games

Scott and I are both big boardgame fans.... and so as often as possible we try to invite friends (or even better: groups of friends) over for some thing to eat and a bit of boardgame fun. The latest addition to our ever growing boardgame collection is the "Logo" game, where each player is asked a series of question all relating to Australian logos. Each question card contains four questions, so get them all correct and you get to move four places - get one wrong and the next player has the opportunity to score those points and move along on the board. 

Earlier this year we invited a handful of couples to our place to test out this new game - it was a great hit! We play it almost any time someone suggests we pull out a board game, and we couldn't be happier. Do you have a favourite boardgame?

slightly blah

(dress and bag: thrifted, shoes: kmart, hat: dotti)

I've been feeling rather blah lately. Nothing seems to be going right, nothing in my personal life, nothing in my work life.. I feel like I'm stuck in a place that I just don't know how to get out of at this point. Perhaps I just need a holiday. The Easter long weekend is coming up this Friday and it couldn't of come at a better time. I just feel like there is so much going on right now - I just need a short break from it all.

This dress is newly thrifted - and I think its borderline ok in terms of length appropriate for work. Its been rather hot and humid while in the same day cold and wet, so its been fairly hard to dress weather appropriate lately. This weeks forecast looks really good though - I'm looking forward to the last of Sydney's gorgeous days before the real autumn/winter weather sets in. 

Hope you all have a great Easter long weekend, I think Scott and I are going to just hang out at home and sort out some house things - what are your plans?

lust have it feb 2013

Last months Lust have it box was so disappointing, I can't even be bothered writing about any of the products. All I'm going to say is that even Lucy, was not impressed (see below). I think the product in the box were average - nothing special. The thing that really pushed me over the edge though was their poor customer service. So I was missing one item (as did many other subscribers) and read on their Facebook page that they exceeded the Australia post weight limit for the boxes (hardly believe that really) and so it will be sent with next months box. I Facebook messaged them promptly explaining that I was unsure I wanted to continue with the subscription and if they could send it to me before then asap.... four days later they respond, with some crap generic message saying that I'l receive the item in next months box. I emailed again (not through Facebook - just regular email), and got the same response a few days later. Total rubbish if you ask me. I shouldn't have to pay for another months box just because they didn't calculate the weigh of the parcel correctly. Its just ridiculous, and obviously I am less than impressed.

Are there any other aussie subscription boxes out there? I'm in need of a change!

engagement

Just a few happy snaps from an engagement party we went to recently. 

bellabox feb 2013

Considering this was the month of Valentines Day, I was a bit disappointed with this months Bellabox. Apart from the heart shaped pattern on the back of the card, nothing screamed "love". As for the products, the best word I could use to sum everything up would be average. This months box was far from exciting.

Batiste Dry Shampoo. This is the same sample that I received late last year from either Lusthaveit or Bellabox (I don't quite remember which one). As a dry shampoo, its a decent product. It smells nice and it does the trick. Just wasn't too impressed to receive something that I had already received recently. And unfortunatley I don't go without washing my hair at least every second day so its not a product I would normally use. RRP AU$9.95 for 150mL.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Curl Perfecting Spray. This product is meant to be sprayed on to wet hair and then "scrunched" whiled drying to create "perfect summer waves". Personally this is not a product I would use either. I much prefer polished curls to messy waves... especially since my hair is not very long. Having said that, I'll give it a go - who knows, it may be amazing? RRP AU$16.99 for 198mL.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. A multi-purpose oil which provides nourishment for your face, body and hair without a greasy after-touch. I've never heard of this brand, and this seems a bit like a "fluff" product that isnt really desgnied specifically to do anything but make your skin/hair feel nice. Keen to try it, however not something I would have bought for myself . RRP AU$24.95 50mL. 

Sally Hansen Silver Glitter Nailpolish. This only full-size product in this months box. I'm a massive fan of nail polish, and find myself buying more and more even though I know I don't need them. Sally Hansen is a great brand of nail polish, and I say that from experience  I've always been very please with the overall quality of their polishes. 

Banana Boat Spot SPF 30+. Living in Australia - good quality sunscreen is a must. I'll be taking this sample to work so I can keep my skin safe on those hot summer days! RRP AU$14.99 for 200g

U Skin Solutions Clean and Go Exfoliating Gel Cleanser. A tiny two in one cleansing and exfoliating gel to keep pores clean and clear. RRP AU$30.95 for 125mL.

Matching florals

So I've seen a lot of floral head wear lately, and like everything new, I was a bit slow to jump on board. I had been searching online for an affordable floral headwreath for about a week or so when it suddenly dawned on me that I could  easily just make one myself. And so I did. Afterwards I thought I should of taken some photos or videos and put together a bit of a DIY..... but at the time I was just so caught up in making it that I couldn't think of anything else. I bought a bunch  of fake flowers from a cheap variety store, and using a hot glue gun, secured the flowers onto an old headband I had lying around the house. From beginning to end it took me the whole of 10 minutes to create, and I love it! It cost me next to nothing, and I even had flowers left over to create a matching floral collar for Lucy. Score!

White frame

Next time you see my hair - it will be a subtle ombre! I had an appointment yesterday morning at my local hairdresser for an ombre colouring. Two and a half hours later I stepped out a new woman. I really do like the colouring - my stylist did a great job. Its quite a subtle ombre though - I didn't want to go anything too dramatic for the first time (especially since I have never coloured my hair in the past). I think next time I go I could definitley go a bit lighter! Looking forward to showing you all soon.

(top: americal apparel, skirt: chikabooti, sandals: kmart, necklace: vintage)

Paisley weekend

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I spent half of mine preparing for work.... and it has totally drained me! I am completely exhausted and overwhelmed.  So much so that I really can't bring myself to do anything productive right now. All I can think of is shopping, and buying lots of new things for myself, despite having already spent a few hundred dollars over the last few days online. How ridiculously shallow is that? Oh dear. The story of my life.

valentines eve

Happy Valentines eve everyone.
Make sure you spend tomorrow with someone (furry or otherwise) that you love! 

Lusthaveit Jan 2013

I absolutely adore Lusthaveit's new packaging. Really - there is just so many cheap tacky make-up bags that one girl can have! The new box is gorgeous - I love the pattern, the colours and the size. Can't wait to use it somewhere in my house - and I will find somewhere to use it! January's box had six make-up, skincare and haircare products from brands including Nude by Nature, Ella Bache and Klorane.

Unfortunately there was only one make-up product but its full size so I guess that makes up for the lack of make-up items in this months box. I wish I could confidently tell you what this product is, but I can't. I have no idea what it is. The card that comes in the box explaining all the products describes it as "Lush Cosmetics Emotional Brilliance Makeup"..... "...lush selection of mood enhancing lip colours, eye-liners and eye shadows ..". So yeah - I have no idea. Based just on the colour and the applicator I'm going to be using this as eye shadow. Its a gorgeous pink/brown cream based product that had an applicator on the underside of the lid in the same style that you would find on lip-gloss. RRP AU$25.

Oh how I love full size products! I was pretty excited to find this full size BB cream by Nude by Nature in my Lusthaveit box. And what's more exciting is that its in my shade - there is nothing worse that receiving awesome products that are the totally wrong colour! I've been using this stuff for a few days now and I love it. Its lightweight on the skin, smells fresh and doesn't clog up mu pores! RRP AU$19.95.

The next item is this Lust have it! Kabuki brush, valued at AU$19.95. I've got heaps of make-up brushes but I wont say no to more. I'm not the biggest fan of brushes with a short "handle" - if you can even call it that. But the bristles themselves are very soft and its an easy size brush that you can fit into any handbag!

The next two items are samples sizes of a shampoo and conditioner by Klorane. Infused with pomegranate and mango butter, you can only imagine how awesome these smell. I haven't used these yet but am looking forward to using them. I'm one of those lucky people who's hair doesn't seem to mind chopping and changing shampoos and conditioners. RRP 200mL shampoo / 150mL conditioner AU$9.95

The last item is a 20mL sample satchel of Ella Bache's Great 50+ Sportsbloc active 4 hours water resistant sunscreen. RRP 130mL AU$44.

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? If so - which ones and what do you love about them? I love receiving them in the mail - its like my birthday every month! 

Bellabox Jan 2013

I've been subscribed to Bellabox and Lusthaveit for about a year now, and I thought its about time I blogged about them. So Bellabox arrived first this month - in its classic sturdy box. I love that Bellabox send their products in a box - the boxes are well-made (don't fall apart after a week), and I could find a million uses for them around my house. So the January box brought 5 new products into my home from brands such as Jurlique, NATIO and Face of Australia. A combination of skincare and light make-up.

This months box had in it, two full size products, one of which was some aloe vera gel by You, Me & Everybody. I'll be honest, I don't use aloe vera gel. Not because I don't like it, just because mainly I don't get burnt - I just don't have that type of skin, and also because Nivea seems to sooth my skin just as well in those rare occasions when I do get burnt. None the less, I'm happy I've got it - and will definitely use it next time my skin is in need of some cooling. The 100mL bottle is valued at AU$8.95.

Next up where two sample sized Jurlique products. The larger of the two is a replenishing cleansing lotion. The full size product (200mL) is valued at AU$45. The smaller sample was the purely age-defying ultra firm and lift cream. The full size (50mL) is a whooping AU$90. Both Jurlique product have a very faint fragrance, nothing too strong or overpowering. They are both decent size samples, and I'll use them both, however am a bit reluctant to re-purchase as Jurlique is quite the pricey label.

The last two products including a satchel of NATIO BB cream and a full size lipgloss by Face of Australia. 

Ok, laugh all you want but I only found out what BB cream was when I opened this box. Shocking I know, but true. Better late than never right. I haven't actually tried this cream, yet, but apparently BB cream is fabulous. I've hear and read lots of great reviews on BB creams, so am definitely keen to try this one out! Let hope the shade "medium" is a perfect match, and thumbs up for it also having 15 SPF in it! Full size product (50g) is valued at AU$14.95.

Last but not least, was this full size Face of Australia Massage Therapy Lipshine in the shade Bondi. At first look, the colour looked way too dark for me, but fortunately it doesn't come out that dark on my lips. And the smell is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! I'm surprised I haven't eaten the stuff! (15mL valued at $10.95)

Overall the January Bellabox was great value.
The two full size products alone exceed the $15 I paid for the box.