Showing posts with label Muji. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muji. Show all posts
1/03/2019
Five Things: January
Hello! Happy New Year. I hope 2019 is a year of good vibes and fun. Today we have five things for January. It's summery, imaginative and a little New Year-y...
Mary Poppins Returns: Oh my goodness. I LOVED this beyond words. Mary Poppins fills a personal, nostalgic corner of my heart and it just makes me so indescribably happy. The sequel with Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda buzzed with the same magic and wonder as the 1964 film. There are a lot of whimsical nods to its predecessor which made me emotional, naturally. It is wonderful and if you want something to fuel your inner child and imaginative streak, this is the ticket.
Back To Journalling: I really let my daily writing fall to the wayside in the latter part of 2018. Subsequently, I have very scattered musings to look back on as a result. I'm determined to get back into writing daily because it is such a brilliant tonic. I do love it as a means of unwinding at the end of the day. This year I am using a Muji notebook as my main journal, as well as this gratitude journal from Kikki K.
The Water Cure: I cannot stop thinking about this book. I read The Water Cure x Sophie Mackintosh in the bath amidst turquoise waters c/o bath bombs, on a sunlit lawn, first thing in the morning with coffee, in rooms with friends reading the same book. Much like the evocative cover, it made me think of hazy mornings, blue, salt and gauze. It made me want to wear something sheer and traipse across sand, feeling the grit and the velvety waves. It conjured vibes of The Tempest and also The Virgin Suicides. Sisters devoted to one another, trapped yet powerful. Sophie Mackintosh's writing is a visual feast and I loved escaping in to this hauntingly beautiful prose. I'm already quietly assessing when I can read it again.
Round Towels: A random inclusion sure but one of my friends bought me one for Christmas and I am ob-sessed with it. For some reason these towels can get expensive but you can find them more affordably at Cotton On. Anyway, I love mine for chilling in the sun with books and music. Ok and maybe for dozing off. They'd be great for the beach and picnics+poolside too. The perfect Summer companion.
Decor Dreams: New year, sorta new decor. This year, as well as wanting to do some much-needed tech upgrades, I want to invest in a new bookshelf. I also want to mix up the prints on my wall and just make things a bit more cohesive and 'me'. I've already given my wardrobe a major declutter as well which gave me some more storage space. This point is probably of interest to nobody but because I like to get thrifty with decor, it may result in some blog posts.
-I hope you are all enjoying the early days of January so far. Stay tuned for a couple of yearly wrap-up posts coming next week! xx
10/01/2018
The Melbourne Stationery Buys
To know me is to know I am a stationery fiend. I was that kid who always had way too many pens in various colours at school and who decorated all their things. I still love stationery so when I went to Melbourne, home of all things creative and a bit of a shopping heaven, well I found some gems. If you're not into stationery and paper-y bits, you're probably going to find this post a bit nerdy. If however paper and pens and cards excite you, you are safe here. Keep reading...
Kikki K diaries have been my go-to for years so 2019 was hardly going to be an exception. This year I've opted for the weekly patterned diary. I used to be a daily diary kinda lady but I prefer the weekly layouts so I can have my entire weeks laid out. So design was a key factor here and I really love the simplicity and easy to navigate interface of this diary too. Also pictured here are some bits from Milligram. I have Tara to thank for introducing me to this heaven.Tucked away in Melbourne Central, and also online for those of us who want to peruse the stationery, it is a dream. Annoyingly I cannot remember where that blue pen is from but I know the notepad is this one. As a bit of a list lover, this is going to come in majorly handy. I am always scribbling notes down.
To know me is to know that I love me a good card. My gosh I had to roll out some major willpower when I was away. There were too many gorgeous cards in Melbourne. Not a bad thing by any means but I had to really stop myself. I should've written down brand names before I went away housesitting but I know the two cards closest to the left were by Australian makers. How noice is that Kath and Kim themed one I picked up here along with that floral rainbow. The Katie Leamon beauty was another Milligram find. Side note; her cards and gift wrap are beautiful.
Last but by no means least, it wouldn't be a trip to Melbourne without a mandatory Muji excursion. I mean, come on. It'd be rude not to. I mainly grabbed all the 0.38 pens, in black of course. Some navy ones may have come home too. The mini notebooks I got for my desk at work, I have a grey one-not pictured which lives in my bag+on my desk most days. The larger black one in the background is going to be my next journal, when I eventually finish off my current one. I hope Auckland gets Muji someday.
-So that's all the stationery bits I nabbed in Melbourne. I also grabbed some pieces for friends and family but they're in their new respective homes. Mainly Muji pens, cards and the rest. I hope you enjoyed this blog post and as always I apologise for the spontaneous blogging. I am determined to reinstate some semblance of a schedule this month-wish me luck!
4/24/2018
April Favourites
It's April Favourites time! You'll notice the beauty offerings are slim, that's because I've gone many a day this month with no makeup. Honestly though I've not really changed things up a bunch anyway so most of the products I am using+loving are ones that have appeared around these parts many a time already. The newbies though, they're top notch. We also have a book I loved, an album I've had on repeat all month and even some pens. April Favourites, let's go...**
Velvet Teddy x MAC: This lippy made an appearance in my January Favourites too. Actually this bb one is nearly all used up so I may need to think about investing in the full-sized version sometime soon. I'm not sure what to say about this colour other than it's a one-swipe, long lasting wonder. I know we're spoilt for choice when it comes to lipsticks nowadays. Formulas, prices, shades and the rest but I still think MAC's lipsticks are among the best.
Molten Bronze x Bobbi Brown: I've tried a few different things from Bobbi Brown over the years and for the most part have liked them. They have a cute little boutique, one of the first in Australasia I believe, right near where the train station is and I saw these and was like *magpie eyes*. Anyway, they've recently launched these long-wear sparkle sticks. Formula-wise they remind me a lot of the Marc Jacobs Beauty twinkle pop eyeshadow sticks. When you apply these you feel a cooling sensation as they adhere to the lids. The colours are beautiful and perfect for everyday wear. I love the ease and convenience of eyeshadow crayons too.
L'Eau Rosee x Miu Miu*: I've been cramming this in my bag and carting it all over the place all month because I'm that obsessed with it. I mean yes, the design is a winner but the fragrance itself is floral and fresh and easy to layer. I cannot get enough. NZ readers-you can find this in select department stores, I know Smith & Caughey's here in Auckland have it.
Secrets For The Mad x Dodie Clark: Y'know when a book comes along at the perfect time? This would be the book for April. I borrowed it from the library but it's on my wishlist because it's something I know I will want to refer back to. It's full with Dodie's brilliant writing and words and stories and wisdom and art and apparently I've forgotten how to write cohesive sentences. In seriousness, just read it if you've been meaning to. It's a gem.
Lust For Life x Lana Del Rey: Going back through my diary the other day, I stumbled upon an entry from January where I declared 2018 the year of Lana. So prophetic *ahem*. Anyway, I love this album and I like to play it back-to-back with Honeymoon. The titular song is one of my favourites but I also love Beautiful People, Beautiful Problems w/ Stevie Nicks, Tomorrow Never Came w/ Sean Lennon and Groupie Love w/ ASAP Rocky. The whole thing tho is a good time.
0.38 Gel Ink Pens x Muji: Another product I'm sure I've mentioned here before. I feel like it's a bit nerdy to fangirl over pens but y'know what, these are my favourite and I am unapologetic in my enthusiasm for them. Thankfully one of my stationery-loving friends keeps me well stocked. If you're near a Muji and haven't tried these ones. Do it. They make your writing look all spidery and are a dream to write with.
-What have you liked during April?
*PR Sample
**Idk, just run with it.
6/28/2017
June Favourites
June has vanished just like that and it's been an..interesting month for lack of a better word. Today though, it's time to talk about what I loved in June because there were a few products and miscellaneous bits 'n pieces that definitely did stand out.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer: NARS' Radiant Creamy Concealer is my go-to and I've been through countless tubes of it now. I love the stuff. Lately when I've had a bit more time on my hands for makeup or want to quickly touch up with concealer, it's this I've been reaching for. I have the shade Creme Brulee, the third lightest and find it the perfect match. It's pretty heavy duty without being too thick so I like it for blemish concealing and also for redness. My favourite way to apply it is with the detailer brush x Real Techniques for pinpoint concealing a la Lisa Eldridge. I highly rate the NARS concealers if you're after a newbie.
The People vs OJ Simpson: Everyone is probably over hearing me wax lyrical on this show now. I think this is possibly the third post it's made its way into this month now, whoops. Having been way too young to remember the OJ Simpson trial the first time around, I found this so fascinating. It was particularly telling of the way media world, celebrity culture and the like were headed. The way in which Marcia Clark, played by Sarah Paulson was depicted by the media and treated despite being the head prosecutor was quite disgusting for lack of a better word. The comments made to her by the judge and members of the defense were unbelievable and as Paulson put it, wouldn't have been made to a male lawyer. The way it looks at sexism and the way media and the court of law in this case can skew perceptions really appealed to me. Such a brilliant show.
Balm Dotcom x Glossier: The hype with this one is real. Right on cue my lips have turned to their reliable, mosaic-y selves now it's Winter. Tried to make that description as non-graphic as possible for you all. This though is a saving grace. I have the Coconut Balm Dotcom which smells delightful, although it definitely gives me a caramel popcorn vibe which doesn't really matter because I like it. It's a multi-use product so while many people probably use it as a lip balm, I also love to apply it on my eyelids. Glossy lids without the tacky texture? Yes please. I've also been using it where I have dryness on my hands and around my fingers as well. If you make an order from Glossier you need to get yourself one of these too. Oh and a quick PSA, this is how I shop Glossier.
Antipodes Moisture Boost Natural Lipstick* in Queenstown Hot Chocolate: Antipodes has been a staple of my skincare routine in the past but at the moment it's their lipsticks I am particularly taken by. This shade has been my most-used, aptly named Queenstown Hot Chocolate for it's brown based, dusky pink properties. The satiny formula is so comfortable to wear on the lips and it's the kind of colour that will stick around. I also love the shade South Pacific Coral if you're after something a bit more vibrant.
British Vogue, April 2017: So I've been reading my issues of British Vogue out of order for reasons unknown. Anyway, I read the April issue this month and loved some of the articles so I wanted to mention them here. The cover story with Kate Moss about her modeling agency was particularly insightful and I loved hearing what she had to say about taking a more behind the scenes role. There was also a particularly brilliant one called Single Minded by Bella Mackie. It looked at why not having a partner in your thirties isn't necessarily a sign of inadequacy and I just loved the positivity it shined on the perks of flying solo. I love British Vogue though and highly rate it if you want a brilliant fashion magazine, combining journalism with editorial and arts+culture.
Journalling: In the last few weeks I've been putting pen to paper again and just writing down my thoughts and musings. It's so therapeutic but also it's a nice little sentimental thing to look back on. I'm particularly loving using my Muji notebook to write down five good things from each day. It's so easy to forget the good and the smaller details that are actually really quite rad. Highly recommend it if you want to end your day on a more positive note.
-What have you loved during June?
*PR Sample
1/19/2017
Fine Paper Goods
If you are a Parks and Rec fan, I hope you read that title in your best Donna Meagle voice. Treat yo'self 2017, am I right? Today I want to talk about one of my favourite things, paper goods. Stationery from niche and not-so-niche places. Notebooks, pens and cards for writing and creating. There's just something so magic about putting pen to paper. Ironic, given this is being typed right now but you'd all struggle to read my slightly crazy handwriting. Anyway, here are the brands and designers you need to bookmark if like me, stationery makes your heart sing...
Muji-Ahh Muji, when I visited you were packed with a lot of sweaty betties on a 30 degree Melbourne day. It was hot but we were all a determined bunch and the heat was worth it to peruse your shelves of highly covetable, useful items. My friend and fellow stationery enabler Mandy bought me back some of their 0.38 Gel Ink Pens and ballpoint pens recently so I am all set in the writing instrument department. These come in an array of colours and are such a treat to use. Like everything Muji does they are well designed. Their notebooks are fantastic too and are cheap and cheerful, especially if you get stamp-happy in store.
Papio Press-I can't take credit for this find, it was after spying them in one of Liv's gift guides that I learnt of their brilliance. Papio Press is the brainchild of husband+wife team Harry and Zanna. They are committed to supporting local businesses so all their products are made in the UK. They're also fans of green business practice so they use recycled paper and even biodegradable plastic. Their work is just beautiful and I will definitely be keeping them in mind for gifts and things this year. Weekly planners are my favourite because they let me see what I have to do each day and what is coming up across the week. I'm not an iCal person so this is perfect for me. I nabbed this floral one for myself but they also have some beautiful designs featuring red pandas, foxes or sloths if they take your fancy.
Ruby-While they may be recognised for their beautiful clothes, Ruby also have a select range of homeware and stationery that they also produce. For Christmas I received their 2017 diary from Evelyn and Carolyn over at FashioNZ. It is beautifully designed with floral motifs throughout. It even has monthly calendars you can scrawl on as well as pages for writing lists, notes and the like. This is my creative diary for 2017 and it's being well-used for planning blogging bits and pieces, as well as freelancing stories among other things.
Katie Housley Stationery-Another stationery brand which I believe was a blog find, I just cannot remember whose blog. Katie's designs are just beautiful and are so frame-worthy. Being handmade and just a little different they're the perfect thing to accompany gifts or send to your pals, just because. The cards I nabbed were all in the sale, my favourite being this bee card. I also love this birthday card and this hello flower card. Exquisite.
Daiso-Ahh Daiso, the haven of $3.50 delights and three for ten dollar treasures. Admittedly I don't really have a ton from Daiso but I love their notebooks. They're such good quality and the fact most of them have plain covers means you can customise them a bit as well if you so wish. They're not quite as good as Muji but they're a bit easier to get ahold of, in Auckland at least so I cannot complain.
-Do you have any stationery brands you particularly love? Give them a nod in the comments!
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