'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?

I am obviously biased but this gift guide may just be my favourite yet. This one is all about supporting the more niche businesses, with a focus on independent makers and sellers. It's a mix of everything because when it comes to indie sellers we are spoilt for choice. Also, the title is reference to a quote I saw online once, "that girl is an indie cindy." no idea who said it but it resonates so anyway. Gift guide incoming...

September is here which means it's time to shine the light on five, very different things. There's some from around the web, a show which in many ways was somewhat ahead of its time and a book I really ended up loving. 

Too Much & Not The Mood: After admittedly taking a little while to get into the mood with this book, I was thoroughly rewarded. Structured in autobiographical essay form, but in a more free flowing, spontaneous kind of way. Too Much & Not The Mood looks at the nuances and smaller details that make up the moments that ultimately shape our lives. I've underlined and flagged passages to refer back to later on. "She is turning off the lights and climbing into her head because that's usually the move." is one extract that will stay with me for a while but the whole book is poetic and wondrous and lovely. 

Gossip Girl, Revisited: Your one and only source to the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite turns ten this year. Back in the day I was obsessed and it will always have a special place in my heart. The drama, the fashion, Chuck Bass. Anyway, it's on Netflix and while I've been housesitting I decided to start watching it again and it still feels incredibly fresh. That drama is clearly ingrained in my memory. Some of the 00's styling choices don't hold up and admittedly some of the voiceovers are a little bit cringe but I still love it anyways. 

Lovely Rita: Please excuse the obscure-ish Beatles reference and cast your eyes on these shells for your earlobes. Aptly named the Rita Earrings. They're made by local talent Albertine Lello of Pigment Studio and are just beautiful. Whether you want to channel your inner mermaid or just want a nostalgic throwback to the times you went to the beach and held shells to your ears, they'll deliver. 

Turning Dreams Into Plans: What is it about new seasons that seems to inspire change and with that reinstate a sense of ambition and wonder? Brighter days perhaps? Thinking aloud here but I have a few dreams I really want to make a reality and in the latter quarter of the year I will be working my hardest to make them happen. The difficulty for me will be not letting myself get caught up in self critique and just allowing it to happen. Although if the last few weeks are anything to go by, apparently my new mantra is "it is what it is". Watch this space...

Thought Catalog: As a first year Uni kid decades ago* I stumbled upon Thought Catalog. It is home to longer articles and essays, many designed to make you feel a sense of comfort I guess but also provide some inspiration. Anyway, recently I've been revisiting it and realising just how brilliant it really is. 7 inspirational messages for when you feel stuck is a great place to start. I'm definitely going to be making more of an effort to visit this site now.

*Well not quite that long. As Lorelai would say "I'm being dramatic. It's what I do."

This article originally appeared on FashioNZ but I wanted to share it here with anyone who may have missed it. Okay, past tense taking over in five, four...

We love discovering talented young locals doing inspiring creative work. Albertine Lello, the one-woman band behind jewellery brand Pigment Studio is our latest discovery. We love her innovative, simple and incredibly versatile pieces. Recently I got in touch with Albertine to find out more about Pigment Studio and where her inspiration comes from.

How did you come up with the idea for Pigment Studio? -The idea to create Pigment Studio was kind of the result of messing around with making a few items of jewellery. Initially I was just selling my pieces through Instagram, but eventually I was getting quite a few orders so I decided to make an actual online store to facilitate the selling process. Pigment Studio is also the name of my blog, which is an amalgamation of some of my interests including skincare, beauty, fashion, etc. 

Who is the Pigment Studio woman? -I like to think that she is someone who appreciates unique and handcrafted pieces, someone who is forward thinking and isn't afraid to go against the grain.

What is your favourite thing about creating unique jewellery? -I love being able to create pieces of art that people can wear! It's a form of art that you can touch and interact with, which is really awesome!

Who would your dream collaboration be with? What would you create? -Hmm...that's a really difficult one because I have so many people/brands I'd love to collaborate with! One of the people I can think of at the moment is Solange Knowles. I love her music and her general vibe and aesthetic, so I think she'd be a really awesome lady to work with. If I had the chance to create a line with her, I'd be so down to design a bunch of cool dangly earrings and maybe some contemporary bangles.

Which of your pieces is your favourite to wear and why? -I really love the Tabitha's, not only because the design is really simple and contemporary, but also because they are named after my lovely cousin who I absolutely adore. The Tabitha earrings have a textured surface to them, which is created by an oyster shell I picked up one day, when Tabitha and I were at the beach. They will always be a special piece in the collection to me.

We love that you use materials like clay and wire in your pieces. Which is your favourite material to work with? -I love working with both wire and clay because they are complete opposites in terms of materiality. Wire is linear, hard and requires tools to manipulate, whereas clay is squishy and mould-able. Clay also means that I can experiment with more colorus and textures which is always fun!

What is in the pipeline for Pigment Studio? Can you give us any sneak peeks? -I have a couple of things in the works, which is very exciting! I am working on some new designs as well as some new collections...*cough necklaces and hair accessories cough*. I don't want to give too much away yet but all will be revealed soon!

Finally, if you could have one iconic women wear your pieces, who would it be and why? -Well as I mentioned before, Solange is an obvious choice, but two other women who I would love to see wearing my pieces are Grace Coddington and Lea Seydoux. I think these ladies are so gorgeous and talented at what they do. Is it obvious I have a hard time choosing just one person!?

*You can shop Albertine's pieces online here and also in Auckland at The Bread and Butter Letter and Auckland Art Gallery.

The first quarter of 2017 has just disappeared faster than the Easter chocolate post-Easter Sunday. Bring back the mini eggs please. Today we have six rather wondrous bits 'n bobs I've loved during April. An eye product, some intoxicating writing, comforting scents and more...

Lancome Hypnose Volume-A-Porter Mascara*: Since taking these images I've found a new mascara which may just rival this one but for the months of March+April, Lancome's mascara was my go-to. I think I've finally worked out what it is I like in a mascara, great volume. This one does not disappoint and it gives just the amount of drama I love. If you're after a luxe mascara, I highly rate Lancome's. Every one I have tried has been an instant hit with me.

The Body Shop 'Almond Milk and Honey' range*: Special nod to the hand and shower creams. I've already waxed lyrical on this scent and its comforting, enveloping yourself in fresh linen sensibilities. I just love it. It's so nourishing and exquisite on every level. The body scrub is definitely going to end up in my possession sooner rather than later.

Brie Earrings x Pigment Studio: There's so much to love about Albertine's gorgeous pieces, in fact I'm eyeing up some more earrings from her as I type. These Brie ones though are stunning. Lightweight and super comfortable to wear. The butterfly closure on them is super sturdy and secure so there's no risk of them going MIA. I feel like some of the cheaper earrings don't have the best fastenings. They're also unique and a bit of a conversation starter too. I love 'em.

Joan Didion: More specifically, Didion's writing. This month I've read both South and West: From A Notebook** (currently reading) and The Year of Magical Thinking. I don't know how to quite articulate how I feel about Didion's writing without sounding like an arrogant hipster. What I will say though is her writing is so intoxicatingly brilliant. Raw, real, full of emotion and colour and brilliance in every sense. 

Miu Miu Eau De Parfum*: For the last few months I've been alternating between this scent and YSL's Mon Paris* but I keep coming back to this fragrance. Intoxicating, alluring. The perfect marriage of woods and floral. Some people find this fragrance overpowering but compared to other scents I've tried I find it not so...intense. It's potent yes but in a subtler way. Like a Vodka Lime and Bitters. Why am I comparing perfume to drinks? Anyway, love this fragrance. Love its design and campaign imagery too. A++, would spritz again.

Thirteen Reasons Why: The show everybody is talking about. I also raced through the book a couple of weeks ago but the book is nowhere near as expansive as the show. That and a particularly major plot point is slightly tweaked. I'm not quite finished this show and I am aware there are a lot of opinions and debate around it so I'll save my two cents for another day. What I will say though is that this show is extremely important. Extremely, extremely important. I was on the receiving end of bullying in high school, not quite to the extent of Hannah's experience but damaging enough. I can say just how powerful and damning words in particular can be. That being said, if you're worried about how the show will affect you, look up the plot first and watch it at your discretion. It's emotionally taxing and not the show you should binge watch in one sitting. As I said though, I am glad this has been made. It needed doing. 

-What have you liked during April?

*PR Sample

**Review Copy

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?

The Body Shop are blessing us with a whole plethora of new launches at the moment, one of the latest and greatest being their new Expert Face Masks. You may have seen this post over on my Instagram, expressing my excitement at the personalised robe that accompanied these rather gorgeous face masks. It was an exciting time, naturally. It may surprise some of you but I have one face and there was no way I needed to keep all these face masks to myself, so I recruited Emma and Albertine to review some for me. I've also kept one aside for one of you lovely folk to win as well. Sharing the mask love and all that. So what did we think of these masks? Read on...

Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask*-Out of the two masks I reviewed this one is definitely my favourite. It's 100 per cent vegan, contains charcoal, green tea leaves and tea tree oil. If your skin's being a bit troublesome, mine's been acting out something chronic lately, you will love this. It dries down to an almost scrub-like texture and when you wipe it away, your skin gets a bit of an exfoliation as well. As it is more on the abrasive side, if your skin is a bit drier or maturer, this mask might not be the one for you. Combination and oily-skinned peeps though, you're going to like this one. 

British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask*-Hi guys, my name is Albertine and I run a blog+shop called Pigment Studio. Side note: Go buy one of Albertine's chokers. They're beautiful. Sophie very generously gave me this mask to try out and review for you, so without further ado, here are my thoughts on this mask. I've used this mask about four or five times now and I can safely say it is one of the best wash off masks I've ever used! Not only does it make my face feeling really nice and clean but it really helps to hydrate and plump up my skin, leaving it looking amazingly glowy and fresh. Don't get me wrong, I do love a good mud mask but on days where I feel like treating my skin, without the hassle of wiping dried mud off my face, I reach for this mask. It's really refreshing and perfect for a quick 10 minute skin treatment before applying makeup and heading out for the evening. It's equally as perfect for when you're having a bath and want to quickly slap on a face mask and relax. Lastly, but certainly not least of all, the smell of this mask is AMAZING! Honestly, if I haven't convinced you to buy this mask and try it out for yourself, please go to your nearest Body Shop and have a sniff of this product at the least. Trust me. The smell alone may convince you. 

Ethopian Honey Deep Nourishing Mask*-One common misconception with combination-oily skin like mine, #blessed *ahem*, is that your skin needs less moisture. Sometimes combination skin is actually dehydrated and as a result it produces more oil. Not ideal. Anyway, where I am going with that tangent is that this mask is perfect if your skin's feeling a little bit moisture deprived or in need of something a bit gentler than the charcoal mask I reviewed. It contains community trade honey, marula oil from Namibia and olive oil from Italy. The combination of oils and honey results in your skin feeling a lot smoother and softer after you've removed this mask. Again, it's the perfect one if your skin's a little bit angrier because it is so gentle and soothing. I love how nourishing it is too without feeling heavy or thick when applied.  

Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask*-Hi everyone, I'm Emma from emmaetc where I mainly write about beauty and books, two of my greatest loves. Using the Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polish Mask means you're on your way to achieving a smooth, fresh and brightened complexion. My skin often veers on the dull, clogged side, being very blemish prone, so this face mask seemed a great fit. When applied, it feels relaxing and quite cooling on the skin and should be left for around 5-10 minutes although I like leaving it for a little longer. This mask doesn't set or go hard at all really, and it's designed for you to be able to gently rub into the skin afterwards for exfoliating. I found it certainly polished my skin and made it appear brighter because the small exfoliating bits polished away any bumps or dead skin. I love these types of masks because my face feels super smooth afterwards as you get both the cleanse and exfoliation in there. Generally, I think this really makes a difference to the skin and makes makeup application easier in the morning. Paired with a glow-inducing cleanser, I definitely notice my skin looks brighter and it makes for the ultimate pamper session.  

Now for the exciting part, if you want to win a mask of your own, I am giving away one Amazonian Acai Energising Radiance Mask*. This giveaway will run until the 17th of October and I will announce the winner on my Facebook then. This giveaway is for my NZ readers only as the mask is in a glass container. I just don't want to risk sending it overseas and having it get smashed or wrecked in transit. To be in to win, enter through the Rafflecopter box below. Oh and if you're under 18, please check before you enter as I will need your address to send out the prize. Good luck!