There is something special about jewellery. The right piece does so much more than add interest to an ordinary outfit. It makes you feel something. Suddenly? Your self confidence rises. You walk a little taller. You feel stronger. Bolder. Happier. It might not make sense on paper....but accessories are powerful. This is something I believe in wholeheartedly. There are certain items in my collection that make me feel that way. One of them? Comes from Valentina. 

This is an online store that does so much more than sell jewellery. Their pieces give you that larger-than-life feeling. That I-can-do-anything attitude. Best of all? They give back. Valentina specializes in unique charm bracelets. Each one is beautiful, easy to wear, and effortlessly glamorous. That's not all. These pieces also benefit different charities. 10% of the proceeds are donated. (To charities like the WWF, Fauna and Flora, RSPB, Woodland Trust, and the Marine Conservation.) That makes each bracelet both gorgeous and giving.

Recently I received a stunning charm bracelet from the company. Honestly? It was love at first sight. While browsing through the different designs on their website...there were a number of pieces that stood out to me. Some had stunning colours. Some with delicate charms. Some with more unique charms. But each bracelet had something special about it. I wasn't sure which one to choose. Then I saw it. Icecap. It took my breath away. Not only that....it gave me this indescribable feeling in the pit of my stomach. That to me is the sign of good match. When an accessory doesn't just look pretty. It speaks to you. Icecap spoke to me.

There have been a lot of big moments lately. In between my regular life, there have been things like tours of the wedding venue, phone calls, decor shopping, and even a dinner with my parents and my fiances parents. It seems like things are moving at a rapid pace. As eager as I am to start the next chapter of my life....it all is coming at me so fast! I am simply trying to hold on and get through all of the obligations that are between now and the big day.

With these big moments comes plenty of fashion! Yes, I have been doing my best to look the part while I am out and about. So, I thought that I would show you some of my recent outfits. The first is from the tour that we took of the wedding venue. The wedding is actually going to take place at a castle next summer. Crazy! For the tour, I decided to wear a dress that was casual but nice. I chose one in navy that featured a pleated floral bottom. My hair was half up half down and my makeup was simple but sweet. Take a look:

I am a comfy kind of girl. As much as I love getting all dressed up, when I'm at home, I like to be as comfortable as possible. That usually means sweatpants and a band t-shirt - or maybe even an over-sized hoodie. When it comes to lounging around the house, I am certainly not thinking: high heels and distressed denim! I can't be the only fashion lover who is like this, right?

Well, the other day I came across a cute outfit from Hard Candy. (Yes, the same brand that makes some of my favourite blushes and bronzers.) They had lightweight hoodies with lace and matching lace shorts in a bunch of different colours. The moment I saw these summery sweatsuits, I thought: that would be perfect for a comfy night in! So, I chose one in green. Since buying it, I've worn it around the house and even for a movie night with my boyfriend. It's the perfect combination of comfy and cute.

Are you ready to see my comfy outfit of the day? Take a peek at my makeup and of course, my summery sweatsuit:



Do you like this comfy look? What do you normally wear around the house?

xo Shannon

Dry skin is the worst...especially during the winter months. It can be itchy, flaky, and downright irritating. When it comes to my own skin, I unfortunately deal with dry skin on a regular basis. That is why the cold weather is especially challenging for me to deal with. I had been searching for a heavy-duty moisturizer that would really work - but I hadn't been able to find one this year. Everything I used worked for a couple of minutes and then my skin was back to feeling itchy again! Thankfully, STEAMCREAM came along.

If you haven't heard of STEAMCREAM yet, trust me, you'll want to! They offer a range of handmade moisturizers that use high-quality, natural ingredients. What makes them unique? They are fused together using a shot of steam. (Hence the name, STEAMCREAM!) The steam makes the moisturizer super lightweight yet ultra hydrating for the skin.

I was recently able to try out Thalia. (Pictured above) Right off the bat, I was struck by the gorgeous packaging. All of their products come in a uniquely designed tin with different artistic patterns and prints. So cute! Plus, I just love the way Thalia looks on my counter top. It adds the perfect pop of colour. As for the moisturizer itself, I've been using it every. single. day. Thus far, it is saving my skin from the cold temperatures outside!

The lotion itself feels really light on the skin but still has a thick, luxurious texture to it. It settles into the skin really well and leaves it moisturized throughout the day. I love how well it works - and the scent as well. It has a really light, pretty fragrance. Nothing too overpowering, but super pretty all the same. Overall, I am definitely loving this.

I used Thalia before applying my makeup for a night out and it made my skin look (and feel!) so much better. So, here is my face of the day featuring STEAMCREAM:



Other products used to create this face of the day? The Kat Von D True Romance Palette, the NARS blush in Deep Throat, and the Maybelline 10 Hour Stain Gloss in Red.

If you haven't checked out products from STEAMCREAM yet, be sure to head to their website: https://steamcream.co.uk/ There are so many cute tin designs to choose from!

Have you tried STEAMCREAM? What do you think of this face of the day?

xo Shannon

The Christmas shopping season has begun! Even though I've started my shopping, I still have so so much left to get done. Every year, I try to get my Christmas shopping finished early. Why? There is always lots going on at home...and I'd much rather be on the couch watching Christmas movies than out at a mall.

Since I'm trying to get my shopping done as early as possible, my mom and I spent a few hours at our local shopping mall recently. I ended up crossing a few things off my list (as well as picking up a birthday gift for my sister). Unfortunately, I still have a bunch of people to buy for. So, I guess I'll be braving the malls again in the future!

Now onto the rest of this post. I thought I would show you what I wore out Christmas shopping! Here is my outfit of the day:

There is something about fashion that just makes you feel good. Recently, some friends and I went to see the premiere of Parkland (starring the incredible Zac Efron) at the Toronto International Film Festival. Since we were waiting in the rush line for tickets, I needed an outfit that was going to be casual - but nice. I wanted to blend glamour and comfort together...and I was really happy with how it turned out!

So, what did I wear to the movie? A simple tank from Garage, Joe Fresh dark wash jeans, and one of my all-time favourite pieces - my Attitude by Jay Manuel knit jacket with faux-leather sleeves. For accessories, I wore my heart pendant necklace (always!), sparkly Chanel inspired earrings, and a simple square ring. My hair was in a high bun and my makeup was dark and smokey.

Here is my completed look:


That was my look of the day! What do you think of this casual fall outfit?

xo Shannon

I love getting dressed up. There is something calming to me about the process. From selecting the outfit and accessories, to perfecting the hair and makeup, it is enjoyable. Which is why, any excuse I have to get dressed up is exciting.

Deciding on a sweet, heart printed dress, heart shaped earrings, and my heart shaped Tiffany necklace, I realized I must have hearts on the brain! Maybe this is because Valentine's Day is quickly approaching.

Last night, my friend and I went to dinner and couple of movies. Despite the fact that I accidentally fell asleep during the second movie, (It was Bucky Larson, so I am sure it was no great loss....) it was a really great night! This is what I wore for the night out...

Yesterday I went out with some friends. I was really excited to see them all, but sad to say goodbye to one of them! In honour of the occasion, however, I thought I would make an outfit of the day post!