Shake It Off

Last Thursday, my school had its annual Halloween Pub Night.  I love dressing up for Halloween and I always make my own costume.  This year, I decided to be a cheerleader and I based my costume after Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" music video.

I bought a white crop top from Aritzia, a blue skater skirt from Forever 21, and white tennis shoes from Old Navy.  I wore a blue hair bow from Claire's that I bought last year in my hair.  To finish off the look, I cut letters out of blue and gold felt and pinned them on my top.

To copy Taylor's signature cat eye and red lip, I used the L'Oreal Infallible Super Slim liner and the Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Moss lipstick in the shade 01. 

I had so much fun getting ready with my friends!! Andrea dressed up as a peacock and Danielle made an amazing Pocahontas. 

What are your Halloween plans?

xoxo M

A Few of My Favourite Things Tag

This tag was created by Victoria from In The Frow.  She has great, honest reviews and her content is very high quality! I highly recommend you check out her blog and her YouTube channel.

The 20 Categories (for each category you must list 3 of your favourite things)

1. Products -- Mac Book Pro, leather jacket, Kobo

2. Foods -- mashed potatoes, bread, chocolate

3. Places -- Newfoundland, England, the Distillery District in Toronto

4.Things you'd miss -- family, friends, my pets

5. Things you do when you're bored -- draw, play piano, bake

6. Things you enjoy when it's sunny -- go for a walk, read outside, have a barbecue

7. Films -- Once, the Harry Potter movies, the recent Star Trek movies

8. Songs -- Drops of Jupiter (Train), The Last Time (Taylor Swift and Gary Lightbody), All of the Stars (Ed Sheeran)

9. Brands -- Apple, MAC, The Body Shop

10. Outdoor things that you like -- changing leaves, the stars, water (oceans, lakes, etc.)

11. Events -- Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving

12. Cartoons -- Aladdin, Tangled, Frozen

13. Buildings -- the Grand Theatre (in London, Ontario), Navy Pier in Chicago (I know this is more of place than a building), Buckingham Palace

14. Anything in everyday life -- cats, music, cosy blankets

15. Traits in any person, not just partners -- honesty, humour, kindness

16. Influences -- Kate Middleton, Taylor Swift, Zooey Deschanel

17. Drinks -- peppermint hot chocolate, lemonade, hot apple cider

18. Experiences -- being in school musicals, travelling, fun times with friends (there are too many to name one)

19. Things to Watch -- Doctor Who, Modern Family, Downton Abbey

20. YouTubers -- Zoella, Sprinkleofglitter, ItsWayPastMyBedtime

Let me know if you do this tag!!
xoxo M

Tanya Burr Lip Glosses

Last May, I ordered 4 lip glosses from the Tanya Burr Cosmetic range off of the Feel Unique website.   I was really impressed with glosses.  They are highly pigmented and have incredible staying power.  I love how personal the collection is -- Tanya named each shade after her favourite things!!  The lip glosses smell like strawberry candy -- yum!! The range is very affordable ($11.60 each) and I will definitely be buying more in the future.  

"Aurora" is shimmery, rosy colour.  I love this colour for everyday as it is a very natural colour.

"Afternoon Tea" is a shimmery, pink toned nude.  This is the perfect nude lip gloss for me.  It cancels out the natural pigmentation of my lips but does not make me look dead.  

"Picnic in the Park" is a creamy bright pink.  It has coral undertones to it making this colour perfect for spring and summer.

"Vampire Kiss" is a creamy deep red.  It is absolutely gorgeous and probably my favourite shade because I have never seen anything quite like it.  I love when Tanya uses this colour in her Lily Collins makeup tutorial.

I want also want to try the shades "Chic" and "Exotic Island".  Sadly the nail polishes do not ship to Canada but hopefully I will get to try them someday!! I especially want to try "Little Duck", "Bright and Early", "Mini Marshmallows", and "Mischief Managed". 

Have you tried any of the Tanya Burr Cosmetics?
xoxo M

*Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored in any way.  All of the products mentioned have been bought by me or given as gifts by family.  All opinions are my own.

My Happy Place

Whenever I feel stressed or anxious, I try my best to go to my happy place and reflect.  The Distillery District in Toronto allows me to escape from reality and transports me back to the 19th century.  The Distillery District is a collection of Victorian Industrial buildings that have been transformed into galleries, shops, cafes, and more.  The architecture is simply stunning.  I first stumbled across this place in December 2013 when I went to the Toronto Christmas Market.  When I go to my happy place, I feel like I can do anything, that the possibilities are infinite.  Instead of feeling trapped, I feel free.

What is your happy place?
xoxo M

September Favourites

September.  The month of back to school, the end of summer, and the beginning of autumn.  Here is what I have been loving during September.

I have been wearing my black, faux leather jacket from Forever 21 constantly.  Dresses, t-shirts, this jacket goes with absolutely everything.  It is perfect those days when you need an extra layer.

I have wanted a pair of purple, low top Converse for ages.  They are such a classic style and are perfect for walking around campus. 

I've been reliving my childhood with these two scrunchies.  I am so glad that this 90s trend is back in style.  I bought these two from Garage, and was it incredibly difficult to choose from the wide selection of patterns and styles!! I wanted them all.  I think they add a cute, feminine touch to ponytails and buns.  

Essie's After School Boy Blazer has been on my nails a lot this month.  It is a deep blue shade, so dark that it is almost black.  I was able to get away one coat of polish (I probably should have done two but I'm very impatient when it comes to painting my nails) and it wasn't streaky at all.  Blue is my favourite nail polish colour and this shade was a perfect addition to my collection.

Being a history major, I spend most of my days reading thick textbooks and documents.  Before I go to bed, I want to read something that does not require too much thought.  Marie Claire magazine is the perfect de-stresser at the end of a long day.  I was really pleased with the size and price of the magazine. It is well over 450 pages and was only $5.99!  Marie Claire covers everything from fashion to philanthropy.  The magazine is clearly big on female empowerment and showed many strong female figures!

I never know what to put on my lips during September.  I was done with summer brights but was not quite ready for deep autumnal shades.  I decided to go for natural/nude lips.  L'Oréal Collection Exclusive by Colour Riche in the shade Jennifer's Nude is my perfect nude lipstick.  The colour does not wash me out at all, and complements my light olive skin perfectly. Revlon's ColourBurst Lip Butter in Sugar Plum is very natural shade that adds just a hint of berry.  This one is perfect for fall and is very hydrating.  I received a sample of the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in N9 Copper Pink as part of the birthday gift for Beauty Insiders at Sephora.  This lipstick just glides on and is incredibly flattering.  I will definitely be buying the full sized tube when my mini runs out. 

These two songs have been on repeat all month long.  As you can probably tell from my blog title, I am a huge Taylor Swift fan.  Her new single "Shake It Off" off of her next album "1989" is an incredibly upbeat song.  Every time I hear it, I just want to start dancing.  I can't wait for "1989" to be released!!

In my opinion, the most important aspect of a song is the lyrics.  The lyrics to Ed Sheeran's "Photograph" are simply incredible.  I love when singers write their own music because it makes the music just so much more personal.  "Photograph" tells such a beautiful story.  I hope Ed releases a music video for this song.

What did you love in September?

xoxo M

*Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored in any way.  All of the products mentioned have been bought by me or given as gifts by family.  All opinions are my own.