Link Loving #2

I spend a fair portion of my life on my computer (sometimes productively, I promise!) and I often come across some really great things which are too good not to share so here is the second instalment of my link loving series.

Nouvelle Daily posted a really great DIY for a jewellery display which is simple but very classy with easily accessible materials. I loved it so much that I'm keen to do my own when I get the opportunity. It's also very customisable to match your style and needs, you can change the hook set up or paint it a different colour with ease to make it your own.

Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup has recently started doing weekly vlogs (I say recently, this has been going on for ten weeks) and I absolutely love them! Her and her boyfriend Mark document the best bits of their weeks and wrap it up into a nice little weekly Tuesday upload. A part of the problem with daily vlogging is that sometimes it feels like people are trying to fill them out to make them more of a substantial video instead of being great content but making them weekly eliminates that and these have quickly become one of my favourites videos to see in my subscriptions feed.

Lewis Watson has been one of my favourite singer-songwriters for over two years now and he recently went back to his youtube cover roots and uploaded a beautiful cover of Oceans by Coldplay. I can't even begin to explain how much I love this cover so all I can say is click here, close your eyes and listen.

I've confessed my crush on Alexa Chung a fair bit on the internet and just when I thought I couldn't love her any more (I mean seriously, she used puns to name her eyeko range) she collaborated with Lisa Eldridge for a tutorial of her own signature look. Not only is her eyeliner applying skill incredible (she does it herself in this video) but she is also really interesting and I love the her laid back attitude in this video.

My handwriting is something I'm weirdly proud of, I personally think mine is neat but effortless at the same time and I have spent a lot of time making it how I want it to be (there was a time back in primary school where I spent weeks getting myself into the habit of doing normal f's instead of the really curly ones I'd been doing before). Cupcakes & Cashmere recently shared her faux calligraphy tips and not only is the writing beautiful but it is a very simple technique which I have loved learning how to do.

And last but not least is a bit of news that interests the Australian beauty lovers who read my blog. Somehow I missed the news that Australia was getting Sephora at the end of this year (right in time for my birthday, it's going to be grand) but they have revealed they intend to "price match the US on a portion of it's range" creating a new level of competition in the Australian market (you can read the article about it here). For those who don't know, makeup and skincare is incredibly overpriced in Australia with up to a 200% mark up so if Sephora do this well and stray true to their word this is just the right shake up that will make my bank account very happy.

What have you been loving on the internet recently? Anything that has managed to slip past my very watchful eyes?

The Want List

Part of the problem with being very active in the beauty/fashion blogger community is that the wants accumulate and for a girl who is trying to save her pennies, the temptation is painful. I try not to have too many impulse buys and go shopping with a plan to make the most of what I buy. The best way I've found to keep track is to have a running list and to check back on it so I only but what I really really want and have done for a while. What's on this list you may ask?

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - This has been on my list for over six months now and after my first dabble into Origins with the charcoal mask I think this is the next progression. It's a no fuss mask that has rave reviews and just fits in with the budget. I see it as the more I invest in looking after my skin the less I have to in covering it.

Marc Jacobs Baker watch in gold - I almost caved for this at Christmas but just couldn't quite bring myself to spend so much money on a watch but I think it's going to happen as my gap year survival present to myself at the end of the year. My wrists are childlike so I can't even find a bracelet that fits nicely but I think this watch will be the best investment my wrist will ever have.

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette - I have mentioned this previously on my blog before and the want still stands. It's on the back burner right now because I'm quite content with my no fuss concealer, brows and mascara look that's my go to at the moment but I'm keeping an eye out for it to go on sale on Beauty Bay so I can snap it up.

See by Chloe - Spotted on the vlog channel of Estee from EssieButton, this perfume is most likely my next buy in the scent department. I've been wearing Dot by Marc Jacobs almost exclusively since I got it in December which I still adore but it's half gone and I think it's time for a switch up. I smelt this once and loved it (it even got the mum tick of approval), a few more swatches are in order for my final conclusion but it's looking hopeful.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper- I swatched this on my hand and I kid you not it lasted two days of showers and handwashing before it was all gone. It's a perfect red and the formula has gotten the tick of approval from the bold lip goddess Anna from ViviannaDoesMakeup so I'm sold. In Australia it's not exactly cheap so I'm waiting for it to go on sale before I pick it up but expect a review on here soon after I do.

Black brogues - I did have my eye on some from Wittner but they are out of my price range so I am going to hunt through the end of financial year sales to find the perfect pair. I love the masculinity of the brogue, I think they definitely fall into the 'tom-boy chic' category and they are also really versatile, downplaying feminine cuts and can replace heels for the right occasion (my brown pair already do). Shoe shopping for me is quite hard and it's a godsend for me to find a pair I actually like.

What is on your want list? Actually, don't tell me. I don't need any more ideas.

An Ode To: Mens Loungewear

So as much as I like to keep up some sort of glamorous persona on here, the reality is that I spend most of my down time makeup-less and in some very comfy attire. But a recent discovery has made this time all that much more comfortable.

Girls have been stealing guys clothes for a while, from the old fashioned blazer over the shoulders as you walk home hand in hand (a gesture I think is very sweet) to borrowing a hoodie for a lazy Sunday together. But as a girl with no boyfriend (not really fussed to have one right at this point is my life either) I decided I'd do the next best thing.

I'm a big lover of loungewear, the comfier and cosier the better to the point where I was fed up with the thin track pants and jumpers from the women's section and decided to screw the judgement and just buy from the men's section. Not only are my new track pants thicker, cheaper and longer but they also have pockets! The whole 'drop crotch' thing was weird at first but it was a fast adaption and I don't half mind it now.

I am one very comfortably lady and I keep thinking of ways I can get away with wearing my trackies in public just so I don't have to take them off! Can't quite bring myself to yet in fear I'll see someone I know but I'm working on it.

Playing Favourites

I've always been very unmotivated to do a favourites post on this blog, choosing instead to wrap it into my quarterly mood boards. But for once I had a selection of things that I truly loved, rather than a few I loved and a few I liked that would fill out the post.

I had my eye on this little notebook for weeks before I caved and let myself buy it. Made by The New York Times this notebook is a really practical size with plenty of room to write as many lists as the heart desires (and my heart desires a lot). Online I couldn't find the single paperback version I bought from my newsagent but you can buy a set on the New York Times Store here.

Essie Lilacism has to be on of my favourite nail polishes of all time, it's the perfect not too in your face pastel purple which depending on the lighting sometimes looks blue and other times grey. It goes with my mainly monochrome wardrobe a treat and somehow I think is quite a mature pastel, not to mention the amount of compliments I get on the colour at work is unprecedented out of any of the other colours that I wear (and there is a lot).

Up until now I've never worn a nude lip, as a fair skinned girl I think it's harder to find a great nude to suit me and whenever I go to buy one I always change my mind because they always look like such an older woman's colour when I swatch them. The first one I bought out of excitement for the launch of the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipsticks in Australia. Nottinghill Nude is quite a brown colour but lightly blended over the lip, it looks less like it belongs in the early 2000's and much more like a modern nude. The second is Clarins Rouge Prodige lipstick in Nude, a lighter colour which I blend lightly once again and has the most beautiful packaging out of any other product I own. The downside is the scent, not my taste at all.

These rings have been popping up everywhere recently and I really like them. They're a simple statement piece and quite practical, you can buy them in sets with other rings quite cheaply as well which is the bonus if you want to give one a go without committing to something more expensive.

Washi tape has to go on my list of #essiemademebuyit items. It's overpriced and a complete waste of money but it's pretty and I couldn't resist. I got a set of five but the patterned ones were my favourite and I can't wait to be able to use them (for what, I'm not sure but I'll find something).

What have you been loving of recent? Anything amazing I should be tempted to buy?

The Casual Blazer

Blazer: Tokito // Tee: Lewis Watson Merch // Jeans: Jeanswest, customised // Bag: ASOS // Shoes: Betts 

May Madness

Back in February I posted a mood board type thing to summarise my month. Well I soon discovered that aiming to post that every month was a bit much because I don't get up to that much in the space of four weeks. So instead this post is going to be quarterly and more in depth.

The Products

The Naked 2 Palette has been on my list for a while and I'm going to be putting away a little bit of money each week when I get paid to buy not just the number 2 but the number 1 as well. My eyeshadow collection is a bit abysmal, mainly dominated by budget bronze shades but I'm excited to have more to work with. However this will be it for eyeshadows for a while for me, I'll be banning myself from buying any more other than the basics palette eventually.

Chapped lips never bothered me that much until I started wearing lipstick and now they are the biggest nuisance. With the change in the weather to windy, cooler days my lips have suffered so I set out to find the best of the bunch to save them. I have a whole post on my results which you can read here.

Rimmel Moisture Renew lipsticks dropped in Australia not long ago and I'm in love. The formula is great and Nottinghill Nude lightly blended over the lip is the nude lip colour for the girl who isn't big on nude lips. I picked up In Love With Ginger as well but I am yet to be brave enough to wear it out.

Lifestyle

Autumn is here and I am a happy chappy! My wardrobe is far more equipped for the cooler months so I feel like a fashion queen right now with my monochrome choices. I love nothing more than being rugged up on a rainy day in bed and I've been able to do that for the first time in over six months. I bought my first ever blazer recently and I'm working with it to make it a casual piece for winter, my favourite choice so far is rolling up the sleeves and throwing it over my Lewis Watson t-shirt which you can pick up here.

I have never been much of a handbag girl, preferring small cross body bags to lugging around a big thing until I found a love for canvas bags. Mine has the slogan 'Girls Just Wanna Have Funds' (which you can see on my instagram post here) and is a practical and casual way to carry things around. It's big enough to hold my laptop which is the best bonus because that was the worst thing about not having a large bag in my collection and a green bag from the supermarket isn't exactly stylish. They're cheap, washable and have the tick of approval from none other than Alexa Chung in her book 'It'.

I love getting so into a book that I'll stay up until 2am to finish it because going to sleep and finishing it the next day is not an option. I've recently finished 'Attachments' by Rainbow Rowell, 'The One Plus One' by Jojo Moyes and 'The Rosie Project' by Graeme Simsion, all of which I loved and would recommend to anyway. 'Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer and 'Someday, Someday, Maybe' by Lauren Graham are next on my list.

I never thoughts I'd love ripped denim jeans but since customising my own I can't get enough. I had a pair of light wash denim super skinny jeans which I was bored of so I hacked into them and had some fun. I'm going to make a post on how I did this so keep an eye out on my blog soon as well as eventually updating them with a bit of a lace detail to make them a bit different.

The OC is a show I've always intended to watch mainly because of Adam Brody's beautiful face if I'm completely honest. It's a trashy, early 2000's American high school comedy/drama and I love it. The clothes (did anyone wear bras 10 years ago??) and the make up (brown lipliner anyone?) are hilarious so I'd watch it for just those but I'm in love with Seth Cohen which helps too.

This year seems to be the year for new music amongst the artists I listen to. Passenger, Lewis Watson, Stu Larsen, Ed Sheeran, Hudson Taylor and probably a bunch more people who I've forgotten about are all releasing new material and I know I'm going to be in heaven/broke by the time it's all released. I've been in such a music funk however that it'll be so worth it. I'm considering doing a whole post about what I've been listening to so let me know in the comments if you'd be interested in that.

There is a reason why the products list is so short in this post and that's because I am trying my hardest to save as much as possible. I'm a materialistic person so this is hard for me and with my mum's birthday, easter, mothers day, my dad's birthday and my brother's birthday all falling in the past few weeks and next few months, I have to try and be tight and spend wisely so all my hard work doesn't go to waste. The biggest down side is the constant feeling of being broke because I can't touch any of the money in my savings account.

I've been awful with sleep of recent and my schedule has gone out the window. At the moment I've been going to sleep at midnight and waking up at 10am far too frequently which is really not practical if I want to get anything done in the day. I'm now going to make a conscious effort to get a normal pattern back, even if it involves early alarms so by the end of the day I'm actually tired.

Writing is something I love but I've recently started to put it off and I'm not sure why. I've started procrastinating doing the thing that was usually what I did when I was procrastinating. In attempt to keep myself writing and becoming better, I am going to write something every day. Even if it's just three sentences, it's better than nothing. I'm going to make sure I have a pad and pen everywhere I go as well in case inspiration strikes.


Let me know in the comments what you've been listening to as of recent and the most exciting thing happening in the next few months for you.

February.

I was having a little fiddle around on my beloved polyvore the other day when this idea came to me - monthly mood boards sharing little tidbits that I have planned for the month/things I am loving. With February just around the corner I was excited to get this post up to share with you all.

The Products

A few beauty related products are mixed into this and they are most products I've wanted for a while and have intended on getting. Nails Inc. Porchester Square has been on my wish list for a while and I'm reminded frequently when it pops up on Anna's blog/youtube. I've finally found somewhere to source it from though which is a real nuisance with Australia because shipping restrictions stop the shipping of nail polish from overseas essentially but it is available through David Jones online (and potentially in store). Not that I really need a new polish but the heart wants what the heart wants.

Origins Clear Improvement Tube Active Charcoal Mask (wow that's a name) is quite a loved product online and has a lot of positive reviews. It's not overly pricey as far as skincare goes and I have found it in two stores so you can actually for once smell before you buy if you're like me and scent can be a deal breaker. Mecca Cosmetica and Kit Cosmetics (it's slightly cheaper through them) which has a counter in Myer both stock it as well as a load of other Origins products which I am very intrigued about.

Bioderma Crealine H2O Cleanser & Make Up Remover is another cult product which is missing from my collection, mainly because my interest in skin care has only developed very recently. Available from Priceline in Australia, this product was put off for a while for me because of the price tag. Although not extortionate, its appearance as a cleansing water made me hesitant but I am ready to bite the bullet for the sake of my blog.. and my skin.

It saddens me greatly but the Revlon Colourburst Matte Balms won't be released in Australia for the foreseeable future, I can't pinpoint why Australia gets left behind with product releases but it's all too frequent. I however will be pining over them until I can get my hands on some.

I ordered my Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner from BeautyBay upon Estee's recommendation through twitter after it made an appearance in her Sephora Haul. She was absolutely lovely and sold it for me. This months project is to perfect my application method so I can start wearing it more and more.


Lifestyle

The job hunt has begun! Nothing too serious and I have accepted that I'll just have to tolerate something pretty dull until I gain experience or decide what career path I am taking but it's exciting all the more. I am super nervous about potential job interviews but I have to learn somehow.

The job hunt all ties in with my travel plans. Europe 2015 is a very real possibility if I can save sufficiently, I'm not exactly thrilled by the thought of youth hostels so I need to save as much as possible in the next year and a half so I can travel in a certain level of style (i.e. not with a backpack on my back). I am looking at Contiki trips and hopefully by the time I am raring to go I'll have a travel companion to keep me company.

The pictures will seem like a more obvious choice when I post the video from the shoot but I have been enlisted to help my best friend shoot a little music video for a cover she is doing. I am excited to have a go and we have been brainstorming ideas to make sure it is the best it can possibly be.

Recently I got a new camera in the form of the Canon Eos M and this month I want to learn more how to use it the best of its ability. Up until now I have been using it like a point and shoot with more automatic settings to ease me into my camera upgrade but with a bit of practice I think my photography skills will improve significantly if I learn what half the functions do.


Miscellaneous

Whilst on holiday recently I popped into a little vintage store and it was the kitchen wear and storage that got me. I am a vintage lover and I think old tins are amazing for storage but also are like an art form, being perfect expressions of the past. A lot of the glassware caught my eye as well which would look very sweet on my mantle or on my desk.

Winter seems like a distant dream away right now as the hot temperatures of the Australian summer have taken their toll but the spotting of Chelsea boots whilst shopping recently has gotten me excited for those winter months where you can wear more than one layer of clothing without self combusting. There are some really lovely designs coming out, both flat and heeled and I think they're the perfect winter shoe and completely versatile with whatever you're wearing.

The last part of my month is a childhood character costume party which I am very excited about since I have come up with the perfect costume which is comfortable/isn't slutty/doesn't look ridiculous/the demographic will understand. Australian 90's kids should know who Nannette Manoir from Angela Anaconda is but for others it's worth a google image search. My beret is on its way and I have to perfect my ringlets for the evening by playing around with rag curls until they're just right. I will definitely post my outfit on some form of social media/on this blog so keep an eye out towards the end of next month.


What are your most exciting moments for the month coming? Let me know in the comments below.