every love story is beautiful...but ours is my favourite.

This is a very special post. Not only is it celebrating Valentine's Day (one of my favourite holidays) but this is also my 1000th post on the creation of beauty is art. Can you believe it? 1000 posts. That is insane. It is hard to remember all of them...but each one has a special place in my heart. I just wanted to thank you all for being a part of my blogging journey. For reading, commenting, and supporting this little page. It means so much to me. Thank you.

Now for the rest of the post! I wanted to say something very important to all of you: Happy Valentine's Day! Oh, how I love holidays. Though my favourite holiday is Christmas, I have a soft spot in my heart for any and all celebrations. They are a great excuse to have fun and be with the people you love. There is truly nothing better. Valentine's Day in particular is great because it is all about love! Oh, and eating chocolate. That is my kind of celebration.

I am not sure what to expect from Valentine's Day this year. My husband is working all evening so it looks like I will be alone tonight. Usually, I bake something special, cook him dinner, and give him presents. Instead? It will be an evening of chick flicks for one. Despite the less than ideal scenario....I am excited about Valentine's Day. Yesterday, I was able to celebrate with my family. So, even though today is a little disappointing, the holiday has definitely been enjoyed.

On another note....my latest YouTube video is up! It is a little bit different for my channel but definitely something I wanted to share. The topic? Workout tips for people who hate working out. Fitness is not something that comes naturally to me (as in, I'd rather be chilling on the couch than doing squats) but I have found ways to push forward and make it work. I hope these tips can help you all as well.


How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day?

xo Shannon

top 5 favourite red lipsticks.

Gwyneth Paltrow said it best. Many people have theorized what beauty is (and how to achieve it) but I think the basics are pretty simple: feeling good and unleashing your kick-ass side. Red lipstick is certainly one way to go about this. See, it is not just a type of makeup or a pretty shade to wear....it is a tool used to boost self confidence and assert your power.

every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

I won't lie to you. Things have been challenging lately. Every time I open a newspaper or go online, I am bombarded with negativity and hate. Day after day, it is the same. Rights are being taken away, families are being ripped apart, and terror has gripped the hearts of many. (Thankfully, there are also stories of strong individuals fighting against evil. That gives me hope. That keeps me going.) With so much pain and devastation in the world, it has become all too easy to feel powerless. Overwhelmed. Sad. Lost. But there is one very important thing to remember in the days, months, and years to come: we are not powerless.

Though my blog is primarily related to makeup, fashion, and beauty, it is important for me to express how I feel about the world. Having an outlet for these emotions of mine helps keep me sane. I only hope that these sporadic political posts inspire you too....and let you know that you are not alone. So, today I wanted to share some of the quotes that give me comfort. They have been lifting my spirits and giving me some much needed inspiration. And inspiration is the fuel that keeps us fighting.

Which quote is your favourite? How do you stay inspired in dark times?

xo Shannon

re-discovered favourite: mariposa eyeshadow

Lately, I have been focusing my attention on two main objectives: de-cluttering and using more of what I own. Which is how I found myself digging through a stack of barely used makeup. I had picked up a bunch of Mariposa eyeshadows from the dollar store a while back (because my addiction to testing makeup does not begin and end at Sephora), swatched them, and put them aside to use properly. Only I never did. Until now!

This particular Mariposa set immediately caught my eye. I loved the rich warm shades and was eager to see how they performed. So, I created a makeup look using the shades. Honestly, I was blown away by the soft texture, the pigmentation (excellent...especially when you consider the price), and end result. I was seriously loving the look this palette created. In fact, I was already dreaming of the many ways I would use these shadows again.

Then disaster struck! My perfect re-discovered palette slipped off of my shelf and shattered everywhere. The next ten minutes were spent scrubbing burgundy shadow off of white tile. Ahh well....at least this little palette brought me a moment of joy. And one seriously stunning makeup look. It was also a reminder that it can be a lot of fun to use things already in my collection instead of searching for whatever is shiny and new.

Thankfully, I took a picture of my completed makeup look. Be sure to let me know what you think of it....

This Mariposa palette definitely exceeded my expectations. The quality was fabulous - and the price was even better. For just two dollars, I was able to create a beautiful makeup look. What could be better than that? It just goes to show....you don't need to spend a ton of money to get your glam on.

Have you tried dollar store makeup before? What are your re-discovered favourites?

xo Shannon

review: paris hilton gold rush perfume

It sounds strange to say, but perfume is a big part of my life. The truth is that I love to collect it as much as I love to wear it. Every day, my morning starts the same: there is a careful selection process as I pour over my perfume shelf. Eventually, I choose the perfect fragrance to suit my mood. Sometimes the scent is soft and sweet (like Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift) and other times it is bold and powerful (think Gold by Kim Kardashian). Since my perfume collection is so massive....there are always a few options for every mood and occasion. And I like it that way!

Currently, there is one scent in particular that makes me smile. It is Gold Rush by Paris Hilton. I picked it up during my shopping trip to the states several months back. The set (pictured above) came with a full sized bottle, a mini spray, a body lotion, body wash, and a massive gold purse. Everything about the set was fun and elegant - just like the scent! It is the perfect blend of sophistication and excitement.

As you can tell from the picture above, this perfume set is amazing in terms of the packaging. The bottle is absolutely stunning. The gold dress shape is lovely and looks incredible on my perfume shelf. As for the actual scent, it is just as wonderful as the bottle. It is a little sweet, a little spicy, and downright intoxicating. Whenever I wear Gold Rush, I feel strong.

If you couldn't tell, I love this perfume. A lot. This is without a doubt Paris Hilton's best.

Something else I am loving is the Becca Jaclyn Hill Face Palette. Check out swatches and a full review on my YouTube channel!

Have you tried Gold Rush? What did you think?

Editing Note: Since Paris Hilton has decided to publicly support an abusive man, her products will no longer be reviewed on the creation of beauty is art. All previous reviews will remain, but no new content will be shared. 

xo Shannon

stop comparing and start creating.

I've heard it said that comparison is the biggest thief of joy. This is absolutely true. In the past, I've felt pangs of envy looking through friends travel photos on Facebook....or hearing about someone's job promotion. Suddenly, all of my own personal accomplishments faded into a lackluster shade of grey. All because I compared my life to someone else's.

For the past year or so, one of my biggest priorities has been my path of self discovery. I have opened myself up to new experiences, have learned more about my authentic self,and have achieved a sense of value and inner peace. (Not all the time, mind you, but more often than not.) Despite this, I had not realized that any deep or profound changes had been made. Apart from being happier and more positive, that is! Then something happened.

One of my friends texted me to share her excitement over a new job. It was a big step up and she was downright giddy about the next chapter of her lie. Ordinarily, I would have experienced a combination of elation and misery. The latter because the dreaded comparisons would begin in my head. What about me? When will my career take off? It probably never will. On and on it would go until I would feel completely and totally miserable.

That didn't happen this time. I was happy for her and didn't think to worry or compare. It wasn't until later that night that I even realized my reaction was not typical for me. Somehow, my own sense of joy and purpose had squashed my need to compare. Who knows if it will always be this way....but it was certainly a moment of victory.

xo Shannon

good things come to those who sweat.

I tried. I really tried. At the end of 2016, I was desperate to maintain a sense of balance. Especially over the holiday season. My goal was to workout a couple of times a week and practice some (some being the key word) level of moderation over the Christmas and New Years festivities. Well, I can honestly say that did not happen. Time was limited, I felt unmotivated, and plates of chocolate cookies kept calling my name.

The good news? A new year means a new start. We are officially into February now....but January was the perfect motivation to get myself back on track. The strangest thing was how much I wanted to get back on track. Just before the start of the new year, I found myself craving salads and vegetables. Even stranger, I actually missed my workout DVDs. Who would have thought? It seems everything was perfectly aligned: my motivation returned.

This past month has been a little rough on me. After not working out for a while, it was much harder than anticipated to get back into it. Not time wise but in terms of the workouts themselves. I found myself completely exhausted and sore, day in and day out. Finally now, I am starting to feel like my normal self again. Though I don't always crave a hard workout....it makes me proud to know that I am putting in the work.

Just in case you need an extra dose of inspiration today, here are a few pictures and quotes to keep you motivated this month.

How are you staying motivated?

xo Shannon