fall week: early fall favourites (movies, makeup, and more)

At last, the first day of fall has arrived. Though my apartment is already decorated (for both fall and Halloween) and sweaters have been an essential part of my daily routine for the last several weeks, it is only now that autumn has officially started. That means now it is possible to enjoy pumpkin spice flavors without guilt. It is the ideal time to take photographs of the leaves changing colour and to start on that seasonal to-do list. To start this fall theme week, here are some early fall favourites.

current obsession: rare eau de parfum and fragrance layering balm

There have been Sephora gift cards burning a hole in my wallet for months and months and months. Despite this, there hasn't been anything that really caught my eye. (Or if it did, the product didn't seem to be in stock.) When the Rare Beauty perfume, Rare Eau de Parfum, was released, it was a no brainer. I love perfume, Rare Beauty products, and Selena Gomez. Unfortunately, it was harder to use my Sephora gift cards than anticipated. The perfume was sold out online and in every store that I visited. In fact, even the tester bottle was completely empty. When my mom was out and about, she happened to find one of the layering balms and purchased it for me. Finally, I was able to find one of the travel sized versions of the Rare Eau de Parfum and used some gift cards to add it to my collection. Keep reading for a review of the perfume and one of the layering balms.

testing out fashionable fidget rings

There is a PopSocket on the back of my cell phone. Throughout the day, that PopSocket is popped back and forth, over and over again. While this is a functional item that makes it possible to hold onto my phone with ease, it is also a satisfying source of distraction when my anxiety spikes. Knowing this, my husband decided to look into fidget rings that could provide that same source of distraction. He found a set with several different options so I could test them out and see which style was best. Curious about fidget rings and whether they will work for you? Here is a closer look at each of the ring styles and a mini review.

mini reviews: three l'oreal mascaras

There are so many mascaras out there. Finding ones that stand out can involve a little trial and error. Ever since my favourite mascara was discontinued, there have been a handful of others involved in my makeup routine. The one that I have been reaching for most often is the Lash Without Limits Mascara from Essence. However, there are a few others that have been put to the test as well thanks to a Costco set that my parents purchased for me. It included three different L'Oreal mascaras. 

small town shopping haul (books, music, and movies)

I cannot be trusted in thrift stores, antique stores, or anywhere that sells music, movies, and books. This is clear based on the shopping that I did during the recent cottage trip with my family. Though the cottage is still not my favourite place to be (unfamiliar location, nature, mosquitos, and all the rest) there are usually some good finds at the various stores nearby. Sadly, my favourite store, Kicking Cowgirl Designs closed down, but there were still some fun items that were brought home. 

rediscovered beauty favourite: maybelline color tattoo

Reunited and it feels so good. It has been a very long time since I saw the Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow from Maybelline available to purchase. Though the line may not be discontinued, it hasn't been at any drugstore near me in years and years. In fact, it wasn't the drugstore that allowed me to rediscover this beloved beauty product. While on the cottage trip with my family, we drove into one of the nearby towns and ended up browsing a Winners store. There were these clear zipped bags with an assortment of different drugstore products inside. As I looked through the different options, the Color Tattoo caught my eye. It was an immediate purchase. I was so excited, especially because the colour was my old favourite, Tough As Taupe. 

my chemical romance (concert review and makeup look)

Black nail polish, a worn out My Chemical Romance hoodie, and tens of thousands of fans. Ahh...bliss. Right before my husband and I went to join my family at a rented cottage, we spent the evening seeing one of my all-time favourite bands: My Chemical Romance. I first started listening to them back in my university days and have been a huge fan ever since. When the Long Live The Black Parade tour was first announced, it was a no brainer to look into concert tickets. Though the prices were high (thanks to dynamic pricing), the decision was made to treat myself to a set of terrible seats in an absolutely massive venue. Logical? Perhaps not, but The Black Parade is my favourite album from MCR, and all logic seemed to disappear. Was it worth the price? Did the show meet my expectations? Keep reading for a mini concert review and makeup look.

my seasonal reading list (fall 2025)

There is nothing better than a theme. Since my mind is already focused on fall, it only made sense to bring that theme into my reading list. I have taken the shop my stash idea to my bookshelves to create a spooky seasonal book list. Some of these books are ones that I have read before and some are ones that I have not had a chance to read yet....but each book was chosen specifically to make the most of the fall season. Keep reading to take a peek at my book list for the next couple of months. 

#FOTD: burgundy makeup look

It is always interesting to see what colours will be popular when a new season rolls around. During a trip to a nearby shopping mall recently, there were all sorts of burgundy pieces lining store windows. From fast fashion to higher end brands, there was burgundy all over the place. I can understand why. It is a beautiful colour that fits in well with the fall season. Given the popularity of this colour, it seemed only right to look through my makeup collection and create a #FOTD that highlighted this warm seasonal shade. Ready to take a look? Here is a #FOTD featuring some items from my makeup collection.

september shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Okay, it isn't the holiday season yet, but the first of the "ber" months (September, October, November, and December) has finally arrived. I could not be more thrilled. Though summer is still holding strong with warm weather and sunshine, it does my heart good to know that sweater weather and brightly coloured leaves are just around the corner. Fall is such a special time of year - and my appreciation for it continues to grow as time passes. I love the cooler temperatures, the grey overcast days, cozy blankets, and pumpkin spice everything. To welcome in the month of September properly, this post is dedicated to some seasonal affirmations and tag questions. Make it a September to remember...