celebrating 100 videos on YouTube.

It kind of snuck up on me. While uploading my latest YouTube video, I realized that I had hit a major milestone. 100 videos. That's right....my Current Favourites video for the month of July turned out to be my 100th video on the creation of beauty is art. What a crazy thought! Over the last couple of years, I have been filming, editing, and uploading videos related to makeup and fashion. Some were reviews, others tags, collection videos, and tutorials. And honestly, it has been a ton of fun to do.

music week: katy perry inspired makeup (witness)

New music. Few words are as exhilarating and terrifying. Especially when it relates to an artists you really love, admire, and respect. Will it be amazing? Become the latest soundtrack to your life? Or will it fail to inspire? Let you down? It is always a toss up. When Katy Perry (finally) released her follow up to Prism, I was pumped. And then, not so pumped.

music week: celebrity makeup face off

Every once and a while, two of my passions collide. That is exactly what happens when musicians release (or put their names on) lines of makeup. Sometimes, these collaborations are super successful and other times, they are only so-so. Since we are halfway through music week here on the creation of beauty is art. it only made sense to focus on music and makeup.

music week: three unforgettable concert looks

There is nothing quite like going to a concert. You know when the lights go down right before the show starts? Suddenly, it is just you, the music, and a moment. I live for that feeling. Since I don't have any summer shows lined up (though there are a few in my future this fall), it only made sense to dive into the fashion aspect of the summer concert season. One of the best and most exciting things about going to a show is getting all glam. It can be a lot of fun to plan out your makeup, outfit, and accessories.

music week: fashion icons in music

Quite frankly, it doesn't really feel like summer. At least not to me. Usually by this point, a lot would have happened. For instance, I would be in the middle of an ambitious summer to-do list. I'd have seen friends, had a few adventures, gone to the zoo, and made a handful of exciting memories. Oh, and there would be at least a couple of concerts to look forward to.

workout equipment essentials for your home.

You don’t need an expensive gym membership to get in shape. In fact, you can do it from your very own living room. Just pop in a workout DVD or create your own routine. There are plenty of options to suit your budget and specific interests. Since returning home from my vacation...it has been a struggle to get back to doing my daily workout - but having everything I need on hand makes it a whole lot easier to stay motivated. If you want to work out at home, these equipment essentials will make your life a whole lot easier.

re-discovered favourite: rimmel glam eyes quad

My mission? Spend less and use more. Rather than purchasing every new item that hits the drugstore, Sephora, and Kylie Cosmetics shop...I've pledged to focus my attention on the products that I already own. Recently, I went through my eyeshadow collection. Note: this was not by choice. New fixtures and toilets were being installed in the apartment, so I literally had to move everything out of my bathroom. It was such a nightmare.

testing: skin care and beauty samples

Who doesn't love testing out new products? There are all of these exciting possibilities laid out in front of you. It is an incredible rush, that is for sure. Thanks to a surprise purchase my husband made at work (a new eyeshadow palette is in my future and I cannot wait for it), he was given a handful of samples as a gift with purchase. Today, I wanted to show you what those samples were - and give you mini reviews of each.

gigi hadid: love it or leave it?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dress up as Elle Woods? Barbie? Lizzie McGuire? Me too. Like, every day of my life for the last fifteen years or so. There is something so exciting about early 2000s fashion. It was bright, bold, feminine, and fun. People didn't take things so seriously. Colour was always in style, ruffles were a must have, and there were no limits when it came to new fashion trends. No wonder Gigi Hadid's all pink outfit sparked so much controversy. People seem pretty divided: is it beautiful? Retro? Fun? Grotesque? Since there is no clear consensuses....it made sense to bring it to the blog. This is your chance (and mine) to sound off on this head-turning ensemble.

What I Love: Oh. My. Goodness. There are an awful lot of things I love about this look. Like I mentioned, few things are as exciting to me than 2000s style. I absolutely adore the bold pink colour, the tinted sunglasses, that incredible jacket, all of the beautiful detail work, and those velvet (yes, velvet) shoes. Yes, yes, yes. This outfit is playful, fun, and exciting. It stands out from most of the clothing fashion models, actresses, and singers are wearing these days. In a good way! It boldly represents a strong, confident woman.

What I Loathe: Oh, flares. Though I have a serious obsession with the 1970s, I absolutely detest flared pants. I don't think they are super flattering or comfortable. (Trust me, when this trend came back around in the 90s and 00s, I wore them day in and day out. Needless to say, I am over it.) With this outfit specifically, I think a skinny or bootleg cut would have given this old-school look a hint of modern flair.

Overall, this is a pretty fantastic outfit. The colour is fantastic, there are tons of exciting details, and Gigi looks like a walking Barbie doll. I love it.

What did you think of this look? Love it or leave it?

xo Shannon

there is a shade of red for every woman.

The day after my vacation ended, my throat felt scratchy. The next day, it was worse. Before I knew it, my nose was running, I had a non-stop cough, and felt absolutely exhausted. It was not a great welcome home. Unfortunately, every member of my family came down with the same thing. To a varying degree. After days and days of not doing much, of struggling through work, and generally feeling terrible....I decided to do my makeup. Not for any reason. Just to do it.

It was Canada Day and my husband was at work. So, I forced myself to get out of bed, bake some cookies, and play around with some red and white inspired makeup. It felt good. But, it also felt exhausting. I ended up having a very long nap afterwards! Today, I thought I would share with you the first proper makeup look I have done in a little while. It is a colourful eye (red, white, and glitter), a red lip, and lots of highlight. Take a look.....

This was definitely meant to be a Canada Day glam kind of thing! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Simple, glitzy, and easy to wear. So, how did I create it? Here are the products used:

• Eye Shadow palette (this is an unnamed eyeshadow palette that a friend gave me. Not sure what brand it's from, but it is fantastic! I used the blush on the eyes to create the red, a warm orange to blend through the crease, and a shimmery white on the inner corner. I also used the bronze-toned blush on the cheeks.)
• OFRA Eyebrow pencil (this was run quickly through the brows for a natural but polished look.)
• Avon Always on Point eyeliner (this is an amazing eyeliner, because it always stays sharp, making it quick and easy to create a winged effect.)
• Cover Girl The Super Sizer mascara (by far my favourite mascara ever. It replaced my former favourites from Dior and Benefit.)
• NYX Face and Body glitter (oh my gosh, this glitter is amazing! It is subtle, pretty, and very finely milled.)
• NARS Silver Factory Illuminator and Gerard Cosmetics Star Powders (these highlights were layered together for a more intense effect. Why? I've been watching a lot of Drag Race, and Farrah Moan has the best highlight ever.)
• Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Santa Sangre (a bright, bold red lip, and a liquid lipstick with great staying power.)

It was a lot of fun playing around with makeup for a while. Not only did it help me forget about being sick and feeling miserable...but it allowed me to get creative. That is always the best part! Be sure to let me know what you think of this makeup look.

Speaking of makeup, my latest YouTube video is all about high-end makeup misses. Find out which pricey products failed to live up to my expectations.

Have you used any of these products?

xo Shannon

six years of the creation of beauty is art.

I can still remember the day it all began. At the time, I was feeling kind of lost. I'd graduated from university with a writing degree....with no job prospects in sight. Turns out, people don't want to publish you unless you have already been published. It was a frustrating situation. So, I started a blog. That was the day the creation of beauty is art. was born. It felt amazing to have a space to call my own. To write about whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. It was freeing. It made me remember why writing has always been my closest companion.

And now? It has been six years. Six years of blogging about makeup, fashion, beauty, music, travel, and all of the little things in life that inspire me. There have been a lot of exciting moments along the way. Like sharing more about myself, interviewing people I admire, testing out new products, sharing my thoughts, starting my YouTube channel, and interacting well fellow bloggers. This truly is my passion project - and I am so excited to celebrate this little milestone.

Thank you all for being here, for reading my posts, and for supporting this page. It continues to amaze me how wonderful you all are. Here is to another year of the creation of beauty is art. 

xo Shannon

beauty-related summer reads

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and there is a book just waiting to be read. In my opinion, few things are better than a good book on a summer day. Especially when you throw a little beauty into the mix. Are you looking for a few good books to brighten up your summer? These suggestions will start your season off on the right foot.

Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson. One of my favourite books lately has been Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson (yes, that Kate Hudson). She writes about a wide range of topics - like getting to know yourself, beauty, fitness, and even meditation. If you're looking to beautify your inner and outer self, give this book a try. Bonus? The glossy hard cover and the gorgeous selection of pictures makes this a great display item or coffee table book.

Face Paint: The Story of Makeup by Lisa Eldridge. This next book was gifted to me last Christmas and has been on my reading to-do list for ages. Finally, I've found time to go through it. Talk about a healthy dose of inspiration! This makeup book has tons of pictures, makeup muses, and goes through the history of makeup and the world of beauty.

Healthy Is The New Skinny by Katie H. Willcox. This wasn't something I was planning to pick up. Then the cover caught my eye (I know, I know, don't judge a book by its cover) and decided to check it out. A model turned body activist? I was intrigued. In addition to sharing her own story, Katie shared her thoughts on the media, body image, and self confidence. If you've ever struggled to love the skin you're in...this one is for you.

Reading is an essential part of a well-balanced life. It allows you to learn, grow, and share. These beauty related titles are just a few examples of books that make the world a prettier place.

Something else summer related? Summer accessories. Sunglasses are by far my favourite accessory of choice during the warm and sunny months...which is why my collection is so large. Take a peek at the sunglasses I cannot get enough of.


Share your favourite beauty-related summer reads below!

xo Shannon

road trip: part two

There is no better place in the entire world than Walt Disney World. That Disney magic has a way of taking over and making everything seem better. Like I said in my first post....travelling with family means there are a lot of ups and downs. Disney was not immune to those highs and lows. Since the weather was pretty horrible throughout, it meant there was a mad dash trying to get on outside rides before the downpours started. There were other snags along the way, but for the most part, it was a really good trip. As a Disney family, we are always happier there!

We spent three days at Magic Kingdom, two at Epcot, two at Animal Kingdom, and two at Hollywood Studios. There were plenty of highlights - like dining at the Garden Grill in Epcot (it was character dining, the food was awesome, and we all had a blast), seeing the new fireworks show at the castle, meeting Baymax from Big Hero 6 (one of many characters that we met along the way), seeing a giraffe up close on the safari in Animal Kingdom, and the Muppet show in Liberty Square.

It was all very exciting. We also got to go on the new Frozen ride in Epcot (which was really awesome) and check out the newly opened Pandora section. One ride was incredible and the whole area lit up at night. Definitely really cool to walk around in!

These are a few of my favourite pictures from the trip. They should give you a peek at my time in the oh-so-magical Disney World.....

It was very difficult leaving the Magic Kingdom on that last night. None of us were ready to say goodbye to our favourite place. But we had no choice. It was time to go home! So we began our long drive back, making stops in South Carolina (we went to a Target, which was very exciting) and Baltimore. Then it was back home to see my wonderful husband and get back to reality.

What have been your summer highlights so far?

xo Shannon

road trip: part one

Every trip has highlights and low points, regardless of who you travel with. When you vacation with family? The ups and downs always seem to be exaggerated. During my two and a half week road trip, there were some wonderful moments that my family and I will remember forever....and there were experiences that will become a part of family folklore forever. (Like a suitcase falling on my dad and tearing up his leg. Or both of my parents coming down with colds mid-way through the trip.) So, in a way, even the downs were pretty darn memorable.

The trip consisted of a full day drive to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, then a day driving to Atlanta (where we stopped at the World of Coke), and another day to Orlando, Florida. Once there, we spent a day at SeaWorld, and two days at Universal. After that, it was ten magical days at Walt Disney World, and a three day drive home, with stops in South Carolina and Baltimore. Yes, this was certainly a busy vacation! Here are some of my travel pictures and stories.....

Dollywood

It has always been my dream to visit Dollywood. Though, I never really thought it would happen. Quite frankly, it was unlikely that I would ever find myself in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. So, when my family started talking about driving to Florida to celebrate my mom's birthday....I pitched the idea of Dollywood. It was on the way. Sort of.

By the time we arrived there, I was desperate to see it all. We only had one day in the theme park, so we were on a tight schedule. Since my brother and dad were not so interested in the Dolly Parton aspect, we separated for most of the day. My mom and I toured the museum (which was amazing. There was every Dolly award, costume, and artifact in there ever), shopped, and went to some of the live shows.

Unfortunately, the weather was not great. It rained on and off for the afternoon and many of the rides were shut down. But overall, it was a fantastic experience. I loved Dollywood and would absolutely like to spend more time there. The best parts? Shopping in Dolly's Closet, checking out the Chasing Rainbows museum, and seeing the My People show - which starred members of Dolly Parton's family.

The World of Coke

After leaving Tennessee, we drove to Atlanta. We weren't there for very long (just an afternoon) so there wasn't a ton of time to see much. However, we made time to stop at the World of Coke. It was a lot of fun there. We got to see a lot of old Coca-Cola memorabilia, meet the mascot, head into the vault that carries the secret recipe, and even try out Coke products from around the world. Then we went into the gift shop and spent some time looking at all of the awesome Coke merchandise. Before heading back to the hotel for the night, we stopped off a Johnny Rockets for a delicious meal.

SeaWorld

The next day, we finished the drive to Orlando. And the day after that was dedicated to SeaWorld. My brother and Dad ended up driving to another attraction, so it was just my mom and I checking out the park. It was actually a lot of fun! I'd never been to SeaWorld Orlando so it was definitely exciting. The day started out sunny and beautiful but an hour or so into it....the rain began. It poured non-stop for the remainder of our time there. They actually wound up closing the park an hour early because it was so bad. But thankfully, my mom and I were able to see all of the shows (sea lions, dolphins, and whales), tour the aquarium, and even do a little shopping.

Universal Studios

I'll admit. I was very excited to visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I'd never been to a Universal Studios park before and I am a massive fan of minions, Harry Potter, and Dr. Seuss. By all accounts, the next two days should have been amazing. Honestly? They were okay. My mom was not impressed with the parks and ended up leaving early both days. The weather was horrible again and it poured on and off. But we still managed to make the most of it.

The actual Universal Studios park didn't have a ton in it. I expected it to be a lot bigger. More like Disney! But I did like the minion ride, the ET ride (my favourite), and the Harry Potter section. The Simpsons area was really cool and well done - but smaller than I expected. The next day, we went to Islands of Adventure. I definitely preferred this park. The cartoon sections were great and the Harry Potter ride in the castle was fantastic. Overall, I liked Universal, but I don't know that I would plan a trip to go back again.

So, there you have it! Part one of my road trip blog post. My next one will be all about my time in Walt Disney World. Stay tuned....

Have you done any travelling this summer?

xo Shannon

review: NYX ombre blushes

I swear, it has been all-NYX-all-the time here lately! There is no specific reason for this...apart from loving the brand. It seems there has been a major influx of NYX products in my life lately. The latest? Two of their new ombre blushes.

It was early on a Sunday morning. My husband had talked me into getting my makeup done at a nearby drugstore. (To learn more about applying makeup on other people, which is something I would like to do from time to time.) Afterward, I browsed the display of NYX products and the display of ombre blushes took my breath away. There were three shades in total: Feel the Heat, Sweet Spring, and Warm Nude. The first two came home with me but I decided against the nude blush, because it looked too much like products already in my collection.

As you can see from the picture above, these are seriously gorgeous. It is pretty obvious why I was so desperate to give these a try. Feel the Heat is an orange/coral toned blush while Sweet Spring is a pink/rose coloured shade. Both are just as beautiful on the cheeks as they appear in the plan. They are colourful, vibrant, and highly pigmented. One thing to remember? Since these are so pigmented, it is easy to go overboard. So, be sure to pay close attention to your application.

Something I really like about this ombre style blush is the versatility. You can wear the lighter part of the blush for a softer finish or use the whole thing for a more intense pop. Feel The Heat is a fabulous summer shade (thanks to those stunning coral tones) and would look great on tanned skin - and Sweet Spring is the perfect match for a romantic floral print dress. Here is a look at Feel The Heat paired with a warm smokey eye look.

If you come across these ombre shades at your local NYX store or drugstore...give them a try. They are the perfect item for any blush addict. And if you're after a more neutral shade? Warm Nude will be your new BFF this season. This line of blushes has it all. They are highly pigmented, look beautiful on the skin, and are decently priced.

Have you tried these yet? What do you think of them?

xo Shannon