Holiday Cooking: Easter

When I was trying to find a chocolatey Easter treat I was looking for something with real wow factor. I scoured pages and pages of chocolate creations: easter baskets made from tempered chocolate filled with home made filled eggs, easter bunnies crafted out of modeling chocolate and chocolate filled molten chocolate puddings. I got so caught up in these masterpieces that I could never recreate to their full glory that I almost missed what was right in front of my. My signature dish if you will. Classic, delicious and easy chocolate brownies. Take my word for it, this is the best recipe you will ever try. 

Ingredients: 

• 90g Milk Chocolate Chips
• 25g Butter
• 150g Plain Flour 
• 15g Cocoa 
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• Pinch of Salt 
• 2 Eggs 
• 300g Brown Sugar (I know it sounds like a heap, but it’s what gives the fudgy texture and yummy flavor) 
• 1/4 tsp of Vanilla Extract 

Method: 

Before you start make sure you pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees celsius! 

1. Put chocolate chips and chopped up butter into a microwave proof container and microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring after every round, until melted and shiny. This should take somewhere between 60 and 90 seconds depending on the microwave and the temperature of ingredients. Once it is melted, set it aside to cool. 
2. Combine sieved flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside. 
3. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and whisk together lightly with a fork (this step can be skipped if you are confident that you won’t get any shell into the mixture)
4. Pour eggs into a bowl with the sugar and vanilla extract and combine with a wooden spoon. 
5. Mix all three of the separate components together. I usually start by combining the wet chocolate and egg mixtures together and then adding them to the dry flour one but you can do it however you see fit. 
6. Pour the batter into a lined and greased slice pan and cook for 20-25 minutes in the oven.*

*****MAJOR TIP: Though I make them all the time, I still stuff these brownies up sometimes by being an eager beaver who loves warm baked goods. You need to leave the brownies in the pan until they cool completely, preferably overnight or for a good few hours. If you don’t do this it will fall apart into a big hot greasy mess when you’re trying to turn it out and you will cry. 

These brownies are my favourite thing ever and I highly suggest you try them yourself. If you do make sure you comment or tweet me to tell me how it goes! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon xo

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The 123 Perfect CC Cream

Guys, I think I’ve found a winner. I have tried a few BB Creams and Tinted Moisturisers in my time (admittedly no high end ones but many drug store ones) and I think I have found the best. The first hurdle I had to jump in finding this fantastic base was that it is a CC Cream the last thing I need is another type of base to confuse me. I know that CC stands for Colour Correct but I still don’t see the big difference between the three. Are they not all supposed to be light bases that do good for the skin? 

No matter what Bourjois decided to name this product, I can’t get enough of it. The 123 Perfect CC Cream is my new everyday staple. What I like to do is squeeze a bit out onto the back of my hand and then apply it with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to ensure that I get a nice even coverage and that I won't get my fingers dirty. If you're into using your fingers, it blends in nicely that way as well. It is light, so I know it is not perfect for everyone, but as a girl who is still in high school I try to avoid full coverage bases so that I don’t look overdone (plus I do not have the time or energy to fuss around with those things in the mornings). 

It claims to have three pigments for colour correction: apricot for anti-fatigue, green for anti-redness and white for anti-dark spots. For the light coverage it has I think the pigments do a great job at covering up any discolouration or redness. My skin around my nose can get really red and I find that the CC Cream alone can cover most of it, though I do need to add concealer to spots and pimples. The staying power is pretty good but not fantastic. It does wear throughout the day and if I am doing anything after school I tend to reapply. One thing I can do is reapply the new layer right over the old because it is so light that it doesn’t look caked on with another layer on top (I obviously can’t do this if I have powdered during the day, things can get swampy then). 

Pros: Easy to work with, light coverage that covers redness, sets nicely without the need for a powder. 

Cons: Watch out when the tube is fresh because the runny consistency means it comes out without much force and you end up with far more than you need. Waisting a good product is never okay. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon xo

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My Travel Makeup Bag

As you are reading this I am somewhere in America living out of a suitcase (I'm writing this early because I'm organised like that). Though I have limited the amount of clothes I've brought, I still needed to bring plenty of options on the makeup front. I'm going to list the items from my makeup bag and give you a brief reasoning for why I have brought them. Is that okay with you? I hope so because it's happening, and it's probably going to be long.  

Starting with the face products I have: 

Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer: As I have metioned before, I don't really think this does much other than making my foundation go on smoothly, it doesn't have any great effect on my pores and it doesn't make my makeup stay on very much longer. That being said I've become quite committed to using it under my heavier coverage foundation, so I figured I would bring it along. 

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: I need a proper foundation for when I feel like going a bit fancier with my makeup. I will most likely wear this out for dinner, to one of the Broadway shows or if my skin goes a little cray and needs something more. 

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream: This is my go to base for day to day and that will stay the same no matter what country I'm in. 

Bourjois Happy Light Concealer: We all have something to hide. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: I don't always need this with the CC Cream but I will need it for the Match Perfection and since it's going to be quite warm in Florida I may need to touch up throughout the day. 

Clinique True Bonze Pressed Powder Bronzer: It's tiny and works really well with my skin tone to warm up my complexion when my foundation gets wishy-washy.

Moving onto the eyes I have: 

Revlon Eyelash Curlers: A must have for a girl with short straight eyelashes like mine. 

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara + Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara: I won't leave the house without some mascara to give my invisible eyelashes some life. 

Maybelline Color Tatoo in Bad to the Bronze: If I want something a bit dramatic on my eye, or I want a good base for my eyeshadow to stay all day, I will throw this on with my finger. 

Clinique Eyeshadow Quad: You know I use this all the time, it's the perfect tiny set. 

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner: I wear liquid liner most days because it really adds an interesting dimension to my face and I'm kind of proud that I can apply it. 

Designer Brands Kohl Liner: I will use this for my waterline when I am feeling daring. 

I always need plenty of lip options: 

Lucas' Papaw Ointment: For when my lips are feeling tired and sad. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting: This is my every day lip product that I (and my Mum, she's already on to her second one) couldn't live without. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple: If I want to give things a red tinge. 

Chanel Rouge Allure in Surprenante: a) It's like my child and I could not leave my child behind b) It's really wearable. 

Nyx Butter Gloss in Eclair: If I'm feeling glossy. 

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Unapologetic: When I want to unapologetically blind people with my crazy bright kissers. 

A girl needs her brushes: 

Revlon Powder Brush: I use this for bronzer/powder. 

Real Techniques Face Brush Set: Powder, contouring, foundation and concealer all in three brushes. 

Real Techniques Eye Brush Set: I wouldn't bring them ALL but since I'm planning on buying the Naked Palette I need some tools so that I can play with it. 

And finally the extras: 

Gap Bright Perfume: This is a great everyday scent that I'm not paranoid about breaking or losing because it's not crazy expencive. Win win. 

Estee Lauder Automatic Pencil for Brows: I need to make them visible. 

Wowee if you stuck with me through that whole post, claps for you because it was a long one! You were warned though. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon xo 

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March Favourites

My purse strings were fairly tight in March with my big holiday coming up, so I didn't get to try very many new products. I was, however, completely besotted with my few purchases and thought I would share them with you. 

You definatly don't need to up the exposure on this picture, the sun does enough! My Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Unapologetic is really that bright. I have a full review of this coming up this week so I won't go into to too much detail, all you really need to know is that it's super bright and I'm in love. 

I felt that I needed a new light weight base for my travels and there was lots of hype around this Bourjois CC Cream so I gave it a go. I really love this for school and any other time when I don't want a FULL face of makeup. There may be a more in depth review of this coming as well, keep your eyes peeled. 

My Mum and I were at the Pharmacy picking up vitamins when this beauty of a nail polish caught my eye. It was hiding in the back on a stand full of your average pinks, reds and really bright yellows but I was lucky enough to spot it. Sally Hansen Triple Shine in Make Waves looks blue from some angles and green from others, it has an almost metalic finish that I can't stop staring at (you can see this polish in action in the last photo). I find myself moving my hand around in the light and just staring at the way the colour changes. It applies really well with a nice wide brush and is so far so good on the chipping front. My only issue with this is that you actually have to pull of the square top to expose a normal round brush top, this was a little confusing on first use. 

I know I included the Body Shop Body Butters in my last favourites, but this one also deserves a mention. I found this Coconut Milk Body Lotion in the depths of my random products draw and realised that it would be perfect for nights when it's too hot to wear a thick body butter on my legs. I find that if I use anything too heavy on hot nights my legs will feel really gross and sweaty within about two seconds, this lightweight body milk don't give me that issue. It doesn't give the same amount of hydration to the legs and arms but it is far better than nothing. Unfortunately, with cooler weather coming in Australia, this one may be shelved until next summer from now on. 

This ring from Lovisa is one of the most interesting rings I own. I love it for it's simplicity and aztec style. I can wear this with anything when I want to make it a bit edgier or I want to dress up a plain outfit with some accessories. I get an odd enjoyment from the way it restricts the way my finger bends, it is as though it is constantly reminding my of it's existence.

Another month down, infinite ones to go. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon xo 

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Steal Her Street Style: Selena Gomez

I really love Selena Gomez's street style and this look is one of my favourites. It is edgy, simple and easy to replicate with much cheaper items. I did some research and found some good matches that I thought I would share with you. The hardest thing to replicate was her Versace Palazzo Bag (which you can buy HERE if you have a spare $3,795) so I got two options. The first has the same blue trims, but is not the same shape and can be worn as a backpack. The second is a more classic shape that does not feature the trademark blue trim. 

I chose most products from ASOS because it is an international website and all of the prices are in Australian dollars. It's not an exact recreation but it will give the same effect.

T-Shirt: ASOS Classic T-Shirt $15.84

Blazer: ASOS Linen Tailored Blazer $79.22

Jeans: ASOS Brady Low Rise Slim Boyfriend Jeans $75.26

Handbag Option 1: ASOS Clean Backpack With Contrast Edge Stain $69.32

Handbag Option 2: Warehouse Zip Detail Padlock Shopper $79.22

Shoes: New Look Settle Black High Heeled Court Shoes $35.63

Sunglasses: ASOS Chunky Kitten Sunglasses $23.77

Necklace: ASOS 'Don't Worry Be Happy' Necklace $11.88

Earrings: New Look Oversize Square Cut Hoops $9.88

Lipstick: Maybelline Color Sensational Bold Matte in Deep Red $14.50

The best thing about this look is that it can be made with many pieces you already have at home so you don't need to purchase everything especially for this outfit. I, for one, will be trying it out - top knot and all. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon xo

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Party Makeup: Simple Bronze

I went to a party on Saturday night and I was really excited about doing my makeup for it. I didn't want to go out there with a smokey eye or bright lip because I was wearing a noticeable outfit and wasn't looking to stand out TOO much. A bronze shimmery eye and a really subtle red lipstick seemed like the best bet to me. 

I started off with my Bourjois Happy Light Matite Base Serum though I'm not actually sure if this does anything. It does not appear to keep my foundation on any longer than it would usually stay, but I continue to use it because it makes the foundation easier to apply and I figure it couldn't hurt. I then go over the top with my Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation so that I have a nice even base. This covers up most of my redness while still feeling light on my skin. As silly as it sounds, I hate when a foundation feels as though you are wearing a foundation. I topped it off with my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer where I needed a little something extra. 

I filled in my eyebrows with Estee Lauder Automatic Pencil for Brows (which, to be honest, I stole from my Mum) because my eyebrows are totally invisible without it, damn my blondeness. Then I lightly patted a small bit of my Maybelline Color Tatoo in Bad to the Bronze over my eyelid as a base, I went really light with this because I didn't want anything too metallic looking. Then I went over the top with the lightest colour in my Clinique Quad - Goldrush - and blended the darkest brown - Fudge - through the socket. I threw on my Master Precise Liquid Liner to give my eyes some much needed definition and topped the eyes off with my Covergirl Clump Crusher/ Revlon Grow Luscious mascara combo.

I bronzed up the hollows of my cheeks with this tiny sample of Clinique True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer because this is a really nice colour on my crazy pale skin tone. Most bronzers make me look as though I'm playing dress ups as Snookie, but this one gives me a healthy light tan. I went really natural on the cheeks with a light dusting of Estee Lauder Pink Kiss Blush (another one stolen from my Mum) and ran a light dusting of Rimmel Stay Matte Powder over my t-zone. 

Topping everything off with a sheer swipe of my Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple and a spritz of my Miss Dior Perfume I was ready to head out and party the night away. 

I really love this look because it is easy to recreate from most people's makeup stashes. I will definitely try out this combination again. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon xo 

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