merry christmas + clay aiken christmas album review

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! However you are spending the day, my hope is that you are surrounded by people you love and are busy making lots of meaningful memories. This is such a magical time of year. One that fills me with optimism and joy that is so often lacking in our troubled world. It is nice to believe in miracles and goodness...even if only for a little while. My plans for today include time spent with family, lots of food, and of course, Christmas music. Speaking of Christmas music, there is one holiday album that has been making my spirits bright this season. Clay Aiken released a new holiday album, "Christmas Bells Are Ringing." My husband thoughtfully gifted me the CD and vinyl version as soon as it was released. Since then, it has been played over and over and over again. On this snowy Christmas morning, it is time for a review of this new favourite.

holiday makeup look and review: revolution x the grinch palette

There are many different versions of The Grinch at this point. Beyond the actual book, there is the classic animated version from 1966, the live action version from 2000, and the more modern animated version that was released in 2018 (check out my initial review of that version here). All of them are memorable and have wonderful elements. My favourite will always be the classic animated version, but there is room in my heart for them all. Truth be told, I love The Grinch and have a little Whoville Village and a Grinch topper on my Christmas tree. It just wouldn't be the holiday season without that beloved green character. When I came across a fuzzy green eyeshadow palette from Revolution, it was added to my cart before I even bothered to look at the price. (For the record, it was about $15 CDN.) I mean, it was a fuzzy green Grinch themed eyeshadow palette. A need! 

christmas affirmations, journal prompts, and self care ideas

The countdown is officially on. Christmas Day is almost here! I am always surprised at how quickly the latter half of December passes, even though it seems to be this way each and every year. Though there are all sorts of wonderful moments to enjoy and fun items on the seasonal to-do list...this can also be a time of stress and overwhelm. Maybe your calendar looks a little too full this year, you are struggling to finish your holiday shopping, or there is a project at work that seems to have taken over your life. Does it all feel like too much? Take a deep breath in and let it out. You aren't alone. There are ways to manage stress and overwhelm this holiday season. Here are some Christmas themed affirmations, journal prompts, and self care ideas.

tis the season to give: different ways to donate this year

Most holiday movies have similar themes: caring, sharing, and giving to others. In the words of Kris Kringle from the Miracle on 34th Street movie, "I'm a symbol of the human ability to be able to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives." The month of December is meant to be about kindness, giving to others, and softening our hearts. It is about seeing beyond our own circumstances. Yes, it is about traditions and beautiful memories with loved ones, but it is about more than that, too. In recent years, it seems the "selfish and hateful tendencies" have become more apparent in society. There is more cruelty, more harm, more destruction, and less hope. The selfish and hateful seem to be prioritized over the selfless and loving. While I don't have a cure for this shifting attitude, it highlights the need to give this holiday season. To focus on putting good into a world that so often falls short. Here are some suggestions and ideas to consider this month. 

holiday themed reads (mystery, thriller, romance, and more)

Reading is an important part of my life. Especially around the holiday season! It is a wonderful escape from all of the to-do list items and expectations associated with the happiest season of all. Last month, I decided to set aside a small stack of books in my collection to read before Christmas Day. I tried to include a mixture of genres: romance, thrillers, mystery, and a classic tale. At the time of writing this post, most of the books have been read and some are waiting to be read or are underway. (There is still time before the big day arrives!) Here is a closer look at a few of the books on my holiday themed reads list.

my top seven favourite versions of a christmas carol

At this point, there are hundreds of versions of A Christmas Carol in existence. From more faithful adaptations to more modern interpretations...there is a version of A Christmas Carol for everyone. The novella was originally published in 1843 and has been a holiday must ever since. There are few stories that have managed to have that kind of cultural significance. This enduring story is about positive change and generosity. No wonder it remains relevant all these years later! As mentioned, there are hundreds of different versions of A Christmas Carol out there. As we continue to countdown to Christmas Day, it only made sense to highlight a few of my personal favourites. Truth be told, this was originally intended to be a top five list, but there were so many meaningful versions that I had to expand it a little. On that note, here are my top seven favourite versions.

revisited review: too faced let it snow globe set

For many years, the Too Faced holiday releases have been highlights for me. I love makeup in general, but especially love when that makeup has a festive theme. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there will be a Too Faced holiday set in my near future. This year, the theme was okay-ish but the prices are high and the products don't look overly thrilling to me. (An example? The You're a Gem Eye Makeup Set. It just doesn't wow or stand out at all.) Since it will not be a Merry Too Faced Christmas for me this year, it made sense to look back and do a revisited review of the Let It Snow Globes Set that was released in 2023.

seasonal favourites for 2024.

Tis the season for all sorts of favourites. It is hard to believe the second week of December is here already. There is so much to do before all of the festivities take place! I suppose that is the reason I love the time before Christmas the most. From early November to mid-December, it is possible to enjoy fun holiday themed items without the time crunch that the latter half of December is well known for. On that note, here are the items that have been making the holiday season bright so far.

more obscure christmas specials to watch this holiday season

Some people love to bake during the holiday season. Others prefer to decorate, expertly wrap presents, or host parties with friends and family. Most of us have a holiday related item on our to-do list that ranks higher than the others. For example, while I love having a decorated home, the actual process of decorating is not my favourite. On the other hand, my mom prioritizes decorating over many other seasonal tasks. My sister likes to bake cookies. My brother wraps presents with impressive precision. And my dad mostly tries to stay out of the way! In previous posts, I have spoken about my love of holiday movies. I realized recently that those movies are my favourite part of the season. I love to sit and watch (either by myself or with a loved one) and simply feel at ease. There are countless Christmas themed movies and television specials to choose from and I love a whole lot of them. As much as I adore beloved films like Elf and Home Alone, there is a special place in my heart for more obscure Christmas specials: ones that are less well known or have been forgotten with time. It feels like finding a hidden treasure. Last year, there was a post highlighting a few of my favourite obscure Christmas cartoons. Now, it is time to highlight additional favourites. Some are cartoons and some are live action. Here are a few suggestions to add to your list.

pros and cons: kylie cosmetics face and body liquid highlighter

A few months back, I wrote about a raffle basket that I won with all sorts of beauty products inside. It included some Philosophy items, a Calvin Klein perfume, and a handful of Kylie Cosmetics products. One of those Kylie Cosmetics products was the Face and Body Liquid Highlighter in the shade Snow Princess. This must have been a leftover holiday item from last year, because I immediately recognized the cute little deer print on the packaging that was on the O'Deer Lip Kit in my collection. Since the holiday season is currently underway once more, it seemed only right to review this festive highlight. 

welcome december + oh deer christmas palette review

It is here...the best month of the year. December holds so many sweet memories and so many hopes for the future. It is a time to open up advent calendars day by day, listen to holiday music on the radio, bake special treats with loved ones, hand out seasonal cards, and decorate the home. There is an air of excitement and anticipation. There is magic. There is wonder. December is a reminder of what matters most: love and kindness. It is a time to look forward and look back. Everything just feels a little more beautiful once December rolls around. To say that I am feeling festive would be an understatement. So, it seems only right that the first post of the month be dedicated to a seasonal makeup release from Beauty Creations.