The beginning of the year has been a good month for favourites-new and old. From Summer must-haves, to earrings and the rest. Here's what I've been loving throughout January...

Self Tanning Foam  x Bondi Sands: I am a tanning NOVICE. I still make mistakes with it all the time but this product is a godsend. It's so quick and easy to use. It doesn't go streaky, it dries fast. I love it. Sure, I am not the best at applying it and give some of my friends great entertainment as a result. I am getting there though. If it makes my legs less 'translucent' then I am willing to persevere. 

Caramel Hydrating Lip Balm and Sugar Lip Polish x Fresh: I'm not sure if this heat or the matte lipsticks I seem to love are making my lips yuck*. This duo is setting about mending that though. I love this sugar scrub because it feels a lot gentler and is almost a touch balmy on the lips. The caramel balm though is the best! Not too heavy, or sticky and deliciously scented. It legit smells like butterscotch lollies and I LOVE it.

Florida x Lauren Groff: I really struggle with short story collections but lately I've found myself gravitating to them. Lauren Groff's collection, all set in Florida feature a host of flawed characters. As the unpredictable, heat-ridden, sometimes crocodile-laden landscape waxes and wanes around them, so too do their lives begin to unravel. With Groff's writing, you know that things are going to get grotesque but in a vivid, evocative way. I set myself the task of reading one story a day but oftentimes I'd find myself reaching to turn the pages on another story. Honorary mention for books this month: Winter** x Ali Smith, see my review here. 

Gold Earrings x Lovisa: Props to my friend Eve for the influencing here. Lately I've become kinda obsessed with gold earrings. These hoops are lush and I've been wearing them somewhat obsessively since buying them. Also on high rotation in the hoop side of things are my Hydrangea Ranger hoops, similar here. 

Caramel Melange Voyager Palette x Zoeva: Gosh dang Zoeva shadows are good. Like one swipe and you could be done levels of good. I love these shades. Paired with pressed glitter and lashings of liner and mascara. As JVN would say, "yass honey!"

Gratitude Journal x Kikki K: I'm sure gratitude journals are one of those things some people may find a little strange but I am all for them. Also for positivity in 2019. Anyway, this Kikki K one is designed so each day you write out three things you are grateful for. I am not going to lie, some days this comes more effortlessly than others. That being said I always make sure I do this each day, regardless of my mood, the day's events etc. Small steps but it's also a way to remember the smaller nuances of life you may otherwise forget. 

The Twenties Club: My go-to website for beauty, politics, fashion and basically, everything. If this twenty-something wants to read about it, Madeleine is bound to have an article already prepared for that. There's always fresh new things to read and I highly recommend you give her site a visit and subscribe to the newsletter whilst you are there.

-What have you loved during January?

*For lack of a better word.

**Review copy.

Another month bites the dust and just like that it's time for favourites to be reflected upon again. March has been a real ride but rather than dwell on that side of things, some good from this month: I walked 8.4 kms with a group of ladies+gents from my office at work for Round the Bays. It was a good time and I managed to complete it without complaints. Although the blisters the next day, you were not welcome. I read a lot. I wrote a lot-am still writing a lot, for myself and other places. Oh-and I got my blogging juice back. In truth this month I've struggled with the ol' blog so it was a relief to myself when I sat down and devised a posting schedule for April, without staring at blank paper for hours. Anyway, March Favourites and there's a real variety. Beverages, books, beauty, podcasts...the whole enchilada. *Props if you get that reference* 

-Bronze Eyeshadow: Bronze glittery eyeshadow is my makeup MVP. I've literally been gravitating towards this tone of eyeshadow alone all month. Probably spurred on by this makeup look. It could also be the slight Autumnal crispness to the air that is drawing me to these colours as well. There's no specific eyeshadow I've been reaching for over another but stand-outs have been this, this in the shade Twig and this palette.

-Rushower Dry Shampoo x Soap and Glory: This is good, inexpensive stuff. Hey-if it makes my hair smell good and kinda disguises the hair washing laziness, I am not going to complain. This mini can is cheaper than a takeaway coffee, where I frequent at least, and the larger can is only $7 so it's not going to set you back a lot. A++ would recommend.

-Oh Comely magazine: I have a lotta love for this independent British title. It's packed full with brilliant stories, imagery, women, books and just a whole bunch of goodness basically. Like my beloved frankie, it's released bimonthly and also like frankie, it's a magazine best savoured over several readings. As I'm a bit behind on magazine reading I had two issues of this to read this month and loved them both. Roll on April because another issue is released then. 

-The Fringe Of It Podcast: Sorry not sorry for mentioning this podcast again. Liv+Charlotte in a podcast=a whole lot of  brilliant banter and ideas. Each episode they talk about what they've been watching and buying and then they move into a themed discussion. The two most recent episodes have looked at getting out of a funk and style. The podcast is on a lil' break at the moment while Liv is in New Zealand(!!) but there's plenty to listen to while you wait if you need a catch up. 

-Lovisa Earrings: I like my celestial jewels, that's not new information for anyone. I've been wearing these ones a bunch recently, until I can fork out for something a bit fancier. Despite their appearance, they're surprisingly lightweight and I love 'em. If only for the fact it makes me feel like I'm channeling Stevie Nicks a bit whenever I wear them.

-The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath: This hefty tome has been carted everywhere with me. I'm still not finished and because I like to dip in and out of it, reading it will probably take a while. Sylvia's writing is so captivating and profound in many ways. She does like the odd grotesque metaphor which did take me a bit of getting used to. I wish I could quote something memorable from it but the one line staying with me right now is her aside about an ex's new girlfriend, in which she called them a "brilliant whore". In seriousness, I do have many passages underlined and will collate my thoughts about this book into something more cohesive when I do eventually finish it.

-Rekorderlig Elderflower & Lime Cider: First off, not sure how many youths are reading this blog *waves*, please drink responsibly. Everyone else, you need to try this cider. I had a glass post Round the Bays at The Glass Goose and it is divine. Not too sweet, not too bitter and mighty refreshing. Bold claim but this might be my favourite Rekorderlig flavour. In fact you can bet I'll be celebrating the end of the short working week with one of these tomorrow. 

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

Ever since I read an article by Jane Keltner de Valle about statement earrings in Teen Vogue, I've always remembered how much I liked them. Thankfully for now, earrings with a touch of drama seem to be here to stay. If you're like me and dress somewhat minimally, they are the perfect way to add some personality to your ensemble. Today I thought I'd showcase some of my favourite pairs. Side note: I highly recommend you check out Pigment Studio in particular. Shop local, support local artists and all that. Anyway, on with the earrings...

Brie Earrings x Pigment Studio: As soon as my pal Albertine posted these on her Instagram story, I demanded that she tell me as soon as they were available. They are even more exquisite in person and I'm not gonna lie, the temptation to get the other colour is there. They are extremely lightweight too and I love that she's used decent quality studs as well. They don't feel flimsy or breakable like some of the chainstore variants do. 

Assorted x Lovisa: Lovisa jewels are cheap yes but be cautious with what you buy. I've bought some earrings from them, on sale that have then broken. It is the cheaper ones that haven't held up though so maybe it's just a case of 'you get what you pay for'. On a more positive note, for budget-friendly earrings, Lovisa is my new go-to. Those celestial earrings in particular are my favourite. I love them. The tassels are also pretty fantastic as well. In fact, Lovisa are bringing it in the celestial themed, Stevie Nicks-vibe jewels department right now. If you're in NZ or Aus, you need to pay them a visit if bling like that floats your boat. 

-Where's your favourite place to find statement earrings?

Another month, another lineup of loves-from beauty to jewelry to that show I finally watched. February's favourites had the potential to be rather jam-packed but I condensed things down to the best of the bunch...

Maybelline Master Drama Nude Eyeliner in Rose Pearl and Brownie Glitz-After spying these in one of Alix's videos towards the end of last year, I made a mental note and filed them away. They were released earlier in the month as part of Maybelline's hefty launch in NZ. They seem to often release a ton of new products in one go rather than gradually. Anyway, these were buy one, get one half price at Farmers so I picked them up and oh my goodness. They are so lovely. Creamy, velvety, pigmented and budge-proof. I use the shade Brownie Glitz to line my lashes and Rose Pearl in the inner corner to highlight. Well worth the inexpensive price tag. 

Stranger Things-After much persuasion and convincing that this show would not scare me I watched all eight episodes in under a week. Part thriller, part horror, part homage to the classic eighties films like ET and of course Stephen King. This is so clever and adrenaline rush inducing in the best way. Winona Ryder is in it too which helps of course but honestly this is good. Just watch it if you're yet to see it.

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm-One of my friends gave me this mini tub of Omorovicza's cult cleanser and I love it. I've been using it when my skin's been a bit angrier and irritated this month  and not only does it leave things a lot less grimy, it also has my skin feeling so smooth the next day. It's a bit on the pricy side so I'd still reach for the Oskia cleansing gel over this one but for a quick skincare fix, it's kind of a lifesaver. 

Lovisa Celestial Silver Earrings-This month I really got back into wearing earrings, after spending ages thinking my piercings had closed up. This pair though have been on high rotation and I raced out the same day to get them after seeing this picture on Laura's Instagram. I'm kinda tempted to get the longer ones as well but I love these. Especially because they're much cheaper than some similar, more luxe ones I've been eyeing up. 

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Mont Blanc-A few years back this was my go-to foundation and I repurchased it in January after being displeased with the base I was using. Admittedly this colour is a tad too pale for me right now but I expect it will be matching me again in no time. It offers lightweight, buildable coverage and a flawless finish. If you have combination skin, this leans more on the satiny side of things so it's not too matte but not overly glowy either. Unlike Sheer Glow, it comes with a pump too. 

Simply Essential Brush Cleaning Pad*-If you're like me and find brush cleaning tedious, this is for you. You apply some brush cleaner to the pad, wet the brushes and then swirl them around the surface of the pad. I will say this is maybe a bit too small for larger brushes, like powder or bronzer but everything else comes up pretty clean quite quickly. 

Audiobooks-This month I've listened to two audiobooks; Lauren Graham's and Lena's and I've had some kind of epiphany. Audiobooks are actually kinda great. I did already know this, having listened to Enid Blyton's way back when but I haven't really appreciated them until I realised just how much I dislike the radio. That and how much Auckland's traffic sucks. They're the perfect distraction basically. Oh and they're entertaining. I think I'll stick to memoirs for now so if you have any great, read-by-author recs. for me, please let me know.

Modesty lipstick x MAC Cosmetics-After my somewhat ruthless makeup clear-out recently, I had enough products for two Back 2 MAC lipsticks. The first I chose was Modesty, which I was assured was pretty similar to Patisserie, another of my favourite MAC colours that I was getting rid of. It's not quite as glossy, which I like and has the perfect combination of pink and brown tones to complement my natural lip colour. If you're on the paler side of things, this is a beautiful nude.

-What have you loved during February?

*PR Sample