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.

the second half of my main street melts order.

Back in November, several fragrance oils from Main Street Melts were featured on the creation of beauty is art. (As a reminder, these are theme park inspired scents. I fell in love with the brand shortly after visiting Walt Disney World last year. In a post-Walt Disney World blues state of mind, my sad scrolling led me to an Etsy shop that sold scents inspired by some of my favourite rides, restaurants, and theme park treats. The first post about Main Street Melts Candle Co. can be seen here.) In that last post, there were all sorts of fragrance oils featured...and some that were intended to be reviewed in a part two. It is finally time for part two of that previous Main Street Melts haul. Here are some more theme park scent reviews.

hard candy: skin serenity set (a vanilla dream)

Hard Candy is a must around the holiday season. It has always been exciting to see the different sets and seasonal releases from this drugstore brand. Some years, there were so many options available, it was difficult to know what to choose. This year? There were two different skin care sets and no seasonal makeup items. (At least in the stores that I visited that happen to carry the brand.) I am trying to be more mindful about my purchases, which can be difficult at times, but the Skin Serenity Set checked off some boxes for me. There were two different scents. The vanilla one, A Vanilla Dream, stood out to me, because this last year, vanilla scented products have been some of my most used. It is time to take a closer look at this seasonal set. 

staying organized in 2026 (ban.do planner and daily journal)

Now that there is a shiny new year underway, it seems like an appropriate time to highlight some of the organizational items that will be with me throughout 2026. Planners and notebooks are essential for me to stay focused, track to-do list items, and make sure important tasks are not forgotten. Some people like to use calendars on their phone or to set various reminder alarms, but I am an old school pen and paper kind of person. Here is a closer look at my organizational tools for the year. 

more main street melts candle co. fragrance oils

After my last Walt Disney World vacation, it was hard to settle back into real life. Especially knowing it was not a place that I could return for several years. (Partly because Disney is expensive, but mostly because of the political situation over there.) So, it was Main Street Melts Candle Co. that I turned to. Their products made it possible to bring a little bit of Disney magic to my home. The first time around, there were ten fragrance oils added to my Etsy cart. All have been used regularly since that time, but the Spaceship Earth inspired blend was easily the most loved. My bottle reached the halfway point and I decided to purchase a couple of backup bottles. And while I was browsing, I decided to purchase a few Christmas gifts for loved ones. And then I decided to try a few other essential oil blends. Truth be told, my shopping cart got a little out of hand, but I am now stocked up for the foreseeable future. On that note...this is part one of my latest main Street Melts Candle Co. order. The second half will be posted at some point, but for now, it is time to find out more about these theme park inspired scents.

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...

my first order from main street melts candle co.

The post-Walt Disney World blues have been extreme this time around. After a visit to the most magical place on Earth, it is common for me to feel a little sad adjusting back to the real world. However, knowing there will not be a return trip for several years really got me in my feelings. That is how I found myself searching for Walt Disney World inspired scents on Etsy shortly after returning back home. Enter the Main Street Melts Candle Co. The company has all sorts of Disney inspired items, including candles, melts, room sprays, and oils. Since I have a diffuser that has been neglected in recent months, it seemed wise to focus on some of the available oils. Though there were many that caught my eye (and many that will be ordered in the future) my first order included ten different essential oil blends. It took about twenty three days for the oils to arrive, which was not too bad, and everything was well packed. Each essential oil bottle has a cute Disney inspired label and there is a generous amount of oil provided. Keep reading for a mini review of each Main Street Melts Candle Co. item in my order.

affirmations and journal prompts to make the summer season special.

Summer is here. That means sunshine, warm temperatures, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Whether this is your favourite time of year or your least favourite...you deserve to make the most of the season. It can be difficult to do that when your schedule seems too full or there are obstacles in your way. So, do what you can to refocus your mind, reflect, and make the most of the next few months. Here are some positive affirmations and journal prompts to make that process a little bit easier. 

affirmations and quotes for difficult days.

To quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's always one step forward and three steps back. As mentioned in previous posts, a loved one has been in and out of the hospital over the last few months, with the longest stay being about three weeks. It seemed like everything was slowly getting back on track. There was non-linear healing, but positive progress all around. And then it all came crashing down. There is so much uncertainty, not to mention the trauma of watching a loved one struggle both physically and mentally. I am not okay. Life has not been okay lately. It seems that as soon as I start to piece myself back together, as soon as I start to feel some sense of normality creep back in, it all crumbles. So, this post is dedicated to hope. I certainly need it and maybe someone else out there needs it, too. Here are quotes and affirmations to add a little bit of hope to difficult days. 

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.

my new planner + why i love ban.do

The best part of a new year? A new planner. Without one, my days are disorganized and all over the place. I am someone who relies on a planner to keep my brain focused and functioning. I have tried many different kinds over the years, but my favorite brand is ban.do. Unfortunately, there were a couple of years where I was unable to find products from the brand at my local Indigo...and I was unwilling to pay the extra money to ship a heavy planner to my home. I found other alternatives, and those worked well enough, but were not quite as good as the ban.do planners. So, it was downright thrilling to find a small stack of ban.do planners with different cover art at Indigo during the late summer months. (Maybe that is the secret...to shop for a planner in the summer instead of looking for one in the fall. Though this is a 17 month planner, I use it as a 12 month one. There were just no 12 month options available.) Ready to take a peek inside? Here is the 17 Month Planner from ban.do. 

christmas affirmations, journal prompts, and self care ideas

The countdown is officially on. Christmas Day is almost here! I am always surprised at how quickly the latter half of December passes, even though it seems to be this way each and every year. Though there are all sorts of wonderful moments to enjoy and fun items on the seasonal to-do list...this can also be a time of stress and overwhelm. Maybe your calendar looks a little too full this year, you are struggling to finish your holiday shopping, or there is a project at work that seems to have taken over your life. Does it all feel like too much? Take a deep breath in and let it out. You aren't alone. There are ways to manage stress and overwhelm this holiday season. Here are some Christmas themed affirmations, journal prompts, and self care ideas.

affirmations and makeup (ashley strong x morphe affirmation magic)

January is a time of renewal but also of transition. It can be difficult to shift from that go-go-go holiday mindset back to the pace of everyday life. Thankfully, there are ways to address the transition. For some, that means writing out a list of New Year's Resolutions. For others, that means making plans with friends and family members. For me? It involves lots and lots of positive affirmations. After all, what better way to start off a new year than with a healthy dose of positivity? So far this month, it has been a little difficult for me to get back into the groove. My focus is off and I am still dreaming of the magical holiday moments from December. But there are affirmations to help welcome in the positive and focus my mind on all the good things that life has to offer. What does this have to do with makeup? I have been reaching for the Ashley Strong x Morphe Affirmation Magic Artistry Palette a lot lately. In fact, when I found this affirmations inspired eyeshadow palette, it was intentionally set aside so I could lean on it once January rolled around. I wanted to make sure that I started the new year on the right foot. 

journal prompts and affirmations for the fall season.

Ahh...the crisp fall air. There is truly nothing like it. What could be better than a morning walk with a warm sweater while the leaves change colour? Autumn is special. No doubt about it! Since this is such a wonderful time of year, it is important to take a moment to appreciate it all. Something that I like to do as one season shifts to another is journal and recite targeted affirmations. This can really put things in perspective, make it easier to set goals, and ensure that your mindset is positive. Here are a few journal prompts and fall-themed affirmations to make sure this season is fabulous from beginning to end.

the five most important things to do before the end of spring.

There is still time to savor spring and all of the beauty that comes with it. The last day of the season is just under a month away...which means right now is the perfect time to focus on all the seasonal offerings connected to this time of year. Are there a few tasks you've been putting off lately? Maybe a bit of spring cleaning or taking care of your garden? Are you feeling a little unsure about your wardrobe as you prepare to transition from one season to another? Let me be your guide! Yes, it is time to take a look at five of the most important things to do before the end of the spring season. 

positive affirmations to start the month off right

May is no ordinary month. Named after the Greek goddess, Maia, this month is all about flowers in bloom, warmer weather, and new beginnings. Maybe last month felt challenging or you have a bit of anxiety about the days ahead. This is the perfect time to refocus your mind. Positive affirmations are one way to do just that! Affirmations are positive statements, which are said either aloud or in your head. These statements make it possible to overcome limiting beliefs, can shift your mindset, boost your mood, and increase confidence levels. With a new month just beginning, it is more important than ever to welcome in the positive. Ready to start the month off right? Here are some positive affirmations to incorporate into each and every May day. 

inspired by netflix: get organized with the home edit

Anyone else watching "Get Organized with The Home Edit" on Netflix? When the first season premiered, it was quickly added to my watch list. Before I knew it, Clea and Joanna had reorganized closets, kitchens, bedrooms, and everything in between. Recently, the second season was added to the streaming service. This time, the professional organizers weren't heading to random storage stores for containers...they had created their own. Well, it only took a quick online search to find out where the containers were being sold. And that is how my spring cleaning started this year. 

recent self care beauty favourites (february 2022)

When it comes to beauty, the fun stuff always makes me happiest. Blush, eyeshadow, lipstick. Things that are colourful and transformative! The every day items, like moisturizer and hair care stuff never seems to thrill me in the same way. Those are the needs. Fun and colourful makeup? Those are the wants and the wants are always more appealing. Despite this...I have been focused on different aspects of self care lately. Last month, my goal was to make time to pamper myself in small ways. Even though my schedule was busy and my to-do lists were seemingly endless, it was important to prioritize those little moments. Today, I thought that I would share some of my recent self care beauty favourites. 

planner review: fringe 2022 weekly and monthly agenda

When it comes to planners...it takes time to find the perfect one. The last few years, the ban.do planner has been my must-have. It checks off all of the boxes and then some. It is a substantial size, has rings down the side, comes with art and colouring pages, stickers, note pages, and has lots of room to write down my daily to-do list. I love absolutely everything about it. Except how difficult it can be to find. Last year, my husband ended up paying a lot for the planner and even more for shipping. What used to be easily accessible was suddenly not so accessible. Which is why I decided to branch out a little bit. I was open to using a different planner, as long as it still checked off the boxes. That is how the Fringe 2022 Weekly and Monthly Agenda came into the picture. It was similar enough and ridiculously accessible. Not to mention affordable. Let's take a closer look...

five indoor fall activities to add to your to do list

The weather is starting to cool and that means more time will be spent indoors over the next little while. That doesn't mean you need to give up on fun! There are plenty of fall activities that can be done from the comfort of your home. Whether you want to be social, relax and unwind, or add a new hobby to your to do list...there are countless possibilities. Are you ready to make the most of the season? Here are five indoor fall activities you'll want to make time for.