VINTAGE MACHINE

Believe me when I say it's real

2012-02-22T01:54:00.000+08:00

1. Charbonnel et Walker truffles from David Jones and Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet fragrance from Hong Kong (fake pearls added to make the picture look pretty - from Dotti) 2. Macarons from David Jones 3. Keep Calm mug from General Pants Co. 4. Coco Mademoiselle fragrance from Singapore 5. MAC Turquatic fragrance from eBay and NARS eyeshadow duo in Habanera from Makeup Alley swap

It's probably considered weird posting pictures of food in a haul post, but who doesn't love pictures of macarons and other French desserts? They're just the most aesthetically pleasing foods ever and I couldn't think of another type of blog post to include them in. If you follow me on Instagram (vintagemachine), you'll probably know these photos are quite old. I always get so behind with haul posts. I guess because I buy too much! It's a sickness.

Somehow I've managed to accumulate three new perfumes within the past two months to add to my collection. When a good friend from work went on holiday to Hong Kong, I asked her to pick me up Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet as it had been one of those perfumes I'd been after for quite a while. I was never the biggest fan of the original eau de parfum (don't kill me, I know everyone loves it!), which always saddened me because the bottle is so beautiful, I could die for it. However, when Blooming Bouquet was released, I found it a lot lighter and fresher, which was more of my kind of scent. Every girl needs the perfume in her collection.

For over a year, I had been on the hunt to find the perfect cool/water/fresh/summer scented perfume. I wanted something that wasn't overly floral or fruity and I nearly gave up on my mission. I didn't really like the Ralph Lauren perfumes and then I thought Bright Crystal by Versace and Burberry Brit Sheer by Burberry were nice, but then decided the scents were a bit too heavy and strong for what I was after. Just recently, I thought of MAC's Turquatic frangrance, which is sadly discontinued. I decided to take a risk without knowing what it smelt like by buying it on eBay and I definitely do not regret it at all. The perfume is perfectly what I was after! It's fresh, clean and cool. It would make a great everyday or summer scent, but I think I'll be saving this for special occasions!

Another friend of mine recently went on holiday too and actually bought me Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle perfume as a present. I couldn't believe it! No one I know has ever been this generous to me and I was so taken back by the wonderful gift. It reminds me of Miss Dior Cherie in the sense that it's very girly, but in a classy way because it's Chanel, of course.

I recently did a make up swap on Makeup Alley and I swatched an eyeshadow palette for this beautiful NARS duo in Habanera. I'm wearing the duo in my previous post, though you may not be able to tell. The purple colour has tiny glitter particles that add a beautiful sheen to the eyelids, while the blue/green colour has a lovely frost finish. This is my first NARS eyeshadow and I'm so in love! I would totally buy more if I could afford it... and actually needed more eyeshadow.

Lastly, I bought the most adorable mug in General Pants Co. because it's SO me. I love Keep Calm, I love pink and I love shopping. I wanted to kick myself when I later saw these Keep Calm mugs at Myer on clearance, however. On sale and I could've used staff discount. Damnit!

I hope you all enjoyed the post! I'll probably be doing a perfume collection in the near future.

Singing of a famous street

2012-02-17T03:41:00.001+08:00

Top - Myer | skirt - Urban Outfitters | nails - Lotus Rouge by Chanel

Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas

I've had about two weeks to play around with my sexy new Canon EOS 600D and I am IN LOVE. The 350D was my first pride and joy, but the 600D is a whole new world. I think I can finally get into this whole 'outfit of the day' thing because the flip screen makes it so much easier. I got ready early, so I could take a few snaps of my outfit I wore out to dinner at Grill'd (best burgers ever!) and Koko Black with my work friends. The skirt and Peter Pan collar on my top made it look a bit school girl-esque, but it was cute and easy to throw on. I kept my make up fairly simple with no eyeliner and I threw on my Pandora bracelet and a Topshop ring after I took these photos. I'm not sure why I didn't before. Taking photos of my outfits is a skill I need to master!

A couple of months ago, Hannah of J'aime Les Fleurs (please check out her wonderful blog!) tagged me to do the '7 random facts' tag. I don't know why it's taken me so long to get around to doing this, but here we are now! These facts make me sound more interesting than I actually am.

1. I'm a huge film and music junkie.
2. If I could have anyone's life, it would be Sofia Coppola's. Not only is she married to a FRENCH man in a BAND (Thomas Mars of Pheonix), but she was once the muse of Marc Jacobs and her work is so beautiful and so perfect.
3. My dream job is to work for a fashion/culture magazine like Russh doing desktop publishing. Writing about music or beauty would be amazing, but I'd need a whole other degree for that.
4. My favourite art movements are Surrealism, Romanticism, Neo Classicism, Pop Art and Social Realism.
5. I live in the most isolated city in the world. Within the next two years or so, I want to move to Melbourne and then maybe Paris when I stop being lazy and learn French.
6. If I could marry a TV show, it would be Friends.
7. I enjoy the oddly satisfying feeling of crossing things off lists. I'm a bit neurotic when it comes to organisation and neatness.

I tag: Jennifer, Alexis, Jessica, Katrina and Tushita.

I've recently discovered 80s/90s band, Cocteau Twins, and I've fallen head over heels for their music. Elizabeth's Fraser's voice is so unique and her mispronunciation of words makes the music so beautifully dreamy and mysterious. Heaven Or Las Vegas is on repeat at the moment and there's no doubt this song is simply Heaven.

Instagram - Big Day Out and Laneway

2012-02-14T16:10:00.001+08:00

1. Big Day Out entrance 2. Me and April 3. Potato, sour cream and cheese deliciousness
4, 5, 6, & 7. Röyksopp at Big Day Out
8. Foster The People at Big Day Out 9. Yuck at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival
10. Cults 11. The Drums 12. Me and Holly
13. Toro y Moi 14. M83 15. Washed Out

If I had to pick my favourite thing about summer, it would be summer music festivals and the amazing bands that tour. Over the past couple of weekends, I attended Big Day Out and St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, and I had an absolute blast. Seeing Röyksopp live was an absolute dream come true for me as I had been waiting six years for this. When I first discovered them when I was 17, they completely changed my life and are the reason why I love, live and breathe music. They put on such a mind blowing performance and I want to go back to that moment in my life so much. Foster The People put on such a fun show too, everyone really got into it. I was looking forward to seeing Best Coast too, but they started at 11:40am, which was way too early and The Jezabels and Architecture In Helsinki clashed with Röyksopp. It's okay though because I've already seen them live before.

Laneway once again proved to be the best festival Australia has to offer. Every year, the lineups are literally perfect. I saw Yuck, Cults, The Drums, Toro y Moi, The Horrors, M83, Active Child, Washed Out and SBTRKT live, all of who were so incredible. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to see so many talented musicians with my lovely friends over the past two weekends. Music is something that really means a lot to me.

Bring on Future Music Festival, Neon Indian, Bombay Bicycle Club and Florence + The Machine!

Do you attend music festivals during the summer?

I have a burgundy clothing obsession

2012-02-09T20:09:00.000+08:00

1. Burgundy Dip Back Tank Shirt from Bardot 2. Burgundy jeans from Bardot 3. Singlet by Subtitles from General Pants Co. 4. Rings and earrings from Bardot 5. Filigree Wrap Ring and Arrow Head Necklace from Love Hearts and Crosses 6. Bumble and Bumble Quenching Masque and Philosophy On A Clear Day foaming cleanser from Mecca Cosmetica 7. Redken Iron Silk straightening spray, Smooth Down shampoo and Butter Treat mask from House of Ernest

I'll beat you to the punch. Yes, I'm really into burgundy clothing at the moment! Bardot has (had? I don't know anymore as I bought this stuff about two months ago!) some really gorgeous burgundy pieces, so I picked up this sleeveless collared shirt, which is longer at the back, and some jeans. I had been after a sleeveless shirt for so long and this was the perfect colour too! I can wear it tucked into skirts or with leggings because of the dipped back. I'm so happy with it. I couldn't decided whether I wanted the Bardot burgundy jeans or frayed shorts (Lord knows I didn't need both!), but in the end, I went with the jeans because I already own too many pairs of shorts. I was early to my shift for work one day, so I decided to browse around General Pants Co. and I spotted this really interesting singlet with a cut out back. Of course, I was attracted to the colour and I decided to buy it since it was on sale. It's so rare for me to find things I like on sale.

When I made the Bardot purchases, I also bought these gorgeous stone rings and earrings. I love turquoise jewellery and coral/red colours are a favourite of mine too, as I think they suit my skintone. I'm not a huge earring person, but I couldn't resist these. I made an online purchase at Love Hearts and Crosses when I saw LLYMLRS wearing the Arrow Head Necklace. I think it's got that 'punk' vibe to it and I'm really into that style. While browsing the website, I also came across this pretty filigree ring, so I bought it too because what's the point of making an online purchase for only one item?

In beauty products, I picked up a new cleanser and a few hair care products. I've been using Philosophy's On A Clear Day foaming cleanser for a while now and while it's nothing amazing, my skin hasn't broken out from it. It can feel a little drying, but it's nothing moisturiser won't help. Would I purchase this again? Probably not. I think I've use more impressive cleansers in the past. My hair has been in such an awful state lately - it's been really dry and it doesn't help that my hair is thick and coarse either. I've had good results with Bumble and Bumble hair masques before, so I decided to buy the Quenching one, which smells so fruity and creamy delicious! Now that I have Redken shampoo back in my life, I'm starting to wonder what on earth made me stray away from it. Everyone raves on about Redken, but it's no exaggeration because their products really are amazing! I couldn't even get through my Label M shampoo and conditioner because it was irritating me how little it did to help my hair. From one use of Redken's Smooth Down range, I already felt the difference! Instead of buying the Smooth Down conditioner, I got suggested to buy the Butter Treat, since my hair is so dry. It's probably redundant using two hair masks, but whatever, I'm at least I'm seeing results! Since my hair is thick, I don't have to worried about it feeling weighed down either. I also bought the Iron Silk spray, since I needed a new heat protectant spray. It reaks of alcohol, which is a little worrying though because doesn't that cause more heat? I never notice a difference in my hair from using heat protectants, but I use them to be on the safe side.

Clothing haul: Market HQ, Urban Outfitters and Nasty Gal

2012-02-08T20:38:00.002+08:00

1. Ever After Singlet by NOOKIE 2. Sweet Savannah Tank by Mink Pink

3. Lola Shirt Dress by Motel from Market HQ 4. Sparkle & Fade Studded Blazer 5. BDG Leather Mid Belt

6. Falling Crosses Earring 7. Vanessa Mooney Jenny Anklet 8. Spiritual Necklace from Urban Outfitters

Painted Desert Skirt from Nasty Gal

I've acquired a lot of new stuff in the past two months or so, but I haven't blogged about them yet because 1) I'm lazy and 2) I've been blogging about other things. In the next week or so, expect a few haul posts from me! Speaking for myself, I know I definitely love a good haul.

I recently did some online shopping and made some purchases from Market HQ, Urban Outfitters and Nasty Gal, which along with Topshop, are my favourite stores to shop online. From Market HQ (yay for Aussie stores!), I bought the most gorgeous sparkly sequin singlet, which is sheer at the back. Perfect for a night out! I actually own the Mink Pink skirt the model is wearing with it too, however, the outfit looks million times better on her. Plus, I had to order a size S because they sold out of the XS and you wouldn't think a small could be baggy, but it is. It's still completely wearable though and I love it too much to return it, anyway. I've been really into Aztec prints lately, so I also got this Aztec print inspired tank by Mink Pink, which I wore on the weekend to Big Day Out and loved! Both of these tops look really great with a black lace bra underneath. You can see the bra from the back of the Ever After singlet since it's sheer, and with the Mink Pink tank, you can see your bra through the low-cut arm holes. Lastly from Market HQ, I ordered my first piece of clothing with leopard print on it! I've never been a huge fan of the print as it can look really tacky a lot of the time, but I loved it on this dress. Unfortunately, it didn't come with those pretty gold collar tips though. I plan on wearing this dress when I see Florence + The Machine, even though that's not until May.

I had also ordered this cute Jemima Dress by Mink Pink, but I thought the fitting was a little funny on me, so I returned it. I really want the Ra Ra Denim Dress by The Cassette Society, but they've sold out of my size and I don't think it's coming back! Boo.

I've had my eye on this Sparkle & Fade (one of my favourite UO brands) blazer for a while now because I really love the whole stud trend at the moment. I coudn't justify spending $40 on shipping just for one item though and as I added more things to my wishlist, it also came down in price! I then just ordered some accessories, such as a black belt because I actually don't own one, and some jewellery. Crosses are another trend I'm into and I just thought this anklet was really pretty, so it got added to the cart too.

Lastly, from Nasty Gal, I ordered this skirt because I just adore the print. I waited over a month for the size S to come in stock again and when it did, the website said it was the last one, so I quickly snatched this up!

In other news, MY NEW CAMERA ARRIVED TODAY! It's actually going to take a bit more getting used to than I expected, I think, but nevertheless, I am in love. Like I said, expect some haul posts this week!

Instagram

2012-02-02T19:11:00.001+08:00

1. My birthday last year 2. My best friend and I drunk 3. Friday the 13th fancy dress day at work
4. My desk 5. Yummy Dusk candle I want to eat 6. My new lamp
7. Miss Dior Chérie Blooming Bouquet fragrance 8. Splurging on food from David Jones 9. Truffles
10. Quoting the best TV show ever 11. Nails of the day 12. Crazy Perth heat!

Big Instagram post! My username is vintagemachine if you'd like to follow me and I'd love to follow you too, so please leave your username in the comments! I've had Instagram for quite a while now, but only started using it fairly recently when I kept seeing blog posts about it. It's such a fun and easy way to share photos - it's kind of like a mini Tumblr, I think.

I think my iPhone is lost for good (you can read what happened here), but I ended up buying a new one last week because I just can't live without it. Home and contents insurance didn't cover it and I cried a lot, but I'm never one to dwell on things when life gets sucky and I've definitely learnt my lesson. I've downloaded the Find My Phone app and I'll also be taking out insurance on it that's for sure. I've ordered the same case I had previously from Society6 and I can't wait until it arrives.

I've got a lot more blog posts scheduled, but I've been a little lazy with updating because I'm catching up with all my TV shows. It's kind of good that I didn't post them sooner though because I won't have a camera for a week or so. Yesterday I sold my Canon EOS 350D and I've been saving up all my eBay money to upgrade to the sexy 600D! I'll probably place the order online tonight. I'm so excited!

100 followers giveaway winner

2012-01-28T20:00:00.001+08:00

Congratulations on winning, Katie of What Now! You have won yourself the MAC Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink. Well done and I hope you like it!

To all those who entered, thank you so much for participating. I'm feeling kind of guilty that I don't have a million MAC Lip Conditioners to give away because I really do appreciate you all and wish you all could've won. It really means a lot to me that you guys take the time to read my blog and comment! Rest assured, I'm sure I'll hold more giveaways in the near future.

NOTD: Péridot by Chanel

2012-01-24T20:53:00.000+08:00

A friend from work recently went to Hong Kong on a shopping trip and I asked her to pick me up a couple of things as though prices of cosmetics in Australia are extortionate. Chanel's Péridot nail polish was one of the items (I'll show you the other item I got soon!) and I am completely in love. At first, this nail polish never really caught my eye until I kept seeing a lot of my favourite bloggers wearing it and it looked so beautiful on them. Now that I own it and have it on my own nails, I am sitting here wondering how I never impulsively bought this nail polish ages ago. It's a shimmery gold/green colour and I adore the colour even more when more of the green tones show through. It's from Chanel's 2011 Fall Collection, but many places still carry it.

I think out of all the nail polish brands, Chanel is by far my favourite. Yes, OPI has an amazing colour range, but there's just something about Chanel nail polish. I feel like my nails look better in Chanel and of course, I immediately feel girly, classy and sophisticated in it too.

In other news, I'm feeling a little depressed because I got stupidly drunk on Saturday night and left my beloved not-even-two-months-old iPhone in a taxi. I am a complete idiot. I have a new SIM card, but no back up phone and I don't want one either. How can I go from having an iPhone back to a regular phone? I just can't do it. I'm praying the police will call soon telling me they've found it, but there's probably no chance. Hopefully home and contents insurance will cover it or I'm screwed! I never thought I could feel so sad about an inanimate object. I'm going to go forget about the pain by watching Gossip Girl.

Lastly, PLEASE ENTER MY GIVEAWAY! You have until tomorrow to win a MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner!

GIVEAWAY! MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner

2012-01-19T20:45:00.000+08:00

In celebration of reaching 100 followers, I have decided to hold a little giveaway as a thank you to my lovely followers who take the time to read and comment on my blog. I am giving away MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink, which is really moisturising and smells absolutely gorgeous. I think they smell exactly like Uncle Toby's Roll Ups.

The rules to enter the giveaway are as follows:

∙ You must be a follower through Google Friend Connect and Bloglovin'
∙ In the comments, tell me your favourite lip product and why. It can be anything from lip gloss, lipstick or lip balm. You don't have to go into too much detail, I just think it's better than saying, "Enter me"
∙ Please leave your e-mail in your comment too, so I can notify you if you win

The winner will be chosen through random.org and the giveaway will close on the 25th of January. The winner will be announced soon after.

The giveaway is open internationally, though I may have to contact the post office beforehand for certain European and South American countries, as I've had troubles sending cosmetics to Italy before. Please keep that in mind before entering.

If you're wondering why there's Chinese text on the packaging, it is because I asked a friend to buy this for me in Hong Kong. I still paid for it!

Good luck!

They really are life changing

2012-01-14T20:08:00.003+08:00

Arnsdorf SS11 Crystal Pattern iPhone case from Society6

I'm not really sure what this post is going to be about, I just wanted to show off my beautiful new iPhone case! For the longest time, I was a loyal Nokia user and when the iPhone craze began, I thought of them as overhyped and overpriced, despite being a devoted Apple user too, with my MacBook Pro and iPod. People saying, "You should get an iPhone!" didn't make me want one any more, but when I'd hear things like, Words With Friends, checking in and see pretty photos created through vintage photography apps, I became curious, so I eventually caved in and joined the revolution.

My best friend lent me her old iPhone 3 and in a instant, I finally understood the hype. What is it about downloading apps that's just as much fun as using them?! I was going to wait until the 5 came out to get my own, but then the 4S came out and I figured there's no point in trying to keep up with technology because you're always going to be behind it, anyway. In December, I talked to another friend of mine who works at Vodafone and I thought I'd get the 4 thinking it'd be cheaper, but with the 4S being only $5 extra on a plan, it made sense to get the more recent model. I don't use Siri, but I'm sure if I weren't addicted to Words With Friends and Bubble Bust!, I would. I had to pay a fee to get out of my previous contract, but I have no regrets.

Even before getting my hands on the iPhone 4S, I would browse through websites looking at beautiful iPhone cases wishing I had my own to make look pretty. I can't remember from which one of the million blogs I read I discovered this site from, but if you're after a new iPhone case, check out Society6. With 1662 pages worth of different designs, you're bound to find something you like made by these talented and creative artists. From the very first page, there about about five different designs I love!

At $35 each, they don't come cheap, but for something as essential as a phone, which you use everyday, I figure it's worth it. For international orders, it can take up to five weeks to arrive, which mine did, but it was worth the wait because my new case makes me love my phone even more. I love owning a case which no one else I know has and something that shows off my personal style and taste. I love how personal I can make my phone through customisation such as my case and wallpaper, but it's also my diary, my reminder and my source for keeping up with the online world when I'm on the go.

To end this post, I thought I might share some of my favourite apps.

Games
∙ Words With Friends (I was one of those skeptical people who thought, "How can that be fun?" until I actually started playing it myself. I need to stop being so judgemental before I try things out for myself!)
∙ Bubble Bust! (when I have no moves on Words, I play this and sometimes I can't stop)
∙ Bejeweled (similar to Bubble Bust! and very addicting too)
∙ Fruit Ninja (who would've thought slicing fruit could be so fun?)
∙ Doodle Jump (this was my first iPhone game addiction)
∙ Hanging With Friends (not as much fun as Words as it doesn't have that instant gratification, but I still enjoy it)
∙ Tetris (I used to kick ass at this game on Play Station as a kid)

Music
∙ Shazam (hear a song you like, but have no idea what is it? This app will tell you! Sometimes I think my taste in music is a bit too obscure for it though)
∙ Remote (I LOVE this app! It connects to your iTunes library and your phone basically becomes your iPod too. I mostly use this when I'm getting ready to go out)
∙ InTheMix (music news app I use to keep up to date with the Australian music scene)

Photography
∙ Instagram (take photos, make them look vintage and share them on a newsfeed with your friends. The best photography app!)
∙ Hipstamatic (another great vintage photography app)
∙ PocketBooth (creates photobooth photos!)

Well, it looks like this post ended up being me professing my love for the iPhone. Do you have one? What do you do and do not (if that's possible) like about it? What are some of your favourite apps? I'm always looking for more to download!

Best products of 2011

2012-01-11T17:10:00.000+08:00

I never would have thought of doing this post myself if it weren't for every beauty blogger and their dog doing this, but I knew it would be a lot of fun and if there's any way of finding out what products work and what's worth spending your money on, it's through a collective round up of the year's best.

Urban Decay Naked Palette: I bought the highly coveted Naked Palette during the winter and I have been using it religiously since then. Having a wide array of neutral eyeshadows in one slim palette is so handy and also makes for a great travel companion. If there's one beauty product you should splurge on, it's this. I ummed and ahhed a lot over buying this, but now I don't understand why I didn't buy it sooner. With a variety of light and dark colours, it's versatile for both day and night too.

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Polish Cleanser: where would my skin be without you wonderful, wonderful UK beauty bloggers? This super moisturising cleanser removes every trace of make up and I honestly don't think I could ever use another cleanser again. My skin is so soft and silky and has improved so much since using Hot Cloth Polish Cleanser and it has been neither dry or oily - just right! Liz Earle, you are God.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum: I was stunned to read such positive reviews for this product on MakeupAlley and I just I had to try it as I was on the hunt for a good serum to improve my skin. I don't break out so much anymore (thank you, Liz Earle and the pill!), but I have a lot of scarring from when I did. I didn't think this product was really doing anything for me, until just a few days ago, I looked at a horrible old picture of me with no make up on (must've forgotten to delete it!) and noticed such a difference! My skin is definitely a lot clearer, brighter and my scars are slowly fading thanks to this amazing serum.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Nude: I used to wear MAC Studio Fix Fluid everyday, but after my skin cleared up, I wanted to start wearing something lighter to work. It's a medium coverage, slightly buildable tinted moisturiser and I use this with Clarin's Beauty Flash Balm underneath, then MAC Studio Finish Conclear and Studo Fix Powder on top to help cover uneven skintone and set it. With that, it lasts a solid day at work. It's so nice to be able to wear light make up and still feel confident.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot and Area Treatment: I've tried a million spot treatments in the past and this is by far the best. The smell is pretty vile, but you get used to it and I'm willing to put up with that for clear skin, anyway. It dries up blemishes faster than any other spot treatment I've used, but it doesn't dry up the skin around it or leave it flakey. I don't have to use this product too much anymore, thankfully, but I still like to keep it on me for when I do break out occasionally.

MAC Blushbaby blush: the first product I've ever hit pan on! I absolutely adore this blush for everyday wear. It's a beige/pink colour, which looks very natural on my medium dark complexion. I always change up the blushes I wear everyday, but I definitely gave this a lot of love when I bought it early last year.

MAC Peaches blush: I can't remember how I discovered this blush, but as soon as I did, I knew it was for me. Being discontinued, I bought this blush from eBay, which I know most people don't recommend, but you just have to be smart when it comes to eBay. I have quite yellow toned skin, so I find coral/peachy shades look the best on me, which is why I'm so in love with this blush. I mostly save this blush for nights out if I know there will be photos taken.

MAC lipstick in Ruby Woo: in 2011, I was on the hunt for my perfect classic 1950s retro red lipstick, which I found in Ruby Woo by MAC. This shade of red is absolutely gorgeous! MAC describes it on the website as a "vivid bright coral-red", which really suits my skintone because as I said earlier, it's quite yellow toned, but coral colours really balance it out, I think. I thought it would be hard to find a red lipstick that didn't have pink undertones in it, but I can always put my faith in MAC to have the perfect shade of everything.

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in #83 Illusoire: I impulsively bought this eyeshadow on a shopping trip with one of my work friends who told me to buy it because it matched my Christmas decorations. Having no will power when it comes to shopping, she convinced me to buy it, but I definitely do not regret it! I apply this just using a finger (though it comes with a brush) and I am so in awe of the sparkly prettiness! I'd love to buy more of these, but I really need to lay low on the make up buying.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm: I own a million and one lip balms, but after hearing Temptalia and xSparkage rave on about this, I couldn't not try it out. For only $8 on StrawberryNet, why not? This lip balm can cure some seriously dry lips! I have never used anything that has moisturised them this much. This combined with Lush's Bubblegum Lip Scrub makes the perfect lip exfoliant treatment.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and 209 Eye Liner Brush: I never used to understand when beauty bloggers said that gel eyeliner was easier to apply than liquid eyeliner until I actually went ahead and bought a gel eyeliner myself. I'm by no means perfect - sometimes I can get the perfect winged eye, sometimes I can't - but practise makes perfect! If you want to master the art of the winged eyeliner, definitely start with gel and a brush not liquid like I did.

MAC Reflects Pearl Pigment: I've seen Nic, one of the amazing Pixiwoo sisters, use this MAC pigment in past tutorials and after watching this particular one, I really wanted this pigment for myself to do a similar look. Last year, I used this on special occasions such as my birthday, my work Christmas party and New Years Eve and I loved it! It's not too over the top for me and even without some sort of glue, it doesn't transfer or create fallout. Very pretty!

VO5 Hot Oils: I never really expect anything from drugstore brands (I'm such a snob, I know!), but one day when I was shopping at Woolies and saw them on special, I decided to give them a shot. After one use, I was definitely impressed! You wouldn't think that a small tube of product left on for a mere minute could do much to your hair, but these really work! I suffer from majorly dry hair and I felt such a difference after using these. If I don't use a hair mask when I'm washing my hair, I'll always use one of these. These aren't pictured because I've run out.

Urban Outfitters, Sosie and Nasty Gal clothing haul

2012-01-08T21:21:00.001+08:00

1. BIRD Rose Pic Crop Tee 2. BDG Classic Skinny Leather Belt 3. Feather and Crystal Pendant Necklace from Urban Outfitters

4. Dazzle Envelope Clutch 5. Cat's Game Shorts from Sosie 6. Saturday Stripe Knit from Nasty Gal

7. Shredded Sequin Knit 8. Rainbow Tribe Skirt 9. Scuba Skirt from Nasty Gal

Here are some online clothing purchases I made about two months ago, which makes this haul way past its due date, but better late than never, right? I have an on-going love affair with Urban Outfitters and there is always something I want from that website. I have a habit of buying dressy clothes over casual items, so I bought this printed rose tee, which looks great thrown on with jeans. I bought this waist belt to wear with with dresses to add a little something more, but it fits perfectly around the hips too, which makes it more versatile and I'm really happy about that. And who can say no to feathers and crystals? I instantly added this necklace to my cart from the moment I saw it!

I discovered Sosie through an advertisement on one of the many blogs I read and while I think it can be quite hit or miss, the hit items are definitely not something you want to pass on. I bought the Dazzle Envelope Clutch because I am attracted to shiny things and it's the perfect accessory for any night out. I finally got my hands on the adorable Cat's Game Shorts I had been wanting for ages and I'm so happy with them! I've already worn them out and they look great paired with a slouchy white tee and sheer stockings if it's chilly outside. To see a better picture of them, click here.

Nasty Gal has become one of my new favourite online clothing stores, right up there with Urban Outfitters and Topshop. Their items really suit my style and just browsing through the website gives me so much inspiration for outfit ideas. I bought a couple of knits, which I know is totally the wrong season to be buying them in, but hey, at least I am prepared! The Saturday Stripe Knit would suit lazy days, while the Shredded Sequin Knit would be suited for a dressy casual outfit. I'm really into Aztec/tribal prints at the moment and I had to have this skirt the moment I saw it. I had to wait the longest time for the size small to come back in stock, but it was worth it. It's not as vibrant in real life as the picture depicts it to be, but I still love it. Lastly, a high-waisted black skirt is a staple in any girl's wardrobe and I really needed a new one. This Scuba Skirt hugs tight in all the right places and I'm happy that I think I've finally found the perfect one.

Tomorrow I have the day off work and I plan on having a productive day of listing items on eBay, taking photos for new blog posts, washing my make up brushes (I've been putting this off for so long, but it's such a horrible chore!) and doing some bedroom decorating. As for tonight, I'm spending the night in bed with Misfits and Parks and Recreation. Love these shows!

Myer haul

2011-12-31T00:01:00.001+08:00

1. MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 and Benefit They're Real! mascara 2. Milk and Honey by Ruby Rose studded red denim shorts 3. Miss Shop pale pink eyelet shorts 4. Miss Shop Peter Pan collared floral top and polka dot bag 5. T by Bettina Liano skirt 6. T by Bettina Liano black denim shorts all from Myer

The benefits of working in retail are that not only do you always know when the sales are, but you also get staff discount! Over the Christmas period, Myer had some pretty incredible sales on, so of course, I had to take advantage. My family aren't too big on the gift giving during Christmas (no 'what I got for Christmas' post from me), but that's okay with me because I buy my own presents. Some of these items were also purchased the day after Boxing Day, so I've picked up some pretty amazing bargains! I didn't get to go shopping on Boxing Day itself, the launch day of the Stocktake Sale, as I was working and had no time, but staff always get the launch day offers the day after too, which is really nice.

I picked up another MAC Studio Fix Fluid, which is my holy grail foundation, and I've heard really great reviews about Benefit's They're Real! mascara, so I decided to buy that too. With 10% off cosmetics, how could I not? I'm actually surprised I didn't buy more! I do not need any more make up though. I haven't used the mascara yet as I'm still trying to use up old ones first, but I'll definitely let you know if I think it lives up to the hype.

As you can see, I picked up some really gorgeous clothes for summer. I love the stud trend at the moment and needed to buy those red shorts as soon as I saw them. I think those and my Bettina Liano black denim shorts are going to be so nice to wear at summer festivals. The black shorts sort of have sheen to them, which is so gorgeous and would look great to wear on nights out too. I also really love eyelet pattern - I think it's so cute and girly - and with a simple tank top, my pale pink shorts will make for a simple, casual summer outfit. Miss Shop is a Myer home brand and it's one of my favourites because not only is style really me, but it's always on sale with 20% staff discount!

Another trend I really love is the Peter Pan collar and I'm so in love with my new floral top! The floral pattern adds a vintage look to it, I think. After I spotted the top, I noticed the polka dot bag, which I think also has that vintage look to it. I plan on using this bag for the summer festivals I'm going to next year. It's so cute and will nicely hold all my festival essentials without being too big and bulky.

I've been wanting this Bettina Liano skirt for such a long time now and while they never had my size, it was something my mind always drifted back to. Sad, but true! That's when you know you really want something! Anyway, I had a look at it again the other day and found out it had been reduced from $89.95 to $50! Size 10 was the last size they had and I went for it and bought it. I'm going to have to get it taken in, but that's okay because I'm just in love with it. Snake skin pattern is yet another trend that I love and STUDS. You can't go wrong with studs. I know I would have regretted not having this skirt in my life.

Well, that's it for my haul. I'll post a non-Myer haul very soon because I have purchased a lot in the time I've been away and well, I am just constantly shopping. I won't get that post up until next year though, so in the meantime, have a wonderful New Years Eve! I'm having a chilled out one with pizza and drinks with my workmates at a house party. Whatever your plans, I hope you all bring in the new year with a lot of fun and that 2012 brings you nothing but happiness! ♥

Loudspeakers sound, white disco light

2011-12-28T23:58:00.003+08:00

Last Friday night, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my all time favourite bands, Cut Copy, live. The event was called Wonderland held at Fremantle Arts Centre and was basically what I'd call a mini festival with three other great Australian bands, Tim & Jean, Strange Talk and Sparkadia performing too. It was my ninth time seeing Cut Copy live and I could never get sick of seeing this band! Having seen them so many times, their music really means a lot to me, so whenever they perform in Perth, I have to be there. It's just non-stop dancing fun with those guys and getting to watch the beautiful Dan Whitford on stage is an added bonus! He is my #1 man in music.

While Strange Talk had technical difficulties and I didn't get to hear them perform my favourite song, the rest of the bands were really fun too. I had never heard Sparkadia's music before, but I was really impressed and immediately downloaded their new album when I got home that night. Besides make up and clothes, gigs and festivals are another one of my favourite things to spend my money on. I'm going to a lot of them next year - there's just no greater feeling than live music! Pictured are only three of the many events I'm going to.

Well, I hope that wasn't too boring for you all. I love talking about music just as much as anything beauty or fashion related, if not more, and I plan on making it a prominent part of my blog.

Lastly, if you have Instagram, please follow me! My username is vintagemachine.

P.S. I have reached 100 followers! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Expect a contest very soon! It really means a lot to me that you enjoy reading my blog. ♥

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T22:05:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies! I haven't been very active here on Blogger lately, but working in retail during this time of year literally consumes my life. I really miss blogging, but I'm sure things will slow down soon and getting back into blogging is my number one priority. I have so much to share with you all!

Well, Christmas has been and gone for another year and I hope it was a wonderful one for you all. We aren't too into the gift giving in my family, but it's just nice to spend time with them and eat a lot of good food. No one needs to buy me presents as I'm constantly buying my own, haha. Sleeping in yesterday was the best present I could ask for!

Anyway, this is just a quick, short post to let you know I'm alive and I'm hoping to get some new posts up later in the week, so stay tuned!

To all my new followers, welcome! I have now reached 99 and if I could get 100 by the end of the year, that would be AMAZING. I'll be holding a giveaway once I do and I'm thinking about something MAC related because who doesn't love MAC?

P.S. Excuse the wonky star on my Christmas tree. ;)

Beauty haul part 2: Lush, Soap & Glory, Clarins, Sephora, etc.

2011-12-07T01:40:00.000+08:00

1.Snow Fairy shower gel, Cinders Bath Ballistic and Flosty Gritter and Candy Mountain Bubble Bars from Lush 2. Hand Maid hand sanitiser and Hand Food hand cream by Soap & Glory, NuBo Diamond Peel & Reveal and Clarins Beauty Blemish Balm 3. Sephora Effervescent Cubes, OPI Silver Shatter nail polish and Sephora mini nail polish 4. Ciaté Paint Pot in The Glossip 5. Kérastase Elixir Ultime

Sorry it's a little late, but here is part two of my beauty haul! Yes, I am a beauty junkie, but I'm a girl, so what can you do?

Over the past couple of years, I have heard so much about Lush's Snow Fairy shower gel. It's limited edition during Christmas, so I thought I'd check it out this festive season. On my first visit to Lush, it wasn't there, but a week later, it was sitting there in all its glory and it was love at first smell. It smells exactly like their Bubblegum Lip Scrub! Now I definitely understand the hype over this shower gel. I already have a couple of bottles of shower gel to go through, so I only bought the small version, which will hopefully still last me a while. I haven't used it yet, but I'm eager to try it out! It has pink glitter in it and what girl doesn't love glitter? From Lush, I also picked up a few goodies for the bath. I'm more of a shower person, but I do love a nice, relaxing bath now and then. I'm especially excited to try Flosty Gritter for a glittery pink bath and Cinders to hear the pop rocks go off! Even as an adult, bathtime can still be fun!

I'm a huge fan of Soap & Glory, not only for the scent of their products, but also their cute and quirky packaging and product names. I'd been dying to try Hand Maid for ages, but it STILL hasn't been released in Australia yet, so I was so happy to see it on eBay! I've never owned a hand cream either, so I though Hand Food would be a good place to start. I decided to try out NuBo's Diamond Peel & Reveal exfoliator after watching Pixi2woo's skincare video as I'd been after a good exfoliator for a while, anyway. I've used it a few times and so far, I'm really loving it. My skin has never felt softer and I can notice a slight difference with more even skintone are faded scarring. I've been swapping a few of my unwanted beauty products on Makeup Alley and in one swap, I received Clarin's Beauty Flash Balm after reading great reviews. It's supposed to brighten your skin, which I haven't really noticed, but I love using it as a primer and I really do feel my make up stays in place more with it. I've tried a couple of primers by Benefit and Make Up Forever, which have both broken me out, but this one has caused no trouble at all.

For my birthday a couple of months ago, my friend brought me back some mini bath bombs as well as OPI and Sephora nail polishes from Sephora when she went on holiday to Singapore. I've never been into the whole shatter nail polish trend, but I tried the silver one and it looks really nice! I'll still need to play with it though to get the most effective shattering. While I do like it, I love the cute mini Sephora nail polish even more. It's the most beautiful greeny gold colour ever! It's very similar to Chanel's Peridot. Unfortunately, the nail polish has no name on it, so I can't tell you what it's called.

Still on nail polish, I bought my first Ciaté Paint Pot. I feel like I needed at least one in my life simply for the adorable packaging. I am, however, a little disappointed by the colour as the swatches of it looked totally different on the Internet. I was after a bright orange/coral colour, but I didn't expect it to look so neon! I'll still wear it though, and it'll be a fun and vibrant colour to wear this summer.

I got my haircut a couple of weeks ago and I stupidly caved in and bought a hair product, which I didn't need, as I already own a pretty much full bottle of MoroccanOil. I understand that hairdressers need to sell the products they use, but they didn't have to pester me! Learnt my lesson now. Elixir Ultime by Kérastase is a hair serum (similar to Moroccan oil and the likes, I guess), though apparently it's supposed to be better than MoroccanOil, which my hairdresser told me contains silicone. I haven't used it yet, but it better live up to its expectations! I'll probably give my MoroccanOil to my mum.

Wow, I can ramble. You can just enjoy the pictures, I don't mind.

Beauty haul part 1: MAC, Chanel and Guerlain

2011-11-29T18:54:00.000+08:00

1. MAC Posh Paradise Mattenes in Unknown Pleasures and Lustre lipstick in Jubilee 2. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and 209 Eye Liner Brush 3. Chanel nail polishes in #210 Lilac Sky and #513 Black Pearl and Illusion d'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in #83 Illusoire 4. Guerlain Météorites Perles in #01 Teint Rosé

This is part one of two of a collective beauty haul, which I've been meaning to post for a while, but only posting now as I haven't had chance to photograph the million and one things I've bought over the past couple of months! My new purchases have been piling on top of my desk and as I've kept on purchasing, my haul is now too big. It's been bugging me that I can't play with my new toys yet because I have to take photos first. That's the problem with beauty blogging, isn't it? Haha. You want to photograph your things while they still look brand new and unused.

Two of my favourite kinds of lipstick colours are dark vampy reds and nudes, so I decided to pick up these two MAC ones as they'd been on my wishlist for a while now. I can't wait to wear them out! I don't care that summer starts in two days, I would still wear Unknown Pleasures during this time of year. Wearing certain colours in certain seasons is boring! I absolutely adore the name of the lipstick too as Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division is one of my all time favourite albums.

I've always been curious to try out gel eyeliner as everyone says it's the easiest to use, but I kept putting it off because with pencil and liquid eyeliner, I didn't think I needed it. I kept thinking about it though and eventually I decided to get Blacktrack Fluidline by MAC. The make up artist recommended the 209 brush as opposed to the 210, which is really thin, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it applies. I know it'll take a lot of practice. I'm not very good at liquid eyeliner, but maybe gel will make it that little bit easier.

After browsing around the Chanel counter one day after work (a bad idea when you're trying to save money), I came across the nail polish, Lilac Sky, and I thought it was beautiful. When I got home, I looked at swatches online and decided I wanted it. I had been looking for a nice pastel purple nail polish, anyway. Buying Black Pearl nail polish and the eyeshadow was my friend's fault! We went shopping at Karrinyup Shopping Centre on our day off work and she somehow convinced me to get them too. She also convinced me to spend $140 on Christmas decorations (mind you, it was 30% off and I did use my staff discount!)... she just had this power over me! I don't regret it though. I love owning pretty things and I'm excited to decorate the Christmas tree!

Speaking of pretty things, I finally bought the Guerlain Météorites Perles that had been on my wishlist for ages. I bought these significantly cheaper on eBay with some money I had made selling my clothes online. This is the kind of luxury product worth splurging on. I mean, the packaging! So beautiful.

Well, that it's for today. I have a lot more haul posts coming up! I know it seems like all I do is shop, but it's just because I've been so busy these past couple of months, I don't get a chance to update often. I do save too, really!

I'm almost at 100 followers, which is amazing! I really want to update for you girls more often, but working in retail is exhausting during this time of year and my free time is quite limited. I am not going anywhere though, as there's so much I want to post about, and once I reach the three digits in followers, I'll definitely hold a contest of some sort!

Old love eroded from time

2011-11-15T22:42:00.001+08:00

I apologise from the bottom of my heart that I have gone far too long without updating! I've been working far too much for me to have time for myself and when I do, it seems when I get around to blogging, I'm never satisfied with my photos. I'm a perfectionist and it'll plague my mind if I'm not 100% happy with something. It's been frustrating me a lot lately because I miss being creative and blogging on a regular basis, so I've decided to invest in a new camera. I'm going to be selling my old school Canon EOS 350D and I've decided to upgrade to a 600D. It'll be a good investment as I'm going to Japan and Europe next year and I want a decent camera to snap up all the beautiful cities I visit. Between that and actually saving for my trips, I'm going to be working my ass off these next few months! I'll try my hardest to update on a regular basis though.

Back on topic, I received my order from Topshop recently, which came with my Allegra Chelsea Platform Boots and oh my God, LOVE. I ordered a half size too small, but hopefully because they're real leather, they'll stretch. My order also came with the beautiful Topshop magazine, 214, and even though summer is well on its way for me, I can't help but now lust after warm jackets and wear vampy red lips. This magazine is filled with so many stylish and inspirational looks for the autumn/winter season. I photographed some of my favourite pages from it.

Well, that's it for today. Hopefully I can get some haul posts up within the next few days or so. Thanks so much for sticking around! It means a lot to me. :) In the meantime, watch this beautifully cosmic fanvideo to the song Suns Irrupt by Neon Indian. I'm obsessed.

My mechanical heart, how it tears me apart

2011-11-01T23:04:00.000+08:00

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've last updated! Working six days a week is not fun, but I'm going to try to make more of an effort to blog because it's something I enjoy. I don't know about you guys, but I love seeing what items people have on their wishlist. It's just so much fun to see what people are lusting over, so I thought I'd compile yet another one myself.

I am so in love with Topshop right now! You have no idea how much it pains me that I cannot shop there in real life! I love the UK high street fashion so much. Next year when I go to Europe, London is my first stop and I cannot wait to hit up the store on Oxford Street! I've been really into sequins lately and I just adore this pink sequin top (which unfortunately, they're out of my size in), as well as their items from Illustrated People. From Topshop, I also really want to get the lipstick in Infared because it looks like the perfect orange red colour. I'm lusting over a couple of fragrances at the moment too, which are Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior and Turquatic by MAC. As much as I hate admitting this, I never initially liked the smell of Miss Dior Cherie, but after using a few Soap & Glory products, I am now in love with the scent. I want to get the eu de toilette as I prefer the lighter scent. For ages, I've been on the hunt for a fresh smelling water-like fragrance and I finally think I've found it in Turquatic. If I get my hands on this, it'll be perfect for the summer! Finally, this shouldn't technically be on my wishlist as I've already bought it, but I purchased an M83 band tee. They were out of size small, so I had to get the medium, which is massive on me, but I couldn't not have it in my life as I simply adore his music and I love collecting band tees. I cannot wait to see him at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival next year!

I'm going through a bit of a jewellery craze at the moment, so here are my wants from Fashionology. So beautiful, yet so expensive! If I didn't spend so much time on fashion blogs and discovering amazing online stores, I swear, I'd be so rich right now. Oh well, you only live once!

All we ever wanted was everything

2011-10-21T20:56:00.001+08:00

1. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Nude, MAC Lady Grey Eyeshadow Quad, OPI nail polish in Over The Moon!, Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara and Kérastase Nectar Thermique 2. Agent Ninetynine and Hel Och Ren tank tops from General Pants Co. 3. September issue of Elle UK

Between my never-ending wishlist of clothing and beauty products, upcoming music festivals, wanting to buy new furniture for my bedroom and saving for my travels next year, I'm stressing out a little about money at the moment. It may surprise you when I say that my savings account is actually looking pretty good at the moment, but I haven't put any money into savings for a couple of weeks now and it makes me feel so guilty! I'm just going to have to work insane hours at work, but that's okay. With Christmas just around the corner, they'll need me to work and I like keeping busy. I'm really excited about the new pieces I want to get for my room - they include a lamp, bedside table and make up storage. I'm not going to buy these things all at once, but when I do, I'll be sure to do a bedroom picture post!

Anyway, here are some bits and pieces I've picked up recently. After months of being on my shopping list, I finally bought Laura Mercier's Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser. I usually use MAC's Studio Fix Fluid everyday, but now that my skin's looking a little bit better thanks to Liz Earle, I want to go back to using something lighter on an everyday basis. So far, I'm absolutely loving it! It's light like a moisturiser, but the coverage is impressive - very buildable. I decided to look into Kérastase's Ciment Thermique after Caroline featured it in her August favourites here. It sounded like the perfect product for me as my hair has been giving me some grief lately. I went to two salons, which were both sold out, but the really sweet hairdresser at Maurice Mead who was dying my hair, suggested Nectar Thermique. I naturally have dry and coarse hair, but my fringe is even worse because I blow dry it. I've noticed such a considerable difference after using this product. It's softer and in photos, it even looks shiny! Amazing. I also picked up Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara (my holy grail), OPI nail polish in Over The Moon! (I think this would be a nice colour for space nails) and MAC's Lady Grey Eyeshadow Quad, which I've had my eye on for a while.

Lastly, I bought a couple of tank tops from General Pants Co. (yay for summer!) and the September issue of Elle UK was finally released in Australia and I couldn't not buy it because Kirsten Dunst looks too pretty.

Have a fabulous weekend! I'm enjoying my Friday night in with a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a friend from work brought back for me from Melbourne. Yum!

Jewellery haul

2011-10-17T21:55:00.001+08:00

Jewellery from Sportsgirl, Etsy and Lily Loves Lola.

I've managed to accumulate a lot of jewellery over the past month or two. Recently I decided to take a look in Sportsgirl and I literally fell in love with all their jewellery! I had just bought a few jewellery pieces from Urban Outfitters and knew I didn't need any more, but when you can't stop thinking about something, you know you just have to buy it. Then again, when am I ever not thinking about shopping?

I bought two gorgeous cross necklaces, an anklet, pinky finger ring, some earrings and an amazing feather necklace, which was reduced to $4! Bargain! I probably would have paid full price for it. I'm still thinking about what I'd wear with it, but I just fell in love with the feathers too much not to buy it. I'm really loving the feather trend at the moment.

From Etsy and Lily Loves Lola, I bought some friendship bracelets, which are really great for layering. I love layering jewellery as I think it can add so much more dimension to an outfit.

I'll probably have another haul post up later during the week. I am forever shopping. It's a sickness.

What have you purchased recently?

Say what it is I want to say to you

2011-10-14T03:45:00.002+08:00

I went out for dinner and drinks tonight with my friends to celebrate my 23rd (I'm old, I know) birthday, which was a couple of weeks ago. The night ended too early, but I had a lot of fun! I'll never understand fashion bloggers and how they have time to photograph their outfits. I'm one of those girls who's always rushing around at the last minute, trying to get ready. For the sake of my blog though, I'll get organised one of these days. Rather than show no photos, here are some Photo Booth ones I took when I got back home. I'm wearing the Topshop dress I talked about in this post and Ruby Woo lipstick. Bold lips is something I love, but never put into practise, but tonight I did because it was a special occasion and I'm so glad. I loved it! It is a little scary, but people care less than you think. It's a classic colour, yet you still stand out from the crowd.

Well, I've finished my mi goreng noodles, so it's off to bed now. I've been really into Panda Bear lately, so I'll leave you with one of my favourite songs of his. The music video is so trippy!

Oh, and I finally got my helix pierced! It took a while for me to be able to sleep on my left side without it hurting, but I love it now.

So when we go out, we always dance the same

2011-10-12T01:39:00.000+08:00

1. Cute Dress in Spot 2. Leather Pelmet Mini Skirt 3. Mango Chambray Shirt from ASOS

4. Stellar Sequin Skirt 5. Rainbow Tribe Skirt 6. Lula Scalloped Lace Dress from Nasty Gal

7. Cheap Monday Rozetta Sweater 8. RVCA Arrow shirt 9. Opening Ceremony Bow Cuff Shirt from Need Supply Co.

10. Sleeveless Lawn Button Up from American Apparel 11. Party Rock Sequin Sweater 12. Cat's Game Shorts from Sosie

Here are some clothing pieces I've been lusting over the past week or two. I've already purchased the ASOS stuff (minus the chambray shirt because they only ship it to the UK, damnit!) and I've fallen in love the website all over again. There have been so many lovely pieces on the site lately. It's so frustrating shopping on ASOS though because 95% of the time, they never have my size. Perhaps I should consider this a good thing because it means I'm not spending too much money. Still though, I can't help but feel a little upset when I'm not able to buy pretty things that I want. :p

Two new online stores I've discovered are Nasty Gal and Need Supply Co. Nasty Gal NEED to get that Rainbow Tribe Skirt back in skirt because I can't not have it in my life and Opening Ceremony needs to not be so expensive. $220 for a shirt? I am dreaming.

I've been getting into collared shirts lately and I really like the ones that American Apparel have on their website. I want to get two - one in the charcoal colour above and another in the rum raisin colour. Sosie has quickly become one of my new favourite stores. Those cat shorts are totally cute (I've been searching for the perfect Miu Miu-inspired clothing piece) and I'm so hoping they restock the Party Rock Sequin Sweater in my size again. So sparkly!

I'm sorry my posts have been so boring lately - these wishlist type posts will have to suffice for now because work has literally taken over my life. I barely have time to do simple errands like cleaning my room and doing my washing, but I need the money to save for my travels to Japan and Europe next year. Hopefully I'll have some time by the end of the week. Thanks for sticking around!

NOTD: Shimmery vampy red

2011-10-06T23:54:00.001+08:00

The current colour I'm wearing doesn't exactly scream out, "spring time", but I've never been one to follow beauty rules. It's probably my biggest pet peeve of the beauty blogging community. Any colour should be allowed to worn during any time of the year! I felt like wearing a dark and vampy red colour, so I teamed up OPI's Vodka & Caviar and Royal Rajah Ruby. On its own, Royal Rajah Ruby is more of a brownish red, so to cancel out the brown, I used Vodka & Caviar underneath, and they both work really well together to make a dark, sultry red colour. I've been wearing a lot of bright colours lately, so I thought I'd mix it up a bit this time around.

Do you ever use two nail polishes together? If so, which ones?

Can I wake you up? Is it late enough?

2011-10-04T22:45:00.000+08:00

I'm so sorry it's been a while since my last post! With Christmas well on its way, things at work have been busy and I haven't had a chance to take any photos of my latest purchases or my outfits. I don't like taking photos at night when I get home from work because I don't like working with artificial light. I attempted to take photos yesterday afternoon when I finished early, but it was a gloomy day and I just wasn't satisfied with the way they turned out! I have tomorrow off and the forecast is looking at a sunny day, so hopefully I'll get some nice photos for you all very soon.

In the meantime, here's a boring wishlist post. Well, the Topshop stuff I've actually bought, but the makeup, I've been lusting over for a while now. I've been so addicted to Topshop recently. Expensive, but worth every cent (pence?)! I bought two pairs of the Moto Baxter jeans because I love the colours and from all the fashion blogs I follow and reviews I read, they seem like a nice fit. I bought the Guipure Lace Peter Pan Blouse because I'm just starting to get into the Peter Pan collar/regular collar trend (I'm always the last to jump on bandwagons). I absolutely adore it - so cute and anything lace instantly grabs my eye. Lastly, I also bought the highly coveted Allegra Chelsea Platform Boots! I never looked at them on all the blogs I follow and thought, 'I MUST HAVE THEM', but then the other day while browsing the Topshop website, I couldn't stop staring at them. They're the perfect height for me because I am no good at walking in heels, but the quality and comfort of these shoes received good reviews. I'm so excited to get them in the mail!

I've been searching for the perfect pinky nude lipstick for a while now and I think I've found it in Jubilee by MAC. I was settled on buying Hug Me, but after swatching the two side by side, I decided I liked Jubilee more. I have both Creme d' Nude and Myth and while I love them, they aren't the kind of lipstick I can wear everyday because of my darker comeplexion and because they're so hard to work it. They shows the cracks in my lips like crazy! I've been contemplating trying the Blacktrack Fluidline line for a while now because I've heard it's much easier than using liquid eyeliner. I currently use MAC's Liquid Eye Liner in Boot Black and can't for the life of me get that perfect flick. I suppose practise makes perfect though. To apply the Fluidline, I'd buy the MAC 210 Precise Eyeliner Brush. I've also been lusting over Guerlain's Meteorites in Tient Rose. I would be lying if I said it wasn't the beautiful packaging and those cute colourful balls that attracted me to the product, but I've actually read amazing reviews. Plus, it's not too expensive to buy on eBay. I know a lot of people are against buying make up on eBay, but with the prices they charge in retail stores, Australian girls do not have a choice!

Bombay Bicycle Club and The Drums recently released new albums, both of which I've been enjoying immensely. I thought I'd share my two favourite songs, so enjoy! I'm off to paint my nails with OPI's Royal Rajah Ruby. My friends and I have VIP tickets to the Bloc Party DJ set tomorrow night. It's going to be so much fun!

♪ Bombay Bicycle Club - How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep
♪ The Drums - What You Were

Like a lonely lover's charm

2011-09-21T19:27:00.000+08:00

1. MAC lipsticks in Media, Viva Glam I and Ravishing 2. OPI nail polishes in Hey! Get In Lime! and The Color To Watch 3. Quirky Circus top and Bardot denim shorts 4. Parklife ticket!

I've been getting into bold lip colours lately and after watching jenYeah's video on her lipstick collection, I decided that I needed Media and Viva Glam I in my life. They're so beautiful, dark and vampy. On the other end of the spectrum, I also bought Ravishing because coral/orangey colours really suit my skintone and look so good during the summer. The next lipstick I want to buy is Jubilee because it looks like such a pretty nude. I love MAC and their amazing colour range!

I suffer from a serious addiction to nail polish, so I picked up these two. Hey! Get In Lime! was limited edition, but I bought it from good old eBay. I wanted a cute mint green nail polish to replace Barry M's, Mint Green, which I gave away. I want to like Barry M nail polishes, but I find the formula so hard to work with. It's just too goopy and slow-drying. I tried to stop myself from looking at the OPI nail polishes when I went into David Jones a couple of weeks ago, I really did try, but obviously not hard enough when I came out having purchased another nail polish I did not need. It's such a lovely and dreamy purple colour, and I couldn't resist!

This Sunday, I'm going to Parklife festival and I couldn't be more excited. Parklife is always the festival I look forward to the most because it marks the beginning of the music festival season and it always has the best lineups. It will be my fourth year in a row that I'll be attending. The bands I'm most looking forward to seeing include The Naked And Famous, Digitalism, Lykki Li, Simian Mobile Disco, Crystal Fighters, Mylo and Gossip. A couple of weeks ago when my best friend and I both had the day off work, we went shopping for Parklife outfits and I came across the cutest Quirky Circus top and Bardot shorts in Myer. The bottom part of the top is slightly sheer featuring a faint leopard print pattern and tucked into the Bardot shorts, it makes such a cute summer outfit. I've never owned a pair of coloured denim shorts before and I absolutely adore the colour of these. They're super short, but make my legs look amazing!

This weekend is going to be so much fun! Getting my hair done on Friday, road trip with my workmates on Saturday and Parklife on Sunday. I cannot wait!

Lykke Li - Get Some

Revamping my wardrobe for summer

2011-09-18T20:51:00.000+08:00

1. Keyhole Eyelet Romper 2. Studded Oxfords 3. Mayan Turquoise Ring from Sosie

4. Ponte Mini Skirt by Mink Pink Basics 5. Members Lounge Skater Skirt by Mink Pink 6. Oracle Owl Tank by Somedays Lovin 7. Aztec Swing Dress by I Like Wolves 8. Crown Street Skinny Jeans by Mink Pink 9. Middle Of Nowhere Shirt by Evil Twin from Market HQ

Don't you hate it when you have a wardrobe stuffed full of clothes, yet you still can't find anything to wear? I've been feeling so uninspired with my clothes lately - I feel like I want to get rid of everything I own and have a completely new wardrobe! I'm in the process of purging my wardrobe in order to make room for some new summer pieces I've had my eye on. I'm the kind of person who gets attached to my clothes and I think, 'Oh, I still like this, I may wear it one day', but then I never do. I must stop doing that!

I have fallen completely in love with the online shops, Sosie and Market HQ, which I discovered through banner advertisements on some of my favourite blogs. I don't own a summer romper and I thought this blue one was so lovely. I love the cute eyelet pattern. I think it's a waste only buying one item for an overseas online store, so I added these oxfords and ring to my cart too. Oxfords are the kind of shoe you can wear all year 'round and well, who doesn't love turquoise jewellery?

I have added Market HQ right up there with Topshop and Urban Outfitters as one of my favourite online clothing stores. They stock so much Mink Pink, which is one of my favourite brands and even better, it's an Australian site, so for once I'm not paying ridiculous prices on shipping! A black high-waisted skirt is an essential for any girl's wardrobe - it goes with everything and is so easy to wear. The one I currently own isn't a nice fit on me, so I'm hoping this Mink Pink one will be. Another essential is a pair of black skinny jeans. Not the most practical thing to wear in an Australian summer, but I need a new pair and jeans are the kind of thing to last years and years. It was love at first sight when I saw that skater skirt on the website. The blush colour makes it ultra girly and SO CUTE. I'd dress it up with edgy jewellery to tone down the girliness though. I've wanted a skater skirt for a while now and I think I've found the perfect one! A lot of the tops and basic dresses I own are all one block colour and really boring, so I want to get into more printed tops and patterned dresses. The Oracle Owl Tank was designed by one of my favourite fashion bloggers, Oracle Fox. I'm really fussy with prints, so if you know where I can find some other nice ones, please let me know! I know just the perfect jewellery and shoes of mine that I would wear with that Aztec dress, I just hopes it looks as good as I imagine it to be!

I'm feeling so excited about summer fashion! Summer has always been my favourite season, yet I never look forward to changing up my wardrobe because I love winter fashion more. I always feel like I look boring in summer because you can't really wear much, though I'm feeling differently this year. My only problem now? The money to buy it all...

Have you found any gorgeous pieces you want to wear this summer? If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, what winter fashion trends are you loving?

What we have here is a dreamer

2011-09-14T16:37:00.000+08:00

1. Ikea Tindra Tropical candle, MOR Feijoa Lime candle from David Jones and Dusk Caramel Chunk & Cookie Dough candle 2. Notepad and paperweight from Typo 3. Notebook and pen from Typo 4. MOR Belladonna Soapette 5. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Here are some random bits and bobs I've bought over the past few weeks. Two of my latest addictions: candles and the shop, Typo. I went a little candle crazy and bought three new ones, which are going to make my room smell so yum. I suppose they're more of a winter thing, but they're just so nice to burn at night time when you're all snuggled in bed with a movie. Plus, I got a couple of fruity ones, which totally smell like summer.

When I bought some stuff at Typo in Melbourne, I got a $10 voucher for spending over $30. When I visited Typo in Perth, I bought the cutest Eiffel Tower notepad and paperweight with it. If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know I am a complete Francophile. Anything with the Eiffel Tower on it will instantly catch my eye. A couple of weeks later, I paid another visit to my local Typo and bought the most beautiful notepad and pen. I love the vintage French look to it. I am a sucker for cute stationery. I bought it because I really want to teach myself a bit of French and I thought this would make the most perfect notebook to jot down all my notes and information.

I'm not a fan of soap as I find it way too drying, but I couldn't resist buying this MOR soap simply for the cute packaging. I'll probably just give the soap away. I plan on using the tin to store my hair ties and bobby pins, as it's the perfect size.

The Virgin Suicides has long been one of my favourite films, so I decided to buy the novel from eBay as I haven't read it before. I've never been a reader, but I wouldn't mind starting. I'm currently reading Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, so I'll finish that book first. I have no doubt The Virgin Suicides novel is just as beautiful and dreamy as Sofia Coppola's film.

Taking care of my skin, teeth and hair

2011-09-09T23:06:00.001+08:00

1. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, Instant Boost Skin Tonic, Skin Repair Light Moisturiser and muslin cloths 2. More Liz Earle stuff 3. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum 4. Go Smile Luxury Fluoride Toothpaste and Bumble and Bumble Shine On (And On…) Finishing Spray

In July, I placed my first order with Liz Earle and finally, I've found the perfect skincare routine for my skin. Yes, believe the hype, people. Liz Earle is amazing! I've tried so many brands - high end and drugstore - so many cleansers, toners, lotions and potions, with not much luck. After constantly hearing and reading beauty bloggers rave on about Liz Earle, I thought I'd give it a shot too and I was certainly impressed! My skin definitely isn't perfect, but I've never used a product that has helped control my breakouts as much as Liz Earle. After running out of the 50mL bottles just recently, I ordered two full size bottles of the cleanser and toner, plus the light moisturiser because I found the normal moisturiser a bit too heavy for me. I'm set for a good six months or so, I think! Ordering online internationally does mean I have to pay for shipping costs, but to me, it's worth it. When I add up all the costs, it doesn't even end up being much more that I'd pay for products in Australia.

Liz Earle always have special offers and promotions going on, so you definitely get your money's worth with free goodies! In the little blue pouch, I received more toner and moisturiser, Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer, Hand Repair and Superbalm. I am so thankful for the online beauty blogging community. Without it, I never would have discovered the wonder that is Liz Earle.

Another lady in beauty that I love is Estée Lauder. I had heard amazing reviews about this on both YouTube and Blogger and then I was overwhelmed to discover more great reviews on MakeupAlley. I knew I had to try this. A couple of weeks ago, I visited the Estée Lauder counter at Myer and the saleslady was super friendly and helpful! I've never experienced such great customer service. She threw in a whole bunch of Idealist Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher Serum and DayWear moisturiser samples for me, which was so nice of her! She told me to use these two products during the day and the Advanced Night Repair at night. She told me if there was one skincare item she couldn't live without it was this. I've used it a few times so far and I've definitely noticed a difference.

Lastly, I paid a visit to Mecca Cosmetica so I could pick up that Bumble and Bumble Shine On spray I've had on my wishlist. It smells like and has a similar effect to Brilliantine, which is one of my favourite hair products of theirs. I also picked up a whitening toothpaste because I've been getting into teeth whitening lately. It's lemonade flavour, which is really different (and yum!), though it doesn't foam much. Most higher end toothpastes are like that, but I suppose that's a good thing because Sodium Lauryl Sulfate isn't.

Well, thanks if you read all that! This post has inspired me to do a skincare and haircare routine soon.

We didn't need a story

2011-09-01T19:51:00.000+08:00

Denim jacket and necklace - Topshop | bodysuit - vintage from eBay | skirt - Forever 21 | bracelet - Sportsgirl | ring and sheer stockings - Urban Outfitters

My first outfit post! I actually got ready early yesterday, so I'd have time to take photos. It felt nice to be ready on time and I really want to start doing more outfit posts too. Apologies for the poor lighting. The sun was starting to set as I took these photos and man, taking good outfit posts with just you and your tripod is not easy! I kept standing off centre in the photos and being the perfectionist that I am, so many shots just weren't right. Oh, well. This isn't bad for a first attempt, right?

My friend and I went to The Rosemount last night for drinks as her boyfriend had a gig there last night. He plays the drums in the band, Bull & Bear, and they put on a great show. I always tell myself that if I were in a band, I'd be the drummer. I just love the way the instrument can build up a song and make it so powerful and energetic. It was a lot of fun watching the people dance, though I don't think I reached that stage of drunkenness until after their performance! We drank Midori and lemonade before heading out and then numerous cheap $5 Vodka's and tequila shots at the bar. The cheap $13 steak with salad and mashed potato was amazing too! Overall, a really great night. I'm so glad to have discovered another great bar in Perth besides Amplifier that plays good music too!

What does everyone think of the new Blogger format? It's really clean and minimal, I think. I like it!

I'm currently listening to M83's new album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming and it's absolutely sublime. His music is so dreamy and beautiful.

M83 - Intro (ft. Zola Jesus)

Let the only sound be the overflow

2011-08-31T01:50:00.004+08:00

Florence + The Machine - What The Water Gave Me

1. August/September issue of Russh and MAC lipstick in Ruby Woo 2. American Apparel Velvet Full Woven Skirt in Burgundy 3. Lace detailed top and paisley printed dress by Quirky Circus from Myer 4. Bardot Colette Knit 5. Lancôme Ombre Absolue eyeshadow in Infiniment Kaki

Here are some pretty things I bought at the beginning of the month. If you don't know already, Russh is my bible. My absolute favourite magazine ever! It's a wonderful mixture of fashion, culture and beauty and the reason why I love it so much is because I always feel the most inspired and in love when I read this magazine. It makes me feel extra special that it's Australian too.

I got a $60 rewards card from Myer at the beginning of August, so I treated myself to some make up goodies! I had been looking for the perfect retro/50s red lipstick that would suit my skintone for quite some time, and I found that Ruby Woo lipstick from MAC perfectly fit this description. I had been deadset on getting Russian Red after looking at swatches of the two colours online, but after swatching them in real life, I found Russian Red was a little dark. I'm so in love with Ruby Woo! It's a matte finish and it's amazing how good wearing a classic red lipstick can make you feel. Now I just have to be brave enough to wear it outside the house!

As for the other beauty goodie, I bought this Lancôme eyeshadow as I had also been looking for a nice olive/khaki coloured one. I originally wanted to get the 'Colour Design' Sensational Effects eyeshadow in Design (featured in this post), but when they didn't have it at my local Lancôme counter, I settled for this one, which I'm still really happy with.

I remember seeing a picture of a girl wearing a dark red velvet skirt on Tumblr and I thought it was absolutely gorgeous. One night, when I was randomly looking at the American Apparel website, I came across this one and instantly bought it! The burgundy colour is a little more raspberry in colour in real life, but it's still really pretty. It was a little poorly made though. The zip sticks out a little, which looks like a bump on the side of my hip and there's no label on the garment! This is the first item I've ever bought from American Apparel and I definitely expected better quality, but oh well. It's still nice.

With spring approaching, I decided to buy a couple of items because I just couldn't resist. I absolutely love Quirky Circus! They're a brand by Mink Pink and I love that they're Australian. I picked up this beautiful rust coloured top with lace detailing and a paisley printed summer dress. I can't wait to wear these! The Bardot knit jumper I bought is probably the last winter item I'll purchase this year. I've never been a huge knit fan, but I fell in love with the crochet pattern and the colour of it. Bardot is another one of my favourite Australian brands.

In other news that is completely off topic, I've been absolutely obsessed with Florence + The Machine's new track, What The Water Gave Me. It's a beautiful and epic ballad and I seriously cannot wait for her new album. Just when you think Florence can't get anymore amazing, she does. Oh, Florence. ♥

I can't believe it's freaking September tomorrow! My birthday month. Time rapidly goes by me and I'm getting way too old way too fast.

The heart is a stone and this is a stone that we throw

2011-08-26T23:58:00.007+08:00

1. Lost & Found Object Necklace 2. Tiered Geometrical Necklace 3. Moustache Necklace 4. UO Semiprecious Necklace 5. Mineral Pendant Necklace 6. Assymetrical Feather & Stud Earring 7. Natural Stone Ring 8. Cheap Monday Hawk Ring all from Urban Outfitters

I made the mistake of browsing Urban Outfitters online a couple of nights ago because I literally became OBSESSED with all of their current jewellery! Everything is just gorgeous and so me. I've never been one to follow trends (I either hate them or I get into them after they've died down), but I really love the feather and semi-precious stone jewellery trend that's currently in. Above are the pieces that I have added to my Urban Outfitters wishlist, though seeing as though I got an amazing tax return back today, I can justify a little splurge!

In other news, I went to the hairdressers today and a good cut is just what it needed because it was annoying the hell out of me. I didn't get too much of the length off - just the dry ends and my fringe reshaped. They put a nourishing treatment in my hair too and it's already made such a difference. Plus, I went to buy that Bumble and Bumble finishing spray at Mecca today and I love it!

I've been thinking about piercings lately. I've already got two in each ear lobe, but I want to get a third in my right ear and then a helix piercing (upper cartilage) in my left ear. I've never been someone crazy into piercings, but all of sudden, I can't get it out of my mind!

Well, I hope you all enjoy your weekend. I have a long day of work ahead of me tomorrow and then I'm going out for Indian curry with my workmates for dinner. I'm sure the rest of the night will lead us somewhere fun too.

Beach House - 10 Mile Stereo

So many things, so little money...

2011-08-25T00:46:00.007+08:00

Oh my God, you guys. I need to stop spending so much time on the Internet. Like, pick up a book or something because the more time I spend on here, the more time I'm online window shopping, which leads me to put wishlists together AND THEN leads me to spending money! It's not good. I am well aware that I have a problem. Here's what I'm currently dreaming of:

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum and NuBo Diamond Peel and Reveal: after watching Pixi2woo's latest skincare routine, I've decided that I need these two items in my life. I have quite acne prone skin, so I've actually needed to invest in a good serum and exfoliator for quite some time. I was absolutely blown away by the reviews for the serum on Makeup Alley.

Bumble and Bumble Shine On (And On…) Finishing Spray: I'm a huge fan of Bumble & Bumble haircare and I need a nice spray to make my thick and coarse hair look shiny. My hair's been unusually dry these past few days and definitely needs some shine. Hopefully a visit to the hairdressers on Friday will give it some TLC too.

MAC lipsticks in Viva Glam I, Ravishing and Hug Me: my favourite lipstick colours to wear are either dark red colours, corals or nudes and I think these three colours all fit that category perfectly. I've already swatched these at my local MAC counter and I'm in love. I just haven't got the courage to part with my money yet!

MAC eyeshadow quad in Lady Grey: this eyeshadow quad is from the new MAC Me Over collection, which was released online two days ago. While I prefer the permanent line over MAC's never-ending collections, I instantly fell in love with this quad. They feature such beautiful soft colours, which is perfect for the upcoming spring. I can't wait to get my hands on this! If you can't wait either, check out Temptalia's review and swatches here.

Topshop jewellery and dress: I need to live in the UK so I have access to Topshop all the time! I absolutely love this store. Feathers are a huge trend at the moment and I instantly fell in love with this Feather Bracelet by Pamela Love. It's on sale too, so if I buy it, I won't feel too guilty! I love my rings big and bold, so I really want to get my hands (or fingers?) on this gorgeous Swirl Engraved Ring. Lastly, I need this Adelina Dress by Motel in my life. I've been looking for the perfect dress with mesh and I think I've found it! I think this top and this skirt are also adorable, but alas, they don't have my size. I'm no money machine though, so it's actually probably for the best.

Forever 21 Suede Woven Skirt in Rust and Whiskered Skinny Jeans in Dark Denim and Denim Black.

With Forever 21's international shipping being ridiculously expensive, two of my friends and I decided to buy some items together and then split the shipping cost. It had been a long time since I had visited the site as I had told myself not to because I didn't want to pay for shipping. Usually I find so many amazing things on the site, but I'm glad I didn't this time around. I bought these three items and I can't wait for them to arrive. I've needed new jeans for a while and I just adore the colour of the skirt.

Well, that's it for today. Tomorrow I'll show you what I want from Urban Outfitters! Oh, dear. I need payday. My Liz Earle Hot Cloth Polish Cleanser and toner just ran out, so I'm making an order of that right now because skincare is first priority.

What's on your wishlist?

My favourite bloggers

2011-08-24T21:46:00.003+08:00

I thought I'd put together a list of my favourite blogs, not just as a reference for myself, but also because I think you should check these lovely ladies out! These are the blogs that I just love seeing updates pop up on my Blogger dashboard. I was going to write a little comment for each blog I love, but then I realised I'd be here all day and I'd be repeating myself a lot too. Just know now I love these blogs not only because these girls are gorgeous, but I think they have their own unique sense of style and I find them the most creative and inspiring. With the exception of a few Australian and European, I mostly follow UK bloggers. I'm not sure why, but I guess I just find myself more drawn to their style.

I've also put together a list of my favourite YouTubers to watch as well. I hope you all have fun with this list and discover some wonderful blogs! Also, if you have any to recommend me, please do so! Even if it's your own! I may add this blog post as a link in my sidebar because I'm sure I'll always be adding to it.

Vicky at 25-36
Alexis at Amgoorie
Sophie at Baby Goth Girl
Samantha at Beauty Crush
Alix at The Cherry Blosson Girl
Vivian at Chic To Kill
Chantal at Cocorosa
Rebekah at D Is For Dangerous
Charlene at Dainty Dresses
Lola at Deer & Ghost
Marie at The Dying Swans
Victoria at Ellevictoire
Bebe at Fated to be Hated
Ellenor at Freak on a Leash
Kate at Ghostparties
Erika at Handful of Fashion
Hannah and Landon at Hannah and Landon
Alix at I Covet Thee
Marie at It's A Dull Life
Hannah at J'aime Les Fleurs
Keiko at Keiko Lynn
Lauren at Lauren Woodward
Betty at Le Blog de Betty
Jessica at Little Henry Lee
Laura at The Limits of Control
Lily at LLYMLRS / ETCLLYMLRS
Sandra at Niotillfem
Emma at Oh Emma
Vicky at Prairie My Heart
Rachel at Rachel Phipps / The Glossy Guide
Lily at Red Brick Lipstick
Zoe at Romeo and the Lonely Girl
Rosie at Rosie Lord
Jane at Sea of Shoes
Jo at Shootin' Acid
Caroline at Sparkly Vodka
Panda at Studmuffin
Bethany at Style Fashion Vintage Baby
Katie at Tattyboots
Jessica at Tuula
Jessie at The Velvet Bow
Carrie at Wish Wish Wish
Maria at WSMA
Zoella at Zoella

YouTubers
Birdie at 92HandM99
Sarah at alllldolledup
Samantha at Beauty Crush
Erin at EGHeartsSSC
Sarah at FoundOnFilm
Immie at ImmieTheNerd
Jen at jenYeah
Megan at meganheartsmakeup
Michele at michele1218
Tanya at pixi2woo
Nic and Sam at pixiwoo
Sarah at sarahbelle93x
Alexa at smokeypinkleopard
Sara at SWalkerMakeup
Leesha at xsparkage

♥

Wardrobe tour

2011-08-21T21:44:00.003+08:00

As you might be able to tell from the pictures, I'm quite obsessive when it comes to neatness and organisation. I'm one of those weirdos where if something isn't in its right place in my room, I can't sleep. I'm not even joking. I am almost certain I have a mild case of OCD. I like knowing exactly where my things are, as I'm usually always rushing to get ready. Here's how I've organised my wardrobe shelves:

〮 Shelf 1 - perfumes and some jewellery
〮 Shelf 2 - underwear (folded in rainbow order because it looks pretty), bras, socks and bathers
〮 Shelf 3 - tees and singlets
〮 Shelf 4 - pyjamas and lazy day clothes
〮 Shelf 5 - shorts, jeans, leggings, pants, tights and stockings
〮 Shelf 6 - a few beauty products (mostly haircare) and nail polish

On my wardrobe rail, I hang my bags (I don't have very many) on a hanger and also hanging from that hanger is a tote bag, which holds my scarves, belts and purses. From left to right, I then hang my coats, jackets, jumpers, dresses, skirts, more dresses and then my sunglasses folded on a hanger. I'm not sure why I hang my skirts in between my dresses, but it's been like that for years and I'm used to it, so I don't want to change it. I don't have very much floor space in my wardrobe, so stackable plastic shoe boxes come in really handy and I also put shoes on top of each other without boxes.

I like having plain walls in my room as I like minimalism, but I also love collages as they add so much personality. I came up with the idea of just collaging the inside of my wardrobe walls, that way, I can hide it whenever I like and still have the minimalist look. My wardrobe has been like this for two years now and I'm still not sick of the pictures because each one means a lot to me.

Overall, I'm really happy with the way I've organised and decorated my wardrobe. I think every girl should take pride in her wardrobe as it does hold our most valuable possessions - our clothes and shoes!

In and out list #1

2011-08-17T21:24:00.009+08:00

Hello! I'm sorry it's been a while since I last blogged. With work and gloomy weather, I'm finding it a little difficult at the moment, which is annoying because I have so many fun things I want to blog about! Being the perfectionist that I am though, I need beautiful sunlight for nice photos. Today I put together an in and out list - a list of things I'm liking and things I'm not. I've seen a lot of other bloggers do this and I thought I'd join in because lists are fun. I may make this a weekly thing, if not, a monthly thing. It depends how interesting my life is!

In
- Cleaning and organising my wardrobe while listening to Broken Social Scene.
- Liz Earle Hot Cloth Polish Cleanser and drinking water. My skin isn't perfect, but it has improved so much!
- Listening to Polish Girl and Fallout by Neon Indian on repeat. Cannot wait for his new album, Era Extraña.
- Seeing Jinja Safari live last weekend.
- My MAC 188 stipling brush for applying blush. I've avoided using my stipling brushes for blush application for the longest time because I couldn't use them properly. All it took was a bit of patience and practise and now I love it! It gives an airbrushed/flushed look to the cheeks.
- Chicken and guacamole burritos at Salsas, a really awesome Mexican food joint.
- Finally doing my tax return and getting a whole lot of money back!
- China Glaze nail polish in For Audrey.

Out
- Gloomy winter weather that makes horrible photography lighting - it's the reason why I haven't blogged in so long!
- 12 hour shifts at work and being called into work at the last minute, which also leaves me no time to blog.
- Having to throw out a MAC Plushglass and my Studio Sculpt Concealer because the lid cracked and started leaking, while my concealer was beginning to smell funky. I still had so much product left!
- Wanting to exercise to tone up and get fit, but not having the motivation to do so. Note to self: stop being lazy!

I have to be up early tomorrow for work, so I'm off to relax in bed with a movie. I'm thinking of Valley Of The Dolls. Good night!

Neon Indian - Fallout

NOTD: Space nails

2011-08-06T17:06:00.004+08:00

Ring from ASOS

I'm not usually one to make a big fuss over my nails. While I can't stand not wearing nail polish, I find most nail art really tacky and I'd much rather stick to the one solid colour on nicely groomed short, real nails. I have a hatred for fake nails, which you do not even want to get me started on.

However, when I discovered D Is For Dangerous, which is now one of my favourite blogs, I came across this creative and super pretty nail tutorial that I just had to try out. Inspired by nebular photographs, the nail tutorial shows you how to bring space and a beautiful cosmic element to your nails.

To try this on your nails yourself, you can either read Rebekah's tutorial here or watch Nails By Asami's video here, which is what I did. Like Asami, I chose to use holographic and duochrome nail polishes, but like Rebekah, I went with purple colours as I liked the look of it more.

After applying OPI's base coat, I used Black Satin by Chanel (I didn't use a matte black as I didn't think it really mattered) and then used DS Diamond and Not Like The Movies both by OPI with the paper towel technique. As my top coat, I used I Juggle… Men by OPI, which has fine particles of glitter and shimmer in it. I didn't use any chunky glitter nail polish because I'm not a fan of glitter nail polish. Here's a tip: I found waiting a few seconds for the nail polish to dry on the paper towel useful as it became sort of tacky, which helped achieved the patchiness rather than a blob!

I really liked how my version turned out. It's subtle, but still effective. With its green and purple duochrome, Not Like The Movies perfectly complements DS Diamond, which is a holographic silvery purple colour. I Juggle… Men adds that starry and sparkly effect without overdoing it.

This is probably the only nice nail tutorial I've come across. I just love the dreaminess of it.

Melbourne haul - Part two

2011-08-04T20:49:00.003+08:00

1. Cards from Typo 2. Stationery holders, drink bottle and pen from Typo 3. Photo frame from General Pants Co. and knickers from Cotton On 4. Bracelets by Seed from David Jones 5. Joanne Mercer boots from Joanne Mercer 6. Steve Madden flats from Steve Madden

Is buying stationery on a holiday random? If I had known there was a Typo store in Perth, I never would've bought these, but oh well. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with these cards yet - maybe stick them on my wall. I'm so in love with my Eiffel Tower drink bottle. It's encouraging me to drink more water, which is great!

I temporarily stuck a card from La Belle Miette in my photo frame from General Pants Co. just for this photo, but I may leave it in there for a while. I went in there looking for clothes, but didn't see anything I liked. It was day two in Melbourne and I was feeling bummed I hadn't bought anything yet, so I just bought it! I then bought these cute undies because they're so me. If you can't tell already, I am obsessed with anything and everything French. I'm a complete Francophile.

Surprisingly, I didn't end up buying any clothes in Melbourne. I just didn't really see anything I liked and I didn't want to shop in the stores we already have in Perth. Tuula has a wonderful list of Melbourne vintage stores on her blog, so when I go back (hopefully soon!), I'll be sure to visit those.

With an overflowing wardrobe, I didn't really need any clothes (though it never stops me from buying, anyway), but I've been on the hunt for some nice brown boots and these Joanne Mercer ones are so nice. I usually prefer flat shoes, but these small wedge boots are really comfortable and I could use the height. Not that I care when people make fun of me for being short, but a good pair of heels can make your legs look amazing. I also bought these Steve Madden flats on sale because everyone needs a good pair of black ballet flats. I'm happy with these shoe purchases because these are both shops we don't have in Perth and I got the Steve Madden shoes on sale. I rarely ever find things I like that are on sale or in my size!

Well, that's it for today. Bye!

Melbourne haul - Part one

2011-08-03T20:30:00.004+08:00

Chanel Ombres Contraste Duo in #40 Misty - Soft, Chanel nail polish in #515 Pêche Nacrée and macarons from La Belle Miette

Chanel and macarons. Lovely combination, right? Ah, France, there is nothing I don't love about you. On one of the days, I met up with one of my very good online friends at Chadstone Shopping Centre, which was my first time meeting someone from the Internet. I was a bit nervous, thinking it might be weird or awkward, but it totally wasn't. It just feels like you've known them all along and I'd really love to meet more of my online friends in the future.

We browsed around all the fancy shmancy stores and spent ages in the Chanel Boutique because it was the only thing I really knew I wanted from Melbourne - something Chanel. We have Chanel counters all around Perth, though we don't have a boutique and I wanted the little bag! Is that sad? I settled on this gorgeous duo of plum colours and I cannot wait to try it out. I may do a look with it soon and post it here. All of a sudden, this nail polish popped out to me and I instantly needed it in my life. It's a gorgeous shimmery peachy pink colour. Peach/coral colours are one of my all time favourites.

On my last day in Melbourne, one of my old high school friends who now lives there, took me out for lunch and then to this cute macaron shop on Hardware Lane called Le Belle Miette, which means "beautiful crumb" or "beautiful small thing". The flavours I got were Bastille, lemon (my favourite), blueberry, pistachio, rose and pomegranate. I can't believe I've waited a whole week to eat these just to take photos! They do make a cute and colourful subject matter though.

On a completely different topic, I reached 50 followers today! I suppose it's not a lot, but it still makes me really happy. I'm having a lot of fun in the blogging world and everyone in it is so lovely, inspiring and creative, so thank you all so much!

Part deux of my haul tomorrow!

I promise we'll be perfect

2011-08-02T19:42:00.011+08:00

I had the most amazing time in Melbourne last week. I really miss it and five days definitely wasn't long enough. I miss the food, the culture, the alleyways, the grunginess and the sound of trams. I want to be back there so much and I'm considering moving there within the next two years - maybe sooner. The city is just so me and I know that I definitely don't want to stay in Perth for the rest of my life.

I did take photos, but unfortunately, they came out horrible! There were always people getting in the way and because of Melbourne's up and down weather, it was hard to work with lighting. I want to go back very soon and when I do, I'll be sure to document my visit through lots of photographs because there's so much to see.

I did do a little bit of shopping while I was there, but I haven't been able to photograph my haul yet because I came home to the most awful Perth weather. And they say Melbourne is notorious for its bad weather! Ha. It's been rainy and gloomy all week, which does not make for ideal lighting. I hate that this weather stops me from blogging more often. There's so much I want to do! I really want to start posting make up looks and outfits of the day soon.

Please forgive this rather boring update, which is just another wishlist. Am I ever not wanting things? No! My Myer One gift card is expected in the mail soon, so I plan on buying a couple of MAC lipsticks in Russian Red and Media because I want to start getting into bold lip colours. To go with it, a light flush of Amour by NARS on the cheeks would look lovely. I've been on the hunt for the perfect shimmery olivey green eyeshadow and I've decided that this Lancôme 'Colour Design' Sensational Effects one is perfect. I've never been much of a sneakers person as ballet flats are my shoes of choice, but lately, I've been finding myself branch out a little and I'm thinking about buying my very first pair of Converse All Stars! I'm not sure what else I'd wear them with apart from jeans, so if you have any cute outfit ideas, please let me know!

I've been getting into 90s alternative/grunge music lately. Here's a song from the genre that I've been playing on repeat the past few days.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Perfect

And I can feel the madness inch by inch

2011-07-21T20:22:00.006+08:00

1. Apple, Country Road, Bardot and MAC shopping bags! 2. MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30, Studio Finish Concealer in NC30 and Reflects Glitters in Reflects Pearl and Reflects Antique Gold 3. Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil hair mask, Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum and Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry 4. OPI nail polishes in Not Like The Movies, I Juggle… Men and DS Diamond 4. Liz Earle Healthy, Beautiful Skin Kit 5. Ankle boots from Betts 6. ASOS sheer heart stockings and skirt from Bardot 7. Wheat heat pack from Maya Muse Textiles

Massive haul, I know! This is all that I've accumulated over the past month or so. With the winter weather, my skin has become a tad lighter, so I went up a shade in my foundation and concealer. I've been watching a lot of Pixiwoo's videos on YouTube (absolutely adore those girls), so I blame them for buying those pigments! They're just absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to wear them on a night out!

If you look a few posts down, I've been able to cross some things off my beauty wishlist! I was originally going to buy the Bumble & Bumble Creme de Coco Hair Masque, but the salesperson at Mecca Cosmetica recommended me this Kiehl's one. I've used it a few times and I'm loving it. I'm not sure whether it's better than Bumble & Bumble - probably about the same - but it definitely beats the Phyto one I was using before. I'm so happy I bought the Lush Lip Scrub, which is amazing and tastes sooo good! Yes, it's edible. I could eat it like lollies… but I won't. I also bought one of the new Maybelline Baby Lips because I couldn't resist the cute packaging. It works really well though too.

The OPI nail polishes were on my wishlist too and I'm very happy with them. Not Like The Movies from the Katy Perry collection is particularly lovely. It's an iridescent green/silver/purple colour with tiny flex of glitter and it looks so dreamy on the nails! I'm going to use these three colours on a nail tutorial I really want to try out. Also, sll three are limited edition, but eBay is your friend.

Still on beauty, I finally caved in and bought Liz Earle Hot Cloth Polish Cleanser! I couldn't help but be sucked into the hype by all the UK beauty bloggers. I bought the Healthy, Beautiful Skin Kit, which came with the toner and moisturiser and for free, I got a small tube of the cleanser, which was such a nice gift. I've been using it inbetween trying to finish up the small amounts I have left of my other skincare products and so far, I love it. I can't wait to make this my single skincare routine.

I got some new boots from Betts because the only boots I own have heels, but I needed something flat for walking around in. They were on sale and they're so versatile as they'd look great with any outfit, I think. I can't wait to wear these comfy shoes while walking around and shopping in Melbourne!

From Bardot, I got this really gorgeous ruched skirt, which I think would look great to wear on a night out. It would even look great worn casually with my new boots! I also bought some sheer heart stockings from ASOS because they're just so cute. Pretty much all my favourite fashion bloggers own a pair and I decided that I needed to too.

Lastly, this is kind of a random item to show, but I really wanted to because I just love the design. I bought a wheat heat pack to keep my feet toasty warm in bed because I'm weird and don't like wearing socks to sleep. The soothing lavendar scent helps me fall asleep at night and I love how the design matches my bed spread. So cute!

Items not shown - world adapter kit from and battery charger from Apple and leggings and tights from Country Road.

I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow, so when I get back, I'll definitely have another massive haul to share with you all! I'm a little bit frightened of how much I may spend. Hopefully I'll have time to update again tomorrow before I leave.

You feel the thought of learning again

2011-07-14T18:15:00.006+08:00

I've been a little bit stressed out these past couple of weeks trying to organise my trip to Melbourne. I'm only going for four days, but Tiger Airways cancelled all flights for the rest of the month, so my friends and I had to rebook them with another airline and we couldn't book our accomodation until we had sorted that out. It's all been taken care of now, so I can relax and just feel excited! We leave next Friday (though we won't get there until Saturday) and come back on Wednesday night. It'll be my first time flying! I cannot wait. I'm going to shop 'til I drop, have lunch in little independent cafés, have a drunken picnic in the zoo, try Krispy Kreme donuts, catch up with my Melbournian friends, have a bit of a gamble at the Crown Casino and stay out until the wee hours of the morning. As this is only a short trip, there will be no time for sleep in Melbourne! When I get back, I'll be planning next year's trips to Japan and Europe!

As I mentioned a few posts back, I had been contemplating getting an iPhone. When I spoke to my friend who works at Vodafone, she told me I still had to wait until my current phone contract expires. Luckily my best friend upgraded to the iPhone 4 and she's letting me borrow her old iPhone 3 in the meantime. How did I go so long without one? They are life changing! I am absolutely addicted to Doodle Jump. It's the best mobile phone game since Nokia's Snake. I bought a transparent pink hardshell cover for my new love and my wallpaper features my favourite band, Cut Copy. I love it. Hopefully by the time my contract expires, the iPhone 5 will be out.

I'm currently going through Radiohead's discography and listening to all their albums. How did it take me so long to discover this amazing band? Thom Yorke is a musical genius. Well, I'm off to go wash my hair and paint my nails now. Thursday nights are my pampering nights, so I'm set for the weekend! I shall leave you with three tracks I'm loving from Washed Out's new album, Within And Without. Enjoy!

♪ Eyes Be Closed
♪ Echoes
♪ Soft

Style icon: Chloë Sevigny

2011-07-11T18:58:00.003+08:00

Images from my Tumblr and OhChloëSevigny. Some images edited by me.

Over the past couple of years, I've become a huge fan of Chloë Sevigny. I'd always see people talking about her on the Internet and while I hate admitting this, I did actually think to myself, "Who is she? She's not even that pretty!", which I totally take back. It was after I saw her in Party Monster that completely changed my opinion on her after it became one of my all time favourite films. Upon seeing more of her movies, I realised that she's a quirky, beautiful and talented actress and there's really no one else like her in the business. I've learnt that I'm the kind of person who finds someone appealing on the basis of what I think about their work because the more of Chloë's movies I saw, the more beautiful I thought she was.

She seems like someone who is truly passionate about the art of film making. I love that she chooses a wide range of roles from mainstream movies, indie movies and very low-budget arthouse films. Her choice of characters to play are so fucked up and I like that. One of my friends commented saying she didn't like her because she was so weird, but that's exactly what I like about her. She's so different.

I couldn't make a post on Chloë without commenting on her style, now could I? She's probably got one of the interesting and unique styles I've seen and I just love the outfits she chooses to wear on the red carpet and press events. She looks particularly adorable in that Miu Miu outfit, don't you think? I really love her line for Opening Ceremony and I'd love to own an item (or two) from one of her collections one of these days!

I love that she was a part of the Chloé fragrance campaign because it's one of my favourite perfumes ever to wear on nights out. I also really love the way she does (or her make up artist does) her make up. Her eyes are always kept simple, but with a bright, bold colour on her lips. She can totally rock the red and the coral lipsticks. I love her thin lips because big pouts can be overrated sometimes.

What do you think of Chloë's style? What are your favourite movies of hers? Mine are Party Monster, Kids and Boy's Don't Cry. I haven't seen Big Love, but if it's worth watching, please let me know!

A visible illusion

2011-07-06T17:24:00.008+08:00

I'm not much of a reader, but I absolutely love coffee table books. I love books about fashion, style, make up and all things beautiful and creative. I love looking through the pages with those big glossy images because they instantly inspire me and for me, the stunning visuals that accompany the words always make them a little bit more enjoyable to read.

Here is what my book collection looks like. I bought My French Life by Vicki Archer and Makeup The Ultimate Guide by Rae Morris about three years ago from Myer. My French Life tells the travelling adventures of Vicki Archer with beautiful photography by Carla Coulson. Makeup The Ultimate Guide also features stunning photography and teaches you the very basics about make up application.

Aren't these Little Miss books totally adorable? One of my best guy friends bought these for me for Christmas one year because I'm a little bit shy, small and a total neat freak! I'd love to own the whole collection of these.

Nylon is one of my favourite magazines, so when I saw these books on Amazon for relatively inexpensive, I just had to buy them. Play is about music, which features some pretty cool bands, Pretty is about beauty, which will teach you how to create celebrity signature looks, while Street features the street style of everyday people from many different cities across the world.

I remember when MKA's book first came out and it was such a must-have. I didn't give in immediately, but I'm glad I did because this book is just wonderful. I'm not a religious follower of fashion, but I do love it - both high end and street style - which is also why I bought New York Look Book.

The Photo Album is a book by Frankie magazine (another one of my favourites), which features everyday photographs from everyday people. Most of these photos come from Flickr and this book is like a small version of my Flickr Favourites. This book is full of many wonderful photos and I love Frankie a lot, so I'm thinking about getting their recipe and interior design books.

Fifi Lapin - What Shall I Wear Today? and Keep Calm and Carry On are my two most recent purchases I received last week. I've been on the hunt for the Fifi Lapin book for quite some time and I'm so glad I finally got my hands on it! I originally ordered it from Amazon, but it took them well over a month to tell me they didn't have it in stock anymore. Funnily enough, I ended up finding it on an Australian online bookstore. Keep Calm and Carry On came up in the recommended suggestions section and I couldn't pass it up. It's full of such inspirational and witty quotes.

I'd really love to own The Virgin Suicides photo book, but it's $400 on Amazon, so it's fair to say that this will never happen in my lifetime.

Actual reading books I'd love to own:
- Animal Farm by George Orwell (loved this book when I studied it in high school. I find revolutions and corrupt political leaders so fascinating)
- Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (I've heard good things about this book and I'd love to read this, since I loved Animal Farm so much)
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (I loved both movies that were made)
- The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (as one of my favourite films ever, I really need to read the book)
- High Fidelty by Nick Hornby (as a music lover, I loved the movie and I have no doubt I would love the book)
- Breakfast At Tiffany's by Truman Capote (do I really need to explain?)

One day I dream of owning my own little apartment or cottage-like house with white walls, hardwood floors and window seats. I'd decorate it with chandeliers, photos, French things, magazine clippings and a white Expedit bookcase from Ikea to house all my pretty books and knick knacks. I think showing off your books in your home can instantly add character and personality.

What are some of your favourite books?

The current state of my never-ending beauty wishlist

2011-06-29T21:57:00.006+08:00

Despite having a bit of a sore throat and the sniffles (ugh, winter. Jealous of you all in the Northern Hemisphere!), today was a relatively good day. I went to work, got my eBay parcels posted (I love making some quick and easy cash selling my old clothes!) and received my Urban Decay NAKED PALETTE in the mail! Yes, I finally decided to cave in and I couldn't be happier. I may post a look using the holy grail palette later in the week. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Chinese I was craving during my shift (it was all I could think about at work, haha) and the green tea with lemon and honey I made myself when I got home. Mmm. It's my favourite tea to drink during the winter and it always soothes my throat.

Now that I can cross the Naked Palette off my wishlist, here's what's left on it. It's a never-ending cycle of wanting and buying for me.

Liz Earle Healthy, Beautiful Skin Kit: all the UK beauty bloggers rave on about this and I simply must try it. I have quite problematic skin and I'm hoping this will help out a little. I'm almost out of my cleansing oil, cleanser and moisturiser, so I'll probably be purchasing this next pay day. £28.10 for a cleanser, toner and moisturiser doesn't seem all that bad to me either.

Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco Masque: I've used this in the past before and I absolutely loved it. It made my hair feel so soft and nourished, not to mention, smell amazing! I could eat this stuff. After using a Phyto hair mask, I really want to go back to this.

Soap & Glory Scrub, Actually, The Righteous Butter and Hand Maid Gel: I don't know whether it's the pink retro packaging, the lovely scent, the witty pun names of their products or all three, but I love this brand. I'm almost out of my S&G The Scrub Of Your Life body wash and The Body Shop Shea Butter body butter, so I'd really like to get the Scrub, Actually and The Righteous Butter to replace them. I want the Hand Maid Gel just because. It's so cute! How can you pass up cute? I never used to like the smell of Miss Dior Cherie, but Soap & Glory has changed my mind.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser: I've heard great things about this tinted moisturiser and I'm really eager to try it because I'm sick of wearing foundation everyday. I never used to, but it just became easier to apply because I needed the coverage. I want to start letting my skin breathe again and from my research, I've heard Laura Mercier has the most coverage.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub: with the cold weather, my lips have been feeling more dry than usual and I hate that gross skin that can build up on them. I've heard good things about the Lush Lip Scrubs and that they smell amazing. Apparently you can eat them too? I'm all for anything that smells great and is edible. $10 isn't too harsh on the bank account either.

OPI nail polishes in I Juggle Men, Not Like The Movies and DS Diamond: these aren't colours I'd normally buy, but there's this really cool nail tutorial I want to try and these colours would be perfect for it. I have actually been contemplating buying Not Like The Movies from the Katy Perry Collection released earlier this year, but I guess now I can get it off my mind! It took me a long time to decide because I cannot stand Katy Perry. Despite that though, it's a pretty nail colour.

I'll try to update again during the week! The other week I said I was feeling inspired and now I've completely forgot what I wanted to post about. Must start writing ideas down!

MAC questionnaire / mini update

2011-06-18T19:47:00.003+08:00

How long have you been using MAC?
Since I could afford to, haha. Three years, that is.
What was your first MAC product?
MAC Studio Fix Fluid and Fix+.
What's your all time favourite MAC product?
Oh my God, I have so many! Probably Studio Fix Fluid and Grand Entrance eyeshadow.
What's your least favourite MAC product?
I haven't bought something from MAC that I don't like.
Do you own a Pro Card?
I wish!
Your MAC foundation shade:
NC37.
Your favourite MAC foundation:
Studio Fix Fluid.
Eyeshadow:
Grand Entrance, Naked Lunch and Club.
Lipstick:
The Faerie Glen.
Lipgloss:
Sock Hop from the Heatherette Collection.
Liner:
Smolder Eye Kohl.
Brush:
125 for applying blush.
Nail Lacquer:
I can't really say because I only own one, which is Something About Pink from the Hello Kitty Collection.
Pro Product:
The empy eyeshadow palettes, I guess?!
Prep + Prime Skin:
Never used.
Full Coverage Foundation:
Never used.
Studio Sculpt Foundation:
Never used.
Face + Body Foundation:
Never used.
Mineralize Satin Finish:
Never used.
Studio Fix Fluid:
LOVE IT.
Hyper Real Foundation:
Never used.
Select SPF15 Foundation:
Never used.
Studio Tech Foundation:
Never used.
Studio Fix Powder:
Never used.
Studio Stick:
Never used.
Hyper Real Pressed Foundation:
Never used.
Beauty Powder:
Never used.
Sculpting Powder:
Never used.
Shaping Powder:
Never used.
Loose Blot Powder:
Never used.
Pressed Blot Powder:
Never used.
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural:
Love this too!
Mineralize Skinfinsh:
I own two, which are Redhead and Lightscapade and I love them both. I don't see the need in owning a million, like some people do.
Bronzing Powder:
I don't use bronzer very often, but I have Refined Golden from the Style Warriors Collection, which is nice.
Powder Blush:
My favourites are Peaches, Margin and Cubic.
Blushcreme:
Lilicent is lovely!
Mineralize Blush:
I only have Moon River and it's so pretty!
Gel Blush:
Never used.
Cream Color Base:
I love Pearl for highlighting my cheekbones.
Studio Sculpt Concealer:
I like it, but I prefer Studio Finish. I don't find the shelf life of this product to be very long as mine is starting to smell a bit, haha. Ew.
Select Cover Up Concealer:
I love using this for under the eyes.
Select Moisture cover Concealer:
Never used.
Studio Finish Concealer:
This is perfect for blemishes.
Studio Stick:
Never used.
Lip Erase:
Never used.
Tinted Lip Conditioner:
I have Feelin' Good, which I love! Very moisturising and smells like Roll Ups! Mmm.
Lipstick:
Love them.
Lipglass:
Love these too.
See Thru Lip Color:
Never used.
Dazzleglass:
I love these more than I expected to. I have Amorous and Totally Fab and they're such gorgeous colours.
Cremesheen Glass:
I have Boy Bait and I love it.
Lip Gelee:
Never used.
Lip Pencil:
I have Naked, but I haven't used it yet! I think it might be too light for my skintone.
Solar Bits:
Never used.
Nail Lacquer:
I have Something About Pink, but haven't worn it yet.
Shadestick:
Never used.
Paint:
Never used.
Paint Pots:
Never used, but Bare Study looks really nice.
Eye Shadow:
Love, love, love MAC eyeshadow! Such a wide variety of colours and such great quality. They last all day on me.
Pigment:
I have Naked and Vanilla.
Glitter:
Never used, but I want to try Reflects Pearl.
Eye Kohl:
Smolder is amazing!
Chromaline:
Never used.
Fluidline:
I really want to try Blacktrack.
Liquid Last Liner:
Never used.
Lustre Drops:
Never used.
False Lashes:
Never used.
ProLash Mascara, Zoom Lash Mascara, Plush Lash Mascara, Dazzle Lash Mascara:
Never used.
What has been your favourite MAC collection to date?
MAC has wayyy too many collections for me to remember! I love bits and pieces from a lot of them.
Which MAC collection, in your opinion, do you think was disappointing, if any?
The Wonder Woman Collection wasn't all that great, in my opinion.
What products do you think MAC are missing?
Nothing that I can think of. It's one of the best make up brands ever with so many stunning and high quality products.

Two posts in one day?! That's so unlike me. I've had the past four days off work and I feel totally rejuvenated. It's just what I needed. With work and the winter weather, it's hard to find time to blog sometimes because I'm always busy or tired and the quality of my photos is just so much better when I have the sun shining through my bedroom window. Plus, because I take most of my photos on my bed, it means it has to be made, which I get a little bit lazy to do sometimes! I can't believe I just admitted that, but I know I'm not the only one. However, this afternoon, the sun was shining, so I took advantage of that by taking photos and letting some fresh air into my room, and when it started to rain a little bit later, I sat in front of the heater reading my favourite blogs. The perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon, if you ask me.

I've got a lot more blog posts planned out as I've been feeling inspired lately. Reading and discovering new blogs has become my new addiction. As for the rest of the night, I'm eating Hungry Jacks for dinner and watching The Nun's Story because I love junk food and Audrey Hepburn.

Lastly, thank you to all my lovely followers and those of you who have commented! I honestly get so excited when I see I have a new follower or comment! I really need to make the time to reply to you guys and comment more. It would be so much easier if you could reply to individual comments on Blogger like you can on LiveJournal.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Beauty haul

2011-06-18T15:37:00.003+08:00

1. MAC Cream Colour Base in Shell, Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Gotta Dash!, 214 Short Shader and 263 Small Angle brushes and Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush 2. Max Faxtor False Lash Effect and 2000 Calorie Mascara 3. Clinique samples, brush and Jack Black Lip Balm 4. Nail polishes in Below Deck and Sunset Sail by China Glaze and Suzi Says Da! by OPI 5. Label M Honey & Oat Shampoo and Conditioner and I Love… Mango & Papaya Body Wash 6. Parisian make up travel case

I don't know about you girls, but I love a good make up haul. I didn't buy this all straight away though - these are products I've accumulated within the past month or so.

If you don't know already, I'm a MAC fanatic. It's my favourite make up brand, though I love their permanent line moreso than their thousands of collections. I picked up some goodies with my Myer One rewards card and I'm very pleased with them. Having said that, I was curious to try out Sigma's F80 brush and I must say, I love it more than my MAC 187 brush for applying my foundation now. It's amazing! I've never had such a flawless finish. Not to worry though, the 187 brush will now be used for blush.

From Myer, I also picked up my two favourite mascaras. Whilst I am partial to the high end brands, I don't like spending a lot of money on mascara as it's not something that lasts long enough to justify the price of constantly repurchasing. My friend wanted me to pick up some Clinique face powder for her too, so I did that and she gave me her skincare samples and brush (the nice saleslady added them into the bag without telling me, how sweet!), since she doesn't use them. From StrawberryNet, I ordered the Jack Black Lip Balm, which has a lovely sweet lemon scent. All the big beauty gurus such as Temptalia and xSparkage, have raved about this, so at $8, I thought it was worth buying.

If there's one beauty item I have a weakness for, it's nail polish. My collection is forever growing! I purchased these two China Glaze nail polishes from the Anchors Away Spring 2011 Collection from eBay and I bought the OPI nail polish from David Jones as I was on the hunt for a dark red/brown colour. It's perfect for winter and OPI's colour range never lets me down.

I got my hair done last week (I'll post photos soon) and I was in need of a new shampoo and conditioner seeing as though my Moroccanoil is about to run out. My hairdresser used Label M's Honey & Oat on me on my last visit (six months ago!) and I absolutely adored the scent, so I decided to purchase it this time around. Prior to my hair appoinment (I go to the Myer hairdresser, Maxeem), I'd finished work, so I was browsing around the cosmetics when I came across the I Love… range. I'd heard of the brand before through UK beauty bloggers and YouTubers, so I decided to check them out and I instantly fell in love with the mango and papaya scent. Words cannot describe how amazing this smell is. It's summery, fruity, lingers on after your shower and oh my gosh, I just want to eat it! I keep the body wash in my bedroom just so I can smell it! I know, I'm crazy, but it smells like Boost Juice! It's just as good as the Philosophy body washes and so much cheaper too. I am in love.

Lastly, look at the make up travel case I bought (this is from Myer, also. I spend all my money there because I work there, haha), I love it so much! It's so me. I am obsessed with anything and everything French and this was just too cute not to buy. I'll use it when I go travelling because it's not too big, yet it'll perfectly all my make up, brushes and skincare items.

Sorry about all the rambling there. I guess I'm just passionate about my beauty products! What beauty products have you bought recently?

Whatever makes you happy

2011-06-09T14:18:00.007+08:00

1. Bardot Tiffanies Shell Top 2. Bardot Panelled Skirt 3. Cotton On stripe shirt 4. Levi's cuffed denim shorts from eBay 5. Bardot Waterfall Cardigan 6. Quirky Circus black velvet dress from Myer

Here are some photos of my recent clothing purchases. I really want to start doing outfit posts, but the tripod I ordered from eBay never came. I've purchased another one and I've opened up a case on eBay, so hopefully I'll get my money back for the other.

I'm still loving Bardot at the moment. Their clothing is just so cute! I actually bought the cardigan from the Junior range because I just loved it so much. The size 14 is still a bit small and tight, but if I roll the sleeves up into three quarter length, it doesn't look silly. I also even ended up buying both Bardot coats I mentioned in this post. Perhaps a bit excessive, but I'm so happy with them. I'm really into the whole nautical/stripe shirt trend that's in at the moment. It took me ages to find the perfect top (I really wanted it to be like Breton style), so I was over the moon when I found this in Cotton On. I've been wanting a pair of cuffed Levi's for a while now, but I didn't want to pay a ridiculous price on Urban Outfitters, so I found these relatively cheap on eBay. I'm in love! Now I have a two pairs - one cuffed and one frayed. Lastly, my friend who went to America for six months was right when she said velvet was coming back in. When I saw this dress in Myer, I had to have it. It's so vintage and perfect to wear during the winter. It looks really short, but that's because I got it taken up. I'm really short myself!

I had the day off work today and I've had the most wonderfully lazy and unproductive day ever. Just what I needed! The sun is shining today too, which alone just puts me in a good mood. I'm going to finish listening to Radiohead's album, Pablo Honey, then I'll finally finish Gossip Girl season 4. As much as I love Chuck and Blair, I totally love Prince Louis too. I want to marry a gorgeous rich Frenchman one day. Le sigh.

Tomorrow I'm getting my haircut after work and I cannot wait because I'm in dire need of one and getting my highlights redone. I haven't had it cut since January, which is awful, I know, but I'm too cheap to maintain my hair on a regular basis.

Fall back in love eventually

2011-06-06T20:16:00.006+08:00

1. Silicone Dreamy Logo Cover 2. Metallic Simple Logo Cover 3. 15" Neoprene Computer Sleeve all from the Marc by Marc Jacobs Collection. Available at MarcJacobs.com.

I absolutely adore Marc by Marc Jacobs. Everything from the collection is cute, quirky, youthful, modern, minimalist in design and I'm just in love with so many pieces. For a high end designer brand, it's relatively affordable and for a name like Marc Jacobs, I don't mind paying a little bit more for amazing quality and the beautiful designs, anyway. I already own the Classic Q wallet as seen in this post.

I don't own an iPhone, but lately, I've been lusting over them! I don't know what changed me. Perhaps because I'm literally the only person I know without one? I used to always think they were overhyped and while I still do, even before the iPhone/iPad craze, I was a huge Apple fan. As soon as I discovered the wonder that is Apple in my university years, I ditched PC and I've never looked back. I'm going to go visit Vodafone tomorrow in the hopes of upgrading my plan. Is it worth the money? Should I wait for the iPhone 5? Ahh, I don't know. I don't think I can wait!

I spent all last night looking at pretty iPhone covers and these two Marc Jacobs ones were my favourites. I love the white one a little bit more because I feel as if I'd get sick of pink. Isn't the laptop case gorgeous too? That colour! My MacBook Pro would look so sexy in that.

I'm sorry this post is quite boring, but better than no post at all, right? I really wish I had more time to update my blog, but I have been SO busy lately, I literally have no time for anything else. Last week, I worked eight days straight and did 48 hours. This week, I only get one day off and I'll probably be working the same amount. Never work in a department store while preparing for a stocktake sale. It will kill you. When I come home from work, all I want to do is relax with some TV or YouTube and sleep. On my day off, I need time to clean and take care of myself! Not to worry though, hopefully next week will slow down a little. I'm already in the middle of working on my next blog post.

I've been playing The Naked And Famous on repeat these pas couple of weeks. How did I not discover this band sooner? Their Passive Me, Aggressive You album is amazing! I love sharing music, so here are three of my favourite tracks from the album. All Of This is super catchy and fun to sing along to, Eyes is a beautiful tune that sounds like it comes from the 80s and Young Blood is the new Time To Pretend by MGMT. I love a good youth anthem!

♪ All Of This
♪ Eyes
♪ Young Blood

Everyday make up essentials / what's in my make up travel bag

2011-05-25T17:22:00.008+08:00

A couple of weekends ago, I went away for Groovin' The Moo festival (I had a blast!) in Bunbury - a three hour drive away from Perth, the city I live in.I thought it would be fun to do a post on the make up I took with me and my essential make up items I use on a regular basis and travel with. Too much? Not enough? I'll let you be the judge of that.

Make Up Forever Camouflage Cream Palette in no. 2: when I got this palette, I thought it was way too light for my skintone, but it's absolutely fine if I use it under my foundation. It covers all redness and blemishes I may have for a flawless finish.

Yves Saint Laurent Touch Éclat in no. 8: I love, love, love this! This product is totally deserving of all the hype and rave it receives. I use this over my eye cream and under my foundation and it really does help you look more awake.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC37: my holy grail foundation! I don't see myself being able to use anything else. It provides medium coverage (full coverage if you're lucky enough to have good skin), which is very buildable and it never looks thick or cakey. It lasts all day too. Love it!

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC35: I know I've got my MUFE concealer palette, but I take this with me to keep in my bag for whenever I need touch ups throughout the day. I rarely ever touch up my make up when I'm out, but it's better to have it on you than not! This concealer provides amazing coverage too.

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Redhead: I use this skinfinish to highlight my cheekbones, bridge of my rose and cupid's bow. It adds the perfect amount of shimmer and it goes lovely with a majority of my blushes.

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark: this and my Studio Fix Fluid go perfectly together. My make up stays in place all day with this powder. This compact has lasted me forever too. I've had it for well over a year and still haven't hit pan.

MAC Blush in Peaches: this blush was so hard to find, but thank God for eBay! I'm so glad I own it because it's beautiful. Peach/coral cheeks are my absolute favourite, so I save them for occasions where I'm going out.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler: curling your lashes can instantly transform your eyes, I think. I love the Shu Uemura eyelash curler as it really does the job.

MAC Eyeshadow Quad: this quad is custom made by myself and contains four of my favourite eyeshadows - Naked Lunch, All That Glitters, Dazzlelight and Black Tied. I usually go for a neutral smokey eye when I'm going to a music festival and I love the MAC quads because they're perfect for travelling. I always like to have a few options for eyeshadow looks and the quad palettes allow for that without overpacking.

MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Down: I often use this eyeshadow in my crease with Naked Lunch, so I'm bringing this eyeshadow just incase I decide to do my make up with these eyeshadows. The pair go perfectly together.

MAC Eyeshadow in Grand Entrance: the only eyeshadow I ever use in my inner corners. I LOVE this eyeshadow! It completely brightens my eyes, makes them appear bigger and more awake and I honestly don't know what I'd do without it in my life!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance: I like Urban Decay Primer Potion, but I like this a little bit more. I have to make sure to keep my eyeshadows in place, especially when I'm going to be outside all day.

NARS Lipstick in Little Darling: this is the perfect nude for me. It's a neutral pinky brown colour and isn't too pink for my skintone like I find with most nude lipsticks. Definitely one of those 'your lips, but better' colours. The application is lovely and smooth too.

MAC Lipglass in Sock Hop: my favourite Lipglass ever! I love peach/coral cheeks and I love peach/coral lips too. I just love this colour and I'm so sad it was limited edition. I have to use it very sparingly.

Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment: I use this before applying my lip products to keep them moisturised. It's so cheap, yet so effective. During the winter, the cold wind doesn't do well for me, so I'll use this on dry skin too.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara: my holy grail mascara. It makes my eyelashes super long, while separating them without clumping.

Urban Decay Eyelash Primer Potion: I've had this tube for over year and while I'm in dire need of a new one, this ancient tube still does a good job! My eyelashes look scary (the mascara is white) for a few minutes, but then after I apply my Max Factor mascara, they're like, whoaaaa! Seriously.

MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder: there's a reason I use so much MAC and honestly, it's because I think it's the best. I've tried many other brands, but I always come back to MAC. I recently tried Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Pencil, but I love MAC's Eye Kohl so much more. I can smudge it for a soft smokey eye look, yet it still doesn't budge from my eyes. Perfect for a day spent outside dancing.

Prestige Eyeliner in White: I never ever use black eyeliner in my waterline, only white. I feel like black closes my eyes up and I love white because together with an innercorner highlight colour, my eyes appear bigger, brighter and more awake. The white eyeliner really makes a difference.

I'm late in joining in on the hype, but I've been considering buying the Urban Decay Naked Palette as I think it would be perfect for travelling. Plus, all those gorgeous colours! I have so many neutral eyeshadows already, but I'm such a sucker for them. Is it really worth getting? Actually, don't answer that, I already know the answer is yes. I just don't know if I'm willing to make the splurge yet!

Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed

2011-05-24T19:42:00.007+08:00

1. Cooperative Printed Skirt 2. Cooperative A-line Skirt. 3. Pins And Needles Long-Sleeved Lace Top 4. Silence & Noise Double Breasted Chiffon Cardigan all from Urban Outfitters

Two Finger Cross Ring and Crystal Owl Ring from Eleventh Gorgeous, Ornate Ring Stack Set from Etsy and Stacked Rhinestone Rings from Urban Outfitters

I'm so sorry it's been a while since my last post! Honestly, days just pass by me so fast and I'm not even aware of it. Work's been pretty breezy and thinking about it, I don't know where all my time went.

I've done a lot of online shopping lately, it's ridiculous. I cleaned out my wardrobe last month and now I'm struggling to find room again! I think I have too many clothes, but really, it's just my tiny wardrobe. Haha.

I'm still waiting for my tripod in the mail, but I got my 50mm f/1.8 lens, remote and lens hood and I'm loving playing around with them all! I'm still getting used to the lens, but I'll be sure to have more photos to show you all soon. Expect a lot of haul posts!

Can you believe we're almost half way through the year? I usually hate how fast time goes by, but I cannot wait until next year. My best friend and I are planning to go to Japan and Europe around April/May and then the US in 2013 for Coachella. I'm also doing a US Contiki tour in December next year with a good online friend of mine, so I've got a lot of money to save up. My whole tax return this year is going directly into savings! Cutting down on shopping will be hard, but worth it. I can't even describe how happy and excited I am. Travelling is all I've wanted for the longest time and to actually start planning itineraries and book flights is an incredible feeling. This is because I've never been on a commercial plane before, you see. I'm so culturally deprived, but now I'm going to get a passport and everything! Oh, and I'm also going to Melbourne in July with the bestie and possibly Bali in October with the family. Too much excitement!

I've been obsessed with Radiohead these past few days. I especially love their Kid A album and the song of the same name is just so perfect and dreamy.

Radiohead - Kid A

I'll be yours and you're mine

2011-05-11T17:20:00.009+08:00

Those Dancing Days - I'll Be Yours

Things I love about being a girl: Russh (my bible), perfume, gigs, clothes, make up and Breakfast At Tiffany's.I had the day off work today, which I so desperately needed. I spent the day sleeping in, listening to music, taking photos and generally being lazy. Perfect.

I'm so excited. I bought a 50mm f/1.8 lens, a lens hood, a remote and a tripod for my camera last week! I'm expecting them in the mail and I cannot wait until they all arrive, so I can start making fashion/outfit posts on my blog. I purchased all this with money I made from selling my unwanted clothes on eBay. Not a cent came out of my bank account!... Only PayPal, haha.

The end of this week is going to be so much fun! Tomorrow night I'm seeing The Drums, Friday night, I'm seeing Cut Copy and then on Saturday morning, my friends and I are taking a girls' road trip down to Bunbury to Groovin' The Moo festival. I am addicted to live music.

Next week at work, we've got stocktake (unless you've worked in retail, it's too hard to explain) and my old manager who's now the manager of cosmetics has asked me to scan the MAC counter at work! Is it sad that I'm actually really excited about this?! I'm going to want to buy everything, haha. I've got a $40 rewards card from my Myer One points, which I'll no doubt be spending on MAC though. My Myer One reward cards always get spent on MAC.

Lastly, I just want to say hi and thank you to all my new followers! I've only just started out, so it really means a lot to me and I love discovering lots of lovely new blogs to read!

The best way to take off your face

2011-05-03T19:56:00.006+08:00

From wipes to cleansers, I've trialled and tested many face and eye make up removers over the years. My favourite wipes of all time were the Johnson & Johnson 3 in 1 Facial Cleansing Wipes before I moved on to Clinique's Rinse-Off Facial Foaming Cleanser and Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips. While I loved my Johnson & Johnson wipes, I'd use them up so fast, it became annoying having to buy them all the time, plus, being a beauty junkie, you get bored easily and are always wanting to try something new. I liked Clinique's make up removers, but it wasn't the best. The cleanser felt like it was taking off all the make up, but then when I'd tone my face, I'd always get traces of foundation on my cotton ball. Not nice! It lasted me ages, which I liked, but I wanted something that'd give me a more thorough cleanse. The eyes/lips make up remover was good, though nothing special and using two different products for my face and eyes/lips became annoying too because I'm lazy like that.

I wanted something that would take everything off at once like make up wipes and something that would last me a while like a cleanser. After doing some research on various blogs and YouTube videos on cleansing oils, I came across Tanya Burr's video, which convinced me to try out Laura Mercier's Light Purifying Oil. Having acne prone skin, I was quite skeptical of washing my face with oil, but I love Tanya's videos and trust her opinions. The reviews on MakeupAlley were quite positive too.

Needless to say, so was mine. It thoroughly removes all traces of make up in one easy wash and because it's an oil, I feel it's very moisturising too without breaking me out.

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but I've almost run out of my Laura Mercier oil, so about two months ago, I decided to give MAC's Cleanse Off Oil a go and I think I love it even more. Don't get me wrong, Laura Mercier's is amazing, but I feel like I have to use less with MAC's and that it's just that little bit better because it's a slightly thicker oil. Plus, it also has a lovely lemony cakey scent, which is so yum!

To use these cleansing oils, I wash my hands with hot water, put two to three small pumps of the oil in my wet hands and then massage all over my face and eyelids until I feel all the make up has been removed. Once the oil meets water, it turns into a watery milky liquid, which you then just wash off with warm water. After my make up has been removed, I like to take a wet cotton ball over my face to make sure there are no traces of make up left, though there aren't usually any. You could use a muslin cloth too... I still don't know why I don't have one of those.

If you're after a new make up remover or simply bored with your current skincare routine, cleansing oils come highly recommended from me!

Top of the world, bottom of the ocean

2011-04-25T20:50:00.003+08:00

If I'm not shopping in the city, I'm shopping online. I can't stop! I was looking on Topshop just recently and there were a few items I fell in love with. Unfortunately (though fortunately for my bank account!), by the time I went to make an order, some of the items had sold out or my size wasn't available, so I only ended up getting three things. Even if they were available, I still wouldn't have bought everything I wanted because Topshop is so expensive. I've only ever made little orders before - unlike with Forever 21!

Anyway, I ended up buying the peach skirt, necklace and bathers. I loved the shorts, but I didn't think I'd wear them very often. I so badly wanted to buy that ring though! It's gorgeous!

I've been loving Bardot at the moment too. They have some really nice pieces for the winter. I especially love their coats and I'm tossing up between the Double Breasted Military Coat and the Alexa Trench Coat. I love trenchcoats because they're such a staple item to have in your wardrobe, but if I one day want to own a Burberry trenchcoat, do I really need two? Plus, I really love those brassy gold buttons on the military coat. I'll try them on both tomorrow after work and see how I go. In a perfect world, I would buy both!

In my last wishlist post, I mentioned how I was after a fresh scented perfume and I think I've found it! I was browsing through the fragrance department after finishing work last week (seriously, all my pay ends up back at Myer) and I fell in love with Bright Crystal by Versace and Burberry Brit Sheer by Burberry. It'll be hard deciding which one to purchase!

I'm in love with the new China Glaze Anchors Away Spring 2011 Collection! So many pretty colours. I really want to buy Sunset Sail and Below Deck.

I liked Pelican Gray too, but I fear it might be too grey. In swatches I've seen, there's seems to be a tint of green to it, but none of the descriptions of the colour suggest that, so I'll pass on it as I think grey nail polish would look dull on my skintone. You can visit All Lacquered Up for a more in-depth review on the collection.

Lastly, has anyone tried Clinique's Bottom Lash mascara? I've heard good things about it and I'm thinking about trying it out. I'd love to hear your opinions!

I hope you're all enjoying your long weekend. I had the day off for ANZAC Day, but I'm back to work tomorrow. I'm just looking forward to payday for that sweet public holiday pay. Anyway, I'm off to spend the rest of my night watching movies. I've already watched Blue Valentine (great film, go watch it if you haven't already) and next up are Across The Universe and The Cable Guy. Bye!

If only I could fill my heart with love

2011-04-23T21:43:00.006+08:00

I had a productive day off yesterday. I thoroughly cleaned my room (dusted, vacuumed and mopped!) and purged my wardrobe. I feel so cleansed! It's amazing how good a clean and organised bedroom can make you feel. As much as I love shopping, I hate having a lot of stuff. I don't know, it just makes me feel all blah, so whenever I go clothes shopping, I'll always end up getting rid of something too. It balances out my mind, my wardrobe and even my bank account, haha. I always feel like I can get rid of a lot more clothes, but so far, I've done well. I've listed all the items I want to get rid of on eBay, which you can see here. I'm always adding to it!

I've been really into candles lately. I've started burning my Dusk candle (see a couple of posts below) and mmm, it's smells divine! I'll definitely be purchasing more once I've finished burning this one. I smelt some really nice ones in David Jones, so I may make my next purchase there. I think they're the perfect home accessory for autumn/winter. Not only do they add a lovely fragrance to any room, but also a warm and cosy feel. Plus, they just look really nice.

I took down my outfit post from yesterday because I decided I didn't like it. I need to figure out how to take good photos in low/artificial light. Also, I'm probably going to buy a tripod. Nothing fancy or expensive - just something where I don't have to take annoying ~MySpace~ mirror photos and I've seen some cheap ones on eBay. I also want to buy a remote and new lens too. I've decided to buy a 50mm f/1.8 lens as opposed to the f/1.4, as it's considerably cheaper and is a more rational decision, as photography is only a hobby for me. I think some new photography equipment will inspire me to start taking photos on a more regular basis, which means being creative more often.

I'll leave you with two songs from the 80s I'm currently loving and a video from Coachella. I've been listening to The Cure's Disintegration album a lot lately. I swear, it's perfection.

♪ The Cure - Closedown
♪ The Cars - Drive

Did anyone go to Coachella last weekend? If so, jealous! Ahh, it is my dream to go there one day! Here's a video of Cut Copy opening with Visions from last Friday. I love when they open with Visions! It's the best intro ever and the way it blends into Nobody Lost, Nobody Found is sublime. I'll be seeing them twice next month at Groovin' The Moo in Bunbury and their Perth sideshow. I cannot wait!

Happy Easter!

What's in my bag?

2011-04-20T18:53:00.006+08:00

〮Marc by Marc Jacobs wallet (Classic Q - Large)
〮Nokia E71 phone
〮LeSportsac Fifi Lapin cosmetic bag
〮RaybansiPod Classic and case
〮House key
〮Eiffel Tower compact mirror
〮Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in Grapefruit
〮Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture and Chloé Intense by Chloé perfume samples
〮MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC35
〮MAC Tendertone in Warm Smile

Naturally, I also have a lot of crap in my bag like old receipts, payslips, water bottle, perfume tester cards, glasses (I'm short-sighted and need them for driving. I didn't want to show them because they're ugly and so is the case. I want to buy new ones eventually!), girly things and a boring pad of post-its and a pen to write down important things I don't want to forget... usually a list of things I want to purchase.

My handbag is from Nine West and I bought it in December 2009. I've had it for quite a while now and I still absolutely adore it. It perfectly fits in my everyday essentials without it being too big and bulky. My Marc Jacobs wallet is from Nordstroms, iPod case from Etsy and LeSportsac cosmetics bag and Raybans from Myer.

Photo credit

My dream luxurious ridiclously expensive handbag would be the Miu Miu Vitello Lux Bow Bag. The pink is totally adorable, but I feel as if it's a little too girly for my liking and wouldn't go with many outfits. I think if I ever bought one (one of these days, I will!), I'd either get it in navy blue or grey. I also really love the Balenciaga City, Chloé Paddington and Mulberry Alexa bags. Yes, I can definitely dream!

Come Saturday

2011-04-16T18:31:00.010+08:00

1. Tee, jewellery and glitter eyeliner from Sportsgirl 2. Shoes by Lipstick from Myer 3. Lychee and Black Tea candle from Dusk 4. Party Feet Heel Shields, VO5 Hot Oils and Scar Esthetique Advanced Scar Therapy Cream from Priceline

It was pay day this week, so I paid off my credit card and went shopping. I love being a girl.

Work is taking up a lot of my time, but that's a good thing. It's good to be productive and it also means more money for spending! Er, I mean, saving to go travelling. Ha. Shopping is a sickness, yet I don't want to be cured.

Tonight, I intend on spending the night in eating take away and watching movies. Boring, I know, but going out is so overrated. I hate clubbing these days because the music is awful. I'm bored of Perth, hence why I need to save to go travelling.

Things to do next week:
〮Thoroughly clean my room
〮Declutter and reorganise my wardrobe
〮Take photos of clothes I don't want anymore and list them on eBay
〮Download music by Those Dancing Days and Metronomy
〮Work on my portfolio (why is it so hard to get motivated into doing this? ! I need inspiration)

I shall leave you with three songs I'm currently loving. There's nothing more that makes me prouder to be Australian than the amazing music this country produces.

♪ Tim & Jean - Like What
♪ Gotye - The Only Thing I Know
♪ Jonathan Boulet - 3 2 1 Ready Or Not

Have a lovely weekend!

Style icon: Kaya Scodelario

2011-04-09T00:24:00.006+08:00

Images from Tumblr and Kaya Scodelario.net. Some images edited by me.

When I first started watching Skins, I was mesmerised by Effy's beauty and mysteriousness, and since then, I've been a huge fan of Kaya Scodelario. Not only is she absolutely stunning, but her beauty and style is effortless. I guess her style can be somewhat similar to her character of Effy (I could do a whole other blog post on her!) - grunge, messy, rock and punk, all characteristics of her style, which I love. I also love that she doesn't just stick to this one style. On the red carpet, she chooses to wear semi-formal girly dresses and in everyday life, simple cardigans and jeans - all aspects of her style, which I can relate to and take inspiration from.

In other news, I've been a little absent from my blog due to work, but I've got so many ideas and posts that I want to get down on here and hopefully that'll be soon. Sometimes it's hard to get motivated when you're not really writing to anyone, but I'm just loving being creative and talking about what I love, and that's really what counts.

Battle of the mascaras

2011-03-31T21:46:00.007+08:00

If there's one product that can instantly enhance your eyes, I'd say it's mascara. It can totally open up your eyes and make them appear bigger without going over the top by adding eyeshadow or eyeliner. I've tried and tested many over the past couple of years, so here are my thoughts on some of the most famous high end mascaras.

Diorshow Blackout by Dior: I love this mascara! The wand is quite large and the formula just does wonders. It thickly coats all the lashes without making them clumpy and while I'd say it's more on the volumising side, it does give a lot of length too.

Volume Effet Faux Cils by YSL: while this mascara claims to add volume, I find it very lengethening too. I wouldn't say it adds as much volume as Dior's Diorshow Blackout, but it's still very good. The wand is long, about medium sized in width and I'd say this mascara is worth buying for totally superficial reasons too. It smells devine (not sure how well the fragrance would go down with sensitive eyes) and showing off that sleek, gold packaging on your vanity table will make you feel a million dollars.

Smoky Lash by Make Up For Ever: everyone raves about this mascara, but I honestly don't see the hype. The way it looked on my lashes wasn't the problem, it was moreso the fact that it flaked throughout the day. Mascara flakes on the face? No thank you. I don't know, maybe I bought an old tube of it, but for me, it definitely did not live up to the hype. While the application was nice, it wasn't anything amazing.

Phenomen'Eyes by Givenchy: I have mixed feelings towards this mascara. I wanted to love it, but I only liked it. It's okay at lengthening the lashes, but it definitely doesn't add any volume. As someone who likes thick and long lashes, it was a little disappointing, but if you're going for a more natural eye look, this mascara would be great. Also, an advantage of the "torture ball" wand is that it's super easy to coast every lash while avoiding clumping and fear of jabbing yourself right in the eye. Would I buy it again? Probably not, but I'm glad I tried it.

High Impact Curling, Lash Doubling & Lash Power by Clinique: I'm reviewing these Clinique mascaras together because I pretty much have the same things to say about them. Clinique always have good promotions going on and as someone who used to use their skincare products a lot, I was given a lot of sample goodies, including these three mascaras. I have to say, I'm really not a fan of Clinique's mascaras. I find the formula too liquidy, so they don't really add volume, no matter how many coats you apply. I find they don't really lengthen either, but if there's one good thing about these mascaras, it's that they give a lot of length to my bottom lashes. I never use these mascaras on my top lashes, but they do work well for the bottom ones, particularly the High Impact Curling mascara, which gives that added curl to them.

Eyelash Primer Potion by Urban Decay: I suppose this technically isn't a mascara, but I love this product so much, I just have to mention it! To some people, using an eyelash primer may seem pointless or just a silly extra step added to their make up routine, but it only takes a few seconds to apply and it's so worth it! It helps to dramatically lengthen my eyelashes, it's almost as if I'm wearing fake eyelashes. I just love the effect. I've never tried any other eyelash primers before, but I'm happy sticking to Urban Decay.

Lash Injection by Too Faced: this mascara smells like super concentrated orange juice to me. It's weird, but I like it, haha. Lash Injection works in a similar vein to Diorshow Blackout, only it's a little cheaper. It's got that massive, chunky wand and adds a lot of volume and length. I prefer Diorshow Blackout, but if you're after a cheaper alternative, this is a good dupe.

2000 Calorie by Max Factor: when beauty gurus rave on about how drugstore brand mascara is just as good as the high end stuff, they aren't lying. There are two drugstore brand mascaras I absolutely swear by and this is one of them. 2000 Calorie is wonderfully volumising, adds length and I can't even tell you how many times I've repurchased it. This mascara is one product I'll be buying for the rest of my life.

False Lash Effect by Max Factor: while I prefer my high end make up over drugstore brands (I guess I'm a bit of a make up snob, haha), like 2000 Calorie, I'll be buying this mascara for the rest of my life too. I just adore Max Factor mascara. I'd say 2000 Calorie is more volumising, whereas False Lash Effect is more lengthening and used separately or together, both these mascaras provide a flawless finish to any make up look. False Lash Effect's wand is identical to that of Lash Blast Volume by Covergirl, though I have not tried it and don't really see the need to. I couldn't cheat on my beloved False Lash Effect with a similar product. I just couldn't! It's been a favourite of mine for years.

I like trying out different high end mascaras, but to be honest, spending a lot of money on mascara all the time isn't something I do. Mascara has a lifespan of only three months and to spend money on a beauty product you have to constantly buy just doesn't seem worth it. 2000 Calorie and False Lash Effect are my all time favourite holy grail mascaras, but if you have some money to burn and want to splurge, I highly recommend trying out Diorshow Blackout by Dior or Volume Effet Faux Cils by YSL.

Do you have any mascara suggestions for me? If so, I'd love to hear them! I've heard L'Oréal's Telescopic range is great and I'm curious to try Bad Gal Lash by Benefit, though I've heard mixed reviews on that one.

Current wishlist

2011-03-26T18:13:00.007+08:00

Wishlists are so much fun to compile and even better when you get to cross a few things off them. Much to the dismay of my bank account, I've been doing some online retail therapy and this is where my current wishlist stands. Not too big and I'm in no rush to buy these things. Lord knows I definitely do not need to buy a swimsuit right at the start of autumn! That was just something I never got around to doing in the summer.

I've been on the hunt for the perfect fresh/cool scent and I cannot for the life of me find one. I want something that's not overly floral or fruity and surprisingly, that's hard to come by. I remember the Ralph Lauren fragrances being really nice, but there's no way to check as these were limited edition. Hopefully they still have them available at discount chemists/fragrance stores.

Also, I am dying to test out MAC's new Sheen Supreme Lipsticks! Unfortunately, I haven't seen them at my MAC counter yet, but I'll check when I'm at work tomorrow (I work at Myer). I've seen swatches on Temptalia and they all look so beautiful. I really want Gotta Dash! as peachy/coral lips are my favourite.

As for the 50mm f/1.4 lens camera lens, that'll have to wait until I'm prepared to fork out $600. Eek.

If you're keen for some new music, Wavves comes highly recommended from me. After being at their gig earlier this month, I can't get enough. They're so full of energy and will definitely keep you dancing.

♪ King Of The Beach
♪ Post Acid

Nail polish favourites for autumn/winter

2011-03-25T23:28:00.006+08:00

One thing that you have to know about me is that I am a nail polish junkie. Seriously. It's a sickness. I can't get enough! I've never really been one to follow any sort of trend as I'll pretty much wear whatever I want whenever I feel like it, but having said that, I've gone ahead and picked out my favourite darker nail polish colours suited to the upcoming colder months.

Lotus Rouge by Chanel: I cannot rave on enough about this nail polish! It's by far my favourite red ever and definitely the Chanel nail polish every girl needs to splurge on. I remember the first time I put this on my nails and I could not stop looking at them. Not too dark, not too light and flattering on all skin tones, I'd say this would make a great transition colour from summer to autumn.

Royal Rajah Ruby by OPI: this is another one of my all time favourite nail polishes. It's a dark burgundy red colour, which shimmers so beautifully when it hits the light. In the light, it also turns into more of a vampy red and it's just another one of those colours that will have me staring at my nails.

William Tell Me About OPI by OPI: for the longest time, this would be all I'd ever wear on my nails. Dark plum burgundy colours were my favourite. It's totally an autumn colour, perfect for any occasion.

Lincoln Park At Midnight by OPI: this colour is very similar to William Tell Me About OPI, only without the burgundy tint and with shimmer. If you don't like shimmer, I'd suggest Lincoln Park After Dark, but I love that little extra something the shimmer gives to it.

Bogie by China Glaze: another purple, but this one is so unique! It's a deep silvery, shimmery plum colour and I think it would look so nice to wear on a night out.

Fash Pack by Butter London: taupe/mid-tone brown nail polishes were a big trend last winter and I still think they're great. For some reason, I find it so classic looking. I don't think many brown shades suit my dark skin tone (some people would disagree saying all colours suit dark skin, but I find it makes my nails look bland and boring), but I definitely do love this colour. It has the slightest shimmer to it, which I prefer over regular cream finishes.

Tickle My France-y by OPI: if you're after something less dramatic, this colour is perfect. It falls along the lines of the taupe/mid-tone brown trend, only a few shades lighter, so it's more subdued and wearable. A great everyday colour to wear to work.

Black Satin by Chanel: some people are afraid of black nail polish, but they shouldn't be. I think it looks great and anyone can pull it off. If you go for something like Black Satin, which has a bit of shimmer in it, it'll take a bit of the "edge" off of it.

Black Diamond by China Glaze: if I still haven't convinced you to try black nail polish, you can always take baby steps and try a dark silvery and shimmery grey/black colour.

Mermaid To Order by Sephora by OPI: while it's a dark colour, I think it's so much fun and still has the ability to add some colour to those gloomy months.

Edyta by Zoya: this is the newest addition to my collection and I love it! I discovered it through watching Michele1218's nail polish haul video on YouTube. It's such a fun and unique green colour with bulk shimmer. I think this would be a great transition colour from summer to autumn or even winter to spring.

Ibiza by Zoya: I've had this colour in my collection for a while now, but still haven't had the chance to wear it - I guess that's what happens when you own too much nail polish, haha. This is a gorgeous shimmery darkened royal blue colour and is one of the only two blue nail polishes I'll probably ever own and wear.

So there you have it! Sorry this post was so long, but it was so hard to narrow it down. It just goes to show you that the upcoming gloomy and miserable months don't have to be such a drag. There are so many weather appropriate colours to choose from, so have fun!By the way, if you're in Australia, you can buy OPI from David Jones. I buy my China Glaze and Zoya nail polishes from eBay, though I'd recommend buying OPI from there too. You'll be saving yourself a lot of money!

Beauty questionnaire

2011-03-24T22:50:00.007+08:00

• What’s your favourite eye shadow colour to wear? Naked Lunch by MAC.
• What’s the one product you wouldn’t leave your house without? The lipgloss I've chosen to wear for the day/night.
• What’s your favourite makeup look? Neutral smokey eye with coral cheeks and lips.
• Which feature do you play up the most? Eyes, definitely.
• Which feature do you try to downplay/cover up? My legs, I guess, because I don't really like them. The only thing I love about winter is that I get to wear stockings and leggings!
• Your favourite makeup brand, if you could pick only ONE to exist? MAC!
• Which product have you re-purchased OVER and OVER again? MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC37. It's my holy grail foundation.
• Which product would you NEVER repurchase again and why? Probably Make Up For Ever's Smoky Lash mascara. Everyone raves on about it, but I found it too dry and flakey.
• One beauty treatment you would always PAY to have done? Facial, even though I've never actually had one.
• One beauty treatment you would NEVER pay to have done? Manicure/false nails or spray tan. I absolutely despise fake nails (they're so tacky) and I think if you've got pale skin, embrace it! I guess I can't talk because I have dark skin, but I find pale skin so gorgeous. Tanning is overrated.
• One beauty trick you can share with everyone? White eyeliner on the waterline. It totally brightens the eye and makes them appear bigger and more awake. I can't stand black eyeliner on the waterline.
• Best advice you've ever been given regarding beauty and makeup? Innercorner highlight on the eyes. Makes your eyes pop!

Welcome

2011-03-24T22:06:00.007+08:00

Photos taken on Halloween 2010.

Hey everyone, welcome to my blog! I first started this blog back in 2009, blogged for a few months and then gave up when the novelty wore off. I've deleted all my old posts and now I'm ready for a fresh start. I'm hoping that I can stick to it this time around and that I'll go somewhere with this blog. It'll predominantly be a beauty/fashion/style blog, while dabbling a bit into music, film and photography, which I also love.

I just need a creative outlet and hopefully this will suffice.