The Sunday Break #3

I didn't have a lot of spare time this sunday, but I will always make room for a little chocolate and a good read.

The sweet;
Cadbury's Bite Size Flake Chocolate. I'm not one to turn down a piece of chocolate, so I treated myself to a few pieces, and put the rest away - which was hard to do!

The read; The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky.
Such a good book! True to the movie, and just a great read. Highly recommend.

Time for a proper skincare routine; Palmer's Skincare Range

In a post awhile back I mentioned how most moisturisers tended to break my skin out, or my skin didn't get along with a products.
I have quite the basic skincare routine - facial scrub, cleanser, toner and the occasional nose pore strip. I had never delved into the world of skincare all that deeply, which is bad on my behalf.
I'm not longer fourteen, my skin needs extra care heading into my 20s - it's prime time I take care of it.
I was once again in a discount chemist and I went for a look in the skincare aisle as my favourite body butter product was very much reduced! (post on that soon!)
I was looking at the shelves and saw a gift pack of Palmer's skincare products, it was heavily reduced and then I remembered I had some points on my store card that could be used in order to reduce the price further, it ended up being cheaper to buy the gift pack then buying all the products separately.

I was so happy with this, because I adore the Palmer's brand and I love the cocoa scent, it makes taking care of my skin a pleasure. I was shocked at myself for not delving into facial skincare products by Palmer's Skincare as they are fabulous.
The set comes with a lovely daily facial lotion, eye cream, facial serum (which is a favourite), and a night renewal cream.
I actually now have some proper skincare products and a routine, all done on a budget! Only a tiny bit of product is needed, so these products will last me a long time - a good investment.

Since I'm getting into the world of skincare, please leave some recommendations of skincare products you like. :)
♥

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick; 47 Rose Pare

Bourjois is the closest I'll ever get to a high end beauty product, as to what I've been told Bourjois is a sister company to Chanel! AMAZING.
I always used to avoid the Bourjois stand as I knew it would be too expensive and my purse would not allow me to spurlage on something, when there would be a perfectly good, cheaper priced dupe in another stand. However, on this occasion, something drew me to the stand - the beautiful sale sticker labels! I went straight to the lipstick (as it would be the closest thing to a Chanel lipstick, my logic). and discovered it was $11 from $20+, bargain right? Then at the checkout it turned out to be $8! EIGHT DOLLARS FOR BOURJOIS, YES PLEASE!

As usual, I was going to go for the light rosy nude shade, until a lovely beauty assistant suggested a deep rose shade. I instantly answered, oh no - I can't pull off a red, but she reassured me it isn't as red as a person would think. I swatched it and it was a beautiful deep rosy pink, to reassure me further she applied a sample on, and I must say I have never been so surprised by a lipstick! The shade was 47; Rose Pare, gorgeous, and the packaging is so lovely - who doesn't love a little purple.
It is perfect for all year round, but I love to break this out in the A/W. While everyone else is rocking the red winter lip, I'll rock the rosy red lip.
What are your favourite Bourjois products?

♥

Face of Australia - Colour Pro; Triple Action Nail Enamel in White Gold

I was very lucky and was gifted/treated to this gorgeous nail polish by a sibling. It's apart of the Face of Australia (by the by - it's fast becoming a new favourite brand) make up range.
The shade is in White Gold, it is so beautiful - it has a beautiful slight rose tint. This shade is a perfect year round nail colour. It compliments a lovely tan for the summer, but adds that something special to your nails in the winter.
This is a perfect shade of gold nail polish, it's great for people that think a full on gold might be too harsh for their fingernails.
The application was incredible. The consistency of the polish was brilliant, it was thick enough; that one coat would do. The brush was the perfect size, making the application simple and easy. It's quite long lasting, but I do recommend using a base coat and top coat to help the nail polish last longer.
This will not be the last purchase from Face of Australia.

 

What products are you loving at the moment?

♥

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer; 101 Celestial

Rimmel, you always produce some winner products.
Rimmel is my favourite make up brand, I have countless items of their products. Their lip product range is incredible, their lipsticks, glosses, lip stains and liners are all winners and there is something for everyone.
I recently popped into a discount chemist and I could not resist looking at the Rimmel stand. I noticed that it was 50% off, which is just fabulous! In Australia, store make up brands are so expensive, meaning I often wait around for the special offers. This was my chance to try the rather hyped Apocalips, can we take a moment to appreciate the creativity of the name?
I'm a bit late on the bandwagon with the Apocalips, but at an average price of $14, I couldn't justify spending that much on it. However, when I saw 50%, I began to round up the coins in my purse to purchase the product I've wanted try for months and months.
Now, the trouble was picking a colour. I cannot pull of the bright shades or very nude shades, I every much needed the perfect pinky nude known as Celestial.

The colour is perfect for my pale complexion, not too 'out there' but not too basic. The colour just adds that something special to your lips. The application couldn't be simpler. The doe foot applicator makes it an ease, but I do recommend applying with a mirror, it can get messy without. What is wonderful about the product is you can mute it down by blending it out with a lipbalm, or add more to it to make the colour bolder.

I now have my eye on the colour, Nova.
Have you tried the Apocalips? What colour is your favourite?
Thanks for reading! :)

The Christmas Tag

I have seen this tag floating around the world of blogs and YouTube, and I loved the sound of this tag, so I thought why not give a tag a go?

Here we go,

What's your favourite Christmas movie?
If you haven't been up to date on my festive blog posts, I have been doing regular posts on my favourite Christmas movies, so go have a stalk of those. My top three are Love Actually, Elf and The Holiday.

What's your favourite Christmas colour?
I love gold, silver and royal purple. Trust me, narrowing it down to three was a challenge.

Do you stay in your PJ's or dress up for Christmas?
In PJ's for most of the morning, then dress up nice. :)

If you could only buy a present for only one person, who would it be?
Oh this is too hard! I love getting Christmas gifts for others, I don't know if I could only buy for one person! Choosing presents for others and seeing their faces light up, is one of the best things about Christmas.

Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas Day! I couldn't open them Christmas Eve, I would feel like I would be cheating on Christmas Day.

Have you ever built a gingerbread house? YES! Let's just say it fell to pieces, multiple times. Was not successful, icing tasted amazing though.

What do you like to do on your Christmas break? Relax, take time out for myself before the new university year starts again, just enjoy myself and be in good company of others.

Do you have any Christmas wishes? Well, I do love those Cadbury Chocolate Wishes, could go for a few of them right now. Cadbury, take note here, do not take them away once Christmas is over, chocolate tastes amazing in star form. :) On a serious answer to the question, I wish to have a lovely day, filled with smiles and treats.

What's your favourite Christmas smell?
I love the sweet and spicy scents, like the smell of cinnamon, peppermint, anything sweet scented really.

What's your favourite Christmas meal or treat?
Too many to name! I love it all, I have quite the sweet tooth, so bring the Christmas truffles, shortbread, cakes, gingerbread my way. They will be consumed happily.

What's your favourite Christmas drink?
It's always hot for Christmas, but when there's the occasional cool day on the lead up to Christmas I love a good chai latte, apple and cinnamon tea, or a Christmas themed drink from coffee houses menus, and Christmas biscuits. However when its hot, cranberry juice with carbonated water, bliss!

Candy Canes or Gingerbread men?
Oooh, this is hard to choose, but I think gingerbread men have an edge. :)

What's your favourite Christmas song?
If you haven't been keeping up with my festive posts, every so often I link one of my favourite Christmas songs, so go have a stalk on my blog of my favourite Christmas songs. :)

What's the weirdest gift you've received?
I cannot think of any!

What's at the top of your Christmas list this year?
I don't think there's anything, nothing is springing to mind, I'm a tad stuck on that one!

That was fun! So anyone give it a go and if you do, do this tag let me know please!
It's nice to reflect on Christmas traditions that you may have.

Merry Christmas,
Stephanie.

Favourite Christmas Movies #5 - Noel

This movie can bring a tear to my eye. It's a beautiful film and worth a watch. The film has a similar basis to Love Actually, of characters being linked together in some way or another.
Noel focuses on strangers, who are linked together and meet each other at separate times, by several events that take place on Christmas Eve.

This has to be the one I love to watch the most. It tugs at the heart strings, can make you smile and can make you giggle. Time well spent watching this.

Have you seen this film? What did you think?

Merry Christmas!
Stephanie

Favourite Christmas Movies #3 - Love Actually

Okay, so this movie makes me believe that my love life will never be satisfactory until someone runs through an airport to stop me from getting on a flight. I love how every time I watch this movie, I feel so uplifted and positive. It's probably because at the ends on the beautiful sentiment, 'love is actually all around'. When I reflect on it, it truly is. It's a beautiful film to watch during the Christmas season as it lets you reflect on what you are grateful for. It just reminds me of the fact, love is all around.
The film is set in the city of London and follows the lives of numerous characters whose lives are intertwined in some form. The film starts from five weeks before Christmas and follows weekly countdown until Christmas.
The cast is incredible, beautifully scripted, I cannot speak more positively about this.
I feel like this is the Christmas movie for 'grown up's', so the children have The Santa Clause (but hey, I still love to watch that). Nevertheless, it's still has that Christmas film appeal to young adults/adults.

I have to say, this is a movie I will always adore and love. Do any of you love this movie?


Don't forget, Love actually is all around,

Love always,
Stephanie

Favourite Christmas Tunes #2 - All I want for Christmas is you

You know its Christmas time when department stores resurrect the classic 'All I want for Christmas is You' by Mariah Carey.
Now, I'm not going to lie, I do love this song, its the Christmas pop song that department stores, shopping centres use to death, and I'm that person that sings along while browsing the aisles.
It is the Christmas lyric that everyone joins in on; 'ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS.. IS YOOOOOOOOOUUU!'

This song will always be a favourite during Christmas time because once the department stores and shopping centres start to play this tune, it's the Christmas season.

So, are you like me and sing along to this tune? Is it a song you love to hate, or just love? Let me know.
Christmas is coming! :D

Love always,
Stephanie.

Favourite Christmas Tunes #1 - Underneath the Tree

Okay, Christmas isn't Christmas without a Christmas song to sing along to. So over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing a few of my favourite Christmas tunes. Now the fabulous Kelly Clarkson has released the Christmas album 'Wrapped in Red', which is just beautiful. One of my favourite tracks is Underneath the Tree. I think I like it so much because its such a pop beat. This song is catchy and Kelly's voice is incredible, so take a listen, does it get you in the festive spirit? I can honestly say makes me want to dance, and sing around the kitchen baking Christmas biscuits. I might just go and do that.

Love always,
Stephanie

Favourite Christmas Movies #2 - Elf

Two posts in a row? Gosh, I'm on to it.
Okay, the second favourite Christmas movie, is a favourite of everyone. It is.. ELF!
Now, I have not met a person who hasn't enjoy this movie. This movie will make you giggle and smile. This movie can put anyone in the festive spirit (and makes me wish it snowed here in December).

The movie follows one of Father Christmas' elves, who then discovers he is a human. The Elf known as Buddy travels to New York City  to meet his biological father, and spreading Christmas cheer wherever he goes. It's such a great, funny movie this is. Elf is a winner for young and old.


Sounds like a perfect date :P - Source

Whenever I watch this movie, I sing along to all the Christmas songs in the movie, and about four hours later after I finish the movie I'm still singing 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'.
Proves how good of a movie this is.


Source

Now, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.

Love always,
Stephanie

Favourite Christmas Movies #1 - The Holiday

Hello there! It's been awhile. :)

Since December is here, it is now acceptable to break out the Christmas movies. Now the first of my favourites is The Holiday. I have seen it many times, but on a recent supermarket trip, I saw it was $5 and well I couldn't resist picking it up to watch during the Christmas season.
This is such a good movie to watch during Christmas. The Christmas aspect is quite subtle but it is still there an perfect to watch one evening with some Christmas biscuits and a cup of tea.

Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Kate Winslet - The cast of The Holiday

The basis of the movie is focused around two women who have experienced some heartbreak and are wanting to get out of their home town for the holidays to avoid it all. One women is from L.A the other, from a small village in the U.K, who lives in such a beautiful cottage.
The women switch houses for the holiday season, but they both find love in the new towns they are in, but that's just the gist of it, so much more happens. Iris (Kate Winslet) and Myles (Jack Black) are my favourite little love story in the movie, just so sweet. I just love rom-coms, best genre for me, therefore The Holiday is the best pick for me during the lead up to Christmas.

So, I might as well go and watch it again now. Please comment some of your favourite Christmas movies! I would love to hear them.

Love always,
Stephanie.

The Wishlist #2 - LUSH

On YouTube recently, I've noticed all my favourite YouTubers (boy, there's a lot of favourites), doing videos on their recent LUSH hauls. Lush is one of those stores I could spend hours in sniffing their delightful scents. Now I love baths in the winter, something so calming about a bath with candles. However, I'm not one turn one down during the summer. We all have those days where we just want to relax and switch off from the world.
Recently, I've complied a mental list of Lush goodies I would like to get my hands on inspired by all these Lush hauls that keep popping up in my subscription box. Now in Australia Lush is a bit more expensive than say in the U.K and I haven't been able to try a Lush bath bomb or soap.
This year, I figured I might spoil myself with a bath bomb, you know has a reward.

I was watching Fleur De Force's Lush haul and she said that she loves the spicy, cinnamon scents. I completely agree, something about cinnamon that screams Christmas. Fleur featured a bath bomb called Cinders, it smells divine! its orange, with popping candy on top. It's meant to re create the scenery of a bonfire, lovely. A whole lot of cinnamon goodness. It is a limited edition, Christmas item, which means I have to snap one up ASAP.

The second item on my Lush wishlist is to test out Candy Mountain! Now this one screams me. I adore sweet scents, sickly sweet scents, and this smells a bit like Snow Fairy. Which everyone seems to love, another thing to add to the list! Candy Mountain is a bubble bar, which means you crumble the littlest bit under running water, and presto, a beautiful sweet bubble bath.

The third item on my list is a regular product at Lush, which is Rose Queen. I find the scent of roses to be the most relaxing thing. I know if I got my hands on this bath bomb, it would start a regular addiction. Rose Queen is also pink! could this be more up my alley?

The fourth item is from their soap range, I also believe this product is limited Christmas edition, Angel's Delight Soap. Oh my goodness, it was love at first whiff! it is so citrusy, which I love as the scent just wakes you up, just what I need. It's gorgeous! all multicoloured  and just lovely.

The fifth item on my wish list is the Twilight Bath Ballistic! I was told that this bath bomb is the most relaxing one they have, perfect for a relaxing, pamper night. It smells of calming lavender, which is the most calming scent I know of (besides rose of course).

The last goodie is their Think Pink Bath Bomb. Oooh baby, another sweet based scent! It's gorgeous, it smells of sweeties and vanilla. Perfect combo! This is a must try I think, with little coloured flowers on top, can it be any more cuter!

Sorry for such a text based post, but if I get my hands on some Lush goodies, would any of you like pictures and a review? Also let me know what is your Lush products? I can always add to my wish list. They are called wish lists for a reason right?!
Check out Lush!

Love always,
Stephanie

Christmas Ideas #1 - Nail Art

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

As my last post suggested, Christmas inspired posts are upon us, which I hope to inspire you. If you have any Christmas ideas and suggestions, let me know.  A fellow blogger friend posted on some of her favourite nail polishes, which spured me on to looking at festive nail art. I am not talented enough to pull off gorgeous nail art like this, but I can attempt it right? (cue nail polish remover and cotton wool pads)

My favourite one is the top left, how stunning is it! I wish I could actually recreate this, something tells me if I tried to, it would get real messy.

If you know any nail art, or have pictures of your own, I'd love to see them, further inspiration! :)

Love always,
Stephanie.

Listen #1

I tend to waste spend my time happily on YouTube. I find I discover so many gems of 'youtubers', musicians, the latest movie trailers, and the latest music singles (yes, I do love me some mainstream music).
If there is one thing you should know about me, it's I love Disney, but then again who doesn't?
I recently heard through the grapevine there was a new Disney movie being released called 'Frozen'. The movie sounds amazing and I can see my best friend and I heading to watch it when its released in Aus.
I went on a bit of a tangent there, but my main point was one of the tracks in the movie is 'Let it Go' by Demi Lovato. When I first heard it, it was love. The lyrics are so lovely and has a message everyone could relate to. I can see me having this song on repeat for a long time!

Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn my back and slam the door



Take a listen! Let me know what you think?

Love always,
Stephanie