Home sweet home

 

I was at H&M recently to shop for clothes for my son. Apparently my brown eyes and hair weren’t the only thing he inherited from me, he also has my taste for fashion. Looking stylish has long been important to him, and he is very particular about clothing and brands. I generally shop for his clothes at Winners or H&M, as I find trendy quality clothes at both places. I don’t shop for myself at H&M very much as their clothes tend to fit me “weird”. It isn’t something I can explain, it just has always been that way. We entered the bright new location at the mall we were at that day and as I wandered through the store, something appeared to me that made me lose all functionality of my body.

 

H&M Home.

 

I stood there motionless, all colour draining out of my face. Panic mode ensued. I frantically dialed the number to my friend who I had literally just ran into at the mall that day and shouted incoherently at her into my iPhone before hanging up without warning. “H&M HAS A HOME SECTION WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN WHY DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS I CAN’T HANDLE THIS WHAT IS HAPPENING BYE WORLD I AM MALFUNCTIONING AND CANNOT BREATHE I HAVE TO GO”. Everything in their Home section I was in love with. It was so my style, very feminine and chic. I began wandering aimlessly, gazing at everything displayed so adorably around the small section. But my most favourite part of this discovery? Everything was so inexpensive. A new throw pillow and two decorative items were the new additions to my home I chose that day and my total for all three was just under $30. I already am looking forward to my next visit where perhaps more treasures will be discovered.

 

My home décor has definitely taken on more of a priority with me in the past two years. It was around that time my long-term relationship at the time ended and I felt free to decorate my home the way I saw fit and the way that I wanted to. I loved where I lived (and still do!) and I wanted to fully express my creativity and femininity in my own space. Constantly I am on the hunt for things that add to the overall ambiance of my home and Winners provides a great source where I have found mostly everything I currently have. Over the weekend while I was perusing the aisles of the location near where I live, as I am known to do, I found this picture and I knew I had to have it. The location I believe has been chosen, and I am so excited to hang it.

 

Bri’s List of favourite places to shop for home décor:

 

Winners

Homesense

 

Simons

 

Target (Only now in the US…. I would not recommend going anywhere near the Canadian ones right now as you’ll have to engage in a UFC match over shopping carts)

 

H&M Home

 

If anyone is looking for me I’ll be in H&M Home until further notice.

This girl ain't loyal

I ain’t loyal (concerning makeup.... everything else I am to a fault. Let that be a disclaimer).

 

Although my makeup destination of choice is Shoppers, (Hello points!) it is not the only place I go to get my beauty product fix. I am definitely a MAC girl and always love to stop in and see what’s new. Quite a few of my everyday go-to items are MAC and I have come to rely on them as tried-and-true gold standards. There is also another place that I am known to frequent as well.

 

Sephora.

 

 

 

Car selfie (wearing my new Peach Poppy Maybelline lipstick)

 

This bustling, eye-catching, signature black and white striped store has long been a firmly planted institution for makeup fanatics. Although the atmosphere can seem quite overwhelming and chaotic at times due to the crowded nature of the floor lay-out, I do enjoy popping in now and again to see what’s new with Too Faced, Tarte and Marc Jacobs, the only three brands I am interested in that Shoppers doesn’t carry. This weekend I had to go to the mall to pick up some things for my sister and friend from MAC and while I was there I couldn’t resist the magnetic pull that I started to feel when I started to make my way down the mall out towards the parking lot. Maybe I would just quickly go, just to see what’s new. Yeah, I could do that, right? Just to see. In my defense, I HAD A 10% OFF MY NEXT PURCHASE CARD. So, you know, it was financially responsible to go. Sephora does not ever have sales, so I might as well just go see if there was anything I needed.

 

I needed something from Sephora like I needed a hole in the head.

 

With that deranged delusion swirling around in my head, I made my way to the famed beauty emporium. Last time I was there (which wasn’t too long ago….) I was very interested in the new Marc Jacobs contouring compact. They didn’t have my colour (Medium) so I wasn’t able to get it that day. Also, the very sweet and helpful Sephora staff member I was talking to that day showed me her favourite contouring brush she uses, which they were also sold out of. Sad day, indeed. However, upon my last visit, they had re-stocked their supply of both items, so I was able to purchase them. I also picked up two of the Too Faced Melted lipsticks. I had bought my first one a few weeks ago, and a love affair ensued after my first wear. Quite simply, they are the coolest. Bearing the resemblance of a lipgloss but the formula being nothing like one, the sponge applicator gently applies the perfect matte lipcolour on the desired area of your lips. The colour payoff is insane to be frank. I heard about them from my favourite Youtube “beauty guru” MakeupbyTiffanyD, and after much deliberation I decided to splurge and add one to my collection. Being $25 apiece, I definitely thought they were on the expensive side so I decided to try one to start to see how I liked it. On a sidenote, the fact that I was hesitant to spend $25 on a lipstick is laughable considering how I will drop $40+ on a Chanel or Dior one at Shoppers no questions asked because I get a discount. I am all kinds of crazy. Anyway, I chose the Melted Sugar one that day and instantly fell in love. It is the most perfect nude shade I have ever experienced. So when I was approaching the endless lineup to pay for my two new contouring products, I had to stop at the Too Faced section to choose another colour. Two more made their way into my hands and although I have not had a chance to wear them yet, I am so excited to. Melted Candy and Melted Jelly Donut were the lucky two I decided I couldn’t live without. Justifying them was simple enough, right? I technically got a discount from a store that does not ever offer them.

 

The aftermath of a lipstick swatching festival
 

Saturday Goodies

 

 

Pretend this post doesn’t exist in November during the Sephora VIB 25% discount weekend.

Tuesday Night Rules

Kristen needs to get over Tom.

 

To most, this sentence would have zero meaning. Who is Kristen? And what exactly does she have to “get over” with Tom? Who is Tom?

 

Some of you know exactly who and what I am talking about. And for that, you will henceforth be known as “my people”.

 

Kristen Doute and Tom Sandoval are two cast members on the Bravo reality show “Vanderpump Rules”. It centers on a group of friends who happen to be co-workers at one of Lisa Vanderpump’s LA restaurants, SUR Lounge. Think of it as a younger, sexier spin-off of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The small group of “friends” (and I use that term loosely) are some of the worst people you’ll ever meet. They backstab each other, gossip viciously and constantly, and treat one another as if they were completely disposable. Adultery also runs rampant through the group. Every episode tears are shed, friendships broken and completely inexcusable behavior makes an appearance.

 

I’ve never been happier.

And the Emmy goes to.....

 

Although her behavior is abhorrent, one girl in particular intrigues me endlessly. Kristen is beautiful, charismatic, and a never-ending wealth of crazy. Her long-term relationship with Tom ended last season amid rampant cheating accusations from both parties, all of which turning out to be true. A personal vendetta formed when Tom began dating publicly the woman Kristen had spent the better part of last season trying to prove was carrying on an affair with her boyfriend. Throughout the show, Kristen would stop at nothing to try to dismantle and discredit Tom and Ariana’s new relationship. The thing I loved about her though, was how shameless she was about it.  She literally did not care that she looked absolutely psychotic. There was a point to prove, and she would prove it by any means necessary. Kristen gave Glenn Close in “Fatal Attraction” a run for her money. But there was something so intriguing about her. She was so beautiful, and I was always excited to see the latest outfit or hairstyle she had chosen for filming. Her skin tone and hair colour were quite similar to mine, so I felt an extra connection with her.

 

She was also from Michigan.

 

I have had a connection with the state since birth. I was born just across the river from Detroit, in Windsor, and have had an affinity with all things Michigan- related my entire life. I visit once a year, in the late summer, to visit my family. So the fact Kristen Doute was from my favourite place in the world was enough for me to declare myself a fan, contrary to popular belief. She even posted a picture of attending a Tigers game with her family around the very same time I was also in attendance. I think I would’ve probably had a panic attack and promptly executed 17 triple axels in the stands upon catching a glimpse of her. And then I would’ve lost all speech capability.

 

This year’s end-of-summer trip to see my family has but one mission. Get a photo with Kristen Doute or bust.

 

And preferably a “Beemer-selfie”.

"The picture"

Power Lunch

Thought I would share a mini-haul from my lunch hour quick trip to Shoppers. I heard about some new Maybelline products and how gorgeous people were saying they were. It was actually the Maybelline Blushed Nudes palette I was after as I heard it was very comparable to the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I wanted to see for myself just exactly how comparable. I haven’t used a drugstore eyeshadow in years, as I believe the higher end brands have such a better quality and colour payoff. Although I know the drugstore brands have come along leaps and bounds with making their products better and more comparable to pricier versions, I still am hesitant to jump on that bandwagon just yet. I am a girl who loves her brands. It has been a very VERY long time since I have bought anything Maybelline so I wasn’t coming in with too high of expectations. I chose something from their new line of lipsticks (Not sure what it’s called but it comes in a lilac tube) and the colour I chose was Peach Poppy. I don’t own a lot of peachier toned lipcolours so I was excited to try this. The Maybelline Master Conceal concealer in Light/Medium also was chosen as a new product to try. Lately, I have been on a concealer kick. I’ve bought several over the past few weeks and I have also heard great things about this one in particular.

 

My go-to eye makeup remover has been for the past two years or so, the L’Oreal Gentle Makeup Remover in the Waterproof formula. I tend to usually stock up when it goes on sale so I grabbed another bottle. Rounding out my purchase was the new issue of Allure, as Kendall Jenner looked stunning on the cover.

 

As soon as the Maybelline Blushed Nudes palette comes into my possession I will do a complete review using all three products. As I write this, I am currently stalking stores in my area to find it. And I won’t rest until I have it in my clutches.

 

Gollum style.

Girls Gone Wild

Kaitlyn Bristowe made me do it.

 

At least that’s what I’m going with. If you are unfamiliar with the above mentioned name, Kaitlyn Bristowe is rumoured to be the star of the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. She finished in “3^rd place” in the last Bachelor installment with Chris Soules. She also is a Leduc, AB native which made watching the last season of The Bachelor a no-brainer. Kaitlyn also firmly reserved her place alongside with Jillian Harris and Emily Maynard as one of the most fashionable women they have ever had on the show. Everything about her hair, makeup and clothing choices were impeccable. One thing in particular that drew me to her was her signature lipcolour she seemed to be sporting in nearly every scene. It was a vivid fuschia colour, and perfectly complemented her skintone, hair colour and every outfit. As each episode passed, the shade of this lipstick intrigued me more and more. And I wasn’t alone in this growing interest. A friend of mine who also is a fan of the show shared her mutual interest in Kaitlyn’s lipstick. She even had more of a vested interest in Kaitlyn herself, as they went to school together and were from the same hometown. Suddenly, the casual discussions of the previous evening’s episodes that generally occurred on Tuesday mornings took on a more aggressive approach as the weeks went by. We both found ourselves scouring the internet, devouring every scrap of information about the possibilities of the identity of “the lipstick”. Finally, after an exhaustive search mission, we would emerge triumphant. According to a post dug from the depths of Kaitlyn’s Twitter page (Stalker, much?) revealed that the elusive colour was in fact MAC lipstick in Girl About Town. How fitting, really. Upon further investigation, she also admitted that Urban Decay Revolution Lipcolour in Anarchy was another personal favourite. Well that settled it. The following Saturday we set off on a mission and that mission was simple. GET THE LIPSTICKS.

 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Anarchy

MAC Lipstick in Girl About Town

Another contestant would enter into our mission as well. Although we are Team Kaitlyn for life, Britt Nilsson caught our attention with some bold lipcolours during her time on the show. Another crazed internet search, this time lasting several days, and we had our answer. Wet N Wild. Yeah, THAT Wet N Wild. I was almost embarrassed to make several calls to local stores in our area to find out if they carried the line. Almost……. but not enough to stop me. After receiving my answer from a local Wal-Mart, it took all my self-control not to take a half day off work and send my car careening down the highway. Finally, my work day ended. I was so close to victory I could taste it! I think I literally ran down the aisles of the Wal-Mart store that had literally just opened that day. No one was there. No one knew it had opened. But in my feverish, hoarding mind I was competing with everyone to get to them. (Who was everyone?  The lone male staff member tasked with setting up the toaster display? THERE WAS NO ONE THERE BRI). I flew to the cosmetics department and searched frantically for the section I desired. My heart started pounding, I experienced a loss of hearing, my breathing increased rapidly and I lost all speech capability. Tears sprang to my eyes. I found it. I FOUND THE LIPSTICKS. The price then immediately sent me into a tailspin. THEY WERE UNDER $3. I promptly began sweeping them into my basket, hovering over the display like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Three shades were chosen, the two Britt revealed were the ones she wore plus one more that was closer to the hot pink shade my friend and I were after. I got six in total, three for me and three for Nicole. I brandished them victoriously at work the next day, and we reveled in our victory. But then, panic set in. I SHOULD GO GET MORE YEAH MORE SOUNDS GOOD WHAT IF EVERYONE FINDS OUT ABOUT THEM AND THERE’S A WORLD WIDE LIPSTICK SHORTAGE. I went back the next evening and five more were granted a new home.

 

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Colours in Smokin' Hot Pink, Red Velvet and Pinkerbelle

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Colours in Dollhouse Pink,Stoplight Red,Coral-ine,Sugar Plum Fairy and Cherry Picking

Everything about them is amazing. I have tried every lipstick brand under the sun, most of which are expensive.  Most pale in comparison to these. And they are under three fricken’ dollars. One coat of any of the colours I have tried takes me till after I eat lunch. Most brighter lipcolours need to be re-applied constantly and carefully as one mistake made could make you look like a hot mess clown. Not the case with these babies. I’ve only had to re-apply most days twice. Simply amazing. I love love looooove the Wet N Wild Mega Last lipsticks. And I love that they are so inexpensive.

 

Come May, when the new season of The Bachelorette begins airing, I will most likely be sporting bright, fuschia lips all day every day in Kaitlyn’s honour. I’m sure more makeup products will become must-haves of mine as her season progresses. And I will be buying them.

 

Because Kaitlyn Bristowe will make me do it.

TV is just okay

 

 

Truer words have never been spoken on a meme unearthed on Pinterest. As an admitted TV addict, Netflix is perhaps both the best and the worst thing ever invented. I believe the words “Bye life” actually were spoken by me when my parents generously added me onto their Netflix account last year. Even though I am a self-proclaimed TV addict, I generally don’t watch TV as it happens, or “live”. Well, with the exception of Game of Thrones or The Bachelor or a few other ones okay fine I watch TV “live” all the time you got me. Phew. With that being said, I like to binge watch shows on the go. This is a preference of mine as well as sometimes a necessity, as the NFL dominates half my television year. I also have an overactive mind and difficulty falling asleep, so I’ve become accustomed to my nighttime routine of setting my iPad up on my bedside table and being lulled to sleep by a show of choice. Netflix also has amazing original programming. One of the best shows on tv in my opinon is House of Cards (Netflix original series).

 

Shows I am CURRENTLY (not the ONLY ones I watch, just ones I’m watching right now) loving on Mother Netflix:

 

 

House of Cards

The Mindy Project

 

Happy Endings

 

 

Suits

Okay not a show but still a much deserved shout out…. Louis CK Live at the Beacon Theatre. LOVE ME SOME LOUIS. I've watched this too many times to count.

 

All above mentioned shows are currently in heavy rotation on my Netflix account. These aren’t the only shows I am currently obsessed with, just a sampling of some of the ones I use to lull me off to dreamland. Any suggestions (Mom don’t even start with Downton Abbey) I would love to hear them.

 

Netflix you win at life.

Mornings are cool (not)

 I always wake up with the best of intentions.

 

Every night before I crawl into my cozy bed, plans form. Lofty plans actually. Plans of waking up as soon as my alarm sounds at 6am giving me plenty of time to apply a creative makeup look using some of my new products. Dramatic eyes or perhaps a colourful lip? The sky is the limit. Who knows, maybe I would even get real crazy and curl my hair. I fall asleep excited at the possibilities that ensue… dreaming of glitter.

 

This is what actually happens.

 

I wake up at 6 when my alarm goes off. I promptly press snooze and whip my Blackberry across my queen sized bed. (Yes I still use my fossil of a BlackBerry as my alarm, simply because it’s the only alarm I know how to set. Had my Samsung for almost 3 years and I can barely turn it on.) This scene repeats itself approximately 4 more times until 6:30am. It is then that I start entertaining the thought of leaving my bed. I tell myself “If you wake up you can look semi-decent today”. I don’t budge. A few more minutes pass. “Come on Bri, maybe you could even do something with your hair today other than long and straight”. That isn’t enough to convince me that Cocoon World that I am currently happily inhabiting is worth leaving. A few more minutes pass. And then a little voice whispers to me from the back of my mind. “You know, if you wake up now, you could feasibly go to Starbucks on your way to work”. That’s it. I leap out of bed, ready to tackle my morning routine that does not just include getting myself ready for the day’s events but also my son. All thoughts of creative makeup looks for the day abandoned, I begin my tried-and-true every day makeup routine. And this I will share with you today.

 

I start by applying my Vichy moisturizer all over my face. I have been using Vichy for years and having skin prone to breaking out, I have found that it works for me. I use their Normaderm moisturizer, and although I like it, I haven’t found it to be as moisturizing as I would like. Currently, the thought of switching moisturizers is being entertained. We’ll see where that goes.

 

Allowing the moisturizer to “sink in”, it is then that I usually grab phones off chargers to put them in my bag and grab lunches from the fridge. I head back to my vanity and begin the next step in the routine. Using my fingers, I apply the MAC Prep and Prime foundation primer all over my face. I have used a few different foundation primers in my time, and this is THE best in my opinion. I used to use the Smashbox primer and the Lancome one, and they are both silicone based. This makes for a “greasy” feel and I wasn’t okay with that. The MAC one goes on beautifully and really holds my foundation in place all day long. Using primers make all the difference in the look of your foundation. They help to give you a uniform and flawless look, and makes your foundation last so much longer. Being so accustomed to using primers, I couldn’t imagine not having one involved in my every day makeup routine.

 

Using the revered Shiseido foundation brush I so highly recommend, I apply the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 Hour liquid foundation in 360 Bisque N. As Britney Spears so eloquently stated in her hit 2003 song…. I am a Slave 4 U. I LOVE THIS FOUNDATION. I tried it several years ago when a Lancome makeup artist used it on me and I have been an absolute slave to it ever since. It gives me the perfect coverage and lasts ALL day. This particular foundation is not for the faint-hearted though, as it is a heavy coverage liquid and when they say it’s “transfer-proof”? Well, they aren’t kidding. It literally does not come off unless you physically wash it off with makeup remover. Which is A-okay with me.

 

I then apply my undereye concealer (Urban Decay Naked concealer in Med Light) and my eyeshadow primer (MAC paintpot in Laying Low). The Naked concealer is ahhhhmazing. It’s the best undereye concealer I’ve ever used. I’m not sure if it’s meant to be used for any other concealer-type situations as I’ve only ever used it as an undereye concealer. And I am loving it. My eyeshadow primer varies. I’ve used the Nars eyeshadow primer before the MAC one I am currently using and I am unsure if I will go back to it. I might give the Smashbox one another try, who knows.

 

Then, I apply the Lancome Dual Finish powder makeup in Matte Wheat ll. The colour is slightly too pale for me, so I add a little of the MAC Studio Careblend pressed powder in Medium/Deep. I contour my face ever so slightly with the Nars bronzer in Laguna and the Bobbi Brown shimmer brick in Beach. I’ve used both for years, and although my favourite ever bronzer is the MAC one in Nude on Board (limited edition so RARELY EVER AVAILABLE L) I still enjoy the Nars one as well.

 

Blush varies for me. Currently I am using the MAC mineralize skinfinish in Scene To Be Seen. (Limited edition colour so no longer available). I do have quite a few open and on the go, such as the MAC blushes in Harmony and I'm The One.

 

Currently I am loving the Smashbox Double Exposure eyeshadow palette. I got it as soon as it came out at the beginning of January and have used it almost exclusively since it entered into my possession. I am planning on retiring it fairly soon from the everyday rotation as I have quite a few other I want to try. I use a liquid eyeliner from MAC in Bootblack to line my top lashline and the L’Oreal Infallible eye pencil in Carbon Black to line my waterline. My current mascara I am using is the MAC In Extreme Dimension mascara in Black. It is one I really like from MAC, but it isn’t my all-time favourite mascara. More on that later. I fill in my brows using the Lise Watier brow powder in Brunette and voila… my every day makeup routine is finished! It seems like a lengthy process but I have done it a million times and can fly through it. Most times it doesn’t take me any longer than 20 minutes.

 

My everyday makeup routine isn’t anything crazy, or fancy. But it is a process, and one I would never miss. Not even for Starbucks.

Make it rain

I’m a hoarder. A points hoarder to be exact.

 



One of my most prized posessions. I'll never throw it away.

 

One of my favourite places to shop for my makeup is Shoppers Drug Mart. It has radically changed from the small drugstore I remember as a child into a Beauty Mecca. What sets Shoppers apart from say, Sephora (they carry almost the identical brands if you go to a Boutique store) is their points system. Yes yes, Sephora also has a points system, but it absolutely pales in comparison to Shoppers. I am known to my inner circle as the “Points Queen”. Basically, if you are unfamiliar with Optimum points, you get 10 points for every dollar you spend. Which translate into money off your purchase. However, they often have “20x the points” days. Those days, my friends, are THE days to shop. I have accumulated and “spent” my points more often that I can remember. The most recent time was a few weeks ago. One of my best friends and I decided we would do our yearly journey to Calgary to “spend” our points there. Before you start gently reminding me there are PLENTY of stores in my area, it wasn’t a Shoppers store we were after. Rather, Murale. Murale is a very high end makeup store, almost identical to Sephora. The only thing sold is makeup. Murale is also owned by Shoppers, therefore our points were valid there. So, we set off on our journey a few Saturday’s ago. I got quite a good haul, as I had the maximum amount to redeem a few times over. I haven’t played with much of anything of the items I bought yet, but upon first glance I am drooling over everything I chose.

 

Two girls, One destination

Bobbi Brown seemed to be the line of choice for reasons unknown. I actually went with the plan that most of the products I would buy would be Nars or Chanel. I ended up buying extremely little of those brands. I was extremely impressed with everything Bobbi Brown I saw. Nude eyeshadow colours have been at the forefront of my obsessions as of late, and a few palettes found their way into my basket. A bronzer and a blush also were added along with the aforementioned brushes from my last post. Well done Bobbi Brown, well done.

 

Being as this was a high-end prestige makeup store, YSL also had a role in my purchases. I chose a beautiful eye palette again in the nude brown tones I have been loving. A lipstick in a stunning fuschia colour and a pressed powder foundation rounded out my Nars choices. I also repurchased a beautiful Chanel lipgloss stick I had bought a few years ago on another Murale trip. A last minute impulse check-out addition of the LaVanilla Coconut fragrance roller ball and we were set. I waltzed out of the store only having to fork over a minimal amount of my own money.

 

Things happened.

I felt like The Wolf Of Wall Street. If I could literally throw money in the air and have hip-hop outro music, a smoke machine and a strobe light as I walked out of the store I would’ve.

 

Maybe I’ll buy that experience with my points next time.

 

Back to Basics

I’m always packing.

What I mean by “packing” is not a typical weapon that might come to mind initially. My weapons of choice are essential to my beauty arsenal and to my everyday makeup routine. I am talking of course of makeup brushes.

While it looks quite overwhelming at first glance, I have actually pared down my collection of makeup brushes I have amassed over the years. Everything I have is of use to me. I have also invested in good quality brushes, as I believe it makes the difference.

About 80% of my makeup brush inventory is MAC. I believe they make some of the best brushes available. The price may be slightly daunting to some, however I have got a little help from flashing my MAC Pro discount card at the till upon my purchase. Their eyeshadow brushes are the best I have ever used. Hardly any blending is required as they apply eye makeup so perfectly.

The Holy Grail of foundation brushes in my humble opinion, and this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me well, is Shiseido. Upon first glance this brush is nothing to write home about. It is simple looking, small-ish and basic. The result it gives is quite the opposite. I have tried pretty much every way you could apply liquid foundation and this has given me my best result. Phases have come and gone where sponges, other brush types and even my fingers have come into play. Using this foundation brush has proven to be my preferred method of application. Simple, quick and uniform all result and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

 

I recently purchased a Dior powder brush and have been using it to apply my pressed powder for about a week now. I know I know what you are thinking….. what organs were sold to pay for that? Surprisingly enough the price was extremely comparable to the MAC powder one. Any full review of it will be given once time has passed and I can really see the difference and benefits. First impression…. remains to be seen. Like I said, I have only begun to introduce this brush into the mix so stay tuned. Purchasing another Dior brush might be on the horizon sooner rather than later as there is something too delicious and sumptuous as owning such a revered brand. And this is a girl who loves her brands.

 

In an upcoming post I will discuss a recent shopping roadtrip I took with one of my best friends. The thought of adding not one, but three more makeup brushes to my collection wasn’t a thought that entered my mind that day. As I wandered over to the Bobbi Brown section of the store we were shopping in I immediately was drawn to the makeup brush selection. They looked irresistible. The bristles were full and felt luxurious and the handles strong and sturdy. A blush brush was actually a purchase I could justify and I decided that one would be coming home with me. I have been considering branching out and trying something new, as the MAC one I currently use seems a touch too small for my liking. Upon further inspection, I noticed an eyeshadow blending brush that intrigued me. It was quite larger than my MAC one, and being as though I had many, MANY points to “spend” that day, I could reasonably add that to my purchase. You know, for research purposes. (I can justify buying ANYTHING. Try me, I dare you.) The last brush was probably the most unexpected one. Upon speaking with the Beauty Advisor while I was examining the Bobbi Brown brushes, she pulled out from her belt their foundation brush. It was unlike any I had ever seen. Being as I am a slave, if you will, to the Shiseido one, I didn’t warm up immediately to the idea of owning another foundation brush. But feeling the bristles, swirling it around on the back of my hand, and the sheer fact is was so different than my current one I was using, I made the decision I had to have it. None of the above mentioned Bobbi Brown brushes have entered into my usage yet. Not too sure what I am waiting for, but hopefully soon I will meet and have a fantastic experience with them.

A few other random brushes are in my possession. A Lise Watier eyeshadow blending brush. A Bedhead (random, I know) undereye concealer brush I have rarely used. A Smashbox highlighting fan brush. Some Urban Decay eyeshadow brushes. None of which are used enough to warrant mentioning. I’m not sure why these made the cut when I did my brush purge…. But apparently they did.

One can never have too many brushes. At least that’s what I believe. But you know, having so many needs to be justified. Good thing I can justify anything.

Let the crazy begin.....

Hi my name is Bri and I am severely addicted to makeup.

Well, all things superficial, really. While most young women my age are either out on the town making some questionable alcohol-fueled decisions or enjoying a series of romantic dates with their significant others, I can usually be found curled up on my couch with a stack of fashion magazines within reach, poring over the Sephora website. You see, I have no interest in the nightlife my city offers as I got those nights out of my system years ago. Also, my city has no nightlife unless you count fighting your way through a crowded country bar to pay for overpriced drinks a nightlife…. In which case my city has a raging one. I also have no significant other in my life and to be frank, no interest in acquiring one either. (More on that later). My hobby is quite simply, MAKEUP. My obsession is real. It is not going anywhere, either, and that has been proven.

 

I started young.

 

One of my earliest memories from my childhood is from when I was about four years old and going through my mother’s makeup bag.  I can still feel the thrill of applying that (horrendously 80’s shade of) lipstick. It transformed me from the tiny, painfully shy young girl into a mystical princess or a fairy queen from some far away land. I was also extremely interested in fashion, and pop culture. Until I was about 8 years old I almost exclusively listened to either Disney soundtracks, or when my father was in control of the stereo, classic rock. That all changed when I heard the first strains of….. Ace of Base.   I was hooked. From then on, celebrity culture and pop music ruled the roost in Bri’s World. Slowly the little girl décor disappeared from my bedroom to be replaced with glossy posters from Tiger Beat of Backstreet Boys, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Hanson.

 

It was around that time I started sneaking makeup to school.

It started off tame, really. Bonne Bell Lipsmackers. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen perfume. Then, curiousity grew. White Wet N Wild eyeliner. Pink sparkly Maybelline eyeshadow. CoverGirl Professional mascara (the blue tube…. And it is STILL around today). When I turned 14 I was allowed to wear makeup to school full-time. Little to my mother’s knowledge I already had been, for quite some time. (I’m sure she had somewhat of an idea but chose not to fight that battle, and for that I am forever thankful!)

 

There was only one option for a burgeoning makeup addict. Get a job.

 

Most little girls dream of being a ballerina, a nurse or even a mother when they grow up. My dreams weren’t so lofty. For as long as I could remember I wanted to “do hair”. A more attainable goal to my 14 year old mind was to get a job in a makeup store. I had recently started working at a large grocery store in my hometown. It was my first job, and although I was a fan of the paycheque I started receiving I felt I deserved a more glamourous setting. I applied for, and successfully received a part-time job in their cosmetic department. Life had never been so good. I felt invincible. This was it. I was set for life. I felt like a celebrity every time I glided through the doors wearing the Holy Grail (in my mind) Cosmetician outfit : The Black Jacket. I had never been happier. I devoured every fashion magazine we sold at work. I was constantly reading reviews of new products, buying the latest and greatest hair and makeup innovations. I was absolutely bursting with knowledge and couldn’t wait to share it with my clients.

 

There was one problem. I had no clients.

 

The store I worked at was an open-sell concept. There was no commission, no customer service, no expertise required. Most of the time I answered riveting and pertinent questions such as “Where’s the razors?” and “Do you have a public washroom?”. I was so ready to talk all things cosmetics with consumers, yet my knowledge was left untapped. I spent most of my shifts putting away new stock, making displays or dusting. I wasn’t experiencing any satisfaction in my job, as I thought I would when I accepted it. Nevertheless, I worked very hard, took every single extra shift asked of me and worked there for 4 years. It was during this time I graduated from High School and decided to take the next step in “becoming an adult”. I moved out of my parent’s home and got my very own small apartment in the big city. I had barely moved all my belongings into my new place when something caught my attention during one evening exploring my new surroundings. My life would never be the same.

 

It was a Shoppers Drug Mart.

 

I was looking for another part-time job as my full-time one wasn’t paying me enough to keep me financially sound. I noticed a “Hiring” sign in the window and decided that it couldn’t hurt to drop off an application. I was called in for an interview relatively soon after. The Cosmetics Manager who interviewed me was pleasant, warm and welcoming. She would also become one of my closest and dearest friends and I still work for her to this day…. But more on that later. I was offered the job and I was ecstatic. At the risk of sounding cliché I seriously had no idea that this job and these people I would work with would change my life, forever. I felt useful. I had customers to assist. I had product lines to learn. My knowledge of everything current was being used, and furthermore, appreciated.

 

I had found my calling.

 

I have been an avid reader of makeup blogs for years and I actually base more purchases than I care to admit off of reviews of beauty bloggers. My makeup collection is intense, and I love nothing more than to research the latest and greatest innovations. But that’s not all I want this blog to be. I want to do what I know best….. talk about things I love. I have no filter, it’s a blessing and a curse. I want this blog to be a place where I can talk about not only all things makeup, but pop culture in general. Clothing. Home décor. TV shows I am loving. Interviewing my friends. Writing about what it’s like to be a young single mom in this crazy world we live in. Dare I say also..... sports? Talking about stuff I love is my passion. So join me on this new adventure. If there is one thing I am certain, it’s that if you are looking for a laugh and to learn something new about something that really does not matter, talk to Bri. I’m always good for it.