hilary duff concert look and mini concert review

Hilary Duff is back. The iconic Disney Channel star released her latest album, Luck...or Something earlier in the year and announced The Lucky Me Tour around the same time. As a longtime Hilary Duff fan, it was all very exciting. I purchased a downloadable version of the album for the bonus content, purchased the CD version of the album, and purchased a vinyl version of the album in quick succession. I also bought tickets to one of her concert dates. Let me just say that my inner child has been thriving with the return of this incredible artist. This post is all about my Hilary Duff concert look, including the outfit, hair, accessories, and makeup. There will also be a mini concert review. Hey now, hey now, this is what dreams are made of...

current favourites (music, makeup, and accessories)

What are your current favourites? Every now and then, certain items seem to be more in demand than others, from makeup to music and everything in between. Lately, I have found myself reaching for specific items over and over again. It made sense to highlight some of those items on the creation of beauty is art. On that note, here are some of my current summer favourites. 

new in: sutton mini crossbody bag (kate spade)

There are some brands that I like more than others. Brands that are pompous and bland? Not so much. Brands with a little more personality tend to be my preference. That is why I often am enamored with items from Betsey Johnson and Kate Spade. These brands know how to let fashion be fun. My husband and I recently celebrated another wedding anniversary (eleven years and counting) and my parents gave each of us a present. Mine was the Sutton Mini Crossbody Bag from Kate Spade. 

cosmic intense (kylie jenner perfume and purse review)

The best way to describe summer? Intense. The sunshine and heat can be a lot to deal with, even with sunglasses and air conditioning. The summer season officially starts next week, but the warm temperatures have already arrived in full force. Given the intensity of this time of year, it seemed only right to talk about the new Kylie Jenner fragrance: Cosmic Intense. 

change feels risky until staying the same feels worse.

Change. Just the word makes my stomach knot in discomfort. I have always struggled to deal with change, whether it was a last minute change to casual plans or a significant life change that ended a chapter. The reality is that it is easier to feel comfortable when things stay the same. There is a certain kind of ease found in familiarity. However, change happens every single day in both acknowledged and unacknowledged ways. I have recently been trying to face some of those previously unacknowledged changes by reorganizing (and decluttering) my wardrobe and jewellery collection. This process has meant accepting that I am no longer who I used to be...and that parts of me will never be the way they were before. It has been surprisingly emotional. 

opening a surprise bag from ardene.

Generally speaking, surprises are not something that I enjoy. Examples: surprise parties and unplanned events. Thankfully, there are examples of good surprises out there, like this Surprise Bag from Ardene. My friend and I recently went to see the musical, Moulin Rouge, together and stayed overnight at a hotel. She thoughtfully brought a Surprise Bag for each of us to open once we checked in. These bags are always full of random accessories from Ardene - and always feel delightfully nostalgic. It certainly started the experience off on a fun note. Ready to see what was inside this Surprise Bag? 

current favourite accessories.

Options are always nice, especially when it comes to accessories. There are all sorts of pieces in my collection, but there are certain ones that I have been reaching for more often in the last several weeks. The start of a new season often results in slightly different choices for one reason or another, so this post is dedicated to some of my current favourite accessories.

something making me smile lately: christian siriano earrings

2026 is not off to a great start. This last month has been a lot. There were hospital stays for my loved ones and someone made a fraudulent charge on my credit card. Who knows what the rest of the year will have in store, but my fingers are crossed that it will start to get better from here on out. In an attempt to keep my head above water, this post is about something that has been making me smile lately. (Because you have to find little pieces of happiness and hold onto them as much as possible.) I found this pair of Christian Siriano earrings back in the fall, but was waiting for the right time to wear them. I realize now there is no "right time" for anything, so it seemed appropriate wear the earrings, even without some sort of special occasion. 

seasonal favourites: scents, movies, and accessories

Somehow, the month of December is halfway over. This time of year always seems to move too fast. The endless to-do lists, decorating, shopping, wrapping, cards, and all the rest seem to make the days zip by in a flash. So, it is nice to pause and reflect on the little things that add magic and wonder to the holiday season. These are some of my seasonal favourites for 2025.

celebrating mean girls day with mean girls nail art tattoos.

"On October 3rd, he asked me what day it is...." Happy Mean Girls Day to all who celebrate! After all, "It's October 3rd." There are certain movies that I watch over and over again. I never seem to grow tired of my comfort movies and Mean Girls falls into that category. I have watched it hundreds of times in my life. (And have plans to watch it many more times in the future.) On this day, it seemed right to highlight some themed nail art tattoos that I have been loving lately from the brand Inked by Dani. 

testing out fashionable fidget rings

There is a PopSocket on the back of my cell phone. Throughout the day, that PopSocket is popped back and forth, over and over again. While this is a functional item that makes it possible to hold onto my phone with ease, it is also a satisfying source of distraction when my anxiety spikes. Knowing this, my husband decided to look into fidget rings that could provide that same source of distraction. He found a set with several different options so I could test them out and see which style was best. Curious about fidget rings and whether they will work for you? Here is a closer look at each of the ring styles and a mini review.

accessories that i have been loving lately.

Do you ever find yourself reaching for the same things over and over again? Sometimes that happens to me with accessories. There are certain periods of time when the same few items seem to feel right...until eventually something else steals my attention and the process starts over again. I thought it might be fun to show you all a few of the accessories that I have been loving lately. These are the ones that seem to scream "choose me" whenever an outfit starts to come together. 

current favourites (accessories, perfume, skin care, and more)

It is time for a current favourites post. Sometimes, it is nice to focus on the little things that make life feel more beautiful. There have been all sorts of items that I have been for enjoying and reaching for lately...from accessories to perfumes to action figures and so much more. Here is a closer look at some recent favourites that have been making my days brighter. 

inspired by all things amber.

There is something special about amber. The colour is a yellowish orange and is often associated with warmth. It is also thought to be positive and protective. Lately, amber has been on my mind. It all started with one of the holiday body mists from Aeropostale (check out that post here) that I have been wearing often. Cashmere Mittens has soft cashmere, white rose petals, and amber. Soon after, it became clear to me that many of my favourite scents also include amber. Somehow, that led me to adding some amber inspired items to my home, including an amber scent and some amber coloured accessories. 

review and reveal: charmed aroma aladdin candle

Though the Charmed Aroma store in my area closed last year, every now and then, someone orders me something from the brand online. For Valentine's Day, a loved one gifted me the Aladdin Genie Lamp Jewelry Candle. It was very exciting to receive because I love candles, jewellery, and Disney movies. It really checked all of the boxes. Ready to learn more about this Aladdin inspired candle? Find out about the candle scent and what was inside? Keep reading for a Charmed Aroma review and reveal.  

holiday highlights: charmed aroma and cath kidston advent caledars

Advent calendars are a special part of the holiday season. Some years, there is just a chocolate one to count down the days and other years, there is something a little more elaborate. But no matter what, I like to watch all sorts of advent unboxing videos on YouTube each year. I love the surprise of seeing what is hidden away inside! This year, my countdown to Christmas included a chocolate advent calendar, an Elf themed calendar, a Disney Princess Lego themed calendar, and a Charmed Aroma themed calendar. I was gifted the Elf, Lego, and Charmed Aroma calendars for my birthday in the fall (there is nothing I love more than receiving an advent calendar for my birthday) and was finally able to open them, day by day. However, there was another advent calendar that snuck in at the last minute when I found a discounted Cath Kidston calendar in late December. On a whim, I decided to add it to my countdown. Here is a look inside the Charmed Aroma and Cath Kidston advent calendars...

mini fall haul (decor and accessories)

Though my home has been decorated for the last few weeks (there are decorative pumpkins everywhere)...the official first day of fall was yesterday. So long summer! It is all cozy sweaters, scented candles, and fallen leaves from here on out. This time of year makes me especially joyful, which is probably the reason it is difficult for me to steer clear of fall decor items in the stores. I have done fairly well so far this year and have only added a few little items here and there, as seen in this mini fall haul.

current obsession: michael kors sunglasses

Sunglasses season is in session. Now that the sun is shining on a more regular basis (though there have been a few rainy days recently) it is time to make the most of my sunglasses collection. I don't know exactly how many pairs of sunglasses are in my possession, but it is enough that I have cut myself off of from buying more for the time being. I just love the way a cute pair can make an outfit feel extra special. They are the ultimate summer accessory! Ready to take a peek at my current favourite pair? 

review and reveal: charmed aroma (cinderella jewelry tray + candle)

Cinderella is one of those movies that reminds me of my youth. Though all Disney cartoons were special, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Pocahontas were some of my most watched VHS tapes. Those characters always felt extra special to me. When it comes to Cinderella, there was (and still is) a lot to love. The beautiful dress, the cute animals, and of course, the idea that miracles happen to good people. I loved it all. Fun fact: my wedding theme was actually Cinderella! Needless to say, the movie, the music, and the characters will always be important to me. I suppose it is fitting that my last Charmed Aroma review and reveal is a Cinderella themed one. The Charmed Aroma stores have all shut down where I live and I do not like the idea of shipping breakable items to my doorstep. So...this is it as far as I can tell. There is just one last candle to review. Ready for this final Charmed Aroma post? It is time to take a look at this Cinderella themed jewelry tray and candle. 

current favourites: christian siriano and betsey johnson earrings

Every now and then, it is nice to focus on the little things that make life brighter. Like sparkly accessories. Though there are all sorts of accessories that I love and adore...a couple have been standouts lately. For whatever reason, I keep reaching for these earrings over and over again. One pair is from Christian Siriano and the other is from Betsey Johnson. Not only do these items come from some of my all-time favourite fashion designers, but both sets of earrings are ultra sparkly and fun.