oils are single oils and 100% pure. They are only meant to be used for the diffuser. I love the Sweet Dreams Blend. It has Lavender and Roman Chamomile. It really helps with sleep and relaxation. The Happiness Blend is really revitalizing and it has grapefruit, lemon and sweet orange. I’m really excited for these oils and so glad I have them. Happiness Blend 10ml $15.00. Sweet Dreams Blend 10ml $22.00.

COLAB Paradise is amazing dry shampoo. I love it and thank you to Farleyco Beauty for the lovely sample. It’s my favourite scent. I wonder if they have a coconut one. Need to find that out. Love using COLAB not only for when my hair is oily but also to freshen up and give volume.

I actually won this book. It’s not a PR sample. I wanted to mention it because I’m enjoying it so much. I would like to finish this book by the end of the month. I like to set deadlines do you? It helps me complete things on time. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for this ARC and for the cute mug. I use it everyday.

I’ve also received Pro-Voke Liquid Blond. I really love my blond hair better when I use these two. It makes my hair warmer and golden. It makes my blond hair nice and shiny. I use this once or twice a week.

The Avon True Color Lip Glow Lip Gloss is my favourite summer gloss. I’ve been loving the colour light burst with the Make Up For Ever New Artist Pencil in the colour 602 completely sepia. Perfect lip duo! The Avon Lip gloss is 8ml for $10.00. The Artist pencils are available at Sephora and Sephora.ca.

Thank you to all the beautiful PR samples. I’m truly grateful for everything.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See REVIEW

I kindly received The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane for review purposes by Simon & Schuster Canada.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

Author Lisa See
384 pages

A thrilling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa See explores the lives of a Chinese mother and her daughter who has been adopted by an American couple. Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. There is ritual and routine, and it has been ever thus for generations. Then one day a jeep appears at the village gate—the first automobile any of them have seen—and a stranger arrives. In this remote Yunnan village, the stranger finds the rare tea he has been seeking and a reticent Akha people. In her biggest seller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, See introduced the Yao people to her readers. Here she shares the customs of another Chinese ethnic minority, the Akha, whose world will soon change. Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, translates for the stranger and is among the first to reject the rules that have shaped her existence. When she has a baby outside of wedlock, rather than stand by tradition, she wraps her daughter in a blanket, with a tea cake hidden in her swaddling, and abandons her in the nearest city. After mother and daughter have gone their separate ways, Li-yan slowly emerges from the security and insularity of her village to encounter modern life while Haley grows up a privileged and well-loved California girl. Despite Haley’s happy home life, she wonders about her origins; and Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. They both search for and find answers in the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for generations. A powerful story about a family, separated by circumstances, culture, and distance, Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane paints an unforgettable portrait of a little known region and its people and celebrates the bond that connects mothers and daughters. -Simon and Schuster Canada

MY REVIEW

I dove into the life of Li-Yan, the main character of this novel. I watched her learn so many things from her “A-ma” (Mother) and make mistakes too. I watched what it might feel like growing up as an “Akha” (a Chinese Ethnic Minority in a tea farming community.) The Akha produce pu’er tea. A tea that is very earthy and has a lot of incredible health benefits if its picked and fermented correctly. Right from the beginning of the book the culture and the way of the Akha life is clearly established.

The story continues in this remote Yunnan village a stranger arrives and this changes many things for Li-Yan and for the Akha. She translates for the stranger as she is one of the few educated girls in the village.

The Akha have many traditions and rituals along with taboos. In the beginning of the book the family exchange their dreams and “A-ma” (Mother) reflects upon each dream and its meaning. “A-ma” (Mother) says “Every story, every dream, every waking minute of our lives is filled with one fateful coincidence after another. People and animals and leaves and fire and rain-we whirl around each other like handfuls of dried rice kernels being tossed into the sky.” pg.3

I feel that this is a metaphor for what happens next. Li-Yan has a baby outside of wedlock. She strays from her family traditions. She wraps her daughter in a blanket with a tea cake and leaves her at an orphanage in a city close by. Even though she feels that she has made some mistakes she continues her life by making better and smarter decisions. I really admire her strength and courage. I always feel that she is protected and has a connection with her mother throughout the novel. I also feel that she has a strong spiritual connection with her lost daughter.

After leaving her child at the orphanage she struggles emotionally and as a mother my self, I felt her pain through the pages. What comes next is even harder for Li-Yan. I don’t want to give too much away but I will say that this book is truly wonderful and I absolutely love it. I really love the connection between mother and daughter. The main character is strong and courageous in many ways through her journey. I love how well the books flows. I really enjoyed the parts of the book that explore the story of Li-Yan’s daughter and her life. I also really like the love story that happens. It is truly beautiful and sweet. I’m really satisfied with the ending and it’s a story I will always remember.

It’s a beautiful book that I truly recommend. I give this book a 5/5 stars. Truly incredible!

A wonderful link to check out. Author Lisa See’s Travels.

Black Apple by Joan Crate REVIEW

‘Black Apple’

by Joan Crate

Published by Simon & Schuster Canada

Genres: FICTION

Pages: 324

Format: Soft Cover

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada Advanced Copy

REVIEW

A moving and compelling book!

The book is about a young native girl named Rose that is taken away from her home to join a Christian School run by nuns. Her journey is rough and challenging one. Being torn away from her family all she wants to do is escape and go back home. She misses her family and her traditions. The changes that take place in her life are very difficult.

Rose Marie’s adjustment in the new environment is a difficult one. From the people, rooms and food to the emptiness she feels. A huge challenge. Rose Marie sees a lot of dreams and also has visions and a crucial part in the book, visitations from spirits! Spirits that haunt the school and that haunt her. The author really gets into the feelings and emotions of Rose Marie. We watch her grow up and the author makes this happen so naturally and beautifully. The book has a perfect balance of History and Fiction. Even though it is Fiction I really connected with Rose Marie and felt her pain, confusion and fear through the words and pages of this book.

The book took me on a journey and I cried at many parts. I’m not going to giveaway parts of the book or the ending because I feel that this is a must read book. The author really explored the characters emotions and feelings. A very powerful novel with characters that are really well rounded and can be seen clearly. I never once paused in confusion. I really love how the book also changed perspectives but in a perfect and subtle way. The words and story flow so beautifully in this novel and the ending was everything I wanted it to be!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for this wonderful opportunity. It was a true honour to read such a beautiful and moving book. The story will stay with me forever. Powerful and poetic. Beautiful and at the end very hopeful!

I give this book a 5/5

Truly amazing and a Must Read!