As each snowflake lands ever so gently on my face, I feel a rush of joy because this sensation is so new, and so welcome, despite the biting cold and the unforgiving wind that rushes toward me as I trudge on. The snowflakes drift and sway and come to rest on my dark blue winter jacket, my purple scarf, my glasses, my pink-tipped nose. Every single one is unique, I know, and I feel a twinge of regret as I brush them off.

I gravitate towards fluffy banks of snow when I walk along streets, shuffling my feet and kicking the powdery stuff every so often so that snow is briefly suspended in mid-air. I like seeing the air shimmer, if only for a millisecond.

I look at the deep pockets in the snow that my winter boots have left behind me. I consider the other shoe prints that mine are inevitably mixed with and covered by. People usually walk on paths others have trodden on before. Rare is the line that veers off.

I recall reading about how snow “blankets” a landscape, but I’ve never really known what that feels like. Now I know that that is an apt description. This snow that comes from on high and melts away almost unnoticed leaves a frosty dusting on anything and everything. It is pretty, glacially pretty. My fingers yearn to touch it.

And I do, eventually, when I initiate a spontaneous snowball fight with the husband when visiting the Sooke potholes. I scoop up handfuls of snow, the sharp cold surprising me and seeping through my gloved hands. I can’t shape them into snowballs very well, so mine are better termed snow-clumps, really. I lob them over anyway and mostly miss my intended target.

Then I get caught by a snowball that lands, with a soft sploof, around my neck. It’s so cold, I shriek, as the ice crystals come into contact with my skin and—merrily, I think—trickle down my nape.

Snow is falling again soon, the weather forecasts say. I turn towards the window, straining to see against the dark.

xx,
iz

I’ve lived in Raincouver (aka Vancouver, Canada) for three years and counting, and one of the first things I noticed when I moved here was that the locals were killin’ it in the rain-proof gear game. And so, while Vancouver rain is nothing compared to what Singapore rain is like—think a steady, drippy drizzle versus torrential rains and monsoon season—I felt increasingly compelled to be suitably attired and ready for the inevitable fall/winter showers.

Enter these Alice + Whittles rubber boots, which have become a staple in my rain-ready wardrobe. Fun fact: I won them after joining an Instagram giveaway woohoo! Also, this is not a sponsored post; I’ve wanted to write about these on the blog for ages since I know most folks would love to read real, unfiltered reviews before making a purchase.

The style

I picked out the minimalist black + white ankle rain boot because I like its clean, sleek profile and the little touch of contrast it provides with its white soles. I love how black goes with everything, so it probably saves me three seconds of deciding whether my outfit matches or not every day. I also appreciate the high ankle cut, and while it does seem like water can still get in since the openings seem a bit large even with my feet in, I’ve never experienced any problems with them or had my socks/feet wet.

The material

As with all the brand’s products, the boots are made of 100% natural fairly traded rubber and come with a cotton sock lining. They’re not as heavy as you think, and walking in them for a few hours is pretty comfortable, although the top parts of my feet do hurt a lil if I’m wearing them for too long. There is no padding in these boots, so wear thicker socks if you need to.

One thing to be careful of when wearing these boots is that they do get a tad slippery on certain surfaces. The soles are designed with anti-slip tread, but I found that when I stepped on manhole covers or other slicker surfaces, I had a tendency to slip. There is no issue when these boots hit gravel, puddles, or paved paths.

The fit

I decided to order a half-size up (my usual size is 6.5-7) based on reviews I had read and also based off the brand’s description that their boots come in a narrow fit. But I kinda regretted it because the boots seemed to have a little too much wiggle room; I suppose my feet aren’t as wide as I think they are :p

Verdict

Alice + Whittles’ minimalist black + white ankle rain boot (CAD$161) is sturdy, reliable, sustainably made, and are pretty dang chic for rubber boots! They’re easy to clean and maintain, and I love how effortless it is to pair them with any outfit. I wouldn’t run or hike in them, but I would definitely wear them when heading out for coffee dates or grocery runs. They’re the perfect footwear choice for busy urbanites who are always on the go and don’t want the rain to dampen their routines or lifestyles.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any other questions about them!

xx,
iz

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Hiking at the Four Lakes trail, BC. Photo: Seeto Photography

Hey guys! Soo I was planning to share this much earlier (aka April), but things got in the way and my work commitments were ramping up. But I’ve finally found some time to write this piece, and I hope it will be a meaningful one.

Being – and looking – fit is “in” right now. Thinness used to be the body shape that girls would strive for, but I’m glad that things have changed and there are big movements and voices all across the world that support body positivity and the fact that every body is a good body. I’m glad that I live in a world that celebrates curves and muscles and stretch marks and bodies of all shapes, colours and sizes.

In this post, I want to delve a little deeper into my personal fitness journey: what I thought being fit meant, my struggles with loving my body, how I met Jesus in the journey, and the workout routine I’ve established that works for me.

misconceptions i had about being fit

As a kid and all throughout my teenage years, I had always thought that being thin was ideal, and being fat was “bad”. I think this is something that society ingrains in us at a young age, to the point that I never questioned why I held such assumptions, how they had even been constructed, and how I could even begin to de-construct them.

I also had a love-hate relationship with working out. I wasn’t a fan of running and found exercising to be such a hassle. I signed up for memberships at my local gyms, only to barely utilise them because the thought of running on the treadmill already tired me out, and I felt intimidated by all that fancy gym equipment. But I did enjoy being active to some extent (I took up tennis in junior college and joined kickboxing classes in university). But I still never felt like I was “thin” or “fit” enough.

Hiking at Runyon Canyon, LA in 2017

my body image struggles

I was pretty skinny in secondary school. But I remember a classmate saying to me once, “You seem to have put on weight” during the school holidays. I remember feeling embarrassed and brushing his comment off, but I suppose it must’ve had some impact since I can still remember it so clearly.

The thing is, I was at a healthy weight for my age at the time. Putting on a bit of weight did not mean I had become fat or even overweight. But yet, an innocent, casual comment like that made me feel like I had been judged, as if my body was now “ugly”.

In my first full-time job, I started counting my calories to ensure that I never went above my daily calorie limit. I would share a plate of food with my colleague so that I would not over-eat. Doing all this diligently did help me not to put on weight, but it was all so restrictive and it felt like I had to control my food consumption all the time (and believe me, I love eating).

In my second job, I worked as a writer for a lifestyle website. An opportunity came up to review a juice cleanse (a huge fad at the time) for a story . I volunteered because I saw no reason not to, and I wanted to see if it really did help in shedding some weight. Let’s just say that I discovered the power of hunger pangs through that experience – I constantly thought of all the food I could finally eat once the juice cleanse was over, and the food I was craving tended to be oily/fried stuff :p On the upside, I did develop a liking for drinking green juices after that.

After that, I moved to work as a writer in a magazine. It was a stressful environment, and I often sat at my desk all day and ate lunch in front of my computer screen frequently. I gained some weight during this period, and I did not like my body one bit.

The culmination of all these experiences led to this realisation: I had a toxic relationship with my body.

I would stare at myself in the mirror and feel repelled by what I saw. I couldn’t think of anything positive to say about my body. And I punished it by stuffing my face with fast food or unhealthy snacks.

Hiking at Whytecliff Park, BC in 2019

finding jesus in the midst of it all

There is so much pressure on us to look a certain way, to appear “desirable”, and to look beautiful. A lot of the time, becoming fitter is tied to these concepts.

But I don’t see being fit as a way of becoming more attractive. Rather, being fit to me now means I am honouring and loving my body for what it is. Being fit is not about achieving a certain body shape, or being fitter than everyone else around me, or showing off my muscles or abs.

Because of this, it’s freed me to choose better foods to consume while indulging in ice cream or potato chips whenever I want to without feeling guilt or shame. It’s empowered me to wear a bikini even if my body isn’t in good enough shape. It’s allowed me to give myself permission to celebrate the times I can actually see my abs peeking out, and permission to continue loving and accepting myself when they disappear the next day.

This renewed perspective on fitness came about because I developed a right understanding of who I am in God, and who God says I am.

This Bible passage describes how intimately known we are and how every part of our bodies were so carefully stitched and created by God:

“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.”

— Psalm 139: 13-16

Another verse in the Bible again declares that we are God’s masterpiece:

” For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. “

— Ephesians 6:10

I think the biggest struggle I had with all these verses was actually believing them. But once I recognised who I was in God, and once I allowed myself to trust in these God-given words, a huge burden was lifted. I didn’t have to abide by cultural and societal standards of what a “good” body was. I didn’t need my body to look a certain way or be something “more” or “better”.

Nonetheless, my toxic relationship with my body has not fully disappeared. Even now, there are times I still think and speak negatively of my body.

But when those thoughts come, I choose to declare His truths over them. And because of Him, I can say:

My body is good, because a good God made it.

My body may be imperfect, but I am learning to love it.

I love my body for what it is, right now in this moment.

my workout routine

As mentioned previously, I had a love-hate relationship with fitness. But all that changed when I went for my first barre class in 2016. The workout was fun and challenging, and I enjoyed the music and the variety of exercises during the one-hour class. I went for a 10-day trial, then took the plunge and bought a 50-class pack. Yup, that’s how much I loved it!

Since moving to Vancouver in 2017, I’ve been to most of the barre studios here (read my review of Pure Barre, Barre Fitness and more). In late 2018, I signed up with a studio that offered barre, HIIT and stretch classes so I could get a total body workout and pick up good stretching techniques too. I found my body getting stronger and fitter through this experience, and also had a newfound appreciation for how amazing my body was after every killer workout I put it through.

These days, I try to work out at least three times a week with a high-impact workout, a low-impact workout, and stretching or yoga. I fully consider going for a hike exercise too, so it’s always fun to plan for one and enjoy fresh air, sunshine and good company.

Hiking with friends (and cute doggos) is such a great way to keep active!

re-defining fitness

I hope my story will encourage you to develop a different perspective about getting fit, and help you to introduce new thought patterns about your body too.

My prayer is that we learn to love our bodies instead of punishing or demeaning them; that we see fitness in a more positive and less comparative light; and that we allow God to continue renewing our minds so that we can let go of toxic thoughts about our bodies.

I leave you with these powerful words by BC-based therapist/researcher Hillary McBride:

“I know that so many of us struggle to believe- and know in a visceral kind of way- that our bodies are good. It says something that this is a challenge for so many of us. It says that maybe you or I or your sister or friend aren’t broken, but we are in a system which says some bodies matter while some don’t. We are in a system of hierarchy, and in this made up hierarchy some bodies are on the top and others aren’t. The tragedy is the we attack ourselves, we criticize our bodies instead turning the finger on a way of thinking that makes us objectify ourselves and others. You are not bad. Your body is not bad. Even your frustration or shame or disgust with your body is not bad: it is the most obedient thing imaginable. (Shaming shame only creates more shame, it doesn’t make it go away: Now is the time for compassion). You feel exactly about your body like you were told to feel about your body, and others’ bodies. But now is time to be critical of a way of thinking that made us critical of ourselves. And you are absolutely allowed to be angry or sad at how long you were under its thumb. Now is the time for us to write the new story. In this story bodies are good: all bodies. No white body over a body of colour, no male body over a female body, no straight body over a queer body, no able body over a body with different abilities, no thin body over a fat body, no healthy body over a sick body, and all of the countless other versions of this. The hierarchy has to go. And we wipe it clean by saying the body is good. All bodies are good. No exceptions. No conditions. This will be our resistance.”

What are your thoughts on how faith influences fitness? How have you struggled in loving and accepting your body?

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xx,
iz

I’m so happy spring has arrived in Vancouver. Winter this year felt unbearably long, dark, and cold. I don’t know how people in other parts of the world survive with limited daylight hours and freezing temperatures for half of the year!

One of the best things about springtime here is the chance to admire all the cherry blossom trees that start blooming all across the city. Many of these trees grow on residential streets or in parks, and access to them is completely free (yay), and the situation is definitely not as manic as sakura-chasing tends to be in other cities.

The husband and I spent a weekend driving around quieter residential streets of Vancouver in the hopes of spotting some of these pretty pale pink blooms. I believe the Japanese akebono cherry trees were flowering that particular weekend, and they were so dang gorgeous!

But enough talk – here are some of the places we visited while cherry blossom hunting, and some other popular places you should visit as well:

KITS BEACH

The cherry blossoms here are situated along the road, close to some great pubs and shops and just a little ways away from the beach. They were even flowering in the carpark lot..! It was cold and rainy when we visited that day, but it was still beautiful to behold.

H. R. MACMILLAN SPACE CENTRE

We spotted this while driving by and decided to make a pit stop. It was such a lovely little garden (apparently it’s the outdoor patio lounge but “garden” just feels a lot more suitable). If you’re looking for a photo-worthy spot full of Zen vibes, this is the place to be.

OAK AND W 47-49TH AVENUE

We chanced upon this quiet residential street while heading home after a hike, and we are so glad we stopped! Aren’t those cherry blossom-lined streets just stunning?! Oh, and there was a retro-looking Volkswagen van parked on the street that made for a great photo op :p

QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK

We visited Queen Elizabeth Park last year (hence the crazy hair in these photos) and had such a lovely time enjoying the cherry blossoms there. I remember that it was late April, and it was so sunny and warm out that we just lay on our backs on the grass for a bit. Oh, and the husband made me climb a tree too, which I don’t recall ever doing as a kid… so I guess you could call it an achievement -_-

There are loads more cherry blossom trees all around Vancouver to check out, so do enjoy it while it lasts! This neighbourhood map by the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival has come in very handy too. And if you are local, I would love to get your recommendations in the comments box below

Happy cherry blossom hunting, friends!

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xx,
iz

Writing about beauty products is something that I find relaxing. Is that weird?? I don’t know, but it’s definitely less stressful than writing, say, a speech. Plus, I haven’t done anything on beauty in a while now (related: my review of the ordinary skincare and this heavenly-smelling body polish I love).

I had the opportunity to try Biore’s Blue Agave Infused Collection recently, and they kinda blew me away. That doesn’t happen often, so I knew I had to write about them!

Both of these masks, which launched this year, are suitable for combination skin types. The one I was most intrigued by was the Blue Agave Instant Warming Clay Mask ($9.99 at most drugstores near you). It reportedly has a “self-heating technology”, and I was curious to find out what exactly that meant. Also, it claims to give pores a deep clean and help your skin feel refreshed after. So I put it to the test without hesitation (see selfie below).

Having had lots of dry patches on my skin recently – dang you, winter – I thought it would be interesting to see how this mask would affect my skin. I was a tad worried that it would act too strongly and cause a reaction or, worse, a breakout. Also, smearing Smurf blue goop on your face would give anyone pause – I mean, don’t I look like a character from Avatar or something?

Anyhow, the Instant Warming Clay Mask is made up of four individual sachets. I like how travel-friendly they are, and also that the amount of product in each sachet is pretty generous. But the highlight for me was the warming sensation I felt immediately while massaging it into damp skin. It was heavenly!

(FYI: the heat that is produced is caused by a mineral called zeolite, which generates warmth when combined with water.)

My only tiny word of warning is to dab a pinky-sized amount on your forehead for a start so you don’t get a shock at how warm it feels. I slathered on a thumb-sized amount on my first go, and it felt way too hot for my skin at first. Still, the more I applied it onto skin with gentle massaging motions, the more I got used to the level of heat the mask produces.

The clincher for me, though, was how effective it was. After leaving it on for five minutes and then washing it off, my complexion felt instantly smoother and softer and looked much clearer. My skin stayed this way for the next two to three days too.

I love using purifying clay masks, and this one is a keeper for sure. What’s more, it’s so easy on the pocket!

The other new offering in the range is the Blue Agave Whipped Nourishing Detox Mask (also $9.99). Its texture is more gooey and sticky than the clay mask, feels lighter when applied on skin, and doesn’t come with a warming effect. But it does leave a cool, tingly sensation on your skin, like what fresh minty Colgate feels in your mouth after you brush it.

This mask was also pretty effective in cleansing my skin from dirt and oil, but the effects weren’t as pronounced as the Instant Warming Clay Mask. Still, I like that my skin felt softer and smoother after using this. And because this mask has a lighter texture compared to the clay mask, I would use this more regularly and save the clay mask for times that my face would need a thorough cleanse, like after a sweaty workout or hike.

What are some of your favourite masks in your skincare routine right now? Would you give these Biore masks a try? I’m definitely bringing these back to Singapore when I return home to visit in a few weeks – it gets ultra hot out there since we’re located on the equator, and I hate having oily skin and clogged pores!

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xx,
iz

Happy 2019 everyone! I hope your year will be one filled with genuine connections, awe-inspiring moments and victories big and small.

I wrote a post on what my 2018 looked like a few hours before the clock struck 12 yesterday.

Today, I’d like to focus on my blog and give you guys a little peek into how it’s grown so much in the past year.

When I first started iz.joshkho.com in September 2017, I had just moved from Singapore to Vancouver, Canada. Writing on the blog was a way for me to process this transition, to reflect and ruminate on issues, share some of my favourite products and travel destinations, and also keep myself up-to-date on good web practices like SEO (search engine optimisation).

Slowly, the blog grew into a place where I wanted to share stories that were not my own, but of women who were (and still are) so inspiring in their faith. And it was also such a privilege to share stories penned by friends and fellow writers that totally blew me away with their wisdom and their power.

I wasn’t as consistent in posting here as I’d planned (yes, I have an editorial calendar!). And not everything I posted got a ton of views.

But in terms of the total number of pageviews for last year, this blog received…

over 13,000 pageviews in 2018.

No kidding.

I was so amazed when this figure showed up. Numbers aren’t everything, and they aren’t a target I need to reach to prove that my blog has been successful (thank God for that!). But they help me keep track of which posts are doing well and how I can continue improving my writing. And for someone who hasn’t spent a dime on advertising… I think this is definitely worth celebrating!

These were the posts that received the most love on this humble space. Thank you for reading them and sharing them!

inspiring christian instagram accounts to follow

This was the best-performing post for 2018, and I’ve received a lot of feedback that the recommendations have been really helpful. I hope these accounts encourage and inspire you too!

women who inspire: bernice

I’ve known Bernice and what she does at Graceworks for a number of years, but it was only in 2018 that the idea came upon me to interview her and find out more about the faith-focused publishing and training consultancy she co-runs with her husband Soo-Inn and how God has been faithful in her life. Clearly, a lot of people wanted to know more too!

what i’ve learnt after 3 years of marriage

Marriage takes work. And as a woman who has struggled a fair bit with it, here’s something I wrote after reflecting on being married for three years (it’s four now woohoo!).

there you are

I remember my heart thumping like crazy when I asked my friend Naomi if she would be keen to write something for my blog last January. And thumping even more when she immediately said “yes!”. Her words are filled with such incredible power, grace and love… it’s a total must-read.

review: herbivore botanicals’ coco rose body polish

One of my favourite beauty buys of 2018! Also, I now know how difficult it is to snap nice photos in a tiny bathroom :p

coffee with tze: life as a missionary, photographer and storyteller

My friend tze’s life story never fails to intrigue and inspire me. He’s been to some of the most incredible places in the world, and his images are truly one-of-a-kind.

women who inspire: yare

My friend Yare is an amazing singer-songwriter from Bolivia, and I was so happy that she shared her heart for music and for God with this blog.

where is God in the waiting?

This was a piece I wrote for Naomi’s blog. It was also shared on Thir.st, a faith-based online publication in Singapore. I wrote this while experiencing a time of limbo where I felt so uncertain about the future. If you find yourself in a time of waiting, may these words bless you.

life in vancouver, illustrated

My friend Angeline drew these series of comics to illustrate scenes from her new life in Vancouver. They’re full of humour and are such a joy to look at!

women who inspire: sharon

This was one of those moments in life where if you don’t do it, you’ll probably never even dream of doing it again… I approached Sharon after a church service where her husband, Darrell Johnson, was preaching at. She readily agreed to speak to me about life as a pastor’s wife, and I can’t even express how grateful I am that she would take the time to share so openly and honestly about her life with me.

And there you have it: some of my most loved posts for 2018

Thanks for sticking around, and sign up for my newsletter (scroll all the way down) if you’d love to get more updates from me in 2019!

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xx,
iz

It feels a little surreal that 2018 is almost over (well, back in Singapore and other parts of the world, it is already 2019!). And the good thing about writing so much over the past year and a half is that… there’s a ton of stuff to reflect on :p

In particular, I thought of looking back at how I wanted to make my 2018 count. In that post, I said that I wanted my life to speak for something this year, especially in the areas of service, kindness and generosity.

It’s so cool – heck, amazing even – to see what 2017 me wrote, and to realise that things that I desired to grow in actually did come to pass.

On service, I wrote:

There is a part of me that longs to help others (fun fact: I’m an INFP, or a “healer”). But I’ve never had enough courage to step forward and avail myself to a particular cause or felt need. I think fear – of being too vulnerable or too inadequate – was holding me back. Also, it’s been years since I’ve been “actively serving” in church, but since moving to Vancouver, I’ve felt many tuggings on my heart to serve again. So I’ve written in to the church I’m attending now to explore a few avenues of service – not in the areas I have previously served in, but in new ones. I’m looking forward to seeing where these will lead me to in the new year.

Serving others is a joy, and it’s something I’ve re-discovered in many different ways this year. From volunteering as my church’s social media manager to hosting friends to dinner and gatherings in our little apartment in Vancouver, I’ve found that these acts of service, however insignificant, have helped me to care for and love others not just in word, but also in action.

And in what will be another huge milestone in my life: I’ve started working as a writer at a Canadian charity recently. The charity helps malnourished children, pregnant women and mothers in North Korea, and I’ve been working there on a part-time basis – which kinda explains why this blog has been so quiet lately as I’ve been trying to adjust to a new schedule.

That being said, I don’t see what I do there as work per se; I feel like I’m contributing in my own little way to a cause greater than I am. What greater joy is there?

On kindness, I wrote:

I have this terrible habit of speaking down to myself. Maybe it’s because I’m Asian, but I am pretty critical of myself in a lot of aspects – appearance, skills, what have you. And there are many times this year where I’ve nagged my husband and given irritated retorts and eye-rolls when I am impatient with him. My prayer for 2018 is to be a little kinder to myself and to my loved ones, and to stop perpetuating harmful speech/behavioural patterns.

My relationship with my body has never been a smooth-sailing one. I’m ever so grateful to have discovered Hilary McBride, a therapist/researcher/writer based in BC who has challenged me to re-think, re-look and re-love my body for what it is. One of my favourite lines that she penned recently goes: “My body is my monastery, and if I could be so bold, I would also suggest that your body is your monastery. A sacred place, consecrated, and good. Very very Good.”

I think one of the biggest mental blocks that I overcame regarding my body was through going for HIIT (high intensity interval training) regularly. It was always a form of exercise that I felt super intimidated by, but the more I showed up, the more I saw my body changing, adapting, and growing. I’ve learned to respect my body for all it has done and all it can do – and I think that in itself is a kindness shown.

As for being kind to myself and to others (especially the spouse, hurhur): I think being intentional about this has helped me stave off the negative things I say about myself and/or my actions. There are still times I beat myself up, of course, but I’m learning to show grace to myself and to my loved ones too. And I suppose my husband is the best person to comment on whether I’ve been kinder to him this year :p

On generosity, I wrote:

While working full-time, I had so little energy for other people and other pursuits outside of the job. I absolutely hated feeling that way. Since going on a sabbatical in March this year, I finally found the space and time to slow down and reflect more deeply about the trajectory I want my career and life to take. One of the biggest realisations that arose from this extended duration of “chilling out” is that I need to cultivate a more giving spirit – whether of my time, my money, or any other means by which I can encourage someone. I feel like this is a rusty engine that needs a little bit of repair work right now – but hey, it’s definitely moving in the right direction.

Generosity doesn’t come naturally, but it does come with practice!

I’m grateful for all the opportunities God has given to me to be generous this year with my time, my words, and my money. In doing life here, we saw needs that we could help meet, and in giving freely, we’ve received so much in return too.

My money, my time, and my life is not my own; it belongs to Him (something my husband tends to repeat often, and is worth sharing here too).

Most of all, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported this little endeavour of mine by reading/sharing/commenting/whatnot. I hope some of what I’ve written has encouraged you in some way over the past year… and I’m really excited to put some plans and dreams for 2019 into motion!

I would also love to hear from you on your biggest takeaways for 2018 – what did God show you, teach you, or draw you deeper into? What were some of your happiest and/or most challenging moments of the year? Tell me in the comments box below!

For now… I’m off to drink some red wine and usher in the new year in my jammies!

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xx,
iz

Since we’ve decided to make our quality time a lot more intentional, we’ve gone on a few fun and spontaneous dates. One of them was to the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival, the first of its kind in British Columbia. It was rather cloudy that day, but the sun peeked through at times and really brightened up our day out.

What stole the show were these amazing mammoth sunflowers – apparently, they can reach heights of 12 feet / 3.6 metres and beyond. They were wilting when we were there, but we still wandered around their plot for a bit and took a bunch of silly shots (did you see one of me getting a sunflower seed shower?).

In all, there were 17 sunflower varieties planted on-site, as well as specially created photo ops (like a bicycle with a basket full of sunflowers that people were lining up to pose with; obviously, I did too). The ground was a little muddy, so I should’ve probably worn boots instead of sneakers. But it was so good to get out, enjoy some sunshine after days of gloomy rain, and bring home a bunch of these gorgeous blooms for $2 apiece.

The entry fees differ between weekdays and weekends, but they’re relatively easy on the pocket – I believe we paid $9 each for a Saturday afternoon visit. I’d say it’s definitely worth checking out especially if you love flowers, and if you’re not too scared to have bees buzzing about you all the time. If you are, well, this is a chance to (attempt to) get over your fear!

Visit Chilliwack Sunflower Festival for ticket pricing and more details on its opening next summer.

xx,
iz

It’s been months since I talked about beauty on this space! I guess all that travelling and hiking took precedence over the summer :p

(If you’re interested, my review of Herbivore Botanicals’ Coco Rose Body Polish is a popular read, and I also share some of the face and body oils I love).

This time around, I’m putting the spotlight on an immensely popular beauty brand: The Ordinary, which is one of its parent company Deciem’s bestselling product lines to date. Quickly becoming a cult favourite thanks to its extremely accessible price points and powerful, effective ingredients, the brand has experienced phenomenal growth since launching in August 2016.

I visited Deciem’s Vancouver store (408 Howe Street) a while ago and purchased two products I thought would help to treat two of my biggest skin woes: pigmentation and dark circles.

alpha arbutin 2% + ha (CAD$8.90)

The alpha arbutin 2% + ha supposedly reduces the appearance of spots and pigmentation. Alpha arbutin is a skin-lightening ingredient, and the brand has incorporated a higher-than-normal concentration of it here.

I’ve been using this diligently for about three weeks now, but sadly, I’ve not seen any particular improvement in terms of it lightening the freckles across my cheeks. I apply sunscreen everyday before going out, so it’s not like I’m not covering all the bases!

Still, I like that the formula is odourless and colourless, and goes onto skin easily without leaving any sticky residue.

caffeine solution 5% + EGCG (CAD$6.70)

The caffeine solution 5% + egcg aims to reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eye area. It has a high concentration of caffeine (5%, as the name suggests), as well as epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (or egcg), which is derived from green tea leaves.

The formula comes in a brownish yellow liquid but doesn’t stain skin when applied, and is also odourless.

I’ve been using this for three weeks as well, but my panda eyes are still awfully visible. Clearly, I really need to adjust my poor sleeping habits!

Overall, I’m a tad disappointed with The Ordinary products, even with their pocket-friendly prices and the rave reviews they’ve received. Or maybe I should give these a bit more time to work their magic…

If you’ve ever used The Ordinary, let me know your thoughts below! I hope it’s been more effective for you than it’s been for me.

xx,
iz