On A Personal Note

As some of you know, I've been dealing with some chronic health issues since last August. It's nothing fatal, thank goodness, but it does mean that some weeks I'm bursting with energy and crossing everything off on my to-do list, while other weeks I have all the energy of a used tea bag and it's all I can do to drag myself from the bed to the couch and back again. Thankfully there is an end in sight for the up-and-down misery: I'm going into surgery today and after that (fingers crossed) I'll feel a lot better.

I'll be taking a few weeks off from blogging to relax and recuperate post-surgery, but if you miss me, there's always Instagram! Thanks as always for your support and for continuing to read and visit this little corner of cyberspace. See you soon!

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Solo Lisa Tries: Pur Water Filter Pitcher

Drinking more water helps your health in more ways than one: it replenishes fluids in muscles and tissues throughout the day and post-workout; it satisfies your thirst, which can sometimes be mistaken for hunger and cause you to inadvertently eat more than you need; it alleviates signs of dehydration like fatigue, brain fog, and headaches. I'm lucky to live in a municipality with great-tasting, safe drinking water straight from the tap, and there's filtered water at the office and the barre studio. But if that's not the case where you live, getting your required eight glasses a day becomes more challenging. The solution? Perhaps something like the Pur Water Filter Pitcher ($29.99 at London Drugs).

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In-Depth Review: Vancity Subscription Box

I'm lucky to live in an area full of indie boutiques, but for those of us who don't have the time to window-shop in Mt. Pleasant or live too far away, there is a solution! Enter Vancity Box, a new subscription box service that spotlights Vancouver makers. Marketed as "the city in a box" and "a farmer's market in a box," each month's curated selection aims to introduce subscribers to new-to-them labels and products from the Lower Mainland. The Vancity Box format previously featured one maker's wares at a time, but starting April of this year, this switched things up by offering a hodgepodge of products from different artisans. Here's what was in the April 2017 box I received for review.

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Solo Lisa Reads: June 2017

Happy Monday, dear readers! We're heading into summer now, and even though the weather in Vancouver hasn't exactly been sunny, the season still calls for a breezy beach read or two. Whether you're lounging poolside or headed to a coffee shop to while away a rainy afternoon, these books will make the leisurely hours and minutes just fly by.

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New & Noteworthy: Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift

I don't know if it's age or long hours spent in front of the computer, but lately by the time 5pm hits my face seems to look as tired and haggard as I feel. My eyes feel it especially: The area all around the eyeballs gets tense and I feel as though I'm going bug-eyed, while the undereye area looks distinctly puffier and darker than when I left the house in the morning. If you're in the same boat as I am, the new Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift ($90; available at BeautyMark) just might be the answer to your prayers. All the details after the jump!

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Paul & Joe Beauty Spring/Summer 2017

Any beauty brand that unabashedly leans into the feminine and whimsical as much as Paul & Joe does scores high points in my books. The packaging details are always so adorable, so girly, and so cat-laden that I want to be won over, even if sometimes the products don't perform as well as I'd like them to. There were definitely hits and misses among the the spring/summer 2017 limited edition samples I received for review. You can find all of these products at Shoppers Drug Mart (except for the Pearl Foundation Primer, which sadly seems to be sold out everywhere). All the details after the jump!

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Product Review: Rodial Super Fit Bodycare

I go to Bar Method classes regularly and I've been keeping up the healthy lifestyle habits I developed while prepping for our wedding: eating healthier, drinking more water, sleeping more, and paying attention to self-care. But sometimes good habits aren't enough, which is why I was curious about slimming and toning lotions and potions like those by Rodial Super Fit Bodycare (available at Shoppers Drug Mart nationwide). Do they really work? All the details after the jump!

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