you are never fully dressed without perfume.

There is just something about the Kardashians. Yes, I'm well aware that I post about them a little too much....but I can't help it! I am definitely all about the glitz and glam. That's why I am all about their fragrances. While I was on my LA trip, I picked up the Khloe & Lamar scent, Unbreakable Bond. (Unfortunately for Khloe and Lamar's relationship, I don't know how accurate that title is, anymore. So sad.) What makes this fragrance unique? It is unisex!

In my opinion, this is definitely a memorable scent. And it really could work for either men or women! It's got a beautiful combination of woody tones and just a hint of sweetness. The longer you wear it, the sweeter the perfume smells. It develops just wonderfully over time. Plus, it lasts quite well. It's not too overpowering but it certainly has the staying power that I am after.

Personally, I love to wear Unbreakable Bond during the day or for a casual night in. It's fresh but not too light, either...making it the perfect finishing touch!

Now that I've talked a bit about the perfume, it's time to talk about the packaging! On the box itself, there is a collage of pictures of Khloe and Lamar. I love this aspect of it! It is just so cute. The pictures themselves are beautiful black and white images that are romantic, fun, flirty, and really showcase many different sides to a relationship.

As for the bottle, it's pretty simple. It's not my favourite fragrance bottle, as I find it is a little more geared towards men. (One of the drawbacks of a unisex perfume, I suppose!) I personally prefer to display perfume bottles that are girly and cute. This one isn't anything special to me. Thankfully, the scent itself more than makes up for it.

Overall, I would say that Unbreakable Bond is a fantastic fragrance. In fact, I find myself reaching for it quite often. I'm very glad that I decided to take a gamble on this scent and add it to my perfume collection.

Have you smelled Unbreakable Bond? What did you think of it?

PS - Happy Thanksgiving to all of the Americans! I hope you have a great holiday. 

xo Shannon

love it or leave it?

Are you ready for another installment of love it or leave it? This time it is all about Taylor Swift's AMA 2013 look. The hair, the makeup, the accessories, and of course, that unforgettable metallic gold dress. Was it a hit or a miss? Let's find out!

What I Love: 

Every so often, a red carpet look will make me positively giddy...which is exactly how this outfit made me feel. That's why I was so surprised when people I know said that they weren't a fan of Taylor's AMA outfit! How? Okay, maybe I am a little too smitten with this red carpet look. But I can't help it - it has all of my must-haves in one: smokey eye makeup, sexy hair, metallic everything and a killer pair of heels. Taylor looks downright sizzling!

I literally love everything. I love that her hair is just a little tousled and playful. I love that her makeup is smouldering but not too over the top. I love all of the details on this metallic dress. I love the belt cinching the waist. I love that stunning sheer panel. And yes, I love those strappy heels. Everything here just works for me. Looking at Taylor here, it's hard to believe that winter is coming. This would be a phenomenal outfit to wear for a night out in summer.

What I Loathe:

There is nothing I loathe about this outfit. Not one single thing. From my perspective, Taylor totally hit it out of the park. However, I realize that not everyone feels this way. Just today I heard two separate conversations about how 'shiny' and '80s' Taylor's AMA look was. (As if that's a bad thing!) I was absolutely shocked.

For me, this is a definite love! What do you think: love it or leave it? 

xo Shannon

pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.

Everyone has their favourites. When it comes to makeup, my favourite brand is NARS. By a mile. I am obsessed with everything in their collection. Some of my favourites? Their fantastic range of blushes, bronzers, and lip glosses.

During my trip to Los Angeles, I did a fair bit of shopping. I was even able to check out the NARS store. Yes, there was an entire store stocked full of different NARS products. I swear, my credit card was dying to be used! While I was there, the Limited Edition Guy Bourdin Fling Holiday Set immediately caught my eye.

They only had two of these holiday sets available...and they weren't supposed to sell them until the following week. Luckily, the saleswoman took pity and broke the rules. (So long as I promised not to post about it until after the set was officially released, that is!) Leaving the store with this limited edition set in my hands made me feel like a million bucks. I couldn't wait to try everything out.

So, what does the set include? Let's take a closer look:

It includes (Right to Left): Damage (Lipstick), Roman Holiday (Lipstick), Baroque (Velvet Gloss Pencil) and Dolce Vita (Velvet Matte Lip Pencil). 

There are so many great things about this set. First of all, let's talk about the super cute packaging. Those killer red lips aren't just for show - they actually are a really sturdy case. You can use it to hold makeup or any nicknacks you have laying around. I'm obsessed with how cute it is! Definitely a good addition to the vanity. 

Now for the lipstick shades themselves....love! I especially like that there was a real range of shades in this set. You have a light pastel pink, a wearable berry shade, a deep raspberry, and a sheer rosey shade. You can easily use these shades for either day or night. I just love that there was such a versatile collection of both colours and formulas. You've got two traditional lipstick shades, a matte lip pencil, and a gloss. Perfection!

(Right to Left): Damage, Roman Holiday, Baroque, and Dolce Vita. 

Even though I love each and every one of these shades, I do have a favourite. While all of these lip products are beautiful, I find myself reaching for Roman Holiday all the time. (And I mean, all the time. I seriously can't get enough of it.) The colour is so pretty, feminine, and just a little bit bold. I really like that the colour makes a statement without being too over the top.

Since I am loving this set so much, I thought I would do a makeup look based around Roman Holiday. Here is how it turned out:

So, there you have it: my thoughts on the NARS Limited Edition Guy Bourdin Fling Holiday Set. I am absolutely loving these new lip products in my makeup collection. Thank goodness for NARS!

What do you think about this set? Which lipstick shade is your favourite?

xo Shannon

i have too much money invested in sweaters.

Now that the weather is getting chilly, I'll admit: I have a total obsession with sweaters. Yes, my sweater collection seems to be growing at a rapid pace. It's not my fault though - they are comfy, warm, and still manage to look stylish. As far as I'm concerned, a cute sweater is the perfect way to get through the cold winter months.

Since I have been reaching for my sweaters more and more often, I thought that I would do a post with a little winter sweater inspiration. While cheesy Christmas sweaters are my favourite (I just love the holiday season!), any cute sweater will do. I love bold patterns and colours the most. They are hard to resist!

To get you in the mood for the holidays, here are a few of my favourite winter sweaters:

Do you have a sweater obsession? Which one of these is your favourite?

xo Shannon

when in doubt, go shopping.

The Christmas shopping season has begun! Even though I've started my shopping, I still have so so much left to get done. Every year, I try to get my Christmas shopping finished early. Why? There is always lots going on at home...and I'd much rather be on the couch watching Christmas movies than out at a mall.

Since I'm trying to get my shopping done as early as possible, my mom and I spent a few hours at our local shopping mall recently. I ended up crossing a few things off my list (as well as picking up a birthday gift for my sister). Unfortunately, I still have a bunch of people to buy for. So, I guess I'll be braving the malls again in the future!

Now onto the rest of this post. I thought I would show you what I wore out Christmas shopping! Here is my outfit of the day:

Sweater: Forever 21, Pants: Material Girls, Purse: Joe Fresh

Products Used: Benefit's the Rich is Back palette, Benefit They're Real! mascara, Rimmel Clean Finish foundation and concealer, Joe Fresh blush, and NARS lipstick in Roman Holiday.

There you have it. That's my comfy (but cute!) shopping look.

Have you started your Christmas shopping? What do you think of this look?

xo Shannon

feels just like we're dancin' in the wind.

I've been a Hanson fan since I was ten years old. I can still remember sitting in my basement watching the MMMBop video for the first time....life was never the same after. Over the years, I've seen Hanson in concert many, many times. In fact, I never miss a show. That's how I've been lucky enough to meet some seriously great Hanson fans. We all became friends after waiting in line - sometimes for 30+ hours! Even though we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, it's always wonderful when we get the chance.

Last week, Hanson came to town. So, of course we spent a very very cold day waiting outside of a concert venue. The wait was long, but the company was good, so it all worked out! Before the show, Hanson did The Walk - which is where the band and their fans do a barefoot (okay, not all of us were barefoot....it's winter in Canada!) for 1 mile to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS in Africa. They've been doing this for a few years now and it is always my favourite part. It's inspiring and it's also pretty amazing to walk next to your favourite band.

Here are some of my pictures from The Walk with Hanson!

The concert itself was a lot of fun. Beforehand, I was feeling sick, tired, and dehydrated....but once the band came on, it somehow all went away! They played a good mixture of songs - some from the new album and some from past albums. Overall, the set list was high-energy. The crowd was singing along to every word...it was an absolute blast. Plus, each member of the band did a solo song and Taylor sang one of my all-time favourites, Save Me.

For me, there's nothing better than a Hanson show...it is my happy place. Here are a few pictures from the night:

There you have it: my mini-Hanson review. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait another year or two before they come back. I suppose I'll just have to learn to be patient!

What is the last concert you went to?

xo Shannon

tag: crazy about lipstick

A little while back, I was tagged by the wonderful Kallie from But First, Coffee! in the Crazy About Lipstick tag. Since I can't resist a fun tag, I thought I would give this one a whirl! It is (obviously) all about lipstick. So, here goes!
The Questions:

1. How many lipsticks do you own?

Oh, this is a tricky one. I would say...at least 25. At least. I've tried to curb my lipstick buying addiction recently, though! Most definitely, I have a good variety of pink, red, coral, and nude shades. What can I say...I like to have options.

2. What was your first lipstick?

Honestly, I don't remember! I'm sure that it was something like a super frosty pink, knowing my taste when I was younger. My preferences have certainly changed since then.

3. What is your most worn lipstick?

Either Buttercup by Maybelline, which is a really warm nude shade, or Berry Rich by Revlon, which is the perfect berry shade for me. I adore it!

4. What is your favorite brand of lipstick?

YSL. I don't have a lot of lipsticks from them, but I absolutely adore the rich, creamy texture. Plus, the colour pigmentation is absolutely beautiful! Definitely worth the splurge. 

5. What is your favorite finish?

I'm not super into glosses, but I don't necessarily want a matte finish all of the time either. I would say that I like something with a bit of shine to it.

6. What is the last lip product you bought?

It was one of the gloss stains by Maybelline in a really pretty dark brown. I already had a few of these in my collection because I just love the stain element as well as the subtle amount of shine it gives. I chose the colour because it was so different to anything else I had in my collection.

7. How many lip products (everything) do you currently have in your handbag?

Just two! I don't tend to carry a ton of makeup around with me when I go out. So, I just keep the lipstick I'm wearing and a chapstick. Nothing super crazy! 

8. What lip product do you use to rock a red lip?

My Revlon lip liner and my red lipstick of choice. This is usually either a pretty ruby shade from Tarina Tarantino or a bright red one from Rimmel.

9. How do you store your lipsticks?

I have one of those clear lipstick holders and then I also have a white plastic bin for any lipsticks that are longer or simply don't fit inside the holder. 

10. What lip products are you currently lusting after?

There are a few from YSL and Chanel that I am dreaming of. Gorgeous berry shades....yes please!

Those are my answers to the Crazy About Lipstick tag...now it's your turn! I encourage you all to do this tag for yourself. It was a lot of fun!

xo Shannon

there is a little bit of magic found in buying something new.

My trip to LA was a really fun experience. I saw the sights and did a fair bit of shopping! I tried to be good, but my bank account definitely took a hit. (I couldn't help it....there were so many cute things to buy!) Where did I shop? Stores along Melrose, Dash, the Kardashian Kollection at Sears, Paramount, WB, Target, and all throughout Disneyland. Eesh!

Since I bought some new things, I thought I'd give you a peek! First thing is first: The Kardashian Kollection. Yes, I love the Kardashians. I was absolutely desperate to head to Sears and pick up a few of their pieces. Thankfully, they were on sale. Yay! I bought: a pair of sunglasses, perfume, a t-shirt, striped top, hoodie, and leopard and lace blouse.

 

While I'm talking about the Kardashians, I may as well show you what I bought at Dash! It was a super expensive t-shirt and a keychain:

Here is some of the random stuff I bought while out in LA, including the cutest bag, an LA hoodie, Paramount stuff, WB stuff, and Forever 21.

Now for my Target stuff! Yes, we now have Target in Canada, but there was a lot of different stuff...and I couldn't resist. Story of  my life. I bought a sweater, t-shirt, a Phillip Lim skirt, and the most gorgeous dress.

And lastly, here are a few of my purchases from Disneyland! (I didn't photograph all of my many novelty purchases...like a sheriff badge, a tiara, stuffed things, and even a Beaker hat...oh my!) Here is my cute Christmas t-shirt and Belle tank top. So cute!

Yikes, it looks like a lot all put together. So, those were some of my purchases from my vacation. No wonder my suitcase was so much heavier coming back!

What have you bought lately?

xo Shannon

blinc: eyeliner review

If you know anything about me by now, it's that I love eyeliner. Yup, it is my go-to makeup item! In the past, I've been lucky enough to try out some amazing products from blinc. Once again, I'm trying out another one of their fabulous items. This time, it's the blinc eyeliner pencil in blue.

What makes this eyeliner unique? It's described as being "smudge proof, water proof, and life proof." Thank goodness! Some girls are okay with touching up their makeup a thousand times a day, but I'm not like that. I like to apply it and get on with my day! That's why I absolutely love the fact that this eyeliner is so long-wearing and durable.

So, what did I think of the blinc eyeliner pencil?

Love! This shade is totally different than anything I would have chosen for myself...but that's one of the reasons why I love it so much! This product definitely pushed me out of my makeup comfort zone. Instead of sticking to bold neutrals, I was able to play with colour and really make it my own. I've had so much fun experimenting with this blue eyeliner.

Plus, it really is smudge proof and water proof! Once you put the eyeliner on, it stays all day long, without moving. The colour itself is a bold, bright blue - so fun. Whenever I wear this, it really makes my eyes pop! Ready to check out the colour? Here's my blinc makeup look!

I just can't get enough of this eyeliner! If you're looking for some more "life-proof" products from blinc, check out their makeup line at: www.blincinc.com/

What do you think of this product? Do you own any blue eyeliners?

xo Shannon

the la diaries: part two

Hi everyone! Here it is...part two of my trip to LA. This part is all about my trip to Disneyland! I've been there once before, when I was really young, so it was definitely nice to go back. I come from a Disney family, so it was a big deal to go.

The first day, it was just my mom and I. We bought tickets for the Halloween party and it was so much fun! My mom and I dressed up as Disney princesses (I was Belle), went on some rides, went trick or treating, saw the parade, watched fireworks...it was definitely like being a kid again. It was the most fun I've had on Halloween in a long, long time. Here are some of my pictures:

The second day in Disney, we went to the California Adventure park. I'd never been there before, so I didn't know quite what to expect. There were a lot of fun rides, like The Little Mermaid, Tower of Terror, and the rollercoaster - and one ride that I hated more than anything! I foolishly went on the Ferris Wheel with the spinning cars....mistake. It was horrible. Overall, I had a lot of fun. 

On our third day in Disney, we went to Fantasyland. There was so much to do there and the lines were crazy long! We managed to get through almost everything we wanted to, though. It felt like a very very long day by the time we got back to the hotel that night. I was totally wiped! Here are some of my favourite pictures:

The last day at Disneyland was ...probably my least favourite day of the trip. My mom and I were butting heads a lot and everyone just seemed to be bickering. It was definitely that point in the trip where we were all ready to go home and have a little space! We spent the day going between the two parks and finishing up all of the rides that we hadn't gotten to yet.

So, that was my trip to Disneyland! Still to come? My shopping haul and new makeup reviews. Stay tuned!

What are your plans for the week?

xo Shannon