shop my stash: tarte glamour eyeshadow palette

The world is an interesting place these days. Quite frankly, it is hard to envision what the future will look like. That is one of the reasons I am choosing to slow down on beauty related purchases. There are still products that I have not reviewed on the creation of beauty is art. including items that loved ones have gifted me over the last little while. (Stay tuned for those posts in the weeks and months to come.) That said, it has been quite some time since I actually purchased makeup for myself. I am doing my best to focus on what I already own. The "shop my stash" idea has been around for many years and essentially means using what you already have instead of constantly purchasing more. Since there are all sorts of wonderful items in my makeup collection already, it seems appropriate not only to use those items in my day to day life, but also to post about them here. Every now and then, there will be a shop my stash post that features different products from my makeup collection. The first shop my stash post features everyday favourites and the Glamour palette from the Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Wardrobe. 

affirmations and quotes for difficult days.

To quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's always one step forward and three steps back. As mentioned in previous posts, a loved one has been in and out of the hospital over the last few months, with the longest stay being about three weeks. It seemed like everything was slowly getting back on track. There was non-linear healing, but positive progress all around. And then it all came crashing down. There is so much uncertainty, not to mention the trauma of watching a loved one struggle both physically and mentally. I am not okay. Life has not been okay lately. It seems that as soon as I start to piece myself back together, as soon as I start to feel some sense of normality creep back in, it all crumbles. So, this post is dedicated to hope. I certainly need it and maybe someone else out there needs it, too. Here are quotes and affirmations to add a little bit of hope to difficult days. 

hair product haul: haircare haven beauty bundle

The relationship with my hair has been complicated lately. Now that I am needing to dye it on a semi-regular basis (thanks to the grey hairs that have decided to take over)...there have been all sorts of frustrations. Like the medium brown hair dye that I used several months back. Despite the name "medium brown," it turned my hair almost black. I was looking for something similar to my natural colour, but this was not at all similar, and the colour refused to fade. More recently, attempts have been made to address the dark colour, but the results have been mixed. All of the products used (like Color Oops) have left my hair feeling dry and looking a little frizzy. Thankfully, my mom gifted me the Haircare Haven Beauty Bundle for Easter. It includes all sorts of haircare products. As I continue to work on addressing the hair colour issue, it is important to focus on the overall condition of my hair as well. This post is a little show and tell to highlight the products included in this set. In the future, there will be a review of all the different haircare products. Ready to take a look inside? Here is everything that was included...

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. 

nostalgia is a powerful feeling. it can drown out anything.

I fell down the rabbit hole recently (as I so often do) and watched hours and hours of compilation videos on YouTube. The videos featured all sorts of television shows from the 80s and 90s - complete with the original commercials. It was a wild and nostalgic ride. These days, familiarity seems to be my focus. Whether I am listening to music, choosing a movie, or watching a television show, more often than not, I am gravitating towards what was. New releases do not seem to have the same hold on me. I have been thinking a lot about why this is the case and I think it comes down to safety. With the world being so turbulent, it feels especially sweet to return to a time where I did not have to worry about bills or politics or what was happening outside of my little bubble. I still believed that most people were good and that evil would never win. I was more innocent then and certainly more naive. Perhaps there is part of me that is missing that state of being...that uncomplicated hope. But life happens and learning more inevitably means losing some of that innocence. Thank goodness for all of the television shows from my youth. These shows help me remember who I used to be and what I used to believe in. 

review: elf power grip primer + 4% niacinamide

Preparation is key, especially when it comes to increasing the longevity of a makeup look. The right skin care products and primers can make all the difference. With certain products on hand, makeup application can become easier and products will stay put throughout the day. After hearing rave reviews about the Power Grip Primer from elf, it seemed like time to put this much buzzed about item to the test. There are a few versions of the Power Grip Primer available, but I decided on the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide. Ready for a review of this popular makeup primer? Keep reading for all the details.

#FOTD and mini review: love at 1st sight eyeshadow palette

Spring is well underway, but this eyeshadow palette is taking me all the way back to Valentine's Day. Not only was this a Valentine's Day gift from my mom, but it is loved themed. The Love at 1st Sight Eyeshadow Palette is downright adorable - and so well themed. Ready to take a closer look? Here is everything you need to know about this love inspired product.