niagara falls outlet shopping haul.

Outlet shopping is always a good idea. Especially when the deals are outstanding. As mentioned in my last blog post, I recently visited Niagara Falls to see Clay Aiken perform for a few days. On the first day there, my mom and I went to do a little outlet shopping at an outdoor mall. Though there weren't a lot of impressive stores, there were two that were out-of-this-world fantastic. One was an Urban Planet outlet store (that had clothes and accessories from a variety of similar stores, like Urban Planet, Wet Seal, Forever 21) and the other was an American Eagle outlet. The Canada One Outlet Mall had other options as well, but my purchases came from those places. Here is a closer look at all of the discounted finds that came home with me.

seeing clay aiken in niagara falls.

I've been waiting forever for this...this is the night. I last saw Clay Aiken in concert twelve years ago. At that time, my mom and I traveled to Windsor, Ontario, to see both Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard perform. Ahh, memories. We used to see Clay all over the place. We would travel far and wide to hear him sing, whether it was at an arena, casino, or even on Broadway. Well, it has been pretty quiet on the Clay front for the last little while. He moved into politics and political commentary while music was more or less put on the backburner. However, since this year marks the twenty year anniversary of the second season of American Idol, the pair decided to do a reunion tour of sorts. While there weren't any concert dates nearby, there were some that were near enough. So, my mom and I decided to take a three day trip to Niagara Falls to see two Clay Aiken (and Ruben Studdard) performances. The first was an evening show and the second was a matinee. It was an exciting experience to say the least with an extra show added in. (More on that later.) Ready to hear all about it? Here are some highlights from the concerts themselves as well as some other standout moments from the Niagara Falls vacation. 

review: strawberry feels palette (jaclyn cosmetics)

When it comes to makeup purchases, more of my shopping takes place at Winners rather than Sephora these days. With the costs of everything getting higher and higher, it just makes sense. Plus, many Sephora brands can be found at Winners...along with brands that aren't available in other Canadian stores. Take Jaclyn Cosmetics as an example. Sure, I could order the products online and pay a ton extra for shipping and in the exchange rate, but that is not my preference. Finding items from the brand at Winners (discounted, no less) is so much better. That is exactly what happened recently. There were actually a handful of Jaclyn Cosmetics items that came home with me, but the first that will be reviewed here on the creation of beauty is art. is the Strawberry Feels Palette. How perfect for the spring and summer season! The strawberry themed palette was released last summer and is still available on the Jaclyn Cosmetics website for $34 USD. Lucky for me, this palette cost just $16.99 CDN at Winners. Ready to see what colours are inside the palette? Find out how it performs? Keep reading...

spring #FOTD and mini review (estate wet matte liquid lips)

Spring is here...and that means the world is in bloom. Or at least it promises to be! Whenever I think of the spring season, my mind instantly goes to flowers, sunshine, and pastel colours. Though a lot of the spring season so far as been rainy and grey for the most part, there have still been pockets of sunshine. With spring on my mind these days, it only made sense to do a spring inspired #FOTD. Since there was a liquid lipstick in my collection that I was ready to use and review here on the creation of beauty is art. it was a no brainer. Keep reading for a seasonal makeup look and a mini review of an Estate lipstick.

does it work?? anew vitamin c smoothing lip scrub

I've tried many different lip scrubs over the years. Some worked well, some were too abrasive, and some didn't do much at all. Fairly recently, my mom gave me some products from the Anew Vitamin C line, including the Vitamin C Smoothing Lip Scrub. Since I was in desperate need of a new lip scrub, it was perfect timing. But the question remains...does it work?? It is time to find out. Here is everything you need to know about this Vitamin C themed lip scrub from Anew. 

pat mcgrath labs midnight voyage mini eyeshadow palette (review)

Pat McGrath is one of those brands that is well known and beloved. It is also one of those brands that is a little too pricey for me. I always hear wonderful things about the products...but it is hard to take the leap on such expensive items. That is why I have tried only a few different things from the brand. Like a set of mini lipsticks and Bridgerton inspired products that were gifted to me. Well, this past Christmas, the Pat McGrath Labs Midnight Voyage Eye Shadow Palette was given to me. Like the mini lipstick set, this came in a sealed gold bag. There were no sequins inside though! Just the mini palette. And when I say mini, I mean mini. This is significantly smaller than the palm of my hand. That means it would be wonderful for travel or to store in your purse. But it also means that this ultra small palette costs $38 CDN and it contains a fraction of the product other brands offer for a comparable price. Is it worth it? Is the quality superior? Here is everything you need to know. 

testing out black radiance lip products.

A lot of different brands have been introduced at the drugstore lately. Some of these brands may have been available online only before or were not available in Canada previously. Whatever the reasons for their inclusion may be...it is nice to see a wider selection of offerings. While at Shoppers Drug Mart, there were a few new-to-me brands that caught my eye. One was Black Radiance. There were a lot of beautiful products available for darker skin colours, which was really refreshing to see at the drugstore. (A lot of other brands sold at the drugstore have a very limited selection when it comes to foundations and concealers. Definitely not okay.) Though there was a lot to choose from, it was the lip products that really wowed. For instance, a black lipstick and a metallic lipstick. Since the prices were affordable...it seemed like a no brainer. 

because we're good as gold.

Maybe it's because my mind has been all too focused on Vanderpump Rules lately, but the song, "Good As Gold" has been stuck in my head for days and days and days. Honestly, the song is far more catchy than it has a right to be. It is an earworm like no other! With "Good As Gold" on permanent repeat in my mind (and on my stereo)...it seems that I am gravitating towards gold makeup and accessories lately. Though I didn't plan on it, the last few makeup looks that I have put together featured lots of gold shimmer on the eyelids and a golden highlight on the cheeks. As for accessories? There is a pair of small chunky hoops that have been a must for me lately. Gold is definitely a source of inspiration at the moment. Looking for a little gold inspiration of your own? Here are some of my current favourite photographs, inspired by all things golden, of course.

the return of zellers + my first time visiting the new store

Zellers. For Canadian shoppers, that word has a lot of memories attached to it. Growing up, Zellers was a staple. Every town had at least one. With the bright red colour out front, it was hard to miss, even if you didn't happen to shop there. I remember buying too many CDs in the electronics department, purchasing some of my earliest drugstore makeup in the beauty section, and eating cake at the Zellers Restaurant. Ahh, how simple life seemed back then. When Zellers closed in 2012 to make way for Target (RIP Target in Canada), it seemed that the brand was gone for good. Surprise! Zellers is back. Well, sort of. There are now Zellers locations inside of various Hudson's Bay stores. Recently, I was able to check out one of those locations for myself. 

review: le macaron fun sized eyeshadow palette (violet voss)

Some brands are more impressive than others. When it comes to Violet Voss, my past experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. From The Rainbow Eye Shadow Palette to the Care Bears inspired releases, several Violet Voss palettes have become standouts in my makeup collection. As a result, it was extra thrilling to be gifted the Violet Voss Le Macaron Fun Sized palette at Christmastime. (I was gifted lots of different beauty products around the holiday season. More will be reviewed here on the creation of beauty is art. in the weeks and months to come!) How did Le Macaron compare to other Violet Voss releases? Here is everything you need to know about this ultra shimmery eyeshadow palette from Violet Voss. 

it's a beautiful easter egg mornin...

Happy Easter! Or should I say...Hoppy Easter? (Is it too early in the morning for a bad joke? Ahh, it is never too early.) This is one of my favourite days of the year. Though there are many different ways to celebrate Easter, for me, it is about family, chocolate, and feeling like a kid again. It is about hope, sunshine, and miracles. However you are choosing to spend the day, my fingers are crossed that it will be overloaded with joy, wonder, and lots of delicious treats. And maybe even an Easter egg hunt.

l'oreal voluminous noir balm mascara (first impressions review)

My makeup collection is a mixture of high end and drugstore items. A lot of eyeshadow palettes and cheek products are higher end. However, when it comes to everyday essentials (foundation, mascara, brow products, powder, and eyeliner)...the drugstore wins out time and time again. The products tend to be on par or superior to the higher end offerings. Plus, everything is a lot more affordable. Though my all-time favourite mascara is The Super Sizer from Cover Girl, temptation won out and I decided to try the L'Oreal Voluminous Noir Balm Mascara. With lots of impressive product claims, it was a little too much to resist. Ready for a first impressions review? Find out how this drugstore mascara from L'Oreal performed. 

inspired by: daisy jones and the six

Sometimes, a television show ends, but it stays with you even after the credits roll. That is exactly what happened with Daisy Jones and The Six. This Amazon Prime series was released early last month and the finale aired a couple of weeks ago. Since then, bits and pieces of the soundtrack have floated around my head. "Did we unravel a long time ago? Is there too much we don't wanna know? I wish it was easy, but it isn't so. Oh, we could make a good thing bad." Not only was the show itself compelling, with complex characters and a documentary style, but the music. Ahh, the music. This show was set in the 70s and the songs reflect that time period perfectly. In short? The album is outstanding. Incredible lyrics. Earworms that just won't leave your head. Just a fabulous celebration of love and pain and destruction. In addition to the captivating television show itself - and the must-listen soundtrack - there was another aspect of Daisy Jones and The Six that made me happy: the fashion. As I mentioned, the show was set in the 1970s, which meant there was incredible 70s style throughout the series. 

perfume review: viva la juicy neon by juicy couture

Neon stands out for all the right reasons. Generally speaking, it is difficult for me to walk past a neon accessory, shirt, or well, anything bright, bold, and in-your-face. (This includes makeup. Neon makeup is exciting and a little bit terrifying at the same time.) There is something undeniably fun about all things neon. Since I love both neon and Juicy Couture...it stands to reason that my husband would select the Viva La Juicy Neon Eau de Parfum from Juicy Couture as a gift for me. After all, it checks all the boxes. Cute bottle? Check. Lots of pink? Check. This is definitely a perfume that makes me smile. Ready to find out more about this Juicy Couture release? Here is everything you need to know about this neon inspired fragrance. 

avani gregg x morphe (for the bebs artistry palette)

Time for a little confession: I do not know half of the TikTok stars, influencers, YouTubers, or anyone else these days. And honestly? I kind of like it that way. At this point, there are certain content creators that I like to watch...and I'm not that into discovering new ones. Maybe I am just old and set in my ways. Or maybe I just like the familiarity. Whatever the reason, it explains why my first time hearing about Avani Gregg was when my local winners had the Morphe x Avani Gregg For the Bebs Artistry Palette on sale. Instead of seeing an eyeshadow palette from a popular TikTok star, my focus was on the bright and colourful offerings inside. And wow, were there a lot of bold colours inside. Lots and lots! Ready to take a look? Find out how this palette performed? Here is everything you need to know about the Morphe x Avani Gregg For the Bebs Artistry Palette.