disney beauty week: belle inspired everything

Belle was always my favourite princess. I remember watching Beauty and the Beast over and over and over again as a child. Well, that never really stopped. It is still a movie that I love to watch to this day. The music, the enchanted castle, the beautiful clothes, and the library. Oh, that library is one of dreams. I loved that Belle prioritized reading, cared deeply for her father, knew what she wanted from life, and had no interest in men like Gaston. (Though I confess that the Beast never much interested me either, in either beast or human form.) Belle was never afraid to be true to herself, speak her mind, and learn new things. Since this is the last Disney beauty theme week post, it only made sense to focus on the unforgettable Belle. Take a peek at a new Beauty and the Beast makeup bag that has been added to my collection and my Belle inspired makeup look. 

elevate your style with purses from romytisa

The summer season is fully underway...and that means there is no better time to think about functional and fashionable accessories. There are so many to choose from! Sunglasses, sandals, shorts, and of course, purses and bags. Whether you are heading to the beach, shopping at the mall, meeting up with friends for dinner, or are checking out a baseball game, it is important to have a purse that holds all the essentials and expresses your personal sense of style. Thankfully, there are lots of stylish options that can take you from day to night with ease. Choose something seasonally inspired or something a little more classic. The choice is yours! Not sure where to start? Then get inspired by the many options at romytisa. This online retailer has designs that will suit any and all occasions, preferences, and price points. Here are a few standout options...

disney beauty week: mickey and friends truth be bold artistry palette

What is it about Morphe that is makes it so hard to resist? This brand has been around for quite some time, but wasn't always easily accessible in Canada. In more recent years, certain items have started to be sold in Sephora. Typically, there are oversized eyeshadow palettes with a particular theme. That theme might be related to a colour story, finish, or even brand. (For example, one of my all-time favourites, the Morphe x Coca Cola 1971 Unity Collection.) Since I adore themed items and eyeshadow shades...the brand seems to be a good fit for me. Not too long ago, the Mickey and Friends Truth Be Bold Artistry Palette from Morphe was found at Winners of all places for $25 CDN. Disney? Morphe? And a discounted price? It was too good to resist. Here is everything you need to know about this colourful release...

disney beauty week: mad beauty (sheet eye mask and mirror)

Beauty products often make me smile...especially when there is a little Disney thrown into the mix. As part of Disney Beauty Week here on the creation of beauty is art. it is time to focus on a few items from Mad Beauty. Now, this is not a beauty brand that I am overly familiar with, but based on their website, Mad Beauty focuses on well-known characters and brands. For instance, there are Disney themed products, Looney Tunes items, Star Wars inspired bath essentials, and even Friends inspired things. How fun! I love anything themed, especially when it involves a TV show, movie, or beloved character. Which is why it kind of surprises me that this is my first time trying anything from Mad Beauty. However, I am ready to make up for lost time and Disney Beauty Week seems like the perfect opportunity. Yes, it is time to take a look at the Minnie Mouse themed Cucumber and Green Tea Sheet Eye Mask and the Mulan themed Beautiful Blooms Compact Mirror from Mad Beauty. 

disney beauty week: introduction and future plans.

It is time for another theme week here on the creation of beauty is art. This time? It is all about Disney themed beauty products. This is partly because there are a lot of Disney items in my collection, but also because Disney has been on my mind a lot lately. I am absolutely a Disney person and grew up in a Disney household. The movies, the television shows, and the merchandise have always been part of my life. When I was little, I used to pretend that I was Ariel and sing along to my cassette tapes over and over again. I would hold my plastic mirror and pretend to be Belle. I would dream about visiting Disney World. Since then, Disney has continued to be an important part of my life. From family vacations to a Cinderella themed wedding, movie nights, shopping trips, and well, everything in between...Disney is always thrown into the mix in some way or another. That is why this week will be dedicated to some new and old Disney-related favourites. 

perfume favourites: ariana grande moonlight and sweet like candy.

I miss the days when celebrity perfumes were absolutely everywhere. This is because I love, love, love perfume and have an endless fascination with celebrity culture. My perfume shelf is overloaded with perfumes of all varieties, but the ones that I use most often come from celebrities like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton, and Taylor Swift. In recent years, Ariana Grande has been added to that list. Her perfume bottles always have really beautiful designs and the fragrances tend to be quite sweet, which is something that I love. Over the last little while, I have been gifted two Ariana Grande body mists: Moonlight and Sweet Like Candy. They certainly make my days a little brighter! Here is a full review of these recent favourites...

anniversary road trip (owen sound and tobermory)

It is no secret that travel is difficult for me these days. (I wrote about in a recent blog post, which you can check out here.) Despite being something that I used to love...travel brings me a lot of anxiety now. Where I live, the cases of COVID-19 are increasing again. Since it seems no one is wearing a mask anymore or taking any safety precautions whatsoever, this is certainly concerning. It also means that a lot of my favourite summer activities, like theme parks, concerts, and the CNE, will have to wait. Crowds are not my thing anymore! Well, my husband and I celebrated seven years of marriage recently and he wanted to do something special. We haven't traveled, just the two of us, since before the pandemic....but my fear of people made it difficult to really plan something. Ultimately, we ended up taking a little road trip to Owen Sound and Tobermory. The reason? All of the activities were outdoors and the crowds were low. Here are some road trip highlights from this getaway. 

lip try on: kylie cosmetics lip kit (koko k matte)

The fact that Kylie Cosmetics is available in Canada is still thrilling to me. I haven't gotten used to it yet! I love that certain items from the brand are more accessible than before. Though there are a lot of Kylie Cosmetics products that are not released here, something is better than nothing. Since I am obsessed with the Kardashian/Jenner family....my husband was lovely enough to treat me to two different lip kits as part of my anniversary gift. (We celebrated seven years of being married a few weeks ago.) One of the Kylie Cosmetics lip kits is a familiar one that was tried on here at the creation of beauty is art. late last year. The Kylie Matte 808 set came with a lip liner and liquid lipstick in a deep dusty rose shade. It is one that I have used often, so it was nice to have a replacement. The shade I had not tried before? Koko K Matte 300. It is time for a review and try on...

current workout favourite: nintendo ring fit adventure

I am not exactly a gamer. Sure, I like to play old-school Nintendo games, arcade style games, and some favourites on the Wii every now and then...but I am rarely seeking out new games to play. To be honest, I don't have a whole lot of free time. When I do have free time, it is often spent writing or reading. Games are not the highest priority on my list. However, fitness is something that I am focused on more than usual these days. In a recent post, I mentioned that I am trying to lose the pandemic pounds that I managed to put on. This something that I have been doing in a few ways: workout DVDs, going for walks, using a food tracking app, and even playing a Nintendo game. The latter was not something that I anticipated. My husband had heard about the Ring Fit Adventure game and decided to purchase it for us. It is a Nintendo Switch game that comes with a Ring Con and Leg Strap. Essentially, you workout with the adventure style game. I wasn't sure that this was something that I would do...but I have been playing it fairly regularly for the last several months. It has definitely made a difference! Want to hear more about this interactive game? Find out whether it has helped me stay motivated? It is time to highlight my current workout favourite: the Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure game. 

testing the elf say goodbye to shine mini kit.

When it comes to skin care, sometimes your need shift from one season to another. I have dry and somewhat sensitive skin in general...but once the summer season arrives, my nose becomes an oil producing factory. I have no idea exactly why this happens, but it does, and it can be difficult to control the shine and minimize the appearance of pores. Thankfully, the Elf Say Goodbye to Shine Mini Kit was on sale at my local drugstore recently. There was one product in particular that caught my eye, so it seemed worthwhile to try out some of these products during the warmer summer months. Ready to take a closer look inside? Find out how these oil control products performed? Here is everything you need to know about this skin care set. 

review: abh norvina mini pro pigment palette vol. 1

Sometimes, life calls for a little colour. The summer season is well underway and I have been reaching for more colourful beauty products as a result. I don't know why, but all of the sunshine makes me a little more open to bright and bold makeup looks. Perhaps that is the reason the Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Mini Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1 has been in heavy rotation lately. I keep coming back to it over and over again! This small but mighty eyeshadow palette has lots of colourful shadows to choose from. There are even some shimmers thrown into the mix. Want to take a peek inside? Check out my latest summer inspired makeup look? Here is everything you need to know about this ABH Norvina Collection mini palette. 

eleven years of the creation of beauty is art.

Certain things make me proud. One example? the creation of beauty is art. I have officially been running this beauty blog for eleven years. Though it seems impossible that so much time has passed since that very first blog post was published, it has been more than a decade. Time really flies! This blog has long been my creative outlet and the place online where I feel safe. It has been so meaningful to write about the things that I love and to connect with others. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to everyone who has visited this page, read my posts, and left a comment. I hope you know how grateful I am for all of the support. It is never something that goes unappreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

revlon photoready galaxy dream holographic highlighting palette

Last month, Revlon filed for bankruptcy. This beauty brand has been around since 1932 and has become an absolute drugstore staple. Now, filing for bankruptcy doesn't necessarily mean the brand will be gone...but some reshuffling needs to be done. Here is hoping that Revlon will continue to sell those must-have products for many years to come. Why is Revlon on my mind lately? I recently came across their Galaxy Dream Holographic Highlighting Palette at the dollar store. Yes, the dollar store. I never expected to see a highlight palette that is selling for $18 CDN elsewhere at the dollar store for a mere $4. It goes to show that it is always possible to find budget friendly beauty products. Curious about this highlighting palette? Keep reading...

does it work?? ouai detox shampoo

Sometimes, my hair needs a little extra TLC. That has certainly been true lately! I had my hair professionally coloured for the first time not too long ago...and it's definitely been a struggle to keep it looking and feeling its best since then. I've been using colour safe shampoos, lots of conditioners, and masks. More recently? I've been putting the Ouai Detox Shampoo to the test. It is a clarifying shampoo that is designed to clear away dirt, oil, and product buildup. It is suitable for all hair types and is colour safe. Wondering how this performed? Here is everything you need to know about this high-end shampoo.

earrings haul (kate spade, hot topic, and more!)

It is no secret that I love a good pair of earrings. Quite frankly, there is a very good chance that I have too many pairs...but I love being able to choose the perfect set of earrings to compliment an outfit. I especially love fun earrings that are whimsical or express lots of personality. Though I may be shy by nature, my accessories are rarely quiet! I like them to stand out and express different parts of my personality. Recently, I shared some details about my fairly short trip to Niagara-On-The-Lake. While I was in that area, some shopping took place, and I somehow ended up buying a lot of earrings. It wasn't that I meant to come home with lots of earrings, it just seemed to work out that way. That is why today is a good old-fashioned haul. Ready to take a closer look at some earrings from Kate Spade, Glamour, Hot Topic, and Betsey Johnson? Keep reading...

our dreams for this beautiful country will never die.

Happy Canada Day! To all of my Canadian readers...I hope that you have a wonderful day celebrating. To everyone else...I hope that you have a wonderful day in general. This is always an exciting day. In past years, my husband and I would always attend fireworks shows or head down to a beach or waterfront area. When I lived at home with my parents, there was always some sort of barbecue in the backyard. These days? It is hard to know how to celebrate or what that will look like. As of right now, I don't have any plans as such. I think the most important thing is to just take the day off of work, spend time with my loved ones, and remember to be grateful for all of the blessings in life. It is a day to be joyful and to relax. So, however you choose to spend this Canada Day, do everything in your power to make it one to remember. Whether you are heading to the movie theatre, hanging out with friends, watching fireworks, or just relaxing with a little Netflix, here is to a fabulous celebration.