my dirty thirty + a beauty giveaway!

Over the past few months I'd been in complete denial.  A milestone birthday was looming over my head and I wanted nothing to do with it.  Age and getting older usually doesn't bother me - I always tell myself to live by the saying 'You're only as old as you feel" - but this time I was kind of sad that I could no longer say I was in my 20's.  I felt that I would no longer be feel like the youngest in my group of friends.  I was also afraid that my metabolism would really spin out of control as soon as I hit 30 {that's the rumour anyways, isn't it?}.

As the big day got closer and closer, it started to bother me less and less.  I began to embrace being a year older and entering a new decade.  Sure, my 20's were fun but my 30's are going to be my most successful years ever.  That's what I keep telling myself.  I have big plans for the next few years and can only hope that they'll play out in my favour.  In the meantime, I planned to make a big deal out of my dirty thirty!

Since 30 is considered a milestone birthday, I figured why not go all out.  The day started out with a mani/pedi at a boutique Yaletown spa followed by an amazing experience at Bombay Brow Bar:

{Bombay Brow Bar}

From the minute I walked into Bombay Brow Bar, I could tell it would be a fabulous experience.  I loved the Indian inspired decor and Bollywood music videos playing on the flat screen tv.  And the staff at Bombay?  Well, lets just say they went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable through my first Bombay Brow Bar experience.




After a quick consultation of my brows, and determining that I had some missing hairs {where they went I don't know - it was probably the result of some insane brow plucking marathon}, my brow-tician went straight to work threading my brows.  If you don't know what threading is, weeellll, lets just say it's not the most comfortable thing in the world but it's over in less than five minutes.


Our verdict?  Definitely worth the $24 for the Bombshell Brows and definitely cheaper than what I've paid to get my brows done in the past {yes, it was more than $24}.  I can't wait to go back!

{Noir Lash Lounge}

Next up was an appointment I'd been dying to try for the longest time but was too chicken to.  Lashes.  In fact, it's Noir Lash Lounge's only service and is it ever AMAZING.  I ended up getting a full set of lashes, which took just over an hour to apply, and I literally fell in and out of sleep no less than ten times.  It was exactly what I needed.

When I first saw that I had to lie down on a couch with my head on the elevated arm rest, I thought to myself, "That cannot be comfortable!".  But I did fall asleep so that should speak for itself.  When I finally woke up and my lash girl announced she was done, I seriously could not believe my eyes!

Almost three weeks later, my lashes are still in tact {save for the few that have fallen out with my natural lashes - totally normal!} and it's saved me a good ten minutes of getting ready in the mornings!  I think it's safe to say that I'm officially a Noir lash addict!

{Life + Colour Salon}

I've been following the owner of Life + Colour Salon, James Jurome, for years.  Not in a crazy, stalkish way but wherever he goes, I go.  Let me explain:

For years I tried in vain to find a swank hair salon that housed the perfect hair stylist.  Finally, after many disappointments and far too many layers cut way too short, I stumbled upon a salon one block from my office when I was working downtown.  Here is where I met James and my life changed forever.  He knew exactly what I wanted {layers - long, not short!!} and how to execute the perfect cut and style.  When he changed salons, I went with him.  And then when he finally opened his own salon at the edge of Chinatown, I couldn't have been happier.

As I waltzed into Life + Colour with my new brows and lashes, I could already tell that James had a hair style in mind for my big night.  Curls.  He LOVES the curling iron, I swear.  Big.  Victoria's Secret hair, he said.  Sure, I replied, not even telling him my idea of a side part and retro waves.  That's how much I trust him!

James is currently offering a cut and colour {$158 value} for only $98!  This includes colour, highlights and a cut.  Taxes extra.

{Win It!}

We have an amazing giveaway from Bombay Brow Bar and Noir Lash Lounge for one of our lucky readers featuring the following items:

• Bombay Brow Bar gift certificate towards a Bombshell Brows eyebrow treatment {$24 value}
• One canister of Bombay Brow Bar's favourite David Rio chai {approx. $8.95 value}
• Noir Lash Lounge "Le Fling" lash treatment {$35 value - can be applied to any full lash service}

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  Winner must be able to redeem the gift certificates in person at one of Bombay Brow Bar and Noir Lash Lounge's Vancouver, BC locations.  Giveaway is open until Monday, October 7, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The views expressed in this review are my own and do not represent the opinions or views of Bombay Brow Bar, Noir Lash Lounge or Life + Colour Salon.  We received a complimentary services from the above-mentioned vendors in order to conduct this review.  Note that SwankMama does not accept responsibility for sponsors that do not fulfill their giveaway duties.  Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond, otherwise, a new winner will be chosen at random.