Sew Is Life

I am currently stuck in a sewing/DIY rut…due to factors outside of this blog. But I promised myself in 2013 to not let stress get me down and I would put some time aside for my favourite hobby, sewing - it is the one thing that truely relaxes me because it’s when I am in my creative element :)

So I caught onto the bug that is #sewingdares on Twitter. It all started with Gillian at Crafting a Rainbow throwing the tagline out there and a whole heap of sewinistas in the Twitterverse heard! I actually caught on from Leila at Three Dresses Project and she has dished me the dare to sew a ‘make up bag/case’. 

I haven’t sewn one before, so it will be a new challenge! I love it! That is the purpose of #sewingdares. To have fun and not take things too seriously.

Care to join in?

If you are up for it, jump onto twitter and demand a dare by including the hashtag #sewingdares in your tweet and you will receive your next sewing mission from one of the girls or I’m happy to ‘dare you’ (you just have to let me know your level of sewing, and if you have a blog I can check it out and give you a challenge that you haven’t done before).

Head over here to see what all the fuss is about. The love of sewing is spreading worldwide!

My #Sewingdares challenge

A make up bag is the perfect dare, given I am such a beauty buff and into my skincare. Honestly I can never have too many cosmetic bags! Plus they are such cute gifts to give to a girlfriend.

Here are some ‘brainstorming’ drawings I did the other day to get me started (please forgive my scribbles, I used to study art in school but it’s pretty clear that I have lost ALL my drawing ability).

Next step, to fish through my fabric stash and pick out some favourites.

Which design do you think I should go with?

Too be continued :)

Enjoy your weekend All! 

E x

2013 has started off with some scorcher days with the Christmas/New Year week having 40 plus degrees temperatures for seven days straight! I’m all for Summer, because I am a warm weather lover, but this was just way too HOT! Looks like the rest of the country has finally caught up with the West, Australia why are you such a hottie?

Sitting in my car to go somewhere was like stepping into a furnace. So my family and I hid away inside majority of the time, closed all the curtains, kept ourselves in darkness with the air conditioner on for the whole week. Crap…now to await the power bill!

Lately I have been running from one place to the next mainly because I have been a multitasking mummy. Lil Miss S started swimming vacation lessons, so we have been busy rushing about and I have been looking a little weary from the heat.

Cue in my favourite Summer ‘SOS’ products…

Have you tried any of these yet?

1. Clear ‘Ice Cool Menthol’ Shampoo (I bought this in Jakarta whilst on holidays). This shampoo has been such a treat after a hot and sweaty day. Rinsing this through my hair immediately makes my scalp feel ‘cool’, it is a refreshing feeling and kinda sends shivers down my spine because I am cold for a moment. Such an awesome product, I wish I had bought more because I am almost out! And I can’t seem to find a similar replacement in Australia. I love Clear hair products, they really nourish my scalp and hair from root to tip.

2. Toni & Guy Cleanse Dry Shampoo I bought this from Priceline a while back, whilst I was having my confinement period. That was during Winter time when I just gave birth to Luna. However I only pulled it out of my bathroom cabinet this week and gave it a whirl. The smell is clean and sweet, and it doesn’t leave any white residue like other dry shampoos. It is a large can, so it should last me all Summer. I use it every second day when I can’t be bothered washing my long locks and it soaks up all the grease and sweat, so it feels ‘clean’ again!

3. OFF! Insect repellent with Tropical Strength. I bought this just before I left for Jakarta and lucky I did. Those Jakarta mozzies are ruthless! They can smell me like a blood hound… thankfully after a spray I avoided an attack and my legs (which are usually the #1 target) were protected. I have learnt my lesson, because previous holidays at a tropical destination, I return with legs ‘bruised’ with mozzie scars. 

4. Buche De Noel facial scrub masque from Lush. I picked this one up at the Boxing Day sales when Lush was having 50% off Christmas items. I simply adore Lush bath and beauty products but simply forgot about them all year because well…they are kinda pricey. I only buy them as a treat and that is even rare! This one is made of ground almonds, kaolin clay, dried cranberries, cocoa butter, brandy, almond essential oil, cedarwood oil and more. Funnt how my kids wanted to eat my face after I had washed it, it smelt delicious!

Had to show you guys a close up of this masks, looks edible huh?

5. Lime Crime ‘Cosmopop’ Lipstick, an light coloured orange opaque lipstick which is so much fun when you are in the Sun. The shade makes me feel bright, bubbly and ready to go. Team it with an aqua eyeliner and you are Summer-ready.

6. And lastly, Skin Doctor’s ‘No More Pores’. I apply this every second or third day at night after I have cleansed my face. With all the sweat and grime pushing out from those pores, no wonder they appear enlarged and in a bumpy state like an orange peel! I close them up with this wonder cream and my skin looks soft and taught the morning after. It has a slight tingling sensation when applied, but this tells me it is working.

And as much as I love cooking I have had to retire in the past week. I avoided the kitchen stove…because after a cook up I feel like I have just done a hard RPM training session at the gym. It’s pretty icky and gross…I don’t want to be smelling myself all up in my dinner! So it has been cheese and crackers, lots of salad and ice chips for me. What a great way to lose those extra pounds I gained over Christmas :)

What do you enjoy most about Summer? What are some of your tips for staying cool? 

Have a great week All!

E x

You may be interested in reading these blog posts too:

Jet-setting must-haves

Spring Fling Beauty Faves

How to get ultra sexy skin for Summer

*These items have been purchase by myself and written in accordance to this site’s disclosure policy.

Around pre-Halloween season, Lime Crime released their ‘Alchemy’ range to celebrate the spooky occasion including a new pressed eye shadow palette and two new lipsticks. This is the first time that Lime Crime have launched a fantasy range. In the past they released the China Doll, Mary Antoinette and Aquataenia eye shadow palettes…but it wasn’t a part of a complete range. I would have loved to see lipsticks inspired by those themes…

I’m so thrilled to share this review with you…because there was no doubt that I was going to purchase this palette. It was a no brainer really because I have been into this stuff since I was a little girl. When I say ‘this stuff’ I mean anything to do with spells, cosmos, witchery and alike. Not that I was working towards being a witch, but I definitely had a keen interest in all things to do with magic, fantasy and potions.

So I hail the newest ‘Alchemy’ range from Lime Crime! I was super excited to have received this package all the way from the US the same day I was to attend the Betty Tran Grand Opening and immediately wore poisonberry lips to the event.

Here is the signature purple tin with gold scale like pattern on the cover of the palette. It exudes gorgeousness and fantastical beauty. Definitely a stand-out in the beauty cupboard.

Here are the 5 duo-chrome pressed eye shadows, from the left: Incantation (metallic copper with fiery sparks), Lucky Charm (forest-green/firefly green shift), Love Potion #9 (purple and mint shift), Spellbound (white and gold shift) and Divination (slate blue and peacock shift). All of them pressed with the same fan/scale-like pattern of the tin. I find it hard to break-in these eye shadows because the pattern is just too lovely! 

Here are the swatches, under natural light. I did not use any primer with these swatches and they are dry. You can use these with a hint of water which will bring out the vibrance in the shades. Highly pigmented even without primer or water. The strength of the colour is totally up to you ;)

And here are the two amazing lipsticks in their cute purple packaging, love the fact that there is a holographic/shimmery unicorn on the tube too. This is not a sticker mind you, it is like imprint so it is difficult to remove. Although, I do hope they don’t fade with wear…I must find a safe place for these babies and look after them.

Here I’m wearing the shade poisonberry on my lips. One of my all time favourites! So pigmented and stays on for ages, reapplication is not necessary unless you are having food/drink. The perfect purple/pink shade which makes your lips appear toxic :p

And this is ONE magnificent colour that I have never come across before… ‘Serpentina’. As the name suggests, your lips will resemble the shininess of snake-skin or you will be rocking lips like Medusa but you won’t have the special ability to turn people into rocks ;) Notice the slight green shimmer? Isn’t it mesmerizing?

I hope you enjoyed reading my review, because I was so excited to present it to you as you can probably tell! I’m having a lot of fun experimenting looks with this range and other Lime Crime products. Ever since discovering Lime Crime over a year ago, I can’t help but share my praises for their cosmetics. Their products are 100% vegan and against animal testing.

They have inspired me not to treat beauty one-dimensionally or to follow what is ‘on trend’. But make up should be about what makes me feel comfortable in the way I express myself and to inspire artistry in the looks I create depending on my mood.

Have you tried the ‘Alchemy’ range from Lime Crime? What do you like most about these swatches? Please share your comments below.

Have a great weekend good lookin’ peeps ;)

E x

*These products were bought by me and this review has been written in accordance to this blog’s disclosure policy. 

What is Black Friday you ask? For those who live in the US they are very familiar with the term Black Friday as it is the day after Thanks Giving. It has become an unofficial holiday where retailers hold sales specifically for shoppers to get their Christmas shopping done. Rather than retailers being in the ‘red’ zone, they are actually turning a profit on this day and will fall within the ‘black’ zone.

For many of us, around the world the term ‘Black Friday’ is known as Friday 13th or an unlucky Friday. But these are all silly superstitions whether you believe it or not! And if ‘Black Friday’ is a labelled a SALE day for Americans, shouldn’t the rest of us take advantage of completing our Christmas shopping on time too? We can brave the sales online without having to put up with the rowdy, wild-eyed bargain hunters that have sharpened elbows and stompy boots. 

Please raise your hand if you are super organized for Christmas :)

Let the shopping begin! From makeup, to fashion, to stationary. Here are some Black Friday sales to check out:

Moleskine store - Free Postal Notebook with any orders! Use also the code: ship2012 to get free delivery.

That reminds me I have to get a calendar and diary for next year! I am such a stationary addict…and I love to be organised before the new year rings in.

Get more bang for your buck this Black Friday! :) Sales start today Thursday 22/11 and will end on Monday 26/11.

What will you be shopping for this Christmas?

E x

Sorry for the lack of posts everyone. I have been extra busy for the past week helping my parents set up their business. It has definitely been a steep learning curve and long tiring days where the brain has taken in so much that it has turned to mush…so please excuse my poor ability to form a coherent sentence as I write about my recent beauty buy :) 

Living in Western Australia you don’t become aware of the latest releases until you stumble upon something by accident when browsing on the web. And as for beauty products, I get my updates from fellow beauty blogger friends and the beauty directory. I can no longer find the time to go out to the department stores to ‘try before I buy’…so it is crucial that I depend on the opinion of others who also share my love of online shopping and product reviews!

Illamasqua is a cosmetic brand born in the UK and has made its mark known to the rest of the world as make up for your alter ego. The East Coast has Illamasqua products whereas the West Coast do not! It is about high time that they brought a counter for us beauty aficionados! 

I made my first Illamasqua purchase online, when the UK site was promoting free worldwide shipping and no minimum spend. I made a snap decision to purchase the ‘Lover’ blusher, which is a bright coral/apricot colour and the ‘Aurora’ gleam, which is a highlighter/illuminator for the face.

I have been searching high and low for the right apricot blusher, as I have only worn pinkish blushers in the past. This shade matches a lot of skin shades, especially those with a yellowish undertone.

The last highlighter I used was Benefit’s ‘High Beam’ and I loved how it gave my dull complexion a boost. It was an instant radiant, healthy glow that my skin look more youthful and alive! Since my bottle had run out I thought I would try something new…so ‘Aurora’ will be on my face this Summer.

Here are the swatches taken under natural light. I was amazed at how pigmented the blusher was, you only need a little to create a lot of colour. And the highlighter is simply gorgeous. I will be sure to glow like an ‘angel’ this Christmas :)

I have grown to love the Illamasqua brand in 2012 because of all the good things they have been striving for as a company to help out their consumers. They fought for lower pricing on beauty products supplied to Australia. The mark up on cosmetics is ridiculous! They were at the start of the movement and since their success of being able to provide lower prices, other companies have followed in their footsteps. 

Have you tried Illamasqua products before? What are your thoughts on them?

Have a happy Friday lovelies!!

E x

Who’s excited for Halloween? Do you celebrate this tradition? I am! And I do! It is one of the silliest moments of the year, where my family and I dress up, play games, eat sweets and decorate our home like a haunted house. It’s seeing the excitement in Sofia and Leo’s faces when they see Mummy and Daddy dressed up in costume that makes me celebrate it each year.

This Halloween, I will be showing you a few make up looks to try out. Hoping I can inspire you to dress up and let your inner child out to play :)

I was inspired by the ‘Day of the Dead’, this is closely celebrated with Halloween. It is a Mexican holiday that falls on the 1st & 2nd November. Originally an ancient Aztec festival dedicated the goddess Mictecacihuatl, it now coincides with the Catholic’s All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. People gather at cemeteries to honour those who have passed away and it is common to eat sugar skulls with family member’s names written across the top.

So I thought I would show you a make up look of the ‘Lady of the Dead’. Seeing as skulls are a popular fashion statement these days. I wonder if beauty and makeup will take the same step too. Or maybe this is something to savour for Halloween only?! What do you guys think :)

Warning, wearingthis makeup resulted in my kids running and hiding from me! But they were pretty excited to see Mummy all made up with a scary face. My kids are into ‘scary’ stuff and like the thrill of being scared. They don’t scare easily which is a great way of thickening their skin. Me NOT SO MUCH! And the Hubby’s reaction…he was very impressed at my artistry!

What did I use to create this look?

I used Lime Crime Styletto (matte black lipstick), and Lime Crime magic dusts (no longer available) -Siren, Circus girl, Mischief managed, Abracadabra magic dusts.

I used L’Oreal True Match Foundation in Light Ivory

And I drew my eyebrows with black pencil eyeliner. And I’m wearing false lashes, bought from Ebay.

Staring at this photo of myself gives me the goosebumps lol!

I didn’t want to remove the make up straight away, after all, I spent the last 30 minutes on it. I had a great idea to walk around the shops spooking the people there but then Hubby suggested I shouldn’t just in case I may get hit on by Goths.

Would you try this look? What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

Enjoy experimenting and having fun with your look this Halloween :)

E x

Want to read about what we got up to last year? - HALLOWEEN SEQUEL

You can shop for Lime Crime Make Up here:

I can’t believe there are only 15 days left till Halloween…and I’m not organised AT ALL. No idea what the kiddies are wearing…no idea what I’m wearing! For the past 2 years it has become quite the tradition in our household and I look forward to it  every year because it is when we get into costume, play games and eat yummy treats! It is fast becoming popular in Australia, but it wasn’t like that 10 years ago when this country didn’t want to become too ‘Americanized’. Now the globe is becoming so accepting of other cultural celebrations because of the use of the internet.

And to make it even more exciting, Lime Crime has launched their newest collection ‘Alchemy’ which includes a fantasy palette and 2 new lipsticks to coincide with the Halloween festivities.

A magical look created by Doe Deere for Lola Blanc

The colours for the newest range are amazingly pigmented and shimmery. The 2 lipshades - ‘Poisonberry’ is described as a berry-purple with a violet glow and ‘Serpentina’ is a emerald-green with a snake-like sheen! Don’t you just love those descriptions?

The Alchemy Collection - OUT NOW!

The Lime Crime Alchemy pressed eyeshadow palette, like other fantasy palettes before, have 5 different shades:

Incantation - metallic copper with fiery sparks (shimmer)

Lucky Charm - forest-green/firefly-green shift (shimmer)

Love Potion #9 - purple/mint shift (shimmer)

Spellbound - white/gold shift (shimmer)

Divination - slate blue/peacock shift (shimmer)

Swatches of the 5 pressed ‘duo chrome’ eye shadows (Which is your favourite?)

Unfortunately their ‘limited time only’ bundle released at launch has been SOLD OUT! They are offering two lipsticks, eye shadow palette and collector’s mook (magazine/book) for a special bundle price of USD$49.99! However you can still grab the lipsticks (USD$15.99) and palette (USD$34.99) on their own from the Lime Crime online store.

I will keep you guys updated if they decide to restock this collection. Because the offer is meant to run till the end of October. Let’s just say a little spell to get Lime Crime churning more of these beauties out!

Updated: Special collection is BACK IN STOCK! Get yours here

Lime Crime declared this collection on their Lime Crime’s Facebook page as one of their most successful launches! With a 1000 pieces sold in the first 24 hours! So don’t miss out your chance of owning this limited edition palette! You can be mixing up your own concoctions and creating your very own ‘spellbinding’ look too.

So what do you think of these colours? Wearable all year round or just for Halloween?

E x