Home & Living

Here's a few photos from my last phone import, starting with cute snaps of a sleeping Wallace. He's his same old snuggly self, and his cuddles are much appreciated. I hung one of my belts off our closet door the other day, and as it stops just above the floor it's become his new favourite toy.

My tattoo's colour is a few weeks old now, and I adore it. It's pretty difficult to get a clear photo of your own arm, so this was my best attempt! It's all healed up obviously, but I still put a few drops of TINKture on it from time to time because I love the smell. I have to say I was sceptical of the Twitter hype about this product, but Charlie's been using it for his new tattoo and it really has been working brilliantly. Definitely wont be missing the smell and stickiness of Bepanthen.

Charlie's new tattoo is a work in progress, also being done by Simon Morse. It's based on the art of Takashi Murakami, whom both Charlie and Simon are fans of. I believe it's going to contain 24 different colours, so it's going to look pretty amazing!

One of my favourite recent app discoveries is NightCap, which allows you to adjust the exposure and whitebalance of your photos, and also includes a self timer setting.

My art and computer desk is now in our lounge again rather than the bedroom which is so much better, especially since it's still winter temperatures here most days. Excuse the average photo above, but that gives you a look at where I'm typing to y'all from! I just moved the plant on top of the bookshelf tonight, which admittedly isn't the greatest idea earthquake‐safety‐wise, but it needs some time out from Wallace's claws.

Lastly, I got a brilliant make up case in the form of a fishing box from Storage Box recently. Their prices are surprisingly decent, once you step past the home decor section and ignore the products actually advertised as being for make up storage.

I'll be doing some more Friday Flashback posts as I can, but I don't have access to many old photos until I visit my parents again next week.

Jessie Juxtaposed... ISWYDT

All credit to Saskia the Style Fairy for alerting me to the above the moment I logged on to Blogger this morning. I was simply too shocked not to post on my own blog, but make sure you jump over and follow Saskia if you don't already!

If you don't know who Jessie J is, well, I can't say I really blame you. Up until now I liked her a heck of a lot more than Lady Gaga, but she's still not really my thing. Everything about her look was far too harsh (click here to open a photo in a new window if you still can't place her).

Now I know I'm at risk of being a total hypocrite when talking negatively about her old super-straight, super-blunt fringe (bangs), because I just can't seem to stop attempting to make one work myself. However I think that after seeing the above pictures of Jessie from the Woman of the Year Glamour Awards UK (in which she was named Woman of Tomorrow) I may be finally convinced that every girl needs eyebrows. Which you would expect me to know by now, considering how much care I give mine... in my defense, I battle with having both well-groomed eyebrows, and a fivehead. Dilemma. I also have trouble accepting the fact I have a round face and while I know I absolutely should not even attempt a fringe... I just can't help it. But if even strong-jaw-Jessie can't pull it off, I really have to let it go

I digress.

The 'new' Jessie J looks a zillion times more gorgeous than the 'old'. Fin.

Image source.

Lashes by Wendy

A couple of weeks ago I went on a rampage, subscribing to all those daily offers websites that are popping up everywhere. One of which was the Dailydo, and a couple of days after subscribing, my daily email notification informed me the special of the day was semi-permanent eyelash extensions with 65% off the normal price. Since one of my recently-made goals is to stop being so freaking lazy when it comes to my appearance and my clothing, I snapped it up, and had my appointment after work yesterday at Lashes by Wendy on Cuba Street.

First of all, lying down with your eyes closed for an hour or so straight after work is fabulous- although near the beginning my eyes had a solid couple of minutes of spastic twitching which was bizarre. Totally relaxing, Wendy's room is in a great little private space tucked upstairs away from the street, she's lovely, the time flies by. I've worn false eyelashes before, but really didn't know what to expect with these Nouveau Lashes, which last a few weeks before falling out as your own lashes grow (don't ask me for specifics). Having them applied was perfectly comfortable, and when it was done I was pleasantly surprised by just how pretty they look, without being over-the-top (although this option is apparently available if you desire!)

I think walking home from my appointment with little make up on yesterday, they probably did look a little false, but with a 'face' on today, in my opinion anyway, I just look like I have a seriously badass mascara and good lash genes.

I purchased the special with the intention of going once to try it out, but since maintenance appointments are pretty affordable... I'm pretty much decided I'll keep them up. Granted it's been one day so far, but already the appeal of no more smudgy mascara (bar a touch on the bottom lashes if required) is pretty irresistible.

What do you think? (I'm wearing mascara in the 'before' shot, which was taken a couple of weeks ago).

If you're curious and in Wellington, go join the Lashes by Wendy Facebook page and get in contact with her! I highly recommend. Will let you know how they're holding up as time progresses.

Lashes by Wendy Facebook page.
Lashes by Wendy email.
Nouveau Lashes website.

Posing for consumer products.

Samantha Shorter image source.
Hattie Watson image source.

"Life is Beautiful"

Still taken from this video.

Murad

Charlie's aunt gave us a bunch of mini toiletries inside some cute toilet bags from Cathay Pacific flights. There were tonnes of little tubes of lotions, balms etc. A lot of the products are the Dermalogica brand, which I have tried in the past and is really nice. But the little tubes I am dying over are those by Murad.

I'm not a major spender when it comes to beauty products. I spend around NZ$25 a bottle on serums, primers and foundation by Natio, but that's about the extent of my splurging. Everything else I buy from the supermarket or cheap chain jewellery stores that sell make up on the side. Howwwever.

I have been using the little tube of Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion this week after running out of primer, and it is ridiculously good. My face is generally pretty 'normal', except for my problem areas which is an oily nose and acne-prone chin. Using the Perfecting Lotion under my make up this week has kept my face pretty even all day at work, and my makeup has barely budged even on the few humid summery days we have had. I would definitely recommend this product... if you can afford it.

Yep, that's the tragic twist to this story- amazing products like this do not come cheap. At all. As in, I could pay a week's rent or buy one salon-size bottle of this stuff. Strawberry Net is pretty well known for having the best prices for beauty products, and they sell a 500mL bottle for NZ$209.50 here. Yeah, it is a MASSIVE bottle, but I am still going to be saving for like a month in order to buy it. And it's just a FACE CREAM. I am so tempted though. February savings goal perhaps?