Day 12: Christmas Quiz

Merry Christmas Eve! This evening I'm going to get in the real festive mood by doing a Christmas questionnaire that I found online. I'll just answer the ten questions as best as I can and share some of my Christmas traditions, thoughts and memories with you in the process. 

1. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? 
As cheesy as it sounds, the thing I enjoy most about Christmas is getting to spend quality time with my family. Because my brothers are older and off living their own lives, it is good to have an excuse to trap them with us for 48 hours and hang out. All my family is just so fun and loving that any time we're together is a good time. 

2. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home? 
We stay home for Christmas, spending Christmas morning at Mum's house and then travelling a whole 10 minutes to Dad's house after lunch. Our grandparents live quite a while away but we go up to see them before Christmas to celebrate and exchange gifts. 

3. What is your favourite holiday tradition? 
As a kid my favourite tradition used to be that we were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve but as I've gotten older we gave that up to save everything for the big day. Now I'd say my favourite tradition is just our Christmas lunch, we always have the same roast and it's so delicious, well worth the 365 day wait. The food accompanied by the company makes it a tradition I never want to lose. 

4. Did you take pictures on Santa's lap? 
Haha only once. As a kid I was so frightened of Santa that I would have to sit about two metres away from him in a little sleigh or something for my pictures. Eventually when I was about 8 I manned up and sat on the big mans lap, I was incredibly uncomfortable with the whole thing. After that I never took one of those pictures again. 

5. When did you learn the truth about Santa? 
I don't really remember honestly. I think on some level I always had my suspicions but I'm sure the truth was confirmed to me by the TV at some point. 

6. What is your favourite Christmas movie? 
'SANTA, I KNOW HIM!', yep, my favourite Christmas movie is definitely Elf. It's such a fun and quotable film that I will watch over and over again every Christmas season. 

7. What is your favourite Christmas carol/song? 
I'm not terribly good at choosing favourite songs so this is a tough one for me. Today I would say that my favourite christmas song is Jingle Bell Rock but I'm sure tomorrow I would say something else. It depends on what I heard recently I guess. 

8. What is your favourite part of Christmas lunch? 
Potatoes. Followed closely by pumpkin - my brother and I have a long-standing tradition that I get his pumpkin so that I have extra. Then after that I really love this special butter my mum makes and melts over the beans and snow peas. I also really like the meat. Basically I love it all. 

9. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? 
Our only consistent Christmas dessert is the traditional pudding, which is not really my favourite. Ever since I was a kid I have always had a bowl of custard instead of the pudding and since custard is one of my favourite things on this planet, I'm going to have to say that my annual bowl of custard is my favourite Christmas dessert. 

10. Who do you spend Christmas with? 
It changes every year but the core group are my Mum, Nan, brothers Mitch and Tom (though Mitch is living overseas this year so he will not be there *sad face*), Dad, his wife Christina, my sister Sammy, my grandparents cousins Cheryl, John and Gloria and our neighbours Wynn and Khanh. Other than that, various girlfriends, boyfriends, great aunts and uncles, cousins and friends drift in and out on a yearly basis. 

Please feel free to answer this quiz yourself, either in the comments below or on your own blog. I would love to read what you have to say! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 11: Pre-Christmas Pamper

There is so much to do this time of year but you mustn't forget to look after yourself. In the lead up to Christmas I always ensure that I take an evening (usually the night of the 23rd.. oh hey that's tonight!)  to make sure my skin is soft, my pimples are minimised and my hair is prepped for the big day. 

In terms of taking care of my body, I start with a nice relaxing shower. Before I get in I exfoliate using the The Body Shop Coconut Exfoliant to make my skin feel like a baby's bottom. The formula of this exfoliator is great because it hydrates while getting rid of the dead skin so that you don't end up with your legs scratched to smithereens. When I get out of the shower I put a little Lucas’ Paw Paw Ointment on any dry areas (elbows, ankles, knees etc.) so that the tan doesn't stick. Then I spend quite a while applying the Bondi Sands Self-Tanning Foam in Light/Medium to ensure that it is as streak-free as possible and I will look like a tanned goddess rather than an oompa loompa - I usually end up somewhere in the middle. 

Sidetrack: The next morning after I wash off the tan, moisturisation is key, so I use the Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Body Milk at least twice a day to keep everything hydrated. 

Back to the pamper evening: While I'm in the shower I will apply a hair masque (if I have one in stock at the time, which at the moment I do not) and leave it in throughout the rest of the shower routine. Once out of the shower I will roughly towel dry my hair and then run through some Biosilk Silk Therapy with my fingers to make it soft and silky. I usually clip it back with a giant clip while I tan and just leave it to dry naturally, giving my hair a break from the harsh hair dryer for the day. 

On my face I will do the usual skincare routine then apply a mask. At the moment I am in the process of finishing up the Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask so that would be my choice. After the mask has done its thing, I remove it and lather on the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel to hydrate my face. 

In focusing on the lips, I use a lip scrub in the form of Lush Santa’s Lip Scrub and then use some more of the Lucas’ Paw Paw Ointment over the top. 

As finishing touches I apply some The Body Shop Shea Hand Cream because I constantly forget to moisturise my hands at any other time. Throughout the whole process I make sure to have set the mood with some candles, my favourite of which is the Mozi Fig and Rhubarb Candle. 

Take a break, treat yourself to some 'you' time or even force a visiting family member to join in on the fun. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 10: Festive Nails

If I’m going to wear a nice new outfit, make myself up all pretty and actually put some effort into my hair, I don’t want to fall at the last hurdle and have horrible looking nails. While I know it can be tempting to leave your nails a beautiful chipped blue over Christmas since there is so many other things to do, I’m sure that you will feel much better and more confident if you take some time out and paint your nails real nice. 

OPI Nail Laquer in Romantically Involved  

A classic red is perfect for the festive season. It will go with everything and give you that old hollywood feminine look. This OPI shade is a little but darker than a fire engine red which would compliment any skin tone. As per usual the OPI formula is dynamite, resisting chips and going on in one coat. 

Chi Chi Salon Formula in Gold

The formula of these Chi Chi nail polishes is surprisingly good so little money. They are opaque, shiny and they stay on for quite a decent time. Gold nails is a great festive choice, as a bit of sparkle never hurt nobody this time of year. This one has a subtle shimmer so it is easy to apply and remove, unlike those terrible nail polishes that have massive pieces of glitter and no colour to the rest of the formula. 

Revlon Parfumerie in 105 

Forest green is not a colour most people would think of wearing on their nails and some people straight up don't like it. I, on the other hand, very much like the colour and find it fitting for the festive season. If you want to wear black nail polish, maybe you should reconsider and choose a nice deep green instead. Red and green are the colours of Christmas you know! This polish is made even better by the pleasant smell it gives off, so I highly recommend it. 

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Almost Almond 

If you have lots of functions to go to this December, you may want to consider donning a very subtle and neutral polish. That way they will go with all your various outfits and you will not have to keep changing the colour. This Sally Hanson option is a nice light colour with the classic great formula. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 9: Another 10 Great Christmas Songs

Last year I shared my Christmas Playlist, 10 of my favourite songs to listen to at this time of the year. Upon reflection, there are so many more songs that I could/should have included. That encouraged me to find 10 more songs for us all to add to our Spotify playlists for Christmas Day.

1. Jingle Bell Rock - Glee Cast 
Despite the fact that my baby sister gets REAL angry at me when I sing this song, she even goes as far as trudging away like a sad Charlie Brown, I love it. It's a boppy classic and it's even better if you learn the Mean Girls dance. 

2. Santa Baby - Kellie Pickler 
There's a little county twang in this version of the song that I enjoy immensely. It just makes it sound more fun in Pickler's beautiful voice rather than the - let's be real - often quite creepy versions. 

3. Little Drummer Boy - Justin Bieber 
Don't ask my why but I really enjoy Bieber's version of this song. It was played throughout shopping centres everywhere when he released his Christmas album a couple of years back and it has always stuck with me. 

4. Run Rouldoph Run - Chuck Berry 
This is a Primary School christmas concert classic. Every year some year level would have to sing it and it was always a roaring good time, even if the kids couldn't sing for their lives. 

5. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley 
Bringing the mood down slightly, this Elvis classic is some smooth listening for those long December nights. 

6. Mele Kalikimaka - Bette Middler 
It's not the most common Christmas song but boy is it fun to sing. 

7. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin 
Things us Australians quietly sing to ourselves as we sweat to death on a stinking hot December night #relatable

8. White Winter Hymnal - Pentatonix 
By far my favourite song off their smash-hit Christmas album last year, I've never actually heard of it before but it sounds gorgeous in their acapella style. 

9. The More You Give (The More You'll Have) - Michael Bublé
Smooth FM has been playing this non-stop for the month of December and I'm actually getting into it. Though I'm not always the biggest fan of new Christmas songs, Bublé can go no wrong and has once again knocked it out of the park. 

10. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney 
Paul McCartney may seem like a grumpy old man sometimes but he can perform a Christmas song that you want to click your fingers to in a Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air style dance. 

Happy listening! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 8: Snickerdoodle Recipe

Just to preempt your disappointment: no, these no not have Snickers in them. Multiple members of my family have been very disappointed at this fact. Instead they're delicious soft cinnamon sugar cookies that are very moorish. They're a simple treat that are great to keep around the house at this time of year. 

Ingredients 

• - 1 cup of Butter 
• - 1 1/2 cups of Sugar 
• - 2 Large Eggs 
• - 2 3/4 cups of Plain Flour 
• - 3 tsp of Baking Powder
• - Pinch of Salt
• - 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract 
• - 3 tbsp of Sugar
• - 3 tsp of Cinnamon 

Method: 

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees and leave to warm. Beat together the butter, eggs and larger amount of sugar using an electric whisk until combined. 

2. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla extract slowly, beating well after every addition. The mixture will become more doughy in texture though not a hard dough. 

3. Once the mixture is completely combined, put it in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes to firm up. 

4. While the mixture is cooling, combine the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. 

5. Get out the mixture and begin rolling it into balls about a tablespoon in size. Roll the cookies in the sugar mixture until coated and then transfer onto a baking sheet. This recipe makes quite a few cookies so it will probably take quite a few rounds to use up all the mixture (though the dough can be frozen for future use). 

6. Press the mixture down with your fingers then sprinkle a some extra sugar mixture over the top. Put each tray in the oven for 10 minutes at a time. When you remove them, they will still be quite soft and you will be tempted to put them back in but trust me, they're done. Transfer them to a cooling rack straight away so that they don't cook anymore. Let them cool then enjoy your delicious cookies! 

Give these a go and I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Cook them and watch them disappear from the plate before your eyes. My friends managed to polish them off in a record five minutes last night, beat that! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Day 7: My Christmas Day Makeup

As it's summer for Christmas in these parts, my makeup for the day may be a little different than what is expected. I'm going to wear a midi-length striped dress and some white heels so I want my makeup to be golden and dewy. 

I plan on fake tanning for the day so that I can break out my darker shades of foundation. My favourite for this is the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation which I will layer over the Too Faced Hangover Primer. To cover up any blemishes or redness I will add some Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in a darker shade and then I will use a lighter shade to highlight under my eyes. This all will be set with the usual Rimmel Stay Matter Powder.

Because I will be tanned, I can use the bronzer from the Australis AC On Tour kit and also that contour. The highlight in the kit is a little bit pink so instead I will use my trusty TheBalm Mary-Lumaniser and Tarte Amazonian Blush in Exposed to bring some colour to my cheeks. 

My eyebrows will be done with the usual Rimmel Brow This Way* brow duo on a thin eyeliner brush. To top them off and keep them in place for a long day of eating and being merry I will brush through the L'Oreal Brow Plumper. 

On the eyes I will add the Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer then use the very intense gold Australis Metallix Eyeshadow in Pearl Jammin' all over my lid. That will be set with Half-Baked, a shade from the Urban Decay Naked Palette. In the crease I will buff through the shade Naked from the same palette and then add some of Buck in the outer corners to deepen things up. A small line of L'Oreal Super Liner will be used on the outer lash line for some definition and I will top off the eyes with lashings of the L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara. 

My lips will be kept simple with some of my favourite lipstick in the form of MAC Patisserie so that I don't have to worry about smearing or necessary re-application. 

What makeup are you wearing this Christmas? Are you going traditional or are you mixing it up like me? I'd love to know!

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 6: Easy Handmade Christmas Cards

There are plenty of very complicated DIY projects that one could complete for Christmas, unfortunately I'm not quite crafty enough for most of those. These Christmas cards are easy enough that anyone can make them nice and quick yet beautiful enough that they will impress even the most pinterest-worthy of your friends. 

The good thing about these cards is that you can make them with whatever paper you have laying around. Because I had lots of nice pink paper in my scrapbooking kit, I decided to give this card a pink theme. 

Start with a sturdy piece of pink card, fold it over and cut it to make it your preferred size (I made this one quite large). Because the card I used was quite coarse, I chose to add a piece of paper to the inside to make it easy to write in. Simply cut it to size and glue it in, if you're feeling fancy add a piece of washi tape as a boarder. On the front of the card, stick a white piece of paper that has been trimmed to show a boarder of the pink cardboard. 

From different pieces of pattered paper, cut a triangle and two trapeziums to make the shape of a Christmas tree. Glue them down and add the final touch of some matching buttons as baubles and a gem for the top of the tree. 

This card is super simple but it packs a punch. All you need to do is get two pieces of cardboard in colours that compliment each other and cut them so that there is a smaller card to wrap around the larger card.

Then draw an outline of the head of a reindeer on the front of the smaller card. Fill the shape in with glue and liberally pour glitter over the top (making sure to put something down underneath to catch the glitter because it makes a real mess). Leave it to dry, dust off the excess glitter and appreciate the art you have created. 

Another very simple card that ends up looking quite nice. All you have to do is start with a piece of cardboard, I went with a really cool metallic black one. Add a piece of coloured paper to the inside so that the card is useable and then start on the front. Cut a piece of white paper to size and stick it to the front. 

Put a little bit of red card on the top on which to write 'Merry Christmas' and then draw a triangle to represent a tree. Line the triangle with some masking tape (make sure you can peel it off easily) and begin drawing random vertical and horizontal lines to fill in the space. I used pens of two different thicknesses to make a more random pattern. Peel off the tape and add a sequin to the top of the tree for a little sparkle!

This is the piece de resistance of my Holly-day cards (haha puns) because it looks very fancy with minimal effort. Once again, start with a piece of red cardboard and add paper to the middle to write on. Cut rounds of red cardboard on which to glue a cluster of red sequins. Put them aside to dry. Glue some white paper to the front and add a little 'Happy Holidays' banner at the bottom. 

Draw the shape of holly leaves on three different shades of green paper and cut them out. Fold each one in half but only for half the length, so that the leaves look three dimensional. Add some glue to the back of the sequinned circles and place them in the middle of the card. Put some glue on the back spine of each leave and stick them on top of each other to make a cute piece of holly. 

Making your own Christmas cards may seem too much like hard work but I hope you can see how effective and simple they can truly be. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 5: The Christmas Scrapbook

I thought I would share some of my favourite pictures from Christmas past today, as a way of getting to know me better and spread the fun. These pictures could probably do with some explanation but all I'm going to say is that they depict my (and my brothers) dramatic changes in hair styles, fashion sense and general levels of awkwardness. 

I would love to hear about your favourite Christmas memories and traditions so please share them with me in the comments below or point me in the direction of your own similar posts. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 4: Five Must-Watch Christmas Videos

In the lead up to Christmas there are all sorts of videos to watch and articles to read on the internet. It can be a bit overwhelming. I have scrounged through heaps of festive videos to bring you the five must-watch ones this Christmas. 

The Christmas Mega-Mix 
Three hours of non-stop Christmas music, what more would you want? If you can't be bothered making your own playlist this year, never fear because the internet has you covered. This is a collection of classic Christmas tunes set to lovely festive images. If you have people over, this is the perfect thing to turn on in the background and let the cheer fill the room. 

Something to Make You Tear Up 
Oh my goodness, this ad is the most emotional thing I have experienced in a long time. Apparently in the UK the ads for John Lewis are a Christmas staple but for me this is a new experience. It is a sweet story about the man on the moon making a connection with a little girl from earth, certainly two minutes of your life you will not waste. 

Traditional Christmas Makeup Look
This is a nice quick get ready with me filmed by Tanya Burr a couple of years back. It doesn't have any talking, so you don't need to worry about whether you like Tanya's personality, you just need to enjoy watching her prepare for a Christmas party. She creates a very traditional festive makeup look that will hopefully give you some inspiration for your own makeup this season. 

Some Epic DIYs 
Whether you want to make your own pillow case, a painting or a homemade stocking, Sara has you covered. It is super cute to have personalised decorations around your house at Christmas time (shout out to the wreaths my brothers made that lasted us a good ten years) and this video provides plenty of suggestions. She goes through everything in simple steps so that it is very easy to follow and I'm sure everyone would be able to complete some of these great DIYs. 

Like A Kid on Christmas Morning
Something to remind you just how special Christmas morning was when you were a kid, the children in this family receive a very special gift for Christmas from their parents and their reaction is priceless. Never have I seen someone exhibit so much excitement over something so seemingly average, they're just thrilled. If you need something to make you smile. give this a look. 

If that didn't bring you a whole range of emotions and ideas, I don't know what will. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 3: The Christmas Red Lip

The staple lip look over the Christmas season is a fire engine red and I have found the perfect products to achieve this. This isn't a matte lip, instead it is a nice healthy shine that makes your kissers look plump and festive. 

First put down a base of the Colorpop Lippie Pencil in Bossy which is a darker blue toned red. Take your time and be precise so that you create the best possible foundation for the lipstick, otherwise the topper lipstick will bleed and you will swiftly look more like the Joker than Taylor Swift. The shade of the pencil is lovely on its own but with the L'Oreal Colour Riche in Perfect Red layered on top it is even more beautiful. The lipstick adds a natural shine - not the best for staying power admittedly - and a less stark look. Because it is slightly more orange in tone than the pencil, the two products even out to make a classy vibrant red. 

This isn't one of those super dramatic lip looks that takes a makeup artist to put on and a model to pull off, instead it is an understated red that will look good on anyone at this time of year. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 2: Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

If Christmas time has come around too fast and you have totally forgotten to buy someone a gift, never fear, I'm here to share some suggestions for gifts that you can organise from the comfort of your own home. 

Buy Them A Voucher to Do Something Cool
There's a plethora of options depending on the type of person you are buying for. This is the kind of gift that you can buy literally five minutes before they rock up at your house and make it look as though you put lots of thought into it. If you're an Aussie, I suggest you check out Red Balloon, where they offer vouchers for skydiving and other extreme activities. If you're looking for something for a less adventurous person, do a little research into cooking lessons, art classes or giving them a chance to name a star. 

Subscription Boxes
I love a good subscription box and I'm sure your loved ones would really appreciate the gift that keeps on giving. All different kinds of boxes are popping up lately, with countries like America and the UK having an even more extensive range. I'm a big advocate of The Parcel, which is a high quality beauty box that provides you with deluxe samples and some full size products worth far more than you pay. If food is more their thing you could try Goodness Me, a health food box or the new bacon delivery service called Tervey. 

Donate! 
It is always nice to do something good for the world and if someone is impossible to buy for, it could be the only option. If someone you know has a favourite charity, sling them some cash (make it generous, don't be stingy when you're being charitable) and call it a day. If you're not sure what cause someone is into, you could sponsor an animal such as a tiger through WWF in their name or buy a chicken/goat/llama for a family in need in the third world through World Vision.

Make Them A Baking Kit
Pinterest is teeming with cute jars full of layered baking ingredients. They're useful, delicious and very easy to put together. If you have a nice jar and some flour, you will be able to scrounge something together when someone is on their way. It's a bonus if you have a ribbon to tie around the top. This list from Tip Junkie shares 37 different ideas for gifts in a jar, running the gauntlet from pizza to a sewing kit. Some of them are more simple than others but all are great homemade gifts that make it look like you care (even if you really don't). 

And finally, when in doubt just give them money. Everyone wants money. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 1: White Christmas Recipe

Do you have a function to attend? Should you probably take something along? Can't be bothered baking a fancy cake? Don't worry, I've got you covered. This is the most simple slice you could ever make yet you still look like you made an effort. It's the perfect thing to take to all of your christmas gatherings this holiday season. 

Ingredients 

• - 500g white chocolate melts
• -  1/2 cups rice bubbles
• - 100g halved red glace cherries
• - 160g roasted halved almonds
• - 160g sultanas
• - 1 cup  desiccated coconut
• - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

1. Melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 minute bursts, taking out the chocolate and stirring it between bursts. 

2. Add all other ingredients to a bowl and stir. Pour the melted chocolate over the top and carefully stir together. 

3. Pour into a pan (pre prepared with baking paper) and smooth the mixture out to make a flat surface. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until set. 

4. Take the slice out of the refrigerator and cut it up. You will probably need to heat up you knife in boiling water in order to cut through easily. Then enjoy your delicious Christmassy slice! 

If you decide to give this a go, please let me know if you enjoy it in the comments below. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Current Reads: Night Owls

December is not only the month that I get my blog game back on track, it is also the month of the book. I aim to read a book a week throughout December purely for my own pleasure, something that I have not partaken in for years now since I have to read so much for school *insert nerdy English student joke here*. 

The first book up is one that I was gifted by my Uncle, Night Owls by Jenn Bennett. It chronicles the life and loves of Beatrice Adams as she tried to traverse the streets of San Francisco, harness her artistic talents, sort out her familial issues and get to know the mystery boy she meets on the night bus. 

Both of the lead characters, Bex and Jack, are very likeable and their personalities kept me intrigued throughout the story. Their interests in art really made me think because they were so unique. Bex is into anatomically correct medical drawings and Jack makes fonts and creates art through the way words are portrayed. These are both types of art that I had never considered before but that doesn't make them any less creative or mean that the person who makes them are any less talented. The fact that someone had to create the type face that I am using this very moment is fascinating, reminding me that we often forget to appreciate that most of the things around us were created by someone with an incredible talent. 

The story itself is a pretty generic young adult love story but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. It is a confident and witty boy with something to hide falling for a nerdy and complicated yet beautiful girl. If you're not into this type of stories, I would skip this one because that is the crux of the story. Other story elements were also very interesting but the way they wrapped them up at the end felt a little slap-dash. It was as though because the love story had reached its natural end, the author decided that everything needed to be resolved at the exact same time, even if it made absolutely no sense to do so. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the characters in this book and the situations they were in. My total lack of a love life (randomly deep and slightly depressing, whatever, we're going with it) makes me really enjoy and become invested in the love story. The end of the book left something to be desired and I think Bennett should have taken some more time to wrap things up in a more believable manner. 

If you check this book out, please let me know what you think about it. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Current Makeup Favourites

Since it has been a good while since I have posted anything on this blog, I thought it would be a good idea to share what I am loving at the moment. My makeup hasn't changed very dramatically over the past few months, I've been a bit too preoccupied to worry about buying new bits but upon reflection I have added a good few gems to the collection recently. 

Australis Velourlips in Doo-Bai and Shang-Hi
These are two very affordable liquid lipsticks in a deep vampy red and a vibrant darkened fuchsia. They are a little drying on the lips, as is to be expected with a liquid lipstick if you want it to last a long time, but compared to some other formulas I find them quite comfortable to wear. I tend to wear them out for meals so they do wear off after a point, though their lasting time is very good and they don't do that thing where they flake off and ball up, which I find quite gross really. 

Too Faced Hangover Primer
I've been seeing people talk about this primer non-stop recently and it was actually out of stock for a while before I could get my grubby little hands on it. Now that I finally have it in my possession, I can see what the hype is about. It's a very light primer that doesn't feel too silicone-y on the skin or clog your pores. It leaves me pimple free (it is very rare that a primer doesn't break me out) and refreshed. My makeup looks freshly applied for way longer than it normally does and that is what I really want from a base. 

L'Oreal Million Lashes Mascara
This was something I received in my The Parcel delivery a few months back and it sat in my drawer until I ran out of the previous one when I finally let it out to play. Boy, do I love mascaras and this one is not exception. In fact, this may be the best one yet (do I say that every time? Probably, but this time I mean it). The plastic wand with short stubby bristles - ala the classic Covergirl Clump Crusher - and slightly conicle shape perfectly works its way in between the lashes. It results in a beautiful full separated eyelash look. 

Rimmel Kate Moss Nude Lipstick in 42
I became infatuated with this lipstick on a trip to Priceline and it just had to come home with me. I knew I was onto a winner when a family member I with said 'you really know what colours look good on you' once I tried it on. Little did she know I totally winged it. The formula is super comfortable and the colour really compliments my skin tone despite the fact that it is a lighter nude than I would normally wear. 

Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Body Milk
When I was in the market for a new daily moisturiser, I knew this was the one for me. From the oat and vanilla scent to the light formula, I'm all about it. The smell it gives off is quite strong - stronger than I expected when I purchased it online - so if you think you may be a bit on the fence about the scent, it's probably best to give it a sniff in a store before you fork out your cash. As it is a body milk, it's not the most moisturising thing I have ever used but it is perfect for the mornings when you can't be bothered spending ages massaging in a body butter or during the hot weather when I know I would just sweat off anything heavier. 

Zoeva Luxe Crease Brush
Though I have had it for a while now, this brush deserves a dedicated shout out. I actually acquired a second one yesterday and it honestly made my day. This is just the perfect eyeshadow brush to blend everything together and make me look like I have far more skill than I really do. The long soft bristles work the eyeshadow through to crease so well that I can't call my makeup finished before I have given this a once over. 

Rimmel Brow This Way*
I'm going to do a full review on this one so I won't go into too much detail right now. I shall just say that this brow product frightened the bajeebies out of my when I first got it, it looked complicated and time consuming. In fact, it is very easy to use and makes my brows look... on fleek? Is that what the kids say nowadays? 

OPI Nail Polish in Worth a Pretty Penne* 
It's so cute I just want to squish it! This came to me in the Venice Collection and it was by far my favourite of the bunch. It is a gorgeous copper colour that has the classic OPI formula that is long wearing, easy to apply and very opaque upon first application. I think having the smaller bottle is also great because it's rare to get through an entire bottle of nail polish before it goes all goopy and gross so this gives me more of a chance to use it up. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Items marked with a (*) were sent to me for review but all opinions are my own. 

Run the Runway

What would happen if I had to run my own runway for Melbourne Fashion Week? The options are endless. After much contemplation, I have come up with a plan that I would like to share with you today. 

The ambience of the space is really important and that is why I want to infuse my own personal tastes into the design. I would want to set up the runway in the centre of an old warehouse space, so that the bones of the building are very rustic and spacious. To decorate, I would add plenty of greenery. Hanging plants would be suspended from the roof and planter boxes would be along the walls. For seating we would also play on the rustic feel and have very cute wooden chairs. 

As for the designers that would show on the runway, I was not sure where to begin. I'm not exactly an expert on the Australian fashion industry so I found it difficult to decide who I wanted. Eventually, I thought I would pick three designers that I had never heard of (but are probably über successful), so they may theoretically want to show on a smaller runway, and whose designs I like. In the end I settled on Toni Matičevski, Dion Lee and Michael Lo Sordo . Each of them offer sleek and inventive designs that really appeal to my personal tastes and I think would match well together, since they're all being shown in the same space. 

Of course, the front row of my runway must be filled with Australia's fashion it-girls and guys. My top twelve invitees are as follows; obviously we will need the standard fashion editors so Vogue's Fashion Editor Christine Centenera and Harpers Bazaar Editor Kellie Hush. It would be amazing to get successful Aussie designers such as Alex Perry and Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton (owners of Sass and Bide, and counted as one for the purpose of this line) to see these smaller designers, and since it's a fictional fashion week we're presuming they aren't busy. To get the media paying attention to our little show, we will need some celebrities in attendance so the mix of actress Olympia Valance, a-list model Jessica Hart and singer Jessica Mauboy. Finally, we need plenty of the industry's new lifeblood, the fashion bloggers. Our two main ones will be my personal favourites, Zanita Whittington and Ashka Shen of Xssat.

Now, as the planner of this runway show, I will have to dress the part. So I have compiled outfits for two days of fashion week from my favourite high end clothing (and accessory) website, Farfetch*.

The outfit I chose for the first day consists of this gorgeous Giamba Floral Jacquard Dress with a matching Lanvin Belted Coat over the top. The dress is very appropriate for the day time, all be it for a fancy event, and the slouchy lines of the coat dresses it down slightly. To top off the outfit I added a pair of Casadel Stiletto Heel Pumps in a metallic shade.

For the second outfit, I went with something slightly more comfortable and built the outfit around this beautiful pair of printed Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Trousers. These are to be worn with a simple Adam Lippes Asymmetrical Back Slit Top and Alexander Wang 'Antonia' Sandals, both in a stark white. To keep warm and add a slightly androgynous feel, I chose the Numerootto Concealed Fastening Short Coat. In terms of accessories, I was simply picking up the orange shades in the pants with this Sophie Hulme Small Box Tote.

...and that was my plan for a runway show! I hope you enjoyed reading this, it was something a little different that let my indulge my creative side. If you have any advice or input for my imaginary fashion show, please feel free to put it in the comments below. I would love to hear! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

*This post was written as an entry for a competition being held by Farfetch but all ideas and opinions are my own.