December 2021 Favorites

I'm still on 2021, but not for long! Not that I mind elongating the holiday season a little longer. I'm hoping to have a post up on Christmas and my top products of 2021 this week and next and that should round out the last of my 2021 posts. I don't know what 2022 holds, but as of right now, it feels much of the same from last year. We're safe and healthy, so I start this new year being grateful for that. I may have to search harder some days to find something to be grateful for, but there is always something.

My favorites last month were a bit low-key and not my typical holiday fare. No red lipstick, because my mask would cover it. No pretty eyeshadows, because I honestly never left the car and chose curbside delivery. Just the bare minimal to make me feel a little more human, but with as little effort as possible. Not complaining here, because I absolutely do not mind the little effort part. 😂

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November 2020 Faves

Hello, December! My favorite time of the year is truly here. I've already been watching several Christmas specials with my trees lit up. This year with us both being home, it kind of feels more like the decorations aren't going to waste. We're both home to enjoy them all day and night, which is actually really nice. It's the little things. And when I tell you that I'm looking for any small burst of joy and appreciating the heck out of it, I mean it. I've been having a rough time this past month.

I've managed to be spoiled with three advents this year and I said I didn't need one. My husband picked out the Yves Rocher and Shoppers Beauty ones and my SIL made us both handmade advents full of different goodies each day. I'm thinking of doing a weekly recap of them on Instagram, either on my feed or in my Stories. Did you get a calendar this year? I'd love to know which one! If I were going to get the usual chocolate one, I had my eyes on the Ferrero Rocher one. These calendars just get fancier and fancier every year!

Is anyone else questioning sending Christmas cards this year? I'm normally a card gal, but I don't really want to buy stamps, deal with the post office, etc. I am thinking we will get dolled up this weekend for a picture and then send it by social media and emails this time around. It's not my preferred method, but I think everyone will understand. Anyway, let's get to the favorites!

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April 2020 Favorites

Getting this post up was something else. I was ready to throw my ancient laptop out the window because it kept giving me errors left and right. Alas, I think I've finally got it working. **knocks on wood**

My husband and I are in week 7 of staying home and my monthly favorites have definitely proven to be different with our new schedule (or lack thereof). Instead of makeup and nail polish, I've found myself gravitating more toward skincare, things that make my pamper sessions feel luxurious and comforting, and things that just add a dose of self care to my everyday routine. My makeup drawers are probably catching a bit of dust right now and I'm okay with that. Has what you reach for changed in recent weeks?

Though there's not a single makeup product to be found in my favorites this month, these things have been my main grabs for weeks!

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March 2020 Favorites

March. What a month of change in the world, our daily lives, and our view of things. We are at the end of our third week of social distancing and staying home. As someone who is an introverted homebody who spends probably 85% of my time at home anyway, it hasn't been that difficult of a change for me. And my husband has acclimated well to the change of working downtown to being home for work. Changes hitting me right now are more in what to blog or post about, battling my anxiety while staying informed and following the news, and making sure we take a few mental breaks here and there to keep us sane.

Speaking of mental breaks, I'm thisclose to ordering a Nintendo Switch Lite and Animal Crossing New Horizons. It might happen this weekend. I've been wanting the Lite since it came out and Animal Crossing and Cooking Mama is practically sealing the deal for me. For those of you that have it, I see all of you little enablers! Haha!

My favorites this month differ quite a bit from the history of my favorites posts. For starters, I've hardly been wearing makeup at all and have been focusing far more on skincare. I don't know what my monthly faves are going to look like as we continue to stay inside, but I do want to keep sharing them. They just might not be as makeup related on the side of beauty topics.

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InstaMonth for February 2020

I'm so happy we're in March! Our wedding anniversary is this month and we always enjoy a trip away. Though to be honest, I'm incredibly late in planning it this year. Hoping to get a hotel booked this week! We're looking at Traverse City, Michigan. One of our favorite shows to watch together is The Curse of Oak Island. And while going to Oak Island in Nova Scotia would be fun and a total dream of mine, just maybe not so much during the winter months.

One of the brothers on the show owns a winery in Traverse City, hence wanting to go and enjoy a tour during the off season while crossing my fingers that Marty is there. I love the story and legend of Oak Island, but I truly love the artifacts and the history behind everything they have found so far. If you're into mysteries and history, it's a captivating show! I especially enjoy watching Rick, Jack, and Gary. Anyway, enough about my love of The Curse of Oak Island. If you watch it, let me know in the comments!

I had fun with my Instagram during the month of February, making almost every picture have a tone of red or pink in it for the month of loooooove. I don't usually go down the path of color themes, but I love pink and red so this didn't feel like something forced. It was just something that is almost always in my pictures anyway. The algorithm is not my friend on most days despite trying many different methods, so I've found my best way around this is to post these little round-ups here on a domain that I own. :)

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January 2020 Beauty Favorites

I actually completely forgot to do a faves post for December. I blame the horrible cold and sinus issues I was having for the oversight or just the enjoyment from having went home for the holidays. I can say that most of the items I would have featured in a December favorites post are featured in my Top Beauty Favorites of 2019 and I packed most of these when we traveled! Anyway, it is still super unlike me to miss one of these posts and it's driving the perfectionist part of me a little nuts...but it happens!

I know some people complained about January feeling super long and I can agree since my household was sick a good chunk of it and the days feel longer when you're unwell. BUT I'm also kind of grateful when it feels like time is slowing down, because these years and months are swooping past at what feels like warp speed. Now why can't it feel slow on days off, weekends, or vacations, that's the real question. Haha! Anyway, with January feeling longer, it made it feel like more time to enjoy these products. ;)

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Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish Gloss in Katie

I picked this up at Ulta while home for Christmas! I'm pretty sure it first came on my radar when I saw makeupbytiffanyd wearing it in one of her YouTube videos and it caught my attention. I have a  shades from the Plumping Lip Polish line of Buxom, including the one that so many of us beauty lovers fawn over - White Russian. I don't always reach for plumping lip products, because I just don't feel them necessary in my everyday life nor do I enjoy the feeling/tingling of them all of the time.

I will say that compared to other plumping products I have tried before, the tingling of these isn't as strong. You can still feel it working and the coolness effect. Katie is going to be a gorgeous shade for spring and summer. See below for my thoughts and swatches!

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2019 Beauty Faves

I love putting together these annual type of posts. I was looking at last year's version of this post and some of these are repeat items. I don't treat this post as only highlighting products that are new to me or released over the year, but more on the products that I found myself reaching for on a constant basis. These products were favorites in every sense of the word during 2019. I'm sure I could have added a few more, but I had to draw the line somewhere!

I would love to know what made your list in 2019. What products were your true loves? I'm open for recommendations and I'm sure others are, as well!

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Ulta Haul for December 2019

While home for the holidays and in the land of the beautiful place we call Ulta, of course I stopped in my town's location for a little retail therapy! Because I went a bit ham in there last May, I tried to reel it in. Tried. And since this was around Christmas, I guess I'll consider this haul as a gift because why not?! I also had enough points for a discount, so that was a bonus! By the way, Ulta's point system is so much better than Sephora. Sephora needs to remodel a lot of things, as I feel like they are truly falling behind all of the better points programs out there (like Shoppers Drug Mart, if you're in Canada).

Aside from my last Sephora haul, these are the only beauty items I got around Christmas and I am set for a while! I know I just knocked on Sephora, but I did want to take advantage of my $15 off of $75 coupon. Honestly, I'm looking forward to when Ulta comes to Canada and offers up some friendly competition. If you are interested in seeing what I picked up on my latest jaunt to Ulta, just keep scrolling!

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E.L.F. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer

I was so excited to find this while I was back home, because I have yet to find it in stock anywhere here in Canada. It was part of my Ulta haul and I think I got some pretty nifty things. I'm going back home at Christmas and I'm both tempted to visit Ulta again or ignore it for the sake of my wallet. It's full of my kryptonite! Haha!

Now while this is supposed to be a dupe for the Tatcha Silk Canvas primer, I can't compare it since I don't own it. Well, I have a small sample but I don't find that fully worthy enough for a comparison. I wanted this first in hopes to save some money if I like it and splurge on the Tatcha if I didn't. So am I still tempted to splurge? Let's find out!

You can find my review of the Kylie Cosmetics Kristen Lip Kit in my last post!

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Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit in Kristen

Usually having zero interest in the Jenners and Kardashians, this purchase was based solely on my addiction to liquid lipsticks and I fell hard for this shade when I first saw swatches for it. So with that said, this was my first Kylie Cosmetics purchase. I bought it at Ulta when I went home back in May and I am finally getting around to getting this review with swatches up. I didn't even know they carried the brand until I walked in and it was the first display I saw!

So this is my first Kylie purchase, but will it be my first and only? Did the brand win me over? Keep reading to find out! I'll also compare it to a few other liquid lipstick formulas in my collection.

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Ulta Haul Spring 2019

If you read my last post, you know that I just got back from South Carolina to surprise my mom for Mother's Day! My trip was perfect. While I tried to spend the majority of my time home (first time in almost 7 years!) with my family, I did get out for a little retail therapy. You're not putting me in the land of Target and Ulta and expecting me not to take advantage, are you? That would just be cruel! I tried not to go overboard, but I did want to get a few things that we can't get here, can only order online, or it came in at a better discount.

I haven't tried any of this since I got back, as I just haven't had time. This is just pure emphasis on the haul and why I picked the items that I did! I would love to hear your rants and raves on any of these products that you've tried, though. I'm excited about everything I got...and it was so darn hard not to walk out with half of the store. Haha!

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