Saturday, December 24, 2011

Candy Cane Red Velvet Trifle Recipe

This is the recipe we'll be making for Christmas Dinner this Sunday! We found it in LCBO's "Food and Drink" magazine.... yum!
This trifle takes trendy red velvet cake right into the holiday season. Red and white layers visually mimic a candy cane and a hint of pepper mint balanced against cream cheese and white chocolate takes it over the top for a trifle all ages can enjoy. If you can’t find peppermint oil for the cream, you can substitute about ½ tsp (2 mL) peppermint extract. For a different presentation, this recipe works equally well made in 6 to 8 individual portions.
CAKE:
  • 2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour, spooned in and levelled off
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) Dutch process unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) red food colouring
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
  • 1 cup (250 mL) buttermilk
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) apple cider vinegar
** If you don't want to make cake from scratch, buy Devil's Food chocolate cake mix instead

CREAM CHEESE & WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
  • 1 cup (250 mL) whipping cream
  • 6 oz (175 g) white chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (250 mL) deli-style cream cheese
PEPPERMINT CREAM:
  • 2 cups (500 mL) whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup (60 mL) sugar
  • 1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) peppermint oil (or to taste)
GARNISH:
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) crushed candy cane

DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Farenheit (160 degrees Celcius)
  2. Butter a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan and line the bottom with parchment paper
  3. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Reserve.
  4. Beat butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well and scraping down sides of bowl between additions. Add food colouring and vanilla until uniform.
  5. Add a third of the flour mixture to the batter, beating until combined. Add half of the buttermilk. Repeat, adding alternating ingredients until all the flour mixture and buttermilk have been incorporated.
  6. Combine baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl, and stir until it foams. Add to batter and mix just until fully incorporated. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and then turn out on a rack, remove parchment paper and cool fully. Reserve.
  7. To make ganache, bring cream just to a boil on medium heat. Remove from heat, add white chocolate and let stand, stirring occasionally, until white chocolate is melted and mixture is combined.
  8. Place cream cheese in a bowl and whisk in white chocolate mixture a little at a time until fully combined. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until ganache is cold and slightly thickened.
  9. To make peppermint cream, beat cream with sugar and peppermint oil until it holds soft peaks. Reserve.
  10. To assemble, cut cake into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes with a serrated knife. Spoon about 1/3 cup (80 mL) of ganache into the bottom of a large glass trifle dish or decorative bowl. Place half of cubed cake into dish fitting them tightly to make a single layer. Spoon about 1 cup of ganache over cake to make an even layer. Dollop on a little less than hald of the peppermint cream, and repeat layers, ending with peppermint cream. Sprinkle trifle with crushed candy canes just before serving
Serves 8 to 10

Happy Cooking & Happy Holidays!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Packing for University

I've almost finished packing for university! I'm off to the University of Western Ontario in 2 days and was instructed to pack "a shopping cart" size amount...




... As you can see, I've definitely exceeded my shopping cart!

Although I'm not a big fan of packing, it's something you have to do so often in life that you have to build your packing skills sometime or another. 

If you're packing for University or College, you MUST check out this list (it's how I survived packing): http://freshmantips.tumblr.com/post/7333968292/superlist-what-to-bring-to-college

Most of my storage items were bought at Walmart - you don't really need to go all-out at IKEA or Home Sense for your first year in residence. Something I did invest in, however, was my beautiful comforter :) With an all-white room, I wanted a big splash of color, and found it at Bouclair! It's called "Frenzy" and is my absolute favorite item I've packed so far! 

I'd love to hear your packing stories and how you've managed to deal with packing for your post-secondary experience! Comment below and share :) 

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo




Something Beautiful: September 2nd



Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?


How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in love

Seasons of love. Seasons of love...

And the Winner is...

Congratulations to Miss Callie Weatherbee for winning the SP Beauty contest on Facebook! She will be receiving 12 full sized beauty products, one every month for 12 months. We just hand-delivered her first order... a big tasty jar of Whoopie Cream:


We love it too, Callie! If you want to try out the infamous Whoopie cream as well, you're in luck because it's currently on sale for just $24.97. Get it while it's still in stock!

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo



Thursday, August 25, 2011

Beauty Giveaway - enter now!

I'm ironing out all the details today for our lucky winner of the SP Beauty Giveaway on Facebook! 12 full sized, delectable beauty products from our store that are ready to be given away...

And luckily... THERE IS STILL TIME TO ENTER! The contest ends August 31st 2011, and all you have to do is post a picture of you and your favorite beauty product on our Facebook wall! I secretly entered, don't tell anybody...


But really, the prizes are fantastic! I want it to be a surprise for the winner, but I just have to tell you that the fantastic, amazing $30.00 Whoopie! Cream that I'm holding in that picture is one of the 12 products being sent out to the winner :) 

Total Prizepack Value: $500.00 + 

I wish you all the best in entering... good luck! Enter here: www.facebook.com/spbeautyshop

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo

Something Beautiful: August 25th


Peak and Pit: August 25th

I keep doing these so early in the day, but I feel like today I really need to do this post early... I need some perspective this morning for this terrible amount of stress pouring down on me.

Peak: My brother came to wake me up this morning for our bike ride and jumped on my bed! Usually I wouldn't be so happy about this, but fortunately I woke up on my own this morning (no alarm clock necessary) so it rather brightened my day :)

Pit: My sister and brother had a little kerfuffle this morning, leaving my lil' bro in a bad mood for our bike ride.. I came home to eat my cereal and somebody had left the milk bag empty...

Oh the little things; can't let them build and build - it's all about perspective!

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo 


Monday, August 22, 2011

Something Beautiful: August 22nd


Peak and Pit: August 22nd

Peak: I found this article today called 21 Ways to Stress-Free Living and Decluttering Your Mind (http://womenonthefence.com/2011/08/22/21-ways-to-stress-free-living-and-decluttering-your-mind/)... needless to say, I realize that my mind is quite cluttered with all that's going on right now and found this article beyond helpful! I will be following it to a tee for the next week :)

Pit: My mom isn't at home to make lunch! Boo! ;) I'll just have to make my own kraft dinner...

Life isn't so bad, it's all about perception and perspective. Enjoy it!

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Top 10 Beauty Habits to Break


Found this on the "Elle & Blair" blog and had to share! I've definitely committed some of these beauty crimes, so hopefully recognizing this will help me remember... STOP BITING NAILS :) Check it out: 

The top ten offenders that you need to ditch ASAP… 

  1. Nail & cuticle biting: This habit is insanely unsanitary and will leave your hands and nails looking super unsightly (Ew!). 
  2. Touching your hair too much or pulling your split ends: Your hair gets greasy so fast when you touch it too much, which forces you to wash it more. When you over wash you hair, it’s left brittle and dry. (This “don’t touch too much” rule also applies to your face!) Also, breaking off your split ends will only create more split ends so it’s better to wait and have your hair trimmed instead of trying to do it yourself during your boring third period class.
  3. Forgetting to floss: Only rappers want a gold grill, so take a few minutes each day or night and floss those pearly whites! Fun fact—people who floss have way whiter teeth.
  4. Not washing your face every night: Promise yourself that you will take 5 minutes every night to wash your face and remove your makeup. The future you will thank you for it!
  5. Skipping the SPF: No one wants to end up looking like a raisin, so slater on a sunscreen with an SPF above 30 every morning (especially to your face) and when you plan on spending time in the sun. Thankfully, there are lots of great sunless options if you really want to be tan!
  6. Not drinking enough water: Water is beyond important to your beauty routine, drink 8 glasses a day and fix your dry skin!
  7. Using dirty makeup brushes: Once again, this is a super unsanitary habit that you need to ditch ASAP! Not only does this spread germs like a wildfire, it could lead to serious infections, which is never a good thing. Let’s just say pink-eye is never a beauty ”do.” 
  8. Over exfoliating: Too much of a good thing is usually never good. Over exfoliating your skin (especially your face) can be harmful because it removes important oils from your skin and will over dry it, which can spur acne breakouts and even infections. Make sure you limit your facial scrubbing to only two times per week. 
  9. Picking your zits: Don’t do it! It’s so SO bad for you and it can lead to permanent scarring and will cause more breakouts.
  10. Over plucking your eyebrows: Your eyebrows are like the frame of your face so keep them tamed, but don’t over do it! 
What bad beauty habit are you trying to break? 

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Something Beautiful: August 18th


How to Get Long Hair: SECRETS TO LONG, THICK, SHINY HAIR


DON'T IGNORE YOUR SCALP
Turns out there's truth behind the old adage of brushing your hair 100 strokes every night. Here's why: When brush bristles come in contact with your scalp, they stimulate blood flow, which can jump-start your hair growth. The key is using natural bristles because they are gentler than damaging metal and synthetic versions and will prevent your hair from splitting and breaking off before you achieve your desired length. "It's all about the bristles," says Townsend, who favors Mason Pearson boar-bristle hairbrushes. New York-based fashion designers Lisa Marie Fernandez and Rachel Roy are both fans of another hair-growth ritual, scalp massages. "I pay someone to come to my house once a month and give me a 40-minute hot-oil scalp treatment," says Roy. "The massage stimulates growth." For an at-home treatment, try massaging essential oils into your scalp to boost circulation. We like Phyto Phytopolléine Universal Elixir ($32), with rosemary, eucalyptus, and lemon.

INVEST IN SUPPLEMENTS

There is no better way to strengthen weak strands than a daily supplement. "Biotin is amazing for the hair and nails," says Townsend, who has seen major changes in the tresses of his supplement-taking clients. Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder, who works with stars like Drew Barrymore and Olivia Wilde, agrees. A daily liquid dose of a B-complex vitamin "helps strengthen the hair and nails," she says. Try Garden of Life Vitamin Code Liquid Multivitamin ($46.95) with vitamin B complex, which is easily absorbed by the stomach and works more efficiently than taking a B6 or a B12 vitamin alone, she says. Another favorite hair booster of in-the-know celebrities, hairstylists, and models is a pill called Viviscal ($49.99 for 60 tablets), a natural blend of fish proteins, horsetail extract, and vitamin C that when taken twice daily for six months promises to deliver major growth and smoother, thicker strands. "I'm a firm believer in it," says Townsend, who has recommended it to at least six A-listers with successful results. He adds, "If you take it, you'll have a gorgeous head of hair." Actress Liv Tyler told Bazaar she started taking it as well after hearing buzz from friends.

HEALTHY DIET = HAIR GROWTH

If you really want to see permanent, positive changes to your hair's health, diet adjustments are crucial but can take one to two months to begin to have an effect. "Your hair comes from what you eat and drink," explains Townsend, who uses his client Jessica Biel as an example. "She has gorgeous hair and is probably the healthiest person I've ever met, so I attribute it to her diet," he says. Snyder recommends filling your plate with green vegetables like kale, Swiss chard, and spinach, which contain sebum-producing vitamins A and C; they act as natural hair conditioners and shine boosters. Chia or pumpkin seeds tossed on top of your salad add omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and iron, all of which help maintain healthy hair. Actress and TV host Padma Lakshmi credits her long locks to a diet of lean proteins like eggs, chicken, fish, and veal.

WASH LESS, CONDITION MORE

Lathering up daily can dry out your hair by stripping away the naturally occurring oils that act as your scalp's built-in conditioner and help fight split ends — and minimal split ends means less you need to chop. Experts agree: Scale back washing sessions to once or twice a week (try Fekkai Au Naturel Dry Shampoo, $23, as a refresher), and when you do shampoo, use a gentle formula likeSachajuan Scalp Shampoo ($25) or L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo ($6.99). Focus your attention on hydration. "Conditioning treatments are crucial," says Serge Normant, Julia Roberts's longtime stylist, who says combing through your hair while the conditioner is still in it helps to keep knots from forming and to avoid the breakage that occurs when you try to brush through post-shower tangles.

BOOST SHINE

For instant luminosity, try Liv Tyler's trick: "Before I get out of the shower, I do a cold-water splash, which makes my hair extra shiny," she says. Townsend does the same for his clients. "It shocks the hair and seals the cuticle," he says. "Shiny hair always looks healthier," says Normant, but beware of in-salon glossing treatments as a solution. While they can help smooth down the cuticle, they won't treat your hair and can dry out your scalp. Best bet: Try one before a big event to increase shine, but use Dove Nourishing Oil Care Leave-In Smoothing Cream ($4.74) for daily glossiness.



TRICKS TO THICKEN HAIR

The biggest mistake people make when trying to add thickness is product overload. "The more product you have in, the flatter your hair will look the next day," warns Dan Sharp, T3's lead hairstylist and Liv Tyler's mane man. Skip heavy conditioners, which weigh hair down, and try lighter options like Kérastase Paris Nutritive Lait Vital Conditioner ($39) and volumizing styling products likeJohn Frieda Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher ($6.50). And remember, your haircut and blow-dryer matter. Multifunctional ionic dryers work for everyone. The Sedu Revolution 3600i Lightweight Ionic Styling Dryer ($159.99) cuts your drying time in half and features an ionic generator that can be clicked on to battle frizz and create smoothness or turned off for more volume. Ask your stylist to cut layers into your hair without touching the length. "That extra movement makes the hair look and behave like thicker hair," explains Sharp. Since scraggly ends aren't attractive, book trims every eight weeks.

PUT DOWN THE FLATIRON

Stylist's warning: Avoid the urge to blow-dry or flatiron your hair more than a few times each week, since heat damage is a key culprit of fried, lifeless locks. "The use of hot tools on a daily basis is what causes people to have ugly long hair and not healthy, shiny, gorgeous long hair," explains hair pro Oribe, whose celeb client roster includes Jennifer Lopez. When you do use your blow-dryer, "keep the nozzle a distance of five inches from your hair" to prevent overheating, which causes breakage, explains Normant. Try tools proven to speed-dry your locks, like T3's Featherweight Dryer ($200), a favorite of longhaired model Jacquelyn Jablonski. After flatironing, apply Pantene Pro-V Split End Repair Crème ($5.99), which binds frayed ends back together. Focus on ironing your roots, not ends, since hair gets thinner toward the bottom.

TRIM, DON'T CHOP

It's true: The more often you snip, the longer your hair grows without broken, tattered pieces — if your stylist cuts the right amount. "If you want long hair, it's important to find a hairdresser who understands what you want; there is no need to take off two inches when you can remove the split ends in a quarter inch," Oribe advises. Designer Vera Wang, famous for her long locks, maintains her precise length with regular visits to New York hair pro Hiro Haraguchi every six weeks "to avoid split ends," she says.

EASILY FAKE LONGER LOCKS

Expensive, often severely damaging hair extensions are not the only way to increase length. Cheat with styling techniques that instantly add inches. "The straighter your hair, the longer it looks," says Oribe. And since straight, flat surfaces reflect light, you'll maximize shine, adds Sharp. Straightening your curls "can add three to four inches of length," notes Sharp, but if you prefer loose waves, he recommends "getting your roots and ends straight and flat and focusing your curling iron in the middle for sexy movement." For long ponytails, placement is key. "The lower you tie it, the longer it will be," says Townsend. Try Oribe Signature Royal Blowout spray ($42) for a smooth foundation to start off any style.

Read more: How to Get Long Hair - Expert Tips for Long Shiny Hair - Harper's BAZAAR

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Five Lessons Your Business Can Learn From the Hottest Celebrities


I just read this on The Balancing Act's website and had to share! Love the people, the message and the post in general...

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Today’s celebrities aren’t just entertainers, they are brands and businesses. Here are 5 lessons you can learn from some of the hottest celebrities around:

Lady Gaga — Love Your Customers and They Will Love You: Lady Gaga loves her fans so much that she has nicknamed them (Little Monsters) and makes sure to acknowledge them often. This is a great strategy for business — it is much easier to market more products and services to your existing customers that are already raving fans than to try to find new ones. So, make sure your customers know that they are loved and keep telling them — they will buy more from you and advocate for you — loyalty is the way to go!

Justin Bieber — Go Niche: Many of us don’t understand the appeal of Justin Bieber, but we aren’t his niche — it’s tween and teen girls. They love him and he knows how to leverage that. Focus on a very distinct target market and know what that market cares about. I remember a very successful shoe store in Chicago that employed a similar strategy. They had only really cute guys working there, who flattered every female customer incessantly as they tried on shoes. That store did very well. Once you are solid in knowing your target market, find a hook that has a strong appeal to them.

The Kardashians — Strike While the Iron Is Hot: To say that the Kardashians have not been shy about exploiting their brands is like saying that fire is kind of hot. The Kardashian girls endorse clothing, perfume, diet supplements and more! What they know is that no business cycle lasts forever, so they are not shy about maximizing their potential while they can. The same goes for your business. Business cycles are shortening, so don’t be afraid to make the most of your opportunities while you are hot.

Chelsea Handler — Do it Your Way: You don’t have to recreate the wheel to be innovative, you just need to bring something new to the table. There are many late night talk shows, but Chelsea Handler has become the queen of late night by bringing a new authentic voice to the market. So, the innovation comes from the way that she approaches something that has existed for decades. Your business can bring a new marketing strategy, distribution channel or value-add to the market without having to come up with the next big idea.

Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan (And Some Other New Celebrity Just About Every Day) — Even a Good Brand Can Become Tarnished: Even if you have something valuable to offer, if you are a jerk, eventually folks won’t want to do business with you. Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan are just some of the celebrities that have learned that the hard way. You can’t get complacent in your business — you need to continually work to earn the trust and respect of your vendors, clients and employees!

Who are other celebrities that teach you great business lessons? Share below.
Follow Carol Roth on Twitter: www.twitter.com/caroljsroth
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What do you think - can we learn business lessons from celebs?

Peak and Pit: August 17th

I realize it's a bit early to have a "peak and pit" post, being that I've only been awake for 2 hours, however I haven't blogged in about a week and have some peaks and pits that have been building up! Bare with me ;)

Peak: Finding tons of cool new beauty products during my morning scour of the internet - hello HappyMe skincare! Also, seeing the rising numbers on our Facebook fan pages -- hello 1000+ members! :)

Pit: Realizing how quickly summer has managed to fly by, and how soon I'll be leaving for school! Don't get me wrong, I am very excited to begin my journey at UWO as a first-year student, however I'll miss my family... way.. too...much...!

I'll be back with more later today :) ... TTFN!

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Something Beautiful: August 11th

Something Beautiful I found today:



This photos are dream-like, ethereal, and insanely captivating. I want a poster of these shots! Absolutely lovely.

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo

Letters From Strangers Project


The newest addition to my To-Do List and quite the inspirational and hopefully world-changing project... "Letters From Strangers." I found this social experiment while doing my daily browsing of beauty blogs, and may I just say that this is the most beautiful thing I've found in too long. 

What is Letters From Strangers?
"Letters from Strangers is an exchange of words, a social experiment, and community art project aiming to connect human beings from around the world. You send me an anonymous letter written to a stranger and a self addressed envelope. I repackage your letter and send it off to another stranger. Then I send a random letter from a stranger to you." - Katie, owner of Letters From Strangers

Some Letters We've Seen...


















If you want to send your own letter, address your thoughtful letter to: 

Peak and Pit: August 11th

Peak(s): I've had a peak-filled day so far...



Pit: My sister has had poison ivy for 2 weeks now and it doesn't seem to be getting much better - she's been at Kabuum Volleyball Camp all this week enduring the pain! Hope she gets better soon!

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo

Monday, August 8, 2011

Is Coconut Water the Next Big Thing?


A post from Beautylish that I just have to share:
Coconut water is everywhere these days. On the streets, in magazines, Rihanna is even promoting it! But how beneficial is it to your health and skin? We spoke to some experts about the benefits of coconut water and whether it's worth the switch.
We consulted nutrition and skin care expert Dr. Nicholas Perricone about coconut water and according to him, this tropical elixir has multiple benefits for your skin. "It's rich in mineral salts and is the ideal antidote to parched, stressed skin. Coconut water rehydrates while normalizing combination skin and is anti-microbial and anti-fungal, which will give you a radiant, clean, and clear complexion." It's also a great drink for exercising, says wellness expert Dr. Frank Lipman. "Coconut water is rich in a host of minerals, including potassium, manganese, calcium and magnesium, so it is great to drink post-workout to replace both your fluids and electrolytes. It’s a much healthier version of Gatorade or any of the sports drinks as it is low in sugar and full of electrolytes.  I also love using coconut water in a smoothie instead of water." It can be too much of a good thing though. "I would not recommend more than two bottles a day. People should not drink it as if it is regular water," says Dr. Lipman
So Beauties, we leave it up to you! Do you love coconut water too?

The Internal Jury

I always like sharing interesting reads I come across while browsing the internet in all my free time (haha) -- this one is particularly special as it comes from the CEO of Pangea Organics, Joshua Onysko. I find his writing very free and true to thought, and also feel as though this specific blog post of his applies to so many different areas of my life. Try it out & let me know what you think...what is your voir dire? 

Voir dire (English pronunciation: vwÉ‘r diÉ™r) that which is true. Voir dire is a phrase adopted by the United States legal system and refers to the process of jury member selection (or more appropriately rejection) based off of an individual’s background and potential biases. In origin, it refers to an oath to tell the truth (Latin verum dicere), i.e., to say what is true, what is objectively accurate or subjectively honest in content, or both.
I was recently canoeing across Jenny Lake in the Tetons and my good friend Ian Loyd, who is a public defender in New Mexico, and he was explaining the process of voir dire as it pertains to the United States legal system. He explained that maneuvering this process is an art form; it takes years of practice, often an entire career, to truly perfect.
Voir dire also pertains to our daily lives. We are constantly exercising our internal jury to sift through our thoughts, actions, and reactions. This would be fine if we learned how to hone our voir dire skills and to create a well-vetted internal jury. However, I find that in my own mind I am often too quick to judge myself or a situation I am in. For example, when particular circumstances arise in our lives, we react in a certain way, and we truly believe that our reaction is based on the fullness of our experience…then a few days pass, and we realize that we were actually reacting to a completely separate event and that the original experience was simply a trigger. Imagine if we could see that complete reality first, in every moment. An extreme evolution. It all comes down to the internal jury…seems to be something worth exploring.
I’ll see you in court.
Joshua Scott Onysko

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The Rationale Behind Limited Edition Items

There's something very intriguing about limited edition products, more specifically limited edition fragrances. Only so many beautiful bottles are filled, produced and shipped until they run out of that gloriously scent of special. Why are people so attracted to the "one of a kind" nature of these fragrances?

...Is that even a question?

Everybody wants to be unique. Little do they know, they already are. You don't need a limited edition anything to be one in a million. However, I can definitely see the appeal because I get sucked into the must-have vortex every time I see those two magnetic words.

I just had this experience today, while browsing Twitter. Kim Kardashian posted this tweet: "OMG! Check out my limited edition wedding fragrance LOVE! How fab is the bottle?" Wedding fragance? A fab bottle? Neither of those things should interest me because (1) I am not getting married anytime soon, and (2) I want a fab fragrance, not a fab bottle (well, maybe I want a fab-ish bottle). Why did I click on the twitter post and go searching for more information? Why did I have to know about this limited edition fragrance? Come on, smartie, I think you know the answer already. It's because of the "one of a kind" nature of the product. I wanted to be one of the only ones to have my hands on that scent.


After being directed to Miss Kardashian's blog site, I found her detailed post on the fragrance and this accompanying message: "We’ve only produced 1000 bottles… one for me to wear on my wedding day, 200 for my bridal shower, and 799 for you guys!" Now this is clever. The thoughts running through my head after reading this were...

  • I could save this perfume to use on my wedding day and then smell like Kim will on hers. 
  • Only 799 other "normal" people will have this fragrance? This will be invaluable, I could sell it on Ebay for a fortune!
  • Kim's bridal shower will be filled with famous people - 200 of them. I will be using the same fragrance as those famous people! 


Of course, looking over these thoughts afterwards makes me realize how silly they really are.Although many of these thoughts arise from normal impulse purchasing, they mainly arise from the fact that this perfume is being advertised as a "limited edition" item - and people want it! They want to feel elite, they want to feel important, and they want to feel unique. What is most interesting is that Kim's Love perfume is currently "out of stock" (all 799 bottles have been sold) and is available to pre-order on her site. It is not truly a limited edition product because they can make more, and they will.

Please don't get me wrong about Kim's perfume - after reading the beautiful description of the top notes in the scent, I believe it must be absolutely captivating to wear. I also don't have a problem with limited edition advertising - it is a great way for companies to brand themselves and their products as special and high-end. The problem I have is with consumers' rationale when it comes to impulse purchasing, because many people do not think about how silly their rationale is when they go to buy on impulse. It is not a bad thing to have this rationale, as long as you go back and review it's validity before purchasing. One small impulse buy will not blow your bank account, but they will start to pile up and you will regret it. 

Be aware when it comes to advertising - especially "elite" advertising. You are special and unique on your own, and by no means do you need a limited edition item to be different or high class. You need to be you. 

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo

Peak and Pit: August 3rd

Peak: I had the best workout ever this morning! Pait and I hit the gym and did 15 min on the elliptical, 30 min weight training, and 15 min on treadmill, followed by some nice relaxing stretches. It's a rainy day here in Sudbury today so a good workout was a great way to start the day!

Pit: rain, rain, go away...

scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Peak and Pit: August 2nd

Peak: We scored three new amazing products in our store today: FarmHouse Fresh hand creams (Fluffy Bunny & Whoopie!) plus YSL's infamous and hard-to-find Opium fragrance. Another peak that I have to add is receiving a beautifully written email from one of our customers all the way from South Carolina, complimenting our site (you know who you are)... Thank you so much for brightening my day!

Pit: Nothing really "pit-ish" about today... my sister & I didn't make it to the gym, but that's minor.

Great day so far! Have been productive and on top of things (knock on wood) -- there's no better time than the present!

Check out the new arrivals here: http://www.smellypatch.com/category-s/20.htm


scent full of love,
Jordyn xoxo

What is the SP University Affiliate Program?

It's a super easy way to earn money and a fantastic way of gaining business experience at a young age.


1: What Is The University Affiliate Program?
If you are a first year student looking for a great leadership position on campus, and a great way to earn extra money, this program is for you (see eligibility details in section 4).

2: What is An Affiliate?
An affiliate is someone who promotes a product or service to potential customers, in exchange for a commission on the sale when one occurs. In this case, an affiliate is somebody promoting Smelly Patch & its products to potential customers at their University, in exchange for 10% comission on the selling price when one occurs.

An affiliate is not:
  • a commission sales person
  • an employee of Smelly Patch

3: How Do You Make Money?
If you know plenty of people, making money is simple with this affiliate program. As an affiliate, all you have to do is (1) hand out coupon code cards on campus, (2) get those people to buy from SP, (3) hand out more cards!

If you're thinking "I don't have 1000 friends"... well, do you have 1000 acquaintances? How many first year students are there entering your University? How many people do you suppose walk the streets of your campus everyday? And how many of those people are looking for deals on things they love? The coupon code cards you will be handing out will give these people 10% off anything they order on www.smellypatch.com, an online beauty boutique carrying products that they will absolutely adore.

One last thing... these coupon codes are personalized. This means we have an easy way of tracking the number of people buying on our store using your coupon code, which also means we have an easy way to track your sales. If you want to up your sales, we have countless resources available to all of our University representatives that will be discussed once you become an affiliate. We also promote social networking, so you can make sales off campus as well.

4: Are You Eligible?
To be eligible for the Smelly Patch University Affiliate Program, you must comply with all of the following regulations:
  1. Must be 17 years of age or older
  2. Must be enrolled in University for 2011/2012 year as a first year student
  3. Must be enrolled in a University located in Canada
  4. Must not be employed by a company of conflicting interest (in beauty industry) while an affiliate of The Irie Group (hereby known as Smelly Patch)
  5. Must have access to a computer/laptop with an internet connection
  6. Must be able to set up a personal PayPal account

    Visit our site for more details: http://www.smellypatch.com/affiliate_info.asp
scent full of love,
Jordyn & Paityn xoxo

How Do I Request a Product?

No matter how hard to find, or rare an item, 95% of the time we can find it for you!

All you have to do to request a product is send an email to service@smellypatch.com with the subject "Product Request" and a message detailing the product you are looking for (brand, product name...).

When we find your unique product & get it in stock, you will receive 10% off your purchase of that product! Can it get any more fun?

scent full of love,
Jordyn & Paityn xoxo

How to Use Your Free $10 Credit

Hey there, SP Beauty Member! 

We need to let you know when & how to use your free $10 credit, and forgot to mention this in our last email (silly of us, we know). 

When: After you have $30+ worth of items in your shopping cart, you may apply the SP10OFF coupon code.
How: In the "coupon" box on your shopping cart page, enter "SP10OFF

It's super easy to use, and super fun as well! We hope you've been checking out our YouTube videos on the Our2Scents channel and that you have entered our Facebook contest to win free beauty products for a year - so many opportunities and SO much time in the summer! We love the warm weather and the lazy Sunday days. 

If you have any questions, send us a message - we'd be happy to help. See you on the flip side! 

scent full of love,
Jordyn & Paityn xoxo

Thursday, July 21, 2011

What To Do Before Self-Tanning

EASY Minnie-Mouse Inspired Nails

6 Reasons to Smile Right Now

So much more than than a pair of upturned lips, the smile is the most scientifically studied human facial expression. In her new book, Lip ServiceYale psychology professor Marianne LaFrance, PhD, draws on the latest research—in fields from biology to anthropology to computer science—in an effort to shed some light on the happy face. Here, six facts that may make you, well, you know.

People with big grins live longer. In a study published last year, researchers pored over an old issue of the Baseball Register, analyzing photos of 230 players. They found that on average, the guys with bright, bigmouthed beams lived 4.9 years longer than the players with partial smiles, and 7 years longer than the players who showed no grin at all. We can't credit wide smiles for long life spans, of course, but smiles reveal positive feelings, and positive feelings are linked to well-being.

Smiles exert subliminal powers. When study subjects are shown an image of a smiling face for just four milliseconds—a flash so quick, the viewers don't consciously register the image—they experience a mini emotional high. Compared with control groups, the smile-viewers perceive the world in a better light: To them, boring material is more interesting, neutral images look more positive, even bland drinks seem tastier.

There are three degrees of happiness... An article in the British Medical Journal reported that it is indeed possible to spread the love: Within social networks, when one person is happy, the feeling migrates to two people beyond her. So if you smile, a friend of a friend is more likely to smile, too.

...and two types of smiles. Genuine smiles and fake smiles are governed by two separate neural pathways. We know this is true because people with damage to a certain part of the brain can still break into a spontaneous grin even though they're unable to smile at will. Scientists speculate that our ancestors evolved the neural circuitry to force smiles because it was evolutionarily advantageous to mask their fear and fury.

To spot a faker, check the eyes. When someone smiles out of genuine delight, a facial muscle called the orbicularis oculi involuntarily contracts, crinkling the skin around the eyes. Most of us are incapable of deliberately moving this muscle, which means that when a person fakes a smile, her orbicularis oculi likely won't budge.

Smiles have accents. When reading facial expressions, different cultures home in on different parts of the face. In the United States, we focus on mouths; the Japanese, by contrast, search for feeling in the eyes.

Source: http://www.oprah.com/health/Smile-Research-and-Facts-Different-Types-of-Smiles?TW=tw_omag_smile_research#ixzz1SleBNuB5


I thought this was a great read - hope you all enjoy it :)

scent full of love,
Jordyn