11/18/2016
10 Ways To Prepare For Gilmore Girls On Netflix
As I write this it is now just a week until Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life wings its merry way onto Netflix. Less time than that if we are getting really technical. Excitement levels are nearing their peak. As Leslie Knope would say "this is my Hoover Dam" and I think it's safe to bet that this is going to be an iconic, unforgettable moment for many of us. While the days are disappearing faster than I can say "Oy with the poodles already" and if we're going by Lorelai Gilmore speeds, that is fast, it's never too late to be prepared. For what exactly? The religion, the lifestyle that is marathon watching the four movie-length specials. Let's be real. Who is realistically going to stagger each one? Here's ten ways to prepare for the arrival of the new Gilmore Girls episodes...
1. Binge watch the entire show. It may be a little late in the piece to do that now, although if you do decide to indulge in that this weekend, there will be no judgement from me. I have been re-watching the show from the beginning for most of the year and still have all of Season 7 to go. I can't realistically see myself finishing it but I'm going to make an effort to. In between my other commitments of course Madre, if you're reading.
2. Organise a viewing party. I'm actually going to be watching the specials next week of course, but an actual party followed by analysis and discussion of each one will be taking place the following weekend. If there's anything we want to get passionate about, we have a week to do that. Of course there will be supplies of the Gilmore Girls favourite things; coffee, Pop Tarts and junk food on hand.
3. Quiz yo'self. Are you competitive like Rory or Paris? Now is the time to brush up on each season and make sure you're a connoisseur when it comes to all things Gilmore. Buzzfeed has a tonne of fun Gilmore themed quizzes you can take to test your knowledge as well as some other ones where you can see which of Rory's men you'd end up with, what Hogwarts House you'd be in based on your Gilmore preferences and other things.
4. Rewatch the trailer. You know you want to. Following that, start speculating about what you think is going to happen and what questions you want answered. This could potentially be another game. Perhaps a prize for whoever guesses the most plot elements correctly?
5. Buy Lauren's book. Technically this is released after the episodes debut on Netflix but there's no harm in being organised. There'll be plenty of Lorelai themed anecdotes in here and after the episode-watching is done, you can guarantee I will be working my way through this.
6. Make pro/con lists to determine which of Rory and Lorelai's teams you're on. Loyal fans will know Rory loves a good pro/con list and there is always countless debate among my friends as to whom each Gilmore is best suited to. This is the perfect way to determine the answer to those controversial questions by examining the finer details. G and J if you're reading, we should do this so we can compare answers.
7. Complete my tag. Whether you're a blogger or not, you could still do this if you want. Personal bias aside, this is actually really fun to do and I highly recommend you ask yourself these questions.
8. Watch films like a true pop-culture buff. Movies and endless pop culture references are a big part of Gilmore Girls. While you wait for the new episodes, why don't you consult their movie list and find some you've not seen to watch? I'm adding Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Funny Girl and Jerry Maguire to my list.
9. Indulge in some Gilmore Girls snacks. Coffee, a pastry a la Luke's Diner, Pop Tarts, Red Vines, Chinese food. The options are endless here. Perhaps you'll branch out and try Mallowmars too? Are they real...*
10. Treat yourself to some Gilmore Girls merch. I found the card pictured above on Etsy. Actually Etsy is the best for cool things. You could get this cute print of Fall in Stars Hollow, some complimentary pencils to share with all your Gilmore Girls loving friends, this philosophical tee or even a Luke's Diner pin.
-How will you be preparing for the revival?
*I asked Google and they are real.
11/16/2016
Four Vlogger Books Worth The Hype
Where I can, I love to support Team Internet and while there's some mixed opinions about Team Internet and their accessibility to book deals, I for one think it's a good thing. Yes some of the books may be of questionable merit, however if they're getting people reading and excited about books it's a win for everyone. Today though I want to bring things back to four of the best books by vloggers, in my opinion. These would all make fantastic gifts, especially if the person you're buying for is already a fan of said author. There's something for the lifestyle lover, beauty aficionado, foodie and humorist and honestly, I rate all these books quite highly. More on that below...
Bloom: Navigating Life and Style* by Estee Lalonde-Estee has long been one of my favourite YouTubers and bloggers. Her enthusiasm is just infectious and I love the aesthetic that she curates for herself, her home and in general really. I have a girl crush on Estee Lalonde, okay? Now that's out of the way, Bloom is a meticulously designed, carefully curated treasure trove of content themed around the categories of; life, people, work, beauty, fashion, home, travel and food. Bloom shines a light on Estee's story and passions. As well as being beautifully presented, it offers a very relatable insight. I found myself laughing and crying at times reading this. It's definitely one for the Estee fangirls among us but even newbies should have a peruse of this.
Face by Sam and Nic Chapman-Like Estee, I have long been a fan and lover of Sam and Nic, aka Pixiwoo's work. I'm sure many of us own one, if not several of their amazing Real Techniques brushes as well. Their new book which has been a number of years in the making does not disappoint. It's an absolute encyclopedia of beauty knowledge and is presented in a way that doesn't feel condescending. It's just like reading a transcript of one of Sam and Nic's many tutorials but better. There's also an app to accompany the book which gives readers the chance to watch videos and see what is being written on put into use. It's beautifully presented as you would expect and beauty-lovers alike would love this. I'm enjoying slowly making my way through it so I can savour its contents for as long as possible.
Eat Smart* by Niomi Smart-As I said last month, this was perhaps a bit of an unusual book request for me and while I still haven't had time to really play around with any of the recipes yet, I have a ton bookmarked. The smoothies all sound absolutely delicious and given the number of times I frequented Boost in Melbourne, I'd love to recreate some at home. As well as recipes, Niomi also shares insight into her own lifestyle journey and what led her towards a more plant-based lifestyle. Again, it's beautifully presented and while there is the odd obscure ingredient, most of the recipes can be made with items in your pantry and seasonal fruits. I'm all for books that make the most of ingredients people actually don't have to go on a wild goose chase for. I'm really looking forward to making some of the non-alcoholic cocktails and iceblocks in the coming weeks, along with virtually 20 or so other things I have bookmarked.
You Deserve A Drink by Mamrie Hart-Not pictured but equally as worth mentioning is Mamrie's book with the tagline 'boozy misadventures and tales of debauchery'. Each essay is accompanied by the recipe for an alcoholic beverage, would you expect any less from the lady whose YouTube channel is called You Deserve A Drink? It's hilarious, laugh out loud funny and brilliantly written. If you know someone who loves a good humour laden essay, this is the book for them.
-What books by vloggers and bloggers do you enjoy?
*Review copy
11/14/2016
The Melbourne Beauty Haul
Why, hello, I am back after a nearly two week hiatus from blogging. I'll tell you a little secret, that wasn't meant to happen but casting my mind back to right before I went on holiday, I was exhausted. The idea of putting up halfhearted content just so I could feel a personal sense of achievement didn't sit right so hence I was MIA. Never fear, I am back, for now. In case Instagram wasn't enough of a PSA for you, I've just got back from an eight day jaunt to Melbourne. It was magic and I had an amazing time. Naturally a little bit of beauty shopping happened although on the whole I was pretty disciplined in this department. Nonetheless, I thought I'd compile a post of what I grabbed for nosy types beauty enthusiasts. Side note: This is not a brag or 'look at all the things I got'. I knew about this trip for a while and saved accordingly so that I could have many a 'treat yo'self' moment. Read on if you want to know what ended up in my stuffed suitcase...
Lavinila Vanilla Grapefruit Deoderant-There's a couple of Sephora stores in Melbourne so I visited them, for myself and also to grab a couple of things for friends. It was often crazy busy in there so I didn't stay long, grabbing what I wanted and leaving speedily but I did spy Lavinila in the corner one day and got excited. A few years back Tamira sent me one of these and I loved it so I had to buy another one. Vanilla grapefruit smelt just divine and while this was by no means an essential, it's going to be a godsend come Summer when I'm one Sweaty Betty. TMI? Sorry...
Miu Miu Eau De Parfum Rollerball-Another thing Sephora is known for is their selection of rollerballs and minis (see below). While Sephora Australia perhaps doesn't have quite the extensive offering that is available in the US, it's still not half bad. The Miu Miu fragrance is one of my favourites to spritz in the department stores at the moment. Rollerballs aren't really a thing in NZ so I do try to grab one when the opportunity arises. Miu Miu is a largely inoffensive, fresh Summery fragrance. Go give it a spritz, y'know copy doesn't do fragrance any justice.
Ouai Texturising Spray-I can't find this online but this was one of the minis in Sephora. They also had mini bottles of the Ouai Wave Spray too among other things. Part texturiser, part dry-shampoo, this is designed to give your hair that lived in-loose waves vibe. Think Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian, who Ouai founder Jen Atkin often tends to the tresses of. I can't wait to use this.
Revlon Sculpt and Highlight Kit in Light/Medium-When I was in Melbourne, Priceline had one of their notorious 40% off Cosmetics sales. It coincided with that international piece of baffling news last week and I'm not saying that caused a frenzy among us beauty loving women in Australia. It was however quite crowded and everyone was having a good rummage in the shelves. Anyway, this product which I think is only available in Aus and NZ was one of my finds. It was created in collaboration with Chloe Morello and is available in two colour options. The lightest surprisingly seemed to be more readily available. I swatched this and the shades seemed so buttery smooth with not too much fallout so I will be curious to see how this performs on my face.
La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Sunscreen-This wasn't purchased in the Priceline sale but I'd planned to get it anyhow because I had heard that La Roche Posay sunscreens are great for combination-oily skin. That and they sit nicely under makeup. Priorities, right? Well this certainly delivers. In terms of texture, it reminds me of my Too Faced primer, but maybe just a touch more satin-like. It is not silicone feeling though and doesn't look greasy or heavy on the skin. If you're after a lightweight, high SPF, this one's SPF 50, then check this out.
Maybelline Hypersharp Wing Liquid Liner-One of my friends recommended this liner to me as a more affordable alternative to the Kat Von D tattoo liner that we all know and love. Annoyingly I don't think this one is available in NZ but if you're ever in Australia, be sure to grab one. It's obviously popular as there was a queue forming by this section of the Maybelline stand on 40% off day. I've not opened this yet but I will report back when I've been using it.
Too Faced Love Flush Blush in I Will Always Love You-Part of the appeal of these blushers has to be their Polly Pocket style packaging. That magnetic heart just gets a whole generation of nineties kids excited I am sure. These blushers also come in a range of beautiful colours so I had a tough time choosing one. In the end I settled for this peachy pink as most of my blush colours are more on the nude side of things. That and I know Anna and Fiona both have this shade and love it.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler-Back when I first started getting into watching and reading beauty blogs, about four years ago now, everybody had a pair of these. In fact I've come close to buying some a few times now and finally decided to do just that on this trip. I've used them once so far and can already see why they get so much fuss. They're so gentle and for me at least, only one or two goes with this gives me the desired look I want for my lashes. Well worth the investment.
Jo Malone Christmas Ornament, limited edition-I can't find this on any NZ sites so I'm wondering if it's sold out already. This was picked up in duty free here in Auckland and I had no idea there was a Jo Malone counter so I was excited. This contains a miniature of their Peony and Blush Suede Cologne (my fave) and also the Grapefruit Body Creme. It's absolutely beautiful and would make a gorgeous stocking stuffer for someone, or a luxe treat for one of the ladies in your life.
The Repurchases, not pictured: So I also repurchased a couple of my favourite products when I was away; the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer which is my go-to for undereyes, Too Faced's Hangover Primer which is my all-time favourite primer and this shower gel from last month's favourites. I really need to add the full size to my Christmas list sometime soon.
-Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?
11/03/2016
November Reading List
And just like that it was November. I don't think I am alone in saying where has the year gone, in fact I know I am not. Perplexed feelings about the passage of time aside, this month's going to be a good one for books with new releases around every corner and more time to devote to the art of reading in general. This month I am picking up books about beauty and the associations we make with clothes, a tale of two dancers and a collection of short stories, exploring undercover feminist book clubs among other things. It's a good mix and I cannot wait to get started with these...
Women in Clothes by Sheila Heti-After being persuaded by a few different people to track down this book, I finally acquired it from the library this month. It's bulky and I may regret carrying it around the airport tomorrow but it is intriguing me too much to not travel out of the country with it. Fashion and clothing are mulled over by women of note like Lena Dunham and Tavi Gevinson but are also poignantly considered by women from various backgrounds and beliefs. If you love fashion and want something a bit meatier than your average style guide, this is for you.
Swing Time* by Zadie Smith, out November 15th-Zadie Smith is one of those writers who has made her way onto my radar and looks set to be firmly placed there for some time yet. Swing Time, her latest novel is a tale of two dancers and former friends. One becomes successful in her pursuits while the other has her sights set on the power of dance, rhythm and tribes. In their twenties the friendship takes a hit and is 'never to be revisited'. I started reading this a few days ago and I am already immersed in it. There's something powerful about Smith's writing and I know I will race through this book.
What is not yours is not yours by Helen Oyeyemi-Technically I do not own this yet but I am hoping to change that very soon. I'm sure some literary critic will dislike my comparison here but this sounds like the Love Actually of stories. This series of short stories contain a wide variety of characters who make appearances in other tales throughout. There's an undercover book club, students from a puppet school and the exchanging of books and roses on St Jordis Day among other things. This sounds right up my street and like an absolutely exquisite literary delight.
Pretty Iconic by Sali Hughes-The follow up to Sali's successful book Pretty Honest is here and it looks equally as fantastic. In Pretty Iconic, Hughes looks at over two hundred beauty products that have been real game-changers. From the nostalgic Johnson's Baby Wipes, through to the iconic Chanel No. 5. No beauty stone, or coveted palette is left unturned. This is truly one for the beauty obsessives.
-What are you reading in November?
*Review copy
**Have a great week guys! I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow and am taking a much-needed break from blogging next week. I'll still be around, I just won't be writing anything beyond an Instagram caption. I'll be back the week after though with heaps of new content and in the meantime you can keep up with my stories on FashioNZ, such as this one #getthatpromo.
11/02/2016
The Melbourne To-Do List
This Friday I am off to one of my favourite places, Melbourne. I can't wait. It's one of those cities I can just lose myself in and find myself gazing heart-eyed around every corner. They pride themselves on their creativity there and I love it. Today I thought I'd share some of the things I want to get up to. I'd love your recommendations too. It's been three years since I was there last so no doubt a lot has changed.
-Watch a musical. So I am cheating a bit here because this is actually happening. On Sunday I'm going to see Matilda and I am so excited. Not only is this my favourite Roald Dahl book but it's a musical I have wanted to see for a long, long time. Hopefully it does not disappoint.
-Gaze at art and fashion. I've done a bit of research in this area and I'm really excited that there's a Viktor & Rolf exhibit on at the NGV when I am there. So that is a given. Also on at the NGV is the Italian Bulgari jewels exhibition, featuring pieces worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Keira Knightley among others.
-Shop! Again, another given. I've been told I need to go to the Aesop store in Melbourne. Also on the to-visit list; Kate Spade, Muji, Zara, Sephora etc. Recommendations in this category are welcome please! Particularly if you have independent stores I should visit.
-Eat delicious food. Again, send them recommendations in please. N2 Gelato is on my wishlist, simply for the fact I'm intrigued by the combination of liquid nitrogen and icecream. I also want to go to Transformer Fitzroy after seeing it on Kate's blog as well as Market Lane Coffee. Queen Vic Markets will happen too because I am still thinking about the amazing berries I got there on one of my trips.
*What are your must-visit places and things to do in Melbourne? Let me know your suggestions! Be sure to follow me along on snapchat and Instagram for photos of what I get up to.
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