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.

fall inspired #FOTD (warm and wearable colours)

There have been a few bumps in the road this month, but the arrival of the fall season has been lifting my spirits. Fingers crossed the rest of the month (and all of October) is much better. For now, it is time to dive headfirst into the promise of a fresh start with a fall inspired #FOTD. This look makes use of a few favourites and a newer eyeshadow palette in my collection.