Another Canada Day has arrived. For some, that means fireworks and barbecues, and for others, it looks like just another day. In past years, my husband and I have gone to local events where there was live music, vendors, and other forms of entertainment. However, since the pandemic, the celebrations have been a lot more low key for us. At first we did not feel safe heading out into the crowds. Now? It just seems harder to fit in those special events. Despite the fact that we both had plans to work on Canada Day, we have made a last minute shift, and will be heading to Ottawa to see some fireworks and a DJ that my husband enjoys. It is a long way to go for a few hours of entertainment, but I think it is exactly what we need. To look and feel my best this Canada Day, I decided to create a red and white makeup look using some of my tried and true favourites. 

Music has a way of softening the edges. It expresses what cannot be expressed, it makes happy moments happier, and it is a safe place to hide. Music has long been an important part of my life and who I am. Though what I am listening to may shift and change depending on my mood, there are usually a handful of songs in heavy rotation at any given time. Today, I wanted to share some of those songs. Just in case you are looking for a little something special to add to your next playlist. 

It has been many years since I last visited Canada's Wonderland. And even more since I visited during the summer months. This theme park used to be an essential part of the season for my family. We often had season passes and would visit the park multiple times. Sometimes, even with extended family! I have so many wonderful memories of the way the theme park used to be, with Flintstones themed areas, restaurants, and a Smurfs cave. Things have certainly changed since then! The kids section is Snoopy themed now and there are all sorts of massive rollercoasters scattered throughout the park. My brother and I have been talking about visiting again for the last couple of years and finally we did it.  Here are some highlights from the day.

Hello summer! It is official. The summer season has arrived. For a lot of people, this is the best time of the year. School is out, the sun is shining, and there are fun seasonal activities to enjoy. Though I am looking forward to a few events over the next couple of months, my heart is dreaming of fallen leaves, crisp air, and sweater weather. I am definitely a fall and winter kind of person. Ahh well. Fingers crossed this summer will be a great one anyway. To welcome in a fresh new season, it only made sense to incorporate a little colour into a recent makeup look. The Pro Pigment Palette Volume 3 from the ABH Norvina Collection is bright, bold, and ideal for this time of year. Keep reading for a mini review and sunshine inspired makeup look.

Themed makeup? Why not themed nail polish? One of my friends came across the Taste Beauty x Cheetos Flamin' Hot nail polish duo recently and very kindly gifted it to me. I could not wait to try it out for myself. Not only have I been using the Cheetos themed eyeshadow palette lately, but the nail polish colours looked really fun. This set has two polishes and some themed nail decals. Ready to take a closer look? Keep reading for a review of this Cheetos inspired nail set. 

"Rage became a layer of my skin." This quote sums up my feelings at the moment. Though the book, Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger was returned to my local library a few weeks back, it is still on my mind. Especially since my anger has motivated me to take action. For those unaware, I no longer support the brand Dior, because of their continued choice to platform a rapist and court certified wife beater. I have sent emails that are unanswered. I have commented on social media. And after seeing the brand share yet another photograph of that violent misogynist, I decided to phone Dior as well. After voicing my complaint that the brand attempts to normalize someone who said unspeakable things and promotes violence against women...I was told that my call would be elevated...only to be hung up on. Interesting. Not to worry! My anger continues to motivate me to speak out. To send more emails. To call. To comment. And even to post here on Mansa Fashion. Though society expects me to feel ashamed of my anger, I recognize that it has the power to push me into action. I will use my anger to speak out against brands who harm women, stand against survivors, and prop up abusers. 

Books are always a good idea. Recently, an afternoon was spent browsing the shelves at the nearby library for something interesting to read. I wasn't looking for any genre in particular, but was open to whatever happened to catch my eye that day. Though I spent a long time looking at the young adult section for something fun or nostalgic...my choices ended up largely being non-fiction titles. I need to work on this, because my 20/20 reading goal for the year (20 non-fiction and 20 fiction) is rather lopsided at the moment. I've already hit my non-fiction reading goal, but I am falling behind on my fiction books. Those will definitely be the focus in the next little bit. For now, it is time for mini reviews of these recent library books.

One of my loved ones recently had some harsh words for me in response to an open discussion about who I am, what I believe, and what matters most. (Spoiler alert: this includes standing against abusers, elevating the voices of survivors, and not giving money to companies, brands, or artists who support violence and misogyny.) It was a deeply upsetting conversation for a lot reasons. I told them how important it is that I use my voice and try to make a positive difference...and I was told that my efforts do not make a difference and do not matter. That I will not create change. That I am being ridiculous. Of course, I have been thinking about this conversation a lot in recent days as I try to figure out how to move forward with someone who completely disregards the most important parts of me. In truth, it is not something I quite know how to do.

What is it about novelty items? They are always hard for me to resist. The sillier something is...the more I want to put it to use. Take the Cheetos Flamin' Hot Crunchy Eyeshadow Palette as an example. This was something that I came across a few times at Winners. I tried to resist. In fact, I did resist the palette on a few different occasions, but eventually, temptation won out. I just had to find out whether the Cheetos themed palette was fun, ridiculous, or something else entirely. Ready to find out?

Is it possible to find great beauty products for a whole lot less? Absolutely. As wonderful as it is to treat myself to items from Sephora every now and then, the drugstore, discount stores, and dollar stores are frequented far more often. So, it is nice to put dollar store products to the test sometimes! After all, fun beauty finds should be available for everyone who wants them. On that note...here are some mini reviews and a makeup look featuring dollar store beauty items from Tivoli and L.A. Colors. 

Ahead of Mother's Day weekend, my mom told me she wanted to take a shopping trip to Buffalo, NY. So, my dad drove us across the border for a couple days. We went to an absolutely massive mall as well as Target, Walmart, and a handful of other stores. There were all sorts of exciting items to look at...and take home. Keep reading for a peek at my Buffalo shopping haul.

Bigger isn't always better. When it comes to beauty products, it is nice to have smaller items on hand at times. Not only are pint sized products easier to store but they are also ideal for on-the-go use. The Berry Burst Fun Sized Eyeshadow Palette from Violet Voss is an excellent example. It is compact, but still contains ten eyeshadow shades in a variety of colours and finishes. 

It has been many years since the last beauty bookshelf post here on Mansa Fashion. At that time, this series was described as being focused on beauty-related reads. There were some posts on personal styling and hair style books. And then....I stopped writing beauty bookshelf posts. Truth be told, there was some uncertainty about what to write about as my view of beauty continued to broaden. Should I still focus on makeup, hair, and fashion related reads? Or was it okay to embrace some other aspects of beauty? After taking some time to think it over, a decision has been made, and all beauty related content will be included. Even if it doesn't quite fit into the traditional definition of beauty. To kick off the next generation of beauty bookshelf...this post is a spotlight on an incredible writer, Clementine Ford. She is an outspoken activist and feminist. 

Everyone deserves the chance to fly....I remember the first time I saw the musical, Wicked. It was on a vacation to London, England with my parents. The cast was incredible and I was immediately wowed by the music, the story, and the sets. Following that experience, I read the book the musical was based on, I purchased the soundtrack, and in the years that followed, I saw additional performances closer to home. I love Wicked a little too much. Though it isn't my all time favourite musical, it is certainly in my top three. When One/Size announced a Wicked themed makeup collection, there was no question about whether or not something from the line would be added to my makeup collection. Though there were a few different products, ultimately, it was the Unlimited Eye and Face Palette that stood out. This is partly because of my obsession with face products like eyeshadow and blush and partly because of the two separate Elphaba and Glinda sections inside. Talk about cute!