The Joys of Olive Oil

Olive oil. Great for cooking with and great for removing makeup.

When I mentioned that I used olive oil to remove my makeup in this post, a few of you were a little freaked out. I admit that when I first heard about using olive oil on the face, my first reaction was ‘HELL TO THE NO! THAT SHIT’S GON’ BREAK ME OUT EVEN MORE!’. However, I kept hearing good things so I thought is was worth a shot.

Now, while I have a lot of acne, my skin can hack pretty much any product I throw on it. I’m not sensitive or overly oily – I’m pretty normal. My acne is caused by internal issues so please keep that in mind.

Anyway, this shiz is good. It completely melts away all traces of makeup (including waterproof stuff), moisturises me well and doesn't give me any sort of negative reaction. Plus, I love how it feels when I massage it in. It’s best to slap it on a dry face, starting with the skin and ending with the eyes. If you have a hell of a lot of eye makeup on, it might be a good idea to do that first with a few cotton pads.

If you have really oily and/or sensitive skin, it may not be the best option for your entire face but might be great for your eyes.

Olive oil can be cool for other things, too:

• It apparently works wonders on really dry skin but I can’t imagine being comfortable with the oily residue. Maybe if you use a teeny tiny amount?
• If you soak fingers in a bowl of warmed oil, it can help icky, dry skin and cuticles and strengthen weak, brittle nails.  
• No shaving cream? Grab some oil and slick it on. Never tried this but it sounds awesome! Seems like it would be especially good during Winter. Will report back.
• You can also use it on dry and damaged hair. I tried this a really long time ago but my hair turned into an oily disaster and the whole process was an epic mess. Maybe I used too much? Who knows.
• You can use it as a base for a scrub if granular exfoliants are your thang.
• Lube. I just had to add this on because it made me laugh.

There’s a lot on it helping wrinkles, too. Hmm. A bit dubious on that one…

Anyway, a simple Google search will bring up a bunch of recipes and other ideas so go investigate!

So, tell me – do you guys use olive oil in places other than the kitchen? Any good or bad experiences?

ABC Tag

Yep, another tag. I'm sorry for being a lazy so and so. Here we go:

A. Age: 26. *sigh* I still act like a kid, at times. And by ‘at times’, I mean ‘all the time’. 

B. Bed size. Double. I want a massive King-sized one but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t fit into my shoebox of a bedroom.

C. Chore you hate: Dusting and washing dishes. Die.

D. Day: I’m gonna go with Thursday.

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee, ftw! I refuse to do anything until I have a hot mug of goodness in my hands.

F. Favourite colour: Blue. Any shade.

G. Gold or Silver: Silver.

H. Height: I’m around 165cm.

I. Instruments: None.

J. Job title: Freelance writer.

K. Kids: I don’t have human babies but I do have my Maltese, Ralph. Adore him.

L. Live: Sydney, Australia.

M. Mum’s name: Maria.

N. Nicknames: A whooole bunch. Some are rather inappropriate. Ange and Angie are pretty popular.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Yeah. It sucked. Morphine was fucking awesome, though.

P. Pet peeve: The first one that springs to mind… child pageants. Just the thought makes me sick to my stomach. Also, pants that are too short.

Q. Quote from a movie: This is a hard one. Again, I'm lazy, so I’m gonna go with ‘Yeaah boooy’ from Shaun of the Dead. Simple but awesome.

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: None. I’m a loner.

T. Time you wake up: Usually around 7:30am.

U. Underwear: Yeah.

V. Vegetables you dislike: Pumpkin sucks. However, I do enjoy a creamy, pumpkin soup.

W. What makes you run late: Myself. Usually because I’m farting around (not literally).

X. X-Rays you’ve had: If I factor in ultrasounds and other scans - stacks. Far too many for my liking, really.

Y. Yummy food you make: I make a whole bunch of awesome shit. I’m a maestro in the kitchen (not really). One of the faves that always goes down well is a spinach and ricotta pasta.

Z. Zoo: Taronga Zoo! I love the zoo! Best place ever. Except that I want to take all the animals home.

If you've made it this far, here's a pic that will hopefully provide some lolz:

Your spelling sucks, cat.

Thanks for reading!

The Liebster Award aka The Lieby

The lovely Lexi from Dreaming of Verona (awesome blog, btw. Check it!) brought a little spark to my day when she nominated me for a Liebster award and said some very sweet things about me and my lil ol’ blog. The Liebster is awarded to bloggers (and their blogs) who have less than 300 followers and are awesome (for the record, I’m not calling myself awesome). Wee! My first Leiby!

Anyway, when you get awarded, you must pass the goodness on and choose 3 blogs who you think are deserving of it, too. Here are my 3 picks:

Suzanne from Dont They Know Who I Am? Fucking hilarious and awesome. Her posts are not only entertaining but informative and honest, as well. Plus, she shares my love/addiction for stationery. She’s good people.

Nancy from The Dark Side of Beauty is super-sweet and her nail polish collection brings a (jealous) tear to my eye. Look out for her amazing nail posts featuring her lovely, long nails.  

Michelle from eat paint sniff glue. Smart, funny and sweet as damn pie. You can find a great mix of posts at her blog – everything from hauls, reviews, favourites, FOTD, NOTD and fun tags.

My three noms are all amazing and I urge you to go and check out their stuff. Seriously. Go. Now. Well done.

Thanks again, Lexi!

Itsy Bitsy Bargain Haul

I went shopping earlier this week to buy myself some happy. I was feeling like shit so I decided retail-therapy was the way to go. I didn't buy much but I bought enough to satisfy my need to spend. Here's what I got:

The jewellery is from Diva. They're currently running their infamous $5 sale so I bagged some bargains. The necklace and big ring were both originally $14.99 and the other ring was originally $12.99. Win.

I've been wanting the BYS blush in 'Coral' for yonks and I finally bought it. Woo! It's very pigmented and bright and when I first applied it (the moment I got home), I wasn't impressed. Thought it was too garish on my skin. However, I am now in like with it (not yet love). We'll see how we go... Btw, I believe this was $4.

The Bathox showergel was a massive cheapie. Bagged it from Priceline for a mere $2.50. I've spent more money on a bottle of water. This is a re-purchase and I love it. Smells like delicious caramel and makes my skin soft. Great for Winter! Give it a sniff and if you like the scent, try it. It works.

So, that was my lil bargain haul. Hope you enjoyed!

What's In My Bag?

I have a confession – I’m addicted to snooping into the handbags of others. Those Youtube ‘What’s in my bag/purse’ vids? My crack. I can’t get enough of them. I’m not exactly sure why I’m so damn obsessed but I am. Once this tag started filtering through a few of my fave Aussie beauty blogs (Sup, Suzanne and Michelle!), I was psyched for two reasons. First, it was an opportunity for more handbag snooping and second, I could finally show everyone the contents of my handbag which is super-exciting (nah). Here we go:

What’s in there?

1. Wallet from Sportsgirl. It’s studded and I like it.
2. Little studded purse from the brand 'Saskia'. This is where I keep my cards that don’t fit into my stupidly-thin wallet.
3. Phone. It’s a Samsung Galaxy S if anyone’s interested…
4. Little torch. I stole this from my ex and have it in my bag for some reason. Flashlights are handy, right?
5. Nivea Essential Care lip balm. My shiz.
6. Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 in Mango. Yummers.
7. Vicks inhaler (label has been torn off). I’m (unhealthily) addicted to this. I’m aware that this is weird.  
8. Marc Jacobs Daisy solid perfume.
9. Sugarbaby Roll-on Deluxe Fragrance in Island Flower. Smells lush.
10. Gum. An absolute necessity.
11. Moleskin + pen. For jotting down ideas and random bullshit.
12. Bricanyl (asthma puffer). Totes glamorous.
13. Sunnies from Sportsgirl. Funny story – chick at MAC saw these sitting atop my head and asked if they were Chanel. I laughed and kindly informed her that they were cheapies from Sportsgirl. She looked shocked and then stared at me awkwardly. Wait, that wasn’t funny. That chick was weird.

I also have a big, makeup bag that resides in my bag at all times. Ironically, it hardly has any makeup in it. Also, it’s a big, dirty mess. Consider yourself warned. Here's a pic and a list:

1. Panadol Rapid (pain tablets). I suck these down like nobody’s business. Not normal.
2. Panadeine Forte (strong pain tablets). I swear I’m not addicted to pain meds…
3. Pad. Fun.
4. Sudafed (sinus tablets). Sinus is a bitch.
5. Approximately 45378 hair ties.
6. Prestige Eyeliner in Black.
7. Retractable powder brush.
8. Australis Pressed Powder in Natural.
9. Two double ended Maybelline lip colours (one has a gloss and the other has a balm). The colours are shit but I like the gloss and balm.
10. Bandaids.
11. Hollywood tape. Got this as a mag freebie but am yet to use it.
12. Kleenex Fresh Wipes.
13. Vicks Vapodrops.
14. Insect Repellent towelettes. Major lolz.
15. Asthma puffer prescription.
16. Mirror.
17. Purell hand sanitiser.
18. Another Nivea Essential Care balm. Obsessed.
19. Cotton buds. Story - I was paying for something at Target yesterday and one of these fell out of my bag (why weren't they contained in my little supply bag!?) and the cutie (who I hope was of legal age or I'm a dirty old woman) saw it and then looked at me all horrified/disgusted/freaked out. FML.   

That’s it. I keep all this in a big ol’ bag from Novo (sorry for the lack of photo – I took a few but they looked shithouse).

You’re all tagged, btw. No excuses. Muhahaha.

Lip balm, baby!

Ah, the cold. Lovely when you’re snuggled in bed with 239 blankets and a hot mug of Joe, crap when you’re not. While my skin doesn’t seem to get too dry during the cooler seasons, my lips immediately transform from normal to parched and peeling. Enter lip balm. Not quite as glam and pretty as her sister, lip gloss, but a hell of a lot more beneficial. Suck it, you glossy bitch.

Here’s my little collection of lip balms and what I think of them:

Nivea Essential Care – Oh, I love you. You come in a slightly boring tube but you work miracles. Seriously, guys - this stuff glides on like buttah, hydrates excellently and sticks around (even after sipping and munching). It’s rich in Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter but doesn’t leave lips oily and gross. I use this all year round but especially during Wintertime. There are other variations of this balm (tinted, scented, SPF 15+ etc.) and while the cherry one is very much calling out to me, I’m sticking with my baby. Under $5.

Lucas’ Papaw Ointment – I don’t know anyone who hasn’t heard of this stuff. For my overseas peeps, this is a bit of a cult product here in Oz. It’s a thick gel/balm (pic below) that can be used on dry, chapped lips as well as a treatment for burns, chafing, cuts, bites, rashes etc. Whenever I have an unexplained rash (not that kind of rash) or weird skin thingy (very eloquent), I slap this stuff on. Anyway, back to the lip balm part. While very thick, this stuff easily smoothes onto the lips, hydrates and adds a nice gloss. However, it doesn’t stick around for very long which is a tad annoying. Tip: When my lips are stupidly dry and irritated, I love to completely smother them (and the surrounding skin) with this before I hit the sack. By morning, I’m super-soft and hydrated. The 75g tub is under $10 and the handbag-friendly tube is under $5.

Sugarbaby Sorbet Lip Balm in Cotton Candy – I love Sugarbaby. They have great products, are reasonably-priced and their packaging is freakin’ adorable. Firstly, I have no idea why they called this scent ‘Cotton Candy’ when it’s clearly cherry. Silly. Secondly, the consistency of this is really strange (pic below). It’s a very hard jelly that is quite bloody hard to get onto your finger. However, once I manage to glide some on my lips and warm the product up, it feels lovely. It smoothes the lips, doesn’t budge and offers a slight, colourless gloss. Once the majority of it wears off, it does leave a residue but it doesn't feel gross at all. I don’t think this stuff really hydrates or helps my lips in terms of dryness etc. but it feels and smells nice. Under $10.

Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 in Mango – I only recently bagged this balm at a Kiehl’s event so I haven’t used it for too long but… so far, so good. This is reminiscent of Vaseline in terms of texture (Petrolatum is the main ingredient) but also has good stuff in it such as Lanolin and Aloe extract. This stuff smoothes and gives a nice shine. Plus, it smells unbelievably good. As for lasting power – it’s not great. However, as this stuff smells delectable, I have no issues with re-applying throughout the day. With the new pricing, this little tube sits at a nice $12. Not dirt-cheap but not expensive, either. Plus, it comes in other scrummy scents including Pear, Mint and Coconut (be still my beating heart). 

Have you guys tried any of these? Any recs for me?

Korean Nailpolish Overview + Review

A little while ago, I showed you guys a mini-haul where I bought some Korean nail polish called Chamon Nail Pop. Here’s a pic to jog your memory:

Before I get on with my review, let me talk about the pink shade separately, as it was my least favourite. While a lovely colour (pale, bubblegum pink that almost looked lavender in a certain light), it was a bit of a disaster. It needed four coats to give complete coverage. I’m not one to bother with more than two coats so it really annoyed me. I don’t know how much use this one’s going to get in the future…

ANYWAY.

How much are they? $2.50

How much product do you get? Not marked. It's a good sized bottle, though!

The good?

They have a nice, smooth formula that glides on the nail easily. The first coat goes on looking like a streaky disaster but the second coat evens everything out pretty well.

They last. I don’t use a top coat (I know, I know – I really need to) and they lasted a good four days (even with plate washing and other crappy household duties). Me likey.

They dry pretty much instantly. It’s weird (and bloody awesome) how quick these polishes dry. I don’t know what the deal is but I like it. I like it a lot.

They have a nice finish. The perfect amount of gloss!

The not-so-good?

The coverage wasn’t 100% perfect. The pink was dreadful but the others weren’t super, either. I could get away with using only two coats but I often had one or two nails with a very slight streak.

Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure. My fave colour of the bunch? The teal. What a colour!

Not sure what the deal is with the claw I've got going on...
With flash.

Without flash.

 

…

 

These are quite fab but unless I find a colour that I absolutely need/want, I don’t think I’ll be buying more. I’m just way too in love with Ulta3 and NYC Color. I’m happy to have these in my collection, though. Btw, if you’re interested, I bought these from the store ‘ssamzie’. They sell clothing, shoes and beauty items.

5 Things I Can't Live Without

It’s time for another ‘5’ post! This time, I’ll be talking about 5 things I can’t live without (excluding boring shit like oxygen, water and my asthma puffers). Let’s go:

1. My loved ones. I don’t know what I’d do without my family and friends. I’m very close to my Mum and she’s my everything so I pretty much need her on a daily basis. My dog is also very much up there and I can’t imagine living a day without him by my side. As for my mates, while I don’t actually see them everday, they are absolutely essential to me, as well. They make me very happy because we pretty much laugh/joke around/act like fucking idiots the entire time we’re together and those things rock.

2. Music. Whether it’s played in the morning, noon or night, while I walk around or while I drive, music is a constant in my life. It makes me happy and makes me sad (in a good way) and I damn well love and need it. I’m a little varied with my tastes and everything from mellow acoustic tunes to hardcore dance make me a very happy girl.

3. Me/alone time. I once had a friend who told me she couldn’t stand her own company and that being alone drove her crazy. I found this incredibly odd. If you can’t stand (let alone enjoy) time alone with yourself, you’ve got issues. I can't live without my me/alone time. It’s essential to my sanity that I have a breather from the world and just bask in my own presence.

4. Makeup. I discovered it in early high school (let’s ignore the dreadful green hair mascara in year 6) and I've been obsessed ever since. I must admit there are times when I’m lazy and really cbf slathering myself in goo (the Winter chill is usually the culprit) but mostly, I find joy in slapping on some pretty. Plus, I’d look like absolute arse without it.

5. Writing. I’ve loved it ever since I knew what it was and how to do it. I write constantly – and not just for work. I scribble short stories and little bits and pieces on a regular basis and have stacks of notebooks filled with my randomness. Writing fo' lyfe.

I’m totes cheating with this but I also have to include Coffee. It’s the shiz and not a day goes by where I don’t down one (or five).  

 

Hope you enjoyed the second post in my 5 series! What are some things you guys can’t live without?

P.S. Please feel free to suggest some topics. I’ll do anything and everything! No freaky shit, though. Nah, I'll do that, too.

Cute puppy pic found via Google Image search.

Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin

Despite my love for makeup and beauty, I don’t have many books on the subject. Truth be told, I only have one. I have no idea why I don’t buy them – I guess I’m more about buying novels. Must build a collection, stat. 

My one makeup-related book is Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin. It was given to me as a gift a reaaaally long time ago (before I could really appreciate it) and I must say, I absolutely love it. Here it is:

It is honestly the perfect coffee table book. While packed with incredibly stunning images (and some overzealous photoshopping), it also offers stacks of info, tips and advice as well as tutorials on some awesome looks and makeovers. Most of the ‘models’ used are celebs and models but he also features ‘real’ peeps too, including his very own sis. It’s a really inspiring book and I’m happy to have it on my bookshelf. Here are some of my fave images from the book:





 







Stunning, right? He was one talented man.

Do you guys have this book? What do you think of it? What are your makeup and beauty book recommendations?

Kiehl's Has Some Exciting News For Aussies...

Last night, I was given the opportunity to head over to the amazing Kiehl’s store in Sydney’s Paddington to find out some exciting news. More on that later.

While I’ve heard of Kiehl’s, I must admit that I’ve never tried anything from the brand. Not exactly sure why. I guess I didn’t really know too much about it and what it had to offer.

It was a spectacular night filled with friendly and knowledgeable Kiehl’s experts (a special shout out goes to Alex who was amazing), great products and some yummy nibblies.

Some fellow bloggers and I rocked up a little early (slight cringe) but it ended up being perfect because we got some precious time with Alex. He analysed our skin, one by one, by placing a little paper tab on our cheek and forehead and then asked us various questions. I was told that while my cheeks were normal and healthy, my forehead was oily. He then talked to me about my acne issues and recommended me two products. The first was the Over-Night Biological Peel and the second was the Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment. Here's the lovely Anita from lovevulcanella.com getting her skin analysed:

And now, to the exciting news… prices are dropping BIG TIME – up to 50%. Now, for me (and for many in Oz, I suspect!), this is fantastic news. International brands can be quite pricey here and although they might be great, it can sometimes be a little difficult to justify the hefty price tags. Well, the good peeps at Kiehl’s are getting back to their charitable roots and because of their amazing growth and immense success in Australia, they are giving back to us in the way of lowering their prices. For good. Epic win. An example? Their famous Crème de Corps mammoth 500ml bottle is down to $68 from $89. Awesomeness.

The lovely people at Kiehl's gave us some goodies to take home (hooray!). Here's what I got:

I'm very much looking forward to trying out my new things. Look out for some reviews!

PRODUCT REVIEW - Activance Hair Stimulant

I’ve been using a hair product called Activance recently, which is new to Aussie shores but already very-much loved in Europe and the States. I haven’t been using it for too long but was already keen to review it (you’ll soon understand why).

How much is it? $55

How much product do you get? 200ml

There is a smaller and larger size available.

Activance is touted as a ‘Hair Stimulant’ and is the latest development in hair cosmeceuticals. The vital ingredient? Rhodanide is it’s name and it’s found in egg yolks – crazy, no? This stuff claims to radically improve your hair in terms of it’s strength, growth, thickness, shine, texture, thinning and overall health. Rhodanide is depleted by a bunch of different factors (including just washing your hair!) and is replenished with this stuff thus giving your hair a much needed health boost.

So, let’s start with what my hair is usually like, shall we?

I have thin, flat and limp colour-treated hair. Basically, teasing, mousse and dry shampoo are my (very good) volume-giving friends. My hair, while not too badly damaged, is very prone to breakage and fall-out. Boo.

I’ve been using Activance every single day for a few weeks and I’m pretty damn pleased with the results. I’ve been spitzing my roots as well as the lengths of my hair.

The good?

Let’s start with something fairly trivial but important nonetheless – the smell. It smells yummo. Now, I cant exactly pinpoint what the scent is comprised of but it smells quite masculine – like a sexy dude’s cologne. I love the smell and the way it subtly lingers on my hair.

It doesn’t leave any residue or make your hair oily. I was a little apprehensive about spraying this on my freshly washed hair (you can spray it on after a wash and towel-dry or on unwashed hair) but low and behold, it didn’t make my hair oily or leave a residue of any sort. It dries perfectly and you’re good to go.

It made my hair strong. This is major. Like I said above, my hair is thin, limp, prone to breakage and not strong at all. I've noticed a massive improvement in a short amount of time with regards to the strength of my hair. I also get significantly less fall-out. Plus, I feel that because of the increased strength, my hair is much more manageable.

It made my hair fuller. I’ve found that my hair is not only stronger, but fuller and bouncier also. Epic win.

It doesn’t affect coloured hair. You often have to be careful when using treatments on coloured hair as they sometimes have the tendency to strip the colour. Thankfully, this little doozy doesn’t do that.

It gave me added shine and softness. Nuf said, really.

The not-so-good?

Well, the price of the 200ml bottle could be considered a downfall to some (it’s $55) but the awesome thing is that there’s a smaller bottle available – 80ml for $26. Well done, Activance peeps. Honestly though, it’s worth the money. It lasts for ages and the results speak for themselves.

...

All in all, I would definitely purchase this myself. It’s made a massive difference to my hair (especially the strength!) in a fairly short amount of time and is worth the coin. I’ve got quite a lot more product left and am keen on seeing even more improvements. I’ll update you once I finish the bottle. You can find more info on Activance at www.activance.com.au including stockist info.

This product was provided for consideration but as this is a bullshit-free zone, my opinion is truthful.



Thank you!

Just a quick post to thank you all for your support, lovely comments and for just reading my ramblings. Blogging has become one of the most enjoyable things in my life and it's all thanks to you! You're all very much appreciated.

To put it simply - you guys are the shit.

PRODUCT REVIEW - Batiste Dry Shampoo

Suuup!

I’ve got another little review for you, today. This one’s gonna be on one of my most loved hair products – the Batiste Dry Shampoo in 'Fresh'.

How much is it? $9.95

How much product do you get? 150ml

It's also available a mini, travel-friendly size!

The good?

It works. Simple as that. It revives not-so-fresh hair and gets it looking nearly as good as it would if it was freshly washed. Great if you want to extend a nice blowdry for an extra day or are running epically late. Plus, I hear that fringed girls get good use of it, too.

It gives bounce and volume. This is pretty much the main reason why I use a dry shampoo. You see, I was blessed (lol) with flat, thin and limp hair. A little spray of dry shampoo at the roots gives my hair a really nice lift and some added volume and bounce.

The scent. I’ve tried both 'Blush' and 'Tropical' and while they were pleasant, they were a little heavy and kinda powdery-smelling (does that even make sense?). I was excited to see the 'Fresh' scent because I thought it would be nicer to have a more, well, fresh scent. While this still smells a tad powdery, it’s my fave of the three. It smells… fresh. Worst description ever.

It’s cheap. Compared to some other brands, this one is quite the steal.

The packaging is cute (to me). All of them are cute, really. Trivial, yes, but good to have something pretty to add to the dressing table, no?

The not-so-good?

It sometimes has the tendency to leave a white residue. To combat this, make sure you really work it into your hair/roots. Can be a little annoying but hey, not too bad.

 ...

All in all, I’m a big fan. I’ve been buying this for ages and will continue to do so in the future.

Are you fans of dry shampoo? Got any brands you think I should give a shot?

My 5 Fears

So, I’ve decided to start a ‘5’ series. Basically, every week or fortnight (haven’t decided yet), I’ll be dedicating a post to 5 things. I’ll be covering beauty topics as well as random stuff in a bid to inject a little more fun and randomness into my blog. Plus, it’ll help you to get to know me better. Today’s? My 5 fears. Let's go!

1. Being buried alive. I could honestly not think of anything worse. When I was in primary school, my Mum and I watched a movie about a woman who was kidnapped and then buried alive. Thanks, Mum. Great childhood viewing. I can’t remember the name of the movie but the images have been seared into my brain since. I’m not even a mega-claustrophobe but being stuck in a box, underground, is positively terrifying. I imagine getting short of breath, panicking and very quickly going crazy. Just thinking about it gives me the shakes.

2. Bugs. Even though I’m like 50x the size of them, I scream like a little, insane girl whenever I spot a cockroach, moth, spider (they’re my top 3) etc. I’m so terrified of them that I can’t even smack them with a shoe or spray them to death as I fear they’re going to spring at my face. I always need assistance when I’m faced with a creepy crawly.

3. Public speaking. I am absolutely terrified when it comes to speaking in front of groups. My mouth goes desert-dry, I start sweating and shaking and think about any way possible to get the fuck out of the situation. Presentations in front of my tutorial group at Uni were pure hell. I once failed a unit in my first year because once I heard that I had to do an oral presentation in front of the 20 people in my tute group, I never attended the class again. Thinking about it now, it’s pretty hilarious.

4. Eyes at the window. This sounds weird as hell but stay with me. You know when it’s real late at night and you’re lying awake in bed and then you notice that your blinds or curtains haven’t been properly closed/drawn? Well, I am deathly afraid that I’m going to look over at the little snippet of window and come face to face with the eyes of some psychopath, smiling maniacally at me. Weird? Probably. I blame my love for horror movies. 

5. Embarrassing myself in front of a big group of people. This is related to my fear of public speaking, I guess. Mostly though, I’m scared to embarrass myself in the way of stacking it. You see, loyal followers, I am a major clutz. I fall, drop things, trip and bump into stuff constantly. Waiting to be called up to collect my degree in front of hundreds of people, all I could think about was ‘OMG, PLEASE DON’T FALL. PLEASE. DON’T. FALL!’. I could literally not think of anything else. Thankfully, I didn't faceplant the stage. 

So, those are my 5 fears. I have other fears that are a tad more personal and deep but I thought I’d keep this relatively upbeat and leave the inappropriate venting for my Twitter followers. Sucked in, guys.

Do you share any of my fears? What are some of your fears?

Adorable pic found via Google Image search

How I Remove My Makeup

I’ve tried a bunch of different ways to remove my makeup but I think I’ve finally found a way that works best for me. Here’s a pic of what I use:

On a nightly basis, my routine goes like this:

First up, I wash my hands. Don't wanna make my skin any worse by adding germs and bacteria into the equation. 

Next, I grab a couple of cotton pads, douse them with some Garnier Clean Sensitive 2 in 1 Gentle Make-Up Remover and pat/very gently wipe the makeup from my eyes. I then grab another cotton pad, douse it again and wipe down my face. In the beginning, I was a bit apprehensive about using a oily makeup remover on my skin (acne-sufferer, here!) but this stuff is epically gentle and doesn’t break me out whatsoever. I absolutely love this stuff but don’t wanna rant on too much - let me know if you’d like a review.

I then make my way to the bathroom, grab a couple of pumps of olive oil and massage it all over my face, leaving my eyes for last. Using olive oil as a makeup remover is the shit. Feels lovely, is natural and free of crap and works awesomely. I will most likely do a post on using it to remove makeup. Let me know if you're interested. 

After a good massage with the oil, I wipe and wash off the excess and get on with my cleansing.

As for the cleansing wipes? I used them to remove my makeup before I discovered the joys of olive oil. Now, they’re specifically for the nights I come home super-late and really can’t be arsed washing my face. Naughty stuff.

Note: I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The pump bottle I keep it in is from a travel pack I found at the good ol’ Reject Shop.

So, that's how I do things. How do you go about taking off your makeup? 

My Slightly Strange Obsession

Relax, guys. I’m not going to talk about my strange sexual obsession. That’s for a future post. I’m here to talk about my obsession with stationery.

Ever since I was a little kid, I've been a stationery-freak. Whenever Mum and I would go shopping, I would make a beeline for the stationery section. Yeah, I was a little dorkface. Now that I’m older (and much cooler, might I add), I’m still massive stationery whore. I swoon at the sight of notebooks and writing pads, pretty paper, folders, writing utensils, clips, erasers (which I don’t need but still find adorable), post-its… I love it all. Notebooks are major, though. I keep buying them. I always seem to find ‘the perfect one’. To go along with my, er, other ‘perfect’ ones. It’s a slight obsession. Here are just a few from my collection:

Don't mind my crap in the background.
P.S. These look a lot prettier facing up.

I use them to jot down writing ideas, inspiration-related things, as a blog organiser, as a journal (don’t judge me – I like keeping a journal) and to just sit there and look pretty.

My top spots for picking up awesome stationery?

Typo – Oh, shit. This place is like my mecca. Not only does it satisfy my thirst for cool, quirky and cute stationery but it also satisfies my thirst for quirky little items for both the office and home. WIN.

kikki.K – This place is awesome. Despite the fact that it can sometimes be a little pricey, they stock some very unique and very gorgeous little things. I’m loving their Mother’s Day collection – so cute. Love!

Elizabeth Rosa – I found this little gem in Leura on a weekend away with an ex that I’d rather forget. Although he was lovely in the fact that he spent almost an hour in there with me, perusing all the little gems. This place is quite exxy, though. Exxy but awesome.

Officeworks – I tend to get a little manic in here, as well. So. Many. Things.

Target – They don’t have a massive selection but I had to mention them because I love their owl stuff. I have a folder, a keyring, a mousepad and a pen from the range.

Sportsgirl also does awesome little stationery gifts during Christmas time!

I have not yet ventured into the world of stationery on Etsy because I fear that I may have a heart attack and die.

So, that’s my slightly strange obsession. I tried to not make this post too long/crazed so I wouldn’t sound like a loon.

Do you share my slightly strange obsession with stationery? What’s your slightly strange obsession? And please, if you have any recs for other awesome stationery places, please let me know!

Just a lil haul...

I did a spot of shopping last week over in Sydney City. I bought a bunch of things (clothing and accessories) but only one beauty-related item - Benefit's The POREfessional. Now, I kinda broke my partial spending ban as I'm planning on using this as a primer but it's not technically a primer - it's a balm to help conceal pores. Therefore, it doesn't count. Loopholes - gotta love em.

On my way home, I also passed by a Korean store and got majorly sucked into buying a few nailpolishes. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure:

Now, the lovely girl at the Benefit counter (Myer at Pitt St Mall) applied this balm over my makeup and let me tell you, I was pretty floored by the results. I have largeish pores on my nose, a little section on each cheek and on my forehead. She put this on half my nose and it looked awesome. Big difference. Very happy. It was costly ($53) but whatever can make an improvement to the way my skin and makeup looks is worth the coin. She told me this stuff can be used both under and over makeup but I think I may just stick to under. We'll see how I go, though.

The nailpolish purchase? Well, they're pretty and they were $2.50 each. That's all there is to it, really. I needed more creme polishes in my life! Now, my nails are horrifying as they're still stained with hair dye (ALWAYS wear gloves when you're doing DIY hair colour, people!) so there won't be swatches just yet. Soon, though.


Stay tuned for reviews!