"Never say goodbye, because goodbye means going away. And going away means forgetting." -J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan.

The above quote really summarises my feelings about 2013 quite nicely. Of course there were moments I would rather forget but all in all this year has been one of the best I have had in a long time. At times I was pushed outside of my comfort zone and challenged in the best possible way. I enjoy challenges, life just seems less exciting without them. Without sounding overly boastful I achieved a lot of the goals I set for myself this year, *snaps for me*. This ranges from goals I set for this blog to getting into my choice of major next year. There was also travel, like my trip to the beach at the start of the year, Wellington adventures and then of course Melbourne last month. 2013, you were brilliant and rewarding. I am going to miss this year but 2014 looks set to be even better with bigger dreams and exciting things ahead.

I hope everyone has a great New Years Eve day and night! Celebrate the end of the year in style and start dreaming about a fabulous New Year. I know that's what I'll be doing.

*On an unrelated, non-nostalgic note I have given my About page a much needed update along with my Blog Roll. An edited selection of some of my favourite blogs is on the latter so be sure to go have a gander at those. xo

Shop 'Til You Drop, Issue 1311-It's been a while since I last looked at Shop, especially since now it is available as a fortnightly magazine. I picked this up at the airport last month as I wanted something lightweight that would keep me entertained on the plane. This magazine certainly did the trick. It contained trend breakdowns, articles on street style bloggers and Alexa Chung, editorials and beauty how-to's. One thing that stood out was the mix of clothing and accessories, particularly in terms of price points. There was many an item I added to my wishlist upon reading. Shop have also made it easier to er...shop too with websites listed where you can pick up products. If you're after something quick to read then I highly recommend you pick this magazine up. 

Seventeen Magazine, November 2013-This was my first time reading Seventeen magazine. I know a library I visit tends to get this magazine but when I was younger I preferred reading Teen People. Anyway, Seventeen is for the girl who loves a healthy mix of fashion, beauty and of course pop culture. This issue was centred around the latest film from The Hunger Games franchise for instance. This issue also featured the lovely Lauren which was exciting. I'd definitely read Seventeen again but sadly it seems harder to find in New Zealand. 

Frankie Magazine, Issue 55-Frankie could have gotten away with naming this the 'present' issue because of all the cute gifts they've thrown in. Inside this issue you will find the usual bimonthly calendar, gift cards, printed envelopes to make and keep and a wall planner for next year. Aside from the extras you'll find the usual Frankie fabulousness inside this issue, including stories on Nans who rock out and a handy guide on how to not kill your succulents. I particularly liked the guide to retro plates and the ice-cream themed fashion spread. You'll notice this issue is pricier because of the extras but it is worth parting with a bit of extra dough for.

*What magazines have you been reading and loving lately? I'm always looking for recommendations. 

Christmas is now over and if you're in the Southern Hemisphere no doubt some of you will be off right now spending gift vouchers or money in the Boxing Day Sales. I'm sure the fairies behind some of our favourite beauty sites are aware of all this too because a few days before Christmas their sales emails started appearing in my inbox. Well, they've certainly collated some fabulous beauty things in their sales. I've gathered a little edit of some of the best bargains. The best part is you don't even need to leave your house to purchase them. Whether you're looking to treat yourself, or get a head start on gifts for next year, you are bound to find something you're tempted by.

Eyeko 'Alexa Chung' Set-This cutely packaged kit contains an eyeliner and mascara that both have Alexa's artwork and approval behind them. I added this set to my cart and hastily left the tempting Beauty Bay realm, 'nuff said. 

Too Faced 'All I Want For Christmas' Set-This is such an adorable set. I love the case it is all packaged up in. You get everything you need, sans base for a makeup look in this set. If you're looking to try out Too Faced then you should pick this up because there's a well thought out selection of products to try in there. 

Diptyque Philosykos Eau De Toilette-A fresh, fig scent that is uplifting and not potent in the slightest. Now that I have the Figuier candle as well this scent reminds me a lot of the fragrance of fresh Christmas trees so it's like owning Christmas in a bottle all year. Who wouldn't want that?

Essie Winter Collection-Festive glittery reds, navy blues and cashmere greys. Love. You cannot fault Essie polishes. They're long-wearing, easy to apply and they have a fantastic colour range. 

It's that time of the month again! During December I've been loving colour, glitter, and everything in between. Sit back, relax, grab a cup of tea or a cold drink and have a read of this month's edit..

Bobbi Brown Nail Polish in Chrome, limited edition*-It's no secret that I love glittery things and this gold nail polish is no exception. This glitter is easy to apply and the fine glitter pieces mean you can layer this over other nail colours, super festive. It dries fast and is super easy to remove, unlike most glitters. I'm quite tempted to go pick up the other gold shade from this collection as well.

Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons in Peach on the Beach and Orange Punch-I love the simplicity and ease of application that comes with lip crayons. These Bourjois offerings are pigmented, creamy and pretty darn long lasting. 

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub-My skin's been a little bit scaly lately, particularly around my elbows and ankles. This zesty lime, lemon and smashed brown sugar scrub solves that problem though. Using a scrub like this one in conjunction with a body butter leaves your skin incredibly moisturised. It also helps that this scrub happens to smell delicious!

Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Ore-Pigments are perfect for jazzing up eye makeup, particularly during the festive season. Ore is a stunning bronze with flecks of gold glitter throughout. I like wearing this by itself or layered over other eyeshadows with lots of mascara.

There is something about eco-friendly beauty that's always appealed to me, especially the simplicity of what goes into products as well of course the fact that they're more often than not cruelty free as well. Josie Maran is known for her argan oil based products but it was these cheek gelees that caught my eye during a Sephora browsing session (please tell me I am not the only one who does this..). My friend Hannah of Shedding Glitter kindly sent me one of the gelees in the shade Poppy Paradise and it is the only blush I've been wearing this month.

Cheek gelees are like cream blushes but as the name would suggest they have a jelly-like texture. These are not sticky or tacky in any way. The gelees are infused with coconut water which is known to be hydrating and adds a glow to the face. The formula of these blushes doesn't seem to emphasise pores and rather than add an obvious streak of colour, you are left looking naturally flushed.