nail polish review: essie have a ball collection (part two)

Honestly? My nails have never looked better. This is the first time in a long time that I have consistently maintained my nail polish. It might have something to do with the Essie Have a Ball Nail Polish collection. Not only do these polishes have impressive longevity and durability, but the colours are so fun and exciting. This has really motivated me to be consistent and make sure my nails are always looking their best. In the first part of my three part review, it was all about Love-All Game and Have a Ball. Those shades were ridiculously bright, colourful, and bold. This time? It is all about the white and purple nail polish colours included in the collection. Curious about how they perform? What these colours look like on the nails? Here is everything you need to know about these fabulous Essie nail polishes....

warm fall makeup look (shop my stash)

Obsessed with fall? Me? Okay...I admit it. My obsession has gotten a little out of hand this year. Though I have always loved the fall season (there is so much to smile about: cozy sweaters, crisp morning air, falling leaves, and the fact that both my birthday and Halloween take place in the fall), this season, I am completely and totally obsessed. Maybe it just feels nice to have something to look forward to. Or it might have something to do with the fact that I decided this fall would be wonderful. Whatever the reason, my home is decorated with autumn decor and my makeup has gone full blown autumn. Recently, I pulled together a super simple but super fall inspired makeup look using a combination of drugstore and high end items. Ready to see how this warm fall makeup turned out? Find out more about the products used? Keep reading....

review: too faced pretty mess eyeshadow palette

Spoiler alert: the Pretty Mess eyeshadow palette from Too Faced has become one of my all-time favourite palettes. And that is saying something! This is the ultimate glamorous nude palette and it really has it all. Cute packaging? Check. Bold and easy to wear colours? Check. The best dark brown eyeshadow ever? Check! Truly....this palette is a love of mine. It was something that I stumbled across several months back on a rare outing. Since then, I have been putting it to good use, and falling more and more in love with the incredible shadows inside. Ready to take a look inside? Find out why this palette stands out from the rest? Here is everything you need to know about the Too Faced Pretty Mess eyeshadow palette. 

how to make fall fashion staples stand out

Every season has those must-have fashion items. Those staples that appear year after year after year. In winter, there are always stylish boots and sparkling sweaters. In spring, pastels and floral prints are a must. In summer, denim shorts and tank tops never look out of place. Now that fall is officially here? It is time to welcome in all of those familiar seasonal pieces. This year, make sure those fall fashion staples stand out for all the right reasons. Not sure how? Breathe easy. Here are some tips and tricks that will elevate your style throughout the autumn season. 

early fall favourites (candles, makeup, and more!)

Today is the day. Officially. September 22nd marks the first day of fall. That means from here on out, everything is pumpkin spice and oversized sweaters. Nothing could please me more! In all honesty, I've had a bit of autumn decor out since earlier in the month. Just a tablecloth and some fall themed decor pieces...but still, it is nice to decorate the home. Though this is the first official day of a new season, mentally, I have been in full-blown fall mode for the last couple of weeks. So, I wanted to share some early fall favourites. There are candles, decor pieces, beauty items, and more. 

end of summer highlights + cottage vlog video

Summer is almost over. There are only two days left until the official first day of fall. It's hard to believe! The summer went by so quickly, but at the same time, I am ridiculously excited about the start of the autumn season. So long shorts and tank tops...hello sweaters and scarves. Recently, I have been taking time to squeeze in those last few summer experiences and even revisit my cottage vacation. Ready to find out how my summer season ended? How I said goodbye to those last lingering moments of sunshine? Here are a few end of summer highlights as well as a cottage vlog video. 

start the season right with ninacloak

The countdown is officially on. Autumn begins in just three short days. Though the weather has been a little inconsistent lately (some days, it is on the chilly side, and other days, it is absolutely roasting)....my mind is in full-blown fall mode. It has always been one of my favourite times of year. There is so much to love! More mild temperatures, cozy autumn decor in the home, and of course, fantastic fall fashion. The latter is especially exciting. Since my fall obsession is already full underway, it only makes sense that my style matches. I am eagerly looking for fabulous fall pieces to make my seasonal looks stand out. In particular, there are some fall coloured sweaters that I am on the hunt for. On the plus side? There is always Ninacloak. 

love it or leave it? bella hadid 2000s fashion

Sometimes, supermodels run in the family. That is certainly true for the Hadid sisters, Bella and Gigi. Their mother, Yolanda Hadid, is also a former model...and more importantly, used to star on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Recently, Bella stepped out in New York City wearing an outfit that took me back to the 2000s in a very real way. It was a flashback of sorts! Curious about the 00s inspired look? Whether it is a love it or leave it? Lets take a look at what one of the most well-known supermodels in the world has been wearing out and about lately. 

foundation review: kvd good apple skin-perfecting foundation balm

Kat Von D was one of my favourite makeup brands. Over the years, there were many many reviews of the products here on the creation of beauty is art. Then....things changed. Did I still love the products? Yes. The brand owner? Not so much. So it was almost a relief when Kat Von D was bought out and the brand became KVD instead. It meant I could still enjoy all of those wonderful products. (This particular high-end brand has the absolutely best shade selection when it comes to lip products. There are vibrant purples, blacks, greens, blues, and every colour in between. Definitely a great way to make a statement!) More recently, the Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm was released to an awful lot of buzz and fanfare. Early reviewers were impressed by how full coverage the foundation was. However, as time went on, there were lots of negative reviews thrown into the mix as well. I have to say....I was curious. Very curious. Are you wondering how this foundation balm performs? Here is everything you need to know about this much talked about product from KVD. 

bath & body works: fall scented hand soaps

Bath & Body Works has been out of my reach for a very long time. Due to the pandemic, lockdowns, and then trying not to leave the house often...it just wasn't possible. But recently, my mom and I visited the nearby shopping mall for the first time since some of the restrictions lifted. The last time we visited the mall was about a month and a half earlier, and there were tight restrictions on the number of people who could be in a store at a time. Bath & Body Works had an absolutely massive line and I did not want to wait for hours to buy soap. So, we skipped it. This time, we were able to walk right into the store. That in itself was special. This pandemic has really made me appreciate those little experiences! While at Bath & Body Works, there was a sale on hand soap. Though I also wanted to take home all the candles....I tried to focus on what I actually needed. And what I needed was the amazing Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap that I have missed so much over the last year or so.

review + makeup look (too faced let's play on-the-fly palette)

Nothing makes me feel quite as wonderful as Too Faced. Their products always add a little extra light to my days. From the cute packaging to the inventive themes and the beautiful colours...there is so much to love. Not long ago, my husband and I were out and saw a little stand of Too Faced products. He said, "Go pick something," and that is how the Too Faced Let's Play On-The-Fly Eye Shadow Palette came into my life. It was a lovely and unexpected treat! Why did I choose this palette instead of the others? Well, it was a nice compact size, was themed around an old school Gameboy, and was bubble gum scented. Check, check, and check. Here is everything you need to know about this cute and colourful eyeshadow palette. 

what i've been watching lately (late summer edition)

Ahh...television. My comfort. My happy place. There is something so calming and relaxing about unwinding with a bit of television at the end of the day. Though I haven't had as much time as I would like to sit back and relax with my favourite shows, there have certainly been a few priorities lately. These shows (new and old) have been adding lots of joy to my life. Ready to find out what has been making me so happy? Here are some of the television shows that I have been watching lately.

#FOTD + mini reviews (burt's bees and eyeko london)

There is nothing better than free makeup. During the summer, one of my closest friends gave me a few items that she did not want from one of her subscription boxes. One item was the Burt's Bees Liquid Lipstick in the shade Peony Puddle and the other was the Eyeko London Double Act Shadow Stick. Finally, I was able to put both of those items to the test in a recent #FOTD look. It was simple and understated, but ideal for a casual night in with my husband. Curious about how these two makeup products perform? Here is everything you need to know about the eyeshadow stick and liquid lipstick.

2 looks 1 palette: coca cola x morphe eyeshadow palette

I went (mostly) makeup free for about a week thanks to the heat. The temperatures were intense and the air conditioner in my apartment just could not manage to keep up. That meant there were some very hot days....and very little makeup. Thankfully, the intense heat has broken and I have been able to enjoy the process of applying makeup once again. The Coca Cola x Morphe Eyeshadow Palette has been helping me to celebrate this shift in the weather. If you recall from my mini review post, this particular eyeshadow palette is loaded with lots of beautiful earthy colours inspired by the 1970s. So, I spent time putting those warm and wearable shades to use for the latest 2 looks 1 palette post. 

fashion obsession: kicking cowgirl designs

Shopping has long been a love of mine. Due to the pandemic, shopping trips have been extremely minimal over the last year and a half or so. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times that I have been able to do a bit of retail therapy. On the plus side? I can add one more shopping trip to that list. Recently, my family and I went to a cottage just outside of Bobcaygeon for a week. We went into town twice during that time - once to look around and once to return to a particular store. The name of that store? Kicking Cowgirl Designs. It was love at first browse. The first time that my mom and I went into the store, we didn't even look at everything that was there because I wanted it all. This post is dedicated to my new favourite store (which is thankfully too far away for me to visit on a regular basis) and the items that came home with me from Kicking Cowgirl Designs.

hello september + cottage vacation highlights

One very serious question: how on earth is it September already? Where did the time go? Perhaps it has to do with the fact that this has been another rather unusual season. Normally, the last days and weeks of summer are spent at concerts, amusement parks, and lots of outdoor events. This year? COVID-19 cases are climbing in my province and it feels like this pandemic will never end. I remember last year at this time, it seemed certain that summer 2021 would be overloaded with fun-filled activities and get-togethers with friends. The reality is drastically different. At any rate....there is something wonderful about the start of a new month. Not only does it feel like a fresh chapter but this particular month also signals the start of the fall season. The first day of autumn in September 22 and I cannot wait.