LUXE: An Easy At-Home Lash Lift & Tint

Yesterday I tried an at-home lash lift and tint kit I received from Luxe Cosmetics, and I was quite surprised by how easy the process was. I’ve always loved the look of lifted, darker lashes, but booking appointments and sitting still for an hour isn’t always the vibe. This felt like a very “do it on a Sunday afternoon and feel put together all week” kind of activity.

The lash tint gives a mascara-like effect and can last up to four weeks, while the lift lasts up to eight weeks. I really like how natural the results look. Next time, I’ll definitely go for a bigger curl, but for a first try, I’m happy with how it turned out.

If you want a stronger lift, a smaller silicone pad makes a big difference. Placing the pad close to the lash line and combing the lashes upward in small sections helps everything sit properly. You want the lash tips to reach near the top of the pad, not fold over it. For a darker tint, start with clean, dry lashes, use the darkest shade, fully saturate the lashes, and leave it on for the full recommended time.

Both products are vegan, cruelty-free, and gentle, which I love. They’re also water and mascara-friendly, so you can still layer if you want extra drama. (Me, always! 🤗 )

Why I Love a Lift & Tint vs Lash Extensions

I’ve always had fairly long lashes, and I almost never leave the house without mascara. I will NEVER get eyelash extensions again. One time, I had them done right before a trip to Jamaica. They looked great at first, but by the time I got to the airport, my eyes started feeling itchy, and by the time we landed, my eyes were red, swollen, and absolutely miserable. It was brutal. I went straight to the resort salon to see if they could help remove the lashes, but they only had coconut oil. For the first couple of days of the trip, I wore sunglasses, applied coconut oil, and used ice packs on my eyes day & night. It was painful and uncomfortable, and it wasn’t until the last days of a seven-day trip that my eyes finally started to feel better. After that, I’m firmly in the lash lift and tint camp. It’s something I can safely do at home, achieve great results, and avoid any mishaps. Eyelash extensions? Hard no. 😂

See my Reel below, or here on Instagram. If you want to try it yourself, you can use my code CASIE10 on the website.

Beat Winter SAD: Frolic in the Garden!

A couple of winters ago, I started a little series called Beat Winter SAD as a way to get myself (and hopefully you) through the darkest months of the year. Because let’s be honest, January in Toronto can feel… a lot. Short days, long nights, grey everything. So I’m bringing it back, and we’re starting with one of my favourite winter mood boosters: indoor gardens.

Yesterday, my friend Holly and I took advantage of a freakishly warm January day (12 degrees in Toronto?! We’ll take it!) and spent the afternoon wandering through Allan Gardens Conservatory. The second you step inside, it’s like your nervous system takes a huge exhale. It smells like summer and feels like vacation: sunlight filtering through glass, lush tropical plants everywhere, instant serotonin.

The Science Behind A Botanical Gardens Visit

Botanical gardens have higher humidity, which can help with dry winter skin, irritated sinuses, and that scratchy throat that sneaks up this time of year. Being surrounded by greenery has also been shown to reduce stress hormones, lower anxiety, and boost your mood. I can confirm this one for sure, I WAS FULL OF ENERGY AFTER. It’s a natural antidepressant: leaves from tropical plants release oxygen and moisture into the air, making the air feel fresher and easier to breathe. It totally reminded me of being down south in Mexico or the Caribbean; it feels like a mini-vacation without leaving downtown, buying a ticket, getting on a plane, or packing.

Allan Gardens is especially magical. It’s free to visit, open year-round, and filled with little surprises. There’s a fountain bubbling away in the centre (made a wish!), vibrant flowers in full bloom, turtles hanging out, and we spotted a huge lemon growing on a lemon tree, which felt wildly optimistic for January. 🍋 Standing under palm trees while it’s winter outside is a powerful reminder that warmth and growth still exist, even when everything feels frozen and dreary.

If winter has you feeling down (or SAD is creepin’), consider this your sign to seek out some tropical air. Grab a friend and frolic in the garden! Sometimes beating the winter blues is as simple as stepping into a greenhouse, soaking up some sun, and letting the plants do their thing. 🌱

P.S. Full outfit from Adidas, see my post with a few of my favs from their site here!

Holidys 2025: A Very Merry, Cozy Reset

This year, the holidays felt extra special. My BF and I spent both Christmas and New Year’s up north at his family farm, and honestly, it was the perfect slow, wholesome, very merry, cozy reset I needed.

We rode snowmobiles, spent time with family, ate great meals, watched movies, and went to town. It was very Christmas-core in a Hallmark Movie kinda way. 🤗 There’s something so lovely about being up north, in the woods, with fresh air, making the most of winter with someone special.

On Christmas Day, we played outside, had a wonderful dinner and drinks, opened presents, ate endless snacks, and shared lots of laughs. My favourite moment? The Christmas Day parade with the John Deere tractor all decked out with Christmas lights. We drove it around the farm and past the windows so everyone could watch from inside. It was adorable and magical!

After Christmas, we headed back to the city for a bit before returning to the farm again for New Year’s. Had friends over on the 26th, went to a fun party, and hosted friends again on the 27th. It was great!

For NYE, we fired up the smoker outside and cooked a massive steak. We danced in the living room & listened to our friend’s radio show Outlaw Wax on CUIT FM, where he played a whole set of Elias’s records and gave multiple shout-outs! SO fun.

We ended up staying until January 3rd, easing ourselves back into real life. We’re doing Dry January again this year, and I am really looking forward to it. Might even keep it going next month! After weeks of celebrating, it feels really good to reset, cook great meals, and start the year feeling clear-headed.

This holiday season was all about presence: family, friends, food, fresh air, and quality time. I’m heading into the new year with a warm heart & happy. 💛 Here’s to an exciting and prosperous 2026!

Looking forward to my first workout of 2026 tonight at The Body Engineers! If you’re looking to get back to a gym routine or start something new, try a free month of ClassPass on me here!

A Little Life Lately – December 2025!

Well, hello there & happy December! Here’s a little update on life lately. Things have been pretty busy the last month! I moved from my apartment on Ossington into a loft with my BF. My spot at Ossington was a really great transition apartment the past year, but I am so happy to be where I am now. New Chapter! New season!

I’m a firm believer that there’s no bad weather if you have a good outfit, and I’m totally set for winter with my coat collection. I found this beautiful wool vintage coat on a shopping trip in Cambridge about a year ago, and let me tell you, IT IS SO WARM.

Last week, we went to Bass Pro on our way up north. I had NO idea how big it was, they have everything there! You would think that after wearing this hat all summer, I’d been to an actual shop lol. On the weekend, I took a solo trip to Ikea and picked up everything I needed to make my home closet/office area beautiful. It looks great!

We’ve been really into making soup lately and have gone for pho a couple of times (in the name of research haha). Last week, we made a delicious chicken-vegetable soup; this week, we went for a beef-bone broth and vegetable soup. Both turned out amazing. I love soup season and being cozy!

Had an audition callback this week at Mann Casting, fingers crossed I get a booking soon. I have another audition to do this weekend for a commercial.

Have been pretty consistent with my workouts the past few weeks. Living in the area close to the Body Engineers again is nice. I’ve been back at Mosaic Yoga for a few classes, too. Feeling strong!

Looking forward to a chill weekend at home. Have a couple of holiday things next week before Christmas, including a big friend’s dinner at Swiss Chalet. 🤗 Hoping to get home to visit mum before NYE.

View from Hotel X today! Here for a holiday party!

Sending sunshine and warm vibes to you through the internet!

The Cutest Holiday Sweaters on Amazon

It’s officially that magical time of year when twinkle lights go up, holiday tunes fill the air, and picking out the perfect holiday sweaters suddenly feels essential. I’ve always loved a good festive knit, so this season I rounded up a bunch of adorable Christmas sweaters that caught my eye, bright colours, cozy textures, and a few funny ones too. Tap each photo to grab yours on Amazon!

If you’re looking for something fun to wear to a holiday party, family dinner, work event, or even just a cozy December night at home, I’ve got you covered. All the sweaters featured in my photos are linked in my Amazon storefront, so you can shop your favourites easily. I posted a couple other fun ones in this blog post back in 2017!