M.A.C Ruby Woo Lipstick: Review

Looking for the perfect red lip? Look no further! M.A.C Ruby Woo is your winner. It's my #1 go to red lipstick. I have my fair share of red lippies but none quite does it like Ruby Woo. It's the perfect shade of red imaginable and is super flattering. I just love this baby so much. I'm just going to go on and on about how much I love this lipstick, so let me tell you the details you need to know:

1. A matte finish and is highly pigmented (you can layer on gloss for shine).

2. It's not particularly drying but I'd exfoliate your lips nonetheless for smooth application.

3. I don't really have any bleed issues with it but if your lips are prone to bleeding, I'd suggest pairing it up with a lip liner.

4. Pretty long lasting but you'll need to reapply throughout the day to maintain its gorgeous colour.

5. It's a true red (slightly cool toned) that I think would flatter all skin tones because it's a pretty much a neutral red shade.

I've been wearing this all fall and winter and have been getting compliments everytime I rock this baby out. It's definitely a bold statement shade so be prepared for some attention. A perfect day to night colour, you can wear it with a lighter eye during the day and pair it with smokier makeup for the night. I feel instantly more sexier and glam with it on :)

My verdict? Go get it now! I don't care what kind of red you're looking for or what your skin tone is, just get it. You won't regret it.

XOXO
Mary

Ice Flower

Who says florals are solely pretty things of the spring and summer? Ice flowers that bloom within ice and snow in the harsh winter weather are a work of delicate beauty. They almost seem magical; one touch will transport you to an enchanted, winter wonderland. That was my inspiration behind wearing floral print in the snow. Paired up with a acid wash, denim shirt and black boots, I can dream away about fantastical lands filled with wonder, ice queens, magical creatures, and dashing heroes. Have a happy snow day!

XOXO

Mary

Credit: Plant Whatever Brings You Joy

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Shirt: Gmarket (Korea) / Dress: UO / Boots: UO

She's Dangerous

Say hello to my sparkly friend, skull face. I've been developing a growing fondness for "skullies" and it's just a plus that skull and cross graphics are now trending. The high-low cut of the shirt is perfect for wearing with any bottoms, whether it's jeans, leggings, shorts, or some fitted pants. I feel dangerous with my spiked up boots. Step aside sidewalk, my bad ass, inner diva is struting.

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Denim jacket: H&M / Hi-low shirt: H&M / Wedges: Urban Outfitters

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I love my new darlings. Who can resist studs? I know I still got it bad for them. The studs are actually super sharp. Protection weapon and style fix at the same time; perfection.

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Some new magazines I picked up during the weekend. How come I've never heard of this amazing U.K. magazine, Company?! I saw it randomly at my local bookstore, picked it up, and fell in love. I wish it would appear on newstands on a regular basis. It reminds me of Nylon (another favourite) but the cute tea cup sized sister. Really like the look of this month's Teen Vogue and Elle Canada. Happy reading to me.

Weekend haul of some pretties. Excited to try out these Katy Perry Lashes, they look very flirty and fun. I use Biore Ice Cleanser every morning; it has a cooling effect on the skin and never fails to wake me up. Another plus: I have sensitive skin and it doesn't break me out. First time trying L'oreal Color Riche Caresse Lipstick in Pink Cashmere. It's suppose to go on smooth and moisturizing like a balm. I shall report back! I know, I know, another pink? Really? Yes. A girl can never have too many pink lipsticks.

I grabbed The Vintage Fashion Journal on a whim for $4.99 while waiting in line at Urban Outfitters. The best $4.99 I've spent! So adorable. Cloth material hardcover with pretty illustrations on the inside. The artist inside me cries with joy.

I'm going away with some friends to Montreal for my birthday weekend. Very excited! I'll be happily blogging from there. Hope to eat some great food (Poutine, here I come), party hard, and discover some amazing vintage shops.

Happy early weekend!

XOXO

Mary

I'm starting a new section to my blog called "meow goodreads" where I'll share my love of books and reading. I've always been a bookworm since I was a little girl. Do you love the smell of new books as well as old ones? Does your idea of a perfect afternoon consist of grabbing some Starbucks and strolling the book aisles at your local bookstore? Do you squeal and get excited when you receive book packages in your mailbox? Well, join the club.
My love of reading and fashion/beauty has lead me to pursue a career in publishing. Once I'm done my publishing program, I hope to be working with a fashion magazine. Eventually, I'd love to dabble into book publishing as well. Like all true book lovers, I have a goodreads account where I'm always reading up reviews for the latest books, and enjoy watching book tubers on Youtube talk about their book hauls, reviews, and "to be read" lists. It's sort of like fashion and beauty, really, where you read fashion/beauty blogs, watch hauls, and read reviews about the latest product.
So do fashion and literature relate? Can you be into fashion and still be a bookworm? Totally. Fashion and literature are both works of art through different mediums; they both exist from imagination and inspire their audience.
I'm open when it comes to book genres but I normally read more fiction than nonfiction. I really enjoy fantasy, horror, historical fiction, children's lit., and of course, YA novels. Contemporary fiction is always interesting and chick lit's are a guilty pleasure, all cute and fluffy...like cream puffs. When it comes to books, I don't discriminate. I do have a weakness for pretty covers. I'll be posting book reviews on some of my favourite reads, rating them out of 5 stars. Along with book hauls, I'll also keep you updated with what I'm currently reading and my "to be read" list for the month.
I hope there's fellow bookworms out there who'll appreciate this and share their love of books with me and for those who don't normally read much, I hope these are interesting and maybe inspire you to read.

XOXO
Mary




A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, Jim Kay (illustrator)
The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.
But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...
This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.
description from goodreads.com


How to even describe this book.. it made me cry. Conor is a ordinary boy in a bad situation; his mother is diagnosed with cancer and is at the hospital receiving treatment. He's not on good terms with his sole friend Lilly and he's fallen victim to bullying by school bully Harry and his posse. His dad is living a new life with his new wife and baby, and he has a very awkward relationship with his grandmother to top it all off. He keeps having this recurring nightmare filled with darkness and danger. One night a monster appears outside his bedroom window, an ancient monster who begins to tell Conor four tales.
Why has it come? What does it want from Conor? Perhaps the most hardest and dangerous of all things. It wants the truth. A Monster Calls is a touching story about loss and of grief, but also the glimmer of hope that always lies within darkness. It's a quick read (not very long) and is a YA novel, but I think everyone would enjoy it.
It's very fluid and well written, and the protagonist is a very real and relatable character. Can I just comment on the beautiful illustrations for a moment? Jim Kay did a wonderful job; they're beautiful in a eerie, haunting way, and they fit perfectly with the mood and emotions of the story. I love when books have illustrations that add to the overall experience of the story rather than distract from it.
Siobhan Dowd, the original author of the story, was unable to finish the manuscript but Patrick Ness does justice to his story. Highly recommended, I'll be surprised if it doesn't make you cry. Or maybe I'm just a soft goop of mush.

****` 4.5/5 stars




Currently Reading


Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

Good Intentions

There's something about mixing feminine pieces with the edgy. I'm somewhat of a contradiction. On the one hand, I'm a girly girl: I love lace, light colour palettes, and delicate skirts. My inner diva is more edgy, darker, and sexier. I love black, sparkle and studs, and anything ripped, teared, or shredded. Pairing a feminine lace & skirt ensemble with an edgy, acid washed denim vest makes for an interesting mix. It's girly with a pinch of urban edge. I picked up this structured bag with gold hardware recently, and I absolutely adore it. It's very spacious and convenient, with handles and a longer strap.

Off topic but can I just say that the weather in Toronto has been super warm of late? I'm totally loving it, I can whip out my thin but trendy jackets.












Denim Vest: Zara / Lace Shirt: H&M / Skirt: H&M / Bag: Urban Outfitters


XOXO
Mary

I've Missed You ♥

Hello lovelies. I know I've been M.I.A. for the longest time and I've missed you all! Life's just been hectic with school and work but I'm determined to get this site back up and running. Blogging is just too much fun to give up completely.

It's the second half of winter but guess what? Spring is coming and you know what that means: spring makeup collections and fashion! I'm especially excited for all the new collection releases. I'm a sucker for pastels and bright pops of colour; it's just so fresh and vigorating after dreary winter.

Expect lots of upcoming makeup reviews, fashion OOTD's, and hauls.

To end off, here's an update of my life through pictures from my Instagram. Pictures are worth a thousand words, are they not? ;)

XOXO
Mary





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