Hello and Happy October! As per usual I am over here marvelling the passage of time, don't ever consider turning that in to a drinking game future Sophie, if you are reading. This week actually ended up being rather busy somehow-lotta spontaneous hangs and the rest so I am only just blogging now, on a Saturday night. It was that or the rugby and come on, you know what I'd rather be doing. So five things for October. We have some stationery, socks, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Patti and politics. Enjoy!

The Politician (Netflix): Where Ryan Murphy leads-theatrics and potential musical theatre numbers follow. And Jessica Lange, always Jessica Lange. Murphy's latest series, a Netflix exclusive focuses on a student body presidential election. Starring Ben Platt as Payton, the ambitious, extremely driven teen with Harvard and eventually the White House in his sights.  Lucy Boynton is also fantastic as Astrid Sloan, Payton's rival presidential candidate. The Politician also deals with topical issues for teenagers and young adults alike but never in a way that feels insensitive. As this is a Ryan Murphy show it brings the drama and hilarity in equal measure. I loved it. The costuming also didn't disappoint either. Where else will we see Gwyneth Paltrow in what can only be described as the kaftan to end all kaftans? 

Olivia Purvis x Papier: One of my favourite pen-pals and blogging ladies Olivia, has only gone and collaborated with stationery gems Papier on her own exclusive collection. Cue me internally squealing with delight. Liv loves her stationery so I KNEW it was going to be a golden combination. There's pastel pinks, burnt oranges, gingham, Liv's signature doodles. It is dreamy I tell ya. So if you are in need of some beautiful notecards, notebooks or a dishy new diary for 2019, head here. 

Patti Smith Newness: It's not really a secret to anyone that I lovelovelove Patti Smith's writing. Just like it's no secret to anyone I love Phoebe Waller-Bridge but I am getting ahead of myself. Patti has recently dropped two new books** full of her beautiful prose and imagery. Our shelves and minds are in for a treat. First up, we have Year of the Monkey. A rumination on 2016. She writes of stories and dreams. Recurring motifs. Facts melding with fiction. It is an exquisite slip of a book that will hypnotise you. She has also released Just Kids in an absolutely beautiful, illustrated format. Perfect for coffee tables or luxuriating over with said beverage in bed on Sunday mornings. The latter which I have been doing. I know some of you will balk at the mention of the festive season but both would make perfect gifts. 

BCFNZ x Glassons: October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Glassons have bought their designer collaborations back for a good cause. With a help from some of their friends like Twenty Seven Names and Shaaanxo to name a couple, they have released a range of scarves and socks. All proceeds go to the New Zealand Breast Cancer foundation and they are all super cute. My pick are these socks x Twenty Seven Names.

Fleabag & The Messy Woman: Could I go an entire post without mentioning PWB in some capacity? Probs not. Not even sorry about it. Madeleine perfectly articulates what it is about Fleabag and the messy woman that just makes them so endearing. As does Jia Tolentino in her essay about self-optimisation from Trick Mirror. Give Maddy's post a read here. 

My roundup of five things is back for June. This month we have; a couple of online reads, some things you should watch, a book you should read and some earrings you should send me on the sly in the post. All jokes aside on the last point, if I win Lotto or something-these are mine. 

The Royal Wedding According To Caitlin: "The prince who goes against all narratives of masculinity, and is brave enough to speak openly about his own emotional and mental problems, and revolutionises the way we think of a heavily stigmatised illness. The prince who rejects all the nice, blonde English girls he is supposed to marry and finds a woman from a different continent and culture, a woman who is emotionally stronger than him, brighter than him, more confident than him-and gives her, in front of a global audience of two billion people, his platform, to show her world." Caitlin Moran wrote a brilliant piece for the Times about the recent royal wedding. She expands on some of the many brilliant comments she made on Twitter but also provides a refreshing insight into the occasion. If you think you're sick about hearing about *that* wedding, I suggest you read this before giving the idea of it a rest.

Heartburn: Nora. Freakin'. Ephron. Why has it taken me so long to read her work? Much like the decadent, rich meals she describes in Heartburn, I devoured this over a few sittings. A story about marriage and betrayal, told with humour and candidness. This semi-autobiographical novel could easily have been bleak and depressing but Ephron tells it with such brilliance. I highly recommend you give this a read.

A Starfish For Your Ears: Showing my 00's girl movie history here but these earrings remind me of Aquamarine when starfish adorn the mermaid's ears. Well that's how I remember it at least. I like star motifs so naturally that extends to starfish. It helps of course that they're under Alexa's banner as well but yeah. I wouldn't be upset if these were in my life.

Should I Buy This?: I love these chatty blog posts that Leandra and Amelia do. That and I just like seeing what people are buying+thinking of buying. I prefer this format to people's hauls on YouTube, maybe because it's easier to digest? Anyway, I digress. While this post is seasonally off, for me at least, it's still giving me inspiration for next Summer and beyond.

What Olivia Vlogged: My girl Liv always uploads fantastic content but I've particularly loved her videos lately. I don't really tune in to anyone's channels anymore but Liv's is one I always visit. Her office tour in particular had me all *heart eyed emojis* but if you're planning a wedding and aren't sure where to start, her recent video showcasing Kikki K's bridal range is worth a watch too. If you get wedding guest anxiety like me, she has some tips in there too for guests of the couple.

In a further quest to share a bit more love to things I've watched on and offline, I've made this lil' list. Today we have a bit of everything; fashion, lifestyle and dark comedy. Get comfy, grab a coffee and maybe some seasonal chocolate if you're that way inclined...

Inside the Wardrobe of Rosalind Jana: Biased because Liv & Rosalind are two of my favourite Internet ladies and have rather stellar wardrobes. Regardless, I loved seeing inside the well-stocked wardrobe of Rosalind Jana. That lady knows her way around a thrift store and always looks fabulous. Don't believe me? Have a look at her Instagram. Interesting watching and I love the stories behind her clothes. 

Dealing & Living with Depression: Britney and I go way back. Actually I think this year it's seven years since we met. Crikey! Anyway, she is the reason I am here blogging at all because she made it seem so cool and fun and I wanted in. So thanks B. Anyway, she is creating some fantastic discussions on her blog and YouTube around mental health. They're candid and real. We need more content like this. I don't want to call her 'brave' or inspirational because sharing stories like this shouldn't feel exceptional, even though in the present day it kinda is. Anyway, freakin' brilliant person. Go watch. 

Moving Into A Studio Apartment: Tara, aka one half of the dynamic duo that is Shop Style Conquer studies fashion design in Melbourne (yass) and recently got her own studio apartment. She's still setting it up I think but I enjoyed seeing this glimpse into what it is like and of course that IKEA furniture. Side note: NZ, needs an IKEA and needed it yesterday. On that note, I recommend all of Tara and Ellen's videos. 

The Party: Not a YouTube video but a film. A dark comedy or dramedy as I believe they're referred to. It stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall and Patricia Clarkson among others. The whole film revolves around one evening at a dinner party and the secrets, off-the-cuff comments and drama that ensues. It's brilliantly written and well worth the watch.

-What have you watched+liked lately?

I suggest you settle in with a coffee or whatever beverage takes your fancy right now because it's going to be a long one. Myself and one of my Internet pen-pals Liv bonded over our love of many things; magazines, stationery, the She & Him Christmas album, just to name a few. It is the first item on that list though that inspired a lil' magazine exchange. I think this may be something we try to do more often because it was a fun time and who doesn't like getting snail mail? More so magazines from faraway places. Quite literally the other side of the world. Liv got all her picks for me spot on and I badly wanted to spend all day long reading them but as we all know, the magazine-reading experience is best savoured. Anyway, details....

Lionheart: Liv is actually one of Lionheart's contributors and I'd been meaning to track down a copy of this for ages but somehow never did. *taps wrist*. Firstly, I love the handbag friendly size of this one. I've been slipping it into my bag between notebooks and the book I'm reading. Yes I don't pack light and never will. It's crammed with inspirational, positive, uplifting articles, interviews, stories and ideas,. It is wonderfully designed and quite simply an exquisite publication. This issue has a feature on books too so that of course has me sold. There's florals aplenty too which I love.

Sunday Girl: Another magazine I'd heard about through Liv. I actually found the previous issue in, of all places, the newsagents near my work. The last issue felt a bit more zine-y and this feels a bit more grown up but still just as inspiring. In fact, seeing as some of you will be reading this on International Women's Day (March 8th), might I suggest you track down a copy of this. Published biannually, this 'fashion magazine for intellectual girls' doesn't scrimp on the important issues we women face and makes time for the fun vibrancy of fashion and art that we love. Case in point; these beautiful images you see above. 

Oh Comely: I bloomin' love Oh Comely and have made it my unofficial mission to get more people on the bandwagon this year. Fun fact; when I was in the UK almost eight years back, I stumbled upon an early edition of this in WH Smith. I no longer have it because it met a sad demise in a bathtub and I couldn't find another copy. Trust me, I tried to track one down. Anyway, flash forward several years and I'm back in love with this gem. This issue in particular is brilliant, with an essay on the art of dress up by Rosalind Jana, interviews with Scarlett Curtis and Dolly Alderton, the fantastic story you see above on self-love and kindness, their regular book feature which I always love and more. I'm seriously considering subscribing to this one, if only because my impatience at waiting months for the newsagents near my house to get their stock in frustrates me no end. That and I love it and wouldn't be upset to see it arriving in my mailbox. Ever. 

Cherry Bombe: Not sure if Liv saw my tweets contemplating buying Cherry Bombe but either way I kinda did a metaphorical dance when I say this included. When I worked in a magazine shop I always made a beeline for this and it is a beautiful magazine. Yes this is one for the foodies; the enthusiasts, the eaters and of course the makers. Lately I've really been getting back into making things; food and otherwise so I think this magazine will really inspire me in that regard. That and it's just beautiful design-wise. I've actually ordered the Cherry Bombe cookbook from the local library too so my fix can last a little longer.

-Thanks so much to Liv for these stunning magazines! I've already finished+loved Oh Comely but cannot wait to get into the others because I know I'm in for a treat. Let me know in the comments if you've read these and what you think of them.

March has arrived. So crazy! It's also the beginning of Autumn here in NZ although given how humid it still is, I can't see crisper temperatures on the horizon any time soon. This month for March we have a few digital things to enjoy, books because of course and another movie I'm smitten with. Enjoy.

The Fringe of It: So in case you're hiding under a rock. The lovely Liv and Charlotte have launched a podcast. The title is naturally inspired by their current matching face framers. Each episode is centred around a topic; so far they've looked at friendship, confidence+comparison and defining success+ambition. All incredibly relatable discussion points. They also talk about what they've been watching/reading and buying-particularly in the fashion realm. It's a good time and a new episode drops every Tuesday. It's my Wednesday morning ritual to listen to the new ones at work and I'm not going to lie, I love it. 

Lady Bird: Probably my most anticipated movie of 2018, so far, is this one. Over the weekend I went and saw it with Albertine. It did not disappoint. As I said on Twitter, the film perfectly captures that time when you're nearing the end of adolescence and are on the cusp of adulthood. The way you feel everything in extremes and the future looks unclear but hopeful. Saiorse Ronan is amazing as Christine aka 'Lady Bird' but Beanie Feldstein was a scene-stealer as her best friend Jules. I think this film is resonating so much because it is so relatable and everyone sees a bit of themselves in one or more of the characters. That and the cinematography is exquisite. A must-watch. 

The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath: I feel like not a lot of people know this so correct me if I am wrong, Unity Books in Auckland+Wellington have a loyalty card system. For every book you purchase, they'll write the amount & stamp your card. When you get ten, they average the total cost and you are able to redeem a book to that value. Anyway, long story short-I've been wanting to read this for ages and redeemed it with my credit. It's looking a bit battered because I have been carrying it everywhere. Underlining passages and losing myself in its pages. Plath's writing is brilliant. As this is over 700 pages I will be absorbed in it for a while but I don't mind because it is so captivating. 

Anyone Girl: To be honest, there's not a ton of NZ specific publications that I read and like but I'd been wanting to grab this for a while. It was while perusing the shelves in The Bread and Butter Letter that I found it again and snatched up a copy. Shamefully I am yet to read this (still) but this issue and all its contents look dreamy and wondrous. 

Anxiety: young women & this silent epidemic: Emma was one of the original bloggers here in NZ, writing under the Rag Pony moniker and she now writes for her own website among other places on and offline. Anyway, she has written this brilliant piece on anxiety and its impacts on young women. Please read it. As someone who personally still feels like these topics aren't always given enough airtime, I applaud those who write or speak about them and do it well. 

Hello, happy Monday and happy Auckland Writers Festival week. It's a good week for literary greatness. To kick off the week I'm back with a third installment of my bookish series that I share around these parts. As per usual we have an update on Oprah Sophie's Book Club, a digital recommendation, some things I've read and not discussed elsewhere and, for once, a very slim wishlist...

Book Club: Now for May and June I've selected two books to read and write up on. First we have The Cows* by Dawn O'Porter. Harper Collins very kindly sent me a copy (or two, more on that another time) but I was alway going to read and devour this regardless. I've set this one aside for May and haven't had much of a chance to read it yet. It is addicting and hilarious so far though. Next up we have Too Much and Not the Mood by Durga Chew-Bose which comes at the recommendation of Lena Dunham and Tavi Gevinson, among others. Side note: Tavi interviewed Durga for her ROOKIE podcast and it's worth a listen. I grabbed this when I was in Wellington last month and according to the blurb, Chew-Bose captures 'the inner restlessness that keeps her always on the brink of creative expression'. 

What Olivia Did: Some of you will probably know of Liv as a fashion and beauty extraordinaire but she also dabbles in the odd spot of book themed content. Today I am alerting you all to her channel because she does share the occasional book video and often a recommendation in her monthly favourites. Her Spring Reading List was particularly brilliant and had me jotting down names of the few books I had not read. We have similar taste apparently. You should also all subscribe to Liv because she is lovely and her videos are fantastic. She deserves so much more subscriber love.

Recently Read: / The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri. I will be honest, this was on my to-read list but I also could not resist this cover. Look at it! This is a short but idea-laden translation of a speech Lahiri gave in 2015, initially in Italian. It explores the nuances of book covers and how for a writer, they mark the tangibility of ideas and the finality of work. It also talks about the disconnect between cover designer and writer, especially because a lot of the time that side of things isn't a collaborative process.  / The End by Lemony Snicket. So I finally finished my re-read of A Series of Unfortunate Events. It's only taken a few years. Anyway, I did not remember this book or how the series 'ended' as such at all. The Baudelaires and Olaf wash up on an island, where everything ends up eventually. It's home to a tribe of sorts and an almost cornucopia-like array of objects. It also contains many a reference to The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Namely the characters being named after those from the play but also other subtler anecdotes. I really enjoyed it and I'll be curious to see how it is adapted for Netflix eventually.  / Archival issues of Lula magazine. See visual aid. When a follower of mine on Twitter got in touch with me to say she had some Lulas to rehome, I had to grab the issues she had from the Leith Clark era. They have not disappointed either, although I am only reading the Sweet Sixteen issue right now. I want to make their magic last. Also read this for more Lula greatness.

/ Tavi photographed for The Coveteur, see the full story here

The Wishlist of Re-Reads: Instead of making a wishlist of books this month, I want to give mentions to books I hope to revisit soon. / An Extraordinary Theory of Objects by Stephanie Lacava. Objects and their associations+significance has always been something that fascinates me. I pore over what my friends and family display in their homes for this reason. With my eyes people, I'm not a world class sleuth. Lacava's writing explores much of that and the anxieties and feelings of relocating to Paris after a childhood spent in the United States. It's been a while since I read this, maybe three or four years back and it was only after stumbling upon an interview in one of the Lulas I was sent that I remembered I own it.  / The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Secret societies, universities that conjure images of the halls of the school in Dead Poets Society, flawed young men and women. Perfection in other words. I bought this on a whim and was mesmerised by it like everyone who read it before me. It's about time for a reread.  / The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This book is one of my all time favourites so I tend to read it annually. At least once or twice actually. The way it is written as letters and the way it gets into the psyche of teenaged outsiderness without the romanticism is something I really relate to. As somebody who never felt like they fit in during high school and adolescence in general, this book is so comforting. 

It's the final monthly favourites for 2016 and we have some real gems in here. A lot from the British set and also some makeup standouts. Oh and keep an eye out for my 2016 beauty and book favourites, they'll be going up in the New Year. Meanwhile, here is what I have been loving in December. 

The Crown-In case it wasn't obvious to anybody who knows me, I love this show and think everybody should watch it. Thanks J, if you're reading, for persuading me to watch it. I wouldn't call myself a diehard royalist but this is just brilliant. It starts with the now Queen Elizabeth marrying Prince Phillip and goes from there but if you're unfamiliar with the Royal Family, pre Diana and the rest then you'll probably find it really interesting. Aside from that the set and costume design is just spectacular and the acting, wow. Major props to Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret but John Lithgow as Churchill is brilliant as well. In fact the whole cast is top-notch. If you have Netflix, add it to your watchlist. 

MAC Cream Colour Base in Sepia*, limited edition-This was part of the MAC x Charlotte Olympia collection from earlier in the year and I've been revisiting it a lot lately since having to set aside my Paint Pots for Back 2 MAC. This is very similar to Groundwork, if not a bit less pigmented. As a base for layering shimmer shades over the top however it's perfect. I like pairing it with this palette or this cream shadow.

Boy Brow x Glossier-First things first, I love the name of this product. More so I love this brow gel. It's subtle but powerful. It'll keep your brows in place and disguise a multitude of sins. By that I mean it stops your brows looking off-fleek. I'm not surprised it keeps selling out, it's the best brow gel I have tried. No crispiness or graphic blocks of colour. I hope they bring out a clear variant too.

British Vogue-My love and enthusiasm for the British variant of Vogue has been firmly reestablished this year. If I'm not buying issues, I've been borrowing them from the library and I absolutely love it. Their Christmas issue is usually a special one, this year's was no exception. It featured a beautiful editorial with cover-star Lily Rose Depp, a story shot by Tim Walker in Japan and all the usual goodness British Vogue is known for. I love it and when my subscriptions are starting to run out, I will be considering subscribing to this gem.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush-This blush in I Will Always Love You has become my new favourite. In fact, it's reinstated my enthusiasm for peachy pink blushers. I find them so much more flattering on my skintone than standard pink shades. It doesn't seem to fade into oblivion as well which is a major bonus in my opinion. I have to admit the Polly Pocket-esque packaging gets a major thumbs up from me as well. 

Miu Miu Rollerball-The only thing better than wearing this fragrance on the regular would be owning a full-sized bottle and/or having a candle in this divine fragrance to burn. Miu Miu's signature scent is just lovely and not too intense for Summer. I'm a fan of much lighter fragrances at this time of year and it delivers. If you're a fan of fragrances like Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel or Nirvana White by Elizabeth & James, you will probably love this one. 

What Olivia Did-I have to give a mention to Liv Purvis, fabulous fashionista and curator of one of my favourite blogs and vlogs. She's one talented lady and this month she's been killin' it on the content front. From her New York vlog which made me want to rewatch Elf so bad, to her Australian jaunts which made me want to head back across the ditch immediately. Her channel does not disappoint. I also loveloveloved all her gift guides this month, they were fabulous. I'm not going to lie, I have a rather long Etsy wishlist now. Thanks Liv! Seriously though, her blog is the bomb dot com and other, much cooler sounding phrases. Bookmark it right now. 

-What have you loved during December?

*PR Sample