cottage thrift store haul (music, movies, books, and more)

It is no secret that thrift stores and antique stores make me happy. You never know what treasure you might find there! During a recent cottage vacation with some family members, there were several such stores visited in Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon, and Lindsay. I was lucky enough to find some wonderful items to add to my always growing collection of movies, books, and music. 

mini essence essentials haul

Every now and then, some beauty essentials are needed. The eyeshadow primer that I was using ran out, so it was time to check the drugstore offerings. While I was there, it quickly became clear that Essence was the main brand of interest thanks to the affordable price and the assortment of products available. On that note, here is a mini Essence essentials haul.  

opening a surprise bag from ardene.

Generally speaking, surprises are not something that I enjoy. Examples: surprise parties and unplanned events. Thankfully, there are examples of good surprises out there, like this Surprise Bag from Ardene. My friend and I recently went to see the musical, Moulin Rouge, together and stayed overnight at a hotel. She thoughtfully brought a Surprise Bag for each of us to open once we checked in. These bags are always full of random accessories from Ardene - and always feel delightfully nostalgic. It certainly started the experience off on a fun note. Ready to see what was inside this Surprise Bag? 

recent thrifted finds (music and movies)

It is almost impossible for me to leave a thrift store empty handed, especially when there are sections dedicated to music and movies. Well, there is one thrift store near me that is entirely dedicated to music and movies. This is not a place that I am able to visit often, because I am simply unable to hold back seeing so many wonderful items. (Music, movies, and television shows are all weaknesses of mine. I find so much comfort in the words and stories of others.) After several months away, there was a random visit that resulted in an armful of media. It is time to take a closer look at some recent thrifted finds.

makeup essentials (drugstore mini haul)

Every now and then, essential makeup items need to be replaced. I was down to a small piece of the Eyebrow Designer Brow Pencil from Essence (it had gotten so tiny that it was a struggle to sharpen the eyebrow pencil) and realized that a visit to the drugstore was necessary. There were a few other items on my list as well, so the end result was a mini haul of essentials.

show and tell: mascara discovery collection

There are many different mascaras on the market. It can be difficult to know what ones work well and what ones fall flat. Over the years, all sorts of mascaras have been tested here on the creation of beauty is art. However, since the discontinuation (or inability to find) The Super Sizer mascara from Cover Girl, my mascara purchases have become more random. Some more recent standouts include Lash Without Limits from Essence and Exhibitionist Uncensored from Cover Girl, but there is no holy grail mascara for me at this point. The Mascara Discovery Collection could change that. During the holiday season, the Mascara Discovery Collection was gifted to me, and it includes eight mini size mascaras and a coupon that can be redeemed for one full size mascara. Essentially, you test out eight mini mascaras, choose the one you like best, and redeem the card for the mascara of your choice. It is a wonderful way to test out many different formulas. Here are all of the mascaras included in the set.

more vacation highlights: souvenirs from atlantis bahamas

It is near impossible to return home from a vacation without at least a few souvenirs. My husband and I recently took a trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas (check out that vacation highlights post here if you missed it) and picked up a few themed items. Some were purchased out of necessity and others were fun treats. On that note, here are the souvenirs that I chose to take back.

unexpected makeup haul (r.e.m. beauty and wet n wild)

It has been a long time since I casually browsed the beauty aisles of the drugstore. Thanks to a generous birthday gift from one of my oldest friends, there was a gift card burning a hole in my pocket - and I was all too eager to put to good use. That is how this unexpected makeup haul came to be. Keep reading for a closer look at these Wet n Wild and r.e.m. beauty products.

thrifted christmas finds (music and movies)

Ahh...how I love thrift stores. There are all sorts of hidden treasures inside. One of my favourite thrift stores only carries media (CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs, and records) but it is not somewhere that I am able to visit often. This is because armfuls of items come home with me every single time. However, every now and then, I am treated to a quick browse. The last time that I visited, there were all sorts of holiday items available. On that note, here are some recent thrifted Christmas finds. 

random drugstore makeup haul (nyx, maybelline, and l'oreal)

While out and about looking for Christmas gifts (my intention is to have all of the holiday shopping done by December 1st, so there is time to decorate, watch movies, and spend time with loved ones) an unexpected extra was purchased. A random assortment of drugstore makeup items were tossed into a clear pouch and marked down to $9 CDN at Winners. There appeared to be a lot of products well suited to my makeup preferences. At such a low price, it was a nice way to spoil myself without feeling too guilty about it. Ready to take a look at what was included? Here is a random drugstore makeup haul. 

mini spirit halloween haul.

If left alone in a Spirit Halloween store for too long, my bill could easily be hundreds and hundreds of dollars. There is so much to see and enjoy! I love Halloween decorations, themed clothes, and many beloved seasonal franchises. This is why my husband is normally present when I make my annual visit. He is able to remind me that our home only has so much room available. Even though there were a million other items that I would have loved to take home (like Halloween themed blankets, Hocus Pocus home decor items, and everything Trick 'r Treat), three items were deemed essential seasonal additions.

spooky season makeup items (mini drugstore haul)

The month of September is coming to a close...and that means the official start of spooky season is on the horizon. Though I have been wearing Halloween themed t-shirts throughout the month of September and have already made impressive progress on my seasonal movie watch list, October is the month when spooky and scary thrive. Even beauty products are ready to make October a month to remember. Here are some drugstore items that were recently added to my makeup collection. 

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. 

christmas in july part one: bath and body works semi-annual sale

Christmas In July is officially celebrated on July 25th, but thanks to an unexpected holiday release from Bath & Body Works, there are going to be two Christmas In July posts this year on the creation of beauty is art. My husband and I were out running errands a few weeks back and saw that Bath & Body Works was having a semi-annual sale. I love Bath & Body Works products (everything smells so good) but normally stock up in the fall and winter because the seasonal scents are my preference. We decided to walk through just to browse...but then found there were all sorts of Christmas In July themed items available. 

walt disney world week: souvenirs

There are all sorts of stores in Walt Disney World. In fact, everywhere you turn, there seems to be someone selling something. Popcorn, Mickey shaped pretzels, drinks, t-shirts, pins, and all sorts of other odds and ends. It was hard not to pull my wallet out at every opportunity. Though I did my best not to overindulge, there were a few items that came home with me from my vacation. It was mostly clothes, but there were some other fun souvenirs that were included as well. Take a look....

hair product haul: haircare haven beauty bundle

The relationship with my hair has been complicated lately. Now that I am needing to dye it on a semi-regular basis (thanks to the grey hairs that have decided to take over)...there have been all sorts of frustrations. Like the medium brown hair dye that I used several months back. Despite the name "medium brown," it turned my hair almost black. I was looking for something similar to my natural colour, but this was not at all similar, and the colour refused to fade. More recently, attempts have been made to address the dark colour, but the results have been mixed. All of the products used (like Color Oops) have left my hair feeling dry and looking a little frizzy. Thankfully, my mom gifted me the Haircare Haven Beauty Bundle for Easter. It includes all sorts of haircare products. As I continue to work on addressing the hair colour issue, it is important to focus on the overall condition of my hair as well. This post is a little show and tell to highlight the products included in this set. In the future, there will be a review of all the different haircare products. Ready to take a look inside? Here is everything that was included...

bath and body works: post-holiday sale haul

It is always nice when at-home favourites are on sale. Bath & Body Works is one of my most visited stores, but mainly around the holiday season. I love all of the products that are available (candles, body wash, soap, lotion, body mist, and all the rest) and often purchase enough seasonal releases to last me the rest of the year. Though the spring and summer products are lovely and refreshing...fall and winter is my time to shine. I recently decided to look at the Bath & Body Works website on a whim. This is not something I have ever done before, as I always purchase products in-store. But for whatever reason, I decided to see if there were any holiday items left. Turns out, there were, and those items were nicely discounted. There were many items that tempted me, but in the end, it was the Wallflowers refills that I decided to purchase. Wallflowers are essentially room fragrances. Scents make me happy and so I often have a Wallflower plugged in. These were on sale for $3.50 CDN (normally $8.95 CDN) and were all holiday inspired. In the end, fifteen were purchased, so I am now fully stocked.

recent thrifted finds (records, cds, vhs, and dvds)

I am a physical media kind of person. Though many of my friends think I am strange for preferring a CD or cassette to a Spotify account, there is something to be said for owning music. Streaming feels so disposable to me. It is there one day and gone the next! Though there are certainly advantages to streaming, it is nice to own things, too. One of the many reasons that I love thrift stores is that I can find all sorts of treasures for much lower prices. A little while back, my husband took me to one of my favourite stores, which sells used CDs, records, DVDs, and more. This is unfortunately not a place that I visit often (because a ton of stuff always seems to come home with me) but it is a wonderful treat every now and then. Ready to take a look at this thrifted media haul? There is a little bit of everything. Here are all of the wonderful items that I found...

beauty show and tell: back to school pencil case beauty bundle

Things that make me happy? Beauty products, stationary supplies, and fun little surprises from my husband. The Back to School Pencil Case Beauty Bundle managed to check off all three boxes. After seeing this item on sale at the local drugstore...my husband brought it home for me. Just because. It was so thoughtful and certainly appreciated. So, this post is a little show and tell to highlight all of the different beauty products found inside this oh-so-cute pencil shaped case. 

show and tell: back to school beauty bundle

The words "back to school" have not been in my vocabulary for quite some time. Clearly, my student days are well behind me at this point! Despite this, the Back to School Beauty Bundle was seriously tempting. This set came with an assortment of skin care and makeup items all in a cute pink mini backpack. Keep reading to see what is included and what items I can't wait to try.