curlysue10
Member Since: November 5, 2008Reviews
Gyan Yoga
I have done yoga before but this was my first time doing hot yoga and I was really nervous. I got 20 classes to Gyan Yoga through jabr deals (for 30 bucks! 20 classes is actually $199). It seems that a lot of people get vouchers to this place... +
I have done yoga before but this was my first time doing hot yoga and I was really nervous. I got 20 classes to Gyan Yoga through jabr deals (for 30 bucks! 20 classes is actually $199). It seems that a lot of people get vouchers to this place through deal websites because I hear people coming in all the time and talking about the deal online when the sign up. The only drawback of this coupon is that I needed to use the 20 classes in 60 days (and I don't think I'm going to be able to do it!)
Overall the place is really nice. It is a relatively small place in Liberty Village (on Jefferson Street just south of King) with one studio. There are 3 guys who work there and lead the classes. It seems to me that there are regulars who must live in the area because the guys know them by name. Initially I was intimidated because the guys seemed a little bit abrupt but now that I have been several times I have come to realize that they're not really rude, they just talk to the people they know and I assume they warm up to the others. At a place where they have drop in classes and deal vouchers I can imagine they see a lot of people who only come one time and then quit. Regardless they are nice and very welcoming and understanding when it comes to beginners.
The classes themselves are an hour long and vary in difficulty depending on which one you choose. I have tried almost all of them by now and I have enjoyed them all. Predictably Gyan Core is a bit more strenuous than the others because it focuses on strengthening core muscles. There are 5 different hot yoga options and one regular yoga class. My only minor complaint is that the shape of the room is a little bit irregular and depending on where you position yourself, you may not be able to see the instructor. This is a problem in many classes though (not just at this studio) and luckily they recognize this and move around the class. In addition you can always watch some of the regulars for help and there are mirrors on one wall which help you to see what everyone else is doing.
Overall the studio is pretty and clean and they are very organized. The classes are great and very welcoming to beginners. I would recommend Gyan Yoga to anyone.
Gyan Yoga
Phone 647-341-4926
Fax
Address 107 Jefferson Avenue
TORONTO - ON
M6K 3E4
Website http://www.gyanyoga.ca
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COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Mousse Mascara
I did not like this mascara at all. I was eager to try it because I have heard that the chemicals in mascara are pretty bad for your eyes so I was excited by the idea of a less synthetic, chemical-filled mascara. I have tried the natureluxe lip... +
I did not like this mascara at all. I was eager to try it because I have heard that the chemicals in mascara are pretty bad for your eyes so I was excited by the idea of a less synthetic, chemical-filled mascara. I have tried the natureluxe lip gloss/balm in this line and LOVE it so I was hopeful about this product. I am pretty faithful to my CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara so I know that I generally like Cover Girl mascaras.
Unfortunately it just did not deliver for me. I used the black/brown one (I am not sure if they're having trouble keeping them in stock or if a darker colour just does not exist but I could not find blackest black anywhere which is my staple mascara shade). Anyway, it found it to be too lightweight (if that's possible). It made my lashes appear sparse and because it was black/brown they were not even overly defined colour wise.
In addition my eyes reacted badly to this mascara. It must have been an allergic reaction or something because they were itchy and my eyelids became puffy and red. I couldn't wear any eye make-up for almost a week after using this mascara for a few days because my eyes were so painful and irritated.
Lastly, my sister also tried the same product in the same shade and somehow the mascara made her eyelashes look like a bluish-gray. NO idea how that happened but she was not impressed either. Her eyes did not react as mine did but she still didn't like the mascara itself. It lengthened (which is her requirement for a mascara) but it made her lashes look more sparse than they actually are which she was not a fan of).
So overall it's a big thumbs down for this product from me. Too bad because it's a good idea and I really wanted to like it; I'll just have to stick with my Last Blast.
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Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin
I love these pins! They seem like a gimmick but as soon as you use them you will believe that they're not. Honestly, I have pretty big curly (read: heavy) hair and two pins is enough to hold it up, and tightly too. I hate when your hair is... +
I love these pins! They seem like a gimmick but as soon as you use them you will believe that they're not. Honestly, I have pretty big curly (read: heavy) hair and two pins is enough to hold it up, and tightly too. I hate when your hair is held up but feels like it's going to fall at any moment, but with these your hair is secure. Look up videos on YouTube to get the hang of the technique (I am still trying to master doing a messy up-do with them, a clean plain bun is much easier). Also as another reviewer mentioned, buy them off eBay. You will get 10 pins (that's 5 sets since you need two pins to make a set) for the same price as you would pay for one set in the store. Seriously give these a try, you won't be disappointed.
(The only reason I marked these down half a star on price is because they're kind of expensive if you buy them from the store compared to the value of buying them on eBay.)
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Aveeno Nourish Style Volumizing Foam
I have long curly hair and the longer it gets the flatter it gets on top, giving me that awkward Christmas Tree shape (curly girls will know what I'm talking about here). Normally I am not a fan of mousse (I prefer serums and spray gels) but... +
I have long curly hair and the longer it gets the flatter it gets on top, giving me that awkward Christmas Tree shape (curly girls will know what I'm talking about here). Normally I am not a fan of mousse (I prefer serums and spray gels) but this came in a teen pack I bought from Shoppers Drug Mart so I decided to try it out on my roots. I followed my usual routine but scrunched a couple of pumps of this volumizing mousse into the roots of my hair with my hair dumped upside down. I am very impressed with the results, it made a noticeable difference in the volume on the top of my head. This only stands to reason that girls who need to add volume to their hair all over will be happy. -
Clean & Clear Maximum Strength Persa-Gel 10
I love this stuff!! A friend of mine recommended it to me saying that it worked like a charm and man was she right! It contains Benzoyl Peroxide which I know has a bad reputation because it is so harsh BUT it does the job. A small dab of this... +
I love this stuff!! A friend of mine recommended it to me saying that it worked like a charm and man was she right! It contains Benzoyl Peroxide which I know has a bad reputation because it is so harsh BUT it does the job. A small dab of this stuff morning and night sees my pimples disappear in just two days. It dries them up fast. Highly recommend for on the spot acne treatments, especially for those who like me, only get the odd breakout. -
St. Ives® Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub Facial Cleanser
I tried this scrub because I wanted one that was a little less harsh than the Apricot Scrub (which I LOVE). I have heard that using scrubs with natural things such as fruit seed extracts is bad for your skin because it can cause microscopic... +
I tried this scrub because I wanted one that was a little less harsh than the Apricot Scrub (which I LOVE). I have heard that using scrubs with natural things such as fruit seed extracts is bad for your skin because it can cause microscopic abrasions in your skin leaving it open to bacteria and thus more prone to breakouts. This is the opposite effect that I wish for the Apricot Scrub to have (I use the blackheads and blemish clearing one...) so I decided to give the green tea version a try.
The Green Tea Scrub is also a breakout clearing scrub and I find that it did do the job. While green tea is obviously also a natural extract (as opposed to artificially made micro beads which are smooth and thus less abrasive than fruit extracts) it is a fine powder so the scrub is extremely gentle. Because I am used to the Apricot Scrub, at first I found that this scrub wasn't doing the job because it just wasn't scrubby enough for me, but over time I got used to its gentle nature and have really come to love it.
The only drawback I would say is that I probably used this scrub more often than I used the Apricot one (probably 3 times a week versus 1-2) simply because I felt that it was more gentle. For this reason I probably went through the bottle a bit faster, but when the product is only about 3.50 to begin with, I don't think that's a huge deal.
Overall I will certainly purchase this again as I can't live without my St. Ives scrubs.
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Joe Fresh Style Nail Polish
I have this nail polish in "pineapple" and orangey yellow colour. I am not overly impressed. I like their colour selection because they seem to have sort of off beat and quirky colours (such as this one) but the quality of the polish itself is not... +
I have this nail polish in "pineapple" and orangey yellow colour. I am not overly impressed. I like their colour selection because they seem to have sort of off beat and quirky colours (such as this one) but the quality of the polish itself is not that great. It is sort of thick (in texture) but thin in appearance (more than two coats were needed). It also does not go on smoothly which really irritates me. To top it all off it chipped much sooner than most nail polishes (after almost 2 days). Overall I was very unimpressed with this polish and will not buy it again despite their wide range of fun colours and low price point. -
Thierry Mugler Womanity Perfume
I won this perfume from Chickadvisor a while back and haven't had the chance to review it. I have to say, I LOVE it. It is (as the description states) a lovely and intriguing blend of spicy and feminine. I am completely infatuated with its... +
I won this perfume from Chickadvisor a while back and haven't had the chance to review it. I have to say, I LOVE it. It is (as the description states) a lovely and intriguing blend of spicy and feminine. I am completely infatuated with its light, feminine yet rich and exotic scent and would highly recommend it to anyone who like a scent that is slightly out of the ordinary. It is not overpowering, and is long lasting. My pretty little bottle is almost at its end, but I am most definitely going to buy some more when it runs out. It is my new signature scent. -
COVERGIRL Natureluxe Gloss Balm
I just got this lip balm in two shades (265: Sandstone and 230: Coral). I like this lip balm, but I am with the other reviewers, I am not blown away. As Cathy mentioned I find the applicator kind of awkward. It is a little narrow and the product... +
I just got this lip balm in two shades (265: Sandstone and 230: Coral). I like this lip balm, but I am with the other reviewers, I am not blown away. As Cathy mentioned I find the applicator kind of awkward. It is a little narrow and the product itself doesn't go on that smoothly. I do however like the scent (it reminds me of a classic sweet vanilla type lipsmackers) and the fact that it has SPF 15. The shades are soft and pretty; sandstone is a more natural looking pink, and coral is well, coral. I do have to say that the coral is a little more orange than I had anticipated though. Overall I like the balm but for the approximately 10 dollar price point, I might buy another lip balm/gloss next time (like the Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer for example, which goes on smooth, has the cooling effect of peppermint, is natural as well and has nicely pigmented shades).
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Aquafina Plus+ Vitamins 10 Cal
I really love this product! I am a water drinker. I know what you’re thinking, isn’t everyone? But no, I mean I drink TONS of water and only water, all. day. long. But when I am craving a little something different I have been turning to the... +
I really love this product! I am a water drinker. I know what you’re thinking, isn’t everyone? But no, I mean I drink TONS of water and only water, all. day. long. But when I am craving a little something different I have been turning to the ever expanding lines of vitamin enhanced waters because I find that they are not as sugary to my water-logged taste buds as juices and pops tend to be.
Aquafina Plus Vitamins 10 Cal was fantastic! They are refreshing, taste great and definitely satisfy my craving for a sweet drink. I received 3 flavours to review, each with only 10 calories and enhanced with vitamins C, B and E: Black & Blue Berry, Fuji Apple Pear and Strawberry Lemonade.
Black & Blue Berry: This was my favourite flavour of the 3. It reminds me of melted grape freezies from when you were a kid. Delish!
Fuji Apple Pear: This flavour was surprisingly delightful. I really enjoyed the mild pear flavour; I thought it was the perfect mild yet crisp and sweet taste for flavoured water.
Strawberry Lemonade: This was my least favourite of the 3 flavours. While it did taste good I thought that it had a more artificial aspartame-y type taste than the other two which tasted true to their fruit flavours. This one also left me a little thirsty somehow.
These waters taste just as good as Vitamin water (another brand which I also really like). The price in stores in comparable to other vitamin enhanced waters (approx 3 bucks). I often don’t like the taste of things like Crystal Light because they taste artificial to me, but Aquafina Plus Vitamins 10 Cal waters don’t taste artificial like that at all.
Overall I think this is a fantastic product and I will definitely keep picking it up to satisfy my thirst for flavoured (and healthy!) water. They all tasted great chilled and really quenched my thirst. I also really like the sleek design of the bottle – it’s quite large (591 mL) so you may think it would be cumbersome, but the twisted ridges around the bottle make it easy to grip. I would most definitely recommend them to a friend … so go on, try it!
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