why i stopped being 'nice'

I used to describe myself as nice. I try so hard to be nice. It's important that I be nice. I don't do that anymore, largely because I am not interested in being nice. To be 'nice' in our society means not speaking out, not ruffling feathers, not pushing back on the status quo. It means cramming yourself into a box to make others comfortable. It means losing part of who you are. 

review: minnie mouse eyeshadow palette (taste beauty)

My love of all things Disney is no secret. I adore the movies, the music, the characters, the theme parks, and even Disney themed beauty products. As for the latter? The Minnie Mouse Eyeshadow Palette from Taste Beauty has been a bit of an obsession lately. Despite one of the other Taste Beauty eyeshadow palettes being a dud (check out that review here) this particular palette wowed. Here is everything you need to know about this affordable and adorable makeup product.

review: kylie cosmetics 24k birthday collection eyeshadow palette

Have you ever bought makeup from a vending machine? Oddly enough...I have. When my family was coming home from Walt Disney World last month, we had a lengthy wait at the airport because of a delayed flight. That meant lots of time to wander around the various shops. And lots of time to consider an expensive makeup purchase. See, there was a Kylie Cosmetics vending machine with all sorts of tempting products. The longer we waited at the airport, the harder it was for me to stay away from that machine. Though there were many items that I wanted to take home (including an airport exclusive lip kit) it was the eyeshadow palette that won out. Though I've been able to try out some smaller eyeshadow palettes from the brand, it was a little too tempting to see a large Kylie Cosmetics palette with 24 eyeshadows: the 24K Birthday Collection Eyeshadow Palette.

thrift store entertainment haul (records, dvds, and cds)

There is a used entertainment store that I have loved for many years. Essentially, people bring in their old records, CDs, movies, and box sets for money or store credit. Then the store turns around and sells those items to people like me. There was one location in the city that I grew up in and thankfully there is another location in a city not too far from where I live now. Despite the fact that it isn't too far away from me...this is not a store that I am able to visit often. The reason? My loved ones do not trust me in there. This is because I am a physical media person. I love CDs, cassettes, DVDs, VHS tapes, records, all of it. Streaming is cool and all, but there is something to be said for actually owning the things you love. (I hate how often things leave streaming services. And the fact that many things I enjoy are not available at all.) Last weekend, my husband allowed me to spend 15 minutes inside the store. Though I didn't have a lot of time to browse, there were so many wonderful items that I was able to find in those 15 minutes. It was a real treasure trove. Ready to take a look? Here is a peek at my thrift store haul.

testing out a dollar store nail polish

Every now and then, it is nice to put a dollar store beauty item to the test. After all, everyone has a different budget to work with. At some points, trips to Sephora are in order, at other times, the drugstore is most appropriate, and at certain times, it is dollar store all the way. Whatever your budget...you deserve to find products that work well and make you feel fabulous. Since this ultra sparkly nail polish from the brand Cairuo caught my eye at the dollar store recently (and it only cost $1.25 CDN) it seemed only right to put this polish to the test and find out how it compares to other more expensive offerings. 

current obsession: cover girl lash blast cleantopia (ultramarine black)

Cover Girl mascaras are impressive. I've tried a handful from the brand that have wowed, including my all-time favourite, The Super Sizer. Most recently, I gave the Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara in Ultramarine Black a try. It is described as "an intense black mascara shade with a hint of blue for brighter, wide-awake eyes." Talk about an intriguing idea. After all, I am pretty committed to black mascara, but still love the idea of having fun with colour. This particular mascara seemed like the perfect way to check off both boxes. Keep reading for all the information about this unusual drugstore beauty product.

testing out quo lip products (plumping gloss and lipstick)

I've tried a handful of Quo Beauty products over the years. Standouts include their makeup brushes and some of the Pride Collection items. Despite testing out a few items from Quo Beauty in the past, I am not overly familiar with the brand offerings, since items are tried on a rather sporadic basis. However, every now and then, I attend an event or receive different beauty samples with purchase, and am able to try out an assortment of products. More recently, that included some Quo Beauty lip products. Want to find out how these perform? Here are some mini reviews of the Lip Boost Plumping Gloss and Lipstick.