Huge 500 Follower Giveaway!

I’m so excited to be writing this post I just can’t wipe the smile off my face! I have been writing on this little blog for a long time now, over a year and a half, and during that time I have started to grow a small but wonderful reader base. Recently (well, a good month ago by now) I reached 500 followers on Bloglovin’, a small number for some but an exciting milestone personally. To celebrate hitting this figure I decided to hold a giveaway so that I could give something back to one of you who is kind enough to read my posts. 

I sent out some feeler emails to companies not really expecting to hear anything back from any of them. I presumed that I would have to buy something with my own money and I was totally fine with that. To my surprise, many lovely companies emailed me back full of excitement to share their products with me. That is why this giveaway is as large as it is because without the generosity from these people I would have never been able to offer this much. 

I know what you’re thinking, ‘blah blah Shannon, tell me about the stuff’, so I shall. In this giveaway you can win: 

- Bondi Sands Self Tanning Lotion Dark (200ml)*

- Australis Velourlips in SHANG-HI and DOO-BAI

- Australis AC On Tour Contouring and Highlighting Kit

- Kit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Heidi 

- Model Co. Lash + Line*

- 6 OPI Nail Laquers in the shades; OPI Ink, Chick Flick Cherry, Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees, Care to - - Danse?, Alpine Snow and Not So Bora-Boring Pink*

- Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob 

- Rimmel Wake Me Up Mascara*

- QV Face Kit containing; Moisturising Day Cream, Revitalising Eye Cream, Nurturing Night Cream and the Purifying Mask*

All of the products are unopened and unused, if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask. The competition is open world wide and please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter below to see the multiple ways that you can enter! 

Thank you again for taking the time to read my blog. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

*The items marked with a (*) were gifted to me for this giveaway from the company, any product that was not marked with the (*) was purchased with my own money. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simple Snack Recipe

On a recent scout around the internet for healthy snack ideas, I stumbled across the post yummy, simple and healthy recipe ever. Yes, big claims I know, but I'm totally right. Energy balls are a big thing right now and these would fall in that category, though they are far more simple than some of the recipes I've seen out there. They're a nutrient rich small snack that tastes like chocolate and makes you feel good about eating a sweet treat. 

There's not even a real need to include a recipe but I'm going to do it anyway!

Ingredients
- 1 cup of Pitted Dates
- 1 cup of Cashew Nuts (can be substituted for almonds if that's what you're into)
- 2tbsp of Cacao Powder
- 2tbsp of Water
- Desiccated Coconut to Coat 

Method
1. Measure out all of your ingredients and throw them in a food processor. There is no need to chop the nuts or the dates. 

2. Blend it all up until it forms a chunky paste. 

3. Roll into teaspoon sized balls and then roll them in a bowl of desiccated coconut. 

That's all you have to do! These can easily be made in less than ten minutes and they last for over a week if you keep them in an air tight container. 

Please tell me in the comments below (or on twitter if that's more your thing) if you try out this recipe. I would love to hear what you think! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

A Dip in the Pond's

A few weeks back I had the horrible realisation that I was running low on my Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil and made a mental note to pick up some more next time I was at the shops. You see, for those of you who do not keep up with my skincare regime (aka all of you), this is my all time favourite product for my face. It was during this limbo period that I stumbled across THIS post on Bubbasdoll that sang the praises of Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser. Because I was feeling particularly daring that day, I went out and bought a tub. 

The fact that it comes in a tub doesn't really enthuse me but I've become used to having to scoop the product out every time I use it. There is no other way this product could be packaged because the cream is a very thick consistency and it would not work as a pump pack or anything of the sort. For the $6 price tag, the way it is packaged is satisfying. It's a sturdy plastic with a secure lid and the size is very decent. 

Now we've covered all of the boring stuff, let's get on to the product itself shall we? This works very well to get rid of all my makeup. I simply take a small amount of the product and massage it all over my face, into my eyelashes and everything. Where my old cleansing oil used to remove all the makeup after just being splashed by water, the cold cream needs a little help in the form of a face washer (or muslin cloth) to remove the stubborn eye makeup. It will remove everything when you dry your face with a towel but the towel will end up with giant black/brown smudges all over it - trust me. 

My favourite thing about this product is how nice it makes my skin feel after I use it. Because it is such a thick consistency, it feels lovely and moisturising. When it is washed off it leaved a slight film on the face but it is nothing that doesn't disappear when towel dried and it is especially removed when I use a second cleaner afterwards. This is the makeup removing step in my skincare routine so I can't really tell whether it has any true skincare benefits because I use so many products afterwards. What I can tell you is that it didn't make my skin freak out, always a bonus, and it removes my makeup perfectly. For the crazy cheap price tag, I don't think you can go wrong! 

Have you ever tried anything from Ponds? Does this product sound good to you? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Makeup Collection: Blushes

It's that time again! This week we're tackling all things pink, peach and pretty in the blush section of my makeup collection.

Revlon Cream Blush in Charmed Enchantment
This is a good blush that I don't use very much. Having not had very much experience with cream blushers, I don't really have anything to compare it to. The only real reason that I don't use this blush often is that I'm lazy, cream blushers take a bit more work than just dusting a bit of powder over your cheeks. This blush is very easy to blend out and it gives a natural flush to the cheeks. It's also not too pigmented so it's hard to stuff up.

Milani Baked Powder Blush in Dolce Pink
When I want something with a bit more of a sheen (aka not matte) I reach for this blush straight away. It has everything I love in a blush; natural colour, not too pigmented and easy to blend into the cheeks. Though these blushes are not available to buy in Australia, if you can get your hands on them I highly recommend. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
Check out my full review of this HERE. I'm not going to harp on, it's my favourite blush ever. That's all.

Revlon Highlighting Palette in Bronze Glow
I haven't really given this the chance it deserves so I wouldn't want to go too deep with a review until I use it a bit more. That being said, the couple of times I have worn this it is really nice. The glitter in it is slightly chunkier than any other blush I own but the colour is a nice deep pinky mauve that is perfect for the winter months. 

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush
Another of my most used blushes, I love to use this one when I want to look really fresh and awake. It is slightly brighter than the Tarte or Milani offerings so it adds a bit more pizazz to my cheeks. In terms of texture it is perfect, I never really took any notice of the formulation because it just works every time without fail.   

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion
Ooh now this is a classy blush. The packaging is so swanky and metallic, though lighter than expected. The blush itself has the most beautiful natural glow to it, it really melts into the skin and makes your cheeks look naturally lit from within. It is more peachy in tone than all of the straight up pinks that I spoke about above and therefore it works with different makeup looks. Because I'm so pale I find it doesn't work with everything but with a slick of the Stila Eyeliner in Midnight and a smattering of the Mac Lipstick in Patisserie it is spot on. 

Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil in Timeless Coral
We're getting to the more iffy end of the product list as I really do not like this blush. When Josie Maran launched into Mecca Cosmetica a while back I was super excited to try something, anything really. Upon placing my order I decided on this multi-faceted product. The second I opened it up I knew I had made a mistake as the smell turned me off straight away. There is just something about the scent of this that makes me not want to put it on my face. When I did give it a go on my cheeks it just didn't blend in, it left an oily mess where my foundation used to be. There wasn't even much colour in the product. On my lips I could smell it very clearly and though it felt quite nice there also wasn't much colour. 

Benefit Benetint
I just don't get on with this and I think it's more my fault than the product. Even though I have tried, I can't find a way to make this work. Usually I apply it and end up with two tiny streaks on each cheek because it stains straight away. When I have managed to blend it out, I end up looking like a clown with hot pink circles on my cheeks. If 'clown' is your go to look this may be for you. 

Blushes down. Only about fourteen categories to go! I hope you guys are enjoying this in depth look into my makeup collection because I'm really enjoying writing it all up for you. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Spend The Day With Me: Beach Holiday

Last weekend I was lucky enough to take a trip down The Great Ocean Road for a nice relaxing weekend with my Mum and Uncle. Though the weather was pretty iffy the entire weekend, I still managed to get some pictures of the gorgeous views while the sun was out. We stayed in Fairhaven (or, as I called it as a child, Beach-haven) in a little house that overlooked the ocean. From the Great Ocean Road you can see a house on a pole and it's fairly well known by the Victorian people, that house was our next door neighbour for the weekend. 

Mum got all up in a Kookaburra's grill to take this beautiful photo. I was way to scared to even leave the house. 

Friday was purely for relaxation. Other than driving down there, we didn't really do much and just enjoyed hanging out. For some reason we decided to put ourselves through watching The Fault In Our Stars, boy was there a lot of tears! That movie gets me like no other. 

Looking back on the beautiful Lorne township from the beach.

Mum and Uncle Peter looking super excited about the hot chips we got for lunch.

On Saturday we ventured along the Great Ocean Road a little further to Lorne, where we had brunch and browsed the shops. 

The road-side stops along the Great Ocean Road offer some breathtaking views.

In the afternoon we returned to the house, made a roast to have for dinner and read. It was very peaceful and I enjoyed just sitting in the big comfy chair, wearing one of my new Bioré face masks and looking at the ocean views. 

I kept my makeup pretty simple on Saturday and just wore what is pictured above. I would go into detail but I'm putting up a post about my everyday makeup in the next couple of days and most of this is featured in that so keep your eye out! 

After a leisurely Sunday morning, we drove all the way home in a torrential downpour. There were times when we could not see the car in front of us through the rain, it was really scary. Poor Melbourne is suffering through a tough winter (for us, we're kinda weak) at the moment. Nevertheless, I had a great weekend and can't wait to do something similar in the future. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

A Fancy Eye Tint

Ooh isn't it lovely? So fancy, so sparkly, SO EXPENSIVE. These Giorgio Armani Eye Tints in shade 11 caught my eye when they were released a little while back but I managed to resist picking one up. When my lovely Nan offered to buy me something special for doing well on my exams (and we happened to be standing in front of the Giorgio Armani counter at the time), I wanted to give one of these a go. I don't own any liquid eyeshadows so it really intrigued me. 

This is by no means a bad product but it is not quite what I expected. I thought it would be incredibly pigmented and blendable. While the blendable part is there, the pigmentation could be considered quite lacklustre. When first swiped onto the eye it is very opaque but once you blend it out it becomes very sheer. The shimmer is still quite noticeable, it is the colour that goes away. Though it is sheer, it still manages to cover up any veins on my eyelids and make everything look very nice. I prefer to wear this on it's own as a super natural makeup look, just blended all over the lid, but it also works as a pretty base for a brown smokey eye. The reason I really like this, other than the fact that sometimes I don't want a super intense eye look, it it's staying power. This stuff stays put for as long as you leave it there. 

In terms of colour this is a very natural eyeshadow anyway, meaning that it can get away with being as sheer as it is. The woman who helped us at the counter suggested that this would be the best colour for my complexion and I tend to agree. It's a light bronze with burgundy shimmer, the precise colour of the shimmer isn't actually that noticeable until you get right up in it's grill and I was very surprised to find that it is burgundy. This just adds a little bit of warmth and dimension into the colour of the eyeshadow, which results in a very unique colour. The fact that it is a light bronze makes it perfect for everyday with any lip shade. 

The way you apply this eyeshadow is much like how you would apply a lipgloss. It is a wet formula that goes onto the eyelid with a doe-foot applicator. I find this quite fun to use because it is unlike anything I have ever owned. The packaging itself is very sleek and it is weighted so it feels that bit more fancy. 

Overall, I see this being a vegemite kind of product. Some people will love it, some people will hate it. Since it is quite a lot of money to spend on a liquid eyeshadow, I highly suggest you give this a test in store before purchasing it. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Things We Didn't See Coming

Things We Didn’t See Coming by Steven Amsterdam is a masterfully insightful book that depicts the plight of a real person in a dystopian future. Or, should I say, a dystopian present. Over the past couple of weeks I have had to read this book for school (we will be studying it in the upcoming months) and I really liked it. It is rare that I actually enjoy a school book enough to want to review it on the blog, in fact this is the first time. I thought I would review it before I actually study it so that the review does not become bogged down with the themes and character breakdowns we have to pour over in English class. 

When my teacher told us to read only a chapter of this book per day as to not get confused, I really did not understand what she meant. Upon picking up the book, I began to understand that each chapter is a vignette of a boy (and eventually man)’s life and though they connect chronologically and there are some recurring characters, they are largely unlinked. This lead to confusion as to whether TWDSC was to be considered a novel or a collection of short stories when entered for prizes, it was eventually decided that it is a novel. I agree with this because, though the stories are seemingly disconnected, they follow the same character and an overall thematic arch. Though my teacher said to read them separately, I found myself too gripped by this book to stop reading after simply one chapter. If you are able to separate the stories in your mind and understand that much time has passed between each chapter you shouldn’t get confused.

We never actually find out the main characters name as the whole book is written from his perspective, this adds to the mystery surrounding the character and what happens to him between the chapters. The story picks up when the boy is around ten, his father is freaking out about Y2K and packing his family up to take them to his in-laws farm for safety. Though it initially seems as though the father is overreacting, his actions begin to seem more reasonable as the story progresses. The next chapter skips to when the boy is 17 and has a very different outlook on life than previously. Over the following seven chapters, the boy grows into a man, takes up a nomadic lifestyle, finds love and fights against the elements in some apocalyptic situations. 

Though the extreme droughts, floods, plagues and other apocalyptic events could come across as outlandish, Amsterdam manages to keep a very personal outlook on it all. The story is contained to the man and his thoughts about the world in which he lives. There are secondary characters that are seen in multiple chapters but the readers never gain a full understanding of how those characters feel. We simply see what the man sees, which is a beautiful way to prove that we never really know what the people around us are thinking or feeling. 

The story continues until the man is around forty, coming full circle to a poignant end. 

Writing these reviews is always hard because my first instinct is to spoil everything but I know that I can’t do that. For you to fully understand the depth and creativity of this book you must read it yourself. I could go on, tell you the basic breakdown of what happens in each chapter and the different twists and turns it takes but that would ruin it! The most interesting part of the story is that you never know what is going to happen next, where the man will be or how far into the future it will jump. 

Instead, I highly recommend you pick up a copy (or at least read the shortened version you can find on google) and check it out yourself. If you do, please tell me what you think in the comments below! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Beauty Interview with A Thing Of Beauty

This month we're interviewing A Thing Of Beauty. The gorgeous gal behind the blog is called Kelly and she's very talented. A Thing Of Beauty has a great mix of beauty, fashion and lifestyle posts. My personal favourites are her increadibly detailed and honest product reviews, they always make me want to try whatever she loves! I'm so happy Kelly agreed to answer my questions so let's get into it. 

1. What is the first piece of makeup you remember owning?

I remember when I was younger, there was a drugstore going out of business in my town and my mom took me to check out the 75% off sale and bought me some of my first makeup there! I got a CoverGirl eyeshadow palette and a CoverGirl Lash Exact Mascara, which were my very first cosmetics to own!

2. What is the number one beauty product on your wishlist at the moment?

Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask. I'm going through a bit of a skincare phase at the moment and I've seen her use this in her Youtube videos and the models' skin always look amazing when she takes it off! I find that my skin responds really well to clay masks so I've been trying more and more of them out, trying to find my favourite, and this Charlotte Tilbury one is definitely at the top of my list to try (although it is quite expensive!)

3. How many different foundations do you own and which is your favourite?

Surprisingly I only own 3 foundations. And I actually don't have a favorite! I find that my skin is good enough where I only need a little concealer and powder so I really don't tend to invest in foundations. What I do is stop by the makeup counters at Macy's often and stock up on samples instead-currently I'm working my way through a sample bottle of a Lancome foundation. And to be honest, I can't tell the difference between it and the CoverGirl foundation I own!

4. What is the type of beauty product you hoard the most?

...Blushes. I have one, maybe two that I really like and then the rest are all the same shade, basically. I had no idea I owned so many pink/peach blushes with gold shimmer until I reorganized that drawer the other day! I'm definitely going to be making the effort to buy highlighters + bronzers instead of blushes, I have enough blush to last me five lifetimes!

5. How many steps do you have in your morning skincare routine? How about your evening skincare routine?

My morning routine consists of slapping on some moisturizer and a little bit of eye cream (so fancy here at A Thing of Beauty). As for my night routine...I get so tired that most nights I even forget to brush my teeth so skincare is really out of the question! But, on the nights that I do have the energy, I love to relax with a clay face mask for 20 minutes, cleanse with a rice foaming cleanser, and then apply a sleeping pack right before I go to bed.

1. MAC or Nars? Neither, I don't buy from either brand. 

2. Rimmel or Revlon? Revlon, can't resist those lip butters! 

3. Mascara or Concealer? Concealer any day, I really don't like mascara and would skip it if my lashes wouldn't look so bare! 

4. Skincare or Haircare? Skincare, my haircare routine consists only of shampoo! 

5. Purifying mask or hydrating mask? Definitely purifying. I like to scrub all the day's dirt away! 

6. High end or Drugstore? Drugstore, I want to get my money's worth. 

7. Blog or Vlog? Blog, I'm too scared for a vlog!

8. Hair up or hair down? Down, I'm far too lazy to put it up all the time. 

9. Red or Pink Lipstick? Red (I'm wearing a bright red lip butter today!)

10. Highlight or Contour? Highlight, I'm so fair that contouring looks unnatural on me.

Please please please give Kelly lots of love (ha, geddit?) for helping me out and participating in this interview! Make sure to go follow her BLOG and her TWITTER as well as her other social medias. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Makeup Collection: Mascaras

Welcome to the second of many instalments in my makeup collection series! Mascara is the kind of product that you really only need one of so, of course, I own nine. Why do I own nine? Great question. They just seem to keep rocking up. Four of them came in subscription boxes, three are very old and two I actually purchased and am currently using. Let's run them down, shall we?

Max Factor Masterpiece Glamour Extensions
Starting off with my current favourite mascara, we have this masterpiece (ha, get it?) that everyone has been raving about. As of right right now, I am hypothesising that I will use this mascara for many moons to come because it is so great. It does the almost impossible task of making my eyelashes look long and curled. The lengthening effects are quite amazing and it also adds a fair whack of volume, just not to the point of being spidery. This is the mascara that I recommend to anyone who asks.  

Maybelline The Rocket Volume Express
Moving on to a more somber note, this one just doesn't work for me. It is a grey colour, not the stark black that is promised on the packaging and it leaves my lashes looking stumpy and clumpy. How poetic. It seems like a bit of a waste to have schlepped this all the way from the USA.

Designer Brands Outrageous Volume
I didn't have particularly high expectations for this mascara when I received it in a subscription box but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a very dry mascara, different from any other I own, yet it does a solid job at giving both volume and separation. It has a tendency to be a bit flaky if not paired with another mascara underneath but for the price tag it is a decent product.

L'Oreal False Lash Wings
Since I ran out of my last tube of the Clump Crusher, this has replaced it as my go to everyday mascara. It leaves things looking very natural and fluttery, adding both length and separation without too much volume. I love layering this under more volumising mascaras and wearing it on it's own for when I'm not feeling too fancy. The wand is wider at the end so that it coats all of the outer lashes really well, making the eye look wider. L'Oreal mascaras are not the cheapest but the ones I have tried certainly provide good results.

Revlon Grow Luscious
One of my weird habits is that I keep pretty much empty products just so that I can remember I like them. Since I'm always wanting to try new things, I find that I forget about great products once I'm done using them. This is one of those things. It dried out months ago and I have since replaced it with other things but I loved it so much that I can't bring myself to get rid of it for fear I will never get it again. Ridiculous, I know. It was just so good at adding extra volume on top of my Clump Crusher. The Max Factor offering is fulfilling this job now so I think it is time to say goodbye to my Grow Luscious.

Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof
I used to think that I had a bad reaction to this mascara but I have since realised that it was actually my own mistake that gave me the crusty eyes after use. I was not using a strong enough makeup remover and the product did not get off my lashes properly, leaving my eyes feeling right gross the next day. Since I have upped my makeup remover game, I can certainly see the benefit of using a waterproof mascara. This particular one does a good job at volumising but I still do not see the manic love some other people have for it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Covergirl Clump Crusher
It's my favourite mascara of all time so obviously I'm going to keep a tube of the clump crusher in my collection at all times. Especially when I found it on sale for half price. As you can see, I have a lot of other mascaras on the go at the moment so I'm saving myself until I really need it's magical mystical eyelash separating abilities.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes So Couture
This was previously in it's packaging as well but it did not fit properly in the drawer so I had to take it out. Despite that, I am determined not to open it until I actually want to use it. Of my two unused L'Oreal mascaras, this is the one I am most excited about. I have heard good things around the internet about it's volumising and separating abilities so I can't wait to try it.

L'Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga
I have heard very mixed things about this mascara and that is why I want to try it so badly. At the moment I just can't justify breaking it out of the packet, despite how much I want to have a look at the wand with my own eyes. I'm sure I will fill you in when I finally give it a go.

I'm starting to think all of these makeup collection posts are going to be massively long. I don't know how I deluded myself into thinking they wouldn't be. I hope you're good with that because I'm going to keep going, it's awesome to look at everything in this perspective. It really makes me evaluate what I do and don't need.

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Monthly Roundup: June

June was a massive month for me so I'll just get started or we'll be here for a while. 

The Toughest Week Ever
Phew, June started off tough. Not only was my Mum away, more on that in the next paragraph, but I also had my mid-year exams. And on top of all of that I got horrendously sick, of course. In a way I was lucky because I do two year 12 subjects which don't have a mid-year exam, meaning that I only had four to study for and try to stay conscious through. I started the week with basic cold symptoms, nothing some panadol and a nasal spray couldn't keep under control, and my English exam. That was all fairly straight forward and I managed to keep good spirits. By Thursday, the illness had increased dramatically and not only had I lost my voice but I felt pretty nauseous. I managed somehow to get through my Psychology exam, though I honestly cannot remember doing any of it (I got good marks so I guess it was okay). That night my Nan insisted that I go to the doctor and get something heavy duty to put a stop to it. This started to kick in and I lived through the next two exams (and the GAT) without throwing up and making a fool of myself. I also didn't fail anything so I call that a success. 

Is Everyone Going Without Me?
There seems to be a mass exodus of my family from the country. Everyone has awesome overseas holidays planned and I'm just sitting here listening to them talk about it. The same week of my exams, both my Mum and big brother Mitch were going overseas. Mum went on a much needed cruise with her best friend around French Polynesia and, though I'm very happy for them, it's natural to be a bit jealous. On the eighth day of their nine day holiday, my brother also went away. His holiday is far more substantial as him and his girlfriend are traveling around South America for six months, coming back just in time for my eighteenth birthday (what a good brother he is). I'm stalking his girlfriends Instagram obsessively for pictures of them horse riding through Columbian mountains and having drinks on the beach as the sun sets. Safe to say I'm VERY jealous of that one. 

Movie Mania
I saw a good few movies this month and I was really pleased with all of them. I started doing some movie reviews on this blog over the summer and I want to pick that up again if people would be interested in seeing my thoughts. Since I haven't reviewed any of these, I thought I would just do three little snapshot reviews of three movies I saw in June:

Mad Max: Fury Road
All of the movie reviewers I watch on Youtube said that this was basically the best thing since sliced bread so it's fair to say I was pretty excited when my friend and I went to see it. It was by no means a bad film but I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed when it didn't meet my high expectations. The entire movie was non-stop action and I just found it slightly overwhelming. Also, and this may just be me, but the accents were really inconsistent. Most of the ancillary characters had Australian accents, which makes sense since I'm fairly certain it's meant to be set in Australia (or the first ones were anyway). Then Charlize Theron, who was such a badass that I s'pose it doesn't really matter, had an American accent even though the women who raised her were Aussie. Very odd. 

Jurassic World
Pretty much everyone in the world (bar my Uncle) had seen this movie by now so I guess this is slightly pointless. Though it probably doesn't make any sense if you get too nit picky with it, I saw this as a great popcorn movie that you just tune out and appreciate. The idea of an actual functioning Jurassic World is so awesome it almost overshadows Chris Pratt's rugged good looks - almost. When the movie finished, people actually started applauding in my theatre, which I have never seen happen in a movie before.

Inside Out 
It's a kids movie that is so smart and inventive that anyone would enjoy it. I thought it would be a bit complicated, following a little girl AND the emotions inside her head on their own journeys but they did a great job at keeping it simple. Sadness is by far my favourite, she's just so dumpy and sweet. I'm definitely going to be quoting this for years to come. When I so to San Francisco you can be assured that I will find a reason to break out the classic 'Congratulations San Francisco, you ruined pizza!'

Top 5 Songs of The Month
1. You Don't Own Me - Grace (feat. G-Easy)
2. Give Me Something - Jarryd James
3. I Wanna Get Better - Bleachers (a rediscovery)
4. Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd 
5. Fight Song - Rachel Platten 

Top 5 Things That Happened This Month
1. Formal. I know, I know: 'Stop talking about it Shannon'. So I will just leave the link to a dedicated post HERE.
2. I spent an entire day watching the first season of Grace and Frankie. Jeez those old ladies are funny.
3. I babysat my little sister Sammy for an entire day and we had an absolutely great time. She was an angel.
4. My Calisthenics club had a PJ party where we all got in our onesies and watched Despicable Me 2 with the little kids. I was obviously the most excited person there, squealing with joy when the coach (dressed up in a minion onesie, naturally) handed out the PopTops. 
5. There is a handbag I want to buy and I have been stalking it online all month. If only that Grace Gordon London bag was free, I would have bought it weeks ago. 

SPECIAL 6TH THING: Lots of Love, Shannon hit 500 followers on Bloglovin' this month! It was a long journey to get to this point but I would like to thank everyone who has read and followed my blog over the years. I'm not particularly bothered by not having a super high number of followers but I really do appreciate each and every one who reads. Thank you so much!

I just felt a bit rambly today but I hope you don't mind. July is already shaping up to be a great month so look forward to the next roundup post! 

Lots of Love,

Shannon

It's Melting!

I've mentioned this Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Ruby multiple times over the past few posts so I thought that it deserved a dedicated ramble.

When I first decided that I wanted to wear a classic red colour on my lips for my formal, I thought 'that'll be easy' because I naturally presumed I owned something that would work. When I went through my giant lip product collection, I realised that this was not in fact true. I have a few darker reds, an orange and a really sheer red but nothing 'ruby'. Of course, this glaring hole in my collection had to be filled and I did so by purchasing a long-lusted-after Too Faced Melting Lipstick. The shade is perfect, it's just slightly darker than a fire truck red with a more raspberry undertone. This is the best colour for my skin tone because anything too orange makes me look ill (and my teeth look hella yellow).

I think these are named perfectly because they really do have the formulation of a normal lipstick, just 'melted'. They're not the typical liquid lipsticks that are hitting the market left and right nowadays. They don't dry down fully matte and the staying power isn't as extreme. Though this could be a downside, this means that it is far more comfortable to wear and reapplying isn't such a bad thing. It feels like a lipgloss when it is going on but it is in no way sticky and it's got the sheen of a lipstick rather than a full on gloss or, god forbid, glitter. I find that I can get a good few hours wear out of this and it only really disappears when I eat or drink.

The packaging of this product is super cute and dinky. The fact that the casing is the same colour as the product makes it handy for those who own multiple shades (a person that I am sure I will be shortly). Though the squeezy tube is a little bit 90s clear glitter lipgloss, it is actually very functional and means that you can get every little bit out of it. Finally, I must talk about the applicator. It is a little cushion that you push the product up through, this cushion should be white when you first get the product and if it is not, take it back because it has already been used by someone else. The cushion makes it very comfortable to apply and means that you can't really overdo the product. It is not really the best for precision around the edges and I found that even with a lip pencil I had to use a lip brush to get the edges right. This is a bit of a hassle but really not something to put me off using it. 

If you would like to see this Melted Lipstick actually on my face, check out my The Formal Face post  which shows an entire makeup look built around this lipstick. Have you tried the Melted Lipsticks? What shade do you think I should try next?

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

June Favourites

June was month of trying to save money, illness and exams so I didn't really have any time to generate new favourites. That being said, when I had a rifle around to find some things I actually realised that I have discovered some gems in the past month. 

Lemonaid Lip Aid with Lemon Oil

I unboxed this in my post about The Parcel and I have used it religiously. The day after I got it I took it to school and told each of my friends to 'smell this, it's so delicious'. Shockingly the lemonaid lip balm smells like lemonade. I'm not usually one for citrus scents but this is sweet enough to be scrumptious. My lips have never felt better because I want to use it so often. 

Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Ruby
Many compliments were given to me for this lip colour, both in person and in the comments, when I wore it to my Formal. It is a great classic red that applies nice and evenly over the lips. The lasting power isn't the best but that is okay because it does not claim to be one of those matte stay-on-your-lips-forever types of products. It stays a glossy finish for a while and then eventually dries down to a beautiful stain, making it appropriate for day time functions. There will be a full review up shortly. 

Georgio Armani Eye Tint in 11
My Nan was kind enough to buy this for me as a gift for doing well on my exams (she had so much faith that she bought it for me BEFORE the exams). Like the lipstick above, I plan on doing a full review on this in the near future so I won't go into too much detail. It is a really subtle liquid eyeshadow that I can apply with a swipe of the applicator and a blend with my finger. The shade is a really interesting bronze with some different coloured shimmers. It's perfect for everyday wear. 

The Art Therapy Colouring Book
I have seen these colouring books popping up everywhere over the past few weeks and I thought they were a great idea. I have always loved colouring but never considered it a viable activity for someone my age. When I saw how intricate and beautiful the designs in this book are, I just couldn't help myself and I ordered it straight away. I love sitting down with a cup of tea and wiling away the hours colouring in another gorgeous picture. 

Natural Confectionary Company Fruity Chews
These lollies got me through my exams. Without them I don't think I would have been able to get through it. I was so ill during my exam week that sitting at my desk and focussing was basically impossible. Luckily, my Mum had stocked up on these and I used them as an incentive to keep studying. They're super chewy fruit flavoured blocks of yumminess that you can chew on for ages, which makes them good to use as incentives because you don't have to eat too many of them. My favourite flavour is grape in case you were wondering. 

It was a nice short favourites this month, a refreshing change. I feel my shopaholic genes kicking in so I think July's favourites post may be a little more hefty. 

I would love to hear your favourite things of the month so please share in the comments below. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon