Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe - Katy, Angelica, Meghan and Nicole. Each week they present five new prompts to describe what is happening in your life that week. This weeks prompts are Creating, Finding, Switching, Forgetting, Craving.

Creating: I am in the process of switching this blog over to its own domain! I will still be using Blogger for now because the thought of having to switch to Wordpress as well makes me want to pull my hair out, but I am excited at the prospect of having my own proper URL.

Finding: Now that I am on a self-imposed no-buy (well, sort of..), I am finding all kinds of cute clothes that I want to buy. Surprisingly, this Fall-loving gal hasn't gotten on a boots and blanket scarves kick yet because I am still all about the summer styles, namely lace and anything bohemian. Of course, when I am actually looking to buy new clothes, I can never find anything that I want to buy!

Switching: I've been switching out my nighttime facial products in an attempt to figure out what is causing me to break out. I normally never break out but in the past month or so, I've been having painless bumps in my t-zone. I use a couple different products at night, however, I don't use the exact same regime every night, so it's been a case of trial-and-error to try and find the product causing the problem.

Forgetting: I have a feeling that I will be forgetting to pack a lot for our trip if I don't soon make a list! I've just been randomly throwing things into my suitcase so far so I really need to sit down and figure out exactly what I need to pack.

Craving: I have been having super strong cravings lately (no, I'm not pregnant!). Thanks to Jordan, I fulfilled my craving for chicken wings but now I am wanting sushi. Perhaps I will make some tomorrow for supper!

Hope your weekend was enjoyable! I just finished three 12-hour shifts and I am so thankful that it is Sunday.

My Top 5 Summer Lipsticks (on National Lipstick Day!)

Did you know that today is National Lipstick Day? I’m not sure who made that rule but it’s a thing (Google it!) and I am going to celebrate by sharing my five current favourite lipsticks with you guys! Coincidentally enough, two of these are from NYX and another two are from Burt’s Bees but I promise this is not a sponsored post. I’d love nothing more than for those companies to sponsor me (hah!) but I definitely paid for these myself and I just truly love them.

Top to bottom: Burt’s Bees “Fuchsia Flood”, Burt’s Bees “Hawaiian Smoulder”, NYX “Milani”, NYX “Antwerp”, Fresh “Rosé”

Burt’s Bees Lipstick in “Fuchsia Flood” | I’ve been wanting to try these lipsticks since they were first released but my local Walmart doesn’t carry them. I stumbled upon them at a different Walmart a few weeks ago and had to resist buying the entire collection! They are available in 14 shades and formulated with natural ingredients such as bees wax, raspberry seed oil and vitamin E. They provide a gorgeous wash of color and are so comfortable and moisturizing on the lips. “Fuchsia Flood” is a medium cool pink and it’s just so pretty. I will definitely be purchasing more of these when I get a chance! They are available at Walmart stores in Canada for $9.99.

Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon in “Hawaiian Smoulder” | While browsing the Burt’s Bees section, my eyes also fell upon these lip crayons. I am a sucker for lipstick in a crayon form because it’s just so easy to apply! These are available in six colors and I chose “Hawaiian Smoulder” which is a bright, coral-pink watermelon shade. I will say that these are described as “matte” which they are not – they definitely have a sheen. However, like the lipstick, they are super moisturizing and comfortable on the lips. Again, I want to buy all of these (they will definitely be going on my stocking list at Christmas!). They are also available at Walmart stores in Canada for $9.99.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in “Milan” | I recently revisited this product after not wearing it for a while and fell in love all over again. These lip creams have a whipped, mousse-y texture which makes them super easy to apply (I hate how messy some formulas can be!). These dry down matte but they aren’t as drying as some other formulas so while they may not last as long before needing reapplication, they are super comfortable. “Milan” is a medium rosy pink which would look great on most people! These are available at Lawtons and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada for $8.99.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in “Antwerp” | This is the first lip cream I purchased and I still love it. It’s the perfect matte coral for summertime. As I mentioned above, the formula is super comfortable and not nearly as drying as some liquid lipsticks. These are available at Lawtons and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada for $8.99.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in “Rosé | I received this mini in a Sephora Favourites collection but I will definitely repurchase a full sized version once I finish this one. This is described as a “sheer berry rose” and while the swatch doesn’t appear to give a lot of color payoff, it gives my lips a very natural “I just ate a popsicle” look. It’s extremely moisturizing and comfortable to wear and is often my go-to lip product when I’m working because I don’t need a mirror to apply it. The full-size version of this product is available in 13 colors and retails for $28 at Sephora.

So I apologize for the lack of variety here but apparently I just love pink and coral lip colors in the summer! I am also all about the comfortable, easy-to-wear lip products in the summertime. Have you tried any of these? Do you have any favourite lip products this summer?

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My Top 5 Summer Lipsticks (on National Lipstick Day!)

Did you know that today is National Lipstick Day? I'm not sure who made that rule but it's a thing (Google it!) and I am going to celebrate by sharing my five current favourite lipsticks with you guys! Coincidentally enough, two of these are from NYX and another two are from Burt's Bees but I promise this is not a sponsored post. I'd love nothing more than for those companies to sponsor me (hah!) but I definitely paid for these myself and I just truly love them.

Top to bottom: Burt's Bees "Fuchsia Flood", Burt's Bees "Hawaiian Smoulder", NYX "Milani", NYX "Antwerp", Fresh "Rosé"

Burt's Bees Lipstick in "Fuchsia Flood" | I've been wanting to try these lipsticks since they were first released but my local Walmart doesn't carry them. I stumbled upon them at a different Walmart a few weeks ago and had to resist buying the entire collection! They are available in 14 shades and formulated with natural ingredients such as bees wax, raspberry seed oil and vitamin E. They provide a gorgeous wash of color and are so comfortable and moisturizing on the lips. "Fuchsia Flood" is a medium cool pink and it's just so pretty. I will definitely be purchasing more of these when I get a chance! They are available at Walmart stores in Canada for $9.99.

Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in "Hawaiian Smoulder" | While browsing the Burt's Bees section, my eyes also fell upon these lip crayons. I am a sucker for lipstick in a crayon form because it's just so easy to apply! These are available in six colors and I chose "Hawaiian Smoulder" which is a bright, coral-pink watermelon shade. I will say that these are described as "matte" which they are not - they definitely have a sheen. However, like the lipstick, they are super moisturizing and comfortable on the lips. Again, I want to buy all of these (they will definitely be going on my stocking list at Christmas!). They are also available at Walmart stores in Canada for $9.99.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in "Milan" | I recently revisited this product after not wearing it for a while and fell in love all over again. These lip creams have a whipped, mousse-y texture which makes them super easy to apply (I hate how messy some formulas can be!). These dry down matte but they aren't as drying as some other formulas so while they may not last as long before needing reapplication, they are super comfortable. "Milan" is a medium rosy pink which would look great on most people! These are available at Lawtons and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada for $8.99.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in "Antwerp" | This is the first lip cream I purchased and I still love it. It's the perfect matte coral for summertime. As I mentioned above, the formula is super comfortable and not nearly as drying as some liquid lipsticks. These are available at Lawtons and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada for $8.99.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in "Rosé | I received this mini in a Sephora Favourites collection but I will definitely repurchase a full sized version once I finish this one. This is described as a "sheer berry rose" and while the swatch doesn't appear to give a lot of color payoff, it gives my lips a very natural "I just ate a popsicle" look. It's extremely moisturizing and comfortable to wear and is often my go-to lip product when I'm working because I don't need a mirror to apply it. The full-size version of this product is available in 13 colors and retails for $28 at Sephora.

So I apologize for the lack of variety here but apparently I just love pink and coral lip colors in the summer! I am also all about the comfortable, easy-to-wear lip products in the summertime. Have you tried any of these? Do you have any favourite lip products this summer?

Ipsy July 2016 Review

Ipsy is one of the first ever monthly beauty subscription boxes and remains one of the most popular to this day. It costs $10/month USD and has free shipping within the US but unfortunately charges $4.99 shipping to Canada. With the poor exchange rate, Ipsy costs approximately $20/month in Canada.

I was subscribed to Ipsy a few years ago and cancelled because a) I was bombarded with products that I didn’t use and b) I felt that I wasn’t getting my money’s worth. After poor experiences with Topbox and Luxe Box, I decided to give Ipsy another try. I like that they have 15-20 products available each month so the bags vary quite a bit. However, due to the high cost of this subscription, they will really have to impress me if I am going to stick around! Keep reading to see what I received in my July 2016 Ipsy bag.

The Balm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow | I got this in the shade “Matt Kumar” which is a matte cranberry shade. It definitely isn’t the best shade for summer but will be great in the fall. The eyeshadow sample is small, but good quality. It’s soft to touch, extremely pigmented, and easily blendable. I wore it all day without a primer and it held up very well! Approximate sample value: $3 CAD.

Delectable by Cake Beauty Lemon & Cream Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream | Upon first impression, I thought that this lotion smelled like a lemon poppyseed muffin but according to Jordan it smells like fruit loops. Sadly, I hate fruit loops! But the hand cream does feel nice and non-greasy on the skin. It’s also a decent sized sample – perfect for throwing in your bag! Approximate sample value: $6 CAD.

OFRA Cosmetics Lip Liner | If you know me, you know that I hate getting lip liner samples. I got this in the shade “Silk” which is a peachy-nude color. It’s definitely wearable but I’m just not a fan of lip liners. Approximate sample value: $17 CAD.

Tre’StiQue Mini Highlight Stick | This highlight is so gorgeous! It seems to have a bit of rose-gold undertone but it is just so shimmery and pretty, plus the stick form makes it easy to apply. I wore it to work the other day and received a compliment on my highlight so that makes it a winner in my books! Approximate sample value: $7.35 CAD.

Luxie Beauty Rose Gold Small Angle Eyeshadow Brush | This brush has very dense and firm bristles which would make it great for applying brow color. I may just have to pick up the Anastasia Dip Brow to try with this brush! The brush itself is pretty, though I’m not sure how much I will really use it. Approximate sample value: $13.12 CAD.

From top to bottom: Tre’StiQue highlighter in “Maldives Luminescent”, The Balm Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow in “Matt Kumar” and Ofra lip liner in “Silk”

I tried to convert all the prices to CAD to more accurately depict the true value of the box for anyone in Canada and it equaled a total of $46.47. Based on that, the box value is over double what I paid, however, I was still a bit disappointed this month. In my beauty profile, I expressed that I wasn’t interested in hand cream or lip liner, yet I received both. I know that they cannot please everyone but with so many product offerings each month, it was disappointing to receive not one but two items that I didn’t want.

If you are interested in signing up for Ipsy, please feel free to use my referral link and I will receive 250 Ipsy points. The point system is one thing that I enjoy about Ipsy which neither Topbox nor Luxe Box had. Once you earn so many points, you can redeem them in the Ipsy store for beauty products.

If you subscribe to Ipsy, did you enjoy your bag this month?

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Ipsy July 2016 Review

Ipsy is one of the first ever monthly beauty subscription boxes and remains one of the most popular to this day. It costs $10/month USD and has free shipping within the US but unfortunately charges $4.99 shipping to Canada. With the poor exchange rate, Ipsy costs approximately $20/month in Canada.

I was subscribed to Ipsy a few years ago and cancelled because a) I was bombarded with products that I didn't use and b) I felt that I wasn't getting my money's worth. After poor experiences with Topbox and Luxe Box, I decided to give Ipsy another try. I like that they have 15-20 products available each month so the bags vary quite a bit. However, due to the high cost of this subscription, they will really have to impress me if I am going to stick around! Keep reading to see what I received in my July 2016 Ipsy bag.

The Balm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow | I got this in the shade "Matt Kumar" which is a matte cranberry shade. It definitely isn't the best shade for summer but will be great in the fall. The eyeshadow sample is small, but good quality. It's soft to touch, extremely pigmented, and easily blendable. I wore it all day without a primer and it held up very well! Approximate sample value: $3 CAD.

Delectable by Cake Beauty Lemon & Cream Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream | Upon first impression, I thought that this lotion smelled like a lemon poppyseed muffin but according to Jordan it smells like fruit loops. Sadly, I hate fruit loops! But the hand cream does feel nice and non-greasy on the skin. It's also a decent sized sample - perfect for throwing in your bag! Approximate sample value: $6 CAD.

OFRA Cosmetics Lip Liner | If you know me, you know that I hate getting lip liner samples. I got this in the shade "Silk" which is a peachy-nude color. It's definitely wearable but I'm just not a fan of lip liners. Approximate sample value: $17 CAD.

Tre'StiQue Mini Highlight Stick | This highlight is so gorgeous! It seems to have a bit of rose-gold undertone but it is just so shimmery and pretty, plus the stick form makes it easy to apply. I wore it to work the other day and received a compliment on my highlight so that makes it a winner in my books! Approximate sample value: $7.35 CAD.

Luxie Beauty Rose Gold Small Angle Eyeshadow Brush | This brush has very dense and firm bristles which would make it great for applying brow color. I may just have to pick up the Anastasia Dip Brow to try with this brush! The brush itself is pretty, though I'm not sure how much I will really use it. Approximate sample value: $13.12 CAD.

From top to bottom: Tre'StiQue highlighter in "Maldives Luminescent", The Balm Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow in "Matt Kumar" and Ofra lip liner in "Silk"

I tried to convert all the prices to CAD to more accurately depict the true value of the box for anyone in Canada and it equaled a total of $46.47. Based on that, the box value is over double what I paid, however, I was still a bit disappointed this month. In my beauty profile, I expressed that I wasn't interested in hand cream or lip liner, yet I received both. I know that they cannot please everyone but with so many product offerings each month, it was disappointing to receive not one but two items that I didn't want.

If you are interested in signing up for Ipsy, please feel free to use my referral link and I will receive 250 Ipsy points. The point system is one thing that I enjoy about Ipsy which neither Topbox nor Luxe Box had. Once you earn so many points, you can redeem them in the Ipsy store for beauty products.

If you subscribe to Ipsy, did you enjoy your bag this month?

Sunday Lately: July 18 - 24

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe – Katy, Angelica, Meghan and Nicole. Each week they present five new prompts to describe what is happening in your life that week. This weeks prompts are Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming and Expecting.

Doing: I’m currently trying to do some blog work before Jordan gets up. He’s not a big fan of me spending time at my computer when I could be hanging out with him! I plan to get this post up, work on a few other drafts, and perhaps update some of my pages. Blogging is fun but it is a lot of work! While doing that, I am catching up on YouTube videos (I seem to enjoy watching vlogs more than reading blogs these days) and enjoying a cup of tea.


Appreciating: According to Facebook, Jordan and I became friends on there eight years ago today. That makes me feel super old but I can’t imagine my life without him now! He honestly supports me in everything that I do and encourages me to be spontaneous and live my life to the fullest.


Designing: As I mentioned above, I want to change some of my pages and do a few tweaks here and there. I also need to design a media kit but ugh, I hate the thought! I once loved design but it is definitely not my forté these days.


Humming: Nothing at the moment, but I had Justin Beiber stuck in my head yesterday and it was awful! I’ve been listening to David Nail’s new album a lot lately. It’s mostly slow songs but it is a nice, mellow CD to listen to. This hasn’t been a great month for me, music-wise. I feel like I desperately need some new songs in my life so feel free to leave any recommendations! I love country, classic rock, and EDM (weirdest mix, I know).


Expecting: I’m not sure if the next 11 days are going to be a whirlwind or if they will drag by. Why? Because we booked a spontaneous trip to the Dominican Republic and we leave on August 4th! Not including today, I only have three days off work between now and then and I somehow have to pack and also keep this blog alive in that amount of time. I’m hoping to have a few posts scheduled to go live while I’m gone but there is also a good possibility of radio silence here for a week.

Hope you’re having a great weekend!

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Sunday Lately: July 18 - 24

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe - Katy, Angelica, Meghan and Nicole. Each week they present five new prompts to describe what is happening in your life that week. This weeks prompts are Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming and Expecting.

Doing: I'm currently trying to do some blog work before Jordan gets up. He's not a big fan of me spending time at my computer when I could be hanging out with him! I plan to get this post up, work on a few other drafts, and perhaps update some of my pages. Blogging is fun but it is a lot of work! While doing that, I am catching up on YouTube videos (I seem to enjoy watching vlogs more than reading blogs these days) and enjoying a cup of tea.

Appreciating: According to Facebook, Jordan and I became friends on there eight years ago today. That makes me feel super old but I can't imagine my life without him now! He honestly supports me in everything that I do and encourages me to be spontaneous and live my life to the fullest.

Designing: As I mentioned above, I want to change some of my pages and do a few tweaks here and there. I also need to design a media kit but ugh, I hate the thought! I once loved design but it is definitely not my forté these days.

Humming: Nothing at the moment, but I had Justin Beiber stuck in my head yesterday and it was awful! I've been listening to David Nail's new album a lot lately. It's mostly slow songs but it is a nice, mellow CD to listen to. This hasn't been a great month for me, music-wise. I feel like I desperately need some new songs in my life so feel free to leave any recommendations! I love country, classic rock, and EDM (weirdest mix, I know).

Expecting: I'm not sure if the next 11 days are going to be a whirlwind or if they will drag by. Why? Because we booked a spontaneous trip to the Dominican Republic and we leave on August 4th! Not including today, I only have three days off work between now and then and I somehow have to pack and also keep this blog alive in that amount of time. I'm hoping to have a few posts scheduled to go live while I'm gone but there is also a good possibility of radio silence here for a week.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Topbox July 2016 Review

Topbox is a Canadian-based monthly beauty subscription service. It costs $12/month and offers free shipping. They send four beauty products per month unless you decide to choose a special privé box which features products from a specific brand.

I actually cancelled my Topbox subscription after receiving my box last month but July’s box had already been paid for at that point. Of course, my July box is the best one I’ve gotten yet and kind of made me regret cancelling, especially because I wasn’t impressed with my Ipsy bag this month. Read below to find out what I received in my July Topbox!

 

GlamGlow Flashmud Brightening Treatment | I love receiving GlamGlow products in subscription boxes because they are super expensive to buy and this is a great way to test them out. I actually haven’t tried this one yet but it is supposed to brighten your skin for a more youthful and radiant look. I’m excited to give it a try! Approximate sample value: $23 (crazy but like I said, this stuff is expensive!).

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Mascara | I also love receiving mascara in my beauty boxes! It’s one of my favourite beauty products and I love trying different brands. This one is good – nothing special, but definitely wearable. It does a decent job of lengthening my lashes and doesn’t flake or smudge. The formula is neither too wet nor dry but can be a bit clumpy. I also appreciate that this is a new product and not something that has been discontinued. Approximate sample value: $17.55.

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss | When I first seen the Bare Minerals box, I was really hoping it was one of the Marvellous Moxie lipsticks as I love those! However, I was surprisingly impressed with the lipgloss. I’m not usually a fan of lipgloss but this one is a nice medium pink color with sheer-to-medium coverage. It isn’t overly sticky and has a minty taste with a cooling effect on the lips that lasts for quite some time! (Honestly, an hour after I applied it, my lips still felt cool). I usually give away any lip glosses that I receive but I will definitely be keeping this one for myself. Approximate sample value: $11.50.

Revlon Uniq All in One Coconut Hair Treatment | This smells nice (like sunblock) and is supposed to soothe frizz, prevent split ends, provide heat protection and more. However, it is a thicker serum that looks like lotion in the bottle and therefore does not spray easily through the nozzle. I will definitely give the product a try but the packaging isn’t great! Approximate sample value: $1.00.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Gel Lip Liner | For the month of July, we received a bonus lip liner as compensation for late shipping due to the potential Canada Post strike. Sadly, it’s the one product that will definitely be a toss for me. I hate receiving lip liners because I never use them but as if that wasn’t bad enough, I received the color “Cinnamon” which is a “medium plum brown”. I will pass this on to someone else as I will never use it. Erin actually gave hers a try and wasn’t a fan of the product either. Approximate sample value: $18.00 (full size).

 

Top: Bellapierre Cosmetics lip liner in “Cinnamon”

Bottom: Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lip gloss in “Rebel”

I only received one full-size product this month and it was a dud, but I really enjoyed my other four products so overall, this was a win! Depending on how things progress with my Ipsy subscription, I may re-subscribe to Topbox, especially if they keep producing boxes like this one! The total approximate value was $71.05 which is amazing considering I only paid $14 for the box!

If you subscribe to Topbox, what did you think of your box this month?

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Topbox July 2016 Review

Topbox is a Canadian-based monthly beauty subscription service. It costs $12/month and offers free shipping. They send four beauty products per month unless you decide to choose a special privé box which features products from a specific brand.

I actually cancelled my Topbox subscription after receiving my box last month but July's box had already been paid for at that point. Of course, my July box is the best one I've gotten yet and kind of made me regret cancelling, especially because I wasn't impressed with my Ipsy bag this month. Read below to find out what I received in my July Topbox!

GlamGlow Flashmud Brightening Treatment | I love receiving GlamGlow products in subscription boxes because they are super expensive to buy and this is a great way to test them out. I actually haven't tried this one yet but it is supposed to brighten your skin for a more youthful and radiant look. I'm excited to give it a try! Approximate sample value: $23 (crazy but like I said, this stuff is expensive!).

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Mascara | I also love receiving mascara in my beauty boxes! It's one of my favourite beauty products and I love trying different brands. This one is good - nothing special, but definitely wearable. It does a decent job of lengthening my lashes and doesn't flake or smudge. The formula is neither too wet nor dry but can be a bit clumpy. I also appreciate that this is a new product and not something that has been discontinued. Approximate sample value: $17.55.

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss | When I first seen the Bare Minerals box, I was really hoping it was one of the Marvellous Moxie lipsticks as I love those! However, I was surprisingly impressed with the lipgloss. I'm not usually a fan of lipgloss but this one is a nice medium pink color with sheer-to-medium coverage. It isn't overly sticky and has a minty taste with a cooling effect on the lips that lasts for quite some time! (Honestly, an hour after I applied it, my lips still felt cool). I usually give away any lip glosses that I receive but I will definitely be keeping this one for myself. Approximate sample value: $11.50.

Revlon Uniq All in One Coconut Hair Treatment | This smells nice (like sunblock) and is supposed to soothe frizz, prevent split ends, provide heat protection and more. However, it is a thicker serum that looks like lotion in the bottle and therefore does not spray easily through the nozzle. I will definitely give the product a try but the packaging isn't great! Approximate sample value: $1.00.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Gel Lip Liner | For the month of July, we received a bonus lip liner as compensation for late shipping due to the potential Canada Post strike. Sadly, it's the one product that will definitely be a toss for me. I hate receiving lip liners because I never use them but as if that wasn't bad enough, I received the color "Cinnamon" which is a "medium plum brown". I will pass this on to someone else as I will never use it. Erin actually gave hers a try and wasn't a fan of the product either. Approximate sample value: $18.00 (full size).

Top: Bellapierre Cosmetics lip liner in "Cinnamon"

Bottom: Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lip gloss in "Rebel"

I only received one full-size product this month and it was a dud, but I really enjoyed my other four products so overall, this was a win! Depending on how things progress with my Ipsy subscription, I may re-subscribe to Topbox, especially if they keep producing boxes like this one! The total approximate value was $71.05 which is amazing considering I only paid $14 for the box!

If you subscribe to Topbox, what did you think of your box this month?

Review: The Fifth Ticket in St. John's, Newfoundland

While we were on holidays, Jordan and I ate at The Fifth Ticket in St. John’s not once, but twice! We were downtown on a Saturday, wandering around and looking for a place to have lunch, when we stumbled upon this place. We were absolutely starving at this point so we headed in, however, did not realize until afterwards that they serve brunch on weekends from 11am-3pm. Since we were looking for lunch, not breakfast foods, we were initially a bit disappointed, though the menu did contain a couple of lunch-food items such as mac and cheese, fish, and soup.

After scanning the menu, we both decided on the same meal (which just so happened to be breakfast after all) which was vanilla waffles and sausage with hash browns and fruit. I basically devoured my entire plate of food! The waffles were light, the sausage was tasty, and the hash browns were to die for. Jordan was feeling quite under the weather that day as he was only a couple days post-op and didn’t eat much but I think he would have thoroughly enjoyed his meal under normal circumstances.

While we were there for brunch, they were holding a Snapchat contest whereby if you snapped them, you would be entered to win a $50 gift card. It was an easy contest to enter and I found out a few days later that I was actually one of the lucky winners!

The next time we were in St. John’s, we headed downtown to pick up the gift card. It was around 7pm on a Friday evening and we didn’t have a reservation so we weren’t expecting to eat there that night. However, we were told that they could seat us at the bar if we wanted to stay so we decided it was just as well considering we were already there!

The restaurant itself features a main dining room (which is where we ate both times), a piano bar, and a chef’s table. We could have eaten at the bar in the piano bar side of the restaurant while we were there for supper but I found it a bit chilly over there that night. It would have certainly been neat to witness the performance though, as it is St. John’s only piano bar.

Despite sitting at the bar, we had no complaints with the service that we received. We both started with a drink – a cocktail for me and a beer for Jordan. We decided to order appetizers – “yesterday’s soup” which was asparagus and green pea with parmesan cheese. While waiting for our soup, they brought out a bread board with an oil and vinaigrette blend for dipping. The bread was warm, soft and to die for! I was stuffed before my soup even arrived because I wasn’t leaving one crumb of that bread behind. The soup was nice, a light and fresh soup, but I personally felt that it was missing a little something. It could simply be because I tend to prefer savoury and salty foods, but I think some pepper and an extra dose of cheese would have made it even better! Jordan really enjoyed it and even made a comment about recreating it at home.

For my main, I actually ordered off the appetizer menu, which is quite common for me! I decided to order two smoked cod tacos made with locally caught cod fish and a side of bistro fries, which are hand-cut fries tossed in truffle oil, parmesan cheese and seasoning. Jordan ordered “The Burger” served with greens and bistro fries. The tacos were tasty but once again, I kind of felt that something was missing. I brought one home with me as I was too stuffed to eat both and filled it with more cheese, which seemed to help. The smoked cod was delicious and definitely smokey. Jordan enjoyed his burger (he said “It’s good” when I asked for a review) but the real star of the show was the bistro fries. Oh. My. God. We would go back for those fries alone! Perfectly crispy and flavourful.. they are worth the trip!

 

We both desperately wanted to try the dessert but we were so uncomfortably full that we just couldn’t fit it in! Overall, we both enjoyed our experiences at this restaurant. I would definitely go back again, especially for brunch. The ambience is really neat in there with lots of funky lighting, exposed brick walls, and chalkboards, not to mention the piano bar! And we received excellent service both times we ate there, even at the extremely busy bar. The servers were polite and friendly and definitely committed to ensuring that we enjoyed our meals.

Brunch for two cost approximately $35 and our dinner meal with drinks and appetizers cost approximately $85. Have you ever eaten there? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Just as a side note, I am not claiming to be a professional restaurant reviewer. I just like food, period. 

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Review: The Fifth Ticket in St. John's, Newfoundland

While we were on holidays, Jordan and I ate at The Fifth Ticket in St. John's not once, but twice! We were downtown on a Saturday, wandering around and looking for a place to have lunch, when we stumbled upon this place. We were absolutely starving at this point so we headed in, however, did not realize until afterwards that they serve brunch on weekends from 11am-3pm. Since we were looking for lunch, not breakfast foods, we were initially a bit disappointed, though the menu did contain a couple of lunch-food items such as mac and cheese, fish, and soup.

After scanning the menu, we both decided on the same meal (which just so happened to be breakfast after all) which was vanilla waffles and sausage with hash browns and fruit. I basically devoured my entire plate of food! The waffles were light, the sausage was tasty, and the hash browns were to die for. Jordan was feeling quite under the weather that day as he was only a couple days post-op and didn't eat much but I think he would have thoroughly enjoyed his meal under normal circumstances.

While we were there for brunch, they were holding a Snapchat contest whereby if you snapped them, you would be entered to win a $50 gift card. It was an easy contest to enter and I found out a few days later that I was actually one of the lucky winners!

The next time we were in St. John's, we headed downtown to pick up the gift card. It was around 7pm on a Friday evening and we didn't have a reservation so we weren't expecting to eat there that night. However, we were told that they could seat us at the bar if we wanted to stay so we decided it was just as well considering we were already there!

The restaurant itself features a main dining room (which is where we ate both times), a piano bar, and a chef's table. We could have eaten at the bar in the piano bar side of the restaurant while we were there for supper but I found it a bit chilly over there that night. It would have certainly been neat to witness the performance though, as it is St. John's only piano bar.

Despite sitting at the bar, we had no complaints with the service that we received. We both started with a drink - a cocktail for me and a beer for Jordan. We decided to order appetizers - "yesterday's soup" which was asparagus and green pea with parmesan cheese. While waiting for our soup, they brought out a bread board with an oil and vinaigrette blend for dipping. The bread was warm, soft and to die for! I was stuffed before my soup even arrived because I wasn't leaving one crumb of that bread behind. The soup was nice, a light and fresh soup, but I personally felt that it was missing a little something. It could simply be because I tend to prefer savoury and salty foods, but I think some pepper and an extra dose of cheese would have made it even better! Jordan really enjoyed it and even made a comment about recreating it at home.

For my main, I actually ordered off the appetizer menu, which is quite common for me! I decided to order two smoked cod tacos made with locally caught cod fish and a side of bistro fries, which are hand-cut fries tossed in truffle oil, parmesan cheese and seasoning. Jordan ordered "The Burger" served with greens and bistro fries. The tacos were tasty but once again, I kind of felt that something was missing. I brought one home with me as I was too stuffed to eat both and filled it with more cheese, which seemed to help. The smoked cod was delicious and definitely smokey. Jordan enjoyed his burger (he said "It's good" when I asked for a review) but the real star of the show was the bistro fries. Oh. My. God. We would go back for those fries alone! Perfectly crispy and flavourful.. they are worth the trip!

We both desperately wanted to try the dessert but we were so uncomfortably full that we just couldn't fit it in! Overall, we both enjoyed our experiences at this restaurant. I would definitely go back again, especially for brunch. The ambience is really neat in there with lots of funky lighting, exposed brick walls, and chalkboards, not to mention the piano bar! And we received excellent service both times we ate there, even at the extremely busy bar. The servers were polite and friendly and definitely committed to ensuring that we enjoyed our meals.

Brunch for two cost approximately $35 and our dinner meal with drinks and appetizers cost approximately $85. Have you ever eaten there? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Just as a side note, I am not claiming to be a professional restaurant reviewer. I just like food, period. 

Sunday Lately: July 11 - 17

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe – Katy, Angelica, Meghan and Nicole. Each week they present five new prompts to describe what is happening in your life that week. This weeks prompts are Planning, Loving, Reading, Wishing and Feeling.

Planning: I am planning to head to the city with Jordan tomorrow when he goes there for work. I have to work tonight so I figure I will head to my brother’s apartment for a shower and a nap first thing tomorrow morning, then hit up the mall and probably Starbucks to work on the blog for a little while. I probably wouldn’t bother to go after working all night but I am on the hunt for a specific dress from Envy and I am worried that it will be sold out in my size if it isn’t already.


Loving: Hot weather and sunshine, pastel hair (can’t wait to dye mine again!), and the positive response my blog has been receiving lately from friends and co-workers. I was so hesitant to share this little spot with people I know in “real life” but you guys have been so supportive and kind.


Reading: I am still reading “One True Loves” by Taylor Jenkins Reid but I just pre-ordered my copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and I am so excited. I miss the anticipation of new Harry Potter books and even though this one is actually a screenplay, I still cannot wait to devour it! For blogs, I am loving Holly’s Housewife Life. She is an ex-Newfoundlander who is now back in Nova Scotia. Her blog is a mixture of lifestyle, beauty, and hauls but I mainly love how real and down-to-earth she is. Her personality totally shines through in her writing!


Wishing: To be honest, I wish I didn’t have to work tonight! I worked Friday and Saturday days but they asked me to work a night shift tonight and I agreed so that I would be able to spend the day home with Jordan today. But the weather is so nice and I would have loved to been able to make plans to do something today and tonight.


Feeling: Warm! Like, actually sweaty. But you will never hear me complain because it so rarely happens here in Newfoundland that I will gratefully accept it whenever it does. It’s about 30 degrees with the humidex and I am loving it!

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