review: ultimate neons (pretty pink shadow palette)

When life feels dark and gloomy...colour is a must. As mentioned in previous posts, there have been some health issues with a loved one recently and my life has been upside down ever since. I am worn thin. It feels like I am losing little bits and pieces of myself. Thank goodness there is makeup to infuse colour, hope, and joy into my days. A little while back, the Ultimate Neons Shadow Palette from Revolution caught my eye. I instantly liked the combination of colours. The Pretty Pink palette reminded me of a Lizzie McGuire episode in the best possible way. It felt nostalgic and fun. Colourful and creative. With life seeming so unpredictable lately, nostalgia is in high demand. No wonder this is the eyeshadow palette that I have been reaching for lately. Find out how the Ultimate Neons Shadow Palette from Revolution performs and check out a recent makeup look. 

theme week: the breakfast club x physicians formula (eyeshadow)

Don't you forget about me....don't, don't, don't, don't. As this theme week dedicated to The Breakfast Club x Physicians Formula collection comes to a close, it seems like an appropriate time to mention the iconic song from Simple Minds that is forever associated with the movie. There is an awful lot to love about The Breakfast Club. Soundtrack included! Now back to the beauty products. Ready to find out how the Being Bad Feels Pretty Good Eyeshadow Palette performs? Keep reading...

theme week: the breakfast club x physicians formula (face palettes)

There are an awful lot of products in The Breakfast Club x Physicians Formula collection. Mascara, lipstick, eyeshadow, and two different face palettes. Spoiler alert: the face palettes are the clear standouts. In the past, there have been a handful of products from Physicians Formula that I have loved, including the Butter Collection. I was impressed with the bronzer, blush, and highlight included in that set...and the same is true this time around. Ready to take a look inside the Saturday Detention Face Palette Volume 1 and Volume 2? Keep reading for a review of each face palette and a recent makeup look.

theme week: the breakfast club x physicians formula (mini reviews)

"You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms. In the most convenient definitions." Though I can't remember the first time that I watched The Breakfast Club, I have many memories of watching it over the years. It used to play on television just about every weekend when I was a teenager, so plenty of my Sunday afternoons were spent learning from Claire, Bender, Brian, Allison, and Andy. It has long been one of my favourite movies, as so many John Hughes films seem to be. When my mom and I had a belated Valentine's Day celebration together, she gifted me a Physicians Formula set themed around The Breakfast Club. That visit was the last time things felt normal, so this theme week is a little bittersweet. Bitter, because so much has changed since that day. Sweet, because I recognize how lucky I am to have had lots of special celebrations with my family over the years. Despite the fact that there are still a lot of unknowns at the moment, my intention is to make sure the posts this week are full of love and nostalgia. The first post in this theme week is dedicated to the collection and a few mini reviews. In the days to come, there will be even more makeup reviews and makeup looks highlighting the different products.

fun spring fashion trends for 2025.

The spring season is often associated with soft pastel colours. This year? The spring fashion trends are a little bit different. From dark romance to exaggerated accessories, there is a lot that makes the latest trends stand out compared to years past. Though it is hard to believe spring is officially here...we are starting to dip our toes into the months most often associated with sunshine and flowers. On that note, it is time to get inspired. Here are some fun spring fashion trends for 2025. 

review and reveal: charmed aroma aladdin candle

Though the Charmed Aroma store in my area closed last year, every now and then, someone orders me something from the brand online. For Valentine's Day, a loved one gifted me the Aladdin Genie Lamp Jewelry Candle. It was very exciting to receive because I love candles, jewellery, and Disney movies. It really checked all of the boxes. Ready to learn more about this Aladdin inspired candle? Find out about the candle scent and what was inside? Keep reading for a Charmed Aroma review and reveal.  

look up at the night sky and lose yourself for a while.

2025 started off fairly strong. I was making steady progress on various personal goals (like organizing my computer, backing up photos, working on my book, and exercising consistently) and then life took a turn. Between horrific world leaders, threats to the economy, and a society determined to move backwards, there was already a lot to handle emotionally. Then a loved on started having health issues. The last several weeks have involved hospital visits and an assortment of related tasks, like checking in on the dog, cleaning the house, and making arrangements. Needless to say, 2025 has not been what I hoped it would be. At least, not so far. There are a lot of unknowns right now and that is something that I am really struggling with. I do not deal well with change in general and it seems a ginormous bucket of change has been dumped on my lap. I don't know how to make sense of it. My instinct is to freeze in place and pretend that none of this is real, but it is, and there is so much that needs to be done. I keep moving somehow, despite being overwhelmed, anxious, and desperate to hide under my comforter forever. Normally, this would be a colourful post in honour of St. Patrick's Day. There would be lots of green and gold. Unfortunately, this is not that kind of post. Truth be told, I am still trying to sort out how I feel. I am stilling trying to wrap my head around what comes next. While I do that...here are some photos and quotes that have been inspiring me lately. 

#FOTD feat. nyx machinist shadow palette (steam)

Cool toned eyeshadows make my heart happy. Even though I adore warm colours (especially once the summer season rolls around) it is cool toned beauty products that have been really making me smile. That is the reason the NYX Machinist Shadow Palette in Steam has been a standout recently. There are so many cool colours to choose from. Pun intended! Ready to take a look inside? Check out a recent #FOTD? Here is everything you need to know about this steampunk themed release.

what i've been watching lately (movies and television shows)

What have you been watching lately? Though spring is right around the corner, the weather remains wet and cool. That makes it extra enticing to stay inside and unwind with a good movie or show. There is nothing better than an clear schedule, a warm blanket, and some entertainment. On that note, here are some of the things that I have been watching lately.

review: kylie cosmetics (wisp lash mascara)

Over the years, many mascaras have been put to the test and reviewed on the creation of beauty is art. My all-time favourite was The Super Sizer from Cover Girl, but it doesn't seem to be available in stores and says "Out of Stock" on the Cover Girl website. I assume it has been discontinued, because whenever I find an essential beauty item, it seems to be reformulated or discontinued. Sigh! There have been a few mascaras that have impressed since, but none as much as The Super Sizer. Recently, I was able to put the Wisp Lash Mascara from Kylie Cosmetics to the test. Curious? Keep reading for a full review...

inspired by: jane fonda

In recent months, I have thought a lot about what I do not want in my life anymore. For example, what no longer serves me, what I want to avoid, and what makes life harder. However, I realized the other day that it is equally important to think about what I do want in my life. Jane Fonda falls into the latter category. I have been a fan of hers for many years, thanks to her film career, workout videos, books, and remarkable advocacy work. She has never shied away from using her voice and standing up for what she believes in. If only there were more people like Jane in this world! She has truly made it a better place. In an effort to prioritize what is meaningful, an inspiration post was the obvious choice. Here is a little Jane Fonda fabulousness....

urban decay all nighter setting spray (rediscovered review)

Is it possible to have beauty product nostalgia? If it is, then the Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray falls into that category for me. I have so many memories from my younger years that include this setting spray. Like taking a trip to Las Vegas with my best friend at the time where we spent lots of time in the Sephora store testing out all sorts of products. Or setting my makeup for a night out with friends. Ahh...the olden days. As the years passed, different setting sprays came and went. Some were effective and others were not. It was a thrill to receive a mini version of the Urban Decay spray in the Back to School Beauty Bundle several months back. I have been getting reacquainted with this old favourite ever since. 

current favourite scents (perfumes and body mists)

Truth be told, life has felt a little dark lately. In fact, the whole world has felt a little dark lately. World events, election results, and an uncertain future that stretches out in front of us all...it is a lot to take in. Some days, my solution is to bury my head in the sand and re-watch comfort shows in bed. Other days, my brain is in overdrive, trying to plan and organize and push back wherever possible. I seem to sway between the two extremes over and over again. It is exhausting. I am exhausted. It is hard to hold onto hope in such a broken society. Despite the difficulty, I am still trying. I am doing what I can to focus on gratitude. I am holding my loved ones a little tighter. And I am using scents to calm my anxious mind. On that note, here are my current favourite scents. Some are perfumes and some are body mists, but each one makes this dark world a little more beautiful.