four simple acts that will make you feel good

Being nice. It is easier said than done. Especially when the weather is windy and rainy, you dropped your cell phone, and your morning cup of coffee spilled all over your brand new blouse. Those little annoyances can impact our mood…. and the way we treat other people. Suddenly everyone seems like the enemy. Everyone is testing our patience, pushing our buttons, and is on our last nerve. It doesn’t have to be that way. Are you in a bad mood? Sick and tired of everything and everyone? Try one of these four simple acts. They are guaranteed to make you feel good.

review: physician's formula (butter collection x casey holmes)

Though I always ooh and ahh over the Physician's Formula section at my local drugstore....it is rare that I actually purchase something. Perhaps this has to do with the price. The brand is typically a lot more expensive than other alternatives, like Cover Girl and Hard Candy. For the price of one Physician's Formula item, I could buy two or three from another brand. So, often I pick up something, look at it, and put it back again. (With one exception. I have a whopping one Physician's Formula review here on my blog!) Not this time. There was a beautiful set on display when I was out and about with my husband. I was ready to put it back but he took it from my hands and marched right up to the cash register. It was a lovely treat. Ready to take a peek inside this Butter Collection set? Here goes....

trend alert: polly pocket fashion + beauty

Have you noticed? Nostalgia has taken over. Whether you are looking for a summer concert to add to your wish list or something style related....what was old is new again. Though there are many throwbacks that are back in vogue (from choker necklaces to denim overalls) the most intriguing to me personally is the Polly Pocket trend. When I was a kid, Polly Pocket play sets were my everything. I had dozens of them...including a necklace version that I took with me pretty much everywhere. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the brand, many Polly Pocket items have been released in the last several months. Here is a closer look at some of the hottest Polly-related products....

re-creating jeffree star's blue blood look with drugstore products

I was tempted. Very tempted. So tempted, in fact, that I had the Blue Blood eyeshadow palette in my cart and had already started to punch in my credit card information. Then something stopped me. It was....the price. For those of you who don't know, Jeffree Star recently launched his Blue Blood collection. All of the products look beautiful. Though I've never tried anything from his brand before, I did watch the launch video for the collection and the Blue Blood palette looked beyond spectacular. The colours, the pigmentation level, and the over the top packaging? Yes please. Unfortunately, with a $52 US price tag plus $15 US shipping, it was going to set me back quite a lot. Especially once you convert that price into Canadian dollars. It seemed like a big investment when I already have so many eyeshadow palettes.

So, I made the responsible decision to remove the item from my cart and move on with my life. That choice inspired today's blog post. I decided to try and create my own Blue Blood inspired makeup look using only drugstore products.

accepting who i'm not (inspired by but first, coffee)

I am not a blogger with a perfectly curated Instagram feed. I am not someone who takes incredible photos or attends fancy beauty events. I am not the kind of makeup addict who creates looks so inspiring - everyone is desperate to re-create them. I am not a full-time blogger. I am not a beauty expert. (Even if I want to be.) There are so many things that I am not. Things that for a long time, made me feel small. Things that made me feel lacking or less than. It wasn't until I read a recent post from But First, Coffee called, "Accepting Who I'm NOT," that I started to feel okay about these things.

easter is the only time it's safe to put all your eggs in one basket.

Happy Easter! Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and that is a ridiculously exciting thought. This is one of my favourite holidays. It is always a bright sunny day filled with family time, movies, games, baking, and lots of chocolate. Usually, my outfit consists of a pink fuzzy bunny rabbit sweater (complete with ears), comfy sweatpants, and a pastel eye look. In my opinion, this is the perfect way to blend comfort with holiday style. How do you celebrate? Are there any special outfits you like to wear? Do you have any annual traditions? When it comes to traditions, my family has loads of them. We always peek at our Easter baskets, watch our favourite Easter movies, and play spring or Easter themed games. At night, it is a special dinner with tons of delicious baked goods. From start to finish, Easter is always a celebration that makes me smile. That makes me feel renewed. That fills me with hope.

easter charmed aroma candle (review + new bunny ring)

Easter is almost here. Hooray! This is one of my absolute favourite holidays. After all, it has all the things I like best: pastels, bunny rabbits, and chocolate. Since tomorrow is Easter Friday and Easter Sunday is coming up fast...I thought it only fitting that today's blog post be dedicated to something seasonal. A while back, I visited the Charmed Aroma store in my local mall. (Yes, there is an entire store now. I am in big trouble!) After seeing a picture of the Jumbo Easter Bunny Candle online, I knew going in that this was the candle for me.

review: shaaanxo the remix (bh cosmetics eyeshadow palette)

Not long ago, I found myself scouring the BH Cosmetics website. A friend of mine had recommended their Zodiac Love Signs palette and I was in the midst of a serious mental debate. Deciding to be a responsible adult, I chose not to place the order. Why? Partly because there is so much eyeshadow in my makeup collection....and partly because they didn't have Shaaanxo The Remix palette in stock. I had meant to get it ages ago so it didn't make sense to place an order if they didn't have exactly what I wanted. Less than a week later, I was out and about doing some shopping for Easter (I make Easter baskets for some of my loved ones) when bam! There it was. Shaaanxo The Remix 18 Color Shadow Palette was at my local Winners for a mere eight dollars. To say I was thrilled would be a massive understatement. It was an exhilarating beauty find. So...how does the palette perform? And how does it compare to the original Shaaanxo palette? Here is everything you need to know.

rita ora: love it or leave it?

Fashion is exciting. It always manages to push boundaries and alter our expectations. It is a way to express yourself and showcase your mood, personality, and preferences. That being said, sometimes a look isn't the most flattering or it simply may not resonate with someone else. My love it or leave it? series takes a look at recent celebrity outfits and asks the question, is it a love or a leave? The latest in this series comes from singer, actress, model, and television host, Rita Ora. She is known for taking fashion risks and often rules the red carpet. Here is one of her latest looks....

spring style (patrickstarrr x mac makeup look + spring outfit)

One of my favourite spring quotes? Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is. This is absolutely true. Lately, it seems everything is better, more beautiful, and full of life. Outside, the sun is shining brightly in the sky...snow is melting....and the world is in bloom. It seems that everyone is in a better mood. That wonderful optimism has returned to us all. Thank goodness for that! Since the return of spring is such a lovely time, I wanted to dedicate a blog post to fabulous spring style. That includes a makeup look featuring the PatrickStarrr x MAC collaboration as well as a stunning spring outfit to inspire your next day out. Ready to dive headfirst into the beauty and wonder of spring style? Here goes....

organization tips to de-clutter your space this spring

It’s amazing how quickly it happens. One moment your home is pristine. The next? It is a total disaster. There are knick-knacks covering every inch of space. There are stacks of papers littering the dining room table. And of course there all of those odds and ends. Yes, clutter happens. Even to the most ordered and well-organized person. How can you give your space the uplift it needs? Put these organizational tips to the test. Your home will look amazing…. just in time for the spring season.

skin care favourite: life brand face masks

Who doesn't love a good face mask? This at-home skin care product is steadily gaining in popularity. In fact, according to an article on Allure, wearing a face mask is one of the biggest beauty trends in the last few years. From sheet masks to peel off masks and everything in between...there is no denying the power of this skin care trend. Not only is it fun to do (have you seen those adorable animal printed face masks?!) but treating yourself to a little mask time is a wonderful part of self care. Are you in need of a little TLC? Looking for new face masks to try? Here are my thoughts on a few masks from Life brand.

beauty bookshelf: staying stylish by candace cameron bure

Welcome to beauty bookshelf! This is the first in a series of blog posts dedicated to beauty-related reads. In future, that will include a wide array of fashion, makeup, and lifestyle books. Anything and everything that combines my love of reading with the things I love most is fair game. If you are looking for a fabulous new book for your shelf, beauty room, or coffee table....stay tuned. There are plenty of beauty book reviews on the way. Kicking things off is Staying Stylish: Cultivating a Confident Look, Style & Attitude by Candace Cameron Bure.

review: katy perry indi perfume

Yes, I am a completion-ist.  Once I start a collection, there is this need in me to either finish or continue it. Perhaps that explains my massive perfume collection. (You can see that on my YouTube channel here.) It absolutely explains the addition of the Katy Perry fragrance, Indi. I have several other bottles from her line, so whenever I lock eyes on a new release....it simply has to be mine. Collection needs aside, is Indi a must-have scent? How does it compare to her other perfumes? Here is everything you need to know...

#FOTD (with paris hilton natural and glam eyeshadow set)

I am not new to Paris Hilton Cosmetics. At this point, I have reviewed dozens of their products on both my blog and YouTube channel. The reasons for this are fairly simple: the prices are affordable and I adore Paris Hilton. Recently, I decided to put her Eyeshadow Quad set (which features two eyeshadow quads, Nude Eyes and Glam Eyes) to use for a night out look. Take a look at the finished creation and of course, check out the eyeshadow shades.