'Tis the season for gifting! Whether that be treating yourself, or the rad people in your life. Today we have a little mini gift guide of bits 'n bobs I personally think would be rather neat to receive this Christmas. In fact, I've actually purchased some of the items on this list and through my bookish gift guides, see the first here. There's beauty, reading material (of course), some homeware bits, stationery (again, of course) and some miscellaneous bits. Enjoy! 

*Fruition Print x Pigment Studio: As an aside, Albertine is one of my talented pals and I've actually purchased the A5 print of this for myself this Christmas. I love it!

*3D Glitter & Glow Liquid Shadow Set x Stila

*Useless Magic  x Florence Welch (Gucci Edition): Isn't this stunning!? The original is exquisite also but this Gucci edition is next-level. How special would this be to unwrap? Ahem.

*Oh Comely Magazine, Issue 46: One of my absolute favourite magazines. I've recently bought a subscription because waiting for it in the shops here in NZ was becoming too much of a task. In all seriousness, get yourself/your mates the latest issue with their Christmas presents. Support print everybody.

*Human x Dodie (signed EP)

*Burnt Sage Candle x Crushes: My pal Emma gave me this candle for my birthday and it is the best. I love its scent and its ability to fill my space with the most divine fragrance. I highly recommend giving the other Crushes candles a sniff as well. They're exquisite.

*Runaway Girl Round Towel x Karen Walker: Round towels=the ultimate backyard staple for reading sessions under a tree in the sunshine. Or a picnic. Or just to y'know, sunbathe responsibly. 

*Caramel Melange Cracker x Zoeva

*2019 Diary x frankie magazine: I've purchased this as a gift and it is beautiful. If I hadn't gone and been super organised and bought my Kikki K diary as per usual, this diary would be mine. I LOVE the floral illustrations x Edith Rewa throughout.

*Enlightened Ornament x Mecca Cosmetica

*End Of The Rainbow Toiletry Bag x Gorman: For some reason I'm kinda obsessed with rainbow-print accessories at the moment and whilst I don't exactly need a new makeup bag, I am being drawn to this. Also, makeup bags are useful af. If you want to go the extra mile-fill it with some of your favourite products for the recipient to enjoy.

*Trio of Navy Pens x Kikki K: If you saw my Advent Calendar post, one of these pens ended up included as a gift. Trios like this and the Stila set are great for dividing up amongst people. 

*Life Honestly: Strong Opinions from Smart Women x The Pool

*Treats x House of Chocolate

*Terrazzo Drop Earrings x Emily Green

-What are you gifting this Christmas?

August is here and I think an idea that's probably going to define my month is change. Speaking of change-things will be changing around these parts in due course. Let's focus on the now though shall we? This month we have a movie-musical I'm kinda obsessed with, a book I want to gift all my girlfriends, makeup and some wishlist worthy things...

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: Specifically the soundtrack but also the movie. To know me is to know I love ABBA and musicals so I was going to be hard-pressed not to like this movie. That being said, I was concerned about the absence of Meryl. And while that did bother me a tad, no spoilers, this new story made up for it. Lily James was brilliant as young Donna-what a voice. I also found myself majorly loving the costumes, that seventies Bohemian thing though yass. Seriously though, Mamma Mia 2 is a good time. An emotionally charged time but a good time no less. Do it. 

Scattered Light: Hourglass have been on fire with their new releases. I loved their concealer, dropped a few months back and have heard equally good things about their loose powder and mascara. Today though, we have their new glitter eyeshadows. Think cream to powder and you can layer up the glitter, depending on what takes your fancy. I have the shade Reflect, a champagne hue which is versatile enough to throw on whenever. I like to layer it with other glitters; pigments and liquid shadows but it works equally as well on its own. The formula of these reminds me of the pressed glitter in Charlotte Tilbury's eyeshadow palettes. Velvety and budge-proof. Love love love. 

Everything Dolly Alderton Knows About Love: This is really one of those books I think everyone should just read for themselves and discover its brilliance in their own way. That'd make this the shortest paragraph ever so here's what I said on Instagram: "I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and it wasn't really until I started listening to Dolly's podcast that accompanies the book, as well as The High Low show that I really was like okay, I need to read this right now. Abandon all the other books. Which I gladly did. My god what a book. Brilliant, moving. Such a wonderful look at relationships, women and friendship in all its forms. I cried. I laughed loudly. I wanted to rip out pages and wallpaper my walls with them...I couldn't have read this book at a better time and really encourage you all to do so."

Iconic Notebooks: Everyone's favourite tome, frankie have this trio of snazzy, fangirl notebooks. Susan Sarandon, Molly Ringwald, Debbie Harry. Perfect for jotting down equally as iconic prose and of course they're beautiful to look at. 

Things I Want But Don't Need #1: Ah the quickfire round of treat yo'self goodness. Firstly, Peony & Blush Suede Body+Hand Wash from Jo Malone London. I know this would go down a treat in my bathroom but I'd want to hide it away and save it for myself. The struggle is real slash #sophiedoesnotsharefancythings. Next up, the Golden Hour ring x my favourites, Zoe and Morgan. I already have one of their rings from a recent sale they did and I wear it to death so I know this would be well loved. Last but by no means least, one for when I win the lottery; this bag. Never not thinking about it. Plus my cardholder needs a friend, yes cardholders have feelings. Okay moving along...

This gift guide is for those of you on a budget, those of you who maybe have Secret Santa limits or those who just like to grab affordable gems to gift at Christmas. Side note: friends and family, please do not look at this post because it will act as a giveaway for some of you as to what you are getting. Spoilers out of the way. This one is a mix of cute little knick knacks, some useful bits and some things to unwind with over the holiday period. Enjoy!

*Daily Notes Pad x Kikki K: I've actually grabbed this for someone I know who is a hella busy person. These kind of notepads are useful to have on your desk if you have important things to remember or just need to quickly jot something down. Not to mention it's blush pink, gold and speckled so it's ticking all the aesthetic boxes too. 

*Pocket Pop Vinyl x Funko Pop: This is part of my gift for my #NZSecretSanta over on Twitter. I just think it's so cute and I'm not going to lie, if they had a Joyce Byers one I would've grabbed it for myself too. They're currently on special at EB Games so head there to nab one. I've seen Game of Thrones and Harry Potter themed ones as well so if they take their fancy more, there's always those options. 

Minis* x The Body Shop: These have been mentioned in a previous gift guide but it's worth mentioning them again. Pictured above are the mini shower gels and the Christmas shaped soaps, in the vanilla and frosted plum scents. Again, a great Secret Santa option or a perfect gift for the jet setters in your life. I've gifted the mini shower gels and hand creams before and they have always gone down a treat. There aren't many people who can resist a good mini. 

*Harry Styles Stickers x bestieclub: I have to give props to one of my Twitter+uni pals for bringing these to my attention. They're also part of my #NZSecretSanta's gift and again I think they're just something a bit different and fun. This NZ Etsy store also have a range of other celebs to choose from so I recommend having a nosy at the shop. Also, Harry Styles in flower crowns? YASS PLZ. 

*Dark Chocolate, Meringue & Raspberry Candle x Ecoya: Another gift, this time for a candle loving pal of mine who I sincerely hope is not reading this. How divine is this candle? It smells like a decadent chocolate mousse and yes, it probably isn't the most Christmassy of scents but if they're not a fan of the more pine-y, natural scents, this might be the ticket. Also these are pretty dang reasonably priced and the scent pull+lasting time isn't half bad. 

*Celestial Earrings x Lovisa: I had to include these because I wear mine all the time and always get asked about them. I have a feeling they might be a tad over 20 dollars, not by much mind. Earrings are such a great option too; I rate Lovisa's and Trade Aid's for things under $20 but Etsy is worth a peruse as well. 

Santa Baby Lip Tint* x Lush: This cola scented, redder than red tint is back for another Christmas. Lush also have some other colours available. My friend E has a light, peachy pink one and loves it. I also rate Lush's lip scrub (Sugar Plum Fairy is the BEST) and their potted lip balms. So delish. So good.

*Christmas Decorations: Ok because I fancy myself as Martha Stewart or something, I'm actually decking out most of my presents with some paper decorations from Kikki K that I grabbed in last year's sale. You've probably seen them on my Instagram, white with gold stars. Anyway, I also think Christmas ornaments can be a fun, sentimental gift. They're relatively inexpensive and can be tailored to people's interests, colours and decor preferences. I've grabbed one for my work Secret Santa this year from Smith & Caughey's. Bed, Bath & Table have some great options too.

*Christmas Movies: Tbh I think everyone should watch Love Actually so this is really a selfish recommendation but *insert sass emoji here*. This inclusion is probably a bit of a gamble but I guess it could be something fun if you're a bit stumped for Secret Santa. I also think Elf is great too. Plus the soundtrack is so good.

*Magazines (or five): Pinching this recommendation from Liv but if they're a magazine maven then I don't think you can go wrong with a stack of magazines. Or one. Or however many you feel need purchasing. I recommend the Frankie 'Christmas' issue, not actually Christmas themed but usually crammed with a bunch of awesome extras. Like those Girflriend Summer Specials but way way way better. I also rate Sunday Girl, Oh Comely, Kinfolk, Violet Book, British Vogue. I could be here all day....

-How is your gift shopping going?

*PR Sample

Hello, happy Monday. It's been a whole entire week since I blogged. Spending the better part of a week without Internet and only shoddy hot spotting c/o my phone at the best of times will do that. I apologise and I am back now with a fresh lineup of posts, starting today with this one on things I've read on and offline during September. There's also a guest post coming on Wednesday so keep an eye out for that one too. Anyway, here's some of what I've been reading during the month. 

What Happened x Hillary Clinton: It feels like the last presidential election was an entire lifetime ago but it hasn't quite been a year since it happened yet. Anyway, when I heard Clinton was releasing a new book, set to be her most candid yet, I promptly requested it from the library. By the time you read this post I will either have just finished it or be coming close to finishing. It has not disappointed. As well of course as the intimate insights, it's really illuminated many of the problematic sides of the election; media involvement and spin, Russian interference, misogyny among countless other things. A lot of the backstory to the campaign to derail Hillary wasn't covered in much detail by the local media here so I found those insights particularly fascinating, albeit frustrating. Well worth the read, even if at times it's a bit depressing given the eventual outcome. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower x Stephen Chbosky: I had intended to revisit Gone Girl this month but decided I wanted something not quite as heavy instead so I opted for this. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of my all time favourite novels. The way in which it describes the teenage experience but also delves into some darker issues is so well done. I also love the references to mixtapes, literature, Stevie Nicks, Rocky Horror, The Beatles and of course kids living life on their terms. As someone who never felt like they fit in during high school, this book is like a breath of fresh air. I do kinda wish I'd read it at that time because it might've put some of my experiences in a new light but in hindsight I am glad I discovered it when I did. 

Creatives Reading x frankie magazine: My love for frankie is incredibly well documented so I will keep this brief. The latest issue, number 79 contains a feature with creative types from Australia and their book recommendations. Georgia Perry (one of my faves, if only for her gorgeous pins) and Benjamin Law are just two of the peeps featured but the whole thing is worth looking at. As is the issue so grab yourself a copy. It's the flora and fauna adorned beauty currently on newsstands. 

Questionable Intimacy x Makanaka Tuwe: In my quest to support more local writers and talented wordsmiths I grabbed this on a whim in The Bread & Butter Letter. Wondrous, magic and a candid account of the self love journey. It's also a celebration of womanhood and black girl magic. Go get yourself a copy and prepare to be enchanted. 

Serial Book Clubbing: Laura's written this fantastic article on book clubs for Book Riot and I had to share it here. At present I am currently in only digital book clubs but I yearn for something more. Coffee, wine and banter with likeminded people perhaps. Passionate discussion about the words we love or loathe. I actually have a picture in my phone of a book club's flier I saw advertised so I seriously need to look into it. Alternatively, Aucklanders if you know of any good book clubs around that will accept someone who likes a hefty amount of literary banter, sing out.

-What have you read in September?

Another September-y post, this time about one of the iconic times in the editorial calendar. While it seems like print is a dwindling thing sometimes, RIP Nylon, in many corners there are still titles going strong and indie tomes for us to peruse and marvel. I don't care what the iPad, tech crowd might argue. You cannot beat the experience and joy that is flicking through a physical magazine. September seems to seasonally be a big time for the magazines and it's where a lot of advertising expenditure goes. It also though is known for getting readers excited, sharing new ideas and breaking new ground. Today I have some snippets of what to expect in these September issues for you...

British Vogue: Ahh BV, my longterm paper lover. This issue is particularly significant and in many ways bittersweet, as it is the last issue under Alexandra Shulman's editorship at the magazine. 306 issues in 25 years is quite a feat. To commemorate this, there is a full fold-out spread of every single one of her covers. I'm still trying to work out which was actually the first one I remember seeing. The cover also features a mix of iconic models, most notably Kate Moss who often paired with the magazine for iconic covers. Last year's Rolling Stone tribute for one, another with Bowie inspired makeup, one from 2008 encased in a layer of cream tulle, the latter which I actually own. If you grab one September issue, make it this. It is a treat in every sense of the word.

Frankie: While not strictly a September issue in the fashion-y sense of things, I couldn't not do a post about magazines and not use it as another opportunity to mention one of my all-time favourite publications. Frankie's August+September issue is laden with a bunch of awesome content. One of the best features for me was finding out what books Australian creatives love and have inspired their work+identity. There's also a handy, and beautifully illustrated guide to Australian plants, a tribute to Susan Sarandon, an editorial dedicated to one of my favourite places; bed and plenty of witty copy to keep this Frankie fan incredibly happy. 

American Vogue: The September issue, if ever there was one comes produced by Anna Wintour and her team. This issue clocking in at around 600 pages, a good hundred or so are ads FYI, commemorates their 125th anniversary. It's covered by Jennifer Lawrence in a series of images, the international edition seems to have the moody, Statue of Liberty backdrop on it. There is also this gold beauty above, by Inez and Vinoodh I believe as well as a couple of other choices. Iconic cover choice aside, there is also stories devoted to US Vogue trailblazers, Cindy Crawford being one but also current favourites like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. It's definitely more of a visual magazine to flick through rather than read, at least the September issue seems to be more about photos than anything else. Like a grown-up children's book for fashion lovers.

Glamour UK: My reaction to this cover, cheekily out of shot was "Yassss Blake/Serena/Bridget". Extremely uncool but justified. This is their honesty issue, timely given the current state of the world. As always, it is packed with inspiring content, fashion and wardrobe ideas aplenty and some of the best beauty pages around. A++ worth grabbing when you see it in the supermarket or newsagents. 

Teen Vogue: This time of year, well October actually signals the arrival of Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood issue. Due to Teen Vogue's revamp though it has been reframed as the Icons issue and is covered by; Amandla Stenberg, Millie Bobby Brown (ELEVEN *insert waffle emojis and heart eyes here*) and Kaia Gerber (aka Cindy Crawford 2.0). One of my favourite features was a column by Lauren Duca about why we can care about politics and fashion and not be slammed for it but I also enjoyed Millie's interview with Drew Barrymore as well as the editorial featuring up and coming acting talent as well as sporting stars too. 

-Have you read any of these magazines? Which will you be adding to your lust list?

So you've left your shopping to the last minute and don't necessarily want to brave the shops? I feel you and hope to lead a mall-less existence for the next week or so. Today wraps up my gift guide series with some ideas for gifts you can access online fairly easily. Sure they might not arrive for Christmas Day but it'll give you or the receiver something to look forward to. A lot of these items are from independent sellers because there's some very talented people who deserve support and to have their work shown. That and I am all for shopping local. Anyway, last minute gift ideas...

something to say x frankie magazine // Unfortunately this book is not available to buy in NZ but it can be bought online or in the shops if you are in Australia. Something To Say is a collection of stories from the first twelve years of frankie mag. It really is the perfect volume of the best of the best and contains some really fantastic, humorous and enlightening writing. It is well worth the purchase.

Constellation Moon Phase enamel pin x Oh No Rachio // Pins seem to have made a bit of a comeback in 2016 and many of the ones on my lust-list have come from Oh No Rachio's Etsy store. I own this Constellation Phase pin and most days it lives on my trusty denim jacket where I can marvel at its dazzling-ness, as can passersby. She also has some adorable succulent pins in her shop as well that are worth having a look at. 

Cup and Saucer: Svenska Hem x Kikki K, not pictured // After spying this on Maria's Instagram I thought how gorgeous this would be as a gift for Christmas. In fact, I'm not going to lie, I would not mind owning this myself. It's the perfect gift for the tea or coffee enthusiast in your life, and it's translucent and adorned with gold foil dots. What more could you want?

Herb Garden Calendar x Rifle Paper Co // If you are in Wellington, pop in store to buy this from Madame Fancy Pants. Otherwise it is available online. This is the calendar I bought for myself and if you haven't seen my Instagram, go look at this. I'm absolutely smitten with it and can't wait to hang it on my wall. Rifle Paper Co. also have a stunning Alice in Wonderland desk calendar and this one which is a simpler variation on the one I have.

Netflix // If you have a friend who loves Netflix or wants to start a subscription, perhaps you could make up a little voucher saying that you'll pay for a couple of month's worth of their subscription? It's a simple idea but is sure to be appreciated. I know something like this would make me so happy.

Floral Weekly Planner x Papio Press // Desk planners are a lifesaver, especially if they like being able to see at a glance what their week is looking like. This floral one is gorgeous and is bound to brighten up any desk it sits atop. I love the handy notes column too-it's perfect for jotting down phone numbers, train times and the like. 

Copper Tipped Ring Cone x Fox and Lilly // Another of those items I think I will end up getting myself. As someone who wears a lot of rings and finds standard jewelry holders to be a bit of an eyesore, this is right up my street. It is a bit quirky but if you know someone who wears a lot of rings then I think they'd love this.

Framed Cards or Prints, not pictured // Something as simple as a well designed card or a print framed can be very special to receive and gift. You don't need to go all out for frames. I usually get mine from Kmart and they're definitely no more than $12 maximum. A lot of Etsy sellers even have prints available as digital downloads so you can get them printed out, often at a cheaper cost and then frame them up for the receiver. Some of my favourites are from Oh Gosh Cindy. Rifle Paper Co and the Megan Hess for Disney cards look stunning framed as well. 

-What are your last minute gift recommendations?

The one with the laughs, the stories and the novel that's getting a lot of attention....

I'm back, and while I did take a little bit of a blogging break, as per usual I ended up missing it too much so I returned here earlier than I expected. Maybe I will make like Anna and take the odd break or two from posting in 2016 but we shall see. On Saturday amid a humid haze I made my return to filming. For all you curious folk who like to know what people got for Christmas, this one's bound to keep you happy. Oh and apologies for my nearly naked face. I had a smidgen of makeup on but couldn't be bothered going the whole nine yards. More so when it was just going to disappear off my face. Anyway, the video is below. Enjoy! x

'Tis the season for more reading, and gifting of course, but you didn't need me to tell you that. I've done a couple of beauty gift posts but today I thought I'd bring it back to the books. Unless you're buying for someone who is really against the idea of reading, I feel like they're not the sort of gift you can go wrong with. Provided you have a general grasp of someone's tastes you should be safe with them. To make things extra easy for you, I've curated some of my book recommendations to suit a range of people. From foodies to fashionistas, we have you covered...

For the fashionista: The Sartorialist X by Scott Schuman*-Many a fashion savvy individual will be familiar with the original street style blog, The Sartorialist. Scott Schuman's released a number of books now collating his photographs into something you can hold and admire. This is the kind of book that's perfect for the coffee table, as a conversation starter or just something to flick through for outfit inspiration. 

For the comedy lover+memoir enthusiast: Yes Please by Amy Poehler-I'm the sort of person who loves memoirs and autobiographies and if I put in book requests at Christmastime, there's usually bound to be at least one of these on the list. Smart Girls co-founder and all round awesome woman Amy Poehler's memoir is brilliant. It's hilarious, inspiring and such a fun read. 

For the girl who likes a bit of everything: Frankie Magazine, issue sixty nine-A bundle of their favourite magazines would no doubt go down a treat, but this issue of Frankie is even more of a present. As well as all the usual Frankie brilliance, you get a bunch of rad extras like notepaper, postcards, gift tags and two calendars to tear out and make your wall look extra snazzy. It's like the present that keeps on giving. 

For the foodie: Bluebells Cakery: Sweet & Savoury by Karla Goodwin*-Bluebells Cakery is a very well-loved spot here in Auckland, more so now that they have two cakeries for people to enjoy. Karla's just released this new cookbook in time for Christmas. Combining some of their most-loved items and original new recipes from their sweet and savoury menus. As well as recipes for the amazing cakes Bluebells are known for, you'll also find tasty treats like lollipops containing edible flowers and even some brunch options. If they love cooking or making an abundance of sweet treats, they're bound to love this.

For the beauty lover: Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes-I feel like a lot of beauty books are more on the lacklustre side of things, but if there's one book that's the total opposite of that, it's this one. Packed with all the information you could ever want from a beauty book, as well as some no-nonsense advice, it's one book every beauty enthusiast needs in their life.

For the beauty, fashion and style icon: Love Style Life by Garance Dore*-Something that combines the best of all worlds is Garance Dore's book. Fashion, life, and beauty are just some of the topics in the mix. It's witty and brilliantly written. She'll devour every word of it.

For the well-read: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 150th Anniversary Puffin in Bloom Edition-This book is just beautiful and whether you're buying for an Alice fan, or a literature lover, this is such a gorgeous gift.  It's illustrated by Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co so you know it's going to be stunning. It'd even be a lovely book to read with the younger people in your life too.

For the girl (or guy) who wants to rule the world: Rookie Yearbook Four-So maybe world domination is a bit extreme for Rookie but run with it guys. The fourth yearbook from Rookie recently launched and it's a good'un. This is the book you want to take away with you to the beach for some Summer reading poolside and some inspiration to see you through into 2016. There's even some rad, offline bonus content in there from the likes of Lorde, Florence Welch and more.

-What books would you gift someone for Christmas?

*PR Sample

September symbolises the changing of the seasons and also one of the most important months on the fashion magazine calendar. September issues are hotly anticipated, not only for their cover stars and number of pages. It's seen as a time for reinvention, inspiration and a clean slate. Hence it is dubbed 'the January' in fashion. American Vogue is notorious for their extremely hefty September issues, this year's has 800 plus pages alone. Today though I wanted to focus on September issues that I've picked up, both within fashion and outside of it. One of the first blogs I read, Girlwithasatchel used to do this most months with magazines so I thought I'd put my spin on it..

British Vogue, September issue-All hail British Vogue for regularly putting kickass women on their covers. Seriously, I can't think of a muse of mine that's not been on their covers and as a result on my bookshelf. Covers and Emma Watson appreciating aside, British Vogue is still my favourite of all the Vogues. There's always the perfect balance of inspiring editorials and insightful stories. Their beauty pages are pretty top notch too if that's your kind of thing.

Frankie Magazine, issue 67-Frankie have seriously been on top of their cover game this year and this one is hands down my favourite. This issue also has a couple of bonuses in there, one of two collectible art prints (mine is on my pinboard ) and also their first inclusion of fiction stories. There's also a flower village aka heaven, a lady who makes books by hand, flatmates and whether their situation is really like Jess Day's and more.

Fashion Quarterly, Spring 2015-How dreamy is this cover? Antonia Prebble+floral walls=perfection. Fashion Quarterly mightn't be as accessible overseas but if you're ever passing through NZ and want a glimpse into our fashion culture and trends, I highly recommend you grab a copy. As the cover boldly states, this month's issue is about all things film. There's interviews with costume designers from some of our most iconic moments on screen, a really rad Royal Tenenbaums inspired editorial, a brilliant glossary for all the key beauty terms of the moment (strobing anyone?) and a whole heap of fashiony goodness. 

Teen Vogue, September 2015-My copy of Teen Vogue's September issue arrived on Monday so I've not really had a proper chance to look through it yet. How good is that cover though? Ansel Elgort *swoon*. There's an amazing beauty editorial inside with Lisa Eldridge, Suki and Imogen Waterhouse, a look at the transgender community and of course a plethora of Fall fashion trends to incorporate. The September issue's of Teen Vogue are usually good but I feel like their October issues, the Young Hollywood ones tend to stand out that little bit more.

Collective magazine, issue 24-So this is technically not a September issue but it's available in New Zealand for most of the month so I'm including it here. There's something about Collective that just makes you want to go out and do amazing things. It helps that there's a tonne of inspiring interviews and stories throughout, but those words of wisdom on paper really up the motivational ante. If you're a bit of a design buff, the whole magazine is designed really well and there's plenty of striking visuals throughout. Now this one is a bit of a mission to find here in NZ but if you can get yourself a copy, buy it. 

*What magazines have you read and enjoyed recently?

This may be dejavu but to know me is to know I am obsessed with magazines. In fact, I can scarcely remember a time when that hasn't been the case. In all honesty, I don't buy as many as I used to but I still read a lot, whether it's my own or someone else's. Today I've rounded up some of my old favourites, a new discovery and a rediscovery for you in one, not-so-glossy package...

Yen-When I first started reading Yen it was relatively new and like most publications it took a little bit of time to find its footing. Now it has and it's become one of my favourite magazines. For anyone who likes reading about creative pursuits and culture, you'll probably enjoy this one. They always include a travel section which is worth having a look at as well. 

Collective-Side note: I can't work out if this magazine is called Collective or Renegade Collective. Anyway, I found this magazine last week in Sydney airport and as it was one I'd not seen before I decided to buy it. Apparently this is available in New Zealand though, I'm just not sure where exactly. It's described as "the magazine for following your dreams" and it certainly is inspiring, with the odd inspirational quote scattered throughout. This month's issue has an interview with Anna Kendrick as well and plenty of dreamy photography.

Frankie-You probably know by now about my longtime love for Frankie so I won't harp on too much. I haven't actually had time to read the latest issue yet. There's stories about glitter, a teeny tiny house in Christchurch, why Mondays really do suck and more. There's also the usual calendar/poster inside which you can stick on the wall or reuse as wrapping paper. Frankie is best enjoyed over a cup of tea and a delicious treat so add this to your Saturday morning ritual.

Allure-To be honest I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this magazine. It's crammed with quite a few adverts which I find off-putting but given it's about makeup, sometimes it is nice to pick up. It's a great one to discover upcoming beauty products, particularly from the drugstore. The March issue (yep, we're that far behind in lil' ol NZ) has a stunning editorial with Kendall Jenner as well. There's even a cameo from Marcel, the monkey on Friends. This magazine's definitely one for the true beauty obsessive so if you love makeup and skincare you'll probably enjoy this one.

-Have you read any of these magazines before? Which magazines do you read and like?

'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. 

I'm back with another little Christmas Gift Guide for y'all today. Now this was meant to be a video but life got in the way. I'll spare you the details but these are all gifts I think would be great for your non-beauty loving friends. They're all things I'd love to receive too. Obviously it's what on the inside that counts but the outside is just as important, especially at Christmas! I've also rounded up some of my favourite gift wrapping bits into this post. You may notice a recurring colour theme...

Title credits go to the one and only Amelia, shopping extraordinaire. Recently I've been doing a bit of non-beauty shopping so I thought I'd round it all up into one neat little post for you today. There's art, that magazine I never stop raving about and one lone lip product...

Bath and Body Works 'Pink Lemonade Pound Cake' Mason Jar Candle, purchased from eBay-Pink lemonade is one of my all-time favourite drinks so it seems almost inevitable really that I'd like this candle. It smells amazing! The scent is like a mix of lemon sponge cake with a hint of sweetness, perhaps even grapefruit-esque notes too. The scents linger for hours after as well. I've still been able to get a whiff of this after replacing the lid on this candle. 

Elephant and Bird 'Dream Believer' Pillowcase, not pictured-Does anyone know how hard pillowcases that aren't attached to pillows are to photograph? Anyway, I just lurve this and I loved this stall at the fair. Luckily you can buy from them online so if anything takes your fancy you can go ahead and shop. 

Frankie Magazine, Issue 60-Frankie is like an old and loyal friend for me. It never disappoints me and I can spend hours getting lost in its pages. In fact, it's one of my favourite things to pack in my bag on long train trips. This issue has been one of my favourites recently. The floral and art prints inside are both beauts. If you're in Australia or New Zealand, get your hands on this one. 

YSL Baby Doll 'Kiss and Blush' in #01-I picked this little number up in a blog sale recently and I love it. The colour reminds me a bit of the new Bourjois Velvet Lipstick in Pink Pong. A vibrant fuschia, this liquid lipstick is so easy to apply which has to be down to the spoon-shaped applicator. The colour itself dries down to a satin finish and is so long wearing. It's not drying in the slightest and while the colour does wear off eventually, touch ups aren't essential as you're left with a gorgeous stain on the lips. 

Broken Bits Clay Hearts, purchased from the Auckland Art and Craft Fair-There doesn't seem to be an online store for this seller, but she does have a Facebook page and travels around various Auckland markets. You may have seen these cropping up in various blog pictures and that's because I think they're so pretty. I can't wait to hang them up on my wall eventually. 

The Fault In Our Stars Print-Love. This is my favourite quote from the entire book although there are so many to love within its pages. I'm not gonna lie, the mint green background and old school typeface were both big drawcards too. 

-Have you had any particularly spendy moments recently? What did you splurge on?

*I hope everyone's having an amazing week. I currently have some kind of cold virus which isn't ideal but there's not much I can really do about that. What else..oh I saw Jersey Boys at the cinema on Tuesday. It was actually really good. I do have a much softer spot for the musical though but I still loved it regardless. Blog-wise I've been slowly updating the pages and other bits and pieces to match my new template. There's a disclaimer page down the bottom and now I have Disqus installed so commenting should no longer be an issue. Have a fabulous Thursday! xx