where there is no imagination there is no horror.

Are you a fan of Halloween? I definitely am. There has always been this wonderful anticipation surrounding this time of year. When I was younger, it was all related to choosing the perfect costume, going to the elementary school dance, and going out trick or treating. Now that I am older, my Halloween typically consists of scary movies and bite-sized candy. In the past, I would always try to go out and do something special but either the plans never properly materialize or the evening would be a colossal letdown. So, a laid-back (but Halloween themed) movie night has become my ideal way to celebrate the holiday.

review: christina aguilera perfume

Though there are many things that interest me, music and fragrances are pretty high up on the list. There is something about the way a song or artist can connect with you....and describe how your emotions with ease. The same can be said with perfume. One whiff can take you to another place or describe your current mood. They transport you. They make you feel. Which is why it seems fitting that so many musicians have created their own fragrances over the years. Though there are many different examples in my perfume collection....the most recent is from Christina Aguilera.

this music is a place to hide.

It did not go according to plan. The way I had envisioned my Hanson concert experience was somewhat different than the reality of the day. In my mind, I had planned to spend ages getting ready, go down to participate in the walk (where Hanson and a group of their fans walk one mile to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS and poverty in Africa), and then see an awesome show. Well....the latter happened. Everything else was sort of all over the place.

happy birthday to me.

Happy birthday to me! That is right...today is my birthday. Even though I am no longer a child, this day never ceases to make me excited. I look forward to spending time with people I love, hearing from friends, and of course, eating cake. Most of my day will be spent relaxing and then this evening it will be a dinner with my immediate family. In the past there have been themed nights out and get togethers planned but this year it will be pretty low-key. And for the most part, I am okay with that. There is still a double date to look forward to (my husband and I are having a Bob Ross themed night with a couple of our friends), and attending a drag show with my sister.

beginner series: how to wear colourful eyeliner

Fall is officially here…. which means there are plenty of exciting makeup trends to try. Just because the weather is getting chilly and everyone seems to be embracing a dark and vampy style doesn't mean you have to say so long to colour. Have fun with it and stand out all season long. That's right! It is possible to wear colourful eyeliner, showcase your personality, and live vibrantly - even as a beginner. This guide will show you how to get started. 

#OOTD: AAA Girls Drag Show

There are some nights that are beyond memorable. They are special. That is the best way to describe my experience seeing the AAA Girls recently. In case you don't know already....the AAA Girls are made up of Alaska, Willam, and Courtney Act. They are drag queens who were all featured on various seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. (Alaksa, my personal favourite, actually went on to win All Stars 2.) They came to Toronto on their Access All Areas tour a few weeks ago, so my sister and I jumped at the chance to see these incredible performers take the stage.

new in: zara, hot topic, and bluenotes.

Oh, shopping. How I have missed you. As you may know if you have been reading my blog for any period of time....it has been one of my resolutions to do less shopping. And I have. Though, I do still indulge every once and a while! And boy, did I need to. It had been a strange few days and I was feeling pretty emotional. Everything was off balance and my mind was not in the best place. Thankfully, my mom and I had a mini shopping trip planned. We went to the mall to find a birthday gift for my dad and check out some of the stores. It was such a fun day and it managed to get my mind off of things. If that wasn't enough, my husband and I did some discount shopping the day before. It was definitely a weekend of worthy of a shopaholic.

brand love: clinique (moisture surge collection + gift bag goodies)

As hard as it is to believe.....winter is not too far away. I know, I know! It's a scary though. Right now the fall weather is starting to kick in and the temperatures are dropping fast. For me, that means one thing: dry skin. This is something I deal with on a regular basis but once the fall and winter months arrive, it becomes so much worse. That means I really need to be proactive when it comes to skin care. All I can say is thank goodness for Clinique! This is easily one of my favourite brands, thanks to their Moisture Surge line of products.

these are a few of my favourite things.

Every once and a while, it is important to stop and look around you. To focus on the wonderful things in your life and just take a moment to be grateful. This is something I am trying to more of lately. I think social media has intensified this need to buy more, more, more, just to keep up with everyone else. Don't get me wrong....I love a good haul post! And I love to shop. But at the same time, it is important that we don't get so caught up in hoarding new things that we forget how blessed we already are. That is what inspired this post. I decided to go through pictures and look around my apartment - to show you what I have been loving lately. Each thing on this list fills my life with joy.

do-it-yourself recipes for beauty and skin care.

Feel like changing up your beauty routine? There are so many ways to go about it. For some, that might mean picking up a new face wash or using a different mascara. For others? It is all about putting your skills to the test. DIY doesn’t just relate to home improvements. The term can also be applied to your skin, beauty, and hair care. Why should you do-it-yourself this season? Making your own beauty products can save you money and ensure that only natural products are used. Try out one of these recipes and get ready to change your beauty routine for the better.

review: rimmel insa-flawless

At this point, it feels like I have tried just about every primer and perfecting cream there is to try. There are ones I like, ones I don't like, and ones that fall in the middle. After a certain point, new offerings fail to interest me. Which is why I was surprised to find myself gravitating towards the new Rimmel London Insta Flawless Perfecting Radiant Skin Tint. Right off the bat, it seemed like a newer version of the Maybelline BB Cream (that I used to wear as a base underneath my foundation for a fuller coverage look). Would this be different? Better? Worse? For whatever reason....I had to find out.

how to makeover your closet this fall.

Every closet could use a makeover every now and again. Every so often it is a good idea to weed out old pieces you don’t wear anymore. Like that trendy top that seems out of place or a t-shirt that is totally worn out. From there you can donate, trade, or toss. Simple, right? Just don't forget about your actual closet. It tends to get neglected, which is why this season, it is time to make it over. These ideas will help you get organized and beautify your space.

current obsession: annabelle chrome cream eyeshadow

Ever have one of those moments? You know, when a makeup product walks into your life and instantly becomes a must-have? That happened to me recently. On a whim, I picked up the Annabelle Chrome Creamy Single Eyeshadow in the shade Gold. There was a small display of these chrome shadows on an end that I passed while walking through my local drugstore and I thought...what the heck. There were a few shades to choose from but the gold seemed like the one I would use most often. So, I took it home to try out this creamy shadow for myself.