mocktails, makeup, and a movie event (2023)

It's that time of year again. For the last few years, the Mocktails, Makeup, and a Movie event hosted by Ontario Shores has been a virtual event because of the pandemic. This year? It was held in person again. Though I am not fully used to being around a lot of people, it is something that I am starting to get more used to as time passes. For those who are unaware, Ontario Shores provides assessment and treatment services for people dealing with mental illness. The Mocktails, Makeup, and a Movie event is a fundraising effort, in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart. It is wonderful that so many dedicated individuals organized the event, donated items, and made the world a little bit brighter. Ready to hear about my experience at the event? See what was in the gift bag? Here is everything you need to know about the in person event. 

beginner series: tips to wear neon makeup

Neon makeup is bold, bright, and hard to ignore. While the colours are undoubtedly eye catching, they can also be a little intimidating to wear. Since the colours are so noticeable, there is little room for error when it comes to application. Want to embrace all things neon this season but don't know how to make it work? Not to worry. Keep reading for some beginner friendly tips that will make neon coloured beauty products your new favourite must have.

the women i admire...and how that has changed.

Last night, a friend and I went to see the movie, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." Instantly, I was transported back to my youth. I remember reading that Judy Blume book over and over again. I read it so many times that the cover was cracked and worn. I felt like it understood me in ways that the people in my real life didn't. I felt seen, heard, and understood. Watching the film version took me right back to that time in my life, so full of insecurity and longing. As nostalgia took over, I started to think about the women that I admired when I was younger and how drastically that has changed. 

nail polish review: nicole by OPI

Every now and then, new nail polish is added to my collection. I wouldn't say that I purchase nail polish often (because I have a good amount already) but sometimes there is a certain colour or finish that catches my eye. That is exactly what happened with a couple of Nicole by OPI polishes. There were a handful of different nail polishes at Winners several months back and two of them were added to my cart. It is always hard for me to resist sparkle and shimmer, so it was really a no brainer. Find out how these polishes performed and whether they were worth incorporating into my nail polish collection.

taking a day trip across the border (mini haul)

Shopping can be a lot of fun, but it can also be exhausting. Especially when it involves a day trip to the United States and a jam-packed itinerary. Mother's Day weekend was a little over a week ago at this point, and to celebrate the holiday, my mom suggested a bus trip across the border to do a little shopping. Though my mom and I have taken several shopping trips before, this was the first day trip. It was certainly a tiring experience! We met at 6:00 am to head to the bus and we didn't make it back into town until 10:30 pm. Like I said...shopping can be pretty exhausting. Ready to hear more about this day trip to the United States? Find out what I brought back with me? Here are all the shopping-related details... 

rank and review: peter thomas roth masking minis set

Finishing a product is easier said than done...especially when there is so much out there to test and try. That is where travel sized or mini sized products come in handy. It is so much easier to use something completely and really make the most of the purchase when the items are smaller. Over the last little while, the Peter Thomas Roth Masking Minis Set has been taking care of several skincare needs. The five-piece mask kit came with a mask to hydrate, lift, exfoliate, soothe, and refine. Though Peter Thomas Roth was a brand that I had seen time and time again in Sephora...it wasn't a brand that I had actually tried before. The mini mask set was the perfect opportunity to put five different products to the test and rank my favourites. 

drugstore review: elf big mood mascara

Every now and then, a mascara manages to tempt me. Though I am pretty loyal to The Super Sizer from Cover Girl (higher end favourites include Better Than Sex from Too Faced and They're Real from Benefit)....the Big Mood Mascara from elf managed to catch my eye. Maybe it had something to do with the shiny purple packaging. Who knows? But at any rate, this drugstore item was added to my cart. Lately, I have been putting this mascara to the test to find out whether it lives up to the brand claims. 

2 looks 1 palette: color block obsessions eyeshadow palette

Huda Beauty eyeshadows have been somewhat hit or miss for me. The Mercury Retrograde Eyeshadow Palette was meh at best but the Warm Brown Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette was stellar. Since my experiences have been fairly mixed over the years, Huda Beauty is not a must-have brand for me. I am always open to trying different products, but new releases from the brand are not automatically added to my wish list. The Color Block Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette was a notable exception. There were two different versions: Orange and Purple Color Block Obsessions and Blue and Green Color Block Obsessions. Since there is an abundance of purple eyeshadow in my makeup collection already, it was the Blue and Green Color Block Obsessions that ultimately won out. Find out how this palette performs and check out two different makeup looks. 

do we just give up? or make a change?

There is a lot to love about Dolly Parton. For example, her talent, kindness, and the fact that she always tries to make the world a better place. I admire a lot about her. Recently, I've realized that what I admire most about Dolly is the fact that she is accepted for who she is. Truth be told, I am a little jealous of that, because it has never been the case for me. In elementary school, my friends dumped me (in a rather dramatic fashion) because I was "holding them back from popularity." In high school, I was bullied mercilessly for wearing band t-shirts and being shy. In adulthood, I was overlooked at work and told that I didn't have the right personality to be promoted. All of those experiences left scars. All of those experiences reminded me that I was not acceptable. For many years, I tried to toe the line. I tried to dress to fit in, follow the trends, do what other people did, and squash down various bits and pieces of my personality. I was still me, but I was never the full me. I wanted to be like everyone else, because I desperately wanted be accepted and acceptable. Not anymore. Not. Anymore. 

hard candy essentials haul + glitter eyeshadow palette mini review

Hard Candy is one of the best drugstore brands out there. In the past, they have released trendier items, like eyeshadow palettes infused with hemp oil and metallic lipsticks. That being said, their every day items are just as impressive. Unfortunately, Hard Candy is often barely stocked at the drugstore. There are items completely sold out consistently. It is frustrating, to say the least. When the brand was fully stocked recently, it only made sense to stock up on some of those must have essentials. (Even though a few products that I adore were still unavailable. Alas!) Keep reading for a Hard Candy essentials haul and a bonus review of a glitter eyeshadow palette, the Glitteratzi Solar Showers Shimmering Shadows.

review: bejeweled mega palette (fmg glimmer)

Though spring is well underway, my thoughts continue to wander back to the holiday season. This is partly because I am nostalgic for that time of year (the lights, the snow, the optimism) and partly because I am continuing to use products that were gifted to me during that time. Like the FMG Glimmer Bejeweled Mega Palette. This is something that my mom gave to me for Christmas and it has been used many times since. Ready to take a look inside? Find out how it performs? Here is everything you need to know about the FMG Glimmer Bejeweled Mega Palette, an all-in-one face and eye palette.

recent reads + update on my reading goal for the year

If only there was more time to read. Lately, I have been longing for evenings curled up with a good book. Though I do my best to make it happen a few times a week, it is difficult to fit into the schedule most days. There is always so much that needs to be done! Work, cleaning, exercise, seeing loved ones, and a million other to dos on a never-ending list. Sometimes, reading gets put on the backburner, whether I like it or not. That being said, there are a few books that I have been able to finish over the last little while...which means it is time for a recent reads post and an update on my reading goals for the year. 

rank and review: new-to-me eyeliners

It goes without saying that I love black eyeliner. A lot. In fact, it is extremely rare that a makeup look of mine is without a healthy dose of black liner. The truth? When I first started wearing makeup, eyeliner absolutely terrified me. I didn't think I could apply it right and it felt totally out of my reach. At that time, I was totally obsessed with Laguna Beach and wanted to look just like Lauren Conrad. So, eventually I took the plunge and bought a Maybelline eyeliner (referenced here on the creation of beauty is art. way back in 2012) for practice. I tried over and over to make the lines right. To steady my hands. To become more comfortable with application. I suppose it worked well enough, though my skills are still not quite where I would like them to be. I am always amazed at how effortlessly some people are able to create a winged liner look! Since black liner is an essential part of my makeup routine, it made sense to do a little rank and review of three new-to-me eyeliners. 

testing life brand face masks (mini reviews)

How has your schedule been looking lately? It seems that everyone I know is juggling a little too much these days. Between work, responsibilities at home, and hobbies, it can be difficult to find time for it all. For me, it is the little things that I notice falling by the wayside when my schedule is full. For instance, skin care has been on the backburner lately. It wasn't something I even noticed at first. I skipped my little routine one night, then a second, and before I knew it, that routine had become the exception instead of the norm. There has been so much to do lately that the little things kind of went lower on my priority list. I am trying to turn this around by re-establishing my skin care routine. That means the nightly cleanse, but also masks, masks, and more masks. Lately, I have been using lots of Life Brand face masks that were gifted to me over the holidays. 

monochromatic makeup: orange

This is for the good times, good times. This is to the good life. I've been using a lot of orange makeup lately. This is partly because sunset colours are my weakness during the spring and summer months. It is also because I have been thinking a lot about Paul Cattermole. For those who are unaware, Paul was a member of S Club 7, and he passed away recently, shortly after a reunion tour was announced. Paul was always my favourite member of the band. In my youth, I ran a fan website dedicated to him and even wrote an email newsletter. Today, my S Club 7 dolls are on display in my home office and I listen to the music often. The band was - and still is - an important part of my life. (I was lucky enough to meet them all back in the day at Much Music and saw three of the band members at a 90s concert in 2019.) The news about Paul has left me devastated, so I have been trying to honour him in little ways. Like wearing orange makeup. Each member of S Club 7 had a colour of the rainbow associated with them and Paul was given the colour orange. So, today it made sense to share a recent orange inspired look.

love it or leave it? priyanka chopra

When it comes to red carpet fashion, Priyanka Chopra tends to wow. Gorgeous colours and bold details are often on the menu. And thank goodness for that! She always makes heads turn. Recently, she was in Rome to promote the new television series, Citadel, and once again made a fashion statement. (For the record, I am far more excited about her new movie, Love Again, than Citadel, but it is entirely possible that I will watch both.) Ready for another installment of love it or leave it? It is time to take a closer look at this Priyanka Chopra red carpet outfit. Was it a hit? A miss? Keep reading to find out...