3/26

My baby turned 8 today. I guess he's not longer really a baby but he's got his youthful good looks to hide that fact. 

West of the west coast

Before this trip, the furthest west I had gone in Canada was Victoria when I was younger. I can't say I knew too much about Tofino before we went, and it was definitely one of those places that are a pleasant surprise.





We took the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo and then drove via BC-4 through Port Alberni to Ucluelet, and finally landing in Tofino.

This is probably one drive that is sure to keep you awake - there are so many twists and turns there is almost no stretch of road that keeps straight for more than a few hundred metres. Definitely not a drive I would recommend at night as it is nestled away in the foliage.

First of all, the home we stayed in was absolutely gorgeous. The cabin I used to dream of as a child,  tucked away at the top of the hill, came to life in this place.

Beautiful British Columbia

Nine years after my last trip to Vancouver, I found myself back on the west coast to celebrate a family wedding. From September 2015 to September 2016, I found myself back there three times - even more often than some of my friends who originally came from BC.

I honestly don't remember too much about my previous trips there, but I always had a fondness for it and wished I could live there - that is, until one of my classmates informed me it was an earthquake haven.

This trip only served to remind me how beautiful the west coast is, with its temperate climate and plentiful mountain and ocean views. I couldn't help but draw similarities to what I experienced during my trip to Hong Kong - both places that have a special place in my heart.

I honestly didn't know what was on the table during this trip; I woke up one morning and found myself climbing the Grouse Grind (a.k.a. nature's stairmaster) in my knit sweater and fall jacket.

National parks and heading home

The last day of our west coast adventure had arrived; we woke up early and packed up for the road ahead.

In the noggan

Our friend picked us up in a monstrous car (that would later proceed to require three tanks of gas a day) and we headed out of the city. The original plan was to hike the Chief, but the rainy, foggy weather coupled with the fact that we all were wearing beat-up runners cancelled that idea. We stopped by MEC in the search for waterproof gear before stopping by a few scenic points. We attempted to hike but were stuck in fog that left visibility of only a few metres, so we headed back to the city.

Back to BC

We left our hotel in the early hours and trekked over to the train station. I left to get everyone coffee, and I won't lie - it was my first time ordering coffee. I honestly didn't know what just 'plain coffee' was on their menu, and I had to guesstimate what "one cream, one sugar" meant. I had another London Fog as caffeine and I were still not terribly friendly.

Peek inside: my makeup pouch

Make-up: I started wearing eyeliner on occasion a couple of years ago, and now I've recently started to dabble in other areas. Here are some of my favourite items at the moment.

Heimish Dailism Palette in Cozy Coral
Perfect for bright, warm coral looks. The pigmentation is somewhere in the middle, which allows a beginner such as myself to try new looks without the worry of a bruised-eye effect.

Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop
I love this colour; it brings a glow to the face that makes you look like you just had a good night's rest. Using a light hand allows for a very natural look.

The Face Shop Blusher/Contour Brush
I needed something to apply blush and I bought this brush way before I ever bought a blush.

Etude House Colour My Brow in Red Brown
I was not blessed with luscious brows; therefore I fill them in and tint them to match my hair colour. This colour is not red at all though.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Verbena
I love Bite Beauty so much; I almost don't wear any other lipstick anymore. This is my absolute favourite colour that matches any look, and described as a rose terracotta. Honestly, this is not a colour I normally gravitate towards; I received it as part of a set and was initially intrigued by the other two colours more. However, Verbena shocked me with the first application; I had been expecting a too-pale shade of pink, but this colour really brightened my whole complexion and I went  on to buy a full-size one for myself and my mother.

BookHou Pouch

Let me know what you carry in your pouch!

This post is not sponsored; all the items mentioned above were purchased myself.