memorable july experiences (featuring local tourist spots)

How is the month almost over? It seems that time passes so quickly these days. But at least there were some memorable moments earlier in the month. Things have slowly but surely been opening back up where I live....which is both exciting and a little unnerving. As a result, there have been a few days where I was able to actually leave the house and do something fun. I've gone to the mall (which was mentioned in my recent Hot Topic haul post) and had a socially distanced outdoor visit with two friends I had not seen since the start of the pandemic. I have also been able to visit two different local tourist spots. Want to see some pictures? Find out more about these locations? Here are some memorable July moments...

nostalgic moments: reading magazines and atoosa rubenstein

Do you remember the feeling of flipping through a magazine? Of pouring over glossy page after glossy page? Reading magazines is such a nostalgic experience for me. When I was younger, there was no greater delight than my parents coming home from buying groceries....because I knew there would be at least one magazine tucked away for me. Sometimes, it was Seventeen. Other times, it was YM. It might have been Teen, Teen People, Bop, Tiger Beat, Popstar or Teen Vogue. A lot of times, it depended who was on the cover, but it was always a thrill to be presented with that magazine. It was something that was all my own. (Well, sometimes it was also my sister's. But usually, the magazine ended up in my possession.) I remember that I would eagerly help to put away groceries and then spend the next several hours reading every single word and looking at every single image in that oh-so-special magazine. It made me feel so special. 

review: revolution forever dynamic ambient eyeshadow palette

Revolution is a brand that has been around for awhile. Where I live? It has only been in stores for the last year or two. (Though back in 2018, I ordered The Emily Edit collection from their website. Those items are still favourites...and I even repurchased The Needs Palette!) Since most of my experiences with the brand have been favourable, it made sense to leave the drugstore with a new eyeshadow palette in hand. While there were many items in the Revolution display that were tempting, ultimately, it was the Forever Dynamic Ambient Eyeshadow Palette that won out. Want to take a look inside? See how the eyeshadows perform? Here is everything you need to know about this drugstore makeup item. 

current obsession: dr. seuss sketchers sneakers

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

There are so many iconic Dr. Seuss quotes. Some make you laugh, others make you think, and some put things into perspective. Like many others, Dr. Seuss books and characters have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have memories of my mom reading different books to my siblings and I before bed. Of my brother's obsession with "Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!" and our jokes about being Thing 1 and Thing 2. (My brother and I are twins.) Of watching "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" on VHS over and over again. There is definitely a place in my heart for the characters and the world that Dr. Seuss created. So, imagine my surprise when my mom gifted me a brand new pair of sneakers. Not just ordinary sneakers, but Dr. Seuss inspired sneakers. These Sketchers sneakers have absolutely been elevating my outfits lately. I have been trying to have a little more fun with fashion lately. Forget structured skirts and ruffled blouses. Right now, my style is all about fun and whimsy. And these shoes are the perfect way to embrace that playfulness. 

mini hot topic haul (sailor moon + new accessories)

Honestly? I had no intention of heading back to the local mall. At least not for a little while! Despite the fact that the world seems to be opening back up (bit by bit)....my comfort level isn't really there yet. That being said, my mom had a few returns that were long overdue thanks to the shutdowns, and she asked me to come with her while she handled them. So, back I went to the mall. There was a short line outside of Hot Topic and the temptation won out. As a lover of band t-shirts, television merchandise, and nostalgic items, Hot Topic is one of my all-time favourite places to be. It is a store that I have been unable to enter since late 2020, either due to shutdowns, an unwillingness to leave the house, or massive lineups. Heading back inside was a very exciting moment. I tried to make the process short and sweet, since there were still a handful of people waiting outside, but I was able to snag a few items that were on my wish list. Ready to take a look? Here is my mini Hot Topic haul.

stay stylish with allaboutsuit

Something strange happened yesterday. My husband and I received a wedding invitation in the mail. Can you believe it? A wedding invitation! It has been a very long time since anything like that ended up in our mailbox, thanks to the pandemic. Everything was either cancelled or put on hold. Though there are still a lot of variables to consider when it comes to the event itself...it certainly signals a shift of sorts. That shift also means a suit will be needed for future events. So it is time to look into some possibilities. Are you in the same boat? Have you started to receive invitations for special events? Then allaboutsuit may be your best bet - and mine as well! This fashion retailer has a wide variety of suits that are ideal for many occasions. 

barbie inspired makeup look (high end and drugstore products)

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Some days, the inspiration comes from an old-school music video and other times, it comes from a celebrity snap on social media. Most recently? I was inspired by the icon herself...Barbie. It is no secret that Barbie has been part of my life for a very long time. (Take a peek at my review of the Pur x Barbie collection for more on that.) I love that Barbie can be so many things to so many people. Personally, when I think about Barbie, I think about the colour pink. So I tried to create a wearable makeup look that incorporated lots and lots of pink coloured products. Want to see the finished look? Find out more about the products used? Here is a Barbie inspired makeup look using both high end and drugstore items. 

review: makeup by mario (master metallics eyeshadow palette)

Makeup by Mario is a brand to look out for. Mario Dedivanovic is a well-known and beloved makeup artist who has been making waves with beauty retailers lately. His Makeup by Mario line was released last year and the initial launch focused primarily on eye products. Since then, all sorts of cheek and face sculpting products have been added to the line, but today it is all about the eyes. A little while ago, some of the Makeup by Mario palettes were added to my makeup collection. (Check out that mini haul here.) Now? It is time for a full review of the Master Metallics Eyeshadow Palette. 

high end sample review (elizabeth arden, benefit and more)

Few things excite me the way that beauty samples do. There is something so fun about being able to test and try different things....for free! It is a wonderful way to determine what is worth purchasing in future and what should be skipped. These samples have been sitting around for a little while and I am finally putting them to the test. There are loads of high end samples from Elizabeth Arden, Benefit, and more. It is time to take a closer look at each product and find out whether it is worth looking into a full-sized version. Here are mini reviews of some high end samples....

love it or leave it? kim kardashian

Kim Kardashian is never afraid to turn heads. Her style is bold, over the top, and totally fearless. Whether you love or hate what she is wearing...there is no denying the fact that this fashionable celebrity knows how to make a statement. More recently? She stirred up a healthy dose of controversy during a recent trip to the Vatican. Why the controversy? Though she adhered to the dress requirements (covered knees and upper arms) there were a lot of unhappy people thanks to her lace dress with cut outs. It will certainly be an outfit to remember. So, is it a love it or leave it? Keep reading to find out. 

mini haul: victoria's secret accessories + fragrances

Trips to the local shopping mall used to be fun but ordinary experiences. Now? It is a luxury that I am unlikely to take for granted any time soon. While previous trips to the mall used to involve checking out random stores and wandering around...this visit was brief and for a specific purpose. See, I needed new bras. Badly. After well over a year in either lockdown or semi-lockdown conditions (not to mention gaining some additional pandemic weight) my undergarments were in serious need of an upgrade. So I tried on every single bra in my drawer and tossed anything that didn't fit properly or was worn out. Then it was off to Victoria's Secret to start fresh. Thankfully, the day I went happened to be the time of a major sale, so everything was dramatically discounted. Nothing like good timing! Of course, a few additional items were added to my cart that day. Take a peek at my new purse and a few new fragrances from Victoria's Secret. 

ten years of the creation of beauty is art.

July 10th, 2011 was a milestone moment in my life. Only I didn't know it at the time. I had graduated from university and most of my days were spent working at a fast-food job. Though I was applying for an endless amount of freelance writing positions, no one would hire me without a published body of work. So...I started the creation of beauty is art. It was a way to show potential employers what I could do, but it was also a place for me to channel my creative energy. The decision to start a beauty-focused blog was a good one: it completely changed my life for the better. Today is the ten year anniversary of the creation of beauty is art. and this post is a celebration of everything that has happened here over the last decade.

easy ways to rock the metallic fashion trend

Metallics are back and better than ever. Shimmery, shiny, metallic fabrics never really fade away...but they have a habit of popping up on trend lists every now and again. Summer 2021 is no exception. Marie Claire dubbed gilded garments as a must have for this season. It makes sense why fashionistas are keen to add a little extra something to their outfits. After more than a year in sweatpants and comfortable clothes, fashion lovers are ready to make a splash with style. What better way to stand out and strut yourself than with some intense metallic pieces? It is certainly a welcome shift from the laid-back pandemic-inspired looks. Not sure how to embrace the trend in a way that is wearable? Don't worry. Metallic is oh-so-simple to incorporate into your everyday outfits. Keep reading for some easy ways to rock the metallic fashion trend. 

review: benefit they're real! magnet mascara

When it comes to mascara...Benefit is one of the best. Over the years, I have tried many different mascaras. (Take a peek at some of those reviews here.) Some were excellent and some were total disasters. One of my all-time favourites is the Benefit They're Real! mascara. I love how dramatic it is. I love all of the volume and length it creates. And of course, I love the unique wand design. It is a definite standout! Recently, Benefit released another version of the They're Real! mascara. The Benefit They're Real! Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara comes with an awful lot of product claims and some unusual design details. Ready to take a closer look? Find out how this high-end mascara performs? Here is a full review of the latest release. 

four things making me smile lately

Being honest? The last year or so has been a complete and total rollercoaster of emotions. Some days, I feel focused and purposeful. Other days, I feel like a complete and total disaster. It makes sense....so much has changed and there are still so many unknowns. But here is hoping that things will continue to head in the right direction. On that note! I wanted to share some of the little things that have been making me smile lately. They have been adding lots of joy to my life. 

happy canada day!

It is amazing how many Canada Days that I took for granted. How many fireworks displays, gatherings with loved ones, mini road trips, barbecues, and trips to the movies. It was all so...expected. Sure, some years were more low key than others. But it was always possible to celebrate Canada Day with an adventure or get-together. Then everything changed. When the pandemic shut down everything in March 2020...it seemed like it would be temporary. "Out of an abundance of caution," I recall everyone saying. Well, here we are, well over a year later and the world is still nothing close to normal. Are things better? Sure. Are they back to normal? Not even slightly. This will be my second Canada Day spent in a pandemic.