Quote I Love: Grace Kelly

My Top 5: Sites

Hi Dolls,

If you ask my husband, he would tell you that I am always on the Internet. These are my top 5 sites that I visit all the time. They can keep me entertained for hours on end.

1. http://www.kirstensstylereport.blogspot.com - This is an obvious one.... this site is so rad, you should tell all your friends and family about it... even randoms at the shops if you like!
2. http://www.facebook.com/ - This is another obvious one. I could possibly be addicted...

3. http://www.pinterest.com/ - I can spend hours and hours on this site. It gives me lots of inspiration and crafty ideas. It also gives me a few laughs! If you're not already a member, let me know and I can invite you. I've really got to stop telling people about this... I would like to keep up the illusion of being a creative genious!
4. http://www.etsy.com/ - A site full of beautiful hand-made pieces of love!

5. http://www.ebay.com.au/ - I love browsing through the pages of eBay trying to snap up a bargain - and I almost always do!

There are plenty more but we would probably be here all day, and anyway I've got some more browsing to do!

What's in my makeup bag??

Hi Dolls,

I absolutely LOVE makeup. I am obsessed. If I had my time again I would definitely be in that industry. A mortgage and bills to pay has put this dream on hold, but for now I am satisfied with just playing from home.

For me, if I’m feeling a little bit bleugh, blah or depressed, I get my glam on. I get fresh so I feel fresh. Shower, clothes, shoes, jewellery, hair – blow dry, straighten or curl and the cherry on my ice-cream Sunday – makeup! I try to look how I feel and if I don’t feel quite up to scratch, my motto is - fake it till you make it. I always feel better when I put a bit of effort into myself.

I use a Mimco makeup bag for all the makeup I use every day. I have an Inglot makeup case for the rest of my loot for every other day. My mother-in-law bought me the Mimco bag a few Xmas’s ago and I LOVE it! It’s the perfect size. My husband shouted me the Inglot case a while ago and it’s fantastic. Everything has it’s place and isn’t chaotic and crammed in draws like it used to be.

Inside my makeup bag:

 

Smashbox Highlighter - Such an easy to apply illuminator.

Smashbox liquid concealer - Liquid concealers are easy to apply and blend in effortlessly.

Smashbox tranculesent powder - Can go over any foundation as it is translucent and makes your complextion flawless and your makeup stay put.

Maybelline New York Fit Me liquid foundation - Really easy to blend and leaves a dewy complexion.
Maybelline New York Concealer - Easy to blend.
Maybelline New York Powder - Helps my foundation stay put.

Benefit High Beam - Apply to the brow bone to open up your eyes. Trust me - this works!

Benefit gel brow pencil - Best brow pencil I have ever used. Fills in sparse areas and blends in so easily.

YSL touché éclat - Fantastic for fine lines and is a must have if you suffer from dark circles under your eyes.

Stila illuminating powder in bronze - A beautiful illuminating bronzer. Easy to blend.

Stila convertible colour in lilium - Can be used on cheeks, lips or eyes. I like to blend into the apples of my cheeks.

Stila eyeshadow in Kitten - The eyeshadow colour that suits everyone. Brightens and makes your eyes sparkle.

Nars duo eye shadows – favourites: Brumes, Violetta and Jolie-poppee - So easy to blend and gorgeous colours.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara - Makes you look like you are wearing false lashes!

I don’t use every single thing every day, but it all comes in handy!

Shopped till the shops closed!

Hi Dolls,

I have been spending my birthday money again…on makeup… again! Well mostly makeup anyway.

This time I was on the look out for a new foundation. I know I’ve said this a million times, but my skin is quite dry and I find it hard to find a foundation that just stays the way I put it on, instead of flaking off my nose the second I walk out the door. I went to Priceline and the Maybelline New York Fit Me range had a $30 deal where you could choose any three products from the range. I ended up with a foundation, matching concealer and powder. I have been using them for a couple of weeks now and I am in love with it! It stays put and has great coverage without being too heavy.

My sister-in-law was telling me about the Yves Saint Laurent touché éclat and how it’s her new favourite piece of makeup. So I went to the YSL makeup counter and told them that I wanted to be talked into it too. It was $55 and in my opinion worth every penny. They also through in a sample of their new ‘shocking’ mascara. That will have to be my next purchase because it was fabulous – one stroke and it looked like I was wearing falsies! Anyway, the touché éclat is a highlight concealer stick. If you get dark circles under you eyes, I suggest you run (not walk) right now, yes, right this instant and purchase this magic wand. It really is that great. Before you go to Myer or DJ’s though, check out my beauty spot. I saw them there a few days ago for only $30! Dammit, I hate it when I miss out on a bargain, but I would hate it if you missed out on it too!

Speaking of my beauty spot, I did get a Stila lip glaze in peach for $10! I have paid way more than this for the same thing before (don’t think I should say how much more in case my husband is reading). I love Stila makeup. There were also Stila eyeshadow palletes, lip pencils and bronzing powder for only $10 each. That is just a ridiculous price!

I went past the MAC counter at Myer on the look out for a lipstick to wear at my sister-in-law’s wedding. I ended up being sucked into a pink lipstick. The shade is and was $36. I had never worn a MAC lipstick before, but it’s very smooth, glides on and feels really nice. It’s super bright and quite a deep shade but I love it anyway. It’s nice getting something a little different.

I tend to always buy the same lip colours because I love them. I only realize this when I get home and put them with the 20 other lipsticks that are the same shade. So at Kmart, with this in mind again I picked up a Rimmel lipstick for $10 in pink blush. This was also bright but very light and I love this one too! I also want the same lipstick in the shade soft coral but thought I better not buy too many lipsticks all at once!

With all this new makeup, I totally needed something new to put it all in, right! I was in Myer and spotted this awesome Basque makeup bag. It was $30, but imagine my excitement when I found it on sale for $5! It fits heaps in it but isn’t too bulky.

I also found myself in Diana Ferrari where there were racks of things with 50% off. I ended up getting these gorgeous ballet flats for $20! They were $90 reduced to $40 with 50% off the sale price! Bargain! They feel wonderful as well - like walking on a cloud!

... and this is where i dropped... or at least this is when the shops closed!

Roly Poly!

Hi Dolls,

Sooo… Piper rolled from her back to her tummy this week! Eeeee…. Just a little bit excited and so damn proud of my little pumpkin! She has been on a roll (literally!) ever since! As soon as we put her down now she is rolling from her back to her tummy and back again grabbing and playing with her (many thousands of) toys. We've also been having fun dressing up and having photo shoots in baskets - Watch out Anne Geddes!Nothing can stop her now, she’s growing up so quickly! Before you know it I’ll be back at work - luckily enough to be going back only part-time. As much as I can’t wait for all the different stages she is about to go through (walking and talking etc.) it will mean that I'll have to be back at the office and that I’ll be missing out on every single moment with her. Anyway, I’m making the most of now until my maternity leave is up.

I haven’t updated since before my birthday really. So here goes….

The girls and I got together to try and plan a surprise baby shower for my bestie. She is due next month and didn’t want to have a baby shower. My first thought was, why!? I guess it’s a bummer not being able to celebrate with some bubbly or a bit of kabana and cheese but that just wouldn’t do for us. I understand not wanting a big fuss, but it’s a really big deal to be having a baby and we had to celebrate it in some way. A friend suggested having a lunch at a local restaurant with just the girls so it wasn’t a huge gathering, just an intimate celebration with her closest girlfriends. So I invited the mum-to-be out for lunch with the girls in the disguise of a lunch for my birthday. I know, I’m that good of a friend, I gave up my birthday for her! So I picked her up and we arrived fashionably late to a table decked out with balloons and presents. When I dropped the mum-to-be home and finished unpacking the car with all her surprise pressies, I said to her, I bet you didn’t think you would be bringing home this mountain of baby presents! It was a lovely lunch and I think we pulled off the surprise for her!

So, for my actual birthday, my husband took Piper and I out for breakie. We went to my favourite breakfast spot – Mocha Jo’s. It’s in Glen Waverley and it is amazing. The food and the atmosphere are fabulous. My go-to breakie meal without a doubt (I get the same thing every single time) is poached eggs on ciabatta bread with smoked salmon and avocado. Delicious! We then went into The Glen shopping centre for a spot of shopping and got our wedding rings cleaned at the jeweler we purchased them from. He cleans them for free and they look brand new again. I get all my jewellery from there now – KT Jewellers. He is lovely and has some beautiful pieces. He will even design from scratch to suit your budget. We then hit up Chadstone shopping centre and I scored a new hair curler. It’s a Babyliss Pro 25mm ceramic curling iron from Hairhouse Warehouse. I will do a separate blog on this baby very soon. It is awesome and I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of it without burning myself! Seriously, I have a ripper of a burn on my hand - ouch! I also managed to get some bobby pins thrown in. Can’t go past a good set of bobby pins. These ones actually hold and stay put. They were around $15 for 999! They always go missing, but this will take a while for that to happen now! We also visited Ferguson Plarre and picked up my birthday cake! A strawberry cheesecake. I had been drooling over it for weeks and couldn’t just buy it for nothing, right?... Right! So I waited for my birthday and it was well worth the wait – it was yuuuummy! Make sure you try the custard tart and chocolate éclair too… I heard they are amazingly scrumptious….! The family came over for a BBQ the night of my birthday and I was showered with gifts and money to go shopping (!) for some more gifts! My sister got me some gorgeous body shop sparkly body lotion and a beautiful silver necklace with my name cut out alà Carrie Bradshaw.

I updated you all on my sister-in-law’s and new brother-in-law’s wedding last week, but I forgot to show you Piper’s outfit from the store we shall not name. I think it’s just too adorable to not give Piper and her outfit a mention!

Last week we also had to say goodbye to a beautiful member of our family. The gorgeous silky terrier Phoebe who grew up with my husbands family. I know you are in a better place now little baggarty chicken… RIP…

Until next time lovelies…

Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Tart... to die!

Hi Dolls,

I have had a few requests for the Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Tart I made recently. I have to be honest, I pinched the recipe from my sister... actually, if I'm really honest, I made her help me make it too! We made it for a BBQ on the weekend and it all went within 5 minutes, so it might be a good idea to make two! It's delicious and SO easy to make - Enjoy!

Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Tart
Serves 8 / Ready in 25 minutes (plus refrigeration time)

Ingredients:
250g packet chocolate ripple biscuits
125g butter, melted
32 vanilla marshmallows
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
300ml thickened cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean)
1/4 cup salted roasted peanuts, roughly chopped


Method:
- Place biscuits in a food processor.
- Process until finely chopped.
- Add butter.
- Process until just combined.
- Press in base and side of a 3cm-deep, 23cm base) loose-based round fluted flan tin.
   (I used a pie dish and lined it with baking paper instead).
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.

- Place marshmallows, milk and peanut butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until melted and smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl. Stand for 5 minutes to cool.

- Using an electric mixer, beat cream and vanilla until soft peaks from.
- Add 1/4 of cream to marshmallow mixture.
- Stir to combine. Fold through remaining cream.
- Spoon mixture into prepared case.
- Sprinkle with peanuts.
- Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours or until set.
- Serve.

Bon Appétit!

Faking it...

Hi Dolls,

As you all know I went to my sister-in-law and new brother-in-law's wedding last Friday. I looked down at my ghostly white legs in shock and realised this just wouldn't do. I always feel much better with a tan. I don't mind a spray tan, but they just don't last very long on me. No matter how much I exfoliate the crap out of my skin, taking care to pay extra attention around my elbows, underarms, knees and ankles, it still ends up streaky and flaky. I moisturise as well, but it doesn't always help.

I now use an airbrush tan in a can called Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs. It's like a makeover for not just your legs, but your whole body! You don't need spray tans, pantyhose or the solarium anymore. It's a makeup designed for your legs and body which covers freckles, veins and imperfections leaving your legs and body looking flawless. It's also water and transfer resistant. Just spray it on, rub it in and 60 seconds later you can get dressed and head out with your new sexy legs!

I got it at Priceline, but it's also available at Kmart, Target, Big W, chemists, etc. It comes in Light glow, Medium glow, Tan glow and Deep glow. I'm quite fair and the light glow was more than enough for me. Price range is around $27. It lasts quite a while though and a little bit goes a long way.

Going to the Chapel...

Hi Dolls,

We finally had my sister-in-law and now new brother-in-law's wedding last Friday. It feels like we were counting down for ages and now it finally happened! It was seriously one of the best weddings I have ever been to. In the top two I'd say! Everything was just perfect and full of little surprises! Such a magical and special day!

The hair, the makeup, the accessories, the flowers... everything was just beautiful.

The ceremony was held at their local church. I was lucky enough to be asked to do a reading. The ceremony was short and sweet and just beautiful.

Afterwards there was photos and the weather held up long enough to do this in record time. They had made a list of all the photos they wanted with family and friends and this was such a great idea - no one was left out and they went so quickly! The bridal party then trotted off (well I should really say elegantly glided away) to the next location for more photos... in a stretch Hummer! Awesome!

The reception was at the Doyle's Bridge Hotel. It was a beautiful venue set on the water surrounded by all the boats and yachts. The bridal party were introduced and came in separately with different funky little dances and pumped everyone up for a fabulous and fun night. The bride and groom(!) even had a sneaky outfit change in between the ceremony and reception! A couple after my own heart! A long dress at the ceremony was changed for a shorter little number for the reception. The groom changed into a pair of shorts.
The bridesmaids wore a beautiful yellow colour, each with a different neckline. The bride's white dress had a matching yellow bow and shoes.

There was just so many great things, they had leaned a dance routine for their first dance with lifts and all!
Instead of a guestbook, there was a fingerprint tree which will look fantastic framed on their wall. Each guest put a fingerprint on an outline of a tree and wrote their name under it. A great idea instead of an actual guestbook that just sits in the cupboard and never comes out to play.
The speeches were even great, and it doesn't always happen this way at a wedding. I was so proud of my husband who did a beautiful speech for his sister - it didn't leave a dry eye in the place. I also loved the joint bride and groom speech which was hilarious and so touching. I loved the way they separately thanked each groomsmen and bridesmaid. You choose these people to be part of your special day, so it was nice to know why they each meant so much to them.
You could just feel the love between the two of them and could tell they were meant to live happily ever after. I know, I know, I'm getting a bit corny now but I just love a wedding, you know!

I can't wait to see the wedding video and all the photo's.

Have fun on your honeymoon in Fiji!

To the bride and groom!

P.s - Thanks everyone for all the pics I pinched from Facebook... obviously I left my camera at home!

Royal eyeliner... fail!

Hi Dolls,

Let me get this straight, I quite like the royal family. I mean, I remember princess Diana's wedding and I was there on the couch with a cuppa and a block of chocolate with a billion million other people for Kate and Wills' wedding - just waiting to catch a glimpse of what she was wearing. But... what is with the eyeliner? Heavy handed or what? I've thought this for a while now and thought it might get better, but it hasn't. It's just too harsh and she needs to relax! I commend PK for still doing her own makeup - it looks fantastic, she obviously knows what she's doing and what suits her... except for her eyeliner!

What do you think? Does Kate wear too much eyeliner and should she tone it down a little bit or do you like this look?

Flashback Friday: Barbie... get on it!

~Originally posted December 17, 2009~

 

Hi Dolls,

 

Even though I am 25 years old, I still love Barbie. She is awesome!A couple of months ago there was a Barbie expo at Federation square. As a cover, I dragged my husband’s 7-year-old god-daughter along and bribed her with the hope of free Barbies! When we got there all she wanted to do was get to the shop at the end of the expo where you could design your own Barbie.

The expo had everything you could want to know about Barbies. We learnt how they were made, watched a movie and then waded through rows and rows of Barbies that dated back the first ever Barbie in 1950. There were Barbies designed by high-end designers including Chanel, Versace and Valentino. There were even the glamorous and famous Barbies including Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Beyoncé just to name a few. We walked the runway where mannequins were dressed in full-sized Barbie clothes and later stared through the glass cabinet at the most beautiful Christian Louboutin Barbie pink heels I have ever seen! I couldn’t get enough! So many childhood memories were floating back to me. We made it through the displays of camper vans, limousines and sports cars and to my god daughters delight we finally made it to the store.

So it just goes to show why I find it hard to let go of anything as I know it will have a comeback eventually! 

The ques! I have never seen anything like it! We finally managed to design our own Barbie and I must say they were magnificent! You could choose between hairstyles, clothing, shoes, handbags and makeup. Once your design had been completed our masterpieces were put together and rocked the looks we picked for them in a glass display cabinet before they were wrapped up in a plastic box and popped through the shoot landing in our hot little hands. There were so many things to choose from and we ended up walking out with a remake of the first ever Barbie made in the 1950′s (It was a tough choice between this one and a remake of the 80′s Barbie), a nail file with the phrase ‘plastic is the new tan’ and our design your own Barbie. I almost bought my husband a Ken T-shirt with the slogan ‘doing it Ken style’, however I knew he would never wear it. They also had an offer to subscribe to vogue for six months and you would receive your very own collectable Vogue shopgirl Barbie. That night I went home and immediately ordered it and she is awesome! 

Since going to this expo I have noticed Barbie is popping up everywhere! Mattel have teamed up with Mac and Stila creating the Barbie loves Mac and Barbie loves Stila makeup lines. Even Mimco have got on board with handbags and accessories called Barbie loves Mimco.  

                      

So it just goes to show why I can't let go of anything - everything has a comeback eventually!