these are a few of my favourite things.

Staying positive is important. It's so easy to get bogged down by the stresses and strains of every day life. There are pressures at work, at home....just about everywhere! That is why I do my best to look for the beauty around me. It could be a simple moment, an object around my room, or even a quote. I just have to keep an eye out for them!

Lately, there have been so many little things making me happy. They may not seem like much but for whatever reason, they always make me smile. That is why today's post is all about recognizing those little things - and letting simple moments of joy carry over to the stressful areas of my life. Yes, today is all about my favourite things. Here goes!

This picture. It was taken on Canada Day when my boyfriend and I went exploring on the Toronto Islands. Whenever I look at this picture, I smile. I love us. 

My necklace from Eternal Girl. I ordered it last month and I love it! 

Whenever I wear this piece, I feel inspired and powerful.

My favourite summer makeup at the moment. Coral, coral, and more coral. I just love this set from Benefit!

This quote keeps making me smile. I am doing my best to remember that I need to breathe and let go.

These lipstick pens that my mom bought me. They are so cute! 

This issue of SHAPE magazine with Jillian Michaels on the cover. She is such an inspiration to me. I admire her so very much.

This scent. I've been wearing it a lot lately. It just makes me feel confident and beautiful.

These are just a few of the little things that have been making me smile lately. It's amazing how focusing on small joy-boosting things can re-focus your mind. My challenge to you all? Take a look around your room, your old pictures, or books on your bookshelf. Find those things that make you light up inside....and hold onto that feeling!

What things are making you happy? Do you have any summer favourites?

xo Shannon

wrinkles merely indicate where smiles have been.

Like a lot of ladies out there, wrinkles are on my mind. Okay, I'm not exactly a senior citizen, but I am getting older. And they always say, there's nothing quite like preventative measures! The last time I was at the drugstore, I stumbled upon the Soap & Glory Catch a Wrinkle In Time Daily Moisturizer. In general, I am a big fan of the Soap & Glory products. The packaging is cute, the products are diverse, and they really work well.

So, I decided to give this wrinkle reducing moisturizer a try. I actually needed a new moisturizer anyway, so it was worth a shot. The price of this moisturizer was a lot more than I normally pay for just a daytime moisturizer (it was about $25 CDN) but....I thought I would splurge. Why not, right?

Like all Soap & Glory products, the packaging was adorable. Pink and white with just a hint of retro styling. Gorgeous! On the box itself, it gave anti-aging tips, like stay out of the sun, don't drink or smoke, and of course, use this moisturizer! The product came in a simple squeeze tube which is easy to use and store. I really liked the simplicity of it.

As for the product itself, so far so good. The moisturizer has a very light scent. In fact, it is so faint you can barely smell it, even when you're trying to! It has a nice creamy texture and sits on the skin very well. It's quick and easy to use and feels quite nice. My skin tends to be fairly dry, so I didn't find this product to be super moisturizing, but it is definitely great to put underneath your makeup.

When it comes to keeping wrinkles at bay....well, I couldn't tell you. I suppose only time will tell how it works on that front. But overall, this is a really good moisturizer to add to your collection. I didn't experience any breakouts and it makes my foundation look fantastic. My suggestion? Give it a try and see how it works for your skin.

Have you tried the Soap & Glory Catch a Wrinkle In Time Daily Moisturizer? What did you think of it?

xo Shannon

birthdays are natures way of telling us to eat more cake.

It's hard to believe....but tomorrow will be my three year blog anniversary. That's right - the creation of beauty is art. is turning three!

Since starting this blog, I have interviewed people, shared my thoughts on makeup, fashion, and celebrities, and have experienced plenty of new and exciting things. My life has changed a lot, but one thing remains the same: I love writing this blog. There is something so rewarding about having a place that is truly my own. It's amazing to connect to other beauty bloggers and broaden my horizons.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you all for every comment, like, and share. Your support means the world to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

***

To celebrate the event, I thought this would be the perfect time to do the Confessions of a Blogger tag that was recently posted on Handpicked Beauty. Here goes!

When Did You Start Your Blog: 
I started my blog three years ago. I had this need to channel my passion for makeup, fashion, and beauty into something. At the same time, I had graduated from University and was struggling to find a job in the writing field. So, I decided to combing my passions and bam! the creation of beauty is art. was born.

Have You Had Any Past Online Presence? (Other Blog, YouTube, etc.)
Somewhat. I briefly wrote another blog about music and entertainment, but I only posted on it a few times. As much as I love music...it just didn't click with what I needed at the time.

Why Did You Start a Blog?
My love for makeup and fashion had blossomed and I needed a space to share my opinions, thoughts, and my journey. Having a blog of my own was the perfect place to do it. It allowed me to express myself and get creative.

When Did You Become Serious About Starting a Blog?
I'm not sure! I think as I continued to write and started to carve out my own little space on the Internet, it became more serious to me. I started posting on a schedule, trying out new things, and really pushing myself. It just sort of happened naturally over time.

What Was Your First Post?
This one here. It was my introduction to the fashion world! Even today, reading that post makes me smile.

What Has Been Your Biggest Challenge With Blogging?
Time. There are certain moments in my life that are quite busy and hectic. This can make it difficult to put the time and energy into my blog posts. It can sometimes be a struggle to find that time....but I always seem to. For me, blogging is just worth the extra energy.

Where Do You See Your Blog In One Year?
I hope that my blog will have grown as I continue to grow. I want to make improvements to the layout and really make this space as 'me' as possible.

What Is The Most Rewarding Thing About Blogging?
I think it is being a part of something bigger. Sharing my life, my thoughts, and my dreams allows me to be a part of the blogging community - specifically the beauty blogging community. I love that! It lets me connect with new people, learn new things, and have fun.

What Is The Most Discouraging Thing That Has Happened To You?
I don't think there are a lot of things. For the most part, people have been very positive, supportive, and caring. There are times, though, when you put your heart into a particular post and think: wow, I can't wait for that to go up! ....and then no one seems to care about it. That can be discouraging. But it's important to separate yourself from the posts as much as possible, because you never really know how people are going to react.

What Is Your Lasting Inspiration or Motivation?
To find beauty in the world - and to let that beauty remind me how wonderful life truly is.

So, there you have it. Three years of blogging. I am very proud and excited. More than anything, I am looking forward to the coming years for the creation of beauty is art. Thank you again for all of the support. It means so much.

xo Shannon

review: maybelline the nudes palette

Several weeks back, I watched a video from Beauty Broadcast announcing a new eyeshadow palette from Maybelline. Yes, an eyeshadow palette at the drugstore. Let me just say: I got excited. The drugstore is loaded with duos, trios, and quads....but rarely any palettes. And certainly none like Maybelline's The Nudes palette.

This band new eyeshadow palette isn't just different for the drugstore. It comes with 12 shades in different netural colours, like taupe, brown, rust, and black. While I wouldn't compare the shades to any of the Naked Palettes from Urban Decay, at $14 this is an affordable way to add some neutrals to your makeup collection.

Let me just say, there are some good and not so good things about this palette. Are you ready to find out what they are? Here is a closer look at the palette itself - and of course, the swatches.

Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette:

Swatches: Top row and Bottom row (as shown)

The Good:

- Great price. Coming in at $14CDN this palette is a great choice for budget conscious beauties.
- A wonderful range of neutral eyeshadow shades. There are browns, creams, blacks, taupe, golds, and rust.
- The shimmery shades are very pigmented and have great staying power.
- Packaging for this palette is sleek, simple, and sturdy. Plus, it isn't massive or bulky. That makes it simple to store or take with you!

The Bad:

- It comes with a small sponge applicator rather than a shadow brush. This was a total missed opportunity!
- Certain shades lack pigmentation, particularly the lighter colours and matte shades.
- Fall out can be an issue, so use a primer and apply carefully.

There are many looks I could have created with this palette. For my first attempt, though, I used the gold shade, the rust shade, and the taupe colour. This is how it turned out:

Overall, this is a bit of a hit and miss type of product. While it is undoubtedly exciting that there is a nude eyeshadow palette available at the drugstore....this leaves something to be desired. The shimmery shades are gorgeous - but the matte ones were a letdown. They just lacked the texture and pigmentation I expect from an eyeshadow.

Have you tried this palette yet? What did you think of it?

xo Shannon

are you listening?

Hanson. Say the word and people automatically think MMMBop and make comments like, "Are they still around?" It's been happening to me for years. In fact, even when Hanson was at their most popular, I was made fun of at school for my musical preferences. Now that I'm older, it bothers me less, but I've long grown weary of the remarks.

See, Hanson is a big part of my life. I've been a fan since 1997. I've gone to every concert in Toronto, have every album, live track, and enough merchandise to last a lifetime. Being a Hanson fan is more than just loving the music....it's almost part of my identity. This summer, I've got lots to be excited about, music-wise. Hanson is coming to play a show at the end of the summer (thank goodness!) - and I just received my order of summer Hanson merch.

What did I order? A Hanson tank top and a pair of Hanson sunglasses. Well, I also picked up a poster - but it's not exactly summery. The tank is a gorgeous coral colour (perfect for the warm weather) and it has one of my favourite Hanson quotes on it. It has a V-neck cut and will look totally perfect at the concert. The Hanson sunglasses on the other hand, are red and have "Hanson" written along the sides. So cute! Plus, I love the cute red sunglasses case. Again, they'll look totally perfect at the outdoor concert.

New merch from my favourite band? A great way to keep the summer months rolling along! Now I'm just counting down the days until the show.....

What is your favourite band? Do you love band t-shirts?

xo Shannon

self-confidence is the most important element of true beauty.

It's summer...and thank goodness for that! I don't know what it is about the summertime that make me so happy. Maybe it's the sunshine, cute clothes, and all of the fun social events. Whatever the reason - I love it! Lately, I have been trying to have fun as much fun as possible with my outfits, makeup, and accessories. It just makes me feel good. 

That is what inspired this makeup look of the day. I have been totally obsessed with coral colours and bronzey eyeshadow shades. To create this look, I used the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, the Benefit Coralista blush and lip gloss. It's simple but super pretty for summer! There is something about shimmery shadows and coral shades that just scream summer to me.

Ready to see my makeup look of the day? Here it is......

So, there you have it - my makeup look of the day. I ended up wearing it on a date night in with my boyfriend and I absolutely loved how it turned out.

When it comes to creating makeup looks that I love, I always try to use products I love just as much! Whether it's brushes or products....they just make the whole process fun. Plus, they make the application a whole lot simpler. Bonus!

What do you think of this makeup look? What are your favourite colours to wear during the summertime?

xo Shannon

canada is a place of infinite promise.

To all of my Canadian readers....Happy Canada Day! I always love celebrating Canada Day. It's a chance to spend some time with friends and family - and check out some fireworks, too. For the last couple of years, my boyfriend and I have gone to the beach to check out the vendors, rides, and firework display. This year, things are going to be a little bit different.

My friends have organized a barbecue downtown, so my boyfriend and I are heading out to join them. It's exciting, for sure....but I will definitely miss our tradition of going to the beach. At any rate, it will be great to see my friends. I don't get the chance to see them nearly enough! I will be sure to update you all on my Canada Day experience.

However you're celebrating this year, I hope you have an amazing day. To finish off this post, here is a quote to get you in the mood. Happy Canada Day, everyone!

"I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, 

free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, 

or free to choose those who shall govern my country. 

This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind."

- John Diefenbaker 

Happy Canada Day! Be sure to let me know how you're celebrating.

xo Shannon