my favourite halloween accessories.

Happy Halloween! Today is all about candy, costumes, spooky sounds, and themed movies. There are many different ways to celebrate the holiday, so however you choose to spend this Halloween, here is hoping it is a day (and night) to remember. Truth be told, this Halloween season has been a lot of fun for me. My husband and I went to two different Pumpkin Inferno events earlier in the month and visited a Halloween drive-thru light show recently. I also decorated my apartment very thoughtfully (I wanted to make sure each and every item that was out made me happy and represented the magic of spooky season) and watched lots and lots of different movies and cartoons. This has without a doubt been my best Halloween season ever. So...I wanted to share some of the seasonal accessories that have been adding to all of the wonder over the last month or so. 

fall nail look + sally hansen nail polish review

Some nail polish colours just call to me. Especially when those colours remind me of the fall season. Though the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Pride polish, shown above, was part of the Pride collection released during the summer...it has been sitting in my nail polish drawer waiting for the arrival of autumn. Now that we are approaching the end of October (how did that happen?!) the polish has been in heavy rotation lately. Ready to find out how it performs? Take a look at a quick and easy fall nail look? 

movie review: in the fire

What is evil? The new American-Italian independent film, "In The Fire," boldly poses that question to its audience. On the surface, the movie is about Martin Marquez, a young boy who appears to have inexplicable abilities. He has been blamed for every wrong thing that has happened in the area since his birth, from locusts to plagues to weather to deaths and even issues with crops. Though the people in town seem certain that Martin is possessed by the devil, an American Doctor, Grace Burnham, believes that Martin has a medical condition that can be understood and managed. It is here that the theme of science versus religion is introduced in the film. Grace sees Martin as a human being. Someone to be treated with respect and understanding. Someone to believe in. The townspeople see Martin as a source of evil and someone to be exterminated. 

review: sephora birthday gift (glow recipe)

Happy Birthday to me! I have long been a birthday brat. Since I am a twin, sharing my birthday always came with the territory. Once I was old enough to do things independently, I started to plan themed dinners and nights out with my friends around the time of my birthday. I loved it. I loved having a birthday celebration that was all my own - while still doing dinner with my family on my actual birthday. Things have changed in more recent years. I stopped wanting to plan things. I stopped wanting to go out. I stopped being as much of a birthday brat. Now? What I really want to do is take a day off of work, watch lots of movies in bed, and have dinner with my immediate family. Maybe it is a sign that I am getting older...or maybe everyone else just got busier and it became harder to plan things. Whatever the reason, my birthday is less of an over-the-top celebration now and more of a laid back day with cake. Though I certainly miss the fun experiences, cake and family is always a good thing. Since today is my birthday, it only seemed right to review the birthday gift that I received from Sephora. It included two sample sized products from Glow Recipe. This is a brand that I have heard a lot about but have never tried. It was nice to put a couple of their products to the test. Ready to find out how these performed? Whether I would purchase anything from the brand? 

disney villains eyeshadow palette (#fotd and review part three)

It is time for the third and final post related to the Disney Villain Swivel Shadow Palette from Townley. This themed eyeshadow palette is dedicated to different Disney characters (Maleficent, Ursula, and The Evil Queen) and features a wide variety of colours and finishes. Now? It is time to take a look at The Evil Queen section. Like most Disney Villains, she scared me as a child, especially on the Snow White ride that used to be at Walt Disney World. (A version of the ride is still in Disneyland, for the record.) Her intensity, her jealousy, and her desire to be first no matter what was more than a little terrifying. If nothing else, The Evil Queen taught me that being beautiful on the inside is more important than being beautiful on the outside. Ready to take a look at the final section of the Disney Villain Swivel Shadow Palette? Keep reading for swatches and a #FOTD....

disney villains eyeshadow palette (#fotd and review part two)

Another day, another Disney Villain. In case you missed my last blog post, it was dedicated to the Disney Villain Swivel Shadow Palette from Townley. This was an eyeshadow palette that I found for about $10 USD while on a day trip to the US and have finally been making the most of. After all, this month is all about darkness, spooky things, and even a bit of horror. I have certainly been doing what I can to make the most of the Halloween season and this swivel palette has been making that a whole lot easier. The last post was dedicated to the Maleficent portion of this eyeshadow palette. (Check that out here if you missed the previous post.) Now? It is time to take a look at what the Ursula section of this layered release has to offer.

disney villains eyeshadow palette (#fotd and review part one)

I've always been a Disney Princess kind of girl. Growing up, it was Princesses good and Villains bad. Though I certainly would not consider myself a Disney Villain enthusiast (so many of them are downright evil and mean)...this is the ideal time of year to embrace a little darkness. After all, spooky season is well underway. This Disney Villain Swivel Shadow Palette from Townley has three different layers and each one is dedicated to a different villain. There are matte, shimmer, and glitter shades to choose from in each layer. This first post will include a mini review of the packaging and theme. It will also include a full review of the Maleficent layer and a #FOTD. Over the next few days, there will be reviews and makeup looks focused on the Ursula and The Evil Queen palettes included in this set. Ready for a bit of spooky fun? It is time to check out this unusual palette.

brown lipstick mini reviews (kvd, smashbox, and morphe)

What is it about brown lipstick? It seems that I cannot get enough. It is no secret that I am obsessed with a lot of 90s trends and all things nostalgic...so perhaps that is one of the reasons that brown lipstick has become an absolute staple in my makeup collection lately. Between the 90s inspiration and the recent popularity of the latte makeup look, it seems that many are obsessing over brown lipstick at the moment. At least I am in good company! Over the last little while, I have been on the hunt for the perfect brown lipstick. I wanted something warm but still easy to wear. Did I find it? No, but it has certainly been fun putting a few different lipsticks to the test. Keep reading for a few mini reviews of KVD, Smashbox, and Morphe products.

what i've been watching this spooky season

It is hard to believe there are only a few weeks left of spooky season. Halloween is slowly creeping closer...which means right now is the perfect time to watch lots and lots of movies. Over the last month or so, there have been all sorts of Halloween and horror films playing in my home. Sometimes, the movies are on in the background while I work. Other times, they are a treat at the end of the day. (Nothing too scary before bed, though, otherwise, I will have nightmares about being terrorized by horror icons like Michael Myers and Chucky.) Want to know what I have been watching lately? Are you looking for a few seasonal movie recommendations to add to your watch list? Here are some of the movies that I've been watching this spooky season.

does it work?? billion dollar beauty liquid eyeliner

Travel can be fun...but it can also be stressful. Especially when it comes to packing. Full confession: I am terrible at it. My husband normally asks me whether I remembered to pack certain items, like makeup wipes or toothpaste or contact solution. Despite his best efforts to assist me, I am always forgetting something essential. Recently, my husband and I went on a little weekend getaway, and I managed to forget eyeliner. Eyeliner! My must have beauty item! It was a disaster, so we had to find a suitable (and affordable) temporary option. I found a two-pack of the Billion Dollar Beauty Liquid Eyeliner. So...does it work??

#FOTD: fall makeup look feat. luxe legacy eyeshadow palette

When it comes to the fall season...I am all in. Even on days when a sweater is not the most realistic choice, sweaters are still my must-have fashion item for this time of year. I just love the cozy feeling that only autumn can bring. In fact, I feel more and more like myself lately. Since I love this time of year so much, a lot of my fashion, accessory, and makeup choices have been very fall focused over the last several weeks. I'm talking warm colours and spooky vibes! No wonder my current favourite eyeshadow palette is the Luxe Legacy Eyeshadow Palette from Jaclyn Cosmetics. This was another Winners find that I simply could not miss. It was a little pricier than other offerings at the store ($25 CDN) but considering the palette is being sold for $49 USD on the Jaclyn Cosmetics website, it was still heavily discounted. The gorgeous neutrals and warm fall colours were too fabulous to resist. Ready to take a peek at this fall inspired #FOTD? Want to find out which eyeshadow shades stood out in the Luxe Legacy Eyeshadow Palette? Keep reading for a mini review and a fall makeup look featuring the Luxe Legacy palette.

theme week: 2000s (iconic 00s music, movies, and television shows)

There was a lot to love about the 2000s when it came to media. Looking back, there was some seriously incredible music that came out at that time, not to mention movies and television shows. No wonder many of my favourites seem to be from that era. For the last 2000s theme week post here on the creation of beauty is art. it only seemed right to honour some of those releases. Keep reading for some of my personal favourites as well as some other iconic highlights from the decade. 

theme week: 2000s (totally 2000s pink sunglasses palette)

Another day...another 2000s inspired makeup post here on the creation of beauty is art. This theme week is focused on all things 00s and this palette from BH Cosmetics is certainly inspired by the decade. The Totally 2000s Pink Sunglasses 9 Color Shadow Palette is themed and colourful. Find out how it performs and how it compares to the Totally 2000s Blue Fur palette. 

theme week: 2000s (totally 2000s blue fur eyeshadow palette)

2000s week continues here on the creation of beauty is art. The last post was all about fashion trends...and the next two posts will be dedicated to makeup. Several months back, there were a couple of BH Cosmetics eyeshadow palettes available at Winners for $6 CDN. With a 2000s inspired theme, these were impossible to resist. The first palette is the Totally 2000s Blue Fur 9 Color Shadow Palette. Ready to find out how this eyeshadow palette performs? Here is everything you need to know.

theme week: 2000s (my favourite y2k trends)

It is time for another theme week here on the creation of beauty is art. This time? It is all about the 2000s. Yes, it is time to focus on Y2K fashion, makeup, and pop culture. This is certainly a time that makes me nostalgic, though I confess that it is a bit odd to me that young people today are obsessed with the styles that were part of my teenage years. That being said, it is nice to find cute 00s inspired pieces whenever I am out and about. It was certainly a time of bold fashion....which is why the first themed post this week is dedicated to some of my favourite Y2K trends. See if any of your favourites are on the list.