summer (and summerween) inspired reading list.

There is no denying the arrival of summer. Though the earliest days of the season had some cooler days sprinkled in, the warm weather has since settled in rather dramatically. The temperatures are unbearable and I find myself dreaming of the fall and winter months. Thank goodness for Summerween, the trendy summer twist on the Halloween season. The spooky season is a nice mental escape from all of this heat. To celebrate, my Summerween inspired tea towels are out, as are a few random decor items. (I decided to pair some cute Halloween decorations from my collection with some summer inspired pieces. Think pumpkins and sandcastles!) In addition to the decorations, some of my favourite spooky movies have been keeping me company, as have pumpkin scented candles and essential oils. When it comes to my reading list, some books have been carefully chosen to reflect both the summer season and the Summerween celebration. Here are some of the books on my list...

shop my stash: warm summer makeup look

Summer makeup looks tend to fall into two categories: bright and colourful or warm and bronze. I normally let my mood decide which one wins out. Recently, it was a warm and bronze makeup look that seemed most appropriate. There were certain eyeshadows that seemed to be calling to me and there were certain lip and cheek products that felt just right. The end result? A new shop my stash post here on the creation of beauty is art. It is time to check out a warm summer makeup look. 

review: satin blend gel eyeliner (essence)

My life would be a lot less beautiful without eyeliner. I love the drama a dark black eyeliner can provide. It adds definition, creates shape, and acts as a bold contrast to colourful eyeshadow looks. There are all sorts of eyeliners in my regular rotation. When it comes to liquid eyeliner, it is the NYX Epic Ink Liner that stands out. For gel eyeliner, the Gel Pot Eyeliner from Maybelline is a rediscovered favourite. My most used pencil eyeliner is the Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner Pencil. More recently, it is the Satin Blend Gel Eyeliner from Essence that has been added to the mix. Keep reading to find out how it performs.

canada day inspired red and white makeup look

July looks like it will be jam-packed this year. There is so much on my calendar in the next several weeks. There is Canada Day (which is today), my wedding anniversary, my fifteen year blog anniversary, a cottage getaway with family, dental appointments, and some long overdue hangouts with friends. Summer always seems to be so full. To start the month off on a positive note, it seemed only right to create a Canada Day inspired makeup look. I love using this date as an excuse to pull together all sorts of red and white makeup products from my collection. On that note, here is a holiday inspired #FOTD...

currently loving: modelones nail art liner brush set

It has been about five months since the OPI GELement LED Gel Lamp and gel nail polishes from Modelones have totally transformed my nails. No more worrying about chipped nail polish. No more waiting endlessly for my nail polish to dry completely. These at home gel nail tools have been stellar. Over the last several months, there are been all sorts of different colours and finishes used. I've worn neutral colours, bright colours, and have used matte, glossy, and glitter top coats. More recently, some very basic nail designs have been added to the mix thanks to this Nail Art Liner Brush Set from Modelones. 

mini essence essentials haul

Every now and then, some beauty essentials are needed. The eyeshadow primer that I was using ran out, so it was time to check the drugstore offerings. While I was there, it quickly became clear that Essence was the main brand of interest thanks to the affordable price and the assortment of products available. On that note, here is a mini Essence essentials haul.  

body mist review: buttery sugar body mist (pink)

Sometimes, outlet malls happen. On the way back from Niagara Falls Comic Con, my husband and I made a short stop at a nearby outlet mall that had all sorts of different stores. Though we mostly window shopped, there was a Victoria's Secret outlet store with all sorts of goodies inside. Workout clothes, seasonal perfumes, and so much more. It was the Buttery Sugary Body Mist from Pink that was the most exciting find, because this fabulous and warm scent was only $3 CDN.