The Month's Most Loved | April

April has gone by so ridiculously fast and it has been an incredibly busy month for me and this blog. There are some really exciting things in the coming future that I can't wait to share with you. In the meantime, let's talk about my beauty favourites of the month.

I've been sporting quite a few bold lips this month so I've been leaning towards a more neutral base. Revlon's Nearly Naked foundation is one of my absolute favourites for spring and summer. I like to mix it with a bit of the L'oreal Magic Lumi primer and the combination gives a lovely glowy finish with great medium coverage. I've recovered the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer from the bottom of my concealer bin and it has been a life saver on the blemishes. It also works fantastically as an eyeshadow base but I find it a bit too heavy for under the eyes. To add the finishing touch, I've loved using my Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, a muted rosy neutral. It is the perfect blush to pair with a bright red lip.


What have you been wearing for most of April?

Better Than Sex Lashes | The Review

Before and After without Curling

When it comes to my eyelashes I want big and voluminous with a curl. I go for glamorous bombshell lashes even on a daily basis. I just can't do natural. Maybe I have a complex from growing up with feathery blonde lashes that stuck straight out? Who knows.

Even though I love to try out different mascaras, I have never found one that gave me the lashes I was looking for until I came across Too Faced's Better than Sex mascara. The packaging is what first caught my eye with it's gorgeous rose gold tube but the formula is what made me fall in love. It is infused with collagen and has a film-forming polymer for smudge-proof all day wear and unique peptides for the deepest intense black possible. It coats the lashes and makes them appear thicker, longer and more defined. The hourglass shaped brush helps create incredible volume and the stiff wire bristles separate the lashes beautifully. With two coats I get the dramatic false lash look that I love and the drier formula holds a curl really well even though it isn't waterproof. 

Of course, with all the good comes a little bit of disappointment. Unfortunately, I find it can get a bit clumpy if you use too much and the brush while fantastic is a bit too thick on the ends. It can be really difficult to get into the corners and grab the small lashes so i need to use another mascara for that. 

Overall, Better Than Sex has become my absolute favourite mascara and once my collection of samples run out I'll be grabbing a full size. 

You can buy Better Than Sex from Sephora for $30 and from the Too Faced site for $23. 

What's your HG mascara? What suggestions do you have?

Fashion Week Has Come to Town

Hamilton is stepping up to the plate in a big way this coming June, with the introduction of the 1st annual Hamilton Fashion Week! A collaborative effort from some of Hamilton's own, Hamilton Fashion Week will bring a new level of strength and creativity to the city. Aiming to fill the gap in Hamilton's fashion, makeup and hairstyling community, HFW will bring awareness to the incredible talent that is our designers, models, makeup artists and hairstylists. It kicked off today with an introductory street fashion show hosted by the James St. General Store.

Hamilton Fashion Week will span over 6 days from June 16th to the 21st, with multiple events designed to showcase various aspects of Hamilton's vast fashion scene. Beginning with an opening night bash to mix and mingle with all of the best and brightest in Hamilton fashion, then followed by a discovery night where top agents will be scouting for the next big thing! The fun continues with a hair and makeup expo on the 18th and then two straight days of live street fashion on James St. North. Designers will be presenting their collections via live art mannequin exhibits and guerrilla style shows. Expect buskers, artists, and groundbreaking fashion. All of the events lead up to the incredibly exciting Gala Fashion Show set in Hamilton's historic Christ's Church Cathedral where models will strut down the runway wearing some of the most affluent designs that Hamilton has to offer.

Hamilton Fashion Week will be a major milestone for the city of Hamilton and I could not be more excited to be able to blog about it and share everything with you! I will be attending the events and reporting back with all of the excitement.


If you would like to attend Hamilton Fashion Week or you would simply like more information, please visit www.hamiltonfashionweek.com. Tickets for the Gala Fashion Show are available at The James St. General Store at 251 James St. N.

The Sunday Recap

Essie Lilacism | Flower Shopping | Tea and Pancakes | A Little Shopping

Easter has come and gone, and I now have a massive pile of chocolate to work through. After all of the super heavy Easter food, I am dying for some good smoothies and salads. Otherwise it's been a very quiet week, I've not been feeling well and I've had no motivation so I've done a lot of reading and I've watched Captain Phillips, Don Jon and other movies.
I did a bit of shopping towards the end of the week and I received a very exciting package in the mail from Dove Canada that I can't wait to start testing.


Product of the Week: I've been obsessed with my Origins Drink Up Intensive mask lately, i've been using it as my nighttime moisturizer every other night.

Currently Coveting: So many things! it's impossible to choose when there are so many new releases coming out but I think the most coveted is the Bourjois Rouge Velvet Lipsticks.

Blog Posts of the Week:

The lovely Rachel from Happy Little Syllables posted an awesome OOTD with her cane and she looks stunning!

Ellie from Elsiebells wrote a super helpful post on SEO, that I am keeping bookmarked!

Sophie from The London Turtle talked about all of the ways you can use Avene's Thermal Spring Water and I love some of her ideas.

Video of the Week:

One of my favourite Youtube Artists Julia Sheer does amazing cover songs and I loved her newest cover of Paramore's Still Into You.



How was your week?

What's In My Handbag | The Spring Edition

On last week's Style Saturday, I introduced you to my amazing new handbag (here) and this week I though I would show you what I have been carrying inside. I thought this might be a fun post to do every season to see what changes based on the weather. So the following items are what I am carrying for Spring.

-Michael Kors Wallet - the perfect size to fit all of my cards, cash receipts and medical information. 

-Iphone - my new Iphone is my baby, it is perfect for taking photos during the day if I don't have my camera on hand. 

-Ipad - I frequently blog away from home so I keep my Ipad on hand to write out posts. 

-Notebook and Pen - I have terrible memory so I need to have something to catch any info that I need to remember. It's also great for writing down ideas when inspiration strikes. 

-Keys - pretty self explanatory but I love my heart keychain.

-Presto Card - This card holds money for transportation in the GTA. Makes it so much easier to get around. 

-Minnie Mouse - I keep this tiny Minnie Mouse in my purse for good luck, don't ask me why I just do haha.

-Allure Magazine - I like to have something to read with me at all times. 

-Hand Cream - Soap and Glory's Hand Food is my absolute favourite for my perpetually dry hands. 

-Facial Spray - Aveene Thermal Spring Water is so handy during the day when you go from inside to outside and your skin dries out. 

-Lippies - I always have a couple of lip balms and I usually throw in whatever I'm wearing. 

-Hand Sanitizer - Public transportation is a dirty thing, you never know what you might catch. 

-Tic Tacs - Gum makes me sick so these guys do the trick. 

-Minnie/Mickey Mouse Tin - I keep all of my daily medications as well as Tylenol with me at all times in case I get stuck somewhere. 

-Bandaids - A necessity for a clumsy girl like me. 

What are you carrying in your handbag this season? Any recommendations for me?

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil | The Review

Tarte has been one of my favourite cosmetic brands from the first time I stepped inside a Sephora - we're talking at 14 or so - and they have never let me down. It's been really nice to see them receiving so much love after their UK release and I wanted to share the one product that has wowed me the most.

Housed in a gorgeous tinted glass bottle with a bamboo stopper, the Tarte Maracuja Oil is unique to the world of facial oils, it is made from the Maracuja fruit known as the "pure miracle" that is grown and harvested in the Amazon - of course. The Oil itself is 100% pure, undiluted, and hand pressed and completely free from parabens, chemicals and preservatives. The main purpose is to restore balance in the skin's natural recovery process with the inclusion of essential fatty acids to rebuild and repair skin -improving elasticity, tone and texture - and pure Vitamin C for brightness. It offers intense instant hydration that will soothe even the most dehydrated skin and it sinks in quickly to prevent leaving oil on the surface.

This miracle oil has been a staple in my skincare routine for about a year and it has completely changed my skin. From the very beginning, it didn't take long to notice that my redness and facial eczema had calmed, my breakouts had all but stopped and my skin was absolutely glowing. I was receiving compliments left and right and it was all because of this oil. Adding that extra bit of hydration seemed to make all the difference, and I cannot imagine my routine without it. I apply about 3 drops at night after using my moisturiser, I simply press it into the skin and let it soak in while I sleep. When I wake up, my skin is plump, smooth and soft to the touch.


If you haven't tried a facial oil it can be intimidating to consider putting oil onto your skin. Whether you have oily skin or not you can benefit from the use of an oil because it the purest form of hydration and hydrated skin will not break out as often. I can not recommend that Tarte Maracuja Oil enough and I think it is a great choice for everyone whether you have tried an oil or not.

Welcome Monique to La Belle Sirene

Some of you may have noticed the lovely lady Monique mentioned in our About Me, well she's finally here, joining our team as a guest blogger! Monique will be talking fitness, lifestyle, fashion and beauty while bringing a second opinion to the products we review for you!

Monique and I met in college in the Fashion Business Industry program and we have been inseparable since. She is an absolute sweetheart who knows her stuff as a major beauty and shopping addict. With past experience working for Michael Kors and Tory Burch, she is a fashion expert with an impeccable eye for the most beautiful things. Her closet is to die for and her makeup is always stunning.

I can not wait to see what she brings to the blog and I couldn't be happier to be collaborating with my closest friend. This is an amazing experience for both of us and we hope to relate and inspire with more of you beautiful readers!


Keep an eye out for Monique's posts mixed in with my normal schedule.

Words To Live By Wednesday

Image - Pinterest

This is something I have struggled with over the past couple of years but this saying has truly helped me. My mum would always recite this to me when I was doubting myself and it  never failed to make me see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We are all different, we all have a different journey and some are easier than others. It is never a good idea to compare because you will never find one that is comparable. You may have bumps in the road and you may find yourself starting all over again but remember that everything happens for a reason and you are meant to be at a new beginning. Success takes time and have no doubt that just because you may not be at the same place as someone else you will get there!

Happy Wednesday!

What's In My Makeup Bag?

I am constantly changing up my makeup routine so I have yet to do a "makeup bag" post but lately I've really fallen in love with a few products that are now my everyday staples for a simple but fresh faced look. 

I am a tinted moisturiser girl at heart - I don't like to feel anything on my skin - so my Laura Mercier is must. To add a bit of colour and radiance to skin I like to mix in a little bit of Revlon Skinlights in Bare Light with my base. For concealer I use the NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand in Porcelain. It is an amazing multipurpose product that works for under the eyes and to cover blemishes. Finally, to set my makeup I use the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. 

For eyes, I like to keep it simple on an everyday basis so the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette is perfect. Then for days that I literally running out the door, I like to sweep a bit of the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all over the lids. This cream shadow makes it look like you spent time doing your eyeshadow when it really took seconds. I make sure to always line my eyes with my Stila Smudgestick in damsel - a super dark brown - for just a bit of definition and top it off with my beloved Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. A face is never finished without the eyebrows so of course I use the amazing Benefit GimmeBrow. 

For the colourful bits - best bit really! - I have been loving the pigmentation and lasting power of the NYX Powder Blushes. The two shades I have been wearing the most are Angel and Dusty Rose. Then for lips, the Revlon Lacquer Balm in Demure and the Maybelline Colour Whisper in Lust for Blush have not left my handbag. 

Do you stick to certain products for a while? What are your current staples?

The Sunday Recap

New Business Cards | NOTD Apricot Nectar |Power Outage | Late Night Blogging with Snow

Another week gone by and it was definitely interesting. My week started off with a bang - literally - when a wind storm struck and a very large tree decided to fall down taking out some cars and my power. The hydro box was actually ripped from the wall and I was without power for 12 hours as was the rest of the street. The next couple days were very hectic with the hydro company trying to re-string all of the power lines. Once the power was back on I started watching Call The Midwife from start to finish. It's a really interesting show if you are curious about history and medical practices. You can watch it on Netflix, PBS or BBC.

Product of the Week: My skin has been feeling really dry lately so I have been loving the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream in the morning and night.

Currently Coveting: I am still on the hunt for a new base and I've decided I need to pick up the Dior NudeSkin BB Creme and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation.

Blog Posts of the Week:

Katy from Little Winter's post about confidence and self esteem was beautifully written and so honest that I really felt I could relate to her. You should all check it out.

Ellie from Ellalogy's post about her Grandma who recently passed was absolutely beautiful and so brave to share. It reminds me of the people I have lost and the wonderful memories I cherish.

Rebecca from Autumn Leaves' post on blog ideas when inspiration fails is a great resource to every blogger and a great thing to have bookmarker.

Video of the Week:

Carah Amelie's adorable video on decorating her daughter's nursery was so much fun to watch, I love her vlogs and I can't wait to see Emery!


How was your week? Any plans for Easter?

The New Handbag | The Daromett

For this week's Style Saturday post I wanted to share the new love of my life - my baby - my new handbag. Okay, I know it's just a handbag but I have been searching for the perfect bag for the longest time. I have bought many - much to my boyfriend's annoyance - but they were always too heavy, too small, too difficult to carry or too trendy. I actually bought most of them online which I'm learning is a big no no. Of course the moment I vow to never buy a bag online again I find this beauty on a trip out shopping for wedding shoes with my mom - the bride. I may have done a little bit of squealing and jumping up and down - the bag was reeeeeally high up on a wall - until the lovely sales assistant got it down for me. Once it was in my hands I never wanted to let go.

The handbag itself is absolutely stunning, it is a black, synthetic, medium sized tote with both handles and an adjustable/removable strap. It is incredibly well made and it feels very sturdy yet the material is flexible. It has a very simplistic yet chic and modern design that will go with every outfit and will never go out of style. My favourite bit about the bag and the one that sold me was the amount of separated sections. The bag has one main compartment covered with a flap and then there is a zippered section on each side. Perfect for storing things that you need easy access to or that you want separated from the rest of your bag. Then the main compartment is separated into three with a zippered pouch in the middle and slots for your phone and Ipod on the side - and honestly who doesn't love a floral lining?

I've been using this handbag everyday for the past month or so and I could not love it more. It literally is the perfect size, I can fit everything I need to and still have room and it is not too heavy. I also love that I can carry it over my shoulder if need be. I can honestly say that I have never been happier with a bag and I can see myself using it until it falls apart.


If you are in Canada and are interested in this beauty you can buy the Daromett from Globo Shoes for $39.99.

The Bobbi Brown Dupe?

The Bobbi Brown Corrector is something that I have wanted to try for the longest time but I could never bite the $30 bullet. I'm sure that I am not the only one who has been in that situation because it is impossible to find a corrector for an affordable price. Well, I think I have finally found the answer in the Almay Smart Shade Concealer Plus Brightener.

This super sleek duo comes with a salmon toned corrector and a brightening concealer in one slim compact. It is available in 3 shades that are all neutral enough to work for multiple skin tones. It also hypoallergenic and formulated specifically for sensitive skin. I have to admit, I originally passed this by thinking it would be too dark for my super fair skin but it is an amazing match. I like to use the salmon toned side to cover up any blue veins or purple shadows under my eyes and then I pat the concealer on top to blend and brighten the area up. It is stunning how it immediately wakes up my face and gives it a healthy glow.

The formula is a bit tricky at first, it is very thin but incredibly creamy. It needs to be warmed up a bit between the fingers but then it is a dream to apply. Like many other concealers, it does accentuate dry patches so it is important to apply an eye cream before hand and it is also incredibly important to set the concealer because it will settle into fine lines.

I am so happy to have found this gem and it has become a regular in my routine. Will you try it out?

You can buy the Almay Concealer Plus Brightener from all drugstores for $10.99.

Words To Live By Wednesday

Image - Pinterest

You. Are. Loved. Never forget that! No matter what you are going through or what mistakes you have made you will always be loved. You may not always realize it because sometimes it is hard to see. People may not always say it outright or show you through their actions but never doubt that someone loves you. You will be loved every day of your life and it is your job to pass that love along. Let someone know that you love them and you will be loved in return.

Spring Reveries

Is that not the loveliest name for a collection you have ever heard? It makes me think of Secret Gardens - my favourite movie - and forbidden loves, cascading vines and fields of wildflowers. A better name could not have been chosen for a beautiful collection of spring nail polishes.

Deborah Lippman's newest limited edition collection consisting of 6 stunning shades was inspired by botanical gardens and flowers. It's meant to evoke thoughts of a daydream - poetic, sweet and magical - and I am completely obsessed. They are formulated with Green Tea extract, Biotin and Aucoumea - a resin that helps strengthen nails - and without DBP, Toulene, Formaldehyde Resin, Parabens and Camphor.

Out of the 6 available shades I chose the two that spoke to me the most; Blue Orchid - a pastel baby blue creme - and Flowers in Her Hair - a minty creme with a tint of aqua. They are both absolutely gorgeous and they have helped me get into the spring spirit. The formula is consistent and is super creamy, smooth and opaque in two coats. The wear time is great and they last beautifully without chipping or creasing on the nails.

I think I have found my new favourite spring polishes and I definitely recommend them! They are available at Sephora for $21 and they are definitely worth the money, I have not found anything similar at the drugstore.

The Sunday Recap

Testing Out a New Red Lip | New Avene Products |
TheBalm Haul | A Cheeky New Purchase

Another week gone by and it was pretty great. Spring seems to have arrived and it has been nothing but sunshine and warm weather all week long, I could not have been happier to leave the house without my winter coat. I also brought out the fun spring appropriate shoes   - no more boots! I was actually pretty busy this week, aside from blogging, I went to see the new Muppets movie - it was amazing - and I did some shoe shopping with my mom where I ended up coming home with a new handbag! My order from TheBalm finally arrived after a couple weeks of trying to track it down and I also picked up some new Avene products to test out. I finished the week off with a bang, by getting a makeover done at the local Shoppers Drug Mart. I love getting the opportunity to try out products that I might never think of.

Product of the Week: The Almay Concealer Plus Brightener has been a really exciting addition to my routine, my dark circles are no more!

Currently Coveting: I'm on the hunt for a good new tinted moisturiser and I have my eyes on TheBalm's BalmShelter and Tarte's BB Tinted Moisturiser.

Posts of the Week:

Celina from The Celution's post on Canadian Bloggers, it's so nice to discover other bloggers in my area as we are so few and far between.

Jaye from Bed in the Kitchen's post on her boyfriends opinion on lip products, absolutely hilarious!

Video of the Week:

Casey from ItsBlondie's Sephora Haul!


How was your week? Has Spring sprung where you are?

Style Saturday | Accessories or Memories?

Some say that no outfit is complete without a piece of jewellery and I agree but I believe that it is about more than just a pretty piece of metal. My jewellery collection is less of a statement and more or a memorial and I wanted to share that with you. 

I keep my collection on a dresser in my bedroom; my rings in a heart shaped bowl and my favourite bits inside a glass jewellery box. I like to see my pieces because they each hold a special meaning that brings a smile to my faces when I least expect it. The vintage frame holds one of my favourite quotes - to remind me daily - and draped on the sides are a string of pearls and a necklace of my Nana's that I took when she passed. Inside the jewellery box are my most worn and favourite bits - my Michael Kors watch, my promise ring, my bow chain, my Nana's glasses chain and my bow ring that I found in New York. Then, in the bowl are a mixture of costume rings, friendship rings and my Nana's rings. The only bracelets that I own are a few bangles laid out and that is my entire collection except for my Nana's cross and my late Father's wedding ring that I never take off. 

As I said, my jewellery collection is really more of a set of memories with a few fun bits mixed in. I really prefer dainty pieces that I can layer and mix than more obvious jewels. I wouldn't mind one more big shiny rock - hint hint Shayne - haha. 

Do you have any special pieces that mean something to you?

The Never Ending Haul

So I may have done a bit - too much - shopping over the month of March. I have a problem - i know - i need help but I just can't resist! My lovely boyfriend took me on a trip to Sephora and I stopped at the drugstore one too many times and now I have accumulated quite the collection to show you.

Starting with Sephora, where I went a little bit blush crazy. I picked up two of the Clinique Cheek Pops in Ginger Pop and Plum Pop and I'm still on the hunt for Peach Pop. How many times can I say pop is a sentence? I also bit the bullet and grabbed the Tarte Amazonian Clay Baked Blushes in Exposed - a muted rose - and Glisten - a shimmery pink. Then I wandered over to the Nail Polishes and picked up two of the new spring pastels by Deborah Lippman in Blue Orchid and Flowers in Her Hair. I finished off my trip with some skincare, buying my longtime favourite facial oil - the Tarte Maracuja Oil - the Origins United States Balancing Tonic and the Origins Super Spot Remover.

Onto the drugstore. I have stumbled across some wonderful finds on a few different trips while trying to hunt down the new spring releases. My absolute favourite of which have to be, the Almay Concealer Duo in Light, the Bourjois Cream Blush in 03 Rose Tender, the Marchesa for Revlon Lipstick in Love That Red and the Revlon Perfumerie Nail Polish in Apricot Nectar.  Other things that I have not yet played with are two of the Maybelline Eye Studio Quads in Copper Chic and Taupe Temptress and one of the Limited Edition Maybelline Colour Tattoos in Beige-ing Beauty. Lastly, I wanted to try out some more Avene products so I picked up the Thermal Spring Water and the Soothing Hydrating Serum.


What products have you picked up lately? Any new spring releases?

Words to Live By Wednesday

Image - Pinterest

I am a firm believer that absolutely everything happens for a reason and although we may not always understand why, it is for the best. Things can happen in a blink of an eye or over a very long period of time. It can painful or it can be euphoric but it is all part of our life plan. I have found that usually the painful things will happen quickly and the things that we need the most take time to come together. We just need to have faith that we are on the right path, every move we make, good or bad is for a reason. 

The Beauty Room Re-Do

It's finally time to share one of the most exciting things to happen to me - like ever. I have a  pretty substantial collection of "girly things" as my boyfriend would say - makeup, nail polish, beauty books, and knick knacks - and for the longest time they have been residing in our living room. We live in a two bedroom apartment that is the first floor of a converted mansion from 1910, the rooms are huge so they tend to become multi-purpose. The dining room is also the "library" and the living room was my "office". Since he ran his own company, the second bedroom automatically went to Shayne as his office but now that he has recently moved into a brick and mortar office, the bedroom was left empty. After complaining that I needed more room for my makeup, he did the sweetest thing ever and gave me his "man den".  Here is a couple pictures of the before:

It was a bit drab, a little too yellow and just needed a little love. So I got right to work, I painted my butt off - I'm still feeling it! - and the white walls completely changed the feel of the room. Of course, I got a little bit carried away in the excitement and decided I needed to completely deck the place out so I went to Ikea. I bought the MALM dressing table and lots of little accent pieces to spice up my old ghost chair (transparent plastic chair) and ancient bookcase. I had already made the inspiration boards and I already owned the mannequin and vintage mirrors, so it was pretty easy to get the perfect combination of modern and antique that I love.

The bookcase is one of my favourite bits of the room because it gave me the opportunity to display some things that are really important to me. Of course, I have my favourite handbags, perfumes and nail polishes but I also have old family photos, tea cups and little mementos from family trips. I also threw in a little bit of Disney for good measure. 

It feels absolutely amazing to have a space completely dedicated to what I love. It is such an inspiration to wake up and walk into this room and it gives me such motivation. I could not be happier and I couldn't thank my lovely boyfriend more for giving up his space.

I really hope you like what I did, and please if you have any design suggestions share them!