Summer Picnic!

Morning all ! School is almost out, but colleges and universities are done. One of my good friends recently got home from University in Quebec and her birthday was about a week before she came home. During the summer we usually go out for picnics, so that's exactly what we did to celebrate her birthday.

Making a Facebook group is a good way to keep track of who is coming, who is bringing what, allergies, etc. Another thing we do is to make it a pot-luck picnic, this way everyone is in charge of making and bringing something [ plus it helps with transportation, no one really has an excuse to not be carrying anything ].

For our get-together I brought homemade guacamole and homemade tortilla chips, as well as "iced" tea . [ I say "iced" because I lost track of time while making the food that I didn't have time to wait for it to cool. It was more like "lukewarm tea with ice" ] .

GARDEN GUACAMOLE

what you will need ;

• 1 - 2 avocados
• cherry tomatoes
• 1 yellow and orange bell pepper
• 1 lemon or lime
• 1 purple onion

Begin by peeling and slicing your avocado[s] and mashing them. I found it easier to mash them on a plate and then transfer them into the bowl. If you have trouble mashing them, cut them in a checker board pattern to make it a bit easier. Remember to leave some chunks in the avocado [otherwise it may end up like with a weird pudding consistency ], the amount of chunks depends on your preference. 

The rest is pretty basic, just chop up your tomatoes and peppers with a bit of onion for taste. Mix it up, squeeze a 1/4 slice of your lemon / lime and mix it again. The juice helps to keep the avocado fresher for a bit longer.

While typing this up I have come to realise I completely forgot to take a photo of the finished product because I was too busy eating it, and I cannot believe I did that, but I did, so, sorry. I promise it looked very colourful and summery. It looked and tasted amazing.

NOTES : * leaving the pit in with your guacamole can also help with freshness. * try to make this as late as you can to ensure maximum freshness, avocado goes brown pretty quick.

BAKED TORTILLA TORTILLA CHIPS

what you will need ;

• tortillas [ I used white and wheat to see which works best and I would suggest going with white! ]
• olive / vegetable oil 

Now, to be honest I could probably explain this in 3 sentences . 

Apply a thin layer of oil. Cut into pieces  [ like cutting a pizza ]. Bake at 350⁰ for 5 - 7 minutes.

NOTE : flipping them halfway through cooking isn't necessary, but feel free.

Super simple. 

PEACH-MANGO ICED TEA

I did this in a two-step sort of process. The night before I cut up a piece of a peach and a mango into smaller pieces and froze them in my ice tray. This way as the ice melts in the tea the next day there will be fruit to add more flavour.

The morning of I brewed the tea as usual with a few teabags, a large container deserves more teabags. Hot water releases the most flavour from the tea, but you can always stick it in the fridge to help it cool down quicker.

Don't add the ice cubes until it is already cool otherwise they will melt adding more water and reducing the flavour [ especially if you have already taken the tea bags out ].

This tea is fantastically appealing to the eyes.

 Let me know in the comments what your favourite thing to do on a picnic is!

xoxo - Gouu

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My Experience At Comic Con !

Hello all !

So, I have attended comic con every year that it has been in Ottawa. I look forward to it every year, and it becomes one of the highlights of each year.

One of my favourite parts is definitely getting to see some of my favourite stars, even if just for one short minute. They are always all so sweet. Two years ago my friends and I went up to a few to ask for hugs because we didn't have much money left [ or to begin with, seeing as we were still in high school and didn't have a job ] and couldn't afford a photo or an autograph. Much to our delight, Ross Mullan was more than happy to [ and even offered ] to take a photo with us !

please excuse my " this is from 2 years ago " picture.

Comic con provides such a great opportunity for vendors, especially those that don't have a physical shop [ like an etsy shop ] . It allow them to show off their products and broaden their customer range.

My favourite stands are the ones that are unique and have items you can't get anywhere else. This year my favourites were elf ears and fairy bell necklaces from Arcane Angel Creations as well as wands from Wizard Craft Academy .

One of my other favourites is Moon Glow, they usually have a stand and sell items at a reduced price, but their products are stunning! They have a photo of the moon from every night of the year and make them in to pieces of jewellery [ check them out here! ].

This year it was super sweet, there was someone dressed up as Toothless [ from How To Train Your Dragon ] and while the smaller kids were extremely excited to see him, they were also a bit scared to approach him. It was cute to see. There was also someone dressed as Hero, the kids weren't as scared to see him, but just as excited.

Every one is always happy around comic con season, these conventions really bring people together.

What's your favourite place to shop for unique items ?

xoxo - Gouu

p.s.
My mother even got a selfie stick BTW, I'm totally not going to borrow it.

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Prom & After Prom Essentials 2015 !

Prom is super exciting! Before my prom, last year, I watched a ton of prom videos on YouTube and made a whole list of all the things that they said I would probably need, but when it came to being there, I didn't even use half of the things I brought.

I know in the U.S. most people have already had their prom, but here in Canada most of our schools don't have their proms until the end of June.

So I've made two separate lists for you to look at. One of the things I actually used / am glad I had, and another of the things I wish I had [we had a bus that took us straight from prom to after prom, so the essentials will be listed from prom to after prom].

WHAT I AM GLAD I HAD

Compact Shoes - I didn't use these, but I'm glad I had them just in case. During my prom, it was mostly just eating and hanging out with friends so I was able to sit almost the entire time. We had a total of about 30 minutes of dancing at prom and about 4 hours of dancing at after prom.

Compact Mirror - Great for touching up your makeup, or for after you eat and are about to take photos. It'd be a shame to have food or lipstick on your teeth !

Money - At prom food was free, at after prom it was not. It's always a good idea to have at least $10 or $20 with you just in case even if you are 99.9% sure you will not need it. Whether it's for a cab, food, drinks, whatever. It's better to be safe than sorry! [Cash is probably better than debit or credit, not everyone will accept cards]

I currently only have crack change in my wallet .

Cell Phone - Now, I have sure you wouldn't dream of going without your phone. But I'll say why I'm glad I had mine anyway. You can make memories by taking and sharing photos, contact your family if you need a drive, and contact your friends if you've gotten separated in the crowd. TIP ! : use your phone case as a wallet so you don't risk your money falling out of your clutch.

Hair Elastic - This is definitely an after prom thing to have, because if you don't use it, someone else will!

Corkscrew Bobby Pins - These were a total lifesaver! I wore my hair up for prom [ like most people did ] but I have really thick hair, so regular bobby pins and hair elastics and hairspray don't work as well for me as they do for other people. With these, if placed properly, I don't even need a hair elastic. I've used these pretty much every. single. day. since prom. I swear by them.

WHAT I WISH I HAD

Blotting Sheets - it can get hot at prom, I know not every venue for prom has air conditioning, and especially if you have oily skin to begin with these will save you from 'shining bright like a diamond' in photos!

Makeup / Chapstick - The only makeup I did bring was my lipstick, but thinking back I kind of wish I had brought my eye liner and powder to touch up before heading to the after prom party. I think it is definitely a good idea to bring chapstick, to keep your lips moisturised and hydrated while you dance the night away.

Mints - You most likely won't have the time [or the place] to brush your teeth so mints are very handy to have for after you eat, or if you get hungry while waiting in the long line for snacks. You could use a Colgate wisp, but you can bring more mints for the same amount of space.

Fabric / Body Tape - One of my friends had an outfit malfunction that would have been easily fixed by a bit of tape ! She was using one of the strapless / backless bras that hold up by tape, but since it was very hot out the tape lost all stickiness and would no longer stay up.  

Let me know in the comments what you are glad you brought with you to prom !

xoxo - Gouu

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Surviving Conventions!

I recently attended the Ottawa Comic Con, and I thought I would share some tips I have for "surviving" any convention really. These tips are just ways to ensure you have the best time and really embrace everything about it [without spending all the money you have] .

GENERAL TIPS

• Have water !

Whether you bring it from home or you buy it there, water is one of THE most important things to have with you. We're getting into warmer weather  [like really warm] and I can guarantee you will be standing in a long line of some sort. I remember one year we had to wait in line outside for almost three hours. You definitely do not want to buy your ticket and have to leave from dehydration [or heat stroke if you're unlucky].

• Bring a small snack !

Same as the water, you'll most likely get hungry and while they do have food stands, they get pretty expensive and aren't always the best choice especially when you want to continue walking around or you have someone you want to go see. I'm not saying "don't eat there" because you do need a decent meal rather than just snacks all day, but for standing in line and walking around snacks are a good idea.

• Wear comfy clothes and shoes !

Make your outfit or costume as comfortable as possible, the important part is the shoes since you will be standing and walking most of the day.

• Consider a bag !

I would suggest thinking about bringing a reusable bag of some sort. Sometimes a purse just isn't enough. It's hard to think ahead about what you might buy because you never know what you might fall in love with but if you are wanting a photo op or an autograph a bag is one of the best ways to ensure it doesn't get bend or damaged.

**NOTE : most conventions sell their own reusable bags for about $5-$10, it makes a souvenir and a handy bag in one.

• Be sun ready !

Who knows how long you may end up out in the sun, apply sunscreen before you leave and bring sunglasses and a hat with you.

TIME

• Check times and schedules online ahead of time !

Use apps and websites such as Google maps to plan your route and how long it will take to get there, etc. Many conventions also have their own apps with schedule times for autograph signings, photo ops, and Q&As [ and more ! ]. This will help ensure you get to do everything you want to and see everyone you want to. For me, I was going to comic con after work so checking times and creating a rough schedule helped ease my mind because I knew I would get to do everything and still have time left over to walk around and just take it all in.

• Be early !

Lines can be ridiculous! Arriving early will make the wait a bit shorter in the long run, plus you'll get to see all the cool outfits as people arrive.

• Be patient !

This goes hand in hand with my 'be early' tip. The volunteers and employees are doing what they can to make sure the entire event runs smoothly. If what you're in line for is for something you really want to do / see it'll be worth it! Conventions only come a few times a year so just enjoy the adventure.

MONEY

• Plan ahead !

Most conventions have prices for autographs / photo ops / etc. listed on their website, so find the prices for those you want and figure out how much money you are comfortable spending so you'll know a rough amount of money you can spend on other things. But always be prepared for extras! Some celebrity guests will charge less for a selfie than for a regular photo, it just won't be advertised online or in pamphlets, [ they're usually a last minute decision type of thing ] so check the price list by their booth first, just in case.

• Use cash !

For autographs and photos they generally only take cash anyway, but using cash instead of debit or credit makes it a whole lot easier to keep track of how much you're spending [ because, trust me, it is SO easy to spend more than you have ]. This will also help you "prioritize" so you'll get the things you really want first. I know for me, I bring both cash and debit just in case, because you never really know what you'll find, but if you want to try to stay on a budget, give your card to a friend or family member [ someone you trust ! ].

• See everything first !

Before you actually buy stuff, make sure you've walked to every booth first. When you see something you want make a list on your phone of the booth name, what it is and the cost. Some booths may have similar items at a cheaper price. If they're running low on an item you want, talk to the vendor, they may be willing to put it aside for a bit if you're very interested.

• Gather business cards / vendor names !

For the more expensive items, or if you do run out of money, get the card or name and make a note of what it was you wanted. When a birthday, holiday or special occasion rolls around and people start asking what it is you'd like for a gift, you can tell them ! [ being willing to pitch in for more expensive items makes it more likely you'll get them ].

• Split prices !

This may be hard to do for most things, but keep it in mind just in case. For packs of items, or sales [ ex. 2 for 1 ] split the price with a friend so you can both get one! Especially for photo ops, as they can be expensive, split the cost with a friend and get one photo together [ if you must you can always try cropping them out after, I won't judge ].

Have you ever been to a convention ? Which one and what was your favourite part ?
COMMENT BELOW :)

xoxo - Gouu

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April Favourites !

I'm working on getting my timing together ! I promise ! But I always seem to get bursts of energy at night when I need to be sleeping.

BEAUTY

L'Oreal Gel Eyeliner :
I bought this back in October, to use for my Halloween costume [My friend and I were broken dolls], and I fell in love! I don't quite remember why I stopped using this stuff, I think I felt I wasn't very good at it and it took me too long to put on every morning, but with a little practise I'm back to using this product every day!

Maybelline Cream Blush :
I've never really worn blush before, but I wanted to give it a try and I do not regret it one bit. What really drew me to this specific one was that it's not a powder, and I find there is more variety in shades.

Covergirl Powder :
This powder provides enough coverage to work as a light foundation, which is amazing for those days where you either just aren't feeling it or you don't have enough time. It doesn't leave flakes of powder, or dry out your skin which are both huge pluses.

ENTERTAINMENT

Lip Sync Battle :
This show is a very accurate representation of me in my room multiple times a day [which I tweeted while watching an episode]. There are almost no words to express the admiration I have for this show. I just love how it shows a crazy and funny side to some of our favourites celebrities.

Trivia Crack :
I learn by playing this game, but it's a fun way to learn! You can play against random people or your friends. The only thing I do not like about this game is that there is no way to play alone [because, yes, I am someone who would need that to be available]. Playing against random people you need to wait for them to play their turn which can take up to a day or longer. It is a fun game to play with friends, if you have your Facebook account connected.

The Grace Helbig Show :
#TEAMINTERNET is life. This show is unlike any other talk show. During the first episode I thought it was a little weird, being so used to only seeing her on my tablet on YouTube, and now she's on my screen with a bunch of new sounds and effects and guests. It was probably weird for her too, knowing that it was going to be on TV and not just the internet. But in the second episode she definitely seemed a lot more confident, and I am completely hooked! The set makes it seem more like her videos rather than a usual talk show. [interior design on point]

FOOD / DRINK

Gummies :
I've always loved these, but I had some gummy worms left from my Easter treats post and then my grandma went and bought me a bag of gummy bears. They're just amazing.

Teriyaki Express :
Most times when you order food at the mall food court, you spend more for less. Teriyaki Express I find is the one place I can eat and not feel hungry again shortly after. I order the pineapple chicken noodle bowl, and they fill the bowl above the brim with noodles, chicken and vegetables. SO YUMMY!

Teavana Youthberry Tea :
I think there are two versions of this tea [regular and orange ? - I could very well be wrong], but my favourite is the orang-y one, which is the one they usually have out for free samples. This tea is very relaxing, and has a taste that is hard to explain, orang-y with a hint of flower [?]. I don't even know, but it's addicting.

OTHER

Payless Shoe Store
Payless has had some amazing sales this month! It's all part of their spring sale, but to be honest I usually only actually buy something there maybe once a year, but in one month I have bought three pairs of shoes, a necklace and two pairs of earrings. I now need to avoid the mall so I don't buy anything else.

Let me know in the comments what you really enjoyed this month!

xoxo - Gouu

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Avengers Themed Nails

Here in Ottawa, we have comic con coming up, plus the new Avengers movie was recently released. So, in honour of all of that I have done Avengers themed nails!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED :

the ones I used will be in brackets listed below !

• toothpicks [ five ]
• black nail polish [ Rimmel London 615 Night Before - not black, but the closest I had besides the detailer ]
• green nail polish [ Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear 17 Ivy League ]
• white nail polish [ NYC  134 French White Tip ]
• grey / silver nail polish [ Sally Hansen Magnetic 903 Silver Elements - I didn't use the magnet ]
• blue nail polish [ Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear 64 Blizzard Blue ]
• red nail polish [ Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear 07 Cherry Red ]
• [ L.A. Colors Art Deco Black ]

STEP ONE -

Start by painting your nails the with the base colours. Left hand all nails except for the thumb are black, the thumb nail is grey / silver . Right hand is [ thumb to pinkie ] white, black, red, black, white.

please excuse the awkward cropping :)

STEP TWO -

There are a total of six different logos for the Avengers, I did them on my thumbs, my middle fingers and my pinkies. I left my two index fingers and ring fingers black. You'll want to use a different toothpick for each different colour.

Iron Man [ left hand, pinkie ]
Using one toothpick and red nail polish outline the outside of your nail. With the blue nail polish and another toothpick make a medium sized dot in the center of your nail, and then create smaller dots all the way around it.

The Hulk [ left hand, middle finger ]
Start with a fair sized green dot in the center of the nail - larger than the the center dot on the pinkie. The radiation symbol is larger on the outside and smaller on the inside, but it works and looks just as well to make them squares. Do one green square on the base and then the last two diagonal at the edges of the top of your nail.

Thor [ left hand, thumb ]
Just like the Iron Man nail, you'll be outlining the nail, but this time in blue. Create a short black line from the left bottom corner and make a white rectangle on the tip of the line to make the hammer.

Captain America [ right hand, thumb ]
I started this one with the star first, so I wouldn't run out of space after doing the outlines. To make the blue star I did a small 'x' and then added a small line out of the top of the intersection. And then again outlining the nail in red with another circle on the inside around the star.

Hawkeye [ right hand, middle finger ]
This one is the simplest to do. Make a fine black point in the very center of the nail and circle it. Put lines to create a plus sign on the outside of the circle.

Black Widow [ right hand, pinkie ]
This one I found the hardest, because I was trying to make the red triangles with a completely empty space inside for the black, but it actually doesn't matter, as long as the shape is good you can put the black right on top of the red - let the red dry a bit first so the colours don't swim together. One triangle is from the base to the middle, you can follow along the base of  your nail for the base of the first triangle. The base of the second triangle should have a bit of space left above it.

STEP THREE - 

Finish with your favourite top coat and you're done!

                                  

Who's your favourite Avenger? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo - Gouu

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Comic Con Outfit Ideas

Dressing for comic con can be stressful, it's hard to find the time to make one of those amazingly outrageous outfits [ I'm hoping to make one for next year though ]. But there are ways to dress up without having to spend too much time and money on it.

I've only got two ideas today [ sorry :/ ] comic con snuck up on me this year.

OUTFIT NUMBER ONE -

You can never go wrong with the classic graphic tee or a character sweater. It's a great combination of casual and 'costumed up'. I'll probably be wearing this, because I'm most likely heading over there after work.

OUTFIT NUMBER TWO -

This outfit is a combination of the outfit that takes so long to make and outfit number one, but BONUS, it doesn't take too long to make. For my example [ pictured above ], I used a regular cheap t-shirt and some leggings with a thick belt along with a mask and gloves that I had from Halloween and a chunk of black fabric from one of my local thrift shops. Thrift shops can be a huge life saver when making costumes like this. They almost always have a great selection of fabric and sheets that can be used to make different elements of a costume.

Are you going to comic con this year?  What are you going to wear ?

xoxo - Gouu

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How I Lost My First Job .

** I'm not going to name the store, simply because I do not hold a grudge against them and do not want them to receive bad attention because I did not have a good experience as an employee. Although I'm sure in time you will figure it out.

First jobs are a scary and exciting thing. Becoming more responsible and earning your own money. I'm not going to lie, I had a tough time getting my first job, like many people these days. I had just graduated high school and summer was almost over. The only job experience I really had was from a co-op placement I did for school during the summer before my senior year at an exercise clothing store [like lulu lemon, but not]. I had applied to pretty much every place that was hiring and even the majority of the stores that weren't. My family was really putting the pressure on me to get a job. They had said I could take the summer off but that didn't stop me from feeling like a free loader, which is why I began applying to jobs in secret [I was already doing this, but my search got a whole lot more intense].

My plan was to take a year off of school, so my only option was to somehow get a job. It was a struggle, but I managed to do it. I found a clothing store that was opening a new branch at another mall here in Ottawa. I applied because, not only did I love the store and the clothes, but they were opening a brand new store, which meant they were going to need a whole new staff so I figured I would have a higher chance of getting hired.

I received a call, and went in for an interview. A few days later I received another call this time saying if I wanted a job I had one - during my birthday party. Talk about BEST. GIFT. EVER! I was completely and udderly PUMPED.

I was hired thinking I was going to be a full-time employee [they asked if I was looking for a part-time or full-time job and I said full-time]. They said nothing about it actually being a part-time position, although I know that part-time is better than no-time it would have been nice knowing right away instead of getting my hopes high.

The first week or two was great. I was meeting new people, learning about all the products and the layout of the store, and working decent hours because of the grand opening. After that, shifts went to three a week, to one a week, to none a week. One a month if I was lucky.

It was at the point where I wouldn't even need to go in to check the schedule because I knew I wouldn't have any shifts [they refused to have it online or to send it via email, etc]. Managers never called, so I knew I never missed a shift.

To be honest, I was never even contacted to say I was fired / let go. I found out when I was removed from the employee Facebook group, and I actually just received my record of employment in the mail about a week ago.

Before I knew it, I was back to being jobless.

It all worked out though, with a pretty happy ending. I believe everything happens for a reason. Let me give you an example. After my first job went down the shoots, I was still able to put that little bit of experience on my resume, which led to me getting two other seasonal jobs over the winter holiday. One of which was at a place I had always dreamed of working at, and I am still at today.

As I said before, I do not hold a grudge against the store because I know that it was not meant to be. I know and accept that what happened was part my fault, part their fault [teamwork ?].

Let me know in the comments what your worst experience at a job was, or anything related to jobs - good and bad! Let's just chat. :)

xoxo - Gouu

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