WHY IS EVERYONE IN LOVE

I think for this one, the title certainly provides a pretty good idea about what this mini rant (preach) is going to be about. 

LOVE. 

And why everyone, EVERYONE, even the fucking guy that wrote the book about Vitamin D that I'm reading, is. And those people are always SO quick, OH SO QUICK, to vocalise the fact that they are blissfully, perpetually head over heels in love. 

I just want to clarify that I'm not jealous or malicious....I swear. 

The dedication of the vitamins book read: 

I dedicate this book to my best friend, colleague, and business partner for more than 37 years, my loving wife Sally who has always been supportive of my career and has been the absolute joy and love of my life. 

When I read the dedication, I had one of those moments where I envisioned exactly what it would have looked like had I been in a film. The close up of the words "love of my life". The camera continues to zoom until the texts fills the screens, becoming more pixilated and distorted as the camera enlarges each letter so that it is no lover recognisable. 

FUCK IT. IM READING ABOUT VITAMIN D WHY THE FUCK DO I NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A FUCKING AWESOME WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE CALLED SALLY AND THAT SHE IS A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS SO IS THUS IMPLIED TO BE SMART LIKE YOU ARGH. 

Okay..I feel better. But still. Stupid people in love. 

When life gives you lemons- line up the tequila slammers.

Anyone that knows me well knows that constantly, always, I am on the search for happy. Happiness. True bliss that emanates joy and laughter. I imagine happiness to be laughter and fun, a carefree state. With no anxiety. When asked what you want your life to be in 5, 10, 20 years- I've heard many say happy. Is happiness really a perpetual state that can you attain? Or is life forever destined to be somewhat of a roller coaster ride, something that has a mixture of ups and downs, sadness, happiness, binary extremes and all?

I think that the way to attain job and everything that you believe to be great may be a simple hybrid of appreciation and determination. When you appreciate the good in life, and additionally have a passion to get things you want or ensure that you are surrounded by what makes you happy, you may find yourself in a place where the good times out way the bad. People create the values of their lives. Others may make your life happy, but you are responsible for your own happiness.

Alex. xx

the future.

I always find myself writing on this blog at around 6pm on a Sunday night whilst I procrastinate my life away. It has been a few months since I last updated this blog...maybe I'll try for the once-a-month-ill-update-it-but-no-one-reads-it-lol-so-its-like-a-diary-blog-what-is-life theme?

Moving right along- tonight's discussion will be.....dun...dun...duuuunununununnnn, the future! everyone's favourite fucking topic. I have recently deferred my second semester of uni for 2013 to travel Europe with one of my best friends for three months. I have never been so excited/scared/nervous/i want to shit my pants in excitement and nerves, before in my life. Essentially, me deferring uni and travelling to 8 different countries in Western Europe has made me think about the future. What will happen when I get back? Will everything be the same, different? Good, bad?

To be utterly frank, I don't care.

There's something about Sunday night that really makes you want to kill yourself.

There's just something about sundays that makes you want to kill yourself.

There are various ways that one can elevate the pain that Sundays cause.

Watching a film. Doing something productive. Organising a desk? Files? Fuck it. There is literally nothing you can do to escape the wrath of Sundays.

I spent a lot of this weekend seeing friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. I had a really great weekend. However, I now find myself sitting in the heat at 5.30 pm on a Sunday. The mood says its 8pm but the light outside says its 3pm. It is SUCH a bizarre feeling. I feel obliged to get organised for tomorrow? Hazy memories from my childhood remind me of the importance of spending Sunday nights being organised and ready for school the next day.

wardrobe= provides clarity?

I bought a new wardrobe. Not a collection of clothes, I actually lashed out the money on a large, decent black wooden wardrobe. I bought it from one of those places that has everything already assembled (thank fuck, the fights and abusive my mum and I create when we undertake the role of assembling furniture makes me want to knife myself...), so no real work so required.

(Nb: not my ACTUAL wardrobe. I damn well wish.)

I should give you a bit of back story. About a year ago, my old wardrobe broke. I was too stingy/proud/lazy to actually get another one, so I bought a $13 clothes rack from K-Mart. That has been holding up my clothes for a year. And oh, has it been one painfully long year.
a) it didn't stand up right
b) it was on a slant due to the weight of the clothes and would CONSTANTLY fall down
c) it looked really...messy

With my new wardrobe delivered and a public holiday off work at my disposal, I cleaned, reorganised and rearranged my room. The results? I'm going to be overlly dramatic and say clarity. The feeling of attaining organisation, clean sheets and colour coordinated clothes made my soul implode from happiness. Thus, this sinario probes the question: how has an organised room, that is also clean I should add, enabled me to feel calm, organised and dare I say productive?

Aside from this rather elaborate narration of the delivery of my wardrobe- I have been quite busy lately. I started a new job, the people are fab! So lovely, I am really enjoying myself. I went to Melbourne's Big Day Out concert and saw my favourite band, Vampire Weekend play. I've never been a maaasssive band person, although I do enjoy a cheeky Melbourne Banger*, but Vampire Weekend is so deliciously witty with their lyrics that I just can't help but love them.

Aside from that, it's my birthday on Thursday. I am turning 19. I'm going to put this out here: I am having a mild existential crisis abut turning 19. It's the last year of my teenage years. Where has my life gone? Where is my life going? I know it's ridiculous with the likes of mother heaving up the slow and depressing hill of turning 60 around the corner (okay 3 years...), but I feel like I actually haven't DONE anything that I've always wanted to do or achieve. So, in light of this mild crisis I have been having for the last week, I have decided that this year, my year of 19, I am going to take every possible opportunity I can and make everything count.

new year

fuck. it's 2013. already. my god how did this happen???

I honestly forgot all about this blog. I thought that I would have had the capacity to at LEAST update this pile of shit once a month, but evidently not. 

I am setting a small task for myself. Write at least one post per month. It does not need to be important. And none necessarily needs to read it. 

im baaaaaaccccck!

I really want to start making more of an effort to blog! it's just hard when I have ZERO followers and I feel like I am talking to myself.

1] What's been going on? Basically I have started uni again for the second semester of my first year. Shocked that i've made it this far, woohoo! I'm a lit student, politics student who also does French, just in case you were wondering.

2] I got the American Apparel DiScO pAnTs! They are legitimately as good as they say. They are SO sliming and nice and hskfjhslkjfghalskjhfdlkfjhasdkf damn they are worth the money. The way I look at buying clothes is dividing the cost of the item per wear. I have worn these damn pants every day since I bought them (AUS$122) and feel like the money was WELL damn worth it. Currently am lusting after the navy ones (swoon).

3] I think I want to go on exchange with my uni. That or go to Paris for 6 weeks with one of my best friends during June of next year. I am so damn conflicted, don't know what the heck I want.

4] I have tried the MAYBELLINE Colour Tatoos: they are so amazing. My favourite, and most used, is tough as taupe which is HEAVENLY. HEAVEN! A post & swatches are coming soon!

books!

Being a literature student at university, I am forever encapsulated and contained by books. Here is a list of my current booklist, but reader's discretion is advised, I read a fuckload of books at the one time.

1- The Essential Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway. : This is a collection of some of his pieces. He is arguably my favourite writer, making me dream of 1920's Paris and the way and lives of writers and intellectuals of the time. Swooooon. Fiesta is a great piece of prose.

2- Stasiland, Anna Funder: FANTASTIC! Such an amazing book by an amazing writer. Really enjoying it at the minuet.

3- Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert: A classic.

4- Love in the time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A recommendation from my mother's partner. He is obsessed with the books and passed on to me. I've just began to read it and am quite engaged in the prose. Will keep you posted!

Also am starting Perfume: A story of Murder and the Corrections. So excited to read them! Maybe I should start a book journal?

the fault in our stars

this book has changed me.

I literally could not stop crying.

No more to be said, I do not want to spoil anything. John Green is phenomenal.

Jeffrey Campbell JC Tardy Boots in Black!

Every season, I allow myself for one, nice and well made piece. Last summer, it was my amazing Nordic Fusion clogs that I love love love and wore nearly everyday of summer. This season, for winter, I have decided on a pair of Jeffrey Campbell Tardy Boots. These retail from $195 to $225 depending where you shop, plus delivery. I found these beauties at urban outfitters, reduced to $150 and with free shipping. So happy. Cannot wait until they arrive! (Photo: Urban Outfitters Website)

Review: Garnier's BB Cream: Miracle Skin Perfecter

Garnier's MIRACLE SKIN PERFECTER: light

I am speechless. I think I have possible found a much cheaper alternative to my MAC FACE AND BODY (I did a review, search away!).

At $10, Garnier's BB Cream is serving me well. It a moisturiser with a tint, though does adapt the name "tinted moisturiser". So I am confused. 

I have fairly good skin, and I find find that this + any old concealer makes a great face, for days of running errands and working! I like to apply "proper" makeup for uni- don't know why. I enjoy it! It also has SPF15 which is so good! Love a bit of protection on the ol' face! lol I'm 18

Furthermore with the review! The product simply comes in three colours- LIGHT MEDIUM and DARK. For me, the light is perfect, but I am imagine that in-between skin tones may possibly have a hard trouble colour matching. A MAJOR FAULT IN THE PRODUCT!

At my local price line, testers were available, so this is a possible way to avoid disappointment by testing your skin first!

The actual product appears quite thick when first dispensed- but my gosh,it's so nice and sheer! Puuuurrrfect for someone seeking a sheer, easy, no maintenance quick face in the morning.

The product is also VERY glowey, which is delicious in my humble opion.

Overall a great product if you can find your colour, cheap and definitely worth the money. I think that one's enjoyment of the product will depend on the colour- it just so happens that the light suited me. I think I am kind of on the, dare I say, 'darker' side of pale HA, so that may be something to keep in mind!

new shoes + asos code!

Just thought i'd share my new pair of flatworms, creeper(ish) styled shoes that I have been searching for for ages and finally found and bought!

Picture Credit

They're the ASOS DINO Velvet Flatform Trainers. With free delivery from ASOS, a 10% discount code they were too good and cheap to pass up! I would say that the shoes run true to size, maybe even slightly slightly small. But the UK 8 fits me like a glove!

The flatform sole is noticeable swell, which is very pleasing.

The 10% ASOS code is BONUS10 at the checkout!

Make me laugh:

I hope that if you're having a shit day- this makes you giggle. Or even smile. I know I have.

lol.

FASHION: mixing metals.

the timeless dilemma, silver or gold jewellery. now is everything in between, blacks, rose gold.

to know what metals suit you best, compare metals by placing them next your face/body and seeing which one washes you out.

i say when mixing jewellery metals, do it tastefully. i think that someone can wear both sliver and gold rings, but don't go OTT.

Have fun with it. Layer. Go cray.

fashion reads for the bored fashion lover.

1) BELLA SUGAR is a hair, makeup, skincare and fashion site. It is oh so addictive on lazy sundays to pass hours on. Very simple how to's and beauty/fashion/hair DIY and secrets.

2) WHO WHAT WEAR DAILY is a celebrity fashion and trend site. great for looking at current fashion trend, looking up celebrities styles to emulate them. once again, very addictive. it is so easy to pass hours reading.

Top 5 MAC Lipsticks:

Okay.....top 5 (in my humble opinion) mac lipsticks.

1) Angel: I fucking love this colour. It is so delicious. Mine is absolutely destroyed and gross (melted in the heat, but heck, I still wear it anyway. Blue toned pink. Great for everyday. So easy to apply. With a bit of wear, it develops better with time. I feel like it also has a long lasting time.

2) Hue: A cult favourite, for a reason. I bought Angel first, and it's not that I don't love Angel, I LOVE ANGEL, but Hue is everything I wanted Angel to be when I bought it. I now wear the two for different things and love them the same. Hue is everything i've every wanted in a lipstick.

3) Russian Red: PERFECT best red. Blue toned (make teeth look whiter) and is just plain amazing. It is a matte finish.

4) Morange: An orange "amplified" lipstick. So bloody sick. Tends to run on the bottom lip BUT is okay if you line your bottom lip with a natural colour.

5) High Tea: It's a lustre sheer brownish neutral colour- so damn easy. Just like Hue and Angel, you don't even need a mirror to apply. My lips but better (ish).

YOUUU HOOOO another review: NARS Bronzing Powder Laguna ☮

NARS LAGUNA Bronzing Powder: ☮ 

- apologies about the absolute SHITE quality of the photos, done on my trusty iPhone!

Beautiful packaging GAH

Nar's LAGUNA lives up to the hype. It really is a luxurious, beautiful and pigmented product. 

The price for Australians (like fucking everything) IS OUTRAGEOUS, though through various other platforms (mainly the internet) you can definitely acquire it at a decent price. Mine was bought from the States. It's quite a matte powder, with VERY LITTLE SHIMMER which is both good (no one wants CRAZY glitter in bronzer) and flattering to have a small amount on YA cheeks.

It is a very pigmented product, though beware pale and lightened toned gals, too much product could give an orange-y effect.

Packaging is beautiful, as is every NARS product. I just can't help feeling luxurious when using it.

Swatch!

Also, i've put a swatch of the colour in!

- All photos are my own :)

rock it to the break of day

After spending a saturday afternoon reading through my favourite fashion blogs, I read a post from Gem Fatale, that inspired a new idea. She proposed trying a new style for each day of the week, that would consequently aid old clothes lost in clutter to emerge and thrive in ones current wardrobe. Tomorrow I will be trying to emulate a "rocker" look. dear god.

1) red OPI nail polish 2) Casio watch 3) Rock tee shirt dress 4) Spike eating cuff 5) Leather leggings 6) Black doc martens.

I'll make sure I post my first OOTD tomorrow! How exciting. Today I watched the film Vicky Christina Barcelona, a Woody Allen film. I really enjoyed it, the scenes of old Spain, the art. I think it's really inspired me to be a bit more creative (perhaps a bit more arty?), as sometimes I fall victim to a rut. Me and my best friend have decided to plan a trip to the UK and Europe for three months. Now, I am desperately searching for a job to start saving. Ahhhh I have always been so bad with money.

you don't want to be alone,

I am so money stricken! With so many things I currently want and no recent purchases, I have complied a list of things I am currently loving, fashion wise. Aside from these fashion items, in my time off I am loving late sleep ins, nights out of mischief with my friends, giant summer margaritas, painting my nails, local pubs, reading good books and watching great films! also, eating yummy foods such as great pizza, risotto and gill'd burgers.

1) Thrifted Denim Jacket from SAVERS ($10 so cheap!) 2) Black Doc Martens 3) Topshop skater dress 4) Silver Cross Earrings 5) NARS blush duo orgasm/lagoona.

summer diy: tie dye

tie dye is one of those things that I had always imagined would be incredibly hard. something that i would build up in my mind to be a success, and the subsequently fuck it up because i am uncapable to successful do DIY projects. so, whilst listen to the beatles- let it be, on my ipod, I will reguritate the process of my own experience with diy. spoiler alert: in the process I dye my hands hard purple. yay.

I really should have documented the entirety of the project. Unfortunately I only have the final product.





I purchased a packet of Dylon fabric dye, and use a dark purple colour. I filled a bucket with 6L of wwater, added 5 table spoon’s of salt and added the sachet. i then proceeded to tie hair-ties (i have no rubberbands!!) and tied them around evenly apart, in a messy manner. i left it in the bucket for a couple of hours, drained the bucket, and sprayed the bucket with clean water! i let the skirt soak for another hours and then repeated a rinse.

For this project I used a cheap, cotton white skirt. The beauty of tie dye is that you can basically use all the rags/crap from around the house. Next time, I may try and make head bands. Bonne chance mes enfants!