a little grey hair is a small price to pay for wisdom.

I remember the first time I noticed a grey hair. That shining piece of silver stood out against a sea of brown. At the time, I was more confused than anything else. It couldn't be...could it? I was in my early 20s back then and grey hair had not occurred to me. After all, I was busy trying to figure out who I was, what I wanted, and how I envisioned my life. It was too soon for grey! Only it wasn't. Since then, the grey hairs have multiplied. I am now watching them take over. One day, in the not-so-distant future, I will make the decision to start dying my hair. To cover the greys. To hold onto the brown in some way. However, I haven't been able to take that leap yet. I am trying to hold onto my natural colour for as long as I can. For as long as I have it. 

elf x i heart revolution collection (palette + highlight review)

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. I remember the first time my family watched the movie, Elf. It was love at first watch for me. (In fact, as I write this blog post, I am wearing a Buddy the Elf sweatshirt.) In the years since, it has become one of my main comfort movies. I watch it randomly throughout the year and even more often during the holiday season. So, when I found some items from the Elf x I Heart Revolution collection...it was a must. Since I have a serious weakness for eyeshadows and highlighters (they are some of my most used products) it only made sense to add a little Christmas cheer to my makeup routine with those items. Here is everything you need to know about these seasonal products. 

testing out the bebe born to glow 10 color glow palette

Did I need another face palette? No. Not at all. Not one bit. Despite that...the Bebe Born to Glow 10 Color Glow Palette was a little too tempting for my makeup obsessed self to resist. The palette above was another shopping trip find at one of the discount stores we stopped in. For just $7.99 USD all ten of those tempting cheek products were mine. Curious about this warm and wearable palette? Here is everything you need to know about the Bebe Born to Glow 10 Color Glow Palette. 

does it work?? testing peanuts x wet n wild multi-stick set

Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call their favourite time of year. Peanuts and the holiday season have long gone hand in hand, thanks to the iconic Christmas special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas." So, it is no surprise that makeup brands would want to release Peanuts themed products during the holiday season. Last year, Wet n Wild did just that, with a collection that included blush palettes, beauty blenders, and all sorts of other themed items. At that time, I was able to find the Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown Eyeshadow Palette. (That eyeshadow palette has been in heavy rotation for the past year.) When I was in the United States recently on a shopping trip, I came across another Peanuts x Wet n Wild product. This time, it was the What Christmas Is All About 3-Piece Multi-Stick Set.  Does it work?? It is time to find out. 

shopping trip highlights + lauren conrad mini haul

It has been a while. There were several years back to back to back when my mom and I took a shopping trip to Erie, Pennsylvania. It was a tradition of sorts for a little while. Then the pandemic happened. Well, this year, we decided to venture back out and see how the shopping was in Erie once more. We took a bus shopping tour recently to check some items off of our holiday shopping list. It included some stops off at a mall, outlets, and lots of other stores. Keep reading to find out how the mini getaway was and to take a peek at a small Lauren Conrad collection items that I purchased at Kohls. 

#FOTD: cool and warm makeup look feat. fmg glimmer eyeshadow

My obsession with cool toned eyeshadows continues. One example? The Cool, Whatever Eyeshadow Palette from Kara Beauty. It is a forever favourite. More recently, the FMG Glimmer Eyeshadow Quad in Vixen has been checking the boxes as well. It has cool toned blue-greys, a silver, and a cool brown...all wonderful colours to have some fun with. Ready to see this #FOTD? Take a look at the Vixen eyeshadow quad? Keep reading for a mini review and a recent makeup look using this product.

review: lauren conrad beauty products (part two)

It is time for even more Lauren Conrad Beauty reviews here on the creation of beauty is art. This time, the focus is on The Eyeshadow Palette named The Sunrise Palette. The last post was all about cheek and lip products, but since eyeshadows are my weakness, it was impossible to overlook the eyeshadow palette that was available for a steep discount. To be honest, my expectations were low, because I know that Lauren loves a neutral eye look, but this small but mighty eyeshadow palette has become one of my all-time favourite neutral palettes. The looks that it can create consistently make me feel more confident. Ready to take a look inside? Here is everything you need to know about this Lauren Conrad Beauty product. 

review: lauren conrad beauty products (part one)

There is nothing more millennial than shows like Laguna Beach and The Hills. Those television shows were absolute must watches at the time - and always make for a good rewatch. I have been a fan of Lauren Conrad since those shows aired. I have long loved her classic style. Since her time on reality television, Lauren has released multiple books and still has a fashion/accessory line at Kohls. A couple of years back, she also launched Lauren Conrad Beauty. However, at some point, it seems that the brand was discontinued without an official explanation. That is how some of the products from the line made their way into my life. Though I had paid attention to the initial launch, purchasing makeup online is not my favourite, especially since there are normally high shipping costs to Canada. But when I found some products from Lauren Conrad Beauty at a discount store...it was a no brainer. Ready to take a closer look at these products? Here is part one of the review. 

kim kardashian fleur fatale (perfume review)

My perfume shelf has become quite full over the years. There is something so special about scents...about beautiful bottles filled with memories and promise. One whiff of an old perfume can remind you of who you used to be. Of memories with loved ones. Of important experiences. One whiff of a new perfume can fill you with hope for what is to come. Maybe that is why different perfumes make me so happy. They are kind of like the story of my life told through scent. A little while back, the Kim Kardashian Fleur Fatale was at my local Winners. Though I had not smelled it before, it was worth the risk, because I am a huge fan of the Kardashians. In fact, there are many Kim Kardashian perfumes in my collection already. (My all-time favourite is Gold.) So...how was Fleur Fatale? And how does it compare to other fragrances in my existing perfume collection? 

review: hard candy look pro! eyeshadow palette in santorini nights

It seems that I can find makeup just about anywhere. Even at a duty free shop. The Hard Candy Look Pro! Eyeshadow Palette in Santorini Nights was at a duty free store that I visited for a mere $5 CDN. As someone who loves Hard Candy products (but isn't always able to find them) it was exciting to see an eyeshadow palette from the brand at all let alone for such a low price. With fifteen different shades and lots of vibrant colours....there was a lot to love right off the bat. So, how does the Santorini Nights palette perform? Here is everything you need to know about this Look Pro! Eyeshadow Palette from Hard Candy.

letting go of my favourite band: why i no longer support hanson.

Many years of my life were defined by one band: Hanson. In elementary school and high school, my peers bullied me relentlessly for wearing Hanson t-shirts to class. Despite their continued cruelty…I refused to stop wearing those t-shirts. After all, wearing my Hanson shirts made me feel better about myself. I felt safer. More confident. More like me. In the decades that followed, the band continued to be an important part of my life. I made friends while waiting in line for general admission concerts. I skipped school to wait outside radio stations. I went to television tapings, autograph signings, and lots and lots of live shows. I bought every piece of merchandise that I could get my hands on (or afford at the time) and I was a member of their official fan club for years. When I was selected to be the fan club reporter for their String Theory show, it was a dream come true. Being able to meet my favourite band, talk to them, and have a photo taken, was the number one item on my bucket list. To this day, that experience is one of my personal highlights. Unfortunately, that experience is also bittersweet. 

what i've been watching lately (television and movies)

Whenever life is busy or hectic or overwhelming....I turn to television and movies. I have always felt comforted by those moments of escape. By the different stories, characters, and worlds that are only a click away. The last several weeks have been a bit full thanks to different family events, a planned weekend trip, responsibilities at home (I have weighed down my schedule by attempting to deep clean the apartment ahead of holiday decoration time), work, writing goals, and a million other to do list items. My solution? Play different television shows and movies in the background. Even right now, as I am writing this blog post, there is a movie playing in the background to keep me company. (For the record, it is Christmas Vacation. Even though it is technically early November, it might as well be December 25th in my mind. I am in full blown Christmas mode.) So, I thought it made sense to do a little update and share some of the things that have been on my watch list lately. 

current obsession: ariana grande cloud pink perfume

There is something about Ariana Grande perfumes. Not only do they look aesthetically pleasing sitting on my perfume shelf, but the scents tend to be sweet, warm, and ideal for everyday wear. Though there are some that are used more than others (shout out to thank u, next, R.E.M., Cloud, and Mod Vanilla) all of her perfumes are stellar. Most recently, Cloud Pink was released, which is described by the brand as empowering and optimistic. It is supposed to be "inspired by a confidence that reveals both beauty and strength, no matter the storm." The inspiration is certainly powerful...but how does this perfume smell? And how does it compare to other Ariana Grande releases? Here is everything you need to know about Cloud Pink.

taylor swift (the eras tour concert movie experience + outfit)

Time won't fly. It's like I'm paralyzed by it. I'd like to be my old self again, but I'm still trying to find it. Taylor Swift is more popular than ever, with millions of adoring fans around the world, a sold-out tour, and a new concert movie raking in more than $130 million dollars in the early weeks of its release. As a long time fan, it is exciting and somewhat strange to see her popularity continue to soar. Each time I think things can't get any bigger...they do. Recently, my oldest friend took me to see the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert movie at our local theater to celebrate my birthday and our mutual love of Taylor Swift. We both decided to dress in different "eras" inspired outfits to make the most of the occasion since we were unable to snag tickets to her shows in Toronto. (We tried!) So, this post is all about the outfit, the makeup, and the overall movie experience.