how has your style changed?

How has your style changed? This is a question that has been on my mind a lot lately. See, I didn't even realize my sense of style had changed. Until one day when the idea popped into my head to go back and clean up some of my older blog posts. (Fixing formatting issues, removing broken links, that sort of thing. It ended up being a massive undertaking and I am nowhere near finished. But that is another topic altogether!) As I was looking through these posts from seven, eight, almost nine years ago....I was struck by how much my own personal style had changed since then.

junk food inspired accessories + fashion inspiration

It may seem crass to follow up my last post (which was dedicated to reviewing Richard Simmons workout videos) with a post about junk food but...it is what it is! Recently, I was gifted a couple of pieces from Betsey Johnson. Her designs are always fun, vibrant, and a little bit out there. So it should come as no surprise that these particular pieces were inspired by junk food. There is a soda pop necklace and a burger necklace. Which perfectly compliments my french fry necklace from Betsey. I've got a full combo going on now! Today, I wanted to show you the latest Betsey Johnson pieces in my jewellery collection and highlight some junk food inspired fashion items that never go out of style.

rank + review: richard simmons sweatin' to the oldies workouts

Workout videos? Well, needless to say they are an integral part of my day-to-day life. Though there are days when a gym session is in order...most of the time it is just me and my television. There is such comfort in working out at home. (Though I realize not everyone feels this way!) Personally, I love it because I don't have to travel anywhere and I don't have to feel intimidated by all of the fitness buffs hanging out at the squat racks. Do you love working out at home? Or did you get more comfortable with the idea during quarantine? Then workout videos are certainly something to consider. There are an awful lot of videos out there, which means it is always possible to find something that is effective and fun. More recently, I fell in love with Richard Simmons videos. His YouTube account started uploading ten minute workout segments. That led me down the rabbit hole. A few days later, my husband ordered me the 30th Anniversary Edition of Sweatin' To The Oldies. No wonder my life lately has involved an awful lot of classic songs, sparkly tank tops, and motivation. The DVD set included all five videos in the Sweatin' To The Oldies collection so there was lots of variety. Ready to see how they perform? Find out which videos are the most effective? Here are all of the workout videos, reviewed and ranked.

charlotte tilbury (mini hot lips charms try on + review)

Charlotte Tilbury? In my makeup collection? Never in my wildest imagination did I think there would be anything from this prestigious brand sitting in my beauty room. The reason was simple. The price! If you've been reading my blog for a while then you know that I am an advocate for drugstore makeup items but love to mix in higher end products as well. Though splurging on a pricey eyeshadow palette every now and then is fine by me....the prices for Charlotte Tilbury items always seemed to take me by surprise. I have never been able to (or willing to) justify spending $60-70 on an eyeshadow quad. Or $45 on a nude lipstick. There always seemed to be more exciting or more affordable items to choose from. Though I'd long been curious about the brand, it just seemed out of the cards for me. Until my sister gifted me the Mini Hot Lips Charms set during the holiday season. Though they have been in my possession for a while now, it is only more recently that I truly started putting these miniature lipsticks to the test. For a review of the formula as well as a try on of each of the shades...keep reading. 

i followed a colourful makeupbysaz tutorial

Over the years, I have watched a lot of makeup tutorials. Hundreds. Thousands, even. At first this was because my makeup skills were limited. Thanks to places like YouTube, a world of previously unknown information - as well as various skills and techniques - suddenly became available to me. I was entertained, inspired, and constantly learning how to improve my makeup application. One of my very early inspirations? MakeupBySaz. This fabulous YouTuber, blogger, and Instagram creator has been an important part of my journey with makeup. She has taught me skills and has pushed me to be more creative. Most recently, she posted a video titled, "Summer Makeup Using Affordable Products." I watched in awe. Since I had a lot of the products she was using....I thought I would attempt to recreate the look myself.

love it or leave it? myleene klass

Lately, there hasn't been a ton of street style inspiration. Mostly because people haven't been spending much (if any) time outdoors over the last several weeks. So, when I came across a recent ensemble from British celebrity, Myleene Klass, it was exciting. Finally there was something. Something that involved more than a comfy pair of jeans or a hoodie. I didn't realize how much I had been craving style inspiration. That is what inspired this edition of love it or leave it? It is time to find out whether this street style look was fabulous or a total fail.

review: morphe x jeffree star (set & refresh mist)

Setting sprays are tricky. They either work really well or not at all. At least, that has been my experience! Far too many offerings struggle to work effectively...whether they are from the drugstore or a high end beauty counter. The price tag on a setting spray doesn't necessarily speak to the overall effectiveness. Which is why I wasn't sure how the Morphe x Jeffree Star setting spray would perform. The Set & Refresh Mist was given to me by my sister a while back and lately, I have really been putting it to the test. Immediately, this setting spray stood out from the others in my beauty room. Not only did it come in a bright pink box but it boasted a berry scent! How does it perform? Is the scent good or totally out of place? Keep reading for a full review of the product as well as a video highlighting this Morphe collaboration.

inspired by: all things tie dye

Last year, tie dye returned to the fashion scene in a major way. It was one of the hottest trends gracing the Spring 2019 runways. Though many trends were predicted for the current season (including 70s inspired items, tropical prints, and all things mint coloured)....my mind is still focused on tie dye. There is so much to love! Not only is it a nostalgic reference of decades past, it is fun. It is colourful. It is bright. It is exciting. Tie dye is whimsical in every sense of the word. There may be more than a few fashion editors out there eager to move on to the next trend or the hottest new design. As for me? I am holding onto an enduring style that adds some much needed light to the spring and summer season. Currently, tie dye is a serious fashion obsession of mine. Which is why I wanted to do an inspiration post of sorts. These are some of the designs that have been keeping me inspired lately.

brune nail polish review + classic nail look

My last nail polish colour? Black. Before that? Yellow. Before that? Pink. When it comes to nail polish colours, it honestly comes down to whatever I am in the mood for on that particular day. My latest nail polish look was decidedly more neutral. Extremely neutral, in fact. After a couple of weeks with dramatic black nail polish on my fingers...it was time for a change. For something a little more low key. That is why it made sense to put a recent addition to my nail polish collection to the test. Brune is not a brand that I have tried before but their nail polish in the shade 03 was intriguing. I love a neutral nail polish shade every now and again. Especially one that looks clean, classic, and effortlessly put together. How did this nail polish perform? What does the colour look like? Keep reading for all in the information you need about this Brune nail polish.

how to wear a statement lipstick with confidence

Blend in? Never. Though in my day to day life, my personality is more than content to blend in and hide in the shadows...when it comes to my makeup? Bolder is better. Dramatic smokey eyes, thick winged liner, and rainbow lipstick colours are all fair game. Ultra natural is rarely my go-to. Perhaps that explains why statement lipstick looks always inspire me. That concentrated placement of colour can be so unexpected and inspiring. It is especially powerful during the spring and summer months when bright pinks and purples are even more so in style. Eager to wear a bold power lip this season? Keep these tips in mind. They will help you wear a statement lipstick shade with confidence.

essence lash princess mascara (first impressions)

Sometimes, it feels nice to splurge on high end beauty products. Ones with fancy packaging and a from a highly regarded brand. Other times? You just need something affordable and effective. Something that works well and gets the job done. When it comes to mascara....high end isn't usually on my radar. Sure, there are high end options that I like. Examples include Benefit's They're Real and Too Faced's Better Than Sex. However, drugstore options are always preferable. This is partly due to the cost and partly due to the many wonderful drugstore options. (Like my all-time favourite, The Super Sizer from Cover Girl.) Recently, I was able to try out a mascara from Essence. This is an ultra affordable brand that I've had success with over the years.

recent repurchase: 007 for women II perfume

Finishing a bottle of perfume? Doubtful. One of the advantages (or perhaps disadvantages, depending how you choose to look at it) of having such an extensive perfume collection is that I never ever finish anything. That is okay with me. Partly because I love having a wide selection of fragrances to choose from and partly because I love to display all of the beautiful bottles. However, there is one perfume bottle that I managed to empty completely. It became an everyday must wear. Perfect for going to work or writing sessions at home. What was it? 007 for Women II. Believe me, this was a surprise to me as well. Especially because I wouldn't consider myself a fan of the James Bond films. My husband brought home the perfume for me because he is a fan of 007 and thought the bottle looked like something I might want to display. He was right!

review: avon dream in color eye palette

Colourful eyeshadow palettes have become increasingly popular. For a long time, nudes and neutrals were consistently lining store shelves but these days, there has been a surge in brighter, more dynamic offerings. This is true at high end stores as well as at the drugstore. Even Avon is embracing all things colour. Though I do not order from Avon myself...my mom has been a loyal customer for a very long time. Every now and then, she orders me various products she thinks I might like. Most recently, it was the Dream In Colour Eye Palette. This sixteen shade palette was certainly different from other Avon palettes I'd seen, in terms of the packaging and concept. Did it perform well? Has it become a new favourite? Read my full review, see swatches, and check out some of the eyeshadow shades in action.

does it work?? burt's bees renewing algae hydrogel eye mask

Skin care is an important part of any beauty routine. Unfortunately, it often gets put on the back burner in my life. By the end of the day, I am often too worn out to worry much about skin care. So I like to keep it super simple and straight to the point. However, lately my life has been a little bit different. I've had far more time to pamper my skin and focus on TLC. Which is why it seemed like the perfect time to put some of the masks in my collection to use. I started with the Burt's Bees Renewing Algae Hydrogel Eye Mask. This single use under eye mask was definitely intriguing. Simple, easy to use, and natural. So...did it work? Was this eye mask effective? Keep reading to find out how it performed.

catrice x eman strong is beautiful eyeshadow palette (review)

The large majority of my makeup looks lately have been on the simpler side. This is partly due to being indoors most of the time! One of the main eyeshadow palettes I've been reaching for is the Catrice x EMAN Strong Is Beautiful Eyeshadow Palette. It is loaded with warm neutrals and all of those everyday essentials. Recently, I shared a simple makeup tutorial using the product but today, I wanted to talk a little bit about the overall quality. How it performs, which shadows stand out, and the different looks you can create. Here is a full review (complete with swatches) of this affordable drugstore eyeshadow palette.