Wednesday, May 14, 2014

5 things that made me smile this week


This week has been full of family and friends and relaxed nights. Mother days this year had to be stepped up after lasts years downfall of a day and I think we did well and mum seemed to end the day with a smile on her face. The rest of the week was relaxed with causal nights with friends and plenty of laughter with my cousins. So here are the 5 things that made me smile this week,

  1. Shopping with mum on Saturday morning was so nice and relaxing and with no deadline we walked around at leisure and spent way to much money.
  2. My Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Perfume always brings a smile to my face but when others compliment me on it makes me feel amazing. 
  3. Zara Australia has really lifted its game lately and is costing me a fortune but I love knowing that I can walk in and find something I love. 
  4. Tea- English breakfast, green tea or any herbal tea really at the moment is like a big warm blanket that makes me feel happy and relaxed.
  5. Catching up with family and close family friends meant lots of reminiscing and laughing at old times and memories. I love having people in my life that have been around for so long and knowing that they will be around for so much long. Specially when one of my closets friends and I actually hated each other when we meet and then one day it change and we become some what inseparable.  
 What made you smile this week? :)

Keep up to date with my crazy life here.

XX

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Perfume

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Perfume

This has to be the most incredible perfume of all time. I fell in love with the fragrance before I had even smelt it. Crazy I know but I knew from reading reviews and the ingredients involved that this was my dream perfume in a pretty gold bottle. At the time of discovering this perfume thanks to Lily Melrose I wasn't able to find it in Sydney and went on a mission to find it being that it was the only thing I talked about for months. Finally Estee Lauder in David Jones got some in stock and a friend of mine got me a sample. It was love at first sniff and was all I could think about. However at $100 dollars a bottle and saving like crazy for my Europe Holiday at first I just could not make the purchase. With a chat to mum and a walk around the shop the purchase was made and I have not looked back. 

The Perfume includes notes of coconut milk, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, myrrh, amber, mandarin, bergamot, lemon, orange, tiare flower, jasmine, magnolia, orange blossom and lavender. The most dominant smell for me however is the Coconut and the vanilla. This perfume simply reminds me of being at the beach or being on holidays and is a great pick me up for those days when I am stuck in the office. It is one of those fragrances that lingers and really sticks to the skin. Nothing makes me love a scent more then when someone notices it. One of the first times I wore it was going out with some friends and when one of my guy friends jumped in the car and said you smell incredible what are you wearing it really does put a big smile on my face. 

This Perfume has become a staple and yes it is dominantly a summer perfume but I will be wearing this all year round to keep away the winter blues. 

XX

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

5 things that made me smile this week


This week has been busy and a little bit chaotic but some great memories were made. One of my closet friends and her fiance celebrated their beautiful engagement this week with all their amazing family and friends. Lots of laughter and dancing shows us we are in for one hell of a night at the wedding reception. So here are the 5 things that made me smile this week. 

  1. My chunky tartan green and navy Zara scarf/wrap. I have been dreaming about wearing it for months and finally was able to pull it out. Let me tell you it is like wearing a warm cloud around my neck.
  2. Throwback this week to an old love Veronica Mars. I love going back and re-watching old TV shows and with the release of the movie it felt like the perfect time. 
  3. The flower arrangements for the engagement party was the perfect mix of red Coxcomb (which looks like coral) and white roses and they were beautiful and elegant but with a touch of fun. Coxcomb may now be one of my favourite flowers.
  4. My new Sass and Bide Make a Wish Necklace in gold is stunning and is a fantastic way to raise money for charity.
  5. Monday night my sister and I took two of our close family friends to see Jason Derulo. I wasn't overly fussed about going however it turned out to be a great night with lots of laugh and some amazing dancers. 
 What made you smile this week? :)

Keep up to date with my crazy life here.

XX

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Frank Body Scrub


Frank Body Scrub 

Frank Body scrub is a natural coffee scrub for the whole body. It is said that it targets skin conditions such as stretch marks, eczema, acne and psoriasis as well as helping blood flow around the body.  These targets are what drew me into the product in the first place. The main ingredients in the product are included in the this great section from the Frank Website


i’ll target cellulite, stretch marks, psoriasis, varicose veins, eczema and acne with roasted and ground arabica coffee beans.
i’ll smooth your lumps and bumps with brown sugar & sea salt, moisturise and tone your skin with cold pressedsweet almond oil, and use vitamins & minerals to work wonders from the outside in. then i’ll make us both smell good with a little orange essence.

Having had issues with eczema for years I thought this product would be ideal and it has had some amazing reviews. To date I have used this product twice with a much needed frank session set for tonight ready for the weekend ahead. The reviews are true to their word and I feel amazing after using this product.It takes away the dead skin cells as well as helping settle any eczema flair ups that might be occurring. I also feel so fresh and enenergised afterwards and my skin feels soft for a couple of days afterwards. I could not rate this product more highly for anyone who you likes a bit of luxury at a small cost. 

Frank retails at $14.95 in Australia and ships international.

XX

5 things that made me smile this week


This week has been up and down to say the least. My on going ankle injury has been giving me grief and more scans and doctors appointments will hopefully get to the problem sooner rather then later. The happiest moment this week was my best and oldest friend celebrating his 21st birthday. He was diagnosed with a terminal illness when we were about 6 years old and has come through the years fighting. So here are the 5 things that made me smile the most.

  1. A girlie movie night with one of my friends was such a nice relaxing way to spend a Saturday night and could not recommend  The Other Women more highly. Such a funny movie and whoever styled Cameron Diaz did an incredible job.
  2. Brunch. When doesn't brunch bring a smile to my face. Trying out new cafe which makes an incredible coffee and knowing that I don't have to be anywhere is heaven to me.
  3. ANZAC day in Australia is a day to catch up with friends and play a game of two up. Or in my case to sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy the show. 
  4. I am a huge Game of thrones fan and decided as a book lover that I should give the books ago. Best decision I made A Song of Fire and Ice book 1 helps answer so many questions and puts everything else together making a whole lot more sense to me know.
  5. The Flower Friday post from Late Afternoon is fantastic and such a clever way to arrange beautiful flowers. This post will be coming in handy for my friends engagement and wedding events in coming months. 
 What made you smile this week? :)

Keep up to date with my crazy life here.

XX

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

5 things that made me smile this week


This week has been amazing and all that is due to the four day weekend that was Easter. There is no better feeling then going to bed at night knowing that there is no reason to get up in the morning. Top it off with the beautiful weather Sydney had and the incredible people I got to spend my time with and there was no need to not be smiling this week.
  1. Cool winter mornings make me so happy its ridiculous. Nothing makes me feel better then the cool breeze that hits you on an Autumn morning specially after an Aussie summer. Top it all off with a hot Chai Latte and the mornings aren't that bad.
  2. These Coconut Cupcakes are incredible I have made them twice in the last week. On Easter Sunday I put my own twist on them by taking away the toasted coconut and added dried rose petals. They went down a treat with my family and smelled incredible.
  3. My very cute baby cousin is now 13 months and has just starting to walk with a little bit of help. It is amazing to see her growing up and the big smile she has on her face when she takes those steps. It's enough to melt your heart.
  4. Good Friday was a day of amazing food, a beautiful view and great company. My best friend took me down to a beautiful spot at North Head in Manly with views that look out onto the city of Sydney and we enjoyed lunch sitting in the sun taking in the incredible view. The perfect way to start the long weekend. 
  5. Every year Sydney puts on the Royal Easter show which runs over two weeks during the Easter break. It is very similar to an American Carnival. This year for the first time in a couple of years I went out with my cousins and we ate our way through the different food stalls and of course overloaded ourselves with shop bags full of lollies. Just what we needed after all the chocolate from Easter.
What made you smile this week? :)

Keep up to date with my crazy life here.

XX

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

5 things that made me smile this week



This week has been a crazy week of birthdays, job opportunities and redecorating my over cluttered room. I feel like I haven't stopped in weeks and finally my body is telling me to stop, relax and enjoy the Easter long weekend that's coming. The little things have really made me smile this week and most of that has been sitting back and watching my friends and family go about their normal lives around me. This weekend will be filled with chocolate, laughter and hopefully a sunny Monday afternoon spent watching the football ( league) with my dad and sister. However here are the 5 things that made me smile the most.

  1. Looking through old family photos to put a beautiful photo book together for my Nan for a very special birthday.As I was going through the photos I love knowing that I have an amazing friendship with my family and at Christmas my sister and cousin joked that we are cousins by blood but friends by choice and it couldn't explain it any better.
  2. Chatting with my Contiki friends and going through the photos makes me want to do it all over again and makes me very nostalgic specially with the cold weather coming. Here is a photo of my amazing travel buddies Instagram.
  3. Visiting my Nan for her birthday yesterday my mum, my two sisters and I all managed to end up at my grandparents place at the same time with my pop home from work to enjoy some afternoon tea. It was like fate wanted us all there together. 
  4. My Make up career is leading me in a direction that I never thought I would be going in. It is really nice to be able to see people encouraging and supporting this and it makes so grateful that I have some truly incredible people around me and that my skills don't go unnoticed.
  5. My beautiful clean bedroom makes me feel so happy and relaxed at home and I have enjoyed nothing more then coming home to my bedroom, lighting a candle and hopping into bed with a good movie or tv show.
 What made you smile this week? :)

Keep up to date with my crazy life here.

XX







Sunday, April 6, 2014

Around the World .003

Ischia


I was lucky enough during my time as an Au Pair in London to meet the family I was living with in Ischia for a week to help them look after the kids. Ischia is the largest islands in the Bay of Naples. Ischia is heavily visited by Italians and Germans and I found a very little amount of the locals could speak English, however they were more then happy to give it a go and I shared some very funny moments with the locals trying to order meals when I was alone. The family I worked and lived with had relatives living on the island and spent a couple of weeks there over the summer visiting and asked me to come over so that I could spend the evening with the kids while they caught up with family and friends. This meant that I had the days free to myself to explore the beautiful island. 

It is the perfect place to go and relax with is beautiful spas and its well know thermal baths. It has the most amazing scenery with its vineyards, picturesque small towns and the beaches. From what I have been told and read the beaches in Ischia are better then those on neighboring island Capri. 

Sant' Angelo is a fishing village that is car free and only accessible by foot. With its beautiful beach, cafes and fisherman houses it almost feels like a step back in time. The houses are typical fisherman's houses with whitewash walls lining the winding streets and lanes. I spent the day here wondering around the local shops, getting in a local cafe and catching some much needed sunshine on the beach.



The Island is famous for its thermal springs and it has been said that people travel from all over to feel the effect of the spas.  We visited Poseidon which is the most famous and largest of the thermal parks on the island. The thermal pools are standard pools that are fed by the natural hot springs which come from the volcanic activity of the island. We spent the day in and out of the different thermal spas and when they all became to warm we spent the rest of the time lying by the pool enjoying the amazing weather.

Ischia is the perfect place to spend a week doing nothing but relaxing and enjoying the local food and wine. I spent my time wondering the island, shopping in local boutiques and eating so many amazing meals. The locals will make you feel right at home. If your headed towards Naples I recommend that you add a couple of each days and take a ferry over to Ischia. It is a real hidden treasure.


xx


Weekend Inspiration .007


xx

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Around the World .002

Scotland 


Scotland was everything I imagined it to be with its vast green hills and its cobble roads it was almost like stepping back in time. Scotland was never high on my places to see list however when given holidays from my Au Pair position in London and travel plans with my friend had fallen through I was stuck in a position and need to make a decision quickly. I had decided that I wasn't interested in doing a lone trip again having in earlier months been to Paris by myself and spent a large amounts of time sight seeing in London alone. With the help of the staff at STA Travel within a couple of days I had booked my first Tour With Haggis. 5 days travelling around Scotland on a tour bus with an extra night on each end to spend in Edinburgh. 



I had never really been one for Tours before, wasn't really my thing I loved the freedom of being able to plan my own trip and how I time was spent throughout the day. I kept thinking 5 days stuck on a bus with people I may not even like seemed like my worst nightmare, however I was quickly proved wrong and made friends easily. This wasn't actually my first time on a tour, Year 12 at school I did an Egypt trip however I don't feel that is the same considering I was with my friends and teachers. 

Scotland is an amazingly beautiful country with green countryside covering miles of the land that then run in to small little villages and bigger cities. I am kicking myself now that I didn't spend more time in Edinburgh to have the time to explore the castle and the different museums. With the little amount of time I did spend there though I did two walking ghost tours in the evenings as well as a walking day tour the day that I left. The ghost tours by far were the best things I did in Scotland nothing excites more then ghosts and history. Walking around the cold wet and windy streets of Edinburgh we explored the graveyard, the underground vaults and the many hidden nooks of the Royal Mile. These tours are not for the faint at heart and it can become very fully on when you are down in the vaults with not natural light and a limited air supply in some areas. However I couldn't recommend it any higher. The tour companies I used have slipped my mind however if you walk up the high street you have many to choose from. 

The Orkney Raider was a Haggis tour that takes you from Edinburgh all the way up to the northern tip of Britain the Orkney's. We spent 2 nights in Inverness and 2 nights in Kirkwell on the Orkney Islands. The tour includes a night in a castle but due to renovations we spent an extra night in Inverness at the YHA Hostel chain. The Orkney's were my favourite part of the 5 day tour. The Orkney's are a group of islands that are at the Northern tip of Scotland. Not many tours go so far north and this appealed to me great as the Orkney's are know for the 9,000 years worth of history. We visited Skara Brae Stone Age Village which was incredible ruins and beautiful cliffs and views. The Tomb of the Eagles which is a Stone Age chamber that was filled with thousands of human bones and the remains of sea eagles that a farmer found while doing some work on his farm. 


Once we left the Orkeny's we made our way back on to the mainland in the direction of Loch Ness making a stop at beautiful Dunrobin Castle. This castle had spectacular views and some of the most amazing gardens that I have ever experienced. It also has its own trophy heads museum which is housed in the summer house. It houses some of the world's most important archaeological artifacts. Loch Ness was a beautiful sight and listening to all the different stories and rumored sightings I couldn't help but wonder what really does go on in those dark waters. We like so many before us didn't get a Nessie sighting however there is something strange about the Loch though, some sense of mystery. 

Scotland was an incredible place to visit and would highly recommend it to people of all ages and different travel experiences. Though if I was you I avoid the north between September to April if your not a fan of the cold. I found after traveling through Europe this January that I was nowhere near as cold as I was there then when I was in Scotland. 

How many of you guys have been or live in Scotland? Did you love it as much as I did.

xx

Weekend Inspiration .006




xx

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

This or That Tag

Tag Questions


Makeup:

Blush / Bronzer  - Bronzer
Lip Gloss / Lipstick - Lipstick
Eye Liner / Mascara - Mascara
Foundation / Concealer - Foundation
Neutral / Colour Eyeshadow - Neutral Eyeshadow
Pressed / Loose Eyeshadow - Pressed Eyeshadow
Brushes / Sponges - Brushes

Nails:

OPI / China Glaze - OPI
Long / Short - Short
Acrylic / Natural - Acrylic
Brights / Darks - Darks
Flower / No Flower - Both

Body:

Perfume / Body Splash - Perfume
Lotion / Body Butter - Body Butter
Body Wash / Soap - Body Wash

Fashion:

Jeans / Sweat Pants - Jeans
Long sleeve / Short Sleeved - Long Sleeved
Dresses / Skirts - Dresses
Stripes / Plain - Stripes
Flip Flops / Sandals - Flip Flops
Scarves / Hats - Scarves
Studs / Dangly Earrings - Studs
Necklaces / Bracelets - Necklaces
Heels / Flats - Heels
Cowboy Boots / Riding Boots - Riding Boots
Jacket / Hoodie - Hoodie

Hair:
Curls / Straight - Curls
Bun / Ponytail - Ponytail
Bobby Pins / Butterfly Clips - Bobby Pins
Hairspray / Gel - Hairspray 
Long / Short - Long
Light / Dark - Dark
Side Sweep Bangs / Full bangs - Full Bangs
Up / Down - Up

Random:

Rain / Shine - Rain
Summer / Winter - Winter
Fall / Spring - Spring
Chocolate / Vanilla - Vanilla
East Coast / West Coast - East Coast



Hope you guys enjoyed my first tag post and would love to read which you all prefer.

xx

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Fashion Haul


Shopping is my biggest weakness and online shopping just makes it so much easier. The last couple of weeks I have been on a massive shopping spree and is largely due to some amazing sales and the change in seasons. Here is a little sneak peak into some of the newer pieces in my winter wardrobe that I have purchased online. Ebay has become one of my go to sites for fashion dupes and discontinued items and Asos my long time love with this website will not be coming to an end anytime soon as you can always rely on amazing finds at the best prices. 

What are your favorite online shops?

Ebay 
  Knit Chiffon Blouse                                Heart Shirt


Topshop

 
Grey Animal Tee                  Fluro Flower Tunic


Glassons


Asos



 

 
              Watch With Cogs        Lightweight Sweatpants Denim Effect


xx









Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Hello Autumn...

Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year specially in Australia where the temperatures move away from the heat and humidity to the cool fresh air of the coming winter. I love nothing more then a fresh morning with a hot cup of coffee rugged up in my favourite coat and scarf. After spending most of January in the northern hemisphere and experiencing a winter that gets no were near as cold as what I am use too my winter wardrobe is looking better then ever. 

Traveling and shopping my way through some of the worlds fashion capitals was incredible and by far was the best shopping I have ever done. However the inspiration to get out of my clothing rut was amazing and saw me taking my winter wardrobe back to the basics. 

Being a Tumblr girl I draw so much inspiration from other people and love finding new ways to match prints and textures. Ripped denim, over sized knits and black booties will be my winter staples teamed with messy hair and dark lips. 


What is your must have winter staple

xx