niagara falls comic con review and experience

Several months back, there was an ad on my Instagram account for Niagara Falls Comic Con. This is not an event that I have ever attended (though I have been to Fan Expo in Toronto in the past) but plans were made when I saw that Jodie Sweetin from Full House was scheduled to attend. It was certainly a memorable experience overall. Keep reading to find out more...

#FOTD: inspired by kermit the frog (green makeup look)

It's not easy being green...but life seems pretty wonderful for beloved icon, Kermit the Frog. There is a new Muppets themed rollercoaster in the works at Walt Disney World, The Muppet Show special received positive reviews and high ratings, and tomorrow is Kermit the Frog's birthday. Well, sort of. May 9, 1955, was the first time that Kermit appeared on television screens. Since my obsession with all things Muppets remains, it seemed like an appropriate time to create a makeup look inspired by this important character. This Kermit inspired #FOTD post is focused on green, green, and more green.

more beyond the gates inspired makeup looks.

Last summer, there was a post here on the creation of beauty is art. about the soap opera that I watch, Beyond The Gates. I described having an alarm set on my phone each weekday at 1:58 p.m. so I could watch the new episode. Thankfully, that alarm is no longer set, because the soap opera moved to a streaming service in my country. That has made it much easier to access. There is no more relying on an inconsistent antenna signal and I can watch the new episode whenever it fits into my day. While the way that I watch Beyond The Gates has changed, my love of the show, the fashion, and the makeup has remained. Every now and then, I take screenshots of Instagram posts or makeup featured in an episode with the intention of making it my own. On that note! This post is dedicated to even more Beyond The Gates inspired makeup looks.

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.

review: dove x bridgerton (moonlit masquerade body scrub)

Certain shows are added to my watch list and sit there for weeks, months, or even years, before finally being viewed. Other shows are watched immediately. Bridgerton falls into the latter category. Whenever a new season premieres on Netflix, it is watched immediately. Whatever plans I had for that day are put on pause so I can find out what is happening in The Ton. I love the interesting characters, the costumes, the music, of course, the different love stories. I also love Bridgerton themed beauty products, as it turns out. Several years back, there were Bridgerton themed makeup items released from Pat McGrath Labs (if you missed that review post, be sure to check it out here) and more recently, Dove released a line of Bridgerton themed bath products. Keep reading for a review of the Moonlit Masquerade Body Scrub from the Dove x Bridgerton collection.

what i've been watching lately (sick edition)

It is cold and flu season. I thought it was something that I would be able to avoid this year, but unfortunately, it found me. Unfortunately, I have been under the weather more recently, with my days largely spent in bed coughing and holding a box of Kleenex close. That is the down side. On a more positive note, this has allowed me to spend far too much time watching television shows and movies. Here are some of the things that I have been watching lately while doing my best to recover.

feeling nostalgic: vhs tapes and 00s media

Before there was YouTube, there were blank VHS tapes. In my younger years, much of my time was spent setting the VCR to record all sorts of television specials and shows. Instead of heading out to the movie theater with friends, many of my evenings were spent recording music videos and interviews on The Hit List and Much Music. I was always saving as much content as possible. Back then (and even now) it seemed important to record things so I could hold onto different moments. So I could watch and rewatch media that meant something to me. Confession: I still have all of my old VHS tapes, and lately, I have been choosing a few VHS tapes at random to watch. The nostalgia is beautiful, painful, and magical, all at the same time. 

what i've been watching lately (movies, television shows, and music)

Sometimes, a little escape from reality is a must. Thank goodness there are movies, television shows, and music to rely on in both the good and not-so-good times. Everyone has their own own ways to destress - and entertainment has always been my favourite way to do just that. Here are some of the songs, television shows, and movies that have been making life better.

obscure christmas cartoons i've been watching this year.

What is it about holiday specials? Each one manages to make life feel extra beautiful. I suppose it comes down to this: the world is often stressful, frustrating, and unfair, but in Christmas movies and television specials, there is hope. Things get better. People grow. Circumstances change. Dreams are realized. Prayers are answered. It feels nice to escape to a magical dream world every now and then. Though there are many beloved Christmas movies and television specials out there, this post is focused on some obscure Christmas cartoons that have been high on my list of loves this year. If you are looking for something different that is sure to make your season bright, consider one of these hidden gems. You just might find a new favourite.

psyduck (pokemon) inspired makeup look

Pokémon is not something that I have meaningfully engaged with over the years, but my husband plays all sorts of Pokémon games on the Nintendo Switch. Every now and then, there will be a cute character that catches my eye. (Some of the characters are ridiculously adorable.) That is what happened with Psyduck. I saw this cute little duck character waddling around and holding his head. My husband informed me that Psyduck gets headaches and holds onto his head until he releases tension with his strong psychic powers. I was immediately enamored with this character, from design to personality. So, my very thoughtful husband ordered me a little Psyduck plush. He arrived fairly quickly and has been keeping me company ever since. There are a handful of yellow eyeshadows in my makeup collection that I have not used all that frequently - and the arrival of Psyduck seemed like a good reason to put them to use. Here is a makeup look inspired by this adorable Pokémon character. 

beyond the gates inspired makeup looks.

There is an alarm set on my phone for 1:58 p.m. each weekday. That alarm is my reminder to turn on the latest episode of Beyond The Gates. Ever since this soap opera premiered at the end of February, it has become a full blown obsession. I love the drama, the characters, the sets, and the style. Speaking of style...the wardrobe is out of this world amazing and so is the makeup. Every time an episode airs, I am wowed by the incredible looks that the characters are wearing. Everything is so bold and elegant. Since makeup is another one of my obsessions, it was only a matter of time before an attempt was made to combine the two. Lately, I have been doing my best to recreate some of these stunning soap opera makeup looks.

random things making me smile lately.

Finding happiness in this broken world of ours can be difficult. There are constantly disappointing people and upsetting world events making headlines. That is the reason it is extra important to hold onto beautiful, happy, uncomplicated things that add a little bit of joy to each day. On that note, here are some of the random things that are making me smile lately.

nostalgia is a powerful feeling. it can drown out anything.

I fell down the rabbit hole recently (as I so often do) and watched hours and hours of compilation videos on YouTube. The videos featured all sorts of television shows from the 80s and 90s - complete with the original commercials. It was a wild and nostalgic ride. These days, familiarity seems to be my focus. Whether I am listening to music, choosing a movie, or watching a television show, more often than not, I am gravitating towards what was. New releases do not seem to have the same hold on me. I have been thinking a lot about why this is the case and I think it comes down to safety. With the world being so turbulent, it feels especially sweet to return to a time where I did not have to worry about bills or politics or what was happening outside of my little bubble. I still believed that most people were good and that evil would never win. I was more innocent then and certainly more naive. Perhaps there is part of me that is missing that state of being...that uncomplicated hope. But life happens and learning more inevitably means losing some of that innocence. Thank goodness for all of the television shows from my youth. These shows help me remember who I used to be and what I used to believe in. 

what i've been watching lately (movies and television shows)

What have you been watching lately? Though spring is right around the corner, the weather remains wet and cool. That makes it extra enticing to stay inside and unwind with a good movie or show. There is nothing better than an clear schedule, a warm blanket, and some entertainment. On that note, here are some of the things that I have been watching lately.

my top seven favourite versions of a christmas carol

At this point, there are hundreds of versions of A Christmas Carol in existence. From more faithful adaptations to more modern interpretations...there is a version of A Christmas Carol for everyone. The novella was originally published in 1843 and has been a holiday must ever since. There are few stories that have managed to have that kind of cultural significance. This enduring story is about positive change and generosity. No wonder it remains relevant all these years later! As mentioned, there are hundreds of different versions of A Christmas Carol out there. As we continue to countdown to Christmas Day, it only made sense to highlight a few of my personal favourites. Truth be told, this was originally intended to be a top five list, but there were so many meaningful versions that I had to expand it a little. On that note, here are my top seven favourite versions.

more obscure christmas specials to watch this holiday season

Some people love to bake during the holiday season. Others prefer to decorate, expertly wrap presents, or host parties with friends and family. Most of us have a holiday related item on our to-do list that ranks higher than the others. For example, while I love having a decorated home, the actual process of decorating is not my favourite. On the other hand, my mom prioritizes decorating over many other seasonal tasks. My sister likes to bake cookies. My brother wraps presents with impressive precision. And my dad mostly tries to stay out of the way! In previous posts, I have spoken about my love of holiday movies. I realized recently that those movies are my favourite part of the season. I love to sit and watch (either by myself or with a loved one) and simply feel at ease. There are countless Christmas themed movies and television specials to choose from and I love a whole lot of them. As much as I adore beloved films like Elf and Home Alone, there is a special place in my heart for more obscure Christmas specials: ones that are less well known or have been forgotten with time. It feels like finding a hidden treasure. Last year, there was a post highlighting a few of my favourite obscure Christmas cartoons. Now, it is time to highlight additional favourites. Some are cartoons and some are live action. Here are a few suggestions to add to your list.

what i've been watching lately (early fall edition)

Ahh...television. Do I watch too much of it? Most definitely. Do I have plans to cut back? Not a chance. There is something so wonderful about peeking into the lives of different characters, especially on a grey fall day with a scented candle burning on the table. There is a coziness to it all. Though the fall season is less than a month in, there are already lots of new and old favourites on my watched list. (Confession: there have been lots of spooky seasonal favourites in the mix as well, but those will be highlighted in a future blog post.) Here are some shows and movies that have been keeping me company so far this fall. 

#FOTD: inspired by shirley partridge

Confession: I have been watching a lot of The Partridge Family lately. This is one of my all-time favourite comfort shows. I have had it on DVD for many years now and seem to come back to it on a semi-regular basis. I love everything about it: the 70s home decor, hair, and clothes, the wacky plots, the family connection, the incredible music, and of course, David Cassidy. While re-watching season one recently, I was especially taken by the makeup worn by Shirley Partridge aka the iconic Shirley Jones. Though the makeup style was fairly similar throughout the series (sometimes there was a little more colour and there were some bolder lines from time to time)....in season one specifically, there was one daytime makeup look that really wowed. It was simple, but still made a statement. Here is a closer look at that daytime makeup look and my own #FOTD recreation.

emily in paris x revolution (review + makeup look)

Finally! Part two of the fourth season of Emily In Paris has arrived on Netflix. More recently, the streaming service has been splitting seasons into two parts in an obvious attempt to prevent people from binge watching and then cancelling. Considering the fact that the streaming service popularized the idea of binge watching...it is especially frustrating having to wait for the rest of the episodes. At least the wait is finally over and the remaining episodes of the fourth season are available. To celebrate this release, it made sense to highlight some products from the Emily In Paris x Revolution collection. Here goes...

fab or fail? spongebob squarepants eyeshadow palette

Though some themed beauty products are fabulous, there are many others that are lacking in quality. In the years that I have been testing and trying different makeup products...my weakness has always been a cute theme or cartoon character. In fact, I have purchased eyeshadow palettes inspired by the Care Bears, Minnie Mouse, Moana, Peanuts, The Powerpuff Girls, and countless others. I can't seem to resist! When I came across a Spongebob Squarepants Eyeshadow Palette with fun summery colours, there was barely a moment of hesitation. Did I need it? No. Did I want it? Yes. Did I buy it? Of course. Without further ado, it is time to find out whether this fun Spongebob Squarepants themed eyeshadow palette is fab or a total fail.