Pick-Ups & Deliveries: Haul No. 67

Hello, August! I genuinely can't believe that the last month of summer is here. Time flies faster when you're an adult, but I honestly feel like I just came back from NYC (which was in May!) and now it's almost Civic Holiday weekend. It feels like I just did a haul post, and I've already accumulated enough to do another one? It's ridiculous. I did ease up on excessive spending in July, but managed to sneak in some naughty shopping. I mean, the damage I can do on my phone while sitting on the couch is pretty impressive. Online shopping is just too easy.

NIOD Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist and Sanskrit Saponins
The Ordinary High-Spreadability Fluid Primer (x 2)
I tried to keep skincare purchases to a minimum this month because I bought so many serums and moisturizers in June, but I was on the Deciem website to purchase a couple of bottles of my holy grail face primer that had just gotten re-stocked, and decided to continue browsing; partially because the primers are only $7.90 each and there's only free shipping in Canada on purchases over $25, but mostly because I've been intrigued to try more of Deciem's other products. I ended up getting two products from their NIOD brand: the Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (or SDSM2), which is a "dermal treatment mist — not to be classified mistakenly as a 'toner' — that acts as a fundamental daily force against oxidative stress, water loss and the look of inflammation, all of which contribute to loss of visible skin quality over time," and Sanskrit Saponins, a "viscous and intense cleansing balm" that "visibly targets all forms of build-up, blemishes, congestion and impurities."

I haven't opened up the cleanser yet, but I have been using the SDSM2 for a few weeks now, and I gotta say, it might be the most impressive facial mist I have ever used. I didn't really know what to expect because most mists I've used are nothing to write home about. A lot of them have fancy packaging and come in various scents promising this and that, but they don't actually make a difference to my skin. In fact, they can make my skin feel even drier or more dehydrated than it was prior to using a mist. But SDSM2 leaves my skin feeling so hydrated for so long that I can forget to put moisturizer on. My cheeks can get itchy and red, but after I spray SDSM2, my skin immediately feels soothed and relieved. I guess what I'm trying to say is that SDSM2 gives both short- and long-term benefits, which is more than I can ask for in a face mist.
Lush Big Shampoo
On a whim, I decided to go into the Lush store while shopping with my friend Austin one afternoon, and ended up getting a tub of my tried-and-true Big Shampoo. I stopped buying Lush for a while because I just got sick of their products (when you have friends that work at Lush, you end up with a lot of products that you just can't get through before they expire), but one product that I maintain is worth getting is this shampoo. I use it twice a week (there's sea salt in it, so it can dry out hair if used everyday) and it's gloriously clarifying, getting rid of any grease and product residue without drying out my scalp. And my hair is shinier and fluffier without being frizzy. The majority of Lush's products are overwhelming in fragrance, but Big smells amazing — light, fresh, beachy, and citrusy (it kinda reminds me of Simply Limeade, which might be why I'm so drawn to it). I hadn't used it in a couple years, but now that I've started again, I don't know why I stopped using it to begin with.
Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Priming Spray, Naked Heat Palette, and Perversion Mascara (x 2)
One of my good friends now works for Urban Decay, and she picked up a few goodies for me last week. She got me a new bottle of their B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Priming Spray, which I actually like to use as a form of oil control on days that I'm not wearing makeup; the Naked Heat Palette, which I have been eyeing since the first swatches of it were leaked online several months ago (I absolutely do not need another red-toned eyeshadow palette, but it's so up my alley, I could not resist); and a couple more tubes of my holy grail mascara because I go through one of these every 1.5 months, so I like to have a nice little reserve of them. I've never understood how people can buy their staple products only after they've finished them. Like, if I'm in the middle of doing one eyebrow, and my eyebrow pencil finishes and I don't have another one in my stash? And all of a sudden, I have one perfectly sculpted brow and one that looks like a patchy tadpole? It's just too risky.
Sephora Rouge Gel Lip Liner in Creme de la Creme, Rose Wine, Rum Raisin, Wine-O, and It's Cherry
Anastasia Beverly Hills Aurora Glow Kit
It's not a real Denise haul if there isn't something from Sephora. Now, I usually don't care to try out new lip pencils (I stick to my tried-and-true MAC ones and never feel the need to venture out in this category) and I definitely don't ever give a shit about anything from Sephora Collection. But my friend Chelsea told me to try out Sephora's Rouge Gel Lip Liners, which quickly became her new favourites. So I went in store to swatch them, and I was sold. They're creamy, ultra-smooth, non-drying, long-lasting, come in a great range of colours, and are only $15 a pop (less if you have a Sephora hook-up like I do). I bought five shades (the basics: a nude, a rose, a plum, a wine, and a red) to start out with, but I'm probably gonna get a few others in brighter and darker shades. My only question is, why does no one talk about these?
At the end of June, Sephora sent out a coupon to their VIB Rouge members to get $15 off a $50 purchase. Whenever I get coupons like this, I always like to spend it on new and hyped products that I wanna try, but don't know if I'd pay full price for off the bat. Enter the Anastasia Beverly Hills Aurora Glow Kit. Now, I had originally written this off because I didn't think the shades would be particularly flattering. But it's surprisingly gorgeous on a multitude of skintones (I thought it would be like the Moonchild Glow Kit, which is pretty to look at but not very versatile for non-fair skintones) while being one of the most unique highlighting palettes on the market right now. I was very pleasantly surprised, and was really glad I ended up getting it. You can find my review of it here.
Ciaté London Glow-To Highlighter in Starburst and Moondust
Ciaté London Glow-To Illuminating Blush in Baby Doll and Date Night
Last week, Sephora had another coupon for VIB Rouge members to get $20 off a $100 purchase! Not sure why there's a sudden surge of these coupons right now — I think cosmetics companies are all hurting to make more money this year — but I'm not about to complain. I took this opportunity to get the new Ciaté London Glow-To Highlighters and Illuminating Blushes, which have been getting a ton of hype recently. I've always known Ciaté London as a nail polish brand, so when I originally heard they were expanding to makeup, I was deeply uninterested. (Butter London did this several years ago, and no one gave a shit.) But my friend Chelsea showed me her Ciaté products a few weeks ago, and after swatching them and applying them, I ate my words. I had to get both of the highlighters (obviously) and I got the two shades of blush that were still available. The other three shades are sold out, but I'm snatching them up when they get re-stocked, coupons be damned. 
Cirque Colors Nail Lacquer in Central Park After Dark, Lady Liberty, Paraiba, La Tropicale, and 8 Crazy Nights
Cirque Colors Nail Lacquer in Rhapsody in Blue, Vaporwave, Tanzanite, and Crystal Tokyo
ILNP Nail Polish in Surfboard, Super Juiced, Ruby Sky, After Party, Alexander, and Caesar
I went on a nail polish rampage. If you know me, you'll know that I go through phases with nail polish now. I used to buy dozens of nail polishes every month, but I've found that I get less and less intrigued as brands keep copying each other, and the amount of dupes I have just grows and grows. So I haven't bought nail polish since February. I decided to peruse Nail Polish Canada after receiving an email about some new collections they got in stock, and actually ended up getting a lot of shades from ILNP and Cirque Colors that are from much older collections (some of them are even discontinued). I always try to push myself to try a bigger range of shades, but what can I say? Cool brights, moody darks, and all things glittery are my go-to's all year round.
Quay Australia Hidden Hills Sunglasses
It's gotta be said that I am indifferent to Kylie Jenner. I've never really cared about her cosmetics line or her clothing company or any collaboration that she is involved in. But, I am on a sunglasses kick right now (I think I'm making up for all the lean years when I didn't care to wear sunglasses) and loveQuay Australia for their oversized styles (my head is big, my nose is flat, and my eyelashes are long — Quay makes great sunglasses that fit these facial features really, really well!), so when I saw the Hidden Hills style from the Quay x Kylie capsule collection, I fell in love. I never thought I'd actually ever go for a shield-style frame, but they kind of remind me of The Terminator and I'm obsessed.

Pick-Ups & Deliveries: November 2015

Ah, November. It's the month of my biggest hauls for several reasons. One, the Sephora VIB sale. Two, my birthday. Three, Black Friday (and all the other pre-holiday sales). Four, I am a shopaholic. Let's just get into it, shall we?

Lush The Comforter Shower Cream, Beautiful Shower Gel, and Santa's Belly Shower Jelly
Lush Baked Alaska and Snowcake Soaps
Last month's haul actually began at Lush, a brand that I had successfully banned myself from for nearly a year. I just had too many products from there that I couldn't use up before they expired, so I put myself on a ban until I used up a good portion of my hoard. I still haven't gone through my stash completely, but I did make a pretty good dent (I only have bath bombs and bubble bars left, but as I don't take baths, I have decided I will give them away), so I decided to allow myself to go into the store. There's just something about Lush during the holidays that is irresistible, and I wanted to see what new goodies they had for the season. And thus, I picked up two new shower gels, one in The Comforter (which smells exactly like these blackcurrant candies I used to eat as a kid) and one in Beautiful (which smells like peaches — definitely my new favourite scent from them), plus the new Shower Jelly in Santa's Belly (which smells exactly like my favourite So White bath bomb, the most perfect fresh apple scent) and two bars of soap in Baked Alaska (it smells like my beloved citrusy Snow Globe soap which was discontinued) and Snowcake (which smells like vanilla and almonds, or marzipan, and is one of my seasonal favourites from Lush). And now I am putting myself on a Lush ban once again until I use these items up.

Marc Jacobs No. 15 The Shape Contour and Blush Brush
Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in Tangerine Blush
Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in Pink Chocolate, Sweet Maple, and Spice Spice Baby
Urban Decay UD Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette
Can I just say, I got some awesome birthday presents this year? My friend Suzie managed to get me the highly sought-after Marc Jacobs No. 15 The Shape brush that I'd been eyeing (I don't often care for brushes from any of the brands carried at Sephora, but I really wanted this one and it was sold out everywhere); my friend Viv gifted me my first ever Burberry Light Glow Blush in Tangerine Blush No. 06, a gorgeous soft tawny peach shade that is totally up my alley; my friends Chelsea and Adrian picked up three shades of my favourite Too Faced La Crème lipsticks in MLBB shades that had been on my wishlist, as well as Urban Decay's limited edition Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette that they knew I had been lemming hard over (they both work at Sephora, so when the palette went up for sale online for the one-day VIB preview, they snatched one up for me); and my friend Austin got me a gift card for Holt Renfrew that I haven't redeemed yet but intend on using on some Charlotte Tilbury. (Or Tom Ford. I haven't decided yet.)

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight and Starlight
Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Retsina, Cava, Musk, and Mauvember
Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer in 312 Sugar Sugar, 318 Pretty Thing, and 326 Pink Flamingo
Of course, the Sephora VIB sale happened as well. And we all know I go a little overboard during this time. Even more so than the February one, because the November sale offers 20% off instead of 15%, and because I get birthday money from my family members which further enables my Sephora addiction. First things first, I finally got myself the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powders in both Candlelight and Starlight. No, I didn't need both, nor do I need anymore highlighters, but they are beautiful. However, I also refuse to pay full price for them (they are $53 each). So when the opportunity came up to get 20% off of them, I snatched them up, no questions asked. I then picked up several Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipsticks; I love the formula but have never bought any of the permanent shades. I'm really into nudes and MLBB shades right now, so after some major swatching, I decided on Retsina, Cava, and Musk, which, yes, are different enough from each other to merit buying all three. My friend Chelsea also surprised me with their limited edition Mauvember lipstick for my birthday; it's a gorgeous medium muted pinky mauve that Bite Beauty released in partnership with the Movember Foundation, and is a Canada-exclusive shade. And to round out the lip category, I also bought some new lip glosses. No one was more surprised by this than me. It started out with me wearing a matte lipstick and adding some gloss to give my lips more moisture because they felt like sandpaper. And then I looked at my lips in the mirror and was like, "Damn, my lips look fuckin' amazing!" So yeah, I started wearing gloss again. I decided to get three shades of the new Marc Jacobs Enamored glosses, 'cause the formula is fantastic: smooth, creamy, non-sticky, and semi-opaque with ultra-high shine and a subtle sweet peppermint scent.

Viseart Eyeshadow Palette in 07 Cool Mattes
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Classico Mascara, Ardency Inn Modster Easy Ride Supercharged Liquid Liner, Urban Decay Brow Beater in Taupe, and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
And that leads me to eye products. I decided to get another Viseart eyeshadow palette because I love the other three that I have (honestly, they've become my favourite eyeshadows of all time, which is saying a lot). I especially love the Neutral Mattes palette, but it's mostly warm shades, so I decided to get the new Cool Mattes palette to round them out. I've found that Viseart's matte shades are especially noteworthy — they're ultra-pigmented but blend like a dream, and there's no powdery kickback or fallout at all. They're just gorgeous, gorgeous eyeshadows; expensive for a pre-filled palette but worth every penny. I also picked up two mascaras I've never tried before but have heard amazing things about: Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 and Armani's Eyes to Kill (I have tried Eyes to Kill Excess, which I liked but found a little too clumpy for my liking — and I like a bit of clump in my mascaras — so I think this will fare better). I love my Urban Decay Perversion, but you know, I just wanna try something new. I've been interested in trying out new liquid eyeliners as well because I'm in a bit of a rut (there are a lot that I like, but none of them are my ride-or-dies — I used to love the Lancôme one, but I think I've become allergic to it because it leaves an angry red rash on my eyelids), so I also picked Ardency Inn's liquid liner, as well as two new eyebrow pencils: the new Brow Beater from Urban Decay, and another Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown (I have Taupe, which was a bit too ashy, and Soft Brown, which is a bit too dark, so this is in the middle).

Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream and Clarisonic Sensitive Skin Replacement Brush Heads
Boscia Sake Treatment Water and Black Charcoal Blotting Linens
Finally, I got some essentials: a new tube of Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream, which besides smelling awesome (like lemon cupcakes) is also super-hydrating and non-greasy so I like to use it at work (I love the L'Occitane hand cream because it's more repairing, but I only use it at home because it takes a lot longer to absorb); a new brush head replacement twin pack for my Clarisonic because I've had the same brush for over a year now (yeah, I'm gross like that); and a couple of packs of my favourite Boscia Black Charcoal Blotting Linens, which I still think are the best oil-absorbing sheets on the market today (also, these ones smell really good). The only skincare item I got is the new Boscia Sake Treatment Water. I've gotten really into "essences" lately (which is that step after cleanser and toner, but before serums and moisturizers) and have been loving May Coop's Raw Sauce, so when I read the reviews for the Boscia one, I was immediately interested in it. It's totally not necessary ('cause, really, who needs a five-step skincare regimen?), but I have found it to make my skin extra soft and hydrated and smooth (could be a coincidence, but I've been getting a lot of compliments on my skin lately), so I think this might become essential for me, at least in the winter months.

Shu Uemura Shu:Palette Pressed Eyeshadow Palette
Maison Kitsuné for Shu Uemura Party Mixer Glitz Nail Enamel in Plum Glitz and Indigo Glitz, and Curious Eye-Opening Premium Curler Eyelash Curler
I thought I was done with all my cosmetics shopping after the Sephora VIB sale, but I was clearly mistaken. Because that's when I got an e-mail for Shu Uemura's VIP sale, which they have every year in November (right around the same time as Sephora's VIB sale, actually, so I don't think it's a coincidence), and offer 25% off everything from their website. I did not need one damn thing, of course, but I couldn't resist because I am a fucking makeup junkie. So I finally picked up the highly-lauded, overly-hyped Shu:Palette, which was created to "re-define 'nude' to perfectly blend in with Asian skin tones and eye shapes." I was like, "Well, I'm Asian. I have eyes. I need this." So that was that. And of course, I had to get something from the Maison Kitsuné collaboration 'cause it's so goddamn cute, so I picked up both of the nail enamels in Plum Glitz (a reddened plum with magenta and gold micro-shimmer) and Indigo Glitz (a dark navy with blue, teal, and copper micro-shimmer), and the gold eye lash curler because I had to replace my old one, anyway (I get a new one every year because Shu Uemura doesn't sell the rubber pads on their own), and this one is made with 24K plated gold. I think I'm allergic to their original one, actually, because I always get these little eczema patches where the curler touches my face, and this one doesn't do that, so I think the original has nickel in it. Either way, they're the same price. And this one is gold.

MAC Fluidline Pen in Retro Black, Indelibly Blue, Privet, and Vintage Brown
China Glaze Cheers Collection: Coal Hands, Warm Heart; Brand Spankin' New Year; Don't Get Elfed Up; I Soiree I Didn't Do It; Break the Ice; and Bring on the Bubbly
TokyoMilk Dark Excess No. 28 Shea Butter Handcreme
I thought November would be the month where I would make no purchases from MAC, but again, I was mistaken. On Black Friday, they did a one-day preview release of their new Fluidline Pen (it is now available online for purchase), so I bought all four shades (black, navy, teal green, and dark cool brown). And they are stunning. It is similar to the Stila one in the ease of use and the flow of ink, but I find I can manipulate the nib more and the ink is more matte. This one might actually become my ride-or-die. I will test it further and report back. Lastly, I bought some new nail polish. I don't buy a lot of China Glaze (I think the last shade I bought was like, four years ago?), but their Cheers collection for Holiday 2015 is gorgeous. I was looking at swatches online and got my six favourite shades. And because I accumulated a shit load of points on Nail Polish Canada, I redeemed them for a tube of TokyoMilk's Dark Excess No. 28 Shea Butter Handcreme. It reminds me of a really old house with creaky hardwood floors and wood-paneled walls that has just been cleaned (it has notes of amber resin, oak bark, blood orange, and patchouli)... but in a good, non-creepy, non-haunting way. I really like the darker, more gothic aesthetic of TokyoMilk, but I wouldn't personally spend $26 on their hand creams (they are made by Margot Elena, who also does Lollia and Love & Toast) which smell good and have fantastic packaging, but I don't find particularly soothing or repairing or hydrating as other brands like L'Occitane, Bliss, or Caudalie, which all have similar price points. So I wait until I have enough points to redeem for it, because you should always redeem your points on the shit you'd never pay for with your own money.

Zara Lace Jacket and Zipped Crepe Blazer
Zara Combined Lace Top and Draped Top
I did actually buy non-cosmetic items, too, you know. I recently switched positions at work so I thought it would be a good opportunity to update my wardrobe. Normally, I'd shop at Aritzia, especially since they were having their big Black Friday sale... but nothing really caught my eye, and their prices, even on sale, are still pretty steep. So I hopped over to the Zara website to see what they have. It's the weirdest thing, because I never shop at Zara (I think I bought a coat from them like, five years ago), and the things I bought weren't on sale, either. But I realized that they have a great variety of styles and trends and are really quite affordable. Not like, H&M or Forever 21 affordable, but like, half-the-price-of-Aritzia affordable. I hate going into Zara stores because they're always packed and their displays are always a mess and there's always a massive line-up for the dressing rooms, but I don't know why the hell I never shopped there online before, especially for black clothing, 'cause they have a great selection plus free exchanges or returns in store. Anyway, I bought two newjackets, a couple of silkytops, and a couple of their body shaping leggings (which actually make my butt look quite good). I also took the opportunity to look for some shoes from Aldo during their Black Friday sale, and ended up getting the Arielle booties for $69.99 from $130, the Umalen booties for $62.99 from $130, and the Amela boots for $62.99 from $120. I'm tempted to grab a couple more pairs of boots because it really is a ridiculously good sale...

Pitch Perfect 2, iZombie: The Complete First Season, Bitten: The Complete First and Second Seasons, and Orange is the New Black: Seasons 1 and 2
Last, but not least, I picked up some DVDs. Weird, right? I've been so into reading that I haven't properly watched TV in well over a year, whether it's through streaming, downloading, or Netflix (which I don't even have). But Amazon was having their Black Friday sale, and I was like, "Eh, there's no harm in just browsing." I saw that Pitch Perfect 2 was on sale for 70% off, so I added that to my cart... and then I noticed that iZombie (developed by Veronica Mars creator, Rob Thomas) was 50% off, so I added that... and then I saw that Seasons 1 and 2 of Orange is the New Black were on sale for 70% off, so I got those, too... and Seasons 1 and 2 of Bitten were also on sale for 60% off... And now I have enough television shows to last me the next year. 
What did you get during the Sephora VIB sale? Did you get any good deals during Black Friday?

Pick-Ups & Deliveries: December 2014

Obviously, the holiday season is all about giving and receiving... and buying yourself gifts. I mean, what's the fun in shopping for presents if none of them are for yourself, right? Plus, all the holiday sales happened, and we knew I'd get tempted to get one or two (or a million) things. So last month's haul started pretty much right on the first weekend when I went to the Estée Lauder warehouse sale, which was thankfully really disappointing so I didn't spend a ridiculous amount of money there. I only came out with six Bumble and Bumble products, which were on sale for 2 for $15.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Creme Rinse Conditioner (x2), Let It Shine Conditioner (x2), Let It Shine Shampoo, and Gentle Shampoo
Sigma E35 and E40 Tapered Blending Brushes
Cirque Colors Nail Lacquer in Dark Horse, Josephine, Boudoir, Le Invader, XX, and Stella
A-England Nail Varnish in Crown of Thistles and Fotheringhay Castle
TokyoMilk Dark Bittersweet No. 83 Shea Butter Handcreme
One day, around 2:00 in the morning, I was browsing online stores as usual and decided to peruse the Nail Polish Canada site. I was actually on there to look at Z Palettes, and ended up getting four Sigma eyeshadow brushes, plus six Cirque and two A-England nail polishes instead. None of it was on sale; I was just impulse buying. Okay, I had been wanting the eyeshadow brushes for a while (I was hoping to get some during IMATS, but no one was selling them separately and I didn't want to buy sets), but as you all know, I have no sense when it comes to nail polish. I've been on a Cirque kick lately, and having been so impressed with all the shades I bought a couple months ago, I decided to see what other ones I missed out on. I picked up four from older collections, and then two from their latest collection, Burlesque. I also took the opportunity to take a look at the new offerings from A-England while I was on there. I haven't been 'wow'-ed with A-England's releases in a while (their Ballerina collection was disappointing to me, if only because all the shades looked so similar to each other, much like their Gothic Beauties collection), but when I saw their latest Elizabeth & Mary collection, I knew immediately that I had to have these two shades. At least all my shopping on that site paid off: I had enough Polish Points to redeem for a full-size tube of TokyoMilk hand cream (which retails for $22).
Boscia Luminizing Black Mask and Black Charcoal Blotting Linens
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum
MAC Ultimate Lipsticks
I decided to go into Sephora when I got e-mailed a coupon for $25 off any purchase of $50 or more. They still had some of those Boscia Black Friday kits that included a full-size pack of my favourite Black Charcoal Blotting Linens, plus a 30 ml tube of their Luminizing Black Mask for $12 (which is actually cheaper than a pack of those blotting sheets on their own), so I snatched one up. And then I decided to use my coupon on a new bottle of Caudalie's Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum. I finished up my last bottle in September, and it's become an essential for me in the winter (I like to use it all year round, but I really feel the difference in the winter when I layer it under my moisturizer). It's one of my favourite serums of all time, and definitely the most effective hydration serum I've ever used, so if your skin feels tight or parched at all, you should definitely look into this one. Plus, it smells good. Kinda boring purchases, but I was so proud of myself for using the coupon on something I actually needed (especially after November's VIB sale)... until MAC released their new Ultimate Lipsticks (which I have reviewed here, here, and here), and I proceeded to buy all of them...
Rebecca Minkoff Bowery Crossbody Bag in Ink
Wilfred Mayet Jacket and Talula Soho Blouse
I randomly got an e-mail from Bloomingdale's saying that I had a $75 rewards gift card that was going to expire soon. I got really confused because we don't even have a Bloomingdale's here in Canada. And then I remembered the little shopping spree I had with my mom when we were in NYC last Spring. Apparently, we spent enough money that I got $75 worth of rewards points. So I went on their website to check out what was left of their Black Friday sales. I found this Rebecca Minkoff bag on sale for $206.50 from $295, and then used my $75 electronic gift card. And got free shipping to my brother's apartment in NYC (he was coming back to Toronto for Christmas, anyway). A few weeks later, Aritzia was having their Boxing Day sale, which usually doesn't excite me because they typically have terrible markdowns (like, $5 off a $125 sweater). But I guess they finally decided to up their game, because for the first time in the 12 years I've been shopping there, they actually had legitimate price reductions. After perusing for nearly a hour on their website, I ended up getting a black Wilfred Mayet Jacket (for $149 from $225), a black Talula Soho Blouse (for $19.99 from $40), and a pair of black Paradise Mine High Rise Jeggings (for $99 from $135).

David's Tea David's Top 3 Teas Set and The Nordic Tea Mug
David's Tea The Winter Collection: Apple Custard Fruit Infusion, Bubbie’s Baklava Oolong Tea, Vanilla Chai Organic Black Tea, Sugar Plum Forest Rooibos, Cocomint Cream Fruit Infusion, and 20 Filters
David's Tea The Perfect Tea Mug and Forever Nuts Tea Scented Candle
I was at David's Tea getting a Christmas gift for my mom and decided to get a little something for myself, too, 'cause it's hard not to get tempted in there (even if you don't like tea, you somehow start to like it after you leave). They were having a bundle deal that included a Nordic Tea Mug and a set of three teas for $35, which worked out well because I was looking for a mug that included a tea strainer. So I got one with a cute bird design, and picked the David's Top 3 teas trio, which includes their Mother's Little Helper, Cream of Earl Grey, and Forever Nuts. Because I spent over $50 including my mom's gift (and also because I joined their Frequent Steeper program), I also got their Winter Collection tea set for free. And I guess I made my love for David's Tea pretty well-known, because then I got a Perfect Tea Mug and a Forever Nuts tea scented candle from my Secret Santa a couple weeks later.

Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast 3-Wick Candle and Bear Hug Shea-Infused Lounge Socks
EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balms in Vanilla Mint, Coconut Milk, and Passion Fruit
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita, Urban Decay Perversion Mascara, Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue, and Formula X Effects Nail Color in Capricious and Devious
Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture, Rush, and Fiend
Lush Snow Angel Luxury Bath Melt, Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion, So White Shower Gel, Each Peach Massage Bar, and Snowcake Soap
Other Christmas gifts I got this year include a Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast 3-wick candle and a pair of my favourite shea-infused lounge socks, plus three EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balms from another Secret Santa; a NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita and a tube of my favourite Urban Decay Perversion Mascara from my friend Viv; and Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue and two Formula X nail polishes in Capricious and Devious from my friend Suze (seems random, but I actually made her a wishlist with these). I also got a Sephora gift card for Christmas, so I got three more Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks in Rapture, Rush, and Fiend (I'm really into muted rose and plum shades right now). My friend Fran, who works at Lush, gave me a really cute gift box set that included a Snow Angel Luxury Bath Melt, Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion, plus Snowcake Soap, and then added an extra bottle of So White Shower Gel ('cause she knows it's my favourite), plus an Each Peach Massage Bar (which I've wanted to try for a while).

Nikon 1 J4 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm F3.5-5.6 PD Lens
Finally, my brother got me a brand new camera! I have been using a Nikon 1 J1 for a couple years now, but I dropped it a few months ago and broke the battery latch (the thing that holds the battery in the camera), so it won't work unless I tie like, six rubber bands around it. So my brother ordered me the Nikon 1 J4, which is the latest version of the J1. What can I say? I was spoiled this Christmas.

What did you get for Christmas this year? And did you do any Boxing Day shopping?