20 Ways To Brighten A Not So Sparkly Day
11/30/2012

20 Ways To Brighten A Not So Sparkly Day


So regular visitors to my blog will notice that my weekly loves list is absent today. The reason being that this week hasn't been the most fabulous. It just felt wrong writing up a list of things I've loved this week when I wasn't being genuine.

We all have days or weeks when the complexities of life will get us down but you needn't feel this way.  Remember nothing lasts forever. I hope this list of 20 ways to make your day sparklier will help you in some way. Perhaps you'll even be inspired to write your own list.


Without further ado...
















Photo by Britney & Nails by the lovely Leah. I chose this because having my nails done always brightens my day without fail. Also these are my current nails & they are so pretty+sparkly in person. I can't help but smile seeing them.


1. Go for a walk or run, whichever takes your fancy. I personally prefer walking but you can do whatever type of exercise you fancy. It's no secret that the scientific factors of exercise result in a happier, healthier person. Even if the last thing you want to do is leave the house exercising will make you feel a lot happier, guaranteed.

2. Call someone on the phone. Don't just send a text message to someone-that is so common! In seriousness, getting your troubles out in the open can often make you feel a lot better afterwards. Plus you'll have an extra person who will (hopefully) willingly offer you advice & support, should you need it.

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November in Pictures
11/29/2012

November in Pictures

November has been nonsensical, nostalgic & at times not so certain. How crazy is it that in 2 days time it'll be December?! This year has gone so so fast!

Here's what happened in a visual sense during the month;


Britney and I went to Bluebells Cakery at the very end of last month. These were the pretty yellow flowers on one of the tables. See more of our trip here.
I've loved being able to shoot blog photos outside in the sunshine this month. Natural light is the best.
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November Favourites
11/28/2012

November Favourites

It's that time of the month again where I sit & think about what products I have loved using & as much as I'd like to write about all of them, there were a select few which definitely stood out to me this month. I've also been using a few new products that I've bought over the past few months lately & have enjoyed many of them, which you will read about soon!

Anyway, without further ado here are my beauty favourites for November;


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12 Ways To Be More Awesome
11/27/2012

12 Ways To Be More Awesome


A guest post by Britney Hazeldine

We can all be awesome! We already are. And these are my 12 tips to making your life that little bit brighter and happier. Who doesn’t want to lead an awesome and exciting life? We all deserve it!

      Brighten your life through clothes and your space. I firmly believe that a clean and happy looking environment affects the way you live and lead your life. I’ve just finished a massive spring clean and it was amazing!! I feel so so much lighter and, in a weird sort of way, free.
2
      Take time out. Take a moment for you. Sometimes we just need a break and time to recharge. Sometimes it's good to stop and look around at the life that we’ve created for ourselves.


3
      Act like a child every so often. A wise man once said “Never knowingly be serious” and sometimes these are the words I live by. Being relaxed, letting go and being carefree, some of the aspects of a child’s personality, can really do you some good. Have you seen children? I don’t mean the bullying fourteen year old girls. I mean the children from 2-4.  Be amazed at the world around you. Because, it is brilliant. And extraordinary. And amazing too!
4
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Monday Marvel #21: Tech-sessorise.
11/26/2012

Monday Marvel #21: Tech-sessorise.

Undoubtedly one of the best aspects of owning an iPhone is having the opportunity to protect or display it in a lovely case. Forget plain, block colours, it's all about glitter, prints, photographs, illustrations & patterns. Thankfully Iconemesis tick plenty of these boxes.




Iconemesis' aim is to produce a great collection of beautiful artworks that allow buyers to express their individuality, through their case. I think they've successfully done that. How gorgeous are all of the cases pictured above? I love the Fifi Lapin Cupcake & the Pink Florals, they're so pretty!!



-I hope the start of your week is fabulous. Sorry this post is a little brief, I've been away all weekend & today I'm starting a Summer School Paper so it's been a bit crazy here lately.
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What I Love Weekly #31
11/23/2012

What I Love Weekly #31

1. "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privelege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." -When life seems rough I'm going to try to always remember all of the above.

2. The ever present Sunshine! I don't know what it is about sunshine & bright blue skies but they seem to always make the day that much better. It means we can spend more time outdoors in the sun or at the beach-I love it.

3. This song, I love everything about it. It's so uplifting & it just makes me want to dance under some fairy lights.

4. Lush Bath Ballistics. They smell amazing, usually turn your bath water bright & sparkly colours & are the best pick me up after a hard day. They're also super affordable too, I love to stock up on them!

Mine & B's delicious treats from Bluebells
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The Reading Pile
11/22/2012

The Reading Pile



Around this time of year I normally want to read a lot more & catch up on films or documentaries I've missed during the year, mainly because I have a whole lot more time to do so! Also naturally with the holiday season approaching, plenty of new books are being released which is always a good thing.

In case you hadn't worked out already today's post is a wishlist of books I plan on reading & buying over the Summer. If you've read any of these leave a comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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Current Spring Favourites by Avenue M
11/20/2012

Current Spring Favourites by Avenue M

Hello Nana Wintour readers, 
My name is Maria and I write for the blog, Avenue M. It's my personal style diary along with photography, food and adventures. I'd love it if you'd stop by sometime soon. 
This is just a little compilation of all my favourite things for the month of November. 
Lots of love, Maria xoxo


Carrie's gorgeous pink-and-black pairings make this outfit a winner for me. I love the statement collar and high ponytail, she looks effortlessly stylish -- not to mention comfortable! I'm also loving delicate, sheer blouses with quirky details. I love the subtle scalloping on this one as well as the pretty breast pockets. 
And, how good does the apple crumble slice look?! I've had this once before in a cafe but never thought about making it myself. I stumbled upon this recipe however and really want to make it... yum!


Jewel toned makeup, food and accessories. Keiko Lynn perfected the red lip to the max... I love that rich, deep red! Those macarons look very tempting too, as well as that salmon coloured bag. I love colour!


These are a few delicate and pretty things I've been eyeing off. The dress and cookie bag are from Caitlin Shearer's etsy and the gorgeous rose wreath is from Dolly.

♥ ♥ ♥

Thanks so much for having me Sophie!! 
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Monday Marvel #20: Designer Delights
11/19/2012

Monday Marvel #20: Designer Delights

I always try to support local designers, particularly when I'm buying gifts for someone's birthday or as a Christmas present. It's always nice to give someone a unique, special gift & to start off/contribute to someone's art collection!

Luckily here in New Zealand there are plenty of talented local artists & designers who have Etsy Stores where you can buy their work online or frequently visit Art & Craft Fairs. Today I thought I'd share with you some work from artists who will be visiting Auckland Markets within the next month or so...hello perfect Christmas shopping opportunity!! I'll also give you links to their online stores & spaces so you can go check the rest of their work out.




Dear Colleen has released this delightful new calendar just in time for Christmas (yay!). Each month is illustrated with pictures of all the fresh, delicious produce available in New Zealand. This would make a great gift for any Masterchefs in your midsts or to send overseas. Colleen will be having a table at the MOAD Market in Auckland this Saturday, double yay!

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What I Love Weekly #30
11/16/2012

What I Love Weekly #30

1. This time last week I was walking through town in a daze, the reason being that I had just attended the Rookie 2012 Fashion Show. I've never been to a student showcase or exhibit of any kind before & it definitely didn't disappoint. See some photos of the night here.

2. A bedroom that smells like a Lush store. Some of my Christmas shopping thus far has been from Lush & I've been hiding everything in a corner of my wardrobe so whenever I open the doors it smells like Lush! It's rather heavenly.

3. I think we can all agree by now that Tavi Gevinson is amazing. Just in case you need further proof have a read of this.

4. Sprinkling glitter, just because. I love doing this to brighten a gloomy day or to hopefully make a friend's day by sprinkling glitter in any post I may send.

Pretty Peonies! 
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Quotacious Quotes
11/15/2012

Quotacious Quotes



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The Powder Room-Beauty Tips & Tricks.
11/14/2012

The Powder Room-Beauty Tips & Tricks.


Over the last few years I have grown to love all things beauty. It has grown through admiration and education and over the years I have picked up a few tricks I keep close to my chest.  On request of Nana Wintour I have decided to share a few of my top beauty tips.

1. Correctly applying skin care prior to make-up application is important. It can change how your make-up sits. This is a trick I learnt from Sharon at MAC Cosmetics in Britomart, Auckland. She applies my moisturiser and primers using foundation and concealer brushes before applying foundation in the same manner. 

The brush provides even coverage of the product across the skin stopping me from over using my favourite primer. They also stimulate and massage the skin more effectively than a quick wipe of the hands helping with blood flow movement.

2. Want make-up to last? Drink water. I work in an office all day long with heavy air conditioning and although I use primer and sometimes a setting spray the conditions are still having an effect on my skin.  My skin is becoming dehydrated and dry and literally drinking up my make-up.

Drinking water throughout the day made a huge difference for me personally. Over time my skin improved and my make up was lasting the distance. The water helps my body function to its optimum and helps my skin.

3. Invest in the correct tools. It’s amazing what the correct tools can do. They may seem expensive at first but in the long run it pays off. The use of a foundation brush for example over fingers can save you in product and the application will look better. The use of the correct bun pins with your Pretty Bun can result in a more polished look than with the use of bobby pins.  Sometimes it’s the small things that count and can help you lift your game.

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Christmas Consciously-How To Manage Your Gift Shopping
11/13/2012

Christmas Consciously-How To Manage Your Gift Shopping

So today I thought I'd post about something a bit different. Christmas is only five weeks away now! Does that scare any of you? Christmas is often one of the most magical time of the year, but it can also be one of the most stressful. Budgets go crazy & unless you're extremely organised, it can be a bit of a nightmare.

I decided I didn't want Christmas Shopping to turn into a not so lovely time this year, and hopefully it won't be for you either...Today I have compiled 5 Tips to help make Christmas gift shopping more of a breeze. I've been following all of these this year & it has worked a lot better for me, so maybe it'll work for you too.




1. Start now. 5 weeks is not a great deal of time to get yourself organised. Even if your budget prevents you from going out to the shops right away you can still go visit your local shopping area to get an idea of what's available. Now would also be an ideal time to start thinking about how many people you need to buy gifts for & whether or not you're going to send out cards this year.
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An evening's Fashion extravaganza
11/11/2012

An evening's Fashion extravaganza

Thursday night saw the annual ROOKIE Fashion Show take place, featuring the work of AUT's Fashion Design graduates. This year's was bigger & better than ever, with the event being held in a warehouse space of sorts with a massive runway. It was a fantastic showcase & there was some absolutely stunning pieces in the collections as you'll see.

I was there on the night & had the chance to take plenty of photos. I realise they aren't amazing runway shots but do keep in mind that I have never taken photos like this before and/or used my camera to take runway pictures like this. Regardless, I hope you enjoy them!



Click through for more!
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What I Love Weekly #29
11/09/2012

What I Love Weekly #29

1. Let's start this weekly list with a quote; "A little nonsense now & then is relished by the wisest men." Embrace your inner crazy & do something nonsensical this week, I challenge you.

2. Online shopping! What's even better than online shopping? Knowing you have some wicked parcel making its way across the world to you.

3. A few weeks ago now I may have mentioned that Australian accessories store Colette by Colette Hayman was opening in Auckland. A few days ago I visited one of their stores & it was amazing. Pricing is reasonable & there is a wide range of pieces available. Read more here.

4. My new favourite photo editing app, Afterglow. You can edit your photos with filters, lens effects & then apply different shaped frames to your images. It's $1.29 from the App Store & as any of my Instagram followers will have seen, it's addictive.

Here's a little something I prepared earlier.
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Naked 2...in review!
11/08/2012

Naked 2...in review!

Anyone who watches beauty videos on YouTube will have seen the Naked palettes appearing in hauls & favourites vlogs countless times over. For those who don't know, Urban Decay's Naked Palette is a neutral eyeshadow palette containing 12 shades which can all be worn individually or combined to create a range of eye looks.

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Macarons en Vogue
11/06/2012

Macarons en Vogue

Chanel is synonymous with tweed, Prada with quirkiness, Lanvin with elegance, and McQueen with theatrics. Just as that is all true, Harrods is synonymous with luxury. Just the sheer size of it all suggests extravagance (7 floors, over 330 departments.)

For their ‘Style to Savour’ campaign, the British department store looks to food and fashion—an area I like to call foodshion—, and draws parallels between the two. After all, is a dusty pink Ladurée macaron not as beautiful as a S/S 2012 Louis Vuitton broderie anglaise dress in the same shade?

Click through for more!
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Monday Marvel #19: Feel Pampered and Pretty at Lucy and the Powder Room
11/05/2012

Monday Marvel #19: Feel Pampered and Pretty at Lucy and the Powder Room

A little pampering every now & then does just the trick, especially at the end of a long week or in my case University Semester. I've been subscribed to Flossie's daily beauty emails all year but whenever a deal came along I'd never have the money for any of the treatments I wanted, until recently.



Lucy & the Powder Room in Newmarket! For those of you who don't know, Lucy & the Powder Room is a beauty parlour haven where you can go to relax & unwind surrounded by; exotic flowers, porcelain cats, comfortable couches, vintage vases, fashion magazines and every rejuvenating treatment you could want. This is the home of serious skincare brought to you by the specialists. Stepping into Lucy & the Powder Room is like entering what I'd imagine a 1950's beauty parlour to be like, it is just gorgeous.
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What I Love Weekly #28
11/02/2012

What I Love Weekly #28

1. It is November! I thought I'd start by stating the obvious, forgive me. November is going to be such a fun time & there are plenty of events & other exciting things to look forward to, many of which I hope to share here. Stay tuned...

2. A song I'm obsessing over at the moment is Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding. Along with Begin Again by Taylor Swift it hasn't been off repeat on my iPod this week. I love it.

3. Guest posting! Each week this month there's going to be Guest Posts from four rather awesome bloggers on my blog. They are; Mint Maison, Avenue MLemonwood & Honey, & Hannah Rogers. Keep an eye out for their posts from next week. I can't wait to share their content with you all.

4. Golden Wonder Bath Ballistics from Lush. These are quite possibly the best Christmas bath bombs, ever. Do yourselves a favour & get one to use in the bath this weekend. You will not regret it.

5. Wednesday Wanderings! Britney of Lemonwood & Honey & myself went on a culinary adventure of sorts this Wednesday. The highlight being a visit to Bluebells Cakery in Hillsborough for cupcakes & other sweet treats. It was lovely-both our cupcakes were amazing & the decor is gorgeous too. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in Auckland.

A delicious Vanilla cupcake from Bluebells. How cute is that plate it's on?
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The Reading Pile
11/01/2012

The Reading Pile

One of my favourite things about the Summer holidays is that I can read books or magazines, in the sun. This is best done in a tropical paradise like Rarotonga but home is also a good place to read. I didn't finish any proper books last month but as it is now the holidays I have finally been getting around to some reading. Yay!

What's on my book pile!

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