five minute face: morphe M2 ready in 5 eyeshadow palette

Lately, it seems that my to-do list is overloaded. There are always so many tasks to check off. I suppose that is the way of it. There are busier times and slower times...and this is a busier time. It seems that the next several months will be somewhat full, but in the wise words of Dory from Finding Nemo, just keep swimming! With so much to tackle each day, it is essential to have a few quick and easy makeup looks ready. Yes, I'm talking about a five minute face. Lately, I've been using the Morphe M2 Ready in 5 Eyeshadow Palette in From Hawaii With Love to achieve a dramatic look in mere minutes. 

review: truly unicorn mini miracle set

There is nothing wrong with a little TLC. Especially when there are bright and colourful products involved. When it comes to aesthetically pleasing items...Truly checks all the boxes. My introduction to the brand happened a few months back when their colourful lip balm proved too tempting to resist! Then, over the holiday season, my husband treated me to one of their sets so I could try some other products from the brand as well. Ready to take a look inside the Unicorn Mini Miracle Set? Here goes...

review + reveal: charmed aroma rose quartz candle

In my last post about Charmed Aroma, I mentioned that there were STORE CLOSING signs absolutely everywhere. Given the little that was left in the store at that time, it seemed that their days were numbered. Imagine my surprise when there was new stock at the store during my last visit to the mall. (But the STORE CLOSING signs remained. Perhaps stock from another location was brought there? It's hard to know.) Whether this was my last visit to Charmed Aroma remains to be seen, but I did decide to bring home one more candle. Though there were several that were tempting, it was the Rose Quartz Peace and Harmony candle that ultimately won out. Keep reading for another Charmed Aroma review and reveal.

new in: kendall + kylie light beige rubber-patch belt bag

It is almost time. The snow outside is starting to melt and allegedly spring is already here. (Though there is a forecast for more snow in the next few days, so who knows!) When the weather is nice, my husband and I sometimes take walks when he comes home from work. This is something that started during the pandemic. There wasn't really anywhere else to go...so we would walk around the neighborhood for an hour or so. Last year, a trail opened up nearby, so we started to walk there instead. With the promise of spring on the horizon, my mind is focused on the return of our walks. Not only is this good for my physical health, but it is also nice to spend a little extra time together. Since walking is on my mind...so are walking-related accessories. Like the Kendall + Kylie Light Beige Rubber-Patch Belt Bag shown above. Keep reading for all the details.

2 looks 1 palette: kara beauty (cool, whatever eyeshadow palette)

Warm toned eyeshadow palettes have been popular for a while. And for good reason! There is something so beautiful about warm colours on the eyes. No wonder most of my go-to makeup looks are warm neutrals. That being said, lately I have been a little obsessed with cool toned shadows. Unfortunately, my collection was lacking in cool colours. There were a few here and there, but those colours were scattered throughout a dozen or so different eyeshadow palettes. Thankfully, the perfect palette happened to fall into my lap. (Or cart, as the case may be.) A few months back, I was browsing the makeup section at Winners and found the PRO22 Cool, Whatever Eyeshadow Palette from Kara Beauty for just $12.99 CDN. It was everything that I was looking for: all cool toned eyeshadows at an affordable price. Ready to take a peek inside? See some different makeup looks?

exciting spring fashion trends for 2023

My interest in fashion has certainly changed over the years. In the past, there was something inexplicably exciting about seasonal trends. Every few months, there was a new "it" colour and a new "cool" style that could be incorporated into my wardrobe. Though not all of the fashion trends matched my personal preferences, there were always at least one or two that stood out. Then the pandemic happened. Well, long story short, I now lovingly refer to myself as a human sweatpant. Working from home means fabulously comfortable clothes. Leaving the house less often means there are very few opportunities to get my fashion on. Even when the opportunity does arise these days, I find myself reaching for more comfortable and laid back options out of habit. What is a human sweatpant to do? Get inspired. It has been about three years since the start of the pandemic and only now am I looking for a healthy dose of fashion inspiration. There are lots and lots of spring trends for 2023. From styles to fabrics, accessories, and colours, there is a whole lot to choose from. These are a few of my favourites. 

heypop nail wraps (nail look + review)

Lately, my nail looks have been pretty simple: one colour painted on all of the nails. After all, sometimes, simplicity is best. That being said, other times, it feels nice to be a little more daring. Since I was leaning towards daring recently, the HeyPop Super Cute Nail Wraps seemed like the best possible option. The set shown above was purchased ages ago, but wasn't something that felt right until March rolled around. Suddenly, the different designs, colours, and stickers seemed ideal. Want to find out more about this nail sticker set? How it performed? See a recent nail look? Keep reading for all the details...

#FOTD: st patrick's day inspired makeup

Tomorrow is the day....St Patrick's Day to be exact. In the past, my St Patrick's Day experiences included bars, restaurants, and movie nights. These days, it is a lot more low key. There are a few seasonal decorations scattered around the living room and there might be a drink or two at home tomorrow. Nothing wild or crazy! Even though my background is Irish, St. Patrick's Day wasn't something that was celebrated in my home growing up. It was just a day to wear green. In fact, it wasn't until one of my friends wanted to go out one year that it became something of a tradition. This holiday has felt special since then. It helps that my husband and I met on St. Patrick's Day about twelve years ago.  Yes, this is certainly a sentimental day for me. To celebrate the holiday, it only made sense to create a St. Patrick's Day inspired makeup look. Of course, there is lots and lots of green and a few newer makeup products thrown into the mix. Ready to take a peek? Here is a holiday themed #FOTD. 

testing out vaseline lip therapy (colour + care)

There are many brands on my radar. Vaseline is not one of them. Whenever I think about Vaseline, my mind is instantly transported to this giant tub of petroleum jelly that used to live under the sink in my childhood home. I remember hating the smell with a passion. There was nothing worse! Despite that, the time has finally come for me to do a review of some Vaseline products here on the creation of beauty is art. The brand actually has a lot of different items these days, beyond that classic petroleum jelly. For instance, the Lip Therapy line. Over the holidays, a friend gifted me this Colour + Care set, which included three different tinted lip balms. Since lip balms are a must for me always, the idea of a colourful and hydrating lip balm was certain intriguing. How did the Lip Therapy line perform? Which colours stood out? Here is everything you need to know.

part two: gilded glamour amazonian clay eyeshadow wardrobe

Ready for part two of the Gilded Glamour Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Wardrobe review? Over the holiday season, Tarte released this set, which included two different eyeshadow palettes: Gilded and Glamour. Part one was all about the Gilded eyeshadow palette (check that out here) and part two is dedicated to the Glamour eyeshadow palette. While Gilded had lots of warm and easy to wear shades, the Glamour palette had an unexpected colour story. Curious to find out what this palette looked like? See how it performed? Here is everything you need to know about this limited edition release. 

part one: gilded glamour amazonian clay eyeshadow wardrobe

Though we are approaching mid-March and the first day of spring is right around the corner...my makeup world is still focused on holiday releases. This past Christmas, my loved ones gifted me all sorts of beauty products and limited edition holiday items. I am slowly but surely incorporating those items into my makeup routine. The most recent? The Gilded Glamour Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Wardrobe from Tarte. This set came with two limited edition eyeshadow palettes: Gilded and Glamour. The part one blog post will be focused on Gilded while the part two blog post will be all about Glamour. Ready to take a peek inside? Find out how the Gilded palette performed? Here is everything you need to know about this seasonal release. 

2 looks 1 palette: morphe 35s sweet oasis artistry palette

I've said it before and I'll say it again: discount makeup is the best kind of makeup. Maybe it's the thrill of the hunt or perhaps it just feels nice to save a little money. Whatever the reason...it is always exciting to find something special for less. Several months back, there was a ton of makeup at my local Winners, which included the 35S Sweet Oasis Artistry Palette from Morphe. This is a brand that I am pretty familiar with at this point. I've tried more than a handful of their eyeshadow palettes, brushes, and lipsticks over the years with varying success. Though I've heard it said that smaller eyeshadow palettes are becoming more popular than larger eyeshadow palettes...I like them all. Something I enjoy about the larger palettes from Morphe? There is so much to choose from. Some days, that variety is a must. Since adding the 35S Sweet Oasis Artistry Palette to my collection, there have been lots and lots of different makeup looks taking shape. Some colourful, some grungy, and some neutral. There is a little bit of everything included in this particular palette. Ready to take a closer look? Keep reading...

rank and review: richard simmons blast off series

Working from home has a lot of perks. The biggest advantage? Sweatpants. I live in sweats most of the time these days. Though fashion is always fun...I love being comfortable while I write, type, and create. The biggest drawback of working from home? Needing to fit a workout into my schedule. I need to be a lot more intentional when it comes to exercise these days. A lot of times, the Ring Fit Adventure Game from Nintendo Switch is my chosen activity. Other times? It is a good old fashioned workout video. If you've been reading my blog or watching my YouTube channel for a while, it is no surprise that workout videos remain a must for me. I love being able to workout in the privacy of my home. Oh, and I especially love aerobics classes from fitness icons like Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. Speaking of the latter...it is time for another rank and review post here on the creation of beauty is art. This time, the focus is on the Richard Simmons Blast Off series of videos. 

mini haul, review, and nail look (sinful colors nail polish)

Painted nails always make me feel a little more put together. A little more confident. A little happier. Whenever the mood strikes, I browse through my (modest) nail polish collection and choose a colour that reflects my current state of mind. Sometimes, there is glitter involved. Other times, the vibe is a little more subdued. It is amazing how beauty products, fashion, and all sorts of other things can express how we feel inside. Fairly recently, there was a little display of Sinful Colors nail polishes at the dollar store. This is a brand that I have tried in the past (check out those reviews here and here) to some success. I love the different colours, finishes, and of course, the affordable price. Though there was an impressive Sinful Colors display at the dollar store, a few nail polishes stood out among the rest. Ready for a mini haul and review? Here goes...

new in: ugg classic clear mini boots

Fashion should be fun, but every now and then, it should also be practical. Enter the Ugg Classic Clear Mini Boots. It is no secret that I adore the Ugg brand. Their shoes and boots are both aesthetically pleasing (my 00s fashion addiction never ends) and comfortable. I love that the inside is always warm and fuzzy...and the outside is bold and unapologetic. Once the winter season starts, my Ugg boots are in heavy rotation. I have a grey pair, a silver glitter pair, and a red pair with bows on the back. These are absolute musts when the snow piles up outside. During the spring and summer months? There are cute slip on sandals to wear around the house. Ugg really has all the days covered. Except when it rains. Ugg boots and drizzly days are not a perfect match. Until now, at least. Take a peek at my new Ugg boots and find out why they are ideal for grey days.