it's a beautiful easter egg mornin...

Happy Easter! Or should I say...Hoppy Easter? (Is it too early in the morning for a bad joke? Ahh, it is never too early.) This is one of my favourite days of the year. Though there are many different ways to celebrate Easter, for me, it is about family, chocolate, and feeling like a kid again. It is about hope, sunshine, and miracles. However you are choosing to spend the day, my fingers are crossed that it will be overloaded with joy, wonder, and lots of delicious treats. And maybe even an Easter egg hunt.

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.

four movies to watch this easter

There is no right or wrong way to celebrate Easter. Every family has their own unique traditions. It could be enjoying a specific meal or dessert. Or going to a religious service. Spending the day with loved ones. Decorating the house with fluffy stuffed bunnies and plastic eggs. The list goes on and on. One tradition to start this year? Take time to watch some holiday themed movies. They will put a festive twist on the Netflix and chill mentality. Don’t know where to start? No problem. Here are four movies to add to your to-do list this Easter.

easter highlights (decorations, baked goods, accessories)

Ahh...this time of year is undeniably special. There is something so rejuvenating about the sunnier days, the springtime colours, and of course, the holidays. As I mentioned in my last post, Easter is one of my favourite holidays. This year, it was spent with my loved ones at home...which is my favourite way to celebrate. My husband and I did Easter baskets for one another, then I spent the day with my immediate family, and my husband joined us for a homecooked meal. There were lots of highlights, like watching classic holiday movies together and baking lots of delicious seasonal treats. Ready to take a peek into my Easter holiday? See how it was celebrated? Here are some holiday highlights...

bunny kisses, easter wishes.

It's a beautiful Easter egg mornin' with a bright coloured Easter egg sky... Happy Easter to all who are celebrating today! This has always been one of my favourite holidays. I love the bunny decorations, the chocolate, the seasonal movies, and the time spent with loved ones. This particular holiday always seems to be so full of hope and optimism. Maybe it is because the sunshine has returned and the spring season is in full bloom. (Or maybe it has to do with the baskets full of jellybeans, chocolate eggs, and other assorted treats.) Whatever the reason, this holiday is always a highlight. Since seasonal movies and television specials are an obsession of mine, it only makes sense to share some of the best Easter movies and specials. 

hippity hoppity, easter's on its way.

Easter is one of my favourite holidays. Truth be told, all holidays make me smile, but the idea of new beginnings makes this time of year especially meaningful.  Sometimes, a fresh start is needed. Sometimes, a little extra hope is needed. That is what Easter represents to me: a fresh start and hope for a better tomorrow. Maybe you are looking forward to sunshine and spring flowers or maybe you need a chocolate bunny to make life feel more beautiful. Do what you can to enjoy the spring season and the magic that Easter provides. Need a little inspiration? Here are some Easter themed photos that I have taken lately.

the great gift of easter is hope.

 Last year, Easter was anything but ordinary. It was the first time in my life that I was unable to spend the holiday with my family. (You can read more about that here.) That was extremely difficult. My parents did an "Easter basket" drop off that included some chocolates and treats. Though the gesture was wonderful...it wasn't the same as spending the day with my loved ones. Normally, the day is spent watching holiday movies, doing Easter crafts, playing games, and then eating dinner together. It was heartbreaking to be separated from my immediate family last Easter. But this year, we should be able to mostly celebrate together on the Saturday rather than the Sunday. (Where I live, we are going back into a full lockdown Saturday night. Sigh.) But I will take what I can get at this point. 

easter spells out beauty. the rare beauty of new life.

Another holiday? How is that even possible? It seems that just yesterday we were celebrating St. Patrick's Day....and now we have already moved on to Easter. I confess: this holiday overload is totally okay with me. My love of anything and everything holiday related cannot be stopped. Out of all of the holidays? Christmas is by far my favourite. Next on the list? It has to be Easter. It has everything I adore. Chocolate, bunny rabbits, and family time. That is how I have always celebrated the holiday. Every year, my family and I would dig into our Easter baskets, eat chocolate, and watch holiday movies. (On the short list: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, and Hop.) Then for dinner? We sit at the table and eat a home cooked meal and cookies straight out of the oven. It is pure bliss.

Yes, there is something lovely about it all. Spending time with family and indulging my sweet tooth. Those are some of my favourite pastimes. And during Easter? I get to do both on the same day. This year things will be slightly different. It is my first time not living at home for Easter. That means the itinerary for the day is a little different. My husband and I will swap baskets early in the morning. Then I will head over to my parents house (the hubby is stuck working. Sigh!) for movies and chocolate. Later in the day? My husband will join us for a delicious Easter dinner. Different....yet so many of my favourite things will be the same. That makes me extremely happy.

In a way? I think this holiday has come around at the perfect time. Life has been crazy lately. For the last several weeks, my regular routine has been off. There has been too much going on - and too much to think about. Which is why I am so excited for Easter. It gives me the chance to escape into the carefree. At least for a little while. Here is hoping my day of chocolate and movies will bring me the joy and laughter I am so desperately seeking. Confession: I am already thinking about all of our family traditions. They make me smile.

Bunnies are cuddly

The large and the small

But I like chocolate ones

The best of them all.

- Author Unknown

The Easter weekend can be a lot of fun. Exciting, even! So...here is hoping you all have an incredible holiday. Eat lots of chocolate, watch some movies, and spend time with people you love. In my opinion? Those are the ingredients to a fabulous celebration. 

What are your Easter plans? 

xo Shannon

easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life.

Easter has always been one of my favourite holidays. And that is saying something, because I love holidays. All of them. A lot. In my family, Easter has always been about having fun and spending time together. We open our baskets (full of goodies, small gifts, and chocolate) and watch lots of themed movies. Then we usually play games, do some baking, and eat a fabulous dinner. Those traditions never fail to make me smile. I love spending time with my family - and that is especially true during the holidays. We always make special memories and celebrate in style. This year, things have been really up in the air. Will we be able to celebrate together? Will the world still be in shut down mode? Turns out.....we will not be celebrating together and the world still is in shut down mode. With that in mind, it has been difficult to fully commit myself to celebration mode. However, I am trying very hard to focus on things that make me happy. Like Easter.

review: golden ticket eyeshadow palette (revolution)

Confession: I have been waiting to post about this eyeshadow palette for quite some time. For whatever reason, the 1971 movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, has always been an Easter staple for me. Maybe it has to do with all of the candy and chocolate...but it is something that I watch on and around Easter every single year. There are other Easter movies that I like to watch (like Easter Egg Mornin' and Peter Cottontail) but it just would not be Easter without a little Willy Wonka. The Golden Ticket Eyeshadow Palette from Revolution was found many months back at Marshalls for about $10 CDN. Given the theme, the affordable price, and the positive experiences I have had with Revolution products in the past, it was a must. 

may happy thoughts and springtime flowers brighten all your easter hours.

Another holiday is here! Tomorrow is the big day....Easter. This will probably come as no surprise but I absolutely love celebrating Easter. There is something about this holiday makes me smile. Waking up, watching Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory on TV with my family, going through our Easter baskets, and spending time together. It's the perfect way to get away from the every day and make time for one another. I think that is what I like best about holidays. It is so easy to get caught up in our own lives and our own responsibilities. Holidays give us all a chance to sit back and focus on what is truly important: the people we care about.

This year, I am hoping to enjoy a relaxing Easter with my family. It will be nice to get away from work and just breathe for a bit! Tonight I will be enjoying Easter dinner with my fiances family and tomorrow night I will be celebrating with my own. In the meantime, I am enjoying pictures of pretty pastels, Easter bunny nail art, and chocolate treats. Which is what brings me to today's post. I thought that in the spirit of the holiday, I would share some of my favourite Easter themed pictures. I hope they inspire you and get you ready for the celebrations ahead.

Easter is a wonderful time to slow down and spend quality time with friends and family. I hope that whatever you have planned, you have a wonderful Easter holiday. Laugh, smile, and eat lots of chocolate!

xo Shannon

easter charmed aroma candle (review + new bunny ring)

Easter is almost here. Hooray! This is one of my absolute favourite holidays. After all, it has all the things I like best: pastels, bunny rabbits, and chocolate. Since tomorrow is Easter Friday and Easter Sunday is coming up fast...I thought it only fitting that today's blog post be dedicated to something seasonal. A while back, I visited the Charmed Aroma store in my local mall. (Yes, there is an entire store now. I am in big trouble!) After seeing a picture of the Jumbo Easter Bunny Candle online, I knew going in that this was the candle for me.

easter is the only time it's safe to put all your eggs in one basket.

Happy Easter! Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and that is a ridiculously exciting thought. This is one of my favourite holidays. It is always a bright sunny day filled with family time, movies, games, baking, and lots of chocolate. Usually, my outfit consists of a pink fuzzy bunny rabbit sweater (complete with ears), comfy sweatpants, and a pastel eye look. In my opinion, this is the perfect way to blend comfort with holiday style. How do you celebrate? Are there any special outfits you like to wear? Do you have any annual traditions? When it comes to traditions, my family has loads of them. We always peek at our Easter baskets, watch our favourite Easter movies, and play spring or Easter themed games. At night, it is a special dinner with tons of delicious baked goods. From start to finish, Easter is always a celebration that makes me smile. That makes me feel renewed. That fills me with hope.

bunnies are cuddly, the large and the small, but I like chocolate ones the best of all.

Happy Easter! Ahh, I love this time of year. This is a day that I've been looking forward to for weeks. As you probably know by now, I absolutely love holidays. They are a good excuse to spend time with family, relax, and remember the important things in life.

Easter is also a good excuse to eat plenty of chocolate, dye eggs, and watch Willy Wonka on a loop! This year, I plan on wearing my comfiest PJs, eating a chocolate bunny (or two), and hanging out with the family. I can't wait for this special day.

Whatever you're planning to do this year, I wish you all the very best. I hope the Easter Bunny is good to you!

How are you celebrating Easter? What is your favourite Easter candy? 

xo Shannon

well pleaseth me the sweet time of Easter.

Happy Good Friday!

I hope that you everyone is enjoying the day off work. Unfortunately, I am working like mad on my "day off" ...a freelance writer never rests! I am hoping that by working a ton today and tomorrow, that I might actually be able to relax on Sunday and spend time with my family. Fingers crossed.

So! To get myself in the mood for Easter, (and Spring weather, which seems to be arriving very very slowly) I thought that I would share some of the pictures that have been inspiring me for the holiday.

How are you spending your Good Friday? Are you excited about Easter?

xo Shannon

life is about creating yourself.

It amazes me how incredible life can be. Even when things seem out of sorts....there is something to be gained from each and every experience. The things that happen in our lives present us with opportunities to learn, grow, and form a deeper connection to self. Which is why it is important to reflect on both the positive and not-so-positive moments. Today? I wanted put my energy into some of those positive moments. So, here are a few of highlights from my life lately.

five favourite obscure christmas cartoons.

In previous years, there have been several posts dedicated to obscure Christmas movies, specials, and cartoons here on the creation of beauty is art. The reason is simple. I love them...a lot. Though the more popular holiday movies and specials make me smile, there is something extra thrilling about discovering media that is lesser known. Something new-to-me. Something I might have missed before. I used to find all sorts of random Christmas movies at the dollar store and at different thrift stores. This year, I have managed to find some hidden gems on free streaming platforms. I absolutely love free streaming sites, because it is often possible to find lesser known media from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. How exciting! Today, I wanted to share five of my favourite obscure Christmas cartoons. Each one has been adding to the magic of the holiday season this year. 

current favourites: music, television shows, perfume, and more

The last little while has been difficult. Everyone said that COVID was like a cold or a flu, but that has certainly not been my experience. It has been difficult and long lasting. Even still, I am not feeling back to normal. Thankfully, there have been little things making my life happier lately. When you aren't feeling well...those small comforts mean the most. Take a peek at some of my current favourites, including some music, television shows, books, perfume, clothes, and beauty products. 

six books on my spring book list.

So many books, so little time. If only it was possible to spend all of my hours reading! Since there are other responsibilities that need to be handled, reading is something that I tend to treat myself to at the end of the day. It is a reward. Something to look forward to. My last seasonal reading list included all sorts of Christmas themed books, but this spring, there is more of an assortment. Mysteries, biographies, and so much more. Here are six of the books on my spring book list. 

review: shaaanxo the remix (bh cosmetics eyeshadow palette)

Not long ago, I found myself scouring the BH Cosmetics website. A friend of mine had recommended their Zodiac Love Signs palette and I was in the midst of a serious mental debate. Deciding to be a responsible adult, I chose not to place the order. Why? Partly because there is so much eyeshadow in my makeup collection....and partly because they didn't have Shaaanxo The Remix palette in stock. I had meant to get it ages ago so it didn't make sense to place an order if they didn't have exactly what I wanted. Less than a week later, I was out and about doing some shopping for Easter (I make Easter baskets for some of my loved ones) when bam! There it was. Shaaanxo The Remix 18 Color Shadow Palette was at my local Winners for a mere eight dollars. To say I was thrilled would be a massive understatement. It was an exhilarating beauty find. So...how does the palette perform? And how does it compare to the original Shaaanxo palette? Here is everything you need to know.