just have fun, smile, and keep putting on lipstick.

Sometimes a makeup product knocks your socks off. Other times, it lets you down. This is one of the risks you take when you try something new....or fall in love with a product you can't test in store. And this is exactly what happened to me. In my local drugstore, there was a display of new Rimmel lip products. Being a fan of Rimmel products in general (the 3-in-1 bronzer is one of my must-haves!) I was more than a little excited. Especially when I saw what was on that display. The Provocalips 16 Hour Kiss Proof Lip Colour. I am always on the hunt for lip products wit longevity. There is nothing I hate more than rocking a gorgeous shade only to find it gone by the time you hit the powder room.

So, my expectations were high. I wanted this to live up to the claims. I wanted it to be another must-have item in my makeup collection. The claims were as follows: kiss proof, transfer proof, trouble proof, moisturized lips all day long, easy to remove. Well, one of those claims were accurate: easy to remove! This lip product was a total flop. Sigh.....

On one end it has the lip colour itself and on the other, the colour sealing top coat. I picked up the darkest shade, Heart Breaker. I immediately fell in love with the colour. As you can see from the picture above, it is super sultry and gorgeous. I could not resist! When I applied the colour (Step one) I was wowed. How rich! How beautiful! How luxurious! The colour itself was everything I was looking for. I waited, applied the top coat, and got ready to start my day.

This is where the trouble started. A half hour later, I took a drink of water. There went half of the colour. Then I gave my fiance a kiss on cheek. And there went the rest of it. I was left with a bit of splotchy looking lipstick and nothing more. That gorgeous colour? Gone. Those 16 hour claims? A total joke. Not deterred, I decided to give this another try. Maybe I didn't put enough of the top coat on. Or I didn't wait long enough for the colour to dry! Surely this product couldn't be that bad, right? On tries two, three, and four, the results were the same. The colour did not last - and actually lasted for less than any other lip product I own.

Below is a picture of me post-glass of water. As you can see, the colour is pretty but it is already starting to fade. Trust me, it only got worse from that point on. I wish I had been smart enough to snap an "after" photo!

Overall, this was a major miss for me. Yes, the colour was gorgeous....but it just didn't have the staying power. If you have claims for "16 hours" of wear then it needs to be able to last. The concept is similar to the Cover Girl 24-hour lip products. The main difference? The Cover Girl ones work! Definitely disappointed in this product. I can't see myself trying it again and I certainly wouldn't pick up another shade.

Let me know if you have tried the Provocalips 16 Hour Kiss Proof Lip Colour from Rimmel. What was your experience like?

xo Shannon

you were given this life because you are strong enough to live it.

If there is one person I admire, it is Jillian Michaels. Her no-nonsense, this is going to suck, attitude is refreshing. Especially when you have tried workout video after workout video where the trainer smiles non-stop. So not realistic. The reality for me is that I hate working out. I do not enjoy feeling the burn, sweating it out, or raising my heart rate. Despite this, health and fitness is something that intrigues me. I love the idea of living a healthier life, setting (and achieving) goals, and becoming a stronger version of yourself. A few years back, I went to see Jillian speak on her motivational tour. It was an amazing night that inspired me and pushed me to work harder. 

Since then, I have made major changes. Like drinking more water, snacking less, trying new foods, and working out on a regular basis. But I wanted to kick things up a notch. With the spring and summer months looming, I felt compelled to set new goals. Working out four to five times a week was one thing....but I wanted more. My goals for the summer? Go running as much as possible. Participate in a 5K. Wear a crop top. How realistic these goals are is yet to be seen. But I wanted to make sure I was able to make those goals a reality. 

That is why I picked up the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution DVD set about a month and a half ago. I wanted the stability of having a routine in place and I loved the idea that the workouts were constantly changing. Basically, the program is made up of 15 DVDs. (It also comes with a food journal, cook book, and online access to her website.) There are three phases and each one comes with four strength DVDs and one cardio DVD. As of right now I am halfway through phase 2....and it is brutal. Half the time my body is shaking so hard during the workout that I think I won't be able to finish it. But then I do. And I feel more proud than I can describe. 

I wanted to save this post until I had actually finished the program but I couldn't wait. As you can imagine, working out six days a week has made exercise a big part of my daily life. Unfortunately, I don't have a huge support system. My fiance is great and encourages me to send him workout selfies and tell him how things are going. But my family has no idea I've even begun doing this. Or that I work out at all. They generally think these sorts of things are silly. (Not working out necessarily but exercise DVDs and celebrity trainers.) I guess that makes it harder in a lot of ways....but I am pushing through. I am motivating myself to be better and stronger than I have ever been before. And that is what really matters. 

So, that is where I am now. About halfway through the program. I will be sure to do a full update (with actual progress, stats, overall experience stuff) once I have made it through the Body Revolution! Until then, I wanted to share a few motivational Jillian quotes. Just in case you are starting a fitness journey of your own - or need a little push on a Sunday afternoon. 

How do you stay motivated? Do you have a fitness routine?

xo Shannon

creating a rocker ponytail with halo hair

Hair is something I have been thinking a lot about lately. At the moment, my hair has reached that strange half-grown out phase. That leaves me two options: get it cut shorter and cleaned up or keep letting it grow. With my wedding coming up this summer, I am opting for the latter. While I wait? I have been looking into hair extensions. I really wanted a way to add some length - at least until I my hair grows out again! Thankfully, I was able to try Halo Hair Extensions. 

This was a totally new experience for me. In the past, I have tried clip-in extensions for a night out...but nothing more than that. Halo Hair Extensions were very different. In a good way! I tend to struggle getting clip-in pieces to stay put. That was what I loved about the design of these. They have an innovative concept that gets rid of clips, tape, glue, and all the rest. The design itself has an adjustable clear band (aka the "miracle wire") and the hair is attached. It slips onto your head and you simply pull the top layer of your hair through. The idea instantly wowed me. Which is why I used it to create a rocker inspired ponytail for an evening look!

Take a look at how it turned out....and then I will walk you through the process.

As you can see from the picture above, I really wanted to do something dramatic, edgy, and fun. That is why I paired this hairstyle with dark smokey eye makeup and a sultry red lip. Love! Now for the hair itself....I started by separating my hair into two sections: a top section and bottom section. I clipped the top section out of the way and then tied the bottom layer into a ponytail. Next up, it was time to use my Halo Hair Extensions. 

I put it on top of that bottom ponytail then unclipped the top layer down. From there, I scooped up my hair and put it into a high ponytail. Then it was time for the finishing touches. I used the pointy end of the comb to create a bit of volume on top. Then I teased the length to give it a messy, rocker inspired look. I finished it all off with a bit of hairspray and was ready to go! Overall, I absolutely loved the way this hairstyle turned out. It was so much fun to create - and it was really easy. I found the hair extensions to be easy to use and so so soft. I was definitely impressed.

Here are a few more picture of my rocker ponytail. Let me know what you think of it:

Doing something different with my hair? Fun. Having options while my hair grows out? Even better. I was so happy with the way my hair looked. It was an instant boost of confidence. I had a lot of fun getting creative and trying something new. Only time will tell what look I will try out next.....

Have you tried Halo Hair Extensions before? What type of extensions do you use?

xo Shannon

don't wait for the perfect moment. make the moment perfect.

Some weeks are busier than others. The slower weeks are a blissful time to reduce my stress levels. The busier weeks? Those are long and draining. Last week was one of those crazy busy, too much going on, endless to-do list kind of weeks. It was exhausting. Parts of it were good....great even....and other parts just left me totally exhausted. In between a mountain of work, there were also a number of personal get togethers and events. Like celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a friend, going to see Frozen On Ice with my mom, apartment viewings with my fiance (and getting the apartment we wanted! Yay!), and heading to a friends party.

Yes, this past week has been pretty hectic. Since I am the type of person who likes schedules, planning, and routine, it is always a little tricky when a bunch of things disrupt that. Despite all of the stress and everything else....there were a lot of highlights. So, I thought I would share a few pictures from the week. Take a look!

St. Patrick's Day Celebrations included: a few drinks, a movie, and a chance to catch up and socialize. Oh, and plenty of green! 

Frozen On Ice included: an afternoon of shopping with my mom, lots of cotton candy, and the best snowman ever....Olaf! 

A friends party included: lots of lashes, glitter eyeshadow, big hair, and of course, some good company.

Last week was definitely more jam-packed than usual. In some ways that was a good thing. I had a lot of fun letting loose, being social, and making memories. On the other hand? I definitely hope this week will be a lot more low key.....

What has your week been like so far? How are you keeping busy?

xo Shannon

put on some lipstick and live a little.

I have tried more than one or two lip products in  my life. The exact number? I can't even imagine. Lately I have been on a total lip colour frenzy. There is something about the arrival of spring (it's coming.....I know it is coming.....!) that is making me absolutely and completely obsessed with lipstick. New shades, new textures, new products. I can't get enough of them. During my recent drugstore haul, I decided to pick up the Cover Girl Outlast All Day Lip Colour in the shade Coral. Out of all the drugstore brands, Cover Girl is not one I have a lot from. But I decided to give this product a chance. And I am so glad that I did.

What drew me in was the all day claim. I am always looking for lip products that last. I am not the kind of girl to re-apply my lipstick throughout the day. I am more of a set it and forget it type. There is nothing I hate more than worrying that my face isn't holding up! Which is why this particular lip product was so intriguing. It came with a highly pigmented gloss and a balm to go over top. Basically, you apply the lip colour, let it sit for a full minute, and then apply the lip balm over top. Here is a closer look at the two lip products....

What surprised me the most about this lip product? That lip colour! The coral was highly pigmented, had this gorgeous sheen, and went on so smoothly. It was actually hard for me to believe that this was so affordable. I was just blown away by the rich colour and ease of use. In terms of colour and application? Absolutely wonderful. In terms of longevity? I loved it just as much. While it did not last for the "up to 24 hours" it claimed on the box, it did last. The colour stayed on my lips for about six hours without budging. That is more than enough to keep me happy! I was so so impressed with the quality. (So much so that I ended up picking up another shade from this line later on.)

Are you ready to take a look at this lip colour in action? This is the look I came up with to showcase that gorgeous coral shade.....

Great pigmentation, a beautiful colour, smooth texture, long lasting, and easy to wear. What more could a makeup lover ask for? I was pleasantly surprised by the Cover Girl Outlast All Day Lip Colour. While it didn't last for 24 hours....it was gorgeous and had great longevity for a lip product. I absolutely love the way I feel wearing it.

What do you think of this shade? Have you tried any of the colours from this line?

xo Shannon

a brush is just a brush until you use it to create something.

I don't often buy things for display. Especially when it comes to makeup and beauty products. Nine times out of ten, I pick things that are functional. Things that I can incorporate into my every day routine. But every now and again, I come across something so beautiful that I simply cannot bear to use it! While this isn't something I do often, I completely and totally fell in love with a brush from Flower Beauty.

What was it about this brush? For starters, the foundation brush had ultra thick bristles. Unlike most of the other foundation brushes I have had over the years, there was so much thickness that I could just imagine the product spreading seamlessly across the skin. (Not that I am planning to use it in the near future....but still!) The bristles were white and faded into a darker colour. It looked elegant, beautiful, and the texture was nice and soft.

As for the rest of the brush, I love that it stands up. All on its own. Unlike the rest of my brushes that get stored in cups and containers, this one requires nothing but a flat surface. It features a wide base on the bottom and a thick handle. That makes it so easy to stand up and show off on your vanity. The black and gold combination looks elegant, sophisticated, and effortlessly beautiful. I absolutely love the way it looks - from top to bottom!

It is rare that I fall in love with a makeup brush the way I have. There is something about the quality, appearance, and overall usefulness that is totally out of this world. I think Flower Beauty has an awful lot of stand out items in their collection. This brush is definitely one of them.

Have you tried any of the Flower Beauty makeup brushes?

xo Shannon

be in it for the long haul.

There is one thing I have been trying to do less of....and that is buying makeup. I find this tremendously difficult because makeup is my biggest passion. I love trying new products, playing with colours, getting creative, and expanding my skills. Despite trying to cut back, I gave myself a drugstore splurge day a little while back. Were there new things I wanted to try? Things I had been curious about? Grab em!

As you can see from the picture above, I ended up grabbing a bunch of new things. That included the Joe Fresh Radiant Face Serum, Cover Girl Age Defying Pressed Powder, Elf Pout & Pucker Lip Set, the  the L'Oreal Eva Longoria Lipstick, Wet n' Wild Lipstick, the Cover Girl Outlast lip product, and the Maybelline Fit Me Stick Foundation (re-purchase).

Since I ended up buying a number of new products, I thought that I would make this post a haul and mini-review. Just some quick highlights on a few of the products. There will be full reviews for the Cover Girl Outlast and the Elf Pout & Pucker Lip Set in the weeks to come. Ready to get started? This is a closer look at my drugstore makeup haul.

Let's start with the skin! I have been looking at skincare products a lot lately. This is probably because I am getting married in four months....and I really want my skin to look perfect. I decided to give the Joe Fresh Radiant Face Serum a try. Largely because of the claims. Brighten, hydrate, and tone? Sounds good to me! I have been using this twice a day for the last few weeks and so far I don't notice any difference. But I am not giving up yet. I know that certain skin care products take a while before you start to notice the results. So, I am going to continue and cross my fingers.

The next part of my haul was the Cover Girl Age-Defying Pressed Powder. I know a lot of people prefer high end powders but personally I have never seen the advantage. I have really dry skin on my face and find that pressed powders tend to do more harm than good. Which is why I typically choose a drugstore powder and use it just on my nose and my under eye area. I wanted to try something different so I opted for this one. So far so good! It has surprisingly good coverage and a very silky texture. Plus, the packaging is really pretty. Bonus!

This lipstick comes from Wet n' Wild. In general I am a big fan of this brand. Their eyeshadows are the absolute best to come out of the drugstore. Hands down. Some of their other products are more hit and miss, but there was something about this shade. That soft pretty pink just called to me! It delivered on the colour. It looks absolutely beautiful. The formula itself is a bit dry sadly. I plan to layer it with a lip balm to counteract that dryness. Simple fix for a gorgeous shade.

Now to finish off this drugstore haul post! One of the other items I picked up was a lipstick from L'Oreal. They had a line of lip colours inspired by certain celebrities. The one I chose was Eva Longoria. The shade Eva's Nude was a deep nude colour that is super sexy and easy to wear. The reason I picked this? I love Eva and I loved the packaging as well. It is sleek and sultry and has a print of her signature on it. So pretty!

Overall, this drugstore haul was a major success. It was so much fun to splurge and pick up a few new things. Just as fun? Trying everything out. Nothing could be more thrilling.

What do you think of these products? Have you tried any?

Editing Note: Since Milani chose to contribute to a campaign that involved the harassment and bullying of a domestic violence survivor, I no longer support the brand and do not recommend their products. Spend your money wisely and look elsewhere. 

xo Shannon