why I'm making time to read in 2018.

Though I meticulously wrote down my goals for the year at the end of last month....I have only just begun to tackle my resolutions. I suppose this is only natural. The start of January is always bogged down with post-holiday sadness, undecorating, and a massive list of tasks that went ignored all December long. Now that February is just about here, I feel a renewed sense of optimism and focus. Which is why I have started to work through my list of New Years Resolutions.

There are many (some related to my career, others to fitness, and some to my blog and YouTube channel), but one of my personal goals has to do with reading. Specifically, to read more this year. This is something I have missed over the years, as my life has gotten fuller and my list of responsibilities longer. Sound familiar? Here are some of the reasons I plan to read more in 2018.

review: kat von d everlasting glimmer veil liquid lipstick (televator)

Kat Von D always pushes the envelope where makeup is concerned. For a long time, she was one of the only brands releasing ultra vampy or ultra colourful lip products. In addition to her other standout products (the Tattoo Liner and the beloved Shade and Light palette immediately come to mind), she continues to release new items. More recently is the Everlasting Glimmer Veil Liquid Lipstick. There are nine shades in total, including three classic metallic shades, three purple colours, and three shades from the blue family. These are ultra shimmery and sparkly with a bold metallic finish. Though there were many to choose from, I opted for a vibrant purple, called Televator. What does it look like? How is the formula? It is time to find out...

shangela: love it or leave it? (rupaul's drag race all stars 3)

It's that time again! RuPaul's Drag Race has returned with All Stars 3. It premiered on January 25th and has already generated tons of buzz, thanks to the talented returning queens. Like anyone, I have my own personal favourites out of the bunch and without a doubt my top choice is Shangela. She is everything. I've been a fan since her first appearance in season two. With a genuine heart, lots of energy, and a serious talent for lip syncing....she stands out from the crowd. In honour of the Drag Race premiere, today's love it or leave it is dedicated to her entrance look.

does it work?? smashbox photo finish primerizer

When it comes to skin care products, primers, and all the rest....less is more. There is nothing I dislike more than a lengthy prepping process. It's true! While I love applying eyeshadow, blush, and highlight, moisturizers, primers, and skin perfectors are simply things that need to be done. There is no excitement or creativity to enjoy. As a result, it often feels like a chore. Which is why I was so intrigued by the new Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer. Not only were there some pretty major claims prominently displayed on the packaging but it sounded like it could cut down on my daily skin prep routine. Surely, it was worth a shot. 

review: revlon youth FX (fill + blur primer for forehead)

Everyone has insecurities. It would be a complete and total lie if I pretended there weren't certain things that bothered me or that I was hyper conscious of. Like my forehead. I know, it seems like a silly thing to be worried about, but it has always bothered me. Basically, I am a very expressive person when I talk (and often pull silly faces for no reason at all). That coupled with my dry skin (which can exaggerate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles) means that there are lines on my forehead that do not go away. It has been that way for as long as I can remember. Even when I was a teenager! Talk about annoying. Which is why the Revlon Youth FX Fill + Blue Primer for Forehead was so intriguing. Could it be? An answer to my problem?

paris hilton week: makeup review (lip set + highlight)

It is always exciting when two of your interests collide. For instance, Paris Hilton and makeup. I'd head about her makeup line for ages but was never able to get my hands on it. (It wasn't being sold in my country at the time.) Then, on a trip to the USA several months back....I found some. Excited? Me? Absolutely. Whether or not the makeup was actually any good....well that was another question altogether. If you have been wondering about the Paris Hilton makeup line, keep reading. Today's post is a review of her lip set and cream highlighter.

paris hilton week: perfume collection

Scents have a way of transporting you to another time and place. Of reminding you who you were...and who you can be. There is a power in a fragrance bottle. It offers both nostalgia and a host of shiny new possibilities. Maybe that is why my perfume collection is so special to me. Each and every scent offers insight into my past yet still holds promise for the future. Paris Hilton is no stranger to fragrances. In fact, she has a whopping twenty-three under her belt.

While I don't own all of them (trust me, I am working on it), there are a fair few in my collection. In honour of Paris Hilton week here on the blog....I wanted to show you my collection! Here is a peek at the Paris Hilton perfumes I know and love.

paris hilton week: fashion inspiration

Few pop culture icons are as divisive as Paris Hilton. This heiress first made a splash back in the 2000's with The Simple Life (and that infamous tape) and somewhere along the line, managed to transform herself into a walking, talking brand. From follow up TV shows to movie roles, guest spots, a shoe and handbag line, a music career, DJ events, an uber successful fragrance line, and even cosmetics....Paris has a pretty impressive resume. So, this week all of the posts on the creation of beauty is art. are dedicated to this fabulous entrepreneur.

looking back: holiday makeup looks

The sad truth? All of the magic and wonder that makes the holiday season special has come to an end. Instead, we are left with chilly temperatures and massive piles of snow. Even though we are at the start of a fresh new year (with lots of resolutions to focus on)....I can't help but miss December. I miss the festive colours, the get-togethers, and the wonderful family traditions. Oh, and the makeup! I had a lot of fun this holiday season incorporating colour and glitter into my looks. Which is actually what this post is all about. I wanted to share a few of my seasonal makeup looks with you. From pre-Christmas events to New Years Eve and everything in between.

beginner series: choosing the right blush shade

When it comes to blush, the possibilities are endless. Pink, raspberry, mauve, bronze, and every colour in between. The right shade? It can pull your entire makeup look together. Suddenly that smokey eye doesn’t look so overwhelming and that bold lipstick has a little more balance. That is the beauty of this finishing touch. It can add polish and poise in a flash! Unless you are sporting the wrong shade for your skin tone. Then your entire look can appear unflattering or out of sorts. Make sure that never happens to you. Get ready to find the right blush shade…

fashionable winter footwear ideas.

It’s a struggle. Keeping your feet warm when the weather is cold, that is. Between the wind, snow, and slush, it can seem impossible to sport anything but bulky and unfashionable winter boots. So long high heels. Sayarana adorable flats. Just because the weather outside is less than desirable doesn’t mean you have to give up on the idea of fashionable footwear. This winter, you can keep your toes cozy and your look stylish. Don’t believe it? Need a few design ideas? You’re in luck. These fashionable winter footwear ideas are just what you’ve been waiting for.

feeling stressed? work out!

Sometimes life rushes past you. There is so much going on in the day-to-day that it often seems impossible to give yourself that much needed you time. Without it, you can start to feel frazzled, overwhelmed, and downright grumpy. Trust me – this is something I have experienced firsthand. Whenever I let work and responsibilities rule my life, it isn’t long before I feel totally and completely confined by it all. Which is why exercise has become a major part of my routine.

simple and effective beauty hacks.

Life gets busy. Our schedules are jam packed with work, appointments, get-togethers and to do lists. That makes it especially important to find ways to save time and money. It might seem impossible – but guess what? There are plenty of ways to speed up your beauty routine, spend less cash on products, and work around common beauty hiccups. Are you ready? These beauty hacks are the perfect way to simplify your busy life.

start your day off with a boost of confidence!

Who doesn’t want to be confident? To feel good about themselves? To start every day with a genuine smile on their face? Unfortunately for many of us this is not the reality. Most of us fail to recognize our own positive traits and characteristics. In fact, we often are unable to take in positive comments - and instead focus purely on the negative. We constantly compare, critique, and tear ourselves apart. And it all starts when we look in the mirror first thing in the morning.

you are never too old to set another goal.

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Since my last post, I have been eating too much, spending time with loved ones, and generally just getting wrapped up in all of the wonder and excitement this time of year is known for. It has been an incredible week or so....and I am just now starting to get back in the swing of things. A new year has now begun and we are starting 2018.