Sew Is Life

Here we go again…another Monday to start the week off. Did you all have a lovely weekend? I am loving this Autumn sunshine Perth has been blessed with. We have been pretty lucky to have slept through the rain at night and wake up to bright, sunny mornings.  

It’s the little things that shine…don’t you think? Are you more of a statement necklace person or do you wear more delicate pieces? 

This Winter, the metallic trend is shining! Add your choice of heavy pieces of metal with a plain coloured clothing or be daring and match it with patterns. Delicate metals are fantastic for that everyday wear, team it with whites, neons and a gorgeous tan to achieve that ‘minimalist’ look. 

Here are some pretty little things that caught my eye at Molten Store

Marquise Eye Bracelet - feminine and delicate styling

The Equilibrium Necklace (Gold) - this looks almost reptilian, it has a certain edginess that I like!

The Euphoria Earrings (Bronze) - delicate, geometric and dangles nicely. A lovely way to catch the light!

Future Bright Clutch (Clear) - whenever I look away these guys are out of stock! $89 to get your paws on one of these

Circle of Friends Necklace - a very ‘look at me’ necklace, not sure if it is my style but it looks awesome!

Wear whatever takes your fancy and wear it with confidence - that is what makes your personal style and character stand out.

How would you wear metallics this season?

Hope you’re all starting off your week beautifully!

E x

All these pieces can be shopped at:

Yes, it has all come to an end…I am referring to my maternity leave. It is really difficult for me to believe that I have been away from my corporate job for three years now. It scares me how time flies! I’m going to miss my babies, even though I will only be working two days a week. But I can’t help feeling so helpless…it’s the inner demon of ‘mothers’ guilt’ kicking in.

Since I went on maternity leave I have developed a wicked sense of PJ wearing and perfected the art of t-shirt with jeans. Now I wonder what do I have to wear to work? I remember this required a lot of brain power and planning…oh I’m so not cut out for this! 

I know it is silly to be thinking about what people are wearing…I guess I’m just NERVOUS. I don’t want to stand out like a sore ‘return to work’ mum. I don’t think many realise when they ask ‘are you glad to be back?’ or ‘are you looking forward to it?’ because they aren’t the right questions to ask. I would like to think…if I asked them the same questions after a long holiday away would they have a similar answer? Though every return to work mother thinks differently about this situation. For me…I will be in mourning!

Juggling work with home life,has become an art form of modern families.

I will miss the cuddles, oh how I have become so addicted to cuddles. The kisses and the happy squeals. I will miss their cute faces and the way Leo squishes up his face and talks in the baby-est of baby voices just to get my attention. I will miss Leo’s proud exclamations of “Mama look at me”… as he shows me something new that he has discovered or some new skill he has learnt. 

Two days…how much can I miss in two days? I have already whispered in Luna’s ear, “Don’t take your first steps without mummy watching ok”. It’s not that I am not enthusiastic about heading back, I absolutely miss the adult jokes, team spirit and engaging work. But it’s just those little moments that I don’t want to blink and miss which are so amazing and rewarding too.

I don’t want to sound like a Mum that cannot separate her needs from her own child’s needs. Because I really do believe that to be a more attentive, giving, passionate parent you have to look after yourself first and the rest will follow. I’m sure the result will mean a fresher more clear headed mum for my kids.

I came across this quote, it’s a little reminder for me to take time out for myself. To keep the lil E inside happy :)

I will also continue to build my newly launch biz, SELF Organics from the ground up. It’s still a baby and will need looking after. With most solo start-ups, capital comes from other means and then an idea/dream can be realised. Maybe…just maybe…one day I will be blessed with able to do this for a living :)

In the meantime…what do I wear? Help!

E x

Have you entered the Sewislife 2nd Blogiversary Giveaway? Just be a follower on Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment here.

You still have time to enter, ends Midnight 23rd June.

Winter has arrived! The mornings are so dark and the wind cuts through me so sharply. And the colour palette for everything seems to have darken a shade or two. But I like to keep the bright trend moving through the season as long as I can :) 

Not too long ago, long-wear lipsticks got a bad wrap for being dry, lifeless and dull. They were the ones that you would stay clear from because they were associated with being ancient and boring.

However the formulas in the current long-wear lipsticks on the shelves at the moment are getting a revamp in marketing. The younger generation is catching on, and well all the better for it because ‘long-wear’ is an excellent marketing ploy for us time-poor, who want high impact and minimal effort when it comes to our beauty routine.

I was so excited to be able to purchase Lime Crime’s answer to the long-wearing lipstick, The Velvetine’s. The thought of the lipsticks travelling over countless seas just to land into my letterbox was pretty awesome. The first batch of Velvetines was sold out before I could blink. So I had to get my paws on the next batch.

The packaging so gorgeous, it reminds me of Moulin Rouge during the peak of burlesque. The design of tassles and heavy curtains over a frosted glass-appearance. Though I think it is actually a plastic tube. The top of the cover is embossed with a red unicorn and is a red foil finish. I’m in pure packaging heaven! 

I decided to go with both, Red Velvet (a classic, timeless bluish-red) and the Suedeberry (a coral red). My favourite of the two would have to be Suedeberry, because I like a radioactive colour, plus I am partial to ‘orangey-red’ tones at the moment. 

And now for the swatches…

One application of Red Velvet, for a deeper red apply a second coat.

The formula glides on wet and glossy but dries to a matte colour. It takes about 30 seconds for the colour to stay leaving a soft and ‘velvety’ feel to the lips. I found the colour began to fade as I ate and drank during the day but only from the centre of the mouth, it did mention oily foods will affect the colour. There is no distinctive smell and it feels ultra luxe and gorgeous. The colour may not be for the faint hearted, but I love a classic red lip :) Though there is current speculation on their Facebook page that new Velvetine shades will be out soon.

And all Lime Crime Velvetines are vegan and cruelty free. Very easy to remove with make up remover wipes.

Some tips before applying the Velvetine. 

1. Shake well before application

2. Exfoiliate and moisturise lips

3. Create desired lip shape with a lip pencil

4. Fill in colour 

5. Let dry for 30 seconds

6. Add a second coat to increase the richness of the colour.

Voila! Instant pin-up hottie!

You can pick up a Velvetine from the Lime Crime Online Shop for USD$16.99 or AUD$21.99 from Australian stockist Makeupnet.

But be quick, they will be sure to sell out AGAIN!

Which Velvetine shade takes your fancy?

E x

*These items were purchased by me and this is an honest review by me.

You may also want to check out my other write-ups on:

Lime Crime Uniliners - Rhyme & Reason

Lime Crime ALCHEMY palette & lipsticks

How’s everyone’s week shaping up? It’s a public holiday here in W.A, so my weekend feels extra long which is always fun :) Which means this week will feel extra short!

And OH how could I forget…’Sew is Life’ had its second blogversary (I think that is a word slowly making its way into the acceptable terms in social media). I must have missed it amongst all the on goings of May and now we are in June! *Mini freak-out* Why this year has been a BIG year for the both of us! 

It all started one day when I decided to turn my personal love of blogging into something more inspirational, instead of an online rant diary.

From the beginning, being a stay at home mum spending hours with my darling babies…cooking, cleaning, etc didn’t really make me feel ‘useful’. Even though everyone told me I was doing a great job…I didn’t feel stimulated and challenged. So I decided to share my creative side by writing tutorials about my side projects and my love for all things about beauty, design, fashion and art.

I’m really humbled that I am able to do this blogging gig and have met so many friends along the way that makes this so worthwhile. Plus I love it, because it ignited my passion in starting my own business in organic skincare. I have so much more plans in store for this year for SELF Organics. Follow SELF Organics journey on Facebook & Twitter. 

So to celebrate this exciting second year of blogging. I am running a giveaway with some pretty sweet prizes:

Model Co Gloss & Mascara duo

Daiso false lashes

Vintage ring (to fit any size) 

Country decorating magazines

Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer

Etude House CC Cream in Glow

All you have to do is answer this question in the comments section:

What would be the theme of the next party you host and why?

T&Cs: Sorry this competition is only opened to Australian residents at this time. But I have more giveaways to come for my international fans! This competition is based on how creative and unique your response is. And it will be decided by myself. You must also be a fan of the Sewislife Facebook page or follow ‘Sewislife’ on Twitter. Please indicate which in the comments. By tweeting about the giveaway and sharing on Facebook can score you more points. Giveaway ends on 23rd June and the one winner will be announced on the blog. The winner will have 24 hours to respond, or another winner will be selected.

BEST OF LUCK!

Please click the social media buttons below to share :)

Have a great week!

E x

Is it really almost the end of the month?

Then, this entry may be backtracking a little too far. Though, I thought I might as well let you in on the details of our 6th anniversary. Promise, it won’t take long :)

It was our 6th anniversary on the 6th May…what an amazing date to do something special. Although it didn’t pan out that way at all. I didn’t see Hubz for the entire day because he worked a double shift, I was busy chasing the kids around and helping out at the newsagency.

So I bought cake instead and shared it with the kids. A cake marks an occasion right? But it is so much more trickier when you have three kids, two businesses plus a full time job to look after. However these days, Hubz and I enjoy the simple moments of having the last couple of hours in the day to catch up with our DVDs or downloaded TV series.

Romance kind of takes a back seat when the kids arrive, it happens to all couples with children. Life moves in stages, and this stage is when seeing him wash the dishes is a turn on! This isn’t meant to put those off who are thinking of starting a family, the hard slog we go through and the hurdles we overcome together actually makes our team stronger ;)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my partner in life, my only love and the one I love to wake up to.

I bought him a Super Mario Chess set from the Gamesmen for $49.95, because I know how BIG a Nintendo fan he is, and it is a game we played a lot together while we were dating. 

Although he always gives me advice on my moves and lets me win. Lol! We just play so nice…it’s just not meant to be played like that.

What was the best gift you ever received and why??

E x

When I think of my daily dietary intake…I am scared to think how much of it is made up of sugar. I admit I am addicted to the stuff. I never used to be as bad as this, but I have noticed it growing into a nasty addiction. Even though I am fully aware that it is bad for me, it has taken some time to admit and do something about it.

I have even bought a copy of Sarah Wilson’s ‘I quit sugar’ book (you may have seen this on my instagram photos), but being so time-poor it is hard to cook or grocery shop for these ingredients. 

I put my finger down to these 4 reasons why I am craving sugary treats:

1. Sleep deprivation

2. Stress

3. Exhaustion 

These 3 are caused by adrenal fatigue, and since I my body is screaming out for energy it craves sugar…which is just a quick fix. After loading up with sugar it goes into a slump and then the cravings kick in again. What a vicious cycle! 

4. Lack of activity

Also I am not doing any sort of exercise, therefore the body feels sluggish. Physical activity helps to stablize the blood-sugar levels, so after a workout the cravings usually switch to more healthier foods. I need to get back into walking for 30 minutes or at least jog around the block…something to get my mind off these sweet snacks. Not doubt they are going straight to my thighs and butt…

5. Dehydration

During Winter, I find that I hardly drink water because of the ‘cooler’ weather. When it is cool, my body doesn’t think it has to drink cool water to stay hydrated. I have to consciously alert myself, whenever I walk near my kettle to have a cup of water. So when I want to eat something…I should really just have a glass of water and wait to see how I feel.

Maybe I should just do it….go cold turkey on the stuff. It is just in everything we eat now a days…all the packaged and processed foods. I didn’t realise but balsamic vinegar is full of the stuff too (my favourite dressing!!).

Just as bad as a highly addictive drug!

It’s going to be hard, but I should do it. I believe I will feel better for it, because at the moment I feel horrible, my concentration is terrible and I have a bad time dealing with too many activities. My mood swings like a hot-wired pendulum! 

I’m in search of my old ‘calm & centred’ self…so I need to cut the crap out of my life NOW. 

See ya later sugar!

Are you thinking about cutting sugar out of your diet? Have you tried reducing the amount of sugar in the foods you eat?

E x

Nine months on, and well…my baby is still not sleeping through the night. I look like a wreck without any makeup, resembling more ghost than human.

These are the times of my life where I will lose hours of sleep that I will never recover! And we all know how crucial sleep is to the functioning human being. These days it can feel as if time is slipping away, and I try to stay up late to play catch up. But due to my busy lifestyle, my skin is paying the ultimate price.

Tell tale signs of stress and tiredness have shown up on the face. I only need to look into the mirror to see the dark circles and tired looking skin. I was initially skeptical, because I have never tried an Aveeno product in my life. In the post I received the Aveeno Positively Radiant intensive night cream to try out. 

According to research, only 44% of women actually use a night cream before bed. During this time of slumber, it is when the skin does its best regenerative work. Aveeno Positively Radiant intensive night cream is oil-free and contains vitamin B3 and Total Soy complex to boost 5 factors of radiance: tone, dullness, brown spots, texture and blotchiness.

I used this cream every night for the past 2 weeks and it is just pure bliss before turning in for the night. The texture of the cream is soft and milky, but not too light…it soaks right into the skin. It completes the final step to my cleansing regime. It has a lovely calming scent that stays on the skin and lightly fades away. 

In the morning I wake up and wash my face all over again and I do not get that sticky, greasy feeling that I get with other heavy creams. Aveeno Positively Radiant intensive night cream is very light and since it is oil free I have notice there is no build up of whiteheads or pimples from using it.

The only down side is that comes in a pot, so be prepared to dip your fingers in and risk contamination of the rest of the product. Best to buy a bunch of mini plastic spatulas that you can find from your pharmacy or online beauty suppliers. Cute packaging and ‘natural’ looking with the use of green and cream colours.

After two weeks, I noticed my skin was super soft, brighter and there was  evenness in skintone. I am completely thrown by this product. At $19.99 for a 48g pot, I am going to go out and get another once I have finished.

So…all those years, my mum told she drank lots of soy milk that gave her beautiful soft and creamy complexion, she already knew the secret of SOY. And she even drank copious amounts when she was pregnant with me, which she said was the result of me being such a fair skin baby. It could be contrary to Chinese belief…

Are you a night cream queen or do you skip out on this step?

Have a great week lovelies!

E x

*This product was provided for consideration and review. My opinions are my own.

Photo sourced from huffingtonpost.com

This week the topic of breast cancer has been highlighted by actress Angelina Jolie who wrote a piece called ‘My Medical Choice’ in the New York Times. If you haven’t heard about the buzz, she writes about her experience of choosing a double mastectomy here.

Straight away I knew, that this decision was not made easily and it was not made solely on her interest alone. I could feel her selflessness and the concern of her children living without a mother that made her decision a necessary one. Even though her breasts were healthy, she was carrying the cancer gene and there was a high risk due to family history.

Thank you Angelina Jolie, for sharing your piece. It is such a deep and personal choice and your family’s story, I’m so glad I was able to read your piece. You have surely beaten that terrible disease that claimed your beloved mother’s life.

Breasts are tissue of the body…they are not connected to the soul. They are flesh. A woman’s beauty should not be based on the physical, but of her heart and character. 

Bless all those women who have ever had to make this decision.

E x

This photo was taken yesterday by my friend as I played at South Beach Park with my three darlings. 

It is very rare for me to find a photo taken of the kids, myself and Hubby.     As time passes, I find that photos are the only windows to the past.   It is nice to sit down with my young ones and show them my old albums and tell stories ‘those were the days…when mummy was a little girl’.

Internally, I giggle to myself…as I feel I was only a little girl not too long ago. I wonder if all mums feel the same when they reminisce! The last 6 years has been an interesting learning curve, but I have loved every step since entering Motherhood at 23. I liked kids before, but never thought of having them until I was 30. But when life throws you something, you just have to grab it with two hands and appreciate the experience.

There are times I would rather grab the wine bottle than deal with the stress. But with motherhood it comes with unbelievable highs and sometimes earth shattering lows. The main thing I learnt is not to take things too seriously and remain calm in the face of a storm. Women don’t give themselves enough credit for the things they do, and they should! 

To all the mother figures out there, hugs to you and congratulate you on being there for all the people you love and support. Make sure you celebrate and find some time for yourself today :)

Much Love

E x