It doesn't take much to get me into the spirit of Halloween considering this is my favourite holiday. I love fall, pumpkin spice, and everything spooky. The best way to get excited about the best day of the year is by watching Halloween themed movies, so I've comprised a list of my favourites.


I cannot go through October without watching this one. It's about this girl Marnie who finds out she's a witch and goes to Halloweentown with her grandmother where there's ghosts and ghouls just living their lives. Growing up watching this movie made me so disappointed that I didn't get magical powers on my 13th birthday.

Twitches

I LOVED this one when I was growing up. Two twin sisters who were separated at birth reunite on their 21st birthday to discover they're witches and have to use their powers to fight the forces of darkness. Tamera and Tia Mowry are amazing in everything they do and this movie is no exception.

Kensington Market

St. Lawrence Market

CN Tower/Edge Walk

Casa Loma

Distillery District

To be completely honest I've never really been passionate about eating healthy and working out. I'm very laid back with those things, but I'm mentioning it to make sure you understand this is not one of those posts with healthy snack food options that are disgusting once you try them yourself.

I'd never tried chickpeas before I became pescetarian but since then it's really helped me to get that protein I cut out. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are also packed full of fiber, iron, vitamin B-6, and magnesium. These little beans are great for weight control because the combination of fiber, protein, and their low glycemic index help keep you feeling full. Studies also show that chickpeas lower your risk of heart attack.


So not only are these great for you, but this snack is so easy to make! All you need is a can of chickpeas (I used a 19 oz), 1/2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tbsp cumin, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil and salt to taste. All you need to do is rinse the chickpeas, mix the spices together, let the olive oil heat up in a frying pan and once it's hot pop them all in there and fry them. I like to do it for about 10 or so minutes but you can use less olive oil and do them for less. But that's it, you're done! I've been making these every other day I'm obsessed!

I've talked about how much I love highlighter many times before and up until recently I'd only ever owned one. Now that one is Mac's Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade and it is well loved, but I found it was time for something new.

Any time I'm looking to purchase new makeup I go to my girl Essiebutton. So many people trust her judgement on beauty products that she's actually come up with a name for it, the #essiebuttoneffect, and I am proud to say that I've fallen victim.

I ordered Mary Lou Manizer by The Balm on Amazon a few weeks ago (I sadly nicked it with my fingernail so now it's not perfect) and I've been obsessed ever since. It's definitely not a subtle highlight and I adore it because of that. I've always been nervous around warm toned makeup, but this shade is like getting my feet wet with warm toned products and I'm embracing it wholeheartedly.

It would compliment a lot of skin tones, but if you're dark skinned I would test it out beforehand just to make sure because even though it does have a hint of gold it could look a little too white. It all depends on what you like on your skin.

Triple Check...Everything

Trust me when I say you will not regret doing this. I can't tell you how many times I've double checked and then realized I forgot my camera charger, or my outlet adapters. One time I left an insane amount of liquids in my carry-on and had it confiscated...it was devastating. I've never been much of a list person so naming off all the things I have out loud helps me. 

Overpack 

For some reason people make fun of me for being an overpacker but I feel like it's an advantage not a flaw? I like being prepared for anything. I'll pack extra outfits just in case I'm not feelin' the one I planned, and I'll bring one of those rain ponchos just because. When I went to Cuba last year I only packed three pairs of shoes. One cute pair of sandals, one ultra comfy pair of flip flops, and heels. Well my one cute pair of sandals broke the third day I was there and it could have been no big deal if I'd packed another pair but I didn't! Thankfully the friend I went with and I are the same size and she let me borrow a pair. But do be aware of the weight limit, you don't want to pack a back up outfit for every day you're away, be overweight, and be forced to pay extra.

Pack Extra in Your Carry-On 

I learned this tip when I was flying to Uganda a few years ago. I was told I should pack extra clothes in my carry-on just in case they lost my luggage, so I did. I didn't lose my luggage, but someone in my group did and he went three days without fresh clothes in the African summer heat because he didn't listen. So, take it from him, pack. extra. clothes. Even if it's just leggings and a tank top. I went as far as putting my toothbrush, deodorant, and an extra pair of socks. You never know.

Keep Your Makeup Minimal

Skincare, Skincare, Skincare

Wear Pants With Pockets

1. My Nickname – When I played soccer my nickname was "red" because of my hair.
2. My Eye Color – They are blue but the shade depends on what I wear.
3. My Hair Color – An auburn shade of red. It's gotten darker as I've gotten older. I look back at childhood photos and I almost had carrot red hair! 
4. One Fact About Me – I'm really big on animals. I like animals more than I like humans. I know that might sound weird or ~like so teen angst~ but I'm completely serious.
5. My Favorite Color – Pink or purple.
6. Favorite Place – Does my bed count? Haha, my favourite place I've ever been is Uganda.
7. My Favorite Celebrity – I really want to say Angelina Jolie...but my heart says Emma Stone.
8. My Favorite Animal – Elephants!
9. My Favorite Song – Right now, Can't Feel My Face by The Weeknd
10. My Favorite Book – This is hard because I rarely ever read a book where I think it deserves the title of "my favourite book" but The Perks of Being A Wallflower and The Great Gatsby each have special places in my heart.

I'm loving that 'strobing' is becoming popular because who doesn't love to glow? If I don't look like I have dewdrops on my cheekbones then what's the point?

I just ordered the Mary Lou Manizer by The Balm and I'm so excited to try it because I currently use Lightscapade by Mac and I've had it for years so it takes multiple applications to build it up to my liking and it's just tiring. Don't get me wrong, it's a really pretty shade but I've had it for so long I wanted something new. 

I never feel quite complete if I'm not doused in highlighter. It's one of my favourite makeup products and even if I'm wearing minimal makeup, I promise you, I'm wearing highlighter to some degree. 

For my base I'm wearing Makeup Forever HD Foundation, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, Revlon Cream Blush in Charmed Enchantment, Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light, The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer in 001, and of course Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade.

I have a love-hate relationship with nail polish. I love having them painted but I hate doing them, and how fast they chip. I genuinely spend two hours painting and waiting for them to dry just for them to chip literally 6 hours later. It's. So. Frustrating. I always have my toes painted though, because for some reason nail polish on your feet lasts an eternity compared to your fingers.

I always find myself reaching for one polish in particular, which is Lady Like by Essie. I got this as a gift and I never thought I would have liked it. Honestly, I would've never bought this colour on my own. I was never one for nude nail polish, I always went for dark colours. I'm surprised how much I've fallen in love with this pretty nude/pink/mauve shade. I always use it on my toes, and when I'm really feeling it I wear it on my fingernails. It just makes me feel so elegant.

I picked some beauty products up recently and I've been testing them out for the past month or so and I've come across some favourites!

Looking at the bullet, I never expected to like this lipstick. It was on sale so I took the risk and bought it and it looks beautiful on. I'm always pairing it with a bronzy brown eye and lots of bronzer and highlighter. It's the perfect fun summery shade.

I always heard about YouTuber's raving about brow mascaras and that you should always set your eyebrow products so I thought I'd finally bought one. I'm surprised how much I like it, and how pigmented it is. I thought I'd have to use a pencil before this but I really don't, it's enough on it's own.

This concealer is something I've lusted after for months but was hesitant because of how expensive it was. I mean, $36 for concealer? That's excessive...but I heard Essie Button rave about it constantly so I caved. Turns out it's as beautiful as I expected! It really brightens up and highlights the under eyes.

I went to the mall specifically because I knew The Body Shop was having a sale, and because I have no self control I stopped in Shoppers too.


The Body Shop's body butters were on sale for half price so I deemed it absolutely necessary that I got my hands on one. By the time I got there, there wasn't a lot to pick from. I hate most of the scents available, I don't want to smell like strawberries or mangos so thankfully there were a few shea left.