Aka, the one where I lust after things I kinda want and of course don't necessarily need per se but they've all taken my fancy recently. Scroll down if you want to see what I am lusting after...

Just like that, January is (almost) over. In-sane. It's been a good month albeit busy-I had a mini break the first week of Jan before starting back at work which has been quite busy all month. It is by no means a bad thing! Just means coffee and sleep in equal doses become more mandatory. I celebrated one particularly hot day with a sorbet while walking up and down a hill. This month I also entered the frankie Good Stuff awards. This mightn't seem a big deal but for me it was an achievement. In 2017 I was too nervous and self-critical to even get close to having something ready to enter. So the fact I submitted something with a week to spare made me inexplicably proud. Other things that went down; I read a whole lot, caught up with friends, had some really brilliant conversations and laughed until I cried on more than one occasion. As well as moments, there were also some 'things' I loved in January. Many will probably not be a surprise to anyone if you follow my Instagram but there'll be some you haven't heard about among the mix...

Sandals x Pulp: Back in the day 99% of my shoes came from Hannahs. They're well-made, reliable and last well. That and they're not wallet-weepingly expensive. Anyway, I needed some new Summer shoes, for work mainly and stumbled upon the above sandals-sadly no longer available. They are so comfortable and go with everything. I love 'em. I also have these ones which I got in the post-Christmas sales and they're equally as comfortable. I love sandals at this time of the year.

Take Me Home Palette x Colourpop: I told you this palette would be here again. Sorry not sorry. I've probably exhausted everything I can say about it now so in brief. A compact selection of mainly mattes with a couple of shimmers that make for easy, effortless eyeshadow looks. All the colours complement one another beautifully. 

Ma'am Darling x Craig Brown: First off, I loved this book and I am so glad it met my high expectations. Brown writes candidly and informatively with great humour and flair about Princess Margaret. The naughty, outspoken, sophisticated yet often misunderstood and misrepresented 'spare heir'. Each of the ninety nine chapters is relatively short yet detail laden, offering many an insight into the woman she was. I found it incredibly fascinating and such captivating reading. Well worth a read.

Muriel's Wedding: Both the musical and the film came into my life this month. The movie, synonymous for its brilliant one liners such as "You're terrible, Muriel" and "I'm married, I'm beautiful!" among others is hilarious yet also painfully sad. You'll laugh hysterically and weep in the space of an hour and a bit. I did at least. The musical, which has just finished its introductory season in Sydney, has an accompanying cast recording which I promptly downloaded on iTunes when it was released. It's just as brilliant as the film and has wonderful lyrics thanks to Kate Miller Heidke and Keir Nuttall. Not to mention Maggie McKenna as Muriel is f**king amazing as the song says. Both are true classics and I recommend you listen and watch them both-if only to avoid being terrible. 

Journalling: So far I've managed to write for 28 days(!!), my goal this year is to keep a journal for 365 days. Anyway, this is in here because honestly I find it so cathartic and freeing at the end of the day to sit down and just write whatever I want. That and I'll have a personal record of the finer details from 2018. 

Velvet Teddy x MAC Cosmetics: Another nude lipstick albeit a matte which is long-wearing yet not drying in the slightest. Success. I do feel like this is a rosier, terracotta-y nude compared to some others I have and it seems to create the illusion of fuller lips. Hence why Kylie Jenner probably declared it her lip product of choice for so long to ward off the lip plumping stories. *No comment* Anyway, I think if you're after a neutral lipstick from MAC you cannot go wrong with this one.

The Big Feels Club: These amazing people were featured in frankie's latest issue and I am so glad they were. If only for the fact it bought their brilliant email newsletter to my attention. It's a mental-health newsletter without the heavy, science-y jargon and any of the vaguer, spiritual stuff. So basically every second Monday you're sent a newsletter hoping to solve one small part of the equation that is stress+anxiety and all that other not so fun stuff. They also, as they so brilliantly put it "offer tips for what to do when your brain is being a dick". Honestly so worth subscribing and worth a read. If you're in Melbourne, you need to go to their events too-they sound brilliant.

-What have you enjoyed in January?

It's back! Back again ('gain 'gain). Women & Their Books is back for another year and I have some rather wondrous people lined up for the first three months of 2018. You are in for a treat, let's put it that way. January's guest will require no introduction to Aucklanders but to the rest of you, today we have Kiran Dass answering my questions about books. Kiran works at Unity Books on High St here in Auckland, which is how I came to know of her. Her recommendations are standout and while I perhaps am guilty of not reading enough of them, she has such good taste. She also regularly reviews books on National Radio as well as on 95bFM and often contributes to the NZ Herald, The Spinoff and many other places. Oh and she DJs! She is one busy lady. One well read, busy lady...

-What are you currently reading?

I just finished reading Tinderbox by Wellington writer Megan Dunn. It's quite a slim and unique novel, an odd little book which I really liked. It's quite meta-a book about a writer (Dunn) who sets out to rewrite Ray Bradbury's classic dystopian novel Farenheit 451-where books are banned-from the perspective of the female character. But the book turns into something completely different-almost a rumination on the frustrations attached to the creative process and difficulties of writing. Dunn also weaves in her experiences of working as a bookseller at Borders on the verge of its eventual collapse. It's punchy, snappy and funny.

-What is your most read book?

Lost in Music by Giles Smith. I have read it 13 times! I usually try and reread it once a year as I find it such a reassuringly grounding, comforting and reliable read. It's basically a pop music memoir from journalist Giles Smith. It's his "pop odyssey"-growing up and discovering a love of music. He writes about music and his relationship to specific records he's loved throughout his life and his experiences as a music journalist. It's warm, insightful and endlessly laugh-out-loud funny. 

-As well as working as a bookseller, you also DJ and contribute writing elsewhere. Are there any books about music or artists that you've found mesmerising?

Lost in Music as mentioned above, for sure. It's my favourite music book. Similarly I also loved Cider with Roadies by Stuart Maconie. More recently I loved Art, Sex, Music by Cosey Fanni Tutti which was my book of the year for 2017. Read Kiran's review of it here. It's a truly inspirational and immersive insight into the life of an innovative, challenging and independent female artist. I don't think you need to be familiar with Tutti's art and music to get something out of this book.

-You've recently been traveling to Rarotonga. What did you read while you were there?

I read Baby by Annaleese Jochems while I was on holiday in Rarotonga. I didn't love it but it was fine.

-What's your favourite book by a New Zealand writer?

That's an impossible question to answer because there is consistently so much brilliant publishing in New Zealand and we have such a long, rich and strong history of literature here. I'd say Robin Hyde's Passport to Hell is a critical book to mention. I love everything Emily Perkins has written. I love the social and cultural history from Redmer Yska, John Mulgan's Man Alone is a landmark classic. Also Archibald Baxter's We Will Not Cease is an important work. I think New Zealand's strongest area in publishing is NZ history and nonfiction. More recently, Ashleigh Young's collection of personal essays Can You Tolerate This? resonated hugely with me and Pip Adam's The New Animals is an exciting novel which pushes the possibilities of what forms a novel can take. 

-Which women writer's words have left a lasting impression on you?

Joan Didion, A.M. Homes, Rebecca Solnit, Anne Enright, Hanya Yanagihara, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Viv Albertine, Susan Sontag, Edna O'Brien. 

-Finally, if there was one book you'd recommend every woman have on their bookshelf, what would it be?

We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live: Collected Nonfiction by Joan Didion. Particularly the essay 'On Self-Respect' which was originally published in Vogue, 1961.

// Thanks Kiran for answering my questions! I have a much longer list of books and authors I need to investigate. All images from Kiran's Instagram, @steelydass. You can also follow her on Twitter. //

I'll be honest, the only real time I make somewhat of an effort with makeup in Summer is when I go to work. Even then I don't always do a full face of makeup daily. There are some budge-proof, foolproof and MVP's of my makeup stash that I reach for though. I've also included some miscellaneous beauty things that have become my ride or dies this Summer...

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray & Breathe In, limited edition size: These minis were part of a trio released at Christmas time. So naturally I took them away when I was housesitting and staying with family but I actually use them all the time. The humidity makes it more of a struggle to sleep in Summer and these are a godsend. It could just be a very crafty placebo effect, but spritzing this spray and applying the rollerball to pulse points always seems to instate a sense of zen and calm. Both things I need a lot of. 

Colourpop Take Me Home Palette: You might hear about this again later in the month. Ahem, most definitely will. I love this slimline, compact palette. Mattes, shimmers, high pigment, long-lasting. I love 'em. If I've been wearing eyeshadow at all lately, it's been this palette almost exclusively. 

MAC Fix+ Coconut Spray, mini size limited edition: This mini was released as part of the Work It Out collection last year. That name's possibly wrong. I think it was geared towards people who glam for the gym aka not me. Anyway, this is my go-to setting spray and I love it. I don't know if the formulation has changed but I'm not a fan of sticky, heavy face sprays. This one is a fine mist which lightly sets down your makeup and adds a touch of glow as well. At the moment MAC have it available, as well as the lavender and rose versions. I'm not sure if it's limited but I may have to go back and grab the full size.

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation: I can't remember exactly why I stopped using this foundation because I love it. As the name would suggest, it is long lasting and provides medium coverage. It blends like a dream and the finish is more satin-y. Although I always set it with powder anyway, especially at this time of year. I'm curious to see what the new NARS foundation is like, although I suspect it will be too glowy for me. 

Byredo Mojave Ghost EDP: A luxe love but a good'un. I describe this as a fancier version of Daisy x Marc Jacobs and I won't riddle you with my questionable perfume review skills. Go have a nosy at the Mecca Cosmetica description. Just know I love it and it's one of the few perfumes that don't evaporate from my skin in Summertime. 

Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray*: An oldie but a goodie. I seem to have accumulated a few of these. The mini size lives on my desk at work and is a lifesaver on the really hot days. Ok, every day just about. I'm sure some people will say this is just glorified water in a can. Perhaps it is. I don't care, it's refreshing and it makes such a difference. Sprays like this are great when you step out of the shower too. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer: I give this quite a workout in Summer. It's such a flattering bronzer for paler people, I have the shade Luminous Bronze Light. A little goes a long way with this so I just sweep a blush brush in the compact and apply the slightest amount. I'm actually hoping to try a new (ish) bronzing product soon so stay tuned. This one though is my Summer bff. 

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick: Pillow Talk is such a brilliant lipstick. Yes it does make me think of a certain Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid video on every application. For a matte, it's super creamy and long lasting. I barely need to reapply this yet despite that it doesn't feel drying in the slightest. It sells out quite regularly and I can easily see why. 

NARS The Veil Cheek Palette, limited edition: There's probably not much point saying a lot about this, seeing as it was from the Man Ray collection that is no longer available. It's a dreamy combination of NARS blush, bronzer and highlighter though and I love the colours. They can be a tad intense if you aren't careful but I like that if you're using a finer brush, you can build them up to the intensity you are after. 

-What are your Summer beauty must haves?

*PR Sample

Any excuse to talk books and I am one hundred per cent there. Or here as it transpires. I do read a lot-although it takes me a while sometimes to finish things because I am a chronic serial reader. Today though I thought I'd share some of the books I've picked up recently, along with some I received for Christmas, including my most-anticipated read of recent times...

-Ma'am Darling: 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret x Craig Brown: It turns out this book is on a lot of people's reading lists right now. Given how hard it was to find a copy. Perhaps its surge in popularity is down to The Crown. Anyway I'm thirty chapters in and it is brilliant. I don't want to say too much now because I suspect it's going to end up in my January Favourites post. Just know that it is living up to my expectations and then some.

-Call Me By Your Name x Andre Aciman: The novel that inspired the film which is earning high praise at the moment. I have a pass to see the movie but haven't had the chance to yet. Maybe I should wait until I've finished the book. Anyway, this was a Christmas present, nabbed at Unity Books hence the snazzier cover than the film tie-in. Both sound fantastic and the excerpts I saw on Estee's Instagram story from the book back it up.

-I Capture The Castle x Dodie Smith: Firstly, how beautiful are these Macmillan Collector's Library editions? I'm not sure how I haven't really paid much attention to them before but they're exquisite. I love the compact size especially. Anyway, I've been wanting to read this for the longest time and in my never-ending quest to read more classic literature, I bought it for myself for Christmas. I'm going to start it when I eventually finish Little Women which shouldn't be too far off.

-the sun and her flowers x rupi kaur: Ok confession time, and this shouldn't feel like an admission but I've let the literary critique cloud my judgement of rupi kaur's work a bit. I know there's snobbery around 'insta-poetry' and I get it. It's not Wordsworth or Keats, nor does it pretend to be. I think the fact kaur's writing is more unconventional is where the charm lies. I definitely found some of the longer poems a bit unnecessary but there were many I bookmarked to go back to later. I read this in an evening last week and will definitely return to my favourites too. 

-Where'd You Go, Bernadette x Maria Semple: Another book which'll be a movie in 2018, starring Cate Blanchett and directed by Richard Linklater. What appeals to me most is it sounds like a Wes Anderson-esque read. A novel with quirkiness and humour. I am really unlikely to turn down a contemporary read that combines those two elements. 

-The Vanity Fair Diaries x Tina Brown: One of my eagerly anticipated reads and one that satisfies my magazine-loving self immensely. The diaries Tina Brown kept from 1983-1992 make for incredibly compelling reading. Such intriguing insights into many magazine key players too like Annie Leibovitz, Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley among others. Its making me want to read her book about Princess Diana now too. 

-Women & Power x Mary Beard: This was another book I received for Christmas and I took it away on holiday with me earlier in the month. I gave it four stars on Goodreads because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Beard combines her extensive knowledge of Greek history with women throughout history and the misogyny that is firmly cemented, particularly towards those who dare to adopt an authoritative stance. A short but brilliant read.

-What have you read this Summer?