When I'm Older...

An Edmonton style and beauty blog by Taylor Doucette. ..................................................................... “I've apparently been the victim of growing up, which apparently happens to all of us at one point or another. It's been going on for quite some time now, without me knowing it. I've found that growing up can mean a lot of things. For me, it doesn't mean I should become somebody completely new and stop loving the things I used to love. It means I've just added more things to my list." (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-73368736-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); //

[when-im-older]

Can Never Have Enough Cheetah

It feels so weird to be writing an outfit of the day post. It’s been four weeks since I last took photos of my outfit. FOUR. WEEKS. I don’t think I’ve ever neglected my blog for that long before. But there was nothing I could do it about it. This past month was torture. And lemme tell you, the polar vortex was a very real thing in Edmonton. We experienced the coldest February in 40 years (Global, 2019). Yes, I cite my sources. The average temperature was -19.4°C. That doesn’t even include how cold it was with windchill. So, folks, that is why I didn’t take outfit photos for four weeks. I could not even imagine taking standing outside for a second let alone 15 minutes trying to get a shot of my outfit. The blog just ain’t worth it.

But, I am very excited to be sharing all my new clothes with you! The outfit ideas have been building up during my absence from ze blog so I will definitely be sharing some cute outfits with y’all over the next couple of weeks. So I recently turned 24 and my parents got me this cheetah fur coat from Ralph Lauren. It’s so bougie and over the top and a lil’ ratchet. But that basically sums up me so it’s the coat for me. I know I already have a cheetah coat (see in this ootd here) but as I told a lady who complimented my coat, you can never have too much cheetah (or leopard). That’s a fact.

Because this coat is such a statement piece (cheetah AND faux fur), I knew I had to be a lot more subtle in the rest of my outfit which is a hard thing for me to do. I wore my favorite black turtleneck from Aritzia with a pair of distressed Citizens Rocket jeans. The turtleneck is called the Seaton top and it’s seriously the best turtleneck. I own it in 3 different colours but my fingers are crossed that they will be bringing it back in dozens of new colors for the fall next. Because I need 20 of them. 

Jacket - Ralph Lauren // Turtleneck - Aritzia // Jeans - CoH // Belt - Gucci // Boots - Old Navy // Purse - All Saints // Dog - Oakley the Goldendoodle //

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Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation

Ahh, yes. Those are Christmas ornaments in the background of these photos. It’s a dead giveaway that it’s been months since I took these photos. But to be totally honest, I’ve been slacking on ze blog. It happens every once in a while. I just lose any and all motivation for the blog. But after I take a couple of weeks to refresh, I always jump back into it, bigger and better than ever (hopefully). Maybe one day I won’t and this blog will cease to exist. That’s a scary thought.

But that ain’t what this post is about. This post is all about the Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation. Because what’s more important than a $99 (CAD) foundation? Those are the real questions we should be asking ourselves folks. Now if a foundation is $99, you best believe I’m going to judge it harshly. There is no way I would encourage someone to spend a hundred freakin’ dollars on a foundation unless it changes the world. 

Well, I’m pleased to say this foundation comes pretty damn close. It doesn’t change the world but it definitely changes my face. For the better. So what makes this foundation different from any $10 drugstore foundation? Before we get into the more technical reasons, I will say why I personally like it more. There’s usually two categories of foundations. Matte, full coverage and long lasting or glowy and sheer coverage. It’s pretty hard to find a long lasting, full coverage foundation that gives the skin a decent amount of radiance. But Guerlain made it happen, y’all. This foundation comes pretty close to a full coverage finish and it has great lasting power while also making my skin look glowy and dewy and healthy. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a foundation.  Dramatic? Maybe. The truth? Definitely.

And even though it’s full coverage, it’s super hydrating and moisturizing on the skin which is not something you can say about the majority of full coverage foundations out there on the market. Now onto the technical reasons why this foundation is worth a hundred dolla bill. The foundation contains double-sided pigments combined with a collagen-boosting active ingredient to smooth the skin and make it look it’s best and signs of fatigue and age are diminished. Whenever a foundation contains any sort of skincare ingredients and does something more than just makeup would, I’m always a fan. 

Oh, and did I mention this foundation smells amazing? It has notes of peach blended with rose, raspberry, and jasmine and finished off with a powdery base of balsamic, benzoin, and white musk. Now that is a bougie foundation. 

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A Letter To Myself

Today is my birthday. I’m officially 24. And what better way to celebrate my birthday than by taking a lil’ stroll down memory lane. When I was in grade 10, we were tasked with the assignment of writing a quick letter to our future selves to open on the last day of grade 12. Like the die-hard keener I am, I wrote the letter and promptly forgot about it for the next three years. Then, on the last day of grade 12, those letters were handed back to us and we got to read the thoughts and ramblings of our grade 10 selves. I liked this concept so much that I decided to also write a letter on the last day of grade 12 to open when I graduated university. 

Well, that day has come. I graduated university with a BComm back in April of 2018 but it took me a couple of months to actually remember that I had this letter hidden at the very bottom of my dresser’s drawer where there was no chance of anyone finding it. It was quite a surprise when I was cleaning out that drawer and I came across this envelope. My fingers ached to open it immediately but I suppressed that urge because I wanted to read it in the right frame of mind. 

So here is a video of me opening both the letter to my grade 12 self and the letter to my post-university grad self. As I explain in the video, I felt like I had such higher expectations for what should have been in these letters. But, at the end of the day, I was only 15 and 18 when I wrote them. I was still struggling to find exactly who I was. So yes, this video is very anti-climatic but it’s also very telling of what kind of person I was at those ages. 

As I’ve said time and time again on this blog, growing up is such a weird thing but I am so lucky to have a online diary of sorts to record all these things in my life. My 15 year old self who wrote that letter in grade 10 would have never imagined that her life would turn out this way. But that’s the magic of that letter. You think you have everything figured out. You think you know where your passions lie and how you want your future to unravel but then something can into your life and change how you view everything. And that’s exactly what this blog did to me. In grade 10, I didn’t even know what a blog was. But then, one short year later, it turned my whole world around. It made me rethink everything. Suddenly, being in school plays and becoming a doctor wasn’t the right path for me. And my blog really helped me see that. And so, for that, I am so thankful. 

When I’m Older, I’ll be whoever I want.

Love,

Tay

[when-im-older]

March Music Playlist

1. Peer Pressure - James Bay ft. Julia Michaels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8EPDTF4Ho

2. They Own This Town - flora cash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLVTkAEQJSA

3. Forever - Billy Raffoul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ee7Q19vLdw

4. Nobody - Martin Jensen, James Arthur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_kPzjTL4wQ

5. December - Neck Deep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NnQs3EtoqU

6. Only the Lonely Survive - Mariana’s Trench

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTfZO1vI0_8

7. NASA - Ariana Grande

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_aGvdfLTKY

8. A Little More - Alessia Cara

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxYyUR72jU

9. Nothing Lasts Forever (And It’s Fine) - flora cash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP1chyCPLCo

10. Darkside - grandson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUNjh1IIPpg

Past Months:

2018: http://when-im-older.com/tagged/playlist

January: http://when-im-older.com/post/181809741487

February: http://when-im-older.com/post/182558881258

What songs are on your playlist for March?

[when-im-older]

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara & Velvet Primer

I have reviewed A LOT of mascaras on ze blog over the years. Some have been hits while others have been complete misses. Some of my favorites, to date, have been the Dior Pump n’ Volume, the Lancome Monsieur Big (reviews here) and the Benefit Roller Lash mascara (review here). They’re all absolutely fabulous and I never thought another mascara would come even close to competing with one of these three. But I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

I have heard a lot about the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara  ($26USD/$33CAD) ever since it came out. You would think with me being as big of a fan of Marc Jacobs as I am, I would have tried it a long time ago. But, I really don’t buy a lot of makeup (especially from Sephora since I have a hefty discount at Shoppers) and I have a billion mascaras to use up first. But Marc Jacobs sent along this mascara alongside their brand new Velvet Epic Lash Primer ($26USD/$33CAD) and MAN! Marc Jacobs did not disappoint once again. 

So let’s talk about the mascara first (although it’s the primer that is actually the star of the show). The Velvet Noir mascara is a very volumizing mascara with a fatter fluffy brush that creates instant volume! While it promises to be smudge proof, I did notice it to flake off easily throughout the days so if that’s something that bothers you, I would stay away from this mascara. But a little flakin’ never hurt no one. The formula is very black as well so it creates a very dramatic impact which I love! 

But the Velvet Primer takes this mascara to a whole new level. There are so many things I love about this primer. It’s described as an ultra-plush lash primer with a conditioning base that maximizes the benefits of your favorite mascara for a false-lash look. The first thing that makes this different from an ordinary lash primer is that it’s a soft beige colour. This helps you be able to see that you coated every lash so you don’t miss anywhere! In addition, I found that this primer added SO MUCH length and volume to my lashes without making them clumpy or spidery (which are two of my least favorite things)! And lastly, this primer helps your lashes stay soft and fluffy. I sometimes find with lash primers that they make overcoat my lashes and make them dry and crunchy. But not this one! Marc Jacobs, you did good with this one. 

*ftc disclaimer: Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!

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“THE” Purse

December 25, 2015. That was the day I got “THE” purse.  

Three years ago I was a very different person. I was in my third year of university but my first semester in the business faculty. To say I was lost and confused would be a vast understatement. I had no idea if I was making the right choice switching to business after being in the science faculty as well as the education faculty. My confidence in myself and my intelligence was at an all-time low, but I was determined to make my way through my degree one day at a time. 

That year there was thing I wanted to buy and one thing only. I wanted a big girl purse. Being a girl obsessed with all things fashion and beauty, I had an abundance of purses throughout my life but none of them symbolized an “adult” purse to me. They were all casual or little cross-body purses. I wanted a handbag that would make me look like I meant business. One that would turn my babyface into a girl boss. One that I could carry on the crook of my arm that would one day hold very important documents and files. Because at the time, that was something I thought every businesswoman had and needed. 

In the winter of 2015, I was dating a boy named Brent. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned his name on ze blog before but as one of my first boyfriends, he is automatically special, so he deserves a name here. That year for Christmas he got me a gift that to anyone else would just be a pretty purse but to me, it was so damn special. This Michael Kors Selma handbag is so much more than a purse. When Brent handed it to me on December 25, 2015, he told me that the reason he bought such an expensive, designer purse was so that everytime I carried it, I would have the confidence to be a powerful businesswoman and I would remember that I have the ambition and drive to be anything I wanted to be. And so, I didn’t like the purse because it was pretty. I didn’t like it because it was expensive. I didn’t like it because it was Michael Kors. I loved it because of what it symbolized. And nothing is more special than that. 

Ever since that day, I held those words and the purse very close to my heart. It was the purse I wore to every business presentation in university. It was the purse I took to my first business conference. It was the purse I was carrying when I got the YouAlberta blogging contract. It was the purse I used when I wrote my last final of my undergrad degree. It was the purse I carried when I went to a meeting for my first high-paying blog sponsorship.

But it was also the purse I used when I went to countless interviews and got told I didn’t have enough experience. It was the purse I was carrying when I felt absolutely worthless and like I would never achieve my goals. But time and time again, I would look at that purse and remember my ex-boyfriend’s words. It helped me remember that somebody actually believed I would accomplish something in my life. 

And then, it became the purse that I carried when I got my first adult job after university. It also became the purse that accompanied me when I quit that first adult job. And, it became the purse I carried when tears of happiness streamed down my face because I got the job at my dream company. This purse has become a token for not only the struggles I have faced in my life but also the things that I have achieved. Throughout these past three years with this purse by my side (literally), I graduated university, grew this blog to a level I never could have dreamed of and made my way through the business world.

So to anyone else this is just a purse. But to me, this is my future. These are my goals. And this purse is going to be with me every step of the way. 

[when-im-older]

Patchology Resting Beach Face

As we approach the dead of winter, I’m sure the majority of you are jetting off to warm tropical vacations while the rest of us are stuck here, knees deep in snow, freezing our lil’ butts off. Well I got news for you. There’s this thing called karma. And that means while you’re off enjoying the sun, the earth is going to remind you that you can’t escape it’s harshness and it’s going to give you a giant sunburn. Talk about a rude awakening, hey?

But, don’t worry, your girl over here has got your back. This is the new Patchology Resting Beach Face mask kit ($20USD/$28CAD) and it’s sure to become your best friend when you’re suffering from that hot sweltering sun. This set comes with everything you need to soothe a bad sunburn (or just overexposure from the elements). It includes two Soothe Flashmasques and two FlashPatch Hydrating Lip Gels. 

The Soothe Flashmasques are sheet masks that contain aloe vera and cotton seed extract that are natural anti-inflammatories to help soothe and calm any redness in your skin! In addition, Schisandra Berry de-stresses skin and provides moisture to give your skin that plump, youthful glow! And finally, a blend of rosemary, sage and lavender helps to repair any irritated skin. Wowza. Now, that is a sheet mask you need. But you might be thinking “hey Taylor, not all of us are lucky enough to go on a hot vacation right now where we burn our skin off”. And my answer for that is this mask is perfect for the winter climate right now as well. I’ve been waiting for the bus in -30°C temperatures and that kind of cold wind is not doing any favors for my skin. I’m pretty sure my face has frostbite all over it right now. So, because of that, these Soothe Flashmasques have become my best friend to help my skin feel and look back to normal!

But my favorite part about this Resting Beach Face Kit has to be these FlashPatch Hydrating Lip Gels. Winter has not been kind to my lips at all this year. My lips are permanently dry and flaking. You know when your lips are so dry that they have that red, stinging outline around them? Sound familiar? Well, that’s how my lips have been 24/7 lately and none of my usual lip balms are doing them any good. But these Hydrating Lip Gels are slowly but surely getting my lips back to normal. These patches have a hydrogel technology in the actual mask that helps to lock in the ingredients and get them past the skin barrier faster. They contain niacinamide, peptides and green tea extract to sooth and deliver anti-aging benefits. My lips feel so much softer and smoother after I use these patches! Plus, I find the cooling feeling of the patches are so soothing on my dry lips! I’m a big fan. 

You can find Patchology at Murale and Shoppers Drug Mart online here.

*ftc disclaimer: Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!

[when-im-older]

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum

Is anyone else breaking out like crazy right now? No? Just me? Oh, okay. Well, for the select few of you who are on the express train to pimpleville with me, I have a cool new product that may be of some interest. This is the Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum ($38CAD/$30USD) and it’s something different from just your ordinary pimple spot treatments.

Before we get on with the review, can we just talk about the word “pimple”? I feel like it’s such an underused word because it has such negative connotations in the beauty community. Wow, Taylor, you really analyzed that word. But seriously. Everyone either says blemish or acne or spot or breakout. I don’t hear anyone saying ˆpimple anymore and for some reason, that bothers me a lot. Everyone gets pimples and whether that number be ten or twenty or just one, they’re just a fact of life and not something to be embarrassed about. Heck, I have a good nine pimples on my face right now with another three below the surface threatening to pop out any second and I honestly don’t care. Wow, we’ve come a long way in my self esteem since my teenager days. Good on ya, Tay.  Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.  

So, I don’t know about you but I didn’t know a whole lot about Juice Beauty before I sat down to write this post. I’ve definitely heard the name before as it’s a brand carried at Sephora but that was about the extent of it. Juice Beauty is all about creating organic and natural formulations that perform as well as conventional beauty products yet never compromise on that luxurious experience! It’s a Farm To Beauty kind of company focusing on being organic with no parabens, sulfates, petroleum, silicones, pesticides or artificial dyes and fragrances. That’s only half of it. The list goes on. 

So this Blemish Clearing Serum is designed to reduce breakouts, unclog pores and even your skintone. It contains willow bark, salicylic acid and organic fruit acids that work together to kill those pesky pimples. But that’s not all! This serum also contains Vitamin C to fade those acne marks while organic aloe renews the skin and makes it glowy and hydrated!

So what separates this product from your typical spot treatment? Well, it’s a serum so you can cover the entire affected area instead of just concentrating on the individual pimples so this is a great product for someone experiencing a cluster of breakouts in one spot or all over their face (AKA ME). Another reason that I love this serum is because I can mix in a few drops of the serum into my foundation. I have been a huge fan of the Clinique Acne Solutions foundation and the Almay Clear Complexion foundation (essentially just foundations containing salicylic acid) in the past so this serum allows me to turn any of my foundations into a blemish fighting makeup! Handy, right? It also gives my foundation a slightly matte but hydrated look which I dig!

But before this review is over, we must discuss if this serum actually helped the state of my skin. If I’m being honest, I would have to say no. But hear me out. I have been battling with acne since I was 13. That’s ten years of breakouts. So A little serum like this isn’t going to cure my skin overnight. It’s a long, hard fight. Plus it only has 0.75% salicylic acid in it so that low of a concentration is really not what my skin needs. But, by mixing it in with my foundation so it sits on my skin during the day, it does help to keep my pimples under control. So for that I am thankful and that makes this serum a winner in my books!

*ftc disclaimer: Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!

[when-im-older]

Schwarzkopf Osis+ Mousse

So I have a little something to confess. Still, to this day, I have no idea what mousse is or what purpose it holds. When I think of mousse, I think of those super crunchy curls from the 2000′s that look like they’re still wet even though they’re dry. Do you know what I’m talking about? I hope so. Now, as a wannabe beauty blogger, I’m smart enough to know that mousse can be used for a lot more things than just that but I’ve never really experimented a whole lot with it before. 

But 2019 is the year of trying new things so I’m starting the new year off by trying a couple of different mousses from Schwarzkopf! As the mousse newbie I am, I was previously unaware that there could be differences between mousses. Mousse ain’t a “one size fits all” kind of thang. It’s kind of like hairspray. You know how hairspray has all the different levels of hold? Well, so does mousse. And the Schwarzkopf Osis+ mousses has four different hold levels (but I’m only trying out three, don’t ask me where the fourth one is)! 

The level one Topped Up mousse from Schwarzkopf is my personal favorite. It has the lightest control and is described as a gentle hold mousse. It gives the perfect amount (for me) of light volume with a healthy shine and it helps to protect against any heat damage! I also didn’t know that it was possible for a mousse to be in any other container than your standard aerosol can but you learn something new everyday! I love this mousse a lot because it doesn’t feel like I have any product in my hair yet it holds my curls so much longer than usual and it gives my hair a bouncy, touchable volume! 

The level two Fab Foam mousse is more of a classic hold mousse with medium control. It’s not anything crazy but it does it’s job very well. Similar to the Topped Up mousse, it also gives lots of shine to the hair and protects against blow-dry damage. The only difference is that it gives a little more volume! The level four Grip mousse is your extreme hold mousse. This one is suited for when you want your hairstyle to stay in place for 48 hours. It’s crazy. It is ultra strong and gives so much volume! It’s such a flufffy, dense foam compared to the other two mousse’s so you know this one is really going to do it’s job! 

*ftc disclaimer: Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!

[when-im-older]

A (Very Last Minute) Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Valentine’s Day is somehow suddenly right around the corner and I don’t know about you but my heart always beats a little quicker when I think about Valentine’s Day. A day celebrating love? What’s not to love? And before all you single as a pringle people start hating on Valentine’s Day, stop it, I was single for 21 of my 23 Vdays and honestly, it’s more fun to be single on Valentine’s Day. You can go for dinner and watch rom-coms with your girlfriends all while pigging out on as much chocolate and ice cream as you want without an annoying significant other lingering around. Sorry boys. 

So here is a Valentine’s Day gift guide combined with Valentine’s Day makeup essentials combined with just things I’ve been loving lately. So, this post ain’t just for people in a relationship. This post is for ALLL the girls and boys! You’re welcome. Also if anyone wants to get me a Vday prezzie, I accept lipsticks and chocolate. Thank you v much. 

Joe Fresh Flocked Blending Sponge

These “flocked” (read: fuzzy) beauty blender sponges have been all the rage ever since NikkieTutorials did a video all about the Juno & Co sponges and proclaimed them better than the infamous Beauty Blender sponges. And in my humble opinion, I agree that they are better. The flocked texture on the sponge gives the most beautiful, natural airbrushed finish on the skin. And this one from Superstore was under $5! Such a steal!

Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush in #106 Berry Delight

A pretty blush is always a must have to wear on Valentine’s Day. To me, a flush of pink on the cheeks is just so girly and romantic. And these blushes from Clinique are some of my all time favorites. They come in such gorgeous colours and they have a hint of shimmer in them to give the skin the most gorgeous luminous glow. 

Dior Ultra Rouge Lipstick in #999 and Dior Rouge Ink Lip Liner in #99

What is the one makeup item you think of when you think of Valentine’s Day? A red lip? Yes, yes you are right. It should be the universal uniform to wear a red lipstick on Valentine’s Day and I’m pretty sure I’ve done just that for the past dozen Vdays. One of my all-time favorite red lipsticks is the Dior Ultra Rouge lipsticks in #999. It’s their classic, beloved red shade and it flatters every single skin tone. Don’t believe me? Go try it for yourself. And the new liquid lip liner in #999 is the ultimate match for the lipstick. A liquid lip liner you say? Yes. It’s game changing except they do dry out rather fast but nobody’s perfect.

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum

For all you clueless boys out there, perfume is always a classic, go-to Valentine’s Day gift that is sure to please your gal. However, it might seem stressful to go into a store and try to pick one among the thousand different bottles. If you don’t already know which one your girl likes, I would suggest going with a sweet scent like the Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire EDP. This one isn’t too sweet, nor is it too heavy. It’s just a pretty fragrance. Wow, I described that great. You’re welcome.

YSL Mon Paris Eau de Parfum

If you want an even sweeter fragrance, that is where the YSL Mon Paris EDP comes in. It has notes of musk, strawberry and raspberry resulting in this sweet, fruity mixture. To me, this is the ultimate Valentine’s Day perfume. Plus the name by itself just screams love because after all, Paris is the city of love. 

Lush Love Boat Bath Bomb

I have been on a total bath bomb kick lately. Nothing relaxes me more than a sweet smelling, hot, bubbly bath. And Lush came out with the cutest bath bombs just in time for the big day. In addition to their peach and eggplant emoji bath bombs that I’m sure you’ve seen all over social media, they also have this limited edition Love Boat bath bomb. In my opinion, it’s not as cute as the emoji ones but I love how it smells. With a powdery sweet lemon-orange scent, I’m about to start taking a lot more baths, y’all.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Oil in Stick #15 Corail Spontini

I have been on a makeup no-buy for the past couple of years because I have way too much makeup but when I spotted this limited edition YSL lipstick, I knew I had to make an exception to my rule. The packaging just captured my heart. The classic gold tube is decorated with little pink hearts for Valentine’s Day. It’s too cute. Plus the coral-pink shade is absolutely gorgeous and is so flattering on my super pale skin. Boys, please get this for your girls. It will be the best thing you ever did in the relationship. And girls, if you’re single or your boyfriend is just dense, buy this for yourself because you deserve to treat yo’self. 

[when-im-older]

We’re Cheetah Girls, Cheetah Sisters

Ahh, yes. I’ve hopped on the cheetah print bandwagon and I LOVE it. I feel like cheetah print is just one of those things that you either love or absolutely hate. For example, the day I brought home this cheetah coat, my dad cringed and made fun of it saying that I was stuck in the 80′s while my mom gushed over it. Oh well, you can’t win ‘em all, folks. But, also a guy at the Arkells concert the other night asked if we could switch jackets. So clearly, this coat is a winner. 

And before we start discussing the outfit, we need to get something out of the way. Is this cheetah print or leopard print? And what’s the difference between the two? Let me google this.

Okay, after a quick google search, I learned that “Cheetah spots are equally spaced, solid black dots. Leopard print is more complex. They have a golden brown coat with black shapes that resemble a horseshoe or circle” (Google, 2019). Well, shit. Guys. I think this is leopard print. How awkward. Do I have to change the title of my post now? Ugh. A cheetah print coat just sounds so much cuter than a leopard print coat. We will just keep on living life in denial. Sound good? Cool.

Alright now that we got that cleared up, we can move on to the outfit. I’m wearing my cheetah coat with an all black outfit AKA black jeans (they’re actually dark grey) and a black turtleneck (the Seaton top from Aritzia). But then, the all-black outfit stops there, y’all. We spiced it up today with these brown suede boots. Long story about these boots. Are you ready? Okay so I wear these Old Navy black boots constantly (see here). They’re just the classic pointy toe booties with an elastic triangle down the side. Exactly like the Acne Jensen boots (that are $18231820938102- a lil’ out of my price range). Well, my Acne wannabe Old Navy boots are wearing out so I’ve been trying to find a replacement (these (this, this, and this) are in the running but they’re just not perfect. So when I stumbled upon these brown suede boots from Marc Fisher on clearance at Winners, I knew they were the perfect boots to replace my Old Navy ones. They’re comfy. They’re chic. They have a cute metal tip on the toe. But there’s just one big problem. They’re not black. So, I’m currently on the hunt for them in black. I will keep y’all posted on my journey.

Jacket - Zara // Turtleneck - Aritzia // Jeans - Citizens of Humanity // Boots - Marc Fisher // Purse - All Saints // Dog - Oakley the Goldendoodle

[when-im-older]

Matrix Biolage Styling Glotions

I have a lot of hair products. A LOT. That’s mainly the biggest reason behind why I have such good hair. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Well, I’m half serious. I do have great hair. (Shut up, Taylor). Okay, moving on. So yes, I have an abundance of hair products and I honestly thought I had all categories covered. But, then, Biolage sent me their Airdry Glotion and their Blowdry Glotion and I realized I didn’t really have anything else like them. My mind was blown. 

The Blowdry Glotion is one of my favorite products because it’s all you really need. Before this products, I was putting on 2-3 different serums, creams and oils on my damp hair after I washed it. But this Biolage Blowdry Glotion kind of combies all those things into one, saving me a ton of time in the morning. Essentially, this product is described as a Longwear Heat Primer. It has a medium hold to it (to lock your style into place) and it will give you the look of a professional blowout. I found it to be incredibly conditioning and nourishing on my hair as well as helping to control any frizz that I have (which I have a lot of). And, in addition, it has 450 degree thermal protection to keep your hair healthy. Somewhere throughout the past couple of years, I have definitely neglected putting any kind of heat protectant on my hair, which is horrible, I know. I guess the reason for that was I hadn’t found any sort of heat protectant that I absolutely loved so once I had finished using them up, I never repurchased one. But, fortunately for my hair, I really do love this Blowdry Glotion, so my hair is bound to be protected from the heat forever now. You’re welcome, hair.

The second product in the Glotion range is the Airdry Glotion. This one is very different from it’s Blowdry Glotion sister and designed to be used for a very different purpose as well. The Airdry Glotion is more of a multi-benefit styling spray for when you choose to just let your hair air dry. And lemme tell you, ever since I started my “adult” job and have to wake up at 6am, I’ve been incredibly lazy with actually styling my hair properly. Air Drying is now my new best friend. It’s such a time saver. I just wash my hair at night and let it air dry as I’m getting ready for bed. There’s no time for a blow dryer anymore (except for those glorious weekends). But to help my hair look more presentable when I do air dry it, this Airdry Glotion is a huge lifesaver. It’s a leave-in conditioning spray that gives a ton of shine to my hair while also detangling and minimizing any frizz! The frizz eliminator is my favorite part because frizz is the first problem I notice when I let my hair air dry! I’ve said air dry way too many times in these past seven sentences. I think that’s a sign I need to stop talking (writing). 

*ftc disclaimer: Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!

[when-im-older]

February Music Playlist

1. Into You - Julia Michaels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw7vb-dYDLU

2.  Face Like Thunder - The Japanese House

The Japanese House - Face Like Thunder

3. I’m on Fire - Bob Mervak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jV0bsxaLxI

4. Still Run - Wet, Starchild & The New Romantic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPNqZeVrl2A

5. I’ll Be There For You - Maisie Peters

https://open.spotify.com/track/4xtU1fCMODIpnXBqY4wOTo?si=oxzP2npkSxCgca_L3FCCQA

6. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Imaginary Future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31nl1bvUbxI

7. Human - Clementine Duo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lBRNvrKQIE

8. Look Ma! - Benjamin Francis Leftwich

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzWKakU12yk

9. Anxiety - Julia Michaels ft. Selena Gomez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q33DvcjXA7M

10. Write It On Your Heart - Bad Bad Hats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DZv_NQBeFg

Past Months:

2018: http://when-im-older.com/tagged/playlist

January: http://when-im-older.com/post/181809741487

What songs are on your playlist for February?

[when-im-older]

A Minor Coat Obsession 

Wow, Taylor, that coat is really starting to look familiar. That might be because I own it in three colors right now. Yes, that’s right. Three. The same coat. Just different colors. Am I obsessed? Probably. But I already have plans to buy it in black IF Club Monaco ever decides to make a black one. I told my mom this and she rolled her eyes and told me that there’s going to come a time when I don’t even like the coat (AKA probably in a couple of months) and I will have four useless coats and a whole lot of wasted money. But on the bright side, at least I’m looking hella stylish in my coat(s) for the short term.

Now that I have this coat in baby pink (see here), camel (see here) and now light grey, it’s really got me to thinking which color is my favorite. Because apparently, there are no better things to think about. The pink is just so me whereas the camel is a very classic coat that goes with all my business outfits and the grey is a little more casual in my opinion. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love them all equally. My three children. Oh, and Oakley. The most important child. 

So yes, as I was saying, the grey is definitely more casual and to show that, I wore it very casually today. I threw on a mustard yellow (duh) sweater underneath with my Citizens of Humanity Liya jeans. I have a bone to pick with these jeans. Why is it that straight leg jeans seems to be so damn unflattering on me? They just make my legs look so short and wide. Or, maybe my legs just really are short and wide. These are the thoughts that keep me awake at night. I’m kidding. There’s bigger problems in the world, folks.

To finish off the outfit, I’m wearing my cabbie/newsboy/train conductor hat because - yup, you guessed it - my hair was greasy and I didn’t have time to wash it. Ahh, what a wonderful thing hats are. For shoes, I have on my Kendall & Kylie shiny patent leather boots. I really love the look of these boots but they’re just so impractical in Edmonton winters. They’re so slippery because they have absolutely zero grip on the bottom. Why are so many pairs of shoes like that?! Do shoe designers not realize that we can’t all live in places with summer all year round? I’m starting a rebellion, y’all. We ain’t buying any more shoes until they start being equipped with better grip on the bottom. Seems like a reasonable reaction to this problem.

Coat - Club Monaco // Sweater - H&M // Jeans - Citizens of Humanity // Boots - Kendall & Kylie // Purse - All Saints // Hat - Brixton // Dog - Oakley the Goldendoodle

[when-im-older]

Online Shopping Tips & Tricks

Even though online shopping can be so easy and effortless (AKA shopping in your pjs at 3 in the morning), it is always a slippery slope towards spending more money than you intended. I am the self proclaimed queen of online shopping so here are my smart tips to not waste your money!

1. Ebates. 

I know, I know. Everyone talks about Ebates but it's seriously the best thing to ever happen to me. And no, this isn't sponsored by Ebates. Essentially Ebates awards you cash back on select stores (see list of stores here) and then once you reach over $5, they deposit it into your paypal account or send you a cheque in the mail. That's ALL. Just download the extension onto your browser and then it automatically gives you cashback when you checkout! You would be STUPID to not use Ebates. It's free money back for doing NOTHING (except spending money oops). My brother still refuses to sign up for it so please don't be like my brother and just sign up. I have only been using ebates for a year and I already have earned $78 cash back. That's $78 of FREE money. Are you tired of hearing about Ebates yet? Yeah, me too. Let's move on (but go download it).

2. Coupon sites.

I will never ever ever ever buy something full price online. Unless it's Aritzia because I swear they never do coupon/promo codes. Before placing an online order, I always just google “[company name] [month, year] coupon code” and I can usually find something! If not, check sites like retailmenot.com, groupon.com and Honey!

3. Newsletters.

Often, if I can't find any coupon codes online, I will resort to signing up for the company's newsletter. More often than not, when you sign up for their newsletter, they will award you with 10-15% off or even a promo code for free shipping! I just enter in one of my throwaway email addresses so I don't get overwhelmed with an inbox full of newsletters and collect my promo-code. Easy peasy! Also, checking these newsletters every once in a while gives you insight into great sales coming up! And often, newsletters award their readers with early sales or exclusive subscriber only sales (Forever 21 and Old Navy and Gap do this quite often!)

4. Free Shipping.

If there is one thing about online shopping that I hate, it's paying for shipping. My mentality is that if I were to buy it in store, I wouldn't be paying for shipping costs so I if I want hassle free online shopping, I should find a way not to pay shipping costs either. Another way to get around shipping costs is to keep items in your cart until you reach the minimum amount for free shipping. For example, Forever 21 is free shipping on orders over $50 so I will just wait until I have accumulated enough items to reach that threshold! In addition, some companies (ie Zara and Simons) have the option to ship the items directly to the store for free so I will also take advantage of that (only if the store is close and not out of my way- doesn't make sense to save on shipping costs if you're just going to accumulate gas costs!).

5. Wait a couple of days.

Whenever I start to shop online, it seems so much easier to spend a lot of money than if I was in store and therefore, I tend to make a lot of impulse purchases. To help stop this, I always like to leave things in my online cart for a couple of days to see if I really do like them or need them. Often, the excitement wears off and I realize I really don't need some of the items! I always start off with like 40 items in my cart and by the end of the week, we're down to 1 (or none) items! That's saving me a lot of money!

6. Return Policy.

When shopping online at a store I'm not familiar with, I always make sure I check the return policy. If you can't return the item in-store or they don't offer free online returns, ONLY buy it if you're 99% sure it will fit. Nothing is worse than spending $20 on a top that doesn't fit and then realizing it's going to cost $20 to ship it back to get a refund! 

7. Holiday sales.

Always be conscious if there's any holidays coming up when you’re about to place an online order. In the online world, holidays equal big, big sales. It’s not just Boxing Day and Black Friday that spark sales. There’s Easter sales and Halloween sales and Canada Day sales. That’s retail for you. But that’s also just another reason to love holidays!

8. Currency or Customs.

For us Canadians, customs and USD currency are a pain in the butt. I can't even tell you the number of times I have been shopping online and I'm thinking the prices are sooo cheap and then I realize they're in USD. Also, I find American site do way better sales and deals than their Canadian counterparts. I remember one time I was shopping on Old Navy and I was shocked because ALL shoes were 60% off and then I realized I was on the American site and when I switched to the Canadian side, the shoes were only 30% off. But it's not only the currency difference we have to woryr about. Customs/duties always play a huge part in my online shopping as well. When shopping, always check to see if you're going to be charged customs at checkout or when you receive the package. A good rule to keep in mind is that even if a company is American, even their website ends in .ca, that means they will be shipping from Canada and you won't be charged duties! 

Now that we've gone over my rules of online shopping, here is a list of my favorite places to shop online with great return policies, shipping rates and no customs/duties!

Favorites:

Zara // Simons // Gap // Forever 21 // Old Navy // Aritzia  // Little Burgundy // All Saints //

Avoid:

H&M (can't return in store) // Nordstrom (high USD to CAD conversion rates) // J.Crew (customs even though it’s a Canadian site)

[when-im-older]

A Very Canadian Toque For a Very Canadian Winter

Doesn’t it always seem like winter is 8 million months long? Maybe that’s an exaggeration. It’s more like 2 million months long. I bet all you California and Florida and Texas (heck, even Vancouver) peeps are reading and nodding your heads pretending you know what a long winter feels like. Why oh why do I have to live in Edmonton where I’m permanently cold. Well, Taylor, you could just move. Yes, yes I could. And I plan to do that one day. Then I can finally stop complaining on ze blog all the time how cold I am.

When it stays so cold for so long, it becomes really hard to keep picking out cute outfit. All I want to do is throw on the biggest, thickest sweater I can find, wrap a blanket scarf around my neck, throw on Uggs and a parka and call it a day. But no, I can’t do that. Because I have to look “cute” and “stylish” and not like a potato. But I really want to be a potato. Ya feel?

Luckily, my new toque from Nordstrom combines my wannabe potato tendencies and a high cuteness factor into one. I picked up this hat when I was in Vancouver because they have the most glorious Nordstrom. When will Edmonton get a Nordstrom? I really need one. But for now we have Nordstrom Rack which is as good as it’s gonna get apparently. Anyways, Nordstrom is great and I found this cute pink faux fur pom pom toque (American translation: beanie) there. I have been searching for a new pom pom toque as cute as my Topshop cream one that I got a few years ago (see here) but it’s a lot harder to find the perfect one than you’d think. Topshop still makes the pom pom toques in a variety of colors but they’re not the same as my old one. They’re a lot bigger now. I have the world’s smallest head so no beanie fits quite right and thus the Topshop ones are now a lil’ bit too big for my pinhead. But the Nordstrom BP ones are perfect for all my small head friends

The rest of the outfit isn’t even worth talking about, to be honest. I’m wearing my favorite Kit and Ace peacoat over a cream sweater, black jeans and my black patent Kendall and Kylie boots. And, so we don’t die of boredom over my outfit, I’m carrying my pink Michael Kors purse that matches my pink toque because we all know I like to be matchy-matchy with my colours. 

Coat - Kit & Ace // Jeans - Citizens of Humanity // Boots - Kendall & Kylie // Purse - Michael Kors // Toque - Nordstrom // Dog - Oakley the Goldendoodle //

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[when-im-older]

Hard Candy Glitteratzi Press + Play

Ahh Hard Candy. You never seem to disappoint me when it comes to the abundance of glitter in your products. Whenever I need a glitter fix, I know I can turn to your makeup. And your newest launch was full of glitter for sure. These are the Glitteratzi Press + Play Glitter Transforming Lip Color and when a product has the word glitter TWICE in the name, you know it’s going to be all about glitter. 

Let’s first talk about the packaging of these lippies. They are encased in a clear plastic tube with the cutest spiked metallic purple and blue lid. They’re so fun! They have a spongy doe-foot applicator and they have zero scent. But, packaging aside, I have to admit I’m a little disappointed by these lip colors. They are a clear dupe for the Ciaté Glitter Flips  that launched last year. Now, for those of you who don’t know, the Glitter Flips feature this really cool technology where the metallic matte liquid lipsticks transform into a glitter lip just by pressing your lips together! Magic right?! Totally. No other explanation for it. 

So, I’m not at all mad that Hard Candy “copied” the Ciaté Glitter Flips. Even though Ciaté was the first company to make them, I just view it as them starting a trend. Good on them. I personally think it’s great that Hard Candy developed these at a way lower price point ($8CAD/$6USD) because let’s face it, these aren’t everyday lip colors that are necessarily worth spending upwards of $20 on. Just sayin’.

But before we get into if I actually like these Glitter Transforming Lip Colors (building suspense, y’know?), let’s talk about the shades first. Usually if I like the shades, I will usually be a fan of the lipstick regardless of the formulation. But these shades are BOLD. And I’m not a bold lip kind of gal. But I guess if you’re doing a full-on glitter lip, you’re going to be pretty bold anyways. From left to right on the swatches, there is Glitz (a dark magenta), Glamour (deep purple), Allure (turquoise), Dazzle (true nude), Charm (bright poppy red), Slay (navy), and Splendor (a light lilac mauve). So out of all seven shades that Hard Candy released, two of them are blue. I might be a grandma in my old age and not a fan of blue lipstick but doesn’t it seem impractical to have two blue lipsticks when you only released seven shades?! I just wish there could have been some more nudes and light pnks thrown in. I know, I know. I’m lame. 

But now the time has come. Let’s talk about the formula and if I actually like these Press + Play Lip Colors. The short answer is.. no. No, I do not like these. I think the idea is super clever and at the price point, they’re still a fun product to give a try and wear for a night out or on Halloween. But I won’t be reaching for them everyday. They go on the lips with a metallic sheen but when you press your lips together, instead of seeing a gorgeous glitter appear, it’s quite a bit more lackluster. You just get a few extra flecks of glitter. If you look at the swatches above, it’s almost impossible to tell a difference between the “before and after”. Plus, I found that when I rubbed my lips together, instead of revealing glitter, I just tugged off big patches of the liquid lipstick instead. And it definitely didn’t help that these were super drying on the lips as well. So the idea gets an A+ but it might just be the execution that gets a failing grade. Sorry, Hard Candy. I still love ya. 

*ftc disclaimer: Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!

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