Weekly Planner Comparison: Muji vs. Leuchtturm1917

Monday, November 30, 2020
One of my favourite things about approaching the new year is starting in a fresh new planner. I've definitely dabbled into the world of Bullet Journal-ing, but still haven't found a method that works for me on a day-to-day basis. I still use it to set up monthly spreads, but don't usually pick it up again the rest of the month; I think I enjoy the practice of planning out my month more than anything. 

Last year I picked up one of Muji's weekly planners and absolutely fell in love with the layout. Having the week laid out daily and then also broken into hours is the blessing I never knew I needed lol. Imagine my devastation when I couldn't find this exact planner this year. First I thought there was either a production shortage or delay due to the pandemic but after waiting months without luck of locating this planner I knew it wasn't going to be.

I know that there are tons of options out there (including the Bullet Journal I already own) that carry the same layout, but I still prefer this Muji one because of the dimensions (~5x7inches) and the minimal font and design.

For 2021 I decided to pick up this Leuchtturm1917 Week Planner because of the gorgeous Pacific Green colour (and yes...I've already sticker-bombed it).
The Leuchtturm1917 is a standard A5 size which I don't mind and the Muji planner is the same width but the length is a bit shorter which I prefer.

Comparison
Muji Planner
Leuchtturm1917 Planner
1. Layout: Although I will definitely be enjoying my Leuchtturm planner this year, I think in terms of design I still prefer the Muji planner I had for 2020. The Leuchtturm pages are slightly too yellow for my taste and definitely thinner. The Muji pages and overall layout are simply cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing to look at but I'm sure they function the same. The differences are ever so slight, but in general it's the days of the week broken out into hours and then split at the bottom is space to jot notes/reminders/etc., 
Muji Planner (L), Leuchtturm1917 Planner (R)
2. Pockets: The Muji planner comes with a plastic sleeve with pockets at the front and the back. It's not as deep as the "pocket" that comes on the back of all Leuchtturm1917 books but I don't really keep much in them anyways.

Muji Planner (L), Leuchtturm1917 Planner (R)
3. Year at a glance: I actually didn't use these pages at all this year but can see it useful for highlighting birthdays and other important dates. The Muji planner again is super minimal and clean; the year overview is spread across two pages so the columns are more narrow compared to the Leuchtturm. The Leuchtturm spreads the year out into 4 pages so definitely more space to write. Another nice thing about the Leuchtturm is that it also includes the next year as well.

Muji Planner
4. Month at a glance: The Muji planner includes a monthly calendar layout for the year which is nice. Leuchtturm one doesn't but I don't think it's something I will miss (seeing as I didn't use this either this year).

Leuchtturm1917 Planner
5. Project Planner: I actually am excited about this project planner spread included in the Leuchtturm as I will be using this planner exclusively for work. It definitely be interesting to look back at all the projects worked on over the year and keep track of the length, deadlines, etc. The Muji planner does not include this.

Muji Planner
Leuchtturm1917 Planner
6. Note pages: The Muji planner comes with extra ruled pages and the Leuchtturm includes plain pages; both good for random notes, doodles, etc., While I do prefer plain pages in general, I think I ruled or dotted would be more purposeful for a work planner (definitely personal preference though).

Do you have a preferred planner layout? Brand? Let me know what else I should look into with a similar layout.

Thanks for reading!
D
Read more »
comments: 0

Florals & Plaid: It's that time of year

Friday, October 9, 2020
Florals and plaid - the ultimate pick-me-up combo to combat the COVID blues. Our wedding day was set to be couple weeks back but we decided early on in the year that for our situation, it was most responsible for us to postpone until late 2021 (pending the COVID situation of course). We decided that we would still order a flower bouquet from our lovely flower vendor who would've done our wedding and enjoy our low-key weekend.

Outfit details:
Aritzia Ganna Jacket
Agolde Riley Jeans
Gucci Brixton Loafers

Read more »
comments: 1

My Sephora Picks — 2020 Holiday Sets

Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Location: Canada


It's my favourite time of the year again— the season of new Sephora holiday gift sets! They're perfect for gifting as well as getting to test out minis before fully committing to the full size (a great bang for your buck most of the time).

I feel like my interest with beauty products comes and go- sometimes I will be super into makeup and sometimes I will be super into skincare only. Since I recently got my hair done, I am currently obsessed with haircare products so that's why my picks include a lot of hair-related things.

Makeup & Skincare

Nudestix Pretty Nude Skin 2pc - Highly recommend since I have been loving these creme stix all summer long. They are so easy to use and not to mention quick and convenient.

Kosas Mini Wet Set Clean Lip Oil Trio - One of my all time fave brands for sure. These lip oils are so lightweight and not at all sticky. This is a great value set which I personally already own. The price of one full size lip oil is $36CAD at the time I'm writing this so even though they're minis, it is well worth it if you are interested in trying more than one shade.

LANEIGE Glowy Lip Wonders - These are pretty pricey for what they are, I've tried the pear flavour in the past and really enjoyed it but not willing to pay that much for one lip product that is essentially just a lip balm/gloss so this is not bad.

Haircare

Briogeo Merry Multi-Masking Kit - I have been waiting to get my hands on this honey-infused edition of their "Don't Despair, Repair!" mask. Happy to see it's back for the holidays and as a bonus includes the original version and the Avocado Kiwi Superfood Mask (another product I have been wanting to try but reluctant to buy the full size).

OUAI Get Your Ouai Kit - I feel like the only person who has not yet tried any Ouai products so naturally this set seems fitting. I've been seeing their lovely minimally designed shampoo and conditioner all over the internet since they launched so definitely want to see if I am missing out.

Olaplex Holiday Hair Fix Kit - I bought the exact same kit last year and am now a believer of Olaplex. I've graduated to the full-sized shampoo and conditioner and highly recommend! A little bit goes a long way for sure. This is also just a great gifting option.

Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer Set - Aside from the amazing value, I think this set includes a good variety of different tools and haircare products that I typically wouldn't go out and buy on its own so there's that element to it. 

Kerastase Blond Absolu Spring Duo - I'm always on the hunt for the perfect purple shampoo and have been eyeing this one by Kerastase. Simply put, this is definitely overall a great value for the shampoo and conditioner. I personally find some purple shampoos to be too drying, too gritty, or just doesn't fight off the brass so still on the hunt.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! Please let me know if you've tried any of these products and what set(s) you may be picking up.

Xo,
D
Read more »
comments: 2

First impression: Fenty Beauty Cream Bronzer

Sunday, May 17, 2020
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

I hate to admit it but as good as I was in not spending money during quarantine, the Sephora sale this season has definitely unleashed the beast in me (oops!). Since my last post sharing my sale picks, I've gone back and placed another order..or two.. I promise I did not intentionally place so many orders, but after the first day of the sale, there were new releases as well as items coming back into stock that I have been eyeing. One of the new releases includes this Fenty Beauty Cream Bronzer, which I had to pick up. 

I have never paid much attention to cream bronzers in the past, and usually stick to my powder formulas. For someone who does not often wear foundation, and usually sticks to a more natural-finish base, I have to say I'm not sure why it took me this long to hop on this train.

Back and forth I went between the colours "Butta Biscuit" and "Macchiato," and ultimately I settled for the latter. Butta Biscuit is a beautiful ashy tone that I think would work really nice to contour and chisel, whereas Macchiato has a nice warm tint to it, which is what I personally prefer. The formula is not super pigmented and harsh, but definitely buildable. I'll have to test this out a couple more times to see how I like it and how it wears throughout the day, but so far I am impressed. It doesn't leave any dark lines or streaks, and blends out so nicely.





Do you have a favourite cream formula that you would recommend, or have you personally tried the one by Fenty Beauty? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Xo,
D
Read more »
comments: 0

Bialetti Moka Express: Review & How I Make Iced Lattes from Home

Sunday, April 19, 2020


Around the start of this year, I decided to get myself some type of coffee maker to start recreating my favourite coffee drinks from home. To be honest, coffee was never really my "thing", but somehow it quickly became one of my favourite daily rituals - either making it at home, or going out to grab one. My drink of choice is some variation of a latte, either iced or hot. Now, before I continue to ramble on, we all know how quickly coffee expenses can add up, especially when subbing for fun dairy alternatives *cough* oat milk *cough*. Before you know it, you're looking at AT LEAST $35 CAD a week (M-F).
After some research, I decided to go for the Bialetti Moka Express (3-cup). It's quick - small and compact, and super low maintenance. I have been using this baby for a good 3-4 months now, and have nothing but good things to say about it. Although it is not a "true" espresso machine, it is pretty close in taste (at least for me), easy to use, and saves a lot of counter space. 

I've been WFH for a little over a month now, and my coffee ritual is still one of my favourite parts of my day. The act of making coffee and waiting for it in the morning is the perfect way to wake up. Today I'm going to walk through how I make my version of an iced latte.

DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert by any means and my way is not THE way :)

 First start by filling the bottom portion of the Bialetti with water just below the little bolt.
Then you're going to want to fill the middle part of it with your coffee beans (make sure the coffee ground is for espresso or moka brew). DO NOT pack it down like you would a regular espresso machine. I like to leave a tiny bit of room for the coffee to expand.

I missed the action shot - but I typically leave it on the lowest heat option on my stove. This usually takes a good 15-20 minutes to brew. The heat pushes the coffee upwards within the moka pot and it starts to flow through the top portion. Once it starts to flow, you can turn off the heat.
You can serve it like this - black, or you can pour it over some milk and ice, and there you have it! I like to add a dash of cinnamon with ice, and usually pour it over oat milk, since I find it is naturally sweeter. Again, you can substitute for any sweetener or milk of choice. 



If you are reading this, I hope that you are staying safe and practicing healthy social distancing. If you try this method out, let me know what you think in the comments. Also feel free to leave any suggestions on what coffee beans you like, I would love any recommendations.

Xo,
D
Read more »
comments: 1

Sephora Spring Sale 2020

Friday, April 17, 2020
The Sephora Spring Sale is officially here! Since there are usually two sale periods a year, I try to take full advantage during these times to do the bulk of my skincare and makeup shopping done. Today, I am sharing some tried and true products that work for me, as well as some newer (to me) products that I am so excited to try. The code "SPRINGSAVE" is universal for everyone, but is not active until the set dates:

Rouge: 20% off Apr-17 through May-01
VIB: 15% off Apr-21 through Apr-29
Beauty Insider: 10% off Apr-23 through Apr-27

Over the last few years, I have been consciously trying to purchase less makeup, and work through my current collection. I keep it pretty neutral on a day to day basis, so I tend to usually gravitate towards brows, concealer, bronzer and some blush - all of which usually takes me forever to get through. It is finally time for me to start adding new products in my rotation - I am slowly dabbling my feet into the clean beauty world and although I have so much to still learn and research, I've been referring to the "Clean at Sephora" sticker as a starting point. You'll notice from my selection this time around that everything is "clean" except one product.
My tried and true (repurchases)
Smith's Rosebud Salve Balm $9.50 CAD - My holy grail lip product, I always grab at least two every time
Origins Ginzing Oil-Free Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer $38 CAD - I've been using this for a year, love this for the summertime
Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel $35 CAD - My favourite spot treatment for random little breakouts (the only thing not "clean" from my purchase this time) Let me know if you have any "clean" replacement recommendations!
New products I'm trying out:
Kosas Revealer Concealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer - Shade 5 $37 CAD
Kosas Tinted Face Oil Foundation - Shade 5 $56 CAD
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration $44 CAD
Milk Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara Mini $16 CAD
Products I still want to try but were sold out when I ordered:
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm $29 CAD
Lawless Summer Skin Velvet Matte Bronzer - Golden Hour $52 CAD
Ilia Clean Line Liquid Eyeliner $37 CAD
I'd love to know what's on your list - anything new and exciting? Or are you restocking? Are there any good "clean" beauty/skincare products you'd like to recommend? Let me know in the comments :)

Hope you're all staying safe and well.

Xo,
D
Read more »
comments: 0
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Search This Blog

Instagram