NOTD and a Miracle Cure!

Hi there dear followers.

I have been a bit under the weather with a heavy cold so sorry for not posting sooner. Now I'm blogging instead of writing report cards - as you do. Don't worry, they will get done. I'm just switching gear in my brain by blogging for awhile. There is sure to be scientific research that supports this as a method of getting the most out of your brain - left and right hemispheres - correct? So now I feel justified (lol), I'll get to the topic.

I tried a bit of a shall we say alternative "french" look on my nails. First applied OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress to the top quarter and then dipped the very tips with Rimmel Deliciously Dark. Of course used a base coat and then a top coat. the top coat welds the colours together.

Then for the miracle cure. Sally Hansen's Miracle Cure is well named, in my opinion. I developed a ridge on my left thumb nail in the past 12 months. Didn't even really notice it at first because I've always had fairly flaky thumbnails. But in the past 4 months it started to really split down the centre of the nail from top to bed!!! Ouch.

Tried keeping it filed smooth so it wouldn't catch on things but finally needed something to weld the layers of nail together. Because, I can tell you, it would really hurt bad when I caught it and lifted the nail on everything I was touching. Finally came across Sally Hansen Miracle Cure and I can report that it is holding firm. Yeah!

This product is working to stop me being in pain. Now whether it will CURE the condition remains to be seen. Maybe this is uncurable? Any ideas? I promise I haven't worn acrylics or gels for about 5 years before it did this. I was looking after my nails pretty good I think.

Anyone else have a similar problem?

Winter Feet and Freebies

Hi everyone. This is a quick post about two topics.

First, wintering your feet. It is nearing the end of May and here in the part of Australia where I live, this means I get to wear actual shoes for awhile - until maybe September. Well, to work anyway. At home and to yoga and grocery shopping I'll still be donning my fave thongs. (See previous post)

So now is the time I will say byebye to pretty toenails. I am giving my toenails a holiday in order for them to be at their healthiest. The rest of the year they are constantly wearing polish and nail art on the big toe like this:

Haha, you must think I love taking photos of my feet!! I just realized I have posted photos of my feet not too long ago in my post about thongs. But feet are important too. I feel better about my appearance if my nails are neat - toes and fingers both!

So I will strip them of their pretty OPI Hawaiian Orchid polish and let them "breathe" for a couple of months over winter.

The second topic - freebies. I was heading through my local mall last Monday afternoon, going to Target and this lovely young girl came up to me and offered me a free shampoo and style blowdry so she could practice her blow drying techniques. Of course I said yes. An hour later and I was sporting some volume packed hair with bouncy curls. It's Wednesday now and my hair is still volumised! Deal I reckon. I left my number and said I'd be willing to be a model for blowdrying practice again in the future. Thanks Sublime Hair Salon!

Don't ya love freebies?

Oh, and I also continued on to Target (feeling my hair bouncing around my head and feeling very girly!!) and checked out the fantastic range of shoes there. Good one Target!

I didn't buy shoes, but came out with two pairs of skinny jeans... but that's a story for another post... See ya soon!

Sigma Brushes

Here I am! I hear everyone being busy with exams etc lately. Whether you are a student or a teacher, these times of the year are hectic. Either you are studying or you are marking (like me!).

I just wanted to do a quick post to update you with what else I have been doing apart from assessing students!

I ordered the Sigma Premium brush kit that is 15 brushes and comes in its own foldup bag. I am so looking forward to it arriving. I ordered it through Amazon.com who then get Sigma to send it to me. I don't know why, but I tend to online shop this way. Through Amazon.com. I have had successful purchases always with them and trust them. And they sell heaps more than just books. Living in the part of Australia that I do we don't have an extensive selection of goodies like in Northern America. That's why I read blogs and watch You Tube to stay in touch with what is going on in styling. And then I shop online.

The reviews of the Sigma brushes put them on a par with MAC Brushes. I collected my first MAC brush last year when I visited Canada. I have to go to a city centre here to purchase MAC brushes and they are expensive. So when I heard the reviews of the Sigma ones I got excited enough to want the whole set! Value for money gets me every time!

When I receive them I will do a post on them. I am no expert, but I have come to appreciate how much easier it is to get a nicer result with makeup when you use brushes.

Here is my current collection:

L to R: MAC187, MAC129, MAC252, MAC266, MAC217, manicare foundation, bellapierre mineral concealer brush (for around you nose etc), manicare eyeshadow, manicare pencil brush, random eyelash and brow, random lipstick brush (BTW 'random' is not a brand, these really are random - I don't know the brand but read 'cheap' ha)

Poor deprived me, huh. I really NEED the Sigma brush set.

What's more, I have a Revlon brush (showing my age and that I really AM a SeventiesGirl here) that my Mum bought me for my 18th Birthday 32 years ago!!! She gave me the Revlon Ultima II makeup kit. And the brush was part of that kit. At the time, it was cutting edge. When I remember back it was the PERFECT gift. Thanks again Mum!

Said brush is pictured here with my favourite perfume at the moment - kate moss. I wear this perfume day and night and spray it in my walk-in closet to make it smell sweet. I even wear it to bed. To me it smells like Lux beauty soap. Fresh and sweet.

So now, if you do a little maths, you know my true age!!! Shock!! But let me tell you right now, life is actually still as good if not better than it was all those years ago when I turned 18 and Mum gave me my first real makeup.

Because now there is MAC and I now have money... LOL... only kidding... a bit.... no - I really am that shallow. LOL. Still only kidding...

"Flip Flops"

As you might have guessed by now, I tend to "collect". The thing is, when you find something that you like, why not get multiples in all the colours you like? Makes sense to me!



So today's post is about another collection of mine. Over here in Australia we call them "thongs". In New Zealand I believe they are called "Jandals" (?? weird Kiwis teehee) In the USA I think maybe flip flops? But anyway you say it, these things are the ultimate global comfort footwear.

Our climate is so mild where I live that I wear these year-round, hence the need for so many.


They also come in various stylings, so that is fun too. (In fact, that is the funnest part!!)



Here is the first part of my collection - Havianas. I have black, metallic navy, white and hot pink. These are your basic thongs but squishy and comfy and long-wearing.



The next photo is of my slightly more fashionable thongs - Ipanemas by Gisele Bundchen. I have these in white, black and gold. These are like wearing thongs for the foot-feel, but look like a sandal because of the added strap across the toes. They have cool swirl and floral designs inside the sole and a little flower or diamante detail on one of the straps.



My next photo shows a few random designs that I wear .
Left to Right: GrendhaDay which are in dark brown. They are like the Ipanemas, but have a heel strap. They still feel like I'm wearing thongs.
The next pair are Billabongs in brown. I like these because they have skinny straps, which is a bit different to normal thongs - these are squishy soft too!
The pair on the right are special. I even wear these out at night (!!) They are thongs with a wedge. How cool are they and sooo comfy and easy. They are black and have a lacey floral design on the insole. They look great with jeans, shorts, skirts or dresses. They give a nice shape to my legs and still feel like I'm wearing thongs (which I basically am).


Here is another photo of the wedge thongs. They are grendha by Ivete Sangalo. Made in Brazil.

I hope this helps any of you who are looking for warmer weather footwear right now. Aren't there so many gorgeous shoe designs around?! Just this morning Denise and I found a little stall at the local mall while we were having our post-workout sushi and chai lattes. They were selling $20 mules and sandals which had lovely detailing - bows, hearts and buckles. I'm taking my hubby there for a chai later today (he doesn't know it yet!!) and will try some on now that I have my sweaty gym gear off. I will post if I buy any.
Enjoy the weekend!
PS - My toenails are wearing OPI 'Hawaiian Orchid' with a little frangipani painted on the big toenail.

Rimmel Lipsticks

Hi! Sorry I was MIA for a couple of days. Enjoyed a long weekend and then back to work and hadn't any time to post. But the whole time now I am thinking of things to write about and post on my blog. I am also learning about taking photos of things to post and the best ways to capture colours. Hopefully I will get better at this. Let's face it, I CAN only get better!



So on to the topic... I have to apologise to Rimmel. I have always thought of this cosmetics brand as cheap and nasty. Don't know why. Maybe a past bad experience. But I am glad I've given them another chance, because they have proven themselves to me with their Lasting Finish lipsticks range.






I had some time to stroll through Priceline after work the other day and tried their colours. I settled on Celeb, which is a flattering pink, not too chalky or frosty. The salesgirl couldn't find one apart from a new tester tube in the drawer and she gave it to me, as she had looked it up and it was discontinued. (Which I suppose is not useful as a recommendation, but I'm sure there are tubes of Celeb sitting in bargain bins somewhere now) - I was stoked to get freebie!!






Got it home and wore it with my pink and brown yoga outfit to teach my Thursday morning yoga class. The perfect subtle pink. When I got in my car to go home and checked out my lips, it was still on!!!! Not drying and caking on, but still moist and pretty. After 2 hours of instructing a yoga class!!


Please remember I had just taught a yoga class, so excuse the hair, nose shine etc. I also wear a very light made-up look for yoga because I think it is more appropriate.


So then I went back to Priceline and did some serious swatching to buy all the colours that suited me. They were $7.99 each (Australian) compared to $21.99 Revlon ones, which are fine, but I feel the Rimmel ones are even better colours. This Lasting Finish range lives up to its name and doesn't dry my lips out like the Revlon Colourstay ones. I feel like I'm wearing lipbalm rather than lipstick. It isn't often that I am so impressed with a lipstick. As you can tell from my ramblings and ravings, I am MOST impressed by these. Value for money, great colours and delivers on its promise.


Here are the ones I chose. They are (L to R):

Sugar Plum, Celeb (in its tester tube), Airy Fairy, Asia, Birthday Suit

All gorgeous, multi dimensional colours. The Sugar Plum is a frost, but the frost is not the usual silvery frost, it is mauvy. Very very nice.

Thankyou Rimmel, you are forgiven for whatever it was that you did or didn't do for me many years ago. I will be looking at some of your other products in the future.

NYX Eyeshadow Base Result

I put on the NYX eyeshadow base today. Waited for it to set like the MAC paintpots do and then be able to put on my eyeshadow. And waited... contoured my cheeks, checked, not set... waited... finally set the NYX base with some Almay matte translucent powder and then I was able to proceed.

Conclusion... yeah, good-oh, but still needs to be set with some powder.

Having a lovely relaxing long weekend. Went to the movies and saw Ironman 2 with my hubby. I love those superhero movies! Robert Downey Jr has DEFINITELY improved with age - not just his looks, but his acting and the roles he has taken in recent years.

Agree?

NYX Nail Polish

Along with the eyeshadow bases etc etc etc (hang head in shame) that I hauled out of the Groove shop at my local mall the other day, I bought all the non frosted cream type nail polishes they had. Except green. Wasn't sure about the green...

Anyway, I tried out the greyish one yesterday and the verdict is - love it!

I follow lollipop26writes blog and she had written about an Eyeko polish that she tried and it was like OPI You Don't Know Jacques. Well, this NYX one is in the same sooo-close-to-it colour range. It went on nicely with two coats and is thick, creamy and shiny. And no chipping by the end of the second day (today). It is called NYX "The Taupe".

I also bought a pink "Girly", lavender "Between Mauve and Purple" and an orange one called "Forever 1989". Congratulations on the names NYX designers! Better than numbers any time.

Here are some shots of how they look.

The Taupe is the one I am wearing.