current obsession: michael kors sunglasses

Sunglasses season is in session. Now that the sun is shining on a more regular basis (though there have been a few rainy days recently) it is time to make the most of my sunglasses collection. I don't know exactly how many pairs of sunglasses are in my possession, but it is enough that I have cut myself off of from buying more for the time being. I just love the way a cute pair can make an outfit feel extra special. They are the ultimate summer accessory! Ready to take a peek at my current favourite pair? 

random things that are making me happy lately.

Life has been a little uneven lately. Truth be told, there have been a handful of stressful events in recent weeks. Like construction on our balcony and a massive apartment repair that will happen in the near future. (Ceiling repair...which means everything in our living room and hallway needs to be packed away and moved into another room for a few days.) There was also a celebration of life that was incredibly difficult. In response to all of this, I have been trying to focus on happy things as much as possible lately. Here are a few of the things that have been making life a little more beautiful in recent weeks.

does it work?? colourpop super shock shadow

Every now and then, some ColourPop makeup products seem to find their way to stores like Winners and Marshalls. I've tried a few items from the brand (the High School Musical collection was kindly gifted to me by one of my dear friends and some Powerpuff Girls and Lizzie McGuire items were found at Winners) but I am not overly familiar with their releases. I know some people have a ton of stuff from ColourPop, but I am mostly interested in the themed collaborations. That being said, when I saw one of their Super Shock Shadows...I decided to add it to my cart. I've heard a lot of rave reviews about this formula and was curious to see how the shadow really performed. So...does it work?? Here is everything you need to know.

recent library book reviews

Books are always a good idea. Recently, an afternoon was spent browsing the shelves at the nearby library for something interesting to read. I wasn't looking for any genre in particular, but was open to whatever happened to catch my eye that day. Though I spent a long time looking at the young adult section for something fun or nostalgic...my choices ended up largely being non-fiction titles. I need to work on this, because my 20/20 reading goal for the year (20 non-fiction and 20 fiction) is rather lopsided at the moment. I've already hit my non-fiction reading goal, but I am falling behind on my fiction books. Those will definitely be the focus in the next little bit. For now, it is time for mini reviews of these recent library books.

r.e.m. beauty yours truly makeup set (mini reviews + FOTD)

It has been nice having r.e.m. beauty products available in Canada. There is a lot that I have enjoyed so far. Recently, the limited edition Yours Truly Makeup Set was released from the brand. It includes three different products: Lustrous Liquid Shadow, Highlighter, and Plumping Lip Gloss. These colours are all really beautiful and wearable. Plus, it was a nice way to test out a few other offerings from r.e.m. beauty. Ready to take a closer look? Here are some mini reviews and a recent #FOTD. 

the only way to find your voice is to use it.

One of my loved ones recently had some harsh words for me in response to an open discussion about who I am, what I believe, and what matters most. (Spoiler alert: this includes standing against abusers, elevating the voices of survivors, and not giving money to companies, brands, or artists who support violence and misogyny.) It was a deeply upsetting conversation for a lot reasons. I told them how important it is that I use my voice and try to make a positive difference...and I was told that my efforts do not make a difference and do not matter. That I will not create change. That I am being ridiculous. Of course, I have been thinking about this conversation a lot in recent days as I try to figure out how to move forward with someone who completely disregards the most important parts of me. In truth, it is not something I quite know how to do.

testing out a cheetos themed eyeshadow palette

What is it about novelty items? They are always hard for me to resist. The sillier something is...the more I want to put it to use. Take the Cheetos Flamin' Hot Crunchy Eyeshadow Palette as an example. This was something that I came across a few times at Winners. I tried to resist. In fact, I did resist the palette on a few different occasions, but eventually, temptation won out. I just had to find out whether the Cheetos themed palette was fun, ridiculous, or something else entirely. Ready to find out?