recent reads: library edition

There is something thrilling about browsing the stacks at the library. Each and every shelf seems to hold endless possibilities. You never know what books will stand out. You never know what stories will demand to be read. A little while back, there were five library books that called to me. Here are some mini book reviews as part of this recent reads: library edition post. 

review: essence baby got blush (cherry cherry baby)

There is something undeniably special about blush. It always manages to elevate a makeup look. Many of my recent creations have been blush heavy - and that might have a little something to do with Baby Got Blush from Essence. This cream blush stick is boldly pigmented and easy to use. The perfect combination! Here is everything you need to know about this drugstore item.

does it work?? vibrant shimmer metallic eyeshadows

Liquid eyeshadows can be hit or miss. Some perform well and last all day long while others crease almost instantly. The Vibrant Shimmer Metallic Eyeshadows from Le Mercerie were simply too tempting to resist. Not only was the product ultra affordable ($1.50 CDN) but there were three mini pots of liquid glitter eyeshadow included in this set. The shades were Midnight, Bronze, and Copper. Three wearable liquid eyeshadows to test! So...does it work? Keep reading to find out how this product performs.

life is about finding happiness in the little things.

Sometimes, it is nice to pause and focus on the good things. There is always so much to worry about, so much to be upset about, and so much to feel frustrated about...but there are also little things that make the days feel more beautiful. This post is focused on some of the little things that have brought me joy recently, including music, friends, family, and so much more. 

bath and body works (seasonal wallflower mini haul)

It finally happened. I ran out of Wallflowers from Bath & Body Works. These scented plug ins come in all sorts of different blends and normally cost $8.95 CDN. There were all sorts in my collection after purchasing a bunch on sale after the holiday season (check out that post here) and a few others have been added to my shopping cart since then, but finally, there were none left to reach for. Since I love scents all over my home, this was a real disappointment. Thankfully, there was a sale on the last time I was at the mall. The Wallflowers were five for $29 CDN, a cost of around $5.80 CDN each. Not the best price ever, but certainly an improvement over the regular cost. There were many wonderful scents to choose from (including some seasonal releases now that the holiday season is around the corner), but these are the ones that came home with me. 

there's a little witch in all of us.

Halloween is almost here. For the last several weeks, it has been all spooky season all the time in my home. Music, movies, books, and decorations have been making this time of year feel extra special. Last year, I came down with something and wasn't able to celebrate Halloween properly, so my intention this year is to wear the Wednesday Addams costume that I purchased previously. I am a fan of Christina Ricci (her movies are incredible, her television work is outstanding, and she also uses her voice to stand against injustice) and her version of Wednesday Addams remains a favourite. Fingers crossed it will be a fun filled experience. Since the holiday is right around the corner, here are some of the pictures that I have taken this season. 

what i've been watching this spooky season (2026)

Holidays can be a lot of fun, especially when time is set aside for movies and seasonal specials. This spooky season, there have been all sorts of mysteries, thrills, and chills making the holiday memorable. This post is dedicated to some of the standouts. It includes several items from my DVD collection as well as a handful of streaming musts that can be added to your watch list. 

prozzak concert review and makeup look

There is nothing like live music to make the world seem better. My husband and I recently went to a concert to celebrate his birthday. Though there were two acts on the bill, we were only interested in the first act, Prozzak. This is an iconic Canadian duo from the late 1990s/early 2000s. Their music videos were especially memorable because they featured the animated characters, Simon and Milo. (As seen in the photo above.) Here is a review of the concert and a Prozzak inspired makeup look. 

spooky season show and tell: casper the friendly ghost

Are you making the most of spooky season? Halloween is right around the corner, so now is the time to dive headfirst into all of the festivities. I have certainly been doing my best to create some seasonal memories. There have been jack-o-lantern cookies, pumpkin spice treats, movies, decorations, and so much more. This year, my Casper the Friendly Ghost obsession has been in full swing. I have watched the live action movie from 1995 at least a dozen times in the last few months and have been enjoying all of the Casper items in my collection. Take a closer look at my collection in this spooky season show and tell.

outfit inspired by the fall season.

Fall fashion makes me smile. I love all of the warm colours and chunky sweaters. Lately, my most worn pieces include a thick brown cardigan, dark olive pants, and an assortment of Halloween inspired t-shirts. Comfortable, colourful, and seasonal. It seemed appropriate to bring some of that inspiration to the creation of beauty is art. On that note, here is a fall themed outfit. 

current obsession: warm and cozy items

The world is disappointing sometimes. There are so many people willing to harm others. There are so many people willing to support predators. These people make life feel unsteady, uncomfortable, and unsafe. On one hand, it makes me especially grateful for those who add light and kindness to the world. On the other hand, it is draining knowing that good people seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Perhaps that is the reason I have been seeking out comfort lately. Coziness, safety, warmth. I have been seeking it out in the content I consume, in the music I listen to, and in the items I have around my home. Here are some warm and cozy items that have been making life feel more beautiful lately, despite this imperfect world. 

new in: built in the chaos by ambyr michelle

Beyond the Gates has it all. An amazing cast, interesting storylines, memorable costumes, stunning hairstyles, and bold makeup looks. What a treat to have something wonderful to watch five days a week. Since it premiered in early 2025, there have been a handful of posts about Beyond the Gates on the creation of beauty is art. It is easy to be inspired by such an incredible series! In addition to watching the episodes, it is also fun to follow some of the cast members on various social media platforms. One of my favourite actresses from the show, Ambyr Michelle, has a YouTube channel and recently released her first book, Built in the Chaos. At first, the book was not available in my country, but I was finally able to purchase a copy. 

revisited review: my three most used spooky aroma oils

Spooky season is here again. Thank goodness! It has been difficult to make time for all of the Halloween festivities, but I am doing my best to incorporate seasonal moments into my days. One example? The Spooky Aroma Oils set. This is something that I purchased last year (check out that post here) and have made good use of ever since. I love filling my home with different scents. The one that I choose for the day depends entirely on my mood. It might be an essential oil blend, like one from the Spooky Aroma Oils set or one of the many Walt Disney World inspired blends in my collection, or it might be a scented candle from Bath & Body Works. No matter what, there is some sort of wonderful scent making the days feel a little more intentional. On that note, here are three of the most used Spooky Aroma Oils from this Halloween themed set. 

random recent makeup looks.

Sometimes, there are makeup looks that remain on my camera but never make it into an actual blog post. There might have been something specific that I felt like writing about (which ultimately bumped a planned post) or certain makeup photos simply managed to get lost in the shuffle. This post is dedicated to those random makeup looks. Here are a few recent ones. 

fall favourites (decor, home items, and more)

Thank goodness for fall. I am definitely not missing the warm summer months. It has been nice to experience cooler days and see the leaves changing colour. It has also been nice to decorate for fall and enjoy seasonal items. This post is focused on some current fall favourites. There are decor items featured (both old and new) and items that have been adding joy to my days. 

fall nail polish colours: modelones gel nail polish kit

Since making the switch to gel nail polish, my nail looks have been a lot more colourful. The switch  has really inspired my creativity. I've created simple patterns using nail brushes and have incorporated nail stickers into some of my nail looks as well. This at home system has worked really well for me so far.  Last month, I wanted to get a head start on spooky season and decided to paint my nails in some fun fall colours. Unfortunately, there were not a lot of suitable options in my gel nail polish collection. (I ended up painting my nails black and bright green as a nod to Frankenstein.) Shortly after, my very thoughtful husband surprised me with a Modelones Gel Nail Polish Kit with twenty fall colours. Here is a closer look at this gel nail set. 

review: vanilla sunrise perfume (forever 21)

There is something thrilling about a new bottle of perfume. It holds so many possibilities! Scents have been found to activate the emotion and memory centers of the brain, which means certain smells can trigger memories or emotional responses. Who knows what memories will be made while wearing the Vanilla Sunrise Eau De Parfum from Forever 21? I am certainly looking forward to finding out. (Fingers crossed the memories are good ones.) Here is a full review of this Forever 21 fragrance. 

fall season reading list (horror, thriller, and mystery novels)

I have been thinking a lot about a quote that I came across recently: "The internet used to be an escape from the real world. Now the real word is an escape from the internet." This is a very accurate statement. At this point, I am so tired of horrible people having platforms and defenders. Of bots and smear campaigns. Of AI slop and misinformation. Of ads and junk mail. Of a million different passwords, apps, and QR codes. Of all of it. On one hand, the internet has made it so much easier to communicate and find community. (It allows me to share this very blog post!) On the other hand, we are being divided and manipulated. It can be hard to find a healthy balance. In recent months, my focus has been on living my life slightly more offline. Instagram notifications are turned off. Emails only come through when I manually check. My phone is left in another room for hours at a time. And reading? It is my reward at the end of the day instead of scrolling and streaming. On that note, a handful of books have been added to my fall season reading list. Here are some books that I will be reading this month...

unexpected fall fashion items (mini haul)

There are a few Halloween themed clothing items in my closet. Each year around this time, those items are worn over and over again. I have a stretched out skull sweatshirt that has been in my wardrobe for at least fifteen years in addition to a Haunted Mansion shirt, Scream shirt, Hocus Pocus shirt, Halloween shirt, and a couple of other seasonal items. There are also some plaid button downs that are in the rotation as well. This year, my husband saw an online ad for fall themed shirts and ordered a few items without telling me. It was such a nice surprise! Here is a closer look at some unexpected fall fashion items. 

review: colossal bubble mascara from maybelline

Every now and then, it is nice to use something a little bit different. When it comes to mascara, the darkest black possible is normally my must have. I love the contrast between that an ultra dark mascara and a colourful assortment of eyeshadows. This time around, I decided to use the "brownish black" version of the Colossal Bubble Mascara from Maybelline, which allowed me to step ever so slightly out of my comfort zone. The brownish black colour also seemed like it would pair well with some of the warmer fall makeup looks on the horizon. Curious about this drugstore mascara? Keep reading for a full review.