December Favourites
12/31/2014

December Favourites




Now I was intending on giving December Favourites a miss, but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep quiet about these gems for another whole month. There's a magical cleanser, a couple of eyeshadow stash staples, the Kylie Jenner nude and even some decor+a book for good measure...

Flo and Frankie Pineapple-This is no longer coming up online so I'm guessing it may have sold out now. This little pineapple is adorable and when it was on sale recently, I had to order one for myself. The gold leaf detailing actually leans more rose gold in person which I like. This is by no means an essential but I just thinks it adds a bit of pizzazz to my room+bedside table. 

Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics-Matte shadows were never something I felt like I was missing from my collection, until I realised just how ridiculous shimmery shadows look in the crease. This palette is perfect and aside from the brown-black shade on the end, I use these colours most days. It's such a versatile palette and the colours apply so smoothly and don't look chalky. Love

Australis AC/ME Eyeshadow in Bronzonce-If you want a cheaper alternative to the Stila Magnificent Metals eyeshadows, then this is your guy. These apply like a cream then set down to a powder finish and last pretty well, with or without primer. Bronzonce is very All That Glitters-esque. I love it! These are limited edition I think so I'm going to have to grab myself a backup. 

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anna-Where do I begin...the name, the packaging, the colour-it's all amazing. This colour reminds me of Mac Syrup but a smidgen darker. The finish looks matte but it applies creamily and sits nicely on the lips. The colour lasts pretty darn well too. I'm tempted to get the shade Grace next but if you have any recommendations then sing out. 

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel-Confession time: I've been very neglectful when it comes to skincare and my skin's certainly rewarding me at the moment *ahem*. One product I do notice making a huge difference is this. Part gel, part oil it breaks down any makeup you have on and leaves your skin feeling so clean. Seriously, I always notice how much nicer my skin feels when I use this. On that note, I need to wash my face more often. 

Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat-Not a lot of reading got done in December but one book I did manage to get through quite quickly was this one. Choupette has to be one of the cutest celebrity cats out. Her owner is Karl Lagerfeld so it's safe to assume she lives quite fabulously. This is a fun, coffee table book with insights on cats and Choupette's favourite things but it is also crammed with incredibly cute photos. If you're a cat lover and a fashion lover you need this.

-What have you been loving in December?

*Happy New Year's Eve guys and girls! How crazy is it that 2014 is more or less done and dusted? I'm quite looking forward to a new year, not gonna lie but this year definitely did have some rather rad highlights. Tonight's probably going to be low-key as we're getting up early to fly to Wellington for a mini break. Keep an eye out for some 'grams and things as always. I hope you all have a good night whether you're celebrating or having a quiet night in. x
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The Sales Haul
12/30/2014

The Sales Haul




I'm back and feeling much more well-rested after my lil' Christmas break. I hope you all had a great festive season. Now after the few too many chocolates and the gifts have been exchanged come the sales. Ah the magnificent sales. I tend to stay away until Boxing Day's been and gone because let's be real, chaotic malls suck. I may have missed the best odds and ends but I still managed to find a few bits'n bobs that'd been taking my fancy. Now on with the haul...



The Body Shop Glazed Apple Soap, Limited Edition-This was one of the few Glazed Apple products that was left in The Body Shop, who have up to 40% off their seasonal releases. I actually went in to purchase something for one of my friends, the soap just fell into my basket. I jest, it had been on my wishlist for a while-I was just waiting until it wasn't full price. It smells heavenly, like Granny Smith apples. 

Kikki K Journal-I actually picked this up as one of my Christmas presents and have already written about it here. It isn't on sale yet but I think Kikki K usually discount their diaries around January so keep an eye out for it.

Kikki K Christmas Cards and Gift Tags-Kikki K have an awesome sale going at the moment. Aside from their Christmas stock being discounted, some of their recent ranges are also on sale. Discounts are from 30-50% so you're bound to find a bargain here. I picked up some Christmas cards which I thought were cute and also because I'd run out of cards and need to send one or two more (don't ask). Then I got gift tags because I'd run out of those too and liked these ones-especially those snowflakes. 


Vampire Weekend 'Modern Vampires of the City'-There's one thing you'll learn about me. I don't like paying full-price for a lot of things, especially CD's and DVD's. Unless I'm too impatient to wait for international shipping, I hold off on buying them until they're on sale. I'd been listening to this album on Spotify a fair bit over the last year and because Vampire Weekend are up there with my favourite bands, it had to come home with me. It is perfection. Vampire Weekend are always on my Summer playlists.

Hydrangea Ranger Card-I can't find this online *sad face* but there was a Hydrangea Ranger pop-up shop inside Widdess in Ponsonby and I finally made it there yesterday. As much as I would have liked to take everything home, I escaped with some cards, a mini poster and a few bits for some friends. I'm a bit obsessed with the Hydrangea Ranger brand at the moment and love to support them when I can, especially as they're New Zealand girls like me. 

The Fault In Our Stars DVD-Aside from Gone Girl, this has to be one of my favourite films I saw this year. It probably helps that it is adapted from one of my favourite books, stars Ansel Elgort, features a love of writing, stars Ansel Elgort. You get the idea..

Kikki K Gold Hearts Pen-Now this wasn't on sale but I used my student discount towards it so it was a tad cheaper. Gotta take advantage of that whilst I still can, right? It's not coming up on their website so I am guessing it may be new but they had a few of these pens with gold patterning. New year, new pens.

*Did you pick up anything during the end of year sales for 2014?
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Merry Christmas!
12/23/2014

Merry Christmas!




It's two days until Christmas and I'm sure we're all getting excited and looking forward to unwinding and celebrating the year. I'm just dropping in today to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I hope you all have a great one, get spoilt with memorable gifts and company, and eat chocolates, Pavlova-whatever takes your fancy! 

Just to let you know, Nana Wintour will be taking a week's break. No doubt there'll still be the odd Facebook or Instagram post floating through, but I won't be uploading any posts until I get back from my holiday. There'll probably only be one or two posts next week too as I'm going away again then but everything will be back to normal by mid-January. 

I hope you all have a great, relaxing break. Thanks everyone for all your support you've shown the blog this year. It means the world to me.

See you next week. S xx
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Your Questions, Answered | A Q&A With Nana Wintour
12/22/2014

Your Questions, Answered | A Q&A With Nana Wintour




   

Hello everyone and happy Christmas-week! I hope you've all had a relaxing, stress-free weekend that hopefully wasn't too filled with retail chaos. After attending Blogcademy I had a massive to-do list of things I want to do. One of those things was to get a bit more personal over on my YouTube channel. You hear my opinions about beauty products all the time so it was nice for me to think about some other topics and look at what you wanted to know. If you like this video do let me know and I'll try to do more of them in future.

PS-I apologise for the sudden lighting change towards the end of the video. The weather when I filmed this was crazy, alternating between intense thunder storms and then clear skies which made filming a total breeze *ahem*. Hopefully it won't be all over the show next time I film something.
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A Gift Guide | The Last Minute Edition
12/19/2014

A Gift Guide | The Last Minute Edition




So you've left things a little bit last minute. I'm not judging you, much. I'll let you in on a secret, I'm not finished my Christmas shopping either. It's Blogmas Day 7 and we've all rounded up some of the best buys you can gift this season. They're easy to grab if you've left things a bit late too. I'd recommend making a list before you leave though as the malls will be frantic. Here's my recommendations for the last-minute shopper..

Nars Lip Pencil Coffret, limited edition-Now isn't this a beauty? Quite literally. You get three Satin and 2 Matte lip pencils from Nars in this set. A few of the shades are limited edition colours but my favourite Cruella is in there. They come beautifully packaged in an acrylic container which can always be reused after (hello makeup storage). If you're buying for someone who loves lip products they're bound to love this set. 

Amber Whitecliffe Maketu Tee-It might be obvious that I am a bit obsessed with this top and I do love supporting local designers who make their wares locally like Amber does. This top looks stunning on and the fabric is beautiful. 

Yes Please by Amy Poehler-This may well be one of the best memoirs I have read this year. Amy's is hilarious and filled with entertaining stories and life essays. She also has a brilliant tribute to her BFF Tina Fey in there. If they're a Parks & Recreation fan, an SNL fan, even just an Amy Poehler fan (like me) then this will go down a treat.

Kikki K 2015 Inspire Diary-I've actually picked up this diary for myself and love it. It's colourful, but still grown up. In other words it won't look too childish on your desk. There's positive anecdotes throughout and plenty of space to write all those notes and aspirations down. Definitely check out Kikki K's diaries if you're in store. They have such a great selection.

*What gifts do you think we should buy in the last minute Christmas rush?
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The Week #135
12/19/2014

The Week #135




The best present ever-For the longest time I have wanted a subscription to Frankie. I feel like magazine subscriptions are one of those things we tend to not buy ourselves and I am always so happy when I am gifted one. My lovely family got me a subscription to Frankie this Christmas and the first issue came earlier in the week and I was so excited. This issue also comes with an awesome wall calendar for 2015 and some illustrated Australian postcards. It's loaded with a lot of extra content too and I can't wait to read it on my mini-breaks.

Hydrangea Ranger Pop Up-One of my favourite local designers, Hydrangea Ranger has a pop-up store open at the moment at Widdess in Ponsonby. If you're a bit behind with your Christmas shopping for your girlfriends, Mum, Nan and the other important ladies in your life then I suggest you head here. There's rad prints, jewellery, vases and more. I wish I could go there in person but instead I'll have to look at the beautiful 'grams of the setup.

A word for 2015-I'm not sure about you, but I don't really like the idea of New Years Resolutions. They're great in theory, but I find it lame when I don't meet them. Instead I prefer to make short term goals within the month or across a couple of months. I really like Shauna's approach though. She's chosen a word for the year and is making goals around that. Her word was create, and I'm still thinking of one for myself. Would you like me to do a post when I decide?

Lindsay Lohan's Top Shelf-Lindsay Lohan was my idol for the longest time. Her movies were a huge part of my childhood+teen years and I still watch them now. I was excited to see her Top Shelf featured on Into The Gloss this week along with her beauty secrets+loves. She's a Charlotte Tilbury fan, Mac makeup maven and isn't afraid to mix and match fragrances. Fellow fans or beauty lovers, go have a read.

An easy+delicious Christmas treat-Peppermint+chocolate are one of my favourite pairings. Throw Oreos into the mix and you have something rather delectable. Last week I made this Peppermint Chocolate Bark and it was amazing. Aside from being ridiculously simple to make, it's perfect to whip up last minute for a Christmas party or if you have unexpected guests turning up for drinks and gift exchanges. 

*Have an amazing weekend everyone, and good luck if you're out doing your Christmas shopping this weekend. I have one present left to buy but I think I'm just going to get it online. I don't fancy going near another shopping mall for a while. Tonight I am off to Katy Perry with a family friend. I'm so excited to finally be getting to see Katy live. Tomorrow we have a pre-Christmas party of sorts at our place and other than that I'll just be chilling and attempting to start packing my bags before I head away early next week. 

Also, you may notice Blogmas halting. I didn't really realise how full on I was going to find that and maintaining my regular blog schedule+everyday life. This week has honestly been so crazy and I'm knackered. There'll be another post up tonight but there may not be any others. Sorry guys! I now have way more respect for people who daily blog and vlog because it's a lot of work. 
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Peppermint Chocolate Bark
12/18/2014

Peppermint Chocolate Bark




I wish this photo had a scratch and sniff function because you'd be wanting to devour the chocolate bark you see. It's Day 6 of Blogmas and we're all heading to the kitchen and cooking up something tasty and festive for you all. I opted to make Peppermint Chocolate Bark which I'd seen on Pinterest a few times. This seems to be quite the American thing. It's super easy to whip up and requires next to no effort but it still looks great and tastes delicious. If you want to find out how to make this then keep reading..

What You'll Need:

1 cup of Oreo cookies (chopped). *For reference, I got the box in NZ supermarkets which has several tubes and I think I ended up using all except one or two of the tubes inside it.

1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips. *I used the Cadbury ones because they're the best in my opinion.

1 1/2 Cups White Chocolate Chips. *These seemed harder to find so I just bought some Cadbury white chocolate buttons.

10 Mini Candy Canes (crushed), about 1/2 cup.

A cake tin. *These may not be called cake tins but y'know the things you cook brownies or slices in? Them. 

A sheet of cooking paper.


Steps:

-Melt your milk chocolate chips until smooth and pour over the baking paper. Sprinkle with the chopped Oreos and place in the fridge to chill for ten minutes.

-Melt your white chocolate until smooth and pour over your oreos and milk chocolate layer. Side note: White chocolate seems to melt a lot faster so keep it on a lower temperature if you want to slow the process slightly. Add the chopped candy cane pieces on top and place in the fridge to chill until set. I found about 10-15 minutes was fine.

-Break up your bark, eat, serve, gift and enjoy! This is really so simple, it's probably not right to even call it a recipe but it honestly tastes so good I just had to mention it.

*Do you have any Christmas recipes you love?

-Original recipe sourced here


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Life Lately #3
12/18/2014

Life Lately #3



It's time for another little life in pictures style update. I feel like this post is food heavy. That was unintentional. I just happen to have eaten a bit of aesthetically pleasing food recently. That's all there is to it really. I'm a tad tired from writing Christmas posts all week so apologies for the lack of chatty banter! 


-Delicious waffles at The Chocolate Boutique in Parnell with Tara and Ellen. They were amazing!
-Reading Frankie magazine on the train. A regular occurrence. 


-A little pamper night with Golden Wonder, my favourite Lush bath bomb and a read of Girl Online. 
-Peonies! They were good while they lasted.



-Christmas Crackers I grabbed at Kmart to take down to my family when I stay there next week.
-My previous pinboard which was inspired by wanderlust and adventure.
-Another snap at the Chocolate Boutique. Look at all those lollies!
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Christmas Decor
12/17/2014

Christmas Decor




Hello and welcome back to another Blogmas post! It's Day 5 and myself, Caelan and Jess are all writing and documenting one of my favourite things, Christmas decorations. It's probably no secret that I love Christmas decor so the fact we have a real Christmas tree this year really excites me. I also seem to have a habit for collecting new decorations and I love setting up all the decorations around the house. If you want to have a lil' nosy at how we decorated our house and how I've made my room look a little more festive then keep reading..



-A little close-up of one of my favourite sections of our Christmas tree. That rose-covered bauble is one of the decorations I chose last year and it was from Smith & Caughey's I believe.
-My room's inspiration board looking a touch more festive. I was trying to channel Jenna Rink when she makes editorial mood boards in 13 Going On 30. The Christmas cards are from Kikki K and Typo. The star was from Bed Bath'N Table



-Some of the decorations along the bottom of my pinboard and also on my wall. I don't have a big enough bedroom for a Christmas tree although I do want a mini one, next year! The two on my board were picked up last year and they're both from Smith & Caughey's I believe. The snowflake was from Bed Bath'N Table.
-Some bunting Mum made last year. We have this hanging above the ceiling in our kitchen/dining area.

-Some faux berries on our table. You may have seen these in the background of my YouTube videos recently and I'm not gonna lie, I kinda wish they could be out on display all year.


*I hope you've enjoyed this post! Let me know what you're loving for Christmas decor this year in the comments and be sure to check out Caelan and Jess' posts too.
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A Lip Product Update
12/17/2014

A Lip Product Update




I do love me a good lip product, that's certainly not a secret. Over the last three or four months these six have made their way into the depths of my handbags. Whoops, #sorrynotsorry and all that jazz. There's balms, gloss, lipsticks and even a pencil in the mix. There's also a reality TV inspired purchase in there because I'm a marketer's dream. So what did I pick up? Read on...

L'Oreal Colour Riche Liquid Lipstick in Nude Ballet-The reality TV inspired buy in question. This is supposed to be the lip colour Kim Kardashian wore on her wedding day earlier in the year. These remind me a lot of the YSL Glossy Stains in terms of their formula. They also have a very YSL-esque scent to them. Nude Ballet is basically Mac's Peach Blossom but in gloss form. As it does have a more glossy finish, the lasting power's not as great as some of these other lip products but it does leave a slight stain on your lips which is never a bad thing. Ain't nobody got time for touchups..

Mac Ruby Woo, part of a limited edition set*-I used to own Ruby Woo a couple of years back but sold it on last year. I'm not really too sure why that was but since having this back in my life I've regretted that decision. Ruby Woo is a classic, staple red that every girl needs in her collection. Yes it's a little bit drying but if you apply a lip balm to your lips first and something like a gloss over the top it becomes more bearable. It's my go to red this festive season.

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anna-This lipstick seems to have been out of stock in NZ for a while so during a #feelingspendy moment I picked this up from Nordstrom online. It does not disappoint. The Audacious lipsticks seem to have a semi-matte finish. The shade Anna is just beautiful and if I could wear it on my lips every day I would. If you want to see what it looks like on, check out Anna's post

Tanya Burr Lip Gloss in Sparkling Dewdrops-I feel like this will be a bold claim but Tanya Burr's lip glosses have to be among my favourites that I have tried this year. Gorgeous colours, beautiful finishes and comfortable on the lips. Sparkling Dewdrops is one of her newly launched shades. It's peachy pink with the subtlest hint of sparkle. These are such great glosses and they don't break the budget. I Found Nemo is next on my wishlist.

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Lip Balm, limited edition*-The Glazed Apple range is my favourite from The Body Shop this year. It's such a shame it's limited edition because these products honestly smell so amazing. They remind me of lollies and Granny Smith apples. Nom! This lip balm doesn't feel too heavy on the lips so it's perfect to apply before lipstick. As it's limited edition I'd suggest you get your hands on this now before they're all snapped up as Christmas gifts.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pink Venus-This has been on my wishlist for a while now and after seeing it look stunning on Alix, it just had to be added to my basket. I've still not used this yet as I'm saving it for Christmas Day but no doubt you'll see a selfie or something when it makes its debut.

*Have you picked up any lip products recently?

-I hope everyone's having a nice week so far! This week's been a bit less chaotic than the last. I went to check out some Christmas lights on Monday night and they were so awesome! I wish I'd bought my camera but I think we are going back to them. Oh and if you're wondering how my audition went, I sadly didn't get in to the show. There was so many talented people there, way more talented than I am so I wasn't too surprised. I'm disappointed not gonna lie but I'm just glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and gave it a go.

*PR Sample
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Christmas Music
12/16/2014

Christmas Music



Images via Tumblr

Hello and welcome back to another little Blogmas post. It's already Day 4 somehow and today we're dusting off our favourite albums, getting in the festive spirit thanks to some glittery touches and perhaps singing at the top of our lungs to some of the holiday anthems. In case you haven't guessed already, today's post is all about Christmas music...

Now I have to be honest, I really am not the biggest fan of Christmas music. I can tolerate Mariah Carey's song in small doses and the music I do listen to I find I have to not play it too frequently otherwise I get sick of it. Maybe it's because I associate Christmas music with malls these days and the not-so relaxing experience that is Christmas shopping. 

Before this post becomes a total Scrooge fest I should probably tell you about some Christmas music that I do like. Now I mention this CD a fair bit but you cannot beat She and Him's Christmas album in my opinion. There's just something about Zooey's voice and the laid back vibes from this album that just gets me. Another album that you can't really go wrong with, and one that is a little more upbeat is Michael Buble's. Again, like Zooey there is just something about Michael Buble's voice. I also like the Love Actually soundtrack but it's really not that much of a Christmassy album. It just reminds me of Christmas. 

*What Christmas music do you love and listen to at this time of the year? 
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Treat Yourself | The Christmas Edition
12/15/2014

Treat Yourself | The Christmas Edition





Hello and welcome back to another Blogmas post. It's Day 3 and today was a free day so myself, Caelan and Jess all have something a bit different planned for you. I decided to share some of my self-bought Christmas gifts..

Christmas is a time for giving but I feel like it's also important to treat yourself at this time of the year too. These are a mix of limited edition things and also something I'd had my eye on for a while. It was exciting getting to unwrap these early for my post (not gonna lie) but I'll probably be good and not use them all until Christmas Day.

So what was in my little Kikki K bag? Well first up we have that stunning Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush palette. It was limited edition and I think it's sold out everywhere now, except here. It is just beautiful and I won't be surprised if Hourglass make it permanent like their popular powder wardrobe. Keep an eye out for a review. Next we have this little diary, also from Kikki K. I just thought it was really cute and beautifully designed. I like how there's plenty of space throughout to write little notes or reminders each day. Last but not least I treated myself to something from Charlotte Tilbury which has been on my wishlist for ages, her lip cheat in Pillow Talk. Again I've not used this yet but no doubt you'll see it in posts next month.

*Do you treat yourself at Christmas? What did you pick up?
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A Book Swap with Jess
12/15/2014

A Book Swap with Jess




A couple of months back, one of my blogging pals Jess and some other bloggers organised a blogger's book swap. I do love my books (surprise, surprise) so I thought this would be a really fun swap to do. I was excited to be partnered up with Jess too because we have such similar tastes and get along like a house on fire. I thought I'd talk you through what she got me in today's post because it was all so exciting and I just had to share it..

I had to laugh a bit when I saw Jess got me Lolita as I had also sent her this book but with a slightly different cover. We had no idea we'd got the same book! She also picked me up Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore which I've wanted to read for the longest time. It has a gorgeous cover too. She also sent me Lucky magazine which seems to be really hard to find here. There was also some Bath and Body Works hand sanitisers which smell amazing. Do you know what also smelt amazing!? All that candy! It didn't last very long. My favourite was that Hershey's Candy Cane chocolate. Why do we not get that here? Sort it out Hershey's.

Thanks so much Jess for book swapping with me! You spoilt me so much and I can't wait to read these books+Lucky mag xx.

-Want to see what I got for Jess? Check it out here.
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A Christmas Wishlist
12/14/2014

A Christmas Wishlist




Welcome back to Blogmas. It's Day 2 and we're all making lists, checking them twice and perhaps stashing them in key viewing locations. Today I've compiled a wishlist of what I'd love to find under my Christmas tree this year...

LK Bennett 'Rosie' Bag-Rosamund Pike aka current girlcrush #1 has a stunning line of handbags with British designers LK Bennett. They're all such classic bags but the 'Rosie' bag takes my fancy. It's the smaller sister of the Rosamund bag and I just love how it looks. Can I have one please?

Karen Walker Star Midi Ring-My favourite local jewelry designer has now started making midi rings. There's only a handful of designs available in this size for now and I just love the star one. The cat midi ring is adorable too.

Charlotte Tilbury 'The Dolce Vita' Palette-Another luxury find that's been on my little Charlotte Tilbury wishlist (it's a thing) is this eyeshadow quad. Obviously this would look beautiful on your dresser but from the videos and blog posts I have seen, it looks pretty spectacular on the lids too. That glitter looks perfect for the party season actually.

Crown and Glory Glitter Reindeer Antler Headband-I was introduced to Crown and Glory at Blogcademy last week, where we all received one of their headbands in our goodie bags. They're very glittery and just so sparkly and when I saw this set of reindeer antlers my heart skipped a beat. These would've been so awesome to have and wear when I made my Christmas gift guides earlier in the month. You could still grab these if you want to make a statement on Christmas Day.

The Art of Discovery-You've all heard about my love for Urban Outfitters. I could spend hours on their homeware section of the site. They've also got a pretty well-rounded selection of books to choose from too which is where I spotted this. It's a compilation of celebrity portraits and also their inspirations and I love books like this so on the wishlist it goes. Update: I have since ordered this to read from the library.

Cat Lady Chic-I've seen this book in a bookstore before and never really looked at it but it's essentially a coffee table book of celebrities with cats. Audrey Hepburn makes an appearance and also Lana Del Rey. If I didn't get the Choupette book for Christmas this would be next on the list.

Aesop Resurrection 'Rinse Free' Handwash-Aesop is another brand I have a bit of a wishlist for. The full-size of this is a little bit on the pricey size but I think this mini would be great to keep in the handbag or on the desk. 

Kate Spade Confetti Dot Case-A phone upgrade seems imminent in the New Year and this case from Kate Spade takes my fancy. I've had one of her cases before and they're such good quality. It helps that the designs are pretty top notch too.

*What's on your Christmas wishlist this year?
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Christmas Memories
12/13/2014

Christmas Memories




Hello everyone and welcome to The 12 Days of Blogmas. It's Day #1 and myself, Caelan and Jess are all getting nostalgic, throwing it back to the nineties and the early millennium. It's time to think about Christmas past...

For me, Christmas has always been an exciting time of the year. For as long as I can remember I know Christmas has enchanted me. When I was younger I used to often sing in local Carol concerts so I have memories of Summer nights under the stars, singing with my friends. We didn't really have traditions as such, at least not ones I can remember. There was the standard milk and cookies left out for Santa and grass for the reindeers I believe. I used to love Christmas movie-watching too! Elmo Saves Christmas was a favourite and also The Muppet Christmas Carol. The latter made me just a bit sad though. Nowadays it's all about Love Actually and Elf, when I can find it on tv.

I remember whenever we received clothing as gifts it'd become mandatory to try it on and have a modeling session in the lounge. I'm not sure whose idea that was but I'm sure it was more for the amusement of the adults. There's footage of that actually which really shouldn't be in existence. There's also footage somewhere of me getting really overexcited at receiving a fake purple hairpiece. No, that was not last Christmas. We used to often spend Christmas close to a beach with my cousins as I have family who live near a beach. So I guess I associate Christmas with Summer and swimming in the ocean. There was also the mandatory iceblock at the dairy afterwards on the walk back to the house.

I feel like I could go on for a while about how Christmas is always exciting for me. Aside from being a time for giving and receiving, it's also a time for reflection and celebration and of course memories and spending time with people I love and don't get to see as much during the year.

*What do you love about Christmas?


Check out Caelan's post here

Check out Jess' post here
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The 12 Days of Blogmas
12/12/2014

The 12 Days of Blogmas






Why hello there late nighters or early risers, depending on where you are in the world. I'm so excited to let you know that I'm doing a Blogmas collaboration with the lovely Jess and Caelan. We're all going to be writing Christmas themed posts over the next twelve days on a variety of different things so keep an eye out for them! Now because Caelan+Jess are both in the US, we're all posting at slightly different times. My posts will be going up at 11pm NZT so I'll share them the next day over on Facebook+include everyone else's links to their posts. 

I hope you enjoy this collaboration! It's been fun to put together. For the non-festive folk, I will still have some beauty+life blog posts going up as well over the next couple of weeks so keep an eye out for them. Be sure to subscribe to Caelan and Jess' blogs too. I'll see you tomorrow with Day 1's post!
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The Week #134
12/12/2014

The Week #134





Maketu-Now truth be told I don't think I have ever been to Maketu, the town which inspired this gorgeous design by Amber Whitecliffe*. After seeing Tara+Ellen and also Helena make it look so darn fabulous, I knew it was going to be the piece from her Mrs Pinto collection that would make it into my wardrobe. The matching shorts are pretty cute too. The question is, do I need them?

She & Him cover all the songs-If you don't know who She & Him are and like a bit of indie pop+old school tunes (Side note: I should've got Britney to describe them for me) then you're going to like these peeps. Zooey Deschanel does the majority of the vocals while M. Ward is responsible for the instrumental odds & sods. They've recently released a new album and covered one of my favourite Beach Boys songs for an episode of New Girl. God only know where I'd be without them...

My new favourite decor haunt-If you've paid a trip to Newmarket recently you are bound to have noticed Flo and Frankie. Aside from a clothing store they also have a home decor shop right next door. I'm not gonna lie, I could spend ages in that little shop. It's packed to the brim with gorgeous homeware pieces and gift ideas, like this pineapple you see above. They also stock some of the Garance Dore by Rifle Paper Co. pieces I mentioned in my video on Wednesday too. 

The cat I'm obsessed with-Now I love my cat, and cats in general really but I'm not sure I've ever mentioned Choupette Lagerfeld before. Karl Lagerfeld's famous cat is just so cute! I recently got this book out of the library and it was so adorable. If you've got a cat+fashion lover in your life this would make such a cute Christmas gift for them.

A bag I'd buy if I won the lottery-*cue 'If I Was A Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani*. I feel like everyone needs to have at least one crazy statement piece in their wardrobe and if I had the $$ I'd totally buy this Chloe Clutch from Lulu Guiness. It's simple, but that red lipstick on the top really adds a little somethin' somethin' if you know what I mean? 

-Have the best weekend everyone! I've actually had a surprisingly busy week with some last minute Christmas shopping going on (note to self: avoid the shops next week), catch ups with some of my friends and also a vocal workshop. I'm auditioning for a production of Rent at my local theatre company tomorrow which is both exciting and scary in equal measures. I had such a good time at the vocal workshop last night and left the theatre absolutely buzzing so yeah..it'd be pretty awesome to get in. What else..I have a party this weekend and a whole lotta blog posts to write. Keep an eye out for some going up over the weekend *ooh mysterious...* x

*Gifted product
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Best of 2014 #3: The Skincare, Haircare & Extras
12/11/2014

Best of 2014 #3: The Skincare, Haircare & Extras






We're at the finish line when it comes to favourites videos for 2014. This time I've rounded up some skincare, beauty tools, even some haircare. There's also a couple of non-beauty favourites in there too because I just couldn't leave them out. I'm also sporting my current favourite piece of clothing. More on that tomorrow. Oh and if you're feeling fancy feel free to subscribe and leave a question for my Q&A, there's more in the downbar. Other than that sit back, relax and enjoy! I'll be back tomorrow with another installment of The Week.
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My Beauty Icons
12/09/2014

My Beauty Icons




If you've read Sali Hughes' book Pretty Honest, you'll be familiar with her chapter on beauty icons. It's a feature she regularly has over on her site as well. While I don't have my copy of the book to hand (yet), I remember really loving this section and wanting to put my own spin on it. There's many women whose beauty I admire. It could be in the makeup they use to express themselves, the way they put their outfits together or their beautiful spirit and how they hold themselves. Today I am going to share with you three of my beauty icons and why I think they're beautiful.

Rosamund Pike-Ever since I first saw Rosamund onscreen as Helen in An Education  I was utterly mesmerised. She was absolutely striking in that film and despite being a secondary character her beauty really shone through whenever she was in scenes. Even in Gone Girl when Amy Dunne is at her craziest she still looks striking. It was almost hard to be mad at her character actually. She has very classic, elegant style and always looks so put together. Her makeup and hair is always effortless too and so chic. Her presence really shines through regardless of what makeup is on her face. She's just so classy. #girlcrush

Alexa Chung-Alexa freakin' Chung. She's often labeled the ultimate "it girl", a title I don't like. You cannot deny she is just so effortlessly cool though. Her style may not be as clear cut. It seems to change on the daily. I love her ballet-class outfits when she's been to Ballet Beautiful or her Glastonbury outfits. Side note: I clearly read too many Alexa interviews...Her makeup though is so on point. It's perfect in that kind of 'no makeup, makeup' way. Let's be real, nobody else has eyeliner game quite as strong as Alexa. If I can grow up to be as freakin' rad as her one day I'll be really happy.

Keira Knightley-When I think Keira I think modern day Audrey. Aside from her enviable couture outfits and her parisian chic street-style, she also has that presence which makes you forget whatever else is going on in films and editorials. She's just so beautiful. Her makeup is also so simple and effortless. Are you noticing a trend here? I love her Chanel campaigns and also her faux-wedding video in Love Actually. Google 'em and prepare to have emoji hearts for eyes after.

*Who are your beauty icons?
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The Palette I was Missing
12/08/2014

The Palette I was Missing




Now if you know me, you'll know I am a glitter fiend. If it's sparkly or rose gold, then it is bound to get my attention. With that in mind, shimmery, sheeny eyeshadows are my BFF so I very boldly declared mattes boring and dismissed them. However the Naked Basics palette had always intrigued me but I wasn't completely convinced. There was just something about Naked2 Basics though that had me sold from the get go...

There seems to be a bit of debate about the tones in this palette. Based on the reviews of the first palette and photos online, this one seems warmer toned on the whole aside from that black shade Undone on the very end. It has an almost grey undertone to it. Aside from that you get one subtle shimmer shade and then five mattes. 

Mattes were seriously lacking in my eyeshadow collection, there's 2 in my 15-pan Mac palette for reference. This palette has everything you could possibly need. Brow bone highlight shades, inner corner highlights (Skimp), colours to wear all over the lids, in the crease, as a liner. If I'm in a rush I reach for this palette alone as I don't have to think about the colours too much and they're so fast to apply then blend out. They're incredibly pigmented but blend out to look a lot softer on the eyes. They're also really long-wearing, even without primers underneath. I use all these shades regularly aside from Undone, the matte grey-black. Black eyeshadows have never been my thing so they tend to sit unloved in my palettes.

This ultra-sleek palette from Urban Decay has certainly changed my tune when it comes to matte eyeshadows. As unexciting as they may appear, they really have their uses when simple eye makeup is all you wish for.

-Have you tried the Naked Basics palettes? What did you think of them?

*Happy second week of December and Christmas! In case my Instagram+social channels didn't give it away I was at The Blogcademy this weekend. I still can't really put my thoughts into sentences that don't just sound like 'omgamazingbesttimeoflifetc' but I will be talking about it on le blog in good time. It was wicked though and Gala, Shauna and Kat are all amazing and it was great to talk with them and listen to their wisdom+soak up their awesomeness. 
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The Week #133
12/05/2014

The Week #133



Alexa Chung x Nails Inc-When Alexa puts her name to something, magic happens. I'm sure her 'It girl' status helps too but y'know, I think she's magical too like her friend Leith Clark so let's just roll with it. One of her latest collaborations was with the brand Nails Inc. Just in time for Christmas this set above has been released at Selfridges. Now my UK readers, you should track this down for your nail-loving pals because it looks like one wicked set. There's also some snow inspired glitters and even an Alexa glitter to keep everyone happy. 

Get crafty in Auckland this weekend-Lovers of craft and unique handmade treasures, listen up. The Auckland Art & Craft Fair is back for the tenth time and it's happening this Saturday down at Shed 10. Bring a gold coin (for entry), your bestie and a tote bag to pack all your treats in to take home. You don't wanna miss this. 

Sun protection without the fuss-Slip, slop,slap might just be one of the most overused alliterative phrases in Summer but hey, sun protection is always important. It's not just about the effects it has on ageing. Anyway, I've been using the Skinnies Sungel* recently and it's pretty darn good. It's made without the nasty ingredients we usually find in sunscreen and it dries down matte so you lose the greasy feel of a regular sunscreen. I like the smaller size too as it's not a hassle to throw into your handbag for reapplication during the day. 

'Tis the season to be vlogging-My subscription box has become a haven of Vlogmas videos. It's actually impossible to watch all of them so I'm going to leave some names and links to some of the ones I enjoy watching: ZoeTara & EllenRachael and Alix. I particularly like how Tara+Ellen and Alix do weekly round ups rather than daily vlogs but that's just personal preference.

A wallet-friendly eyeshadow love-Australis have bought out a new collection just in time for Summer. There's new shades of their popular Velourlips, some nail polishes and these cream eyeshadows which I think are the stars of the show. There's three colours to choose from, my pick is Bronzonce a colour that reminds me of Stila's Foil Shadow in Kitten. These have more of a cream to powder finish and as a result are rather long-lasting. I think these would look so pretty with party makeup for the festive season and they come in under the ten dollar mark. Bargain.

-I hope you've all had an amazing week and have a relaxing stress-free weekend. Today I'm off to run some errands in Auckland and I have a lil' catch up with Tara and Ellen happening. Then I'm off to spend the weekend at Hannah's as we are off to the Blogcademy workshops in Auckland. I think I speak for both of us when I say we are really excited. It's been a daily topic of discussion for the last fortnight year. You'll no doubt see a fair bit of Instagram action happening so keep an eye out! I'll see you all on Monday with another beauty review.

*PR Sample
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Best of 2014 #2: The Makeup
12/04/2014

Best of 2014 #2: The Makeup







It feels too early to be thinking about beauty favourites for 2014 but hey, it happened. It was not easy narrowing down my makeup loves for the year but this video would have gone on for hours if that hadn't happened. There's my foundation love, the powders for flawless skin, a classic red lip, a purse-friendly concealer and more. Enjoy the video and stay tuned for the final 'Best of 2014' video next week which will include non-makeup favourites like skincare, haircare and perhaps even some non-beauty loves. 
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Violet Magazine
12/03/2014

Violet Magazine




The day I heard Leith Clark was leaving Lula, one of my absolute favourite magazines, was a sad one. Lula was once described by Tavi Gevinson as being crafted by fairies. Now I'm not saying Leith Clark is a fairy although her styling does have a whimsical feel to it. Anyway, all was not lost as she's founded a new magazine, Violet. The new publication is a mix of the best of fashion, culture and lifestyle. 

The second issue's cover star was Alexa Chung who has an in-depth editiorial and interview further into the magazine. There's also contributions from women like Kirsten Dunst, Stephanie LaCava and Keira Knightley. Leith's impeccable styling is present as well. I could go on. There's also a short story in the mix.

Violet to me is Lula's adult sister. She's still a lover of magic and inspirational women, but she's also a bit more intellectual. She wants to know about the world around her as well as have the access to dreamy fashion editorials. It's a hefty tome but this would be such a great magazine to take away to the beach or the cabins this holiday season.

Violet Magazine is stocked internationally but for those of us who can't access it, you can pick up a copy from Newsstand Magazines like I did. Their shipping is super fast too.

*Have you read Violet magazine before? What did you think of it?
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A Collective Haul | The Video Edition
12/01/2014

A Collective Haul | The Video Edition





 

'Tis the season for feeling spendy and of course giving, whether it be for yourself or others. Let's be real, everyone deserves to treat themselves every now and again. Over the last few months I've done a little bit of shopping so I rounded it all up into one lil' haul video for you. Enjoy!

Side note: See those Christmas decorations? I kinda forgot to film them but if you are interested, they're from Bed Bath & Table
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