Saturday 31 January 2015

January Favourites


January has been a big month and whittling down my favourite to a mere ten was actually quite difficult. Usually I struggle to find five! I've got a bit of everything because, you know, variety is the spice of life. 

The Balm Mary Lou-Maniser 
I've already written about this highlighter in a post of it's own (see that HERE) so I won't say too much. Only that it is the best highlighter I have ever used because it's just so pretty. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Exposed 
Another product that has had a Review Friday dedicated specifically to it, only yesterday actually (see it HERE). This is the perfect blush for any makeup look and a new daily staple of mine. 

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde 
This product has a bit of a learning curve to it because it is so precise. I can draw my brows in so well that sometimes I take it a bit far and end up making them too thick. Think less Cara Delevingne and more drag queen. I'm loving the addition of the spoolie on the end because I had never known the wonder of using one before and the colour is not red in the slightest, perfect for blonde brows. I'm still trying to perfect my use of this but I'm still loving it. 

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig
I've spoken about this product a good couple of times now so I won't rehash it too much. It is a nice light lipstick that is very comfortable on the lips. The colour is on the darker side of nude, which I'm really liking at the moment. Don't let the name put you off, it's not at all purple in shade. I feel as though I've been talking about a lot of new all time favourites in this post but I'm going to have to say it again because this really is my new all time favourite lipstick. 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella 
This came as a part of a gift set I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas and it is the stand out shade. It is a deep matte red, which I find to look the best with my skintone. Being as pale as I am, the deeper reds can give the the snow white vibes whereas the more true fire engine reds just make me look ill most of the time. The formula is a bit drying but that is to be expected with matte formulas so I don't hold it against the product. I find the pencil form really easy to use because it can be both a liner and a lipstick, though it is kind of annoying that they have to be sharpened because I watch the product disappear before my eyes. Overall, it's a great bright lip option. 

Lush Santa's Lip Scrub
This product was covered thoroughly in THIS post so I shall keep it brief. There's not actually that much to say because it is just very good at doing that it says on the tin. It is a fine sugar scrub that really rids my lips of any dry patches, something I've been having quite a lot lately. 

Cotton On Kimono 
Way back in THIS post I mentioned how I wanted to try getting to kimonos and all of this time later I finally picked one up. I just love the way this looks on, it's so flowy and comfortable yet still stylish. That's my favourite type of clothes. It's the perfect thing to wear when you want to be covered up a little bit but it's too warm for a cardigan or jacket. It comes in surprisingly useful in these temperamental Aussie summers. 

Washy Tape
I've seen this stuff around the internet for ages now (any Essie Button fans feel me?) but I never bothered to get any because I couldn't see any use for it, until now. I'm using it to help decorate and organise my diary this year. I use different colours of tape to represent different types of events and I find it is working perfectly. The floral one represents blog posts, the lace birthdays, the purple zig zag important school events. I find it to be more eye catching than simple pen, so I will always remember when I have something important to do. I don't know what I would do without this stuff anymore, there's so many uses! 

Bondi Chai
This stuff is so amazing if I could drink it all day everyday I would. It's basically a way to make cafe level chai lattes at home. For months I've been struggling with actual chai tea and it has not been working out well, every time it ends up tasting kind of gross. Then one day at work I saw these little sachets sitting on the counter and I knew all of my problems were sold. After sending my mother on a wild goose chase to find it (she managed to score the last box!), I instantly fell in love. I've even found out how to froth my own milk and made myself some cinnamon sugar for dusting on the top. Real profesh, I know. 

Bose Around Ear Headphones in Mint
These aren't pictured because I had them on while I was taking the photo and I totally forgot to include them. I've wanted these for ages now but I never could justify the price tag. Thanks to come generous gift cards for Christmas (shout out to Dad and Buba), I finally got them on my hot little hands. They're so comfortable on the ears, unlike ear phones which will give me an earache after prolonged use. The sound quality is also really good, sometimes you feel like you're at an actual concert if you turn it up loud enough. 

Well wasn't that post full of love, links and laughs. Oh, you didn't laugh? It was just for alliteration purposes anyway. Let's hope February is filled with as much good stuff as January was! 

What was your January favourite? I would love to hear. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Friday 30 January 2015

I've Found The Perfect Blush



Not to be dramatic but seriously this is the bomb diggity (do people still say that?). I am talking about the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Exposed, of course. I know it's a much hyped product around the internet but where there's smoke there's fire and this is actually amazing. The colour is just the perfect muted pinkish brown that will go with any makeup look. From a natural neutral look to a smoky eye to a red lip, it covers all of the bases. Giving a natural flush that isn't too pink or red, so it doesn't overpower a look, it is by far the most wearable blush I've ever seen. 

I've never been terribly into blush, I really only wore it on special occasions before but recently it has been growing on me. I think that can be put down to this Tarte blush because it is a good launching point to then go on and try some brighter shades. The formula is good, I'm no expert on blush formulas by any means, but it isn't powdery and goes on the cheeks nice and evenly. It isn't so pigmented that you have to watch how much you put on the brush, because of this it is basically fool proof. I'm sure it could be built up for a more intense look but I think the whole purpose of buying this shade is to have a light flush of colour. If you want more intensity, go for the shade Tipsy, it's gorgeous. 

The packaging is nice and solid though kind of hard to open sometimes. I have pretty much mastered the opening now so I have a tip: Don't try and use your nail because it is shut pretty tightly and you'll be worried about breaking a nail once you start to try. Instead go with the side of your thumb, apply pressure and it will pop open easy breezy. 

Overall, I can't see myself finding a better blush than this any time soon. It's just the best thing ever. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Thursday 29 January 2015

Back To School Blues


Today was my first official day back at school after summer and I'm already tired, so I'm going to keep this post nice and brief. Basically, I'm going into my last two years of schooling and it's a very frightening prospect. Everything is getting so much more serious, the teachers are all talking about 'taking our education into our own hands' and threatening detentions if homework isn't handed in. Oh I long for the days when we just cut and pasted pictures of sheep into a scrapbook. 

Now to the point of this post! I've posted everyday for the month of January and will continue for the next couple of days to see the month out. As we move into February I'm going to be dropping back to three posts a week (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) so that I keep my sanity and don't lose my mind trying to do good blog posts while also trying to do three chapters of maths homework. The schedule will be as follows; Sunday will be a lifestyle post, Wednesday a beauty post and Friday a review of some description. I am this organised with my posts because I find my creativity flows better with a little bit of structure, otherwise I find all of the ideas overwhelming. 

Also, on the topic of going back to school, I was wondering about doing a series of posts about school. Some more deep stuff about friendship and such. I don't know if that is the type of thing people would like to see so please get in contact via the comments and tell me your thoughts. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Wednesday 28 January 2015

Drugstore Starter Kit



I don't think it's any secret around these parts that I love a good high end makeup product. In fact, I almost certainly prefer high end makeup over the drugstore counterparts. That being said, there is many a good option to be found at Priceline and for a makeup beginner it is the best place to start. If you're just getting into makeup or you're looking for some new gems, I'm going to give you an option in each category for your drugstore makeup kit. 

Primer
This is an easily skippable step if you're a newbie who is starting from scratch, but if you're interested in primers the Bourjois Happy Light Primers are the way to go. You have two options depending on your skin. If you're on the drier side there is the Luminous formula or if you're oilier there is the Matte formula. They're not the best primers out there but they do aid in keeping your makeup on your face a little longer. 

Foundation
Avoid foundation for as long as possible. It is far too time consuming and difficult for someone who has perfect skin. When you get to the stage when you do want to delve in to the depths of foundation, take some time to colour match because we all got that REALLY wrong at one point or another. I would suggest the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation because it is nice and luminous which leaves the skin looking far more natural than a heavy matte one would. Also, the Rimmel foundations are cheaper than the likes of L'Oreal which is always good. 

Concealer
Maybelline Fit Me is by far the best concealer out there in the drugstore. It leaves a natural looking finish and can by layered for decent coverage. 

Bronzer
Another thing I don't think is a necessity when you're first starting out but I think it's good to invest in a good bronzer to avoid looking muddy or oompa loompa-esque. For that I would suggest the Body Shop Honey Bronze, some people don't consider the Body Shop drugstore but hell, the rules are made to be broken. 

Blush
The Milani Baked Blushes always do a good job, they're just your average blushes. I don't really know what to say about them because it's all in the colour choices and I can't tell you what colour you'd like to wear. If you're more into the cream formula the Revlon Cream Blushes are nice and sheer so they're really hard to stuff up. 

Powder
If you feel the need for a powder, I have to suggest the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. Partially because it's the only powder I've ever tried and partially because it's really good. I have it in the shade translucent so that it will work on any skin tone. 

Eyes 
Let's have an eyes speed round. In terms of eyeshadow, I would go with a simple stick. The Rimmel Eyeshadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige is the perfect swipe and go all over the lid colour. Go in easy with the eyeliner, go hell for leather and get a liquid if you feel so inclined but I would start with a kohl personally. The Designer Brands Kohl Liner Pencil in Black is great on the waterline as well as on the top of the eye. It sets pretty well but there's time to get creative and do some smoky blending. Keeping it natural with the mascara is my all time favourite Covergirl Clump Crusher

Brows 
I don't know if this is a drugstore brand but I'm pretty sure it isn't, still the Pixi Brow Duo is a relatively cheap option because it's a two in one. An especially good choice for blondes, the lighter shade is perfectly ashy and not at all orange in tone. I've heard that L'Oreal has a good dupe for the Benefit Brow Wiz going at the moment, so that would be something for the wishlist. 

Lips
I simply could not narrow it down to one option for lips because everyone has their own preferences. My overarching recommendation would be the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable chubby stick things because they come in all sorts of colours and formulations. If you're looking for a great bright matte lip option, go for the Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipsticks because they have a great formula in the darker colours. If you're one for lipgloss, you can't possibly go past the Maybelline The Elixirs. They're pigmented, comfortable and surprisingly long wearing. 

Brushes 
Real Techniques. Duh. 

Phew, that's actually a lot of makeup. So many steps to achieve what we call a 'natural' face, it's really quite odd. No one should ever feel like they need to own every single thing I've suggested here, nor complete every step. Just do what you're comfortable with and try to remember that less is more, even when we're getting a little overwhelmed in the isles of Priceline. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Tuesday 27 January 2015

Best and Worst Dressed of the SAG Awards

I am Shannon Hudson, and I am a blogger. Only those of you who actually watched the Screen Actors Guild Awards will get that joke, but basically the beginning of the show always features famous actors turning around in their seats, telling an anecdote and then very seriously saying 'I'm blah blah and I am an actor'. Oh god it gets me every time. Their stories are always nice and all but it just makes me laugh so hard. Anyway, there were also some women wearing things so let's talk about that. 

Best Dressed 

Maisey Williams 
I'm partially bias to Maisey because she's around my age and I think it's pretty cool that she gets to attend these things. I think she looks super cute and age appropriate. The length of the gown stops it from being overwhelming, which it would be had it been to the ground. The gold shoes are a really nice addition to make things more formal and her hair is lovely as well. 

Lupita Nyong'o 
She's back! Lupita featured on my worst dressed list for the Golden Globes but she's really redeemed herself with this gorgeous gown. I know that a lot of people wouldn't like this but I personally love it. I can't actually pinpoint what I like so much about this dress because it could easily be very overwhelming. The cut is flattering on her figure and I love the way she moves it around so that it gives a nice wind swept look in photos. 

Sarah Hyland 
Sarah always looks so pretty on red carpets and I think she often flies under the radar as a fashionista. The neckline of this dress is so interesting and different, it really makes Sarah stand out from the pack. The beading is impecable and the tule (or whatever, I'm not good with fabrics) around the skirt give it a princess vibe. Of course, her hair and makeup is on point too. 

Julia Louis - Dreifus 
A simple gown that does a great job at highlighting Julia's beauty. She's such a pro at these carpets that she could literally arrive in a carpet and no one would bat an eyelid but she continues to put in the effort and for that I think Julia should get some recognition. 

Worst Dressed 

Mayim Bialik 
This dress is boring, boring, boring, DEAR GOD. She looks like she is wearing a shirt my middle aged maths teacher would wear from waist up and then the bottom half is the most extreme mermaid cut I've ever seen. It is slightly better that the dress is in black but that doesn't stop it from being totally disproportionate. It looks like they got two totally different dresses and thought 'oh they're black, no one will notice' and then sewed them together. 

Julianna Margulies 
I actually quite like this dress from most angled. The colour is stunning, shoes are great and the cut of the dress around the torso is a universally flattering one. It is the huge gap in the front that I have issues with, it just takes all of the class from the ensemble. Some of those pictures are getting VERY close to showing us all something we don't want to see. Julianna is getting a bit older and she's a TV veteran, I just feel as though she should have stitched it up a good 5cm and then she would have been one of my best dressed. 

Amanda Peet
It is very hard for a woman to pull off anything lavender so I give Amanda props for trying, too bad she didn't succeed. This is a boring cut of dress that screams bridesmaid and it makes her look dumpy around her boobs which is not a good look. I also feel that the black contrasts too much with the purple and makes it a bit confusing on the eye. Sorry Amanda, maybe next time. 

Lorelei Linklater
First of all, doesn't it look like her head was photoshopped onto this picture? Weird. I feel kind of bad including Lorelei because this is her first thing like this and I always want to give people a pass for their first time but I just can't. Those arms on that dress are just horrendous. I don't see why people won't accept that pilgrim chic will never be a thing. 

Another awards show down and only a couple to go! It always makes me sad how fast the awards season comes and goes every year. Who was your best and worst dressed for the SAG Awards? I would love to hear in the comments! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

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Monday 26 January 2015

What's In My Handbag?



It's been a while since we've addressed the contents of my handbag around these parts so I thought I had better rectify this! I'm currently using a Faith Satchel Bag, I would describe it as a over the shoulder bag that is of a medium size for an over the shoulder bag. It can hold a surprisingly large amount of stuff, I'm talking everything in the picture and a bottle of water if need be. I love this bag and am always getting complimented on it, which is a sure fire sign that it looks nice too. Let's delve in and go through all of the stuff I carry around. 

Lip Products
Six lip products is pretty standard for me, sad I know. I tend to put on a lipstick at home and then throw it in my bag to touch up throughout the day, then just leave it there for a couple of weeks. This particular selection is a good representation of what I am enjoying at the moment but they're all in the same colour family, making it totally pointless to carry them all around. I have my Body Shop Vanilla Brulee Lip Balm, which is a must. Then I have the slightly tinted Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting. Getting into the pinky nude family is MAC Creme Cup. Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig is my new absolute favourite so of course that has to make an appearance. Finally there is my Chanel combo of Rouge Allure Lipstick in Surprenante and Rouge Allure Gloss in Extase.

Other Beauty Products and Things For Your Wellbeing 
Being the Grandma I am, there is always tissues and bandaids in my bag. As well as that I carry the Dettol Healthy Touch Instant Hand Sanitiser and the Soap and Glory Hand Food, to ensure that I have clean, soft hands at all times. On top of that I have a Manicare Nail File as a final precaution to take care of my hands completely. I get the occasional crippling migraine so I bring some medication to take care of them if they attack. A hair tie is always a necessity, as are breath fresheners. My favourite gum is Extra Active with Dual Crystal Strips and Listerine Pocket Packs are just amazing too.

The Usual Suspects
It couldn't be a what's in my bag without some of those things that we all carry around with us. Of course I have a wallet, mine is from the brand Mocha and I've been thoroughly enjoying it for over six months now which I think is a record. I have my keys on a cute Dopey Keychain I bought at Disney World. My Tahari Sunglasses were also picked up in America. Then I've got a pen and a movie ticket, as you do.

Technology
I have a tendency to forget to put an SD Card in my camera when I go places so I've taken to keeping a spare in my bag just in case. Plus it's in a spiffy case which is pretty cool. When I go to friends or families houses I always have a need for a USB Stick so I take one with me for when need be. I have my iPhone 5c and a portable charger to go along with it. Finally I have my iPod and my Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones for when I feel like listening to some tunes.

I know, I carry around too much stuff but to me it all seems 100% necessary (bar the movie ticket). 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Sunday 25 January 2015

Birdman Review




Na na na na na na na na bird... wait a second. Did I go see the wrong movie? Nah I was looking for the award winning masterpiece that is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). I liked it so much I remembered the extra part of the title that nobody seems to give a crap about. To put it simply I really enjoyed this film but to go a bit deeper... 

The thing that really stood out to me about Birdman (See the trailer HERE) was the way it was shot. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu (I remembered the title but I copied and pasted that name, damn it's complicated) had the ingenious idea to shoot it as though it was one continuous shot, following the actors throughout the scene rather than cutting back and forth. Apparently Iñárritu was strongly advised to not shoot the film this way by pretty much everyone in Hollywood but he stuck with his vision. Knowing this fact made me respect him even more because it is one thing to do something innovative, it is a whole other ball game when some of the most powerful people in the film industry are telling you your idea will be detrimental to your film. Right at the beginning I did have a brief thought of 'oh no the way the camera is moving is going to make me motion sick' but that never eventuated because I got used to the fluidity of the camera and actually grew to prefer it in some instances. 

Though there was obviously cuts in the scenes, it did not seem like it. The way they used the camera to move through the St. James Theatre where the film was shot almost wholly on location, it is an astonishing feat in editing that there was cuts in that footage. I love the fact that it was actually set in a broadway theatre because it gave an extra element of realism to the film. I think I should backtrack slightly and explain the plot of the film, don't worry, no spoilers. It follows an actor named Riggan Thompson who used to play a famous superhero named Birdman in a series of films. Now, twenty years later, Riggan is trying to regain the fame and admiration he once had by writing, directing and staring in his own Broadway play. Set during the previews of the play, the film features the dynamics between Riggan and his family, namely his daughter/assistant Sam. It also shows the other three actors in the play, one of whom is his girlfriend, and the issues that arise with them. 

Second only to the shooting style is the acting in Birdman. Every character was portrayed with such realism and honesty that they make a fantastic ensemble. The stand out is obviously Michael Keaton as Riggan because he gives the character so many layers that you're never sure what is going on inside his head. One thing that I tend to dislike about some films is that the characters are too transpartent, you know everything they are thinking. Riggan is different, unpredictable and sometimes just a bit weird. He displays supernatural powers but for most of the film you are unsure whether they are real or a figment of his imagination. Edward Norton also is great in the role of Mike Shiner, an established Broadway actor who comes to star in the play. He is a bit of a nutter and Norton is super believable in the role. 

The women of the film also do a fantastic job. Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Andrea Riseborough all let down their guards sometimes, are weak sometimes and sometimes they tell whoever is crossing them to shove it. I like when characters are like this because I think it is the most realistic representation of an actual person. We all have our issues and we deal with them differently each time. 

As to not let this review get twenty miles long, which it possibly could be with my ability to ramble and the amount of things to talk about within the film. I'm going to finish off with the point that the score of the film was another really interesting choice because it was solely drums. I found that sometimes I loved the score and sometimes I found it a bit distracting but nevertheless it was an addition that made the film feel even more like an art piece. 

Have you seen Birdman? Would you like to see Birdman? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Saturday 24 January 2015

Wise Words #12


This quote sums up why we should appreciate the people who appreciate us. You don't necessarily need to make a huge impact on the entire world at once to make a difference, you just need to make an impression on one person to change the world. This is something you should keep in mind during your interactions with people because you never know how you will change their life. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Friday 23 January 2015

Hello There Mary Lou!



I am lucky enough to have a plethora of products to review this week because of my giant haul I did a couple of weeks back, but I've narrowed down to probably my favourite of them all. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mary Lou! The Balm Mary Lou-maniser is a highlighting product to end all highlighting products. Unfortunately I lost the photo of the packaging but I promise you it is super cute and the product inside is awesome as well. I can now see why the blogging community raves about this so. 

If you're not a fan of golden toned highlighters, this probably won't be for you but if you're like me and totally indifferent to shade because you don't really know what is good, I would give this one a go. It's really pigmented, to the point where you can touch it with the force of a dying fairy and still get pigment on your finger. This does mean that it's possible to over do it but it also means that you get so much bang for your buck. The pan is rather large and I don't see myself ever going through it despite the fact that I am using it daily. I find that it adds such a nice glow to the cheeks. I wouldn't call it 'natural' but it certainly does give a lit from within look. 

The best way to apply this is either with your fingers or a brush like the Real Techniques contour brush. With your fingers gives a more intense look whereas the brush makes it a bit more sheer. On my face the best place to apply the product is the top of my cheekbones from directly beneath my pupil to almost the beginning of my temple. I also often use it as an inner corner highlight for my eyes. I find that in those places it lights my face up without leaving me looking like a Cullen or a sweaty mess. There is a fine line with highlighting and I think I'm walking it quite well at the moment. 

The Balm's products are always cute and with their inventive names and kitsch packaging. This particular product features a girl called Mary Lou who is having her head shot taken after being arrested. It's so different and because of that it sticks in peoples heads more than any other packaging, great marketing move The Balm! 

All in all, this is by far the best highlighter I've ever tried and I don't see it being topped any time soon. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

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Thursday 22 January 2015

New Fav Show: Jane The Virgin




This is definitely one of my favourite TV shows of the moment (equal to The Fosters, which I love a lot). Jane The Virgin is just such a pleasure to watch each week. It is in the style of a telenovela which is a refreshing change to the average sit com format we see for comedies nowadays. It is still a comedy show but it expertly incorporates drama and conflict without having an identity crisis as some shows to. The telenovela style means that it can be very self aware and make fun of itself. The Narrator is so funny with his intense voice but humorous content. 

Gina Rodriguez plays Jane Villanueva, a girl in her early twenties who is saving herself for marriage. If you're like me, you may have reservations about this show because you think it will just be all religious but it's not like that at all. Instead, Jane has been accidentally artificially inseminated (that's not really a spoiler people, it's on the promos) and the story follows how she and the people around her deal with it. Of course, there's some other shiz going on as well - hello, telenovela super star Rogelio - but it's mostly about the dynamics that stem from the pregnancy so far. Both with the people who she already knew and the whole slew of new people that come with the pregnancy, hey the baby has to have a father somewhere doesn't it? 

The side stories are almost more entertaining and outlandish than the actual premise of the show, which gives me so much hope. The worry with this show is that Jane eventually has to have the baby and then what would happen? The way the writers and creators handle the secondary storylines makes me very confident that the show will be able to carry on for many seasons without resting on the original 'virgin having a baby' premise. 

Jane is played expertly by Gina, who is totally deserving of her Golden Globe, you go girl! She manages to take a preposterous set of events and bring a lot of heart to the character in the midst of it all. The supporting characters are also really good. Xo, Jane's Mum, is so funny and loveable despite the fact that she is almost mothered by Jane most of the time. Her Grandma is also awesome and the dynamic between the three generations is always fun to see. Rogelio, Michael and Rafael are also great characters in their own rights, each bringing an important element to every episode. I won't share exactly who each of them are in terms of the story but let me just tell you that each of their characters encounters love, familial issues and some tough times. 

I could probably go on about this TV show for fifteen more paragraphs but quite frankly that would bore us all. Instead I highly suggest that you check this out in whatever way you can. I haven't even seen the whole first season yet but I can tell you that the only way is up for Jane The Virgin. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

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Wednesday 21 January 2015

Lusting for Lush



When Lush had their big sale on Boxing Day, it was impossible to resist. There has been a few of their products that I'd been lusting after for ages and it seems as though a lot of people had the same idea as me because by the time I got home to my bank card, a lot of the products were sold out. I went on with the hopes of getting Ro's Argan Body Conditioner, Mint Julips Lip Scrub and some Fun just for the sake of it. I ended up being unable to get the first two so I got the Santa's Lip Scrub instead. The mailing of these products took a very long time. Roughly 10 days for express shipping. I was a bit angry about it at the time but I've quickly forgiven them because I know they had a lot of their plate. 

Yellow Fun 
It certainly lives up to his name because it's the most fun soap I've ever used. It is basically play dough that has the added bonus of being able to clean your body. It's surprisingly good as a modelling clay as it doesn't break apart or melt too easily. It's when you add water that this moves from a creative thing to a beauty product. Lush claims that it can be used as a shampoo but I can't say I've put that to use. I have used it as a soap and I enjoy it very much. Reviewing soap is hard because all you can really say is that it makes you clean, which this in fact does. The scent is a nice warm sweet smell, it kind of smells like baking which is always nice. I'm not usually one for a block of soap and this falls under the same category. I don't find it as convenient as a liquid soap but it's nice for a special use once in a while. 

Santa's Lip Scrub
As I said I was looking to get the Mint Julips scent because I'm not the biggest fan of cola scented/flavoured things. I love drinking cola but anything deriving from that isn't usually my jam. That is a minor flaw in an otherwise fantastic product. I just love lip scrubs because you can see an instant change in dry and flaky lips upon use. I just rub it onto my lips while I'm using my cleansing oil in the evening (when I feel it is needed) and then wipe it off with a face washer. This means I don't have to taste it too much and I feel as though the little bit of oil just makes my lips more moisturised while I'm at it. This stuff is the best and when I'm finished it I will be rushing out to pick up the mint scent. 

This is one of my first forays into Lush and I would love to hear about any products that you think I should try. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Tuesday 20 January 2015

Empties #2


I'm going to keep this intro short because I've got an absolute slew of empties for you today. Turns out I had more than I thought and I just need to get that damn bag out of my room so I'm just putting them all together.

Herbal Essences Naked Shampoo + Conditioner
I like the fact that this has no parabens or colourants in it because I've heard time and time again how bad that is for your hair. This was a decent shampoo and conditioner that I really enjoyed using because of the delightful where tea and mint extract scent. I would certainly buy it again if I were't such a floosy with my hair care products.

Redwin Tea Tree Shampoo + Redwin Coal Tar Shampoo
These were both bought to help combat my awful itchy scalp caused by my psoriasis but they didn't really do anything for that. They did wash my hair well but that's not worth the gross coal tar smell.

VO5 Heat Protect Styling Spray
I used this everytime I was going to style my hair and I actually felt like my hair was more damaged when I used this than when I didn't so I will definitely be trying something else.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Floral and Flirty Blush
Due to my afore mentioned scalp issues I try to avoid using dry shampoo unless I really have to but when I do it is always my trusty Batiste. I have since moved on to the coloured formula in order to prevent the powdery grey look that the normal ones cause.

Body Shop Body Butter in Mango, Coconut, Shea and Strawberry
I love these things, each and every one of them. The shea and the coconut were slightly thicker than the mango and strawberry, though all of them were still pretty thick in formula since they're body butters and all. Either way it didn't make much of a difference to the fact that they moisturise my legs so well. Certainly a go to product.

Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub
Coconut is my favourite Body Shop scent so I really love this creamy exfoliator. It isn't as rough as the shea one which I actually prefer because it isn't as messy yet it still does a great job at getting rid of the dead skin.

Body Shop Shea Soap
I'm not usually one for bars of soap but I thought I'd use this one up because I received it as a part of a gift set. I don't really like bar soaps so it didn't do much for me, though it had that scrumptious shea scent I enjoy.

Clearasil Vanishing Pimple Clearing Cream
This did not do what it says on the tin. I saw absolutely no difference in the size, soreness or redness of any blemishes when I wore this over night. Totally not worth the money.

Covergirl Clump Crusher
This is my holy grail mascara, I think we all know that by now.

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner x2
I certainly must love this liner if I have used up two of them! It is just the perfect liner because of the fact that it is a brush tip rather than a felt one. This just makes it so much easier to apply seamlessly.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair x2
Another product you've heard me rave about multiple times, I won't blabber on too much about it again. It's just my favourite concealer and the only one that I can find that both fits my skin tone and doesn't look cakey. It's super blendable while still covering up everything I want covered.

If you've stuck with me this far, thank you very much! I'm so happy to finally get rid of that damn bag at the end of my bed. Too bad I'm coming to the end of another round of products and I will have to start collecting again.

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 
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Monday 19 January 2015

A Subtle Bit of Blue



Hear me out on this one. We know that I'm not the most daring person when it comes to makeup, neutrals are definitely my babe, but even I've found a way to incorporate some colour into my look. This often comes in the form of some blue accents so I'm going to share how I do them with you all today. 

A Really Dark Blue Liner
This comes in the form of Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Midnight, which as the name suggests is a midnight blue colour. It looks black from a distance but then up close it makes the look just a bit more interesting. It's not the sort of colour that does wonders for your eye colour because it is so dark but it looks great nevertheless. I usually wear this on it's own with just mascara, though I do sometimes add a shimmery champagne colour over the lid as well when I'm feeling super fancy. This is one of the easiest and most subtle ways to add some blue into your eye look, just replace a black liner with a navy one. 

Different Uses For A Eye Crayon 
Obviously the most common use for the Australis Cray for Colour Eyes in Beating The Blues is to cover the entire eyelid with it. I'm sure this can look really nice but it's not my preferred way because I'm not into that vibrant look. Instead I add just a hint of the colour. You can use this on your lash line as a liner, which looks really pretty. Or if you're too scared for even that, you can put the blue eye crayon on your lash line and blend it out a bit. Then over the top of that add a normal black liquid liner (or you could use the Midnight one!) so that there is only a hint of the blue showing above the black. It is such a nice look that I really do suggest trying, it works well with other colours too. Even a bronze colour looks very nice in this form. 

A Blue/Silver Eyeshadow
I picked up this MAC Mineralise Eyeshadow in Water and Ice on a whim at the airport and then instantly questioned how exactly I would wear it. It's so beautiful that I needed to own it but I'm not daring enough to cover my eyelid in it. Instead I find it works as a inner corner highlight perfectly because it is such a brightening silver shade, the blue only hints through. I love this as a highlight when I wear my other blue looks or when I'm just wearing a plain light colour on the lids. This is also very nice on the lower lash line to make everything look more awake and bright. 

These are actually totally wearable aren't they? I bet you regret doubting me now! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Sunday 18 January 2015

She's Just 'Not That Kind of Girl'


OMG Lena Dunham is amazing! I requested this book for Christmas and was lucky to receive it from my Mum, then I promptly read it. I love autobiographies because they always feel real and you get to understand a well known person more as more of a whole than the media portrays them. The only thing that I don't like about autobiographies is that they often get hella depressing and I hate depressing things (for the most part). That's where hilarious female comedians books come in. I've previously spoken of my love for Tina Fey's Bossypants and now I'm highlighting Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham. Amy Poehler's book is totally next, after I've read Hamlet for school *crying emoji* 

I like the fact that this book isn't linear, instead it is written as a series of essays that each depict a story or experience from Lena's life. The book is broken up into five sections titled Love and Sex, Body, Friendship, Work and The Big Picture. As you could imagine, Lena has hilarious stories for each. Some of the stories are actually laugh out loud, side splitting stuff. Have you heard about third graders being forced to pretend to be slaves during the Civil War? I have and I cry laughed. She employs the whole concept of punchlines perfectly, often ending her essays with one smart ass line that just pulls the whole thing together and makes it even funnier. The essays are mostly written in a short story form, so basically just like you would expect a book would be, paragraphs. Some of them are different and written as lists or, in one case, a meal plan (it's far more interesting than it sounds). 

On top of it being funny and inventive, the book has a lot of heart to it. It is as though Lena is actually trying to use her experiences to influence other people and help them to become better people. She talks about her own mistakes and how even though she made those mistakes, she still managed to become so successful so young. There is a lot of moral ground to the book and because of that it is far more relatable than it would be if it just were a series of funny stories. The cutest thing about the book is how much Lena loves her family and her boyfriend, I find those things so nice and they just all seem like great people. 

I have this book in hard back and I hate the dust cover, ugh they annoy me so bad. Other than that I have absolutely no issues with this book. Obviously if you don't like Lena Dunham and her sense of humour you're not going to like this. Seriously, don't bother. But if you are up for a laugh, a lesson and you're not too uptight and conservative, this is a great read. 

Have you read Not That Kind of Girl? What did you think of it? 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

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Saturday 17 January 2015

Wise Words #11


This quote just proves that you can work to achieve anything you want to. If you want to be a world class athlete you have to try really hard, just like Usain Bolt had to try really hard to get to the point he is at. Sure, you probably won't be able to achieve quite as much as Bolt does but you will never know until you try. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Friday 16 January 2015

A Very Luxurious Lip Gloss



For Christmas I was lucky enough to be gifted this gorgeous Chanel Lipgloss in the shade Extase from my Nan for Christmas. I know these are a relatively new (probably a few months now) to the line and I haven't heard too much about them so I thought I'd review it for you because it is Friday review time after all. 

Let's address the elephant in the room (get it?! Because Dumbo is in the pictures?! Classic), the packaging. It's just so damn gorgeous. It is pretty much the same as the packaging on my lipstick that I own only about 50% longer and ever so slightly smaller in diameter. It has the amazing gold end that you push down and it pops out so that you can pull out the brush. I could be entertained all day just playing with the packaging before even paying any attention to the actual gloss. I really like the applicator for this gloss too, it's a doe foot applicator that is the perfect size so slick the gloss over the lips easily without fuss. It also applies a good amount of the product so that you don't need to keep dipping it back into the tube but you don't apply too much either. 

The colour is a really gorgeous pink that I chose specifically to match my Chanel lipstick because I'm THAT girl. I would say it sits right in between a nude pink and a super vibrant hot pink. It certainly adds a pop of colour but it isn't too in your face. This would be a perfect everyday colour because it doesn't overpower the face, it just brightens everything up a bit. 

Nothing stands out about the formula really. I don't say this in a bad way, I just mean that there is nothing astoundingly bad and there is nothing astoundingly different and good. It is certainly a good formula of lipgloss, the pigmentation is fab and it isn't too sticky. It sticks around for a while on the lips, though if you eat or drink you will have to re-apply. It doesn't feel moisturising as much as it feels soft on the lips. This is different to the likes of the Maybelline The Elixir which (probably doesn't actually do it) actually feels like it does some form of moisturisation. This doesn't bother me as I don't find it to be a necessary part of a lipgloss but I thought it should be brought up just in case. 

I really like this lipgloss and actually should be wearing it more, I'm just spoilt for choices in terms of beauty products at the moment! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

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Thursday 15 January 2015

(An Embarrassing) Top 25 Most Played Songs


I thought I would share my top 25 most played songs on iTunes with you today, not because I think it is a very good representation of what music I like now, in fact it's an awful representation of it. I just find it quite humorous that there is so much Justin Bieber and One Direction on this list when I was never that obsessed with either (in fact *unpopular opinion alert* I never liked Justin Bieber at all). It does have some of my past favourite songs on it so I thought I would run them down. 

One Thing - One Direction 
I have no idea how this song was the most played on my iTunes, let alone having played it 70 times more than any other song. That's just insane because this was never my favourite song. My only explanation is that we did a dance to it for school and played it over and over again on a daily basis to practice so that must explain it. 173 times though? Woah that's a lot. 

Harlem - New Politics 
This actually is one of my favourite snogs so it totally makes sense that I've played it this many times. It was my top song of 2013 and I still listen to it on occasion because of it's cool pop vibes. It's one of the best to dance violently to in the solace of your own bedroom. 

Coming Home - Diddy feat. Skylar Grey 
Don't ask me why but when this song came out in 2010 it was my favourite thing ever. I just adored this song for some reason and though my love for it has faded (probably due to the fact that I've listened to it well over 81 times) there is still a soft spot for it in my heat. I can rap the entire thing and it sound very deep when a 16 year old girl raps about her 'baby mama'. 

Eighteen Cool - Hoodie Allen 
Another song I can rap all of the words to is this one by Hoodie Allen. It's not exactly the most complicated rapping that has ever hit the planet so I won't give myself much credit for it. I like this song because I resonate with the words and I enjoy a slower, less aggressive rap song occasionally. Eminem is great sometimes but other times it's like 'bro chill'. 

Glad (Acoustic Version) - Tyler Hilton 
I'm so pleased that this song is on the list because I love it so much. I know it sounds weird that I'm pleased one of my favourite songs is on my most played list but as I said it doesn't seem like a very accurate representation of my actual favourite songs. This song is just brilliant. Tyler Hilton came to my attention when he was on One Tree Hill and this is by far the best song on the soundtrack. His voice is so husky and the song is just lovely and calm to listen to. 

Love Me and Eenie Meenie - Justin Bieber 
WTF?! I mean these are two of his songs I liked more than the rest back in the day but 68 and 65 times! What was wrong with me? I don't think even 12 year old Shannon liked them that much.  

This was just a quick little post more for my own enjoyment than anyone else's because it is so funny to reminisce over some of the crap I used to listen to all of the time. I know that other, more representative of my actual musical taste, songs are making their way up to the 65 plays mark so I will have to revisit this post sometime and see how it has changed. 

I would love to hear what your most played song is! Is it as embarrassing as One Thing 173 times? 


Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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Wednesday 14 January 2015

Sydney Haul





I went to Sydney last weekend and, of course, it was a great excuse for some shopping! These purchases are a mix of department store, Sephora and drugstore and I'm very happy with them overall. Let's break it down y'all. 

Sephora
*This first paragraph is a story about my life, skip it if you don't care* The first time I went into the Sephora store it was very overwhelming. We came out of the intense heat in the middle of the day and the store was jam packed, I didn't enjoy it at all. In fact I ended up having a panic attack and we had to leave. While we were there though I sprayed a perfume on my hand that I fell in love with throughout the next couple of hours so my Mum and I decided to go back early the next day to pick it up for my birthday. When we went back it was a lot more empty and I was able to have a calm look around, it was great but kinda sad because I ended up spending a lot of money. 

I did restrain myself to only three products and they were all things I've had my eye on for a while. They only had one shade of the Anastasia Brow Wiz and luckily it was Ash Blonde, the shade I wanted. I think it was meant to be. Another thing I've been hearing about from bloggers and vloggers alike is the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed. This is already my favourite blush because I'm not terribly confident with blushes and this colour is so natural it's perfect. Finally I picked up the Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Liptick in Fig, this was totally on whim because I wanted to try something from Bite and this was one of the only colours that was in stock. I've found my new favourite lipstick so expect to hear more about this in the future. 

Department Store
Let's speed this up because I know I'll be writing about all of these products a lot so I'm just hauling them at the moment. There was a sign in David Jones that said 50% off The Balm products so I picked up the Frat Boy Blush and the Mary-Lou Maniser, then I ended up paying full price for them for some unknown reason. That was kinda depressing. I also got the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Sand Dune, which was not the colour I was intending to get but I made a mistake in which shade I asked for. Thank god it is still a neutral so I will wear it. 

Drugstore
I popped into Priceline to pick up a fresh Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair and ended up leaving with the much hyped Australis Velour Lips in Hon-O-Loo-Loo. This seems to be a good base for other lipsticks because it washes me out a bit on it's own, I would like to try the brighter colours of this product. I also finally bit the bullet and got the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, it seems to be working for me so far. 

Sure I went a bit overboard but leave me alone, I was on holidays. From now on I'm on a spending ban for a good few months because I need to build up those savings. What's your favourite thing you've purchased recently? I'd have to go with the Bite lipstick. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon
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