And guess what I thought? It’s Mascara Monday time for our gorgeOUs N&Kers!

Let’s re-state our review rules:

1. We bought all mascara ourselves (which means nobody is paying us).
2. We wear each mascara for a week.
3. All mascaras purchased were black, and the darkest black they had available.
4. Every mascara used was put on the exact same way, with only two coats. All eye makeup for the comparison pictures was exactly the same.

That’s it…there are no more rules.

Wait…maybe one more…the opinion is ours…take it or leave it. Believe it or not. These are just our 2¢.

What we want in a mascara

Lasting Curl

Staying Power

Colour

Separation

Volume

Length

Most reviews talk about these 6 points. The first 5 are important to me since I’ve got naturally long lashes².

The problem is that my durn lashes ramrod straight. So, I’ve got to bust out the eyelash curler first¹. Doesn’t matter if it’s a mascara dipped in gold. Without that lash curler, the mascara will not reach its full potential.
Application. So after curling and applying Rimmel London’s 24 Hour Supercurler, I found that the product applied quickly, without much fuss.
Curl power. This product didn’t curl my lashes very much. But, once I cyborg’ed it up¹, the mascara worked well.
Staying power. It lasted quite a while. In fact, I found that I needed to get a Q-tip in there after cleansing to ensure all the product was out. (Lots of other people experienced this as well. See some other reviews.)
Separation. That curved brush is thick and it’s got some junk in the trunk. Angle that brush around & work it for your lashes. As the product has a thin consistency, lashes were separated beautifully with no porridge-y clumps.

Colour. Yep, the colour was “very black”. See Volume as this affects appearance of Colour.
Volume. Oh sigh. Here’s where it falls short. I got length, separation, curl power, colour… do you really need volume, too? Can all 5 equally co-exist in 1 mascara? I layer my mascaras anyways, so I’d just pair it with a volumizer.

Interesting tid bit: Rimmel London gives a dupe on fake lashes here. Did this dupe work for you?Did this dupe work for you?

Would I buy again (Yes!) & would i recommend it?

For newbies this is a good starter mascara.

For the seasoned mascara-ists, you’ll have to pair with a volumizer.

Footnotes

1 Mr Nals calls me cyborg when I’m using the curler. I’ve found that when I put curler under the hair dryer for 2-3 seconds, the curl is intense and adding a good mascara suspends it in curl-perfection.

2 My lashes have lengthened and volumized with EyEnvy eyelash conditioner! Our review is available here.

K invited me and… history was made as we realized that we travelled well together².

So, the following year, K&I decided to start a tradition of celebrating our October birthdays away from home. We Started with Leavenworth (Oktoberfest).

Last year, we went to Vegas where The Weeknd performed for Kells on her birthday.

Our Vegas reviews of:  Yellowtail    Olives     Ballys

T h i s   y e a r …

due to our work schedules and my limited vacation hours¹, we decided on a mini Run for the Border birthday getaway. Our sole goal was shopping. (So much shopping that we needed to spend a night.) We decided to grace Skagit Valley Casino Resort with our presence.

Kells has stayed here several times before, including a Suite. This time, we were in the Ridge Double Queen.

The hotel was large, spacious, clean, airy.

Rooms were decorated in muted tones.  Beds were super comfy: firm but soft (ie: not lumpy). Pillows were snuggly soft. There was a lot of tabletop room.  And a little sitting area. Bathroom was large and well-lit. Hot water took a bit to come in but when it did, it stayed. Rooms were quiet.

In-room amenities: Lots of toiletries including facial-cleanser wipes, TV, hair dryer, coffee & machine, little fridge and microwave. In fact, we would call this a kitchenette area because there was also a cute little sink.

Hotel amenities: pool & fitness room. The lobby has a lovely fireplace for the cold days. Staff are lovely. And they have a continental breakfast room. Plenty of free guest parking. Of course there’s a casino. And as per their website, dining rooms and actual shows like the upcoming Clairvoyant Christmas². The surroundings are green & woody. So a lot of rooms lookout on this. We took pictures out there, and ended up seeing deer!

We would defo stay here again!

Footnights
1 Oh dear limited vaca days? Poor Nals! Well don’t feel sorry for me. I’m going to NZ next month!

2 Important things to consider when travelling with others: are you a neat freak, does the other person snore, is someone a blanket hog, who’s crabby in the morning til they get their coffee, what do you like watching on the old boob toob?

And to celebrate, we dedicated the last few weeks to Womens Health.

We went to VanCity’s Womens Expo, tried burlesque classes, talked self esteem, tried Sugaring,  did fun photoshoots, did a giveaway, fundraised (see below: And A Word From Kells) and teamed up with Cadeaux Bakery and Sugaring Change.

Hope you enjoyed our First Ever Blog-a-versary as much as we did!

We are going to bring more delightful things your way in the next year.

Feel free to contact us for topic suggestions and places to review!

Email or

Message us on:

@NalsandKells

@NalsandKells

Nals and Kells

 

xo, Nals

        And a word from Kells       

So in September I decided to join the 30 min Hit Kick the Beep Out of Cancer.

As I mentioned before I have lost a couple of people to cancer and my bestie is a survivor.  So it wasn’t hard to say yes to fundraising.

Did I raise millions, no? But it really is about

Fighting together as a community.

Coming together.

Raising awareness together.

Thanks for joining me in the fight. Let’s do it again next year!

xo, Kells

Kells and I fancied something a little different on Saturday morning.  So we hopPed along to Sugaring Change.

Kells had tried this out a few weeks prior¹.  And She Suggested i Give it a whirl.

So What exactly is Sugaring? Chantelle has a wonderful description on her company’s site. But here at N&K, we also like to research neutral info. And, we found this.²

              Let’s nutshell  

• All-natural product³
• No strips – less environmental waste
• No dip-sticks – less waste, no chance of the The Double-Dip⁴
• Your body heat warms up the paste – no heated product means no burning skin
• Hair can be short, some websites state 1/8″

                     Procedure     

You are provided with personal wipes to sanitize (for intimate areas). All natural kaolin clay mixture is then dusted to ensure skin is dry.

Sugar is applied in direction that is opposite of the hair growth. While keeping skin taut, sugar is pulled off in the direction of hair growth. Thus, irritation is significantly less⁵. It only takes off a layer of dead skin⁵.

Larger areas can be sugared⁵. You use the same ball of sugar for a few pulls. Before application, sugar is thick, honey-coloured & seemingly translucent. After a few pulls, the sugar becomes whiter with different texture.

               How It Felt   

I’ve been waxing for years. It’s painful and sting-y, though you do get used to it. Waxing any part esp underarms and the under-carriage is painful. First waxes started off quite painful (say, 6 out of 10)⁶ and still are (5/10).

On legs and arms, Sugaring just feels like a bit of tugging and pulling. Ladyscaping with Sugar is pain level of 3-4.

After Sugaring, the skin wasn’t irritated or tender. And I am a sensitive little vittle. But not after Sugaring Change!

              Service Time   

Shaving takes ages and you risk nicking or razor-burning yourself. Waxing yourself is tricky (especially on arms!) as you hone your technique⁵.

Sugaring takes the same time as a salon wax.

           How Long Does It Last?   

By the time we post, it will be about 1 week. We are both still smooth! Sugaring lasts the same as wax, so 2-4 weeks. But after a few sessions of Sugaring, follicles reduce their hair production. Apparently, Sugaring pulls out live follicles.

↓ follicles ≈↓ hair growth. Makes sense, right?

               Aftercare  

Make sure you read about Sugaring Aftercare on Chantelle’s site. It’s different from shaving and waxing.  After shaving and waxing, I wash with warm soapy water then apply aloe moisturizer.

At Sugaring Change, esthetician Danica gently applied a warm towel to remove residue. Then she applied a witch hazel & tea tree spritz and finished with a moisturizer.  Chantelle applied a clay mask to Kells, after ladyscaping.

Danica suggested that if there was stickiness or residue, to apply a warm towel. But avoid rubbing, showering or watering the skin for 12-24 hours. And when you resume showers, exfoliate q2d to discourage ingrowns.

                             the atmosphere   

Intimate, medi-spa feel with a small waiting room. There are lotions and potions to ohh-and-ahh over (including EyEnvy, which we reviewed previously).  Treatment rooms are large, well-lit.

        The Estheticians   

Chantelle & Danica are wonderfully gentle, understanding and professional. I’ve only ever gone to one other person for ladyscaping. (& I went to her for years for other waxing before I even considered ladyscaping.)

      TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE  

What exactly is this? I haven’t heard about TIP outside of healthcare! Essentially it is meeting the person where they’re at.  Sugaring Change is very Person-Centred.

I had not been to Sugaring Change or met Danica (or Chantelle) before. This was a huge step in trust for me. I discussed my hesitations with Danica. She validated my feelings, and we discussed ways to cope (stress ball, communication, etc). Danica was so lovely that I don’t know why I was worried.

Both Chantelle and Danica explained very precisely what she was doing before doing it.

Sugaring Change is also a place of Body Positivity. They Sugar all shapes, sizes, genders, trans-folks…

     Cool faCts   

Sugaring products are either made on-site or purchased from a local supplier.  So Sugaring Change also supports local businesses!

And when you get serviced at Sugaring Change, you are contributing to HOPE International Development Agency.  This agency empowers women and girls in Cambodia.

And empowering women is what N&K are about!

          T h e   v e r d i c t        

Probably not a surprise but we love this place!

If you remove hair, or are considering it, you MUST try Sugaring Change.  

And if you mention this blog post (or just n&k), you’ll get $5 off of your first service!

How’s that for some sweet delight?

Footnotes
1 Disclosure: Chantelle gave us a discount on services specifically to review Sugaring Change. Neither she nor Sugaring Change sponsored this post. This review accurately reflects our thoughts.

2 Wikipedia seriously? Yeah we know. There were lots of sites that had the same info as Sugaring Change, but they also focussed on sugaring-at-home methods. We just wanted info on sugaring. So, if you don’t like our Wiki citing, check out their References & External Links sections.

3 The reason that this is fab is because you can eat all the readily-found ingredients, and pronounce them! No additives, human-modified chemicals, unnecessary junk. But just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean you should jump into making it at home. You can also cook up poisons at home (by accident or on purpose). Doesn’t mean it’s safe. So… we recommend you go to a salon that Sugars first.

4 My theory that most things in life can be tied to a Seinfeld episode is true. (Partly cuz I say it, and partly cuz it’s the truth!) And in keeping with the Wiki love, here’s the link to that “spectacular” episode.

5 Waxing & Shaving is usually done opposite of hair growth.  Waxing also removes a layer of live cells. W&S are done in small areas at one time.

6 Well what exactly does 6 out of 10 mean? Excellent question! Pain is subjective, and certainly depends on culture, gender, socialization, reporting ability & a whole bunch of other stuff. Many health professionals use the Faces Pain Scale . So, for me 6 out of 10, indicates moderate pain.

7 If you water your skin too early after Sugaring, you run the risk of whiteheads.

When I was heavier, I felt bombarded with images of thin, smooth-skinned, tall ladies as ‘beautiful’. If it was North American media, then tanned vixens. And if Bollywood media, then fair-skinned maidens. No one looked like me: pear-shaped, bespectacled, with frizzy unkempt waves & darker skinned… unless it was an actor who played an evil Bollywood mom. Or, was the star of a self-named comedy show (see posts on Tips 1-4, 5-8, 9-10). And I wasn’t any of those adjectives either!

And these thin women were portrayed as The Ultimate Show Ponies, dripping with confidence, promise, fulfilling lifestyles, happiness and sex appeal. Today, I say “Bravo!” to advertising and entertainment sectors for the deep ingrainment. They worked hard to get that image across.  At the time, it didn’t occur to me that I didn’t know anyone else that looked like that, either. Move over Manson² and Heaven’s Gate, Media is the Ultimate brainwasher.

Keep in mind, my teen years were spent poring over glossy magazines with shiny images, talking on the phone with friends, and watching TV. We didn’t have internet or cell phones. My escape was TV and staying up late reading books¹. So growing up with rigid ideas of what the perfect 2-D body looks like makes a regular 3-D girl feel less-than.

In all honesty I thought once I lost weight³, I would be happier. Things would magically fall into place. Of course this is real-life, not a fairy tale.

Happiness is something you attain. It is not bestowed upon you.

I had to really think about what would make me happy. I love reading, photography, the theatre

and writing. I love all kinds of dance. I am happy when beautiful things surround me: people, clothes, art, wine, food. And I am happy after I have challenged myself.

I try to do things to push my personal boundaries like co-writing this blog. (Yes, I love writing but it’s not easy to put yourself out there.) I’ve taken loads of pictures, in public. Then put up these up for you all to see.

And last week, I started a burlesque class with Kells. Yes, burlesque. I love how bawdy, welcoming, tongue-in-cheek, flirty, raucous it is. And we had no idea about its fabulously clandestine history. 

This is an intro class, with a lovely range of ladies across sizes, ages, shapes and abilities. About one third took the class to push themselves, have fun and become more comfortable in their own skin.  Some of the same reasons as N&K!

I would say I’m a happier person, having pushed personal boundaries and embracing all aspects of myself. Am I positive and happy 100% of the time? Of course not. Real life has ups and downs. But if you want to lead a more fulfilling lifestyle…

you gotta wake the F up. Self-evaluate and make a plan of change.

Don’t just chug along with life. Grab it by the horns and point it in the right direction!

Footnotes
1 Thanks Judy Blume, Stephen King, Danielle Steele, Isaac Asimov for keeping me up too late
2 Charles, not Marilyn
3 According to a female family member, all I needed to do in my teen years, was lose weight, get rid of unsightly zits and get toss the glasses. (She was unsure of this last thing, as presumably, there were attractive librarians with glasses.) This aunt was a solid support to me. She never lied. But, she encouraged my strengths and didn’t let me forget them. And I adored her. (She was the next best thing to sliced bread!) So when she gave me this unsolicited bit of advice, which came out of the blue, I was heartbroken.

This week Nals

will be reviewing Katy Perry’s Katy Kat Eye mascara (by Covergirl).

Their kitch

. . . is the sculpting brush.
Indeed this is a swashbuckling brush, all swirly and packed with bristles. It applies the product to your lashes, with luscious accuracy.

Red dot eyes show results after 2 coats

drawback

The product is a bit thick so wipe it off real good before applying. (The first time I used it, I didn’t and ended up with a gd huge black molten glob in my eye… and had to trash the contact¹.) The issue may not lie in the mascara’s viscosity, but rather, the scooping expanse of the brush.

Conclusion?

Defo try this mascara… but not ideal for the novice user.
Footnote:
¹Truth be told, the black glob looked like something out of X-Files.

To read previous Mascara Reviews, please search our Mascara Monday tag.

Typically, poké bowls consist of a rice base, raw fish (or tofu), seasonings, veg and dressing.
Unfortunately, we haven’t had authentic Hawaiian Poké‏ (yet)… so bear with us².‌

Westcoast Poké is on Cambie in Vancouver, BC. It’s all long wooden benches and a clean look. Food is good. And, they have this spicy homemade sriracha style hot sauce that’s actually spicy!¹ Staff is friendly & service is quick.

MMM yummy The Main Poke Bowl at Pacific Poke on Main Street

We wanted to feature Pacific Poké on Main Street, as we’ve been there many many times.

Nals gets The Main with a base of half kale and half brown rice. It has: sockeye salmon, spicy ahi tuna, crab & shrimp. Veg: jicama, cucumber, avocado, nori and organic seaweed salad. Dressings: citrus mayo, sesame miso dressing, shoyu, yuzu & lime juice, herbs and sprouts. Nals isn’t into the seaweed salad so she subs for ginger and pickled red onion… and she gets the sweet & tangy topper. Each bite is a little different and freaking awesome!

You can choose another pre-made option or make your own.
Ambience: casual cafeteria style with long benches to sit. Some window and outdoor seats.
Best time to go: before/after lunch/dinner hours, as there can be a lineup otherwise. But, the line up goes quickly.
Parking: metered on Main, limited free on Prior.
Transit: easily accessible by bus.

Conclusion:

Pacific PokÉ is amazing.

Footnotes
1 When Nals says “actually spicy”, she means that there was some tongue tingling. But the subjective rating is medium spicy, on lower side. (Ick. How many times have you ordered the spicy something or other, and it turns out to be like dishwater?)

2 (But let’s not nose-turn, either. Us British Columbians know a thing or two about fresh fruits de mer, right?)

We’ve heard about fat shaming before – and most of us know about this first hand malheuresment– but never vulva shaming.
A good jumping off point is Wrenna Robertson’s blog post “Starting the conversation“. Vulva shaming is when 1 person chastises another female’s vulva for the way it looks. Typically the complaints are: tissue is too big, too flappy or just plain misshapen.

Let’s all take a moment to pause to really absorb this concept.

I can’t imagine saying to anyone, “Hey girl, you gotta do something about that snaggly-looking vulva.”

With the world we live in, can we not give each other a break? We’re now searching for fodder below the belt? How ludicrous to fault the look of something that’s not in our control.

Okay then how do you know what it’s supposed to look like?

Firstly, let’s get anatomical terms in order.
Vagina = the internal parts of female gentalia.
Vulva = umbrella term for external genitalia including both sets of labia & mons. Most of us have used the term vag or vagina when we were actually referring to the vulva.

The Vision of the V

Lo and behold, there is a wide variety colours, sizes and shapes of vulvas. There is no right and wrong.
Check out the variety at the informational website Australia’s Labia Library.¹
Since you are likely not in adult entertainment², comparing your A,B,Vs (or someone else’s) to that of a pornographic star’s is unfair. A lot of stars alter the way their bodies look: piercings, labiaplasty, skin bleaching, skin fillers, skin tighteners, etc. The playing field is not level. In fact, there’s nothing playful about this nonsense.

But really I think something is awry with my V

Just like other bodily tissue, vulvas can also get troubled or… start off troubled. If you feel or see something funny, feel or see a change or you’re just not sure, then get checked under the proverbial hood by a trusted gynecologist.

If you have been vulva (or ­body) shamed

please speak with a licensed health professional such as through the Canadian Psychology Association or American Psychology Association. And speak out against this inappropriate, unhelpful behaviour.

If you have engaged in vulva (body) shaming

then you need to get your issues sorted toute fg suite. The vulvas around you will look different from yours. You are probably not an expert³ on vulvar anatomy so please don’t embody one.

For more info on vulvar issues:
The V Book
National Vulvodynia Association
Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The National Women’s Health Information Center
International Vulval Society
Footnotes
¹Wow a Labia Library? Yes N&Kers, those Aussies go down under to get the real goods on the goods.
²If you are in the adult entertainment field, consider the emo impact of how your body looks to others. Consider about non-intrusive methods to enhance body parts. Or better yet, go au naturel.
³And if you are an expert, vulva shaming is neither considered good bedside manner nor is it helpful.

Years ago, Osamu Sushi‘s owners stopped in to the very shop that our baby Kells was working in.

Their suggestion: that her team have their Christmas dinner in the restaurant. They did… and it was fabulous!

Fast forward 15 years… after a hardcore workout¹ with Koach, Kells suggested that the 3 of us have a celebratory dinner at the very same Osamu.

Starters

→ Agedashi tofu ←

crispy hot cubes of tofu sitting in a savoury pond of dipping sauce.

→ Spicy Prawns ←

oh my lord. You’d need to sit down for this. You’ll also need to order your own. Don’t bother sharing. Sure it’s large enough but it’s too delicious. Big juicy prawns, noodles, crispy haricots verts, julienne of red bell pepper are lightly tempura-battered and fried. Like a sultry singer draping her curves over a piano, the“spicy” sauce² is drizzled on top. We had to order a second serving!

Dinner

→ Volcano Roll ←

– larger specialty roll –

exploding with delightful spicy tuna and fabulous flavour-texture combos

← Paradise Roll ←
– larger specialty roll – jam packed with cream cheese, mango and other goodness.

→ Dynamite roll ←

crispy and tasty.

→ Negitoro and salmon rolls ←

Negitoro is Nals’s go-to fave. These makis were mmmm so good!

Conclusion

Yes you must try this place!

⇓N&K Tips⇓

We were hungry & had just worked out… but that was defo too much food. We probs should not have ordered the last 2 rolls. Especially for Kells and Koach, who also ordered a beer.
Osamu is open for lunch and dinner. So pop on over to nearby Coquitlam Centre for shopping before or after your meal. You could go for a pedi at Aveda Spa, then have a late lunch with drinks at Osamu.
You could also work up an appetite at nearby Coquitlam Crunch .

Footnotes:
¹ Stay tuned for our Muscle Development After Fabulous 40 series. (For Kells it’s Almost Fab Forties.)
² Very flavourful and not chili hot

Since she is partial to brunch – the best meal time for a chin wag – I decided to take her to Chewies Steam and Oyster Bar in January.

It’s a Cajun & Creole joint with locations in Kits and Coal Harbour in Vang-couver¹.
They were out of the Croque Madame so she ordered the Nola Breakfast. It looked delightful & she enjoyed this.
I had BBQ Shrimp & Grits with a Poached Egg². The shrimp were big and succulent.

They sure don’t mess around at this joint! So I was going to say the shrimp are so large, they should be called prawns, dummy. Yes yes shrimp and prawn are edible decapod crustaceans. But that’s where the similarity ends. They are actually different animals… with different pluralization rules. (Umm so I think that still makes me the dummy?)

Grits were smooth with a luscious mouthfeel. Both plates were large and beautifully seasoned and flavoured. Vampers, garlic haters and people-on-dates : stay away from grits as they were super garlicky. And, I would defo order this dish again.
For Mothers Day, Mr. Nals & I decided to take both of the mumseys to Chewies. He was a bit worried that neither he nor his mum would have a lot of choices as they are not seafood fans. I assured him they would both have a lot of choice.
I ordered: French Quarter Cassoulet.

Smoky, flavourful, and each bite had something different. It came with a flaky southern biscuit and perfectly poached egg. The temp was on the cooler side. But still delicious.
He ordered: Crocs and Hush Puppies. Yes indeed that’s crocodile. (I know, I know. Dude steers away from seafood but goes throat-deep with crocodile.) I have to say that this was actually good. Maybe because it was battered? It tasted like crispy chicken³, lite version. Served with lovely hushies and sweet-and-hot jalopy jelly. Fair warning though: this is an appy sized plate.

Clockwise, top left: Benny, FC&W, Croc and Cassoulet.

Mumseys ordered: Eggs Benny and Fried Chicken & Waffles. The Benny was awesome. Fried chicken was gorgeously crunchy and not oversalted. Waffles were fluffy and crispy. Both were large portions – mum-in-law gave ¾ of her fab AF hashbrowns to Mr. Nals.
Ambience: beautiful dark wood furniture, real linen napkins, lofty ceilings and large windows. It’s casual atmosphere, so don’t dress up too much.
Parking: on-the-street meters. Lots of availability at weekend brunch. Weekdays can get pretty busy downtown. Better to use transit during the week or for happy hour.

Considerations

• Only 1 bathroom.
• Small tables.
• Food took a bit of time to arrive. Cassoulet was on the cool side. I didn’t send it back because we had waited so long to eat… and it would be awkward to have my dish heated while everyone else waited or just ate their meals.
• Gator dish is appy-sized.

Conclusion

∴Yes you must try this place. They also have intriguing dinner and happy-hour menus.

⇓ N&K Tip ⇓

Work up an appetite with some window candy with all the shops downtown (10 minute walk to Robson). Or work off your meal by heading down to Harbour Green Park.

This ain’t-no-footsie Footnotes:

¹ Apparently, Vancouverites call it “Vang-couver”. See this.

² PG-YL-rated: This footnote is only suitable for Yolk Lovers… I opened that perfectly poached egg on to the wide expanse of the grits. That yolk caressed and hugged the grits at all the right curves. Holy murphy good thing I was sitting down because that was an intense foodporn moment.

³ I wouldn’t have ordered croc for myself. But, I thought since it’s here, I’ll try it. Neither of the mumseys tried the croc.