Wednesday, October 21, 2026

outfit inspired by the fall season.

Fall fashion makes me smile. I love all of the warm colours and chunky sweaters. Lately, my most worn pieces include a thick brown cardigan, dark olive pants, and an assortment of Halloween inspired t-shirts. Comfortable, colourful, and seasonal. It seemed appropriate to bring some of that inspiration to the creation of beauty is art. On that note, here is a fall themed outfit. 

Monday, October 19, 2026

current obsession: warm and cozy items

The world is disappointing sometimes. There are so many people willing to harm others. There are so many people willing to support predators. These people make life feel unsteady, uncomfortable, and unsafe. On one hand, it makes me especially grateful for those who add light and kindness to the world. On the other hand, it is draining knowing that good people seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Perhaps that is the reason I have been seeking out comfort lately. Coziness, safety, warmth. I have been seeking it out in the content I consume, in the music I listen to, and in the items I have around my home. Here are some warm and cozy items that have been making life feel more beautiful lately, despite this imperfect world. 

Friday, October 16, 2026

new in: built in the chaos by ambyr michelle


Beyond the Gates has it all. An amazing cast, interesting storylines, memorable costumes, stunning hairstyles, and bold makeup looks. What a treat to have something wonderful to watch five days a week. Since it premiered in early 2025, there have been a handful of posts about Beyond the Gates on the creation of beauty is art. It is easy to be inspired by such an incredible series! In addition to watching the episodes, it is also fun to follow some of the cast members on various social media platforms. One of my favourite actresses from the show, Ambyr Michelle, has a YouTube channel and recently released her first book, Built in the Chaos. At first, the book was not available in my country, but I was finally able to purchase a copy. 

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

revisited review: my three most used spooky aroma oils

Spooky season is here again. Thank goodness! It has been difficult to make time for all of the Halloween festivities, but I am doing my best to incorporate seasonal moments into my days. One example? The Spooky Aroma Oils set. This is something that I purchased last year (check out that post here) and have made good use of ever since. I love filling my home with different scents. The one that I choose for the day depends entirely on my mood. It might be an essential oil blend, like one from the Spooky Aroma Oils set or one of the many Walt Disney World inspired blends in my collection, or it might be a scented candle from Bath & Body Works. No matter what, there is some sort of wonderful scent making the days feel a little more intentional. On that note, here are three of the most used Spooky Aroma Oils from this Halloween themed set. 

Monday, October 12, 2026

random recent makeup looks.


Sometimes, there are makeup looks that remain on my camera but never make it into an actual blog post. There might have been something specific that I felt like writing about (which ultimately bumped a planned post) or certain makeup photos simply managed to get lost in the shuffle. This post is dedicated to those random makeup looks. Here are a few recent ones. 

Friday, October 9, 2026

fall favourites (decor, home items, and more)

Thank goodness for fall. I am definitely not missing the warm summer months. It has been nice to experience cooler days and see the leaves changing colour. It has also been nice to decorate for fall and enjoy seasonal items. This post is focused on some current fall favourites. There are decor items featured (both old and new) and items that have been adding joy to my days. 

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

fall nail polish colours: modelones gel nail polish kit

Since making the switch to gel nail polish, my nail looks have been a lot more colourful. The switch  has really inspired my creativity. I've created simple patterns using nail brushes and have incorporated nail stickers into some of my nail looks as well. This at home system has worked really well for me so far.  Last month, I wanted to get a head start on spooky season and decided to paint my nails in some fun fall colours. Unfortunately, there were not a lot of suitable options in my gel nail polish collection. (I ended up painting my nails black and bright green as a nod to Frankenstein.) Shortly after, my very thoughtful husband surprised me with a Modelones Gel Nail Polish Kit with twenty fall colours. Here is a closer look at this gel nail set. 

Monday, October 5, 2026

review: vanilla sunrise perfume (forever 21)


There is something thrilling about a new bottle of perfume. It holds so many possibilities! Scents have been found to activate the emotion and memory centers of the brain, which means certain smells can trigger memories or emotional responses. Who knows what memories will be made while wearing the Vanilla Sunrise Eau De Parfum from Forever 21? I am certainly looking forward to finding out. (Fingers crossed the memories are good ones.) Here is a full review of this Forever 21 fragrance. 

Friday, October 2, 2026

fall season reading list (horror, thriller, and mystery novels)


I have been thinking a lot about a quote that I came across recently: "The internet used to be an escape from the real world. Now the real word is an escape from the internet." This is a very accurate statement. At this point, I am so tired of horrible people having platforms and defenders. Of bots and smear campaigns. Of AI slop and misinformation. Of ads and junk mail. Of a million different passwords, apps, and QR codes. Of all of it. On one hand, the internet has made it so much easier to communicate and find community. (It allows me to share this very blog post!) On the other hand, we are being divided and manipulated. It can be hard to find a healthy balance. In recent months, my focus has been on living my life slightly more offline. Instagram notifications are turned off. Emails only come through when I manually check. My phone is left in another room for hours at a time. And reading? It is my reward at the end of the day instead of scrolling and streaming. On that note, a handful of books have been added to my fall season reading list. Here are some books that I will be reading this month...

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

unexpected fall fashion items (mini haul)

There are a few Halloween themed clothing items in my closet. Each year around this time, those items are worn over and over again. I have a stretched out skull sweatshirt that has been in my wardrobe for at least fifteen years in addition to a Haunted Mansion shirt, Scream shirt, Hocus Pocus shirt, Halloween shirt, and a couple of other seasonal items. There are also some plaid button downs that are in the rotation as well. This year, my husband saw an online ad for fall themed shirts and ordered a few items without telling me. It was such a nice surprise! Here is a closer look at some unexpected fall fashion items. 

Monday, September 28, 2026

review: colossal bubble mascara from maybelline


Every now and then, it is nice to use something a little bit different. When it comes to mascara, the darkest black possible is normally my must have. I love the contrast between that an ultra dark mascara and a colourful assortment of eyeshadows. This time around, I decided to use the "brownish black" version of the Colossal Bubble Mascara from Maybelline, which allowed me to step ever so slightly out of my comfort zone. The brownish black colour also seemed like it would pair well with some of the warmer fall makeup looks on the horizon. Curious about this drugstore mascara? Keep reading for a full review.

Friday, September 25, 2026

fall inspired #FOTD (warm and wearable colours)


There have been a few bumps in the road this month, but the arrival of the fall season has been lifting my spirits. Fingers crossed the rest of the month (and all of October) is much better. For now, it is time to dive headfirst into the promise of a fresh start with a fall inspired #FOTD. This look makes use of a few favourites and a newer eyeshadow palette in my collection.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

fun and easy ways to start the fall season right.

Autumn...the season that teaches us to let go. It feels like I can breathe a little easier now that the fall season has arrived. I find there is a special kind of magic in the air on cloudy grey days. Listening to the rain fall softly and watching the leaves start to turn colour renews me. It is during this time of year that I step into the best version of myself and find that I am a little more hopeful than I was before. Whether you love this time of year or are already missing those warm summer temperatures, it is possible to start the fall season off on the right foot. Here are some fun and easy ways to make the most of autumn.

Monday, September 21, 2026

random winners fall haul

It was around ten o'clock in the morning on a random weekend when my parents reached out asking if I wanted to visit a local Winners with them. My mom was looking for some birthday gifts for family friends and thought I might like to join them. Even though I had a lot of items on my to-do list that day, a bit of time was spent browsing the aisles. There was all sorts of fall decor that was fun to look at - and there were a few random items added to the shopping cart. Here is a look at this fall haul.

Friday, September 18, 2026

mini review and makeup look (la colors matte lipstick)


It is hard to ignore the colour purple, especially when it comes to beauty products. During the cottage vacation that my family took a few months back, we visited an assortment of small town shops. Though we mostly went to thrift stores, there was an affordable store located in Fenelon Falls that had a little bit of everything available. That is where the LA Colors Matte Lipstick in the shade Entice caught my eye. Purple makeup will always be my weakness! Find out how this matte lipstick performed.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

random beauty favourites.


It is interesting that certain items seem to stand out at different times. For whatever reason, there are five beauty favourites that have become musts in my recent routine. Perhaps it has to do with the approaching fall season, but darker makeup looks have been making me feel my best. Ready to take a closer look at these beauty favourites? Keep reading for all the details. 

Monday, September 14, 2026

library book show and tell


I had not been to the library in quite some time. Life got busy and there were already unread books on my bookshelf simply waiting to be opened. Then, on a grey and rainy morning, my husband suggested that we browse the stacks. It was a thrill to be back in the library, surrounded by so many exciting reads. My intention was to search for some non-fiction books, since my 20/20 reading goal for the year has been a little lopsided so far. (I have already read more than 20 fiction books but am falling further behind on my non-fiction reads.) In the end, I found myself distracted by all sorts of mystery novels, but there was one non-fiction book added to the pile. It is time for a library book show and tell, complete with mini reviews of each.

Friday, September 11, 2026

review: kim chi x ketnipz (rainbow sharts shadow palette)

It has been a little while since there was an exciting beauty find at Winners, but then an eyeshadow palette from Kim Chi Chic Beauty caught my eye. (The pastel colours, pink packaging, and cartoons certainly made this item eye-catching.) I have enjoyed several items from Kim Chi Chic Beauty in the past and this discounted beauty find presented an opportunity to put something else from the brand to the test. The eyeshadow palette name might be a little bizarre, but the eyeshadow colours and overall design are a lot of fun. On that note, here is everything you need to know about the Rainbow Sharts Shadow Palette. 

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

toys r us and hmv closing sale haul.

All good things must come to an end. With more and more Toys 'R' Us locations closing down in Canada, it was only a matter of time before the one nearest to me shut down as well. After hearing about the closure, my husband and I went to see what might remain. Inside of each Toys 'R' Us location is a smaller HMV section with all sorts of music and memorabilia. That was my primary focus. In the past, we have found some records for our collection there, so it made sense to see if there was anything of interest. Thankfully, we were able to find a few items for a steep discount. Most things were 60% off, but there was a Goosebumps hoodie (not pictured) that I found for 80% off. Here is a closer look at this discount entertainment haul. 

Monday, September 7, 2026

shop my stash: super simple vintage inspired makeup look

There are certain makeup looks that I return to whenever I am short on time. In those instances, there are specific eyeshadow palettes that I reach for as well as a handful of other tried and true products. Recently, there was a need to get ready fairly quickly, but I didn't want to do the same old thing. I was looking for something a little more impactful. In the end, it was a super simple vintage inspired makeup look that was created. The eye makeup was fairly straightforward but there was a bold red lipstick chosen to add a little extra oomph. This shop my stash post is dedicated to an easy retro makeup look.