to appreciate a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.

The last month of 2025 has officially arrived....and what a year it has been. The last eleven months have been extremely difficult for my family, with multiple members in and out of the hospital. Fingers crossed 2026 will be much better, but until then, it is time to make the most of what remains. December is a month that often makes me smile, even if it also stresses me out with all of the seasonal tasks that need to be done. What I love most? Christmas music on the radio, watching holiday movies, and making memories with loved ones. In honour of the last month of the year, here are some seasonal questions.

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...

this or that? books edition TAG

Reading is my reward at the end of the day. It is a way to unwind and learn more. I have always loved to read and often wish that I had more time to do so. That is why my reading goal each year is to finish at least 20 fiction and 20 non-fiction books. It is important that I make the time to read whenever possible. So far this year, some steady progress has been made towards that reading goal. At the moment, I am reading a couple of non-fiction books, including Mommie Dearest by Christina Crawford and What If You Are The Answer? by Rachel Hollis. For a little bit of light reading, there are some cozy mystery novels on my bedside table as well. Last month, the amazing blog, Yasmina Rosa Wölkchen, shared the This or That? Books Edition TAG. I knew immediately that it was something I wanted to post here as well. Keep reading for all of the book related questions.

welcome peace and the crackling sound of leaves.

Finally! September is here. Though the official first day of fall is on September 22nd, in my mind, this is the start of the best time of year. The "ber" months (September, October, November, and December) are true highlights for me. In September and October, there is sweater weather, pumpkin spice, Halloween movies, candy corn, and spooky decorations. In November and December, there is snow, Christmas music on the radio, and all of the festivities. Ahh....there is so much to enjoy and so much on the horizon. It feels good to say that September is here. In honour of this new month, here is a little seasonal inspiration.

christmas in july spectacular (review, mini haul, and tag questions)

It is Christmas in July! Being a Christmas fanatic, I am willing to find any excuse to celebrate my favourite holiday. Truth be told, I have Christmas movies and music in heavy rotation year-round...but I decided that it would be fun to celebrate Christmas in July properly this year. That means taking a day off of work to bake gingerbread cookies, watch some holiday movies, read Christmas themed Archie comics, light a peppermint candle, and just have some fun. Summer is not my favourite time of year, so it seems only right to transport myself to the most wonderful time of the year. Tomorrow is the big day, so in preparation for all of the festivities, a themed blog post was a must. Keep reading for a mini review of the movie, Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas In July, some new Christmas themed items, and answers to some Christmas In July tag questions. Here goes...

anniversary TAG (learn a little more about me)

Tomorrow is a special day. In the United States, it is a holiday, but for me, the date is a little more personal. It is my eight year wedding anniversary. It's kind of hard to believe that not only am I married, but I have been married for eight years. Marriage always seemed like something for grown ups. I guess somewhere along the line, I became an adult, but I often wonder when I will start feeling like one. At any rate, since it is our anniversary tomorrow (and I have previously talked about being more open about myself on this blog), I thought an anniversary themed tag made the most sense. As for how we are celebrating our anniversary this year, my husband and I are actually leave for a little getaway to Montreal, Quebec, and Ottawa today. Stay tuned for a post dedicated to all the highlights. Until then, here are some anniversary themed tag questions. 

hey, it's good to be back home again.

Long time no see! After a little over a week away, things are finally getting back on track here at the creation of beauty is art. In case you missed my last post, my family and I took a vacation to California recently. It was my first time leaving the country since the pandemic, so it was certainly a memorable experience. There will be more on that in the days to come. I'll be sharing travel photos and highlights some time next week. For now? I am trying to unpack, get caught up on life, and celebrate my birthday. Yes, today is my birthday. Our flight got in late last night, and even though there was only a three hour time difference, the jet lag is real. I am not exactly in a celebratory mood, but it is my birthday nonetheless.

easter is about more than candy. it's about peace, love, and family.

Happy Easter weekend! This is always such a joyful time of year. The sun seems to shine brighter, the world feels more colourful, and there is an overwhelming sense of hope. Spring has arrived and so has one of my favourite holidays. Easter makes me think of chocolate, playing games with my family, and my favourite seasonal cartoons. There are so many ways to celebrate this time of year. For me, it is all about being with family and making memories. Normally, my family celebrates on Sunday, so I am very much looking forward to tomorrow. For now, it is time to answer some Easter-related questions.

favourite holiday traditions TAG

How could it be? Despite the fact that I have steadily been counting down the days on my advent calendar...it still comes as a shock to me that there are only four days until Christmas. This is always such a bittersweet time. As much as I love and look forward to all of the traditions that will take place over the next several days, it is hard to know that this special time of year will shortly be over. I think that I love the buildup to Christmas Day more than the actual day. All of the little moments create such a beautiful and unforgettable season. On the plus side? Christmas always comes back. Since there are only a few days left, it made sense to share a little bit about my favourite holiday traditions. There are ten different TAG questions that I will be answering below. Be sure to share your own answers in the comment section! I can't wait to hear more about your traditions. 

live every day like it's your birthday.

Birthdays are special. Especially these days. I have always been a bit of a birthday brat (I love cake and presents and feeling like a queen for a day) but now that my second pandemic birthday has arrived...this day means more than ever. I am so grateful to be safe, to have my family nearby, and to be able to enjoy all of the little things in life. Like birthday cake with sprinkles! This year, the celebrations will be pretty low key, but certainly more than last year. The plan is to have a virtual movie night with some friends (we will all watch the same movie at the same time and chat about it online) and then dinner with my immediate family. I am very much looking forward to celebrating the day - both virtually and in-person - with the people that I love most. That is what birthdays are for, after all! To celebrate the day, a birthday tag seemed to be in order.

early autumn tag + the palette tag youtube video

Me? Excited about fall? Okay...maybe just a little. The new season feels like a fresh start and nothing could be more thrilling than that. The first official day of fall is just a few days away. That means before long, the months will be all about sweater weather, warm beverages, and pumpkin scented candles. What could be better than that? To prepare for the beginning of fall, it only makes sense to do a seasonal tag here on the creation of beauty is art. The first is going to include twenty fall themed questions and after that there will be my latest YouTube video. The latter is the Eyeshadow Palette Tag, where you can see some favourites and flops from my makeup collection. Ready to get started and embrace autumn? Here goes...

twenty questions book tag

Books are my passion. Reading them, writing them, collecting them.....books are my everything. Lately, I have been extra focused on a resolution I made for myself at the beginning of the year. It was to read twenty fiction and twenty non-fiction books by the time 2019 comes to a close. I've already surpassed my non-fiction goal (thanks to oodles of biographies and educational books) and am six away from my reaching my fiction goal. I know I can do it! But to keep myself feeling motivated, I wanted to do a twenty questions book tag that I found online. So, without further ado, here goes.

makeup + beauty questions (inspired by justina's gems)

Everyone has their makeup memories. Recently, I was reading a post on Justina's Gems (a fabulous blog that I have been reading for a very long time) and it posed several questions to her readers. It was a Friday Chit-Chat Vol. 4 post and in it, there were seven beauty related questions. Inspired by these questions.... I decided to make my own blog post answering them. Please feel free to answer them yourself, either in the comment section or on your own blog, and be sure to check out Justina's Gems for lots of fabulous beauty and lifestyle related content.