The Liebster Award! | Yay!

I wanna thank my mamma, my papa, my mate who listens to all my blog rambles, my boss for taking a chance on an unknown kid, and last but not least, the wonderful crew from McDonalds who spend hours making those egg McMuffins (if you got my reference, I LOVE YOU).

This is gonna be a fun post because the gorgeous Rebecca from RebeccaCoco nominated this lil blog for the Liebster award! Woo! This girl is stunning, don't forget to check out her blog :) I was chuffed to be nominated and am excited to nominate some other blogs that I love reading and checking out too.

So the jam with the Liebster Award is that you get to check out blogs with less than 200 followers to help 'em get recognised. If you've been nominated, please nominate 11 other bloggers for the award. 

Getting more official...
1. You must link back to the person that nominated you.
2. You must answer the 11 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee before you.
3. You must pick 11 bloggers to be nominated for the award with under 200 followers.
4. You must come up with 11 questions for you nominees to answer.
5. You must go to their blogs and notify your nominees.

Boring rules over, lets get down to the questions :D

1. Three favourite online shops? 
This is easy. For sure, most of my parcels come from ASOS (though the falling AUD makes me more nervous now!), eBay and iherb!

2. What was your first blog post about? 
Err.. I think it was an empties post! It's been drafted loong time now :P

3. Something that you learned recently? 
That some things take time to learn. It depends so much on who you are, where you are in your life, what you've experienced to properly take in something sometimes. The last lesson I learnt took me 3 years, I was finally in the right frame of mind and had experienced something to trigger that lesson.

4. What is your favourite season of the year? 
Even though I love Autumn colours, clothing, Spring just makes me happy. I always feel like it's a bit of a refresher in the year, probably because my birthday is in the Spring (in Oz that is!) as well. 

 5. Your biggest pet peeve? 
Uh oh, too many. But one current one is jokes about 'first world problems'. I don't know, sometimes it's done okay, others times it just annoys me.

 6. If you could travel anywhere is the world, where would you go?
I'm a little in love with London right now and am dying to go (more like move) there right now. One day I really want to travel around South America as well, the culture, the spirit, there's something about it.

 7. Bourbon or custard cream? 
Imma go with custard cream with this one!

8. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
First thought: ice cream. But I could get sick of that. 2nd though: chips. But I'll die quickly so I'm gonna go with bananas :D

 9. Do you have a nickname? 
Nope, *sad face*. Nothing ever caught on!

10. Do you sing in the shower? 
Nope. I stick my shower list on and dance to it though!

 11. A beauty product you could not live without?
Argan oil. Just. The. Best.

Blogs I nominate..
- Hannaxelle: gorgeous taste and her blog just seems really sweet. 
- May's Corner: May just started her blog as a space to share her thoughts, and she is such a good and authentic writer, jealous (:P). 
- Mayah and Sabrina's Call it Vanity: hilariously well written blog by two beauty lovin' girls who know their ingredients and green beauty well and share it in such a fun way.
- I have loved EcoChicBeautyDiva by Nicole for ages and appreciate her simple and honest posts about beauty products she's trying. 
- NeonMizzle: a new find of mine, love her edgy yet still simple taste with posts about fashion, beauty and decor. 
- TreesMushroom needs to post more: I love her photos and how put together her posts are.
- ReservedforRuby: beautiful blog, with lovely pictures, posts and layout.
- Julie's Collective Beauty: a beauty hub with so many gorgeous products and well written, detailed reviews, advice and recommendations. 
- AnnaBlush: One of my fave blogs from Oz,  such well put together, thoughtful posts and photos. 
- Every Word Handwritten: If I could swap blog names with anyone (let's face it, 'between the end and the start' is quite a mouthful!) it would be Rosie's. Her blog is a personal one but is wonderfully varied and a fun read. 
- SamanthaDawn: I was in awe of  after reading her childbirth story (to twins!); she writes so openly and honestly, my two favourite qualities.

The Questions!
1. Describe your favourite colour with as much detail as possible.
2. Finish this sentence: When I was 12, I was in love with...
3. Beauty or Fashion, pick!
4. What are your favourite kinds of blog posts to write?
5. Current Favourite Song/Album?
6. Mac or PC?
7. What's on your nails right now?
8. If you lived in Middle Earth, would you be a hobbit, elf, dwarf or wizard?
9. What do you think is over-rated right now?
10. Favourite book you could read time and time again.

That's quite a long post, I'm outta here!
x, mai-anne

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New In: A Notebook Haul

As my URL suggests, I love me a notebook. I love wondering through stationary stores but my budgety side has always gotten the better of me so I usually just stick to the ol' uninspiring exercise books.  A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to properly get organised all the parts of my life but in a fun and inspiring way.

So there went a few weeks of scouring all the online shops and making lists of notebooks to get, ironic, eh? After spending too much time lusting, I decided to take the plunge and buy them all in one go (very unlike me) and without a discount code (what?!).  I had a mini spree at Typo, their latest offerings were right up my street.

This very happy customer came home with four notebook buys and an excited grin on her face. The haul? Two a4 spiral books and another 2 A5-ish sized ones. The a4 books for my music doodlings: one guitar book since I just started proper guitar lessons and the other is for planning. The purple a5 geometric number is for blogging and general notes. I love that the colour scheme is similar to my blog layout. I had my eye on this one since my list making week and when I saw it I had that cheesy moment of, this is me. The mini cloud notebook is for my scribbles for my uni project, it's little size is perfect for quick scribbles.

A notebook for each major part of my life, now I really feel like I'm paddling each of these ships forward. Now I just gotta keep them up..!

x, mai-anne

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The Week That Was #18: baby steps

I am at the start of my last semester of my 'masters' (I use the quotation marks because it makes me sound more qualified than I actually am, ha!) and got a little jittery because it hit me how big my undertaking is going to be for my project due at the end of the semester. But baby steps, baby steps.. I'm going put everything I've got into it because it means so much to me. Now, onto some favourites and discoveries this week...

Lyric: "I stood for nothing/so I fell for everything", Katy Perry, Roar

I know, I know cheesy pop song but my doggy ears perked up when I heard that line. It just summed up so many things in my life, and answers my insecurities. Time to turn them around and give them better meanings.

Hobby: writing and reading blogs

I know, um, duh.  But I started doing this with music in the background and it was like my two loves at once. Whenever I listen to music, I feel like myself, but for the last few years, for many and confusing reasons I stopped. I didn't realise how much of me was missing until a few months ago when we reconciled. Life is so much better now *happy face*. Now added during blogging time, bliss.

Song: 'Not Even the King', Alicia Keys

Love this girl and this new album has some absolute gems. Was just milling around today when the first lines of the songs caught me. 'Some people so poor; all that they've got is money'. I'm always on a budget and am always thinking about the future, since a creative girl isn't necessarily destined for riches. But that line made me remember how little money matters. I made a pact with myself a long time I wasn't going to live for it, and insecurities have clouded this promise. This was a beautiful reminder, love this song.

Moment: Wednesday

Oh, just one of those days that starts like crap, and then somehow just suddenly turn around and things fall into place. Sometimes all you need is just patience. :)

Now I'm off to relax.. wild saturday night :P

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ASOS Wishlist #1

I love a bit of ASOS, who doesn't! I usually wait till there's a 20% off deal but since there are so many things I'm currently lemming I'm tempted to make a few purchases soon.. :D

I'm loving some of the bag choices they have up on their site: the white, floral body bag just looks gorgeous for easy summer days, whilst the black Monki number is a cute all-rounder for day and night. I love the felt backpack and am thinking of picking it up for my last semester at uni!

I'm not usually a dress person, but a few cute ones have popped onto my radar, and nothing like a chunky black boots to err, man it up. The berry Glamourous dress is such a gorgeous colour and the Only polka dot dress is just plain adorable. I'm lovin' the dungarees comeback and the black Asos playsuit looks so easy to wear, and the denim pinafore dress is boyishly cute.  When it comes to clothes, if there's anything I'll probably never tire of, that is plaid shirts (or plaid anything, if I'm being real!). This one by Whitepepper is such a sophisticated version though way out of my price range *cries*.

On the jewellery front, I've realised that I have a thang for watches.  I actually have another 3 on my actual Asos wishlist, but to list them all would be a tad overkill (right!?). This one by River Island looks so unique with the jewel stone face, and I love a good man-style watch.  I'm itching to start wearing earrings again, and these Orelia star earrings are beautiful. I've been on the hunt for some midi rings and haven't found anything to really catch my fancy, so in the meantime my eyes are on these cute, dainty heart rings, kyoote...

What's on your Asos wishlist right now? C'mon, fess up!

x, mai-anne

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The Week That Was #17: So it took me a.. YEAR?!

So this ain't the 17th week of the year, *grins*. After a few, confused months I didn't know if I wanted this segment on the blog, but I'm glad to say (without any awkward sob stories) that yes! It is here to stay, even if no one is reading (I don't blame you, haha).  

Movie: Almost Famous

I just watched this a few hours ago and I love it. The Gen Y in me did mean that I was doing other things while I had it on but it definitely got me and I'm definitely going to watch it again. Not sure why I waited 13 years after its initial release to finally watch it, but it's a gorgous movie, with beautiful characters and set in a 'period' which is always one of my favourite types of movies since I love history. It's not as serious a film that initially imagined it to be, but it is thoughtful and on the light-hearted side of things which made it all the more enjoyable. 

Blog Posts

These are from the last few weeks as I've bookmarked a few knowing that I was going to start my TWTW posts again. 

Miranda Kerr, Into the Gloss: This coincided with my Natural Standards Tag. Definitely feelin' where Miranda is at when it comes to health and indulgence, and finding a balance. I love that she's aware of ingredients but isn't about being strict, and admire her for being honest about not saying "always" or "never", because we are imperfect beings. 

FashionRocksMySocks Asos Preview: Gawd I love Asos. While A/W is almost over here, it's my favourite season to dress and so I always find the looks gorgeous.  I love how Rhiannon put the video and pictures together and just love her aesthetic and its expression in general.

BloominBeautyBlog and Essiebutton's peachy and coral posts have got me in the mood for the coming warm Oz months. I love, love, love warm blushes - can't wait!

Moment

My Bar Broadway gig on Thursday - fricken hilarious and the first time I felt like I performed to the wave of the audience. It had been a long time since I felt the buzz of performing and this gig has got me excited again.

My Blog

I've had my blog for awhile now, and while it's just a little fish in the huge ocean, I love having one. I can't even remember when I actually started it because I started, restarted, then started again. I couldn't decide if it was a beauty blog, a personal one, and this see-saw'ed pretty much for the past year (and each time I was convinced that I got it, ha!) so yes, it took me a year to figure out what I wanted to do with it!. Am I that fickle? I actually think it's just the process of figuring yourself out. For me, I feel like a chicken that just hatched and ran excitedly everywhere and this blog reflected that. This week, it clicked. Finally! In short, it's a smorgasboard of things I love, thoughts, an inspiration board and a place to express myself. This blog is one of the triggers that made me realise that at the core, I am a creative person. Yup, I'm a chicken that just hatched.. whoopee!

x mai-anne

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For the next 5 years...

After seeing a video by Allisonvlogs who mentioned it, I hurriedly bought this little 5 year Q+A book. I love how it's an easy way to say something everyday, sometimes meaningful, sometimes just fun.  Everyday counts, and that's something I really want to learn and instil inside myself. 

I'm not gonna lie, I've forgotten to do it sometimes but writing this post has got me excited again. Discipline is key! And that's something I also need to learn and really admire about Allison, how disciplined she is as a person.

So here we go again! I think I might restart it tonight (I've only done like 2 pages anyway :P).

x mai-anne

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zooey deschanel

 I love Zooey Deschanel, who doesn't?! She's such a cool free spirit and you just get that she lives by her own beliefs and standards. One of my favourite things about her is that she's one of those rare creatures that isn't defined by her age and you just don't think about it when you think of them. When people are so unique, who they are and what they represent are so much more important than their age or when they achieved something.  Love how free-spirited and ageless she is.

And that's how I want to be. Just myself and free. 

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Just Say Yes (to.. carrots) | Essentials Kit Overview

For a little overnight treat, I purchased the Yes to Carrots Essential Kit when it went on sale on Asos. This is one of the first more natural brands I ever tried and so I have a little soft spot for it. The kit comes in a slim case with a mesh cover which makes it convenient to take for travel and practical as you can see the products easily. The Carrots range targets dry skin and hence why I was all over it..

My favourite of the bunch is by far the Nourishing Super Rich Body Butter, which is funny as I was afraid of this one the most. The idea of smelling like a carrot isn't something I long for but alas this doesn't make me smell like a vegetable - it has a nice neutral fragrant, not a salad-like one. The butter is quite thick but it is easy to spread and very moisturising, all the qualities I look for in a body cream *yippee*. Don't be deceived by the packaging though, there looks like there's more than there actually is in this kit!

The Hydrating Shower Gel is also another little hit, it lathers well and is quite hydrating for a gel texture. Again no salad smell here either (or for any of the products actually!). The C Me Smile Lip Butter is a little great extra, it has a nice texture and glides on easily but doesn't provide as much of a boost compared to other similar products.

The miss of the pack is the C a Softer You Hand and Elbow Moisturizing Cream. Yeah it feels and smells nice but 5 minutes later my hands feel just as dry as they did before application, so it doesn't quite live up to its name. It's in my daily carry bag for a bit of a hydration boost when needed but really just to finish it off.

This is a great little set if you're curious about the brand or like me wanted a pack-it-for-me option for travelling. The ingredients lists of Yes To are nice but aren't the most natural I've seen, but it's definitely an easy option as they're widely available and affordable (even in Oz, ha!). This set is available at feelunique. 

x mai-anne

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Colours Ahoy! The Sleek Sweet Cheeks Trio

 This was on my wishlist awhile ago and needless to say, I cracked.  This was the first Sleek palette that ever caught my eye and with its friendly pricetag (US pricing for us Aussies, win!) and surprisingly cheap shipping, I was seriously worried it would sell out! It is still available here on the website so yay for anyone still lemming after it.

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Patience is a Virtue: Horse Chestnut for Spider Veins

Things are about to get wild, I'm going to talk about horse chestnut cream. In my defence, I tried to get those pictures as pretty as my amateur skills could muster - but now this muddy lookin' cream looks like a choc thickshake.. win?! Anyhow, steering back on topic, this tub has been a quiet little worker on my spider veins and I have good things to report!

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The Natural Make-Up Staples

When it comes to make-up, my feet are in both the green and the mainstream beauty world. But I've found that the more regular I use a product, the more likely I'd want to go "natural" with it. This may not be the greatest logic, but it's one I'm going with at this stage of my make-up life (work with me people!).

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Make Me Over! the MECCA Beauty Election Lesson Experience

A few weeks ago I went to my first "make-over" at Mecca Cosmetica, what is probably my favourite beauty hangout. And I came home quite happy - surprise! Often these department-esque makeovers are bad news, with the likely possibility of coming home with a new face but luckily I have good words to share about my experience and I highly recommend the one at Mecca!

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My Favourite People: Green People (Review)

Ever since I tried a sample of their Vitamin Fix 24 Hour Cream, Green People have been on my radar. I finished that bottle awhile ago now and it's still my favourite day cream to date. Since then, I've gone on to try some of their other products and have been quite impressed by this affordable, green and often fair-trade brand.

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june faves: winter lovin'

While this post is 9 days into the not-so-new month, in my defence the pictures were taken on the 1st ;) This month saw some fun new discoveries with some amazing skin saviours for my once neglected skin.

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The Overnight Beauty Bag!

I have a hens night tomorrow (really? it's that time already!?) and one of the things that is exciting me the most is the packing side, sad. Edits and makeup bag picks are amongst my favourite posts to read and so here are my picks for the girls' night out shenanigans..

First up is the makeup and many of the choices are geared towards plans for a smokey eye, a solid night out choice. I'm undecided as to whether I'm going towards neutral dark browns or cool tones so I'm bringing both the MUA Undressed palette and a MAC quad with satin taupe, smut, carbon and omega for blending out the edges. I'm loving the Undressed palette more than I thought I would and am so tempted to get the real deal, which is of course, the UD Naked Palette. To accompany the shadows I've really grown to love the UD Glide on Pencil in Perversion which clings onto the waterline rather well, and of course a mascara is essential and I'm taking a new bird, the Modelco Fibre LashXtend (a GWP with this month's Instyle magazine, run!). While it is not dramatic, it does not smudge (win) and gives soft, defined lashes though more testing required to give a proper verdict. Keeping everything else neutral I'm taking MAC Gingerly Blush which just goes with everything, and my trusty staples the JK Dewy Glow, Everyday Minerals shadow in My Place for the brows and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation, a fool-proof foundation choice.

Taking a downsized version of my usual skincare routine, I'm just going to take some essentials as I'm trying to be realistic (and to not scare my friends with my real skincare routine, ha!). To take the makeup off I'm still going to take my jojoba oil as I just trust it more than a wipe, and some cotton bud tips to help remove the eye makeup residue. Taking off the makeup is the most important thing so I'm also going to take the Alba Coconut Milk wash for a second clean for the morning wash. For moisture I'm entrusting the Cupcake Organics Day Cream which is thick enough to do double duty for night and day. Samples are a godsend and so coming along are Balance Me's Eye Wonder Cream and the Radiance Oil. Not sure if I'll use the latter but you know, just in case. Of course there is the next day to think of and an SPF is needed, and so the Green People SPF 25 Face Lotion is hopping along for the ride.

And that's it! Ha!

What do you usually take with you overnight? :)

x, mai-anne

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TWTW #16 - New Discoveries

There's nothing to photograph this week but this is one of my new favourites on tumblr that I'd thought I'd share. Now, onto some new favourites I've discovered in the past week. Branching out methinks...

Blog

This is quite an established blog but earlier in the week I really dug into Love of Cloth (cute blog name too). I love Kim's simple, slightly quirky style and that she seems to really love each piece she wears. I'm usually not as much about the individual pieces as the piecing of pieces but Kim's blog has somehow made me appreciate the individual garments side of things more and in a non- consumeristic sort of way.

Beauty

Later in the week I was very inspired by We We Raised By Wolves and had quite a dig there too. What inspired me was how varied her beauty blog was with products ranging from mainstream to green products, high and low end, but done in a friendly, fun and informative manner. I've felt a weird need to over-justify myself in my head (and possibly in this blog) as my feet are both in the green and mainstream beauty world, but Evelyn's blog showed me that there is no need for that and you can enjoy both without feeling guilty or restricted and I am grateful. I feel like I've found my track now and am so excited to keep going on it!

Music

I've followed her for years but I really enjoyed Marie Digby's newest cover of Zedd's Clarity. I'm not going to lie, I don't know the original song but I really liked the arrangement Marie (and possibly another contributor) put together.  I've also found a new favourite song which is Gabrielle Aplin's Salvation, I just love that chorus.. my my.

TV/Movie

The Jane Austen obsession continues and I've fallen in love with the 2007 movie version of Persuasion. The story is a little darker and more sad than her other stories but there is a real thoughtfulness about it that I really appreciate. Definitely very keen to read this book now. 

Looking forward to a fresh new week tomorrow! :)

picture from: http://lovee-xox.tumblr.com/post/52223201122

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The Search (Continues?): Eye Primers

How exciting, an eye primer collection. This blog just gets better and better. Haha, sarcasm aside, I have indeed been on a hunt for an eye primer that can keep shadows on my eyes for a day's wear (8 hours, just 8 hours please). My eyes aren't oily, they're actually on the dry side, but its their hoodedness that causes shadows to crease very easily. This is even more evident on my right eye which is the more hooded of the pair and shadows just wiggle around more so there. So as quite an eyeshadow lover, I've been on the serious hunt for something that just works, sans parabens, red cosdna.com ingredients  and now also cruelty free (slightly more "rules" as I want to stick to it daily). Here is my current journey, thus far..   

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Playing Chemist: Mixing Bases

As a bit of a foundation lover, I've managed to rack up a few in my stash with some nods and some no-nos. After many trials and errors I've realised that having an odd assortment can mean tailoring your base to your needs that day, with the added bonus of getting more mileage out of something that is tempting to toss. Step in the current four I'm rotating and here is the mood board of base blends I'm loving..

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(A Broke Girl's) Beauty Wishlist

Oh boy, that's a lot of wishing! It always seems like when you're tight with money, you just want everything and when things are okay, nothing looks appealing. Unfortunately I'm at the former stage - it seems like the universe has put all the bills and expenses into June and July so here I am.. making a wishlist, not a shopping list!

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inspiration walls

I'm slightly obsessed with inspiration lately, can you tell? I think it's the "late bloomer" in me, I want to explore so many things and all at once!

The first is a board of clippings, photos and other bits and bobs that are a bit more personal. I layered a pretty fabric over a corkboard so that it would have a nice start as it still has plenty of room for more pins. The second is a picture I bought off urban outfitters - I love that saying and reminds me that life is just that, an adventure, not just a goal. The third is just my calendar/plans/goals to keep me on track as most of my work is done solo/at home. And the last is a collection of my favourite pictures from the internet to inspire the creative girl inside me (and to aim to take good photos!). I'm not sure about the legalities on this one to be honest but I'm not selling them or claiming them as mine so hopefully it's okay. Most were found from pinterest and tumblr etc :) One of my favourite things about doing things like these is that it helps to start to hone your aesthetic but also free it at the same time, somehow.

I'm starting to love the space I live and work in, ahhh...

x, mai-anne

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Oils on Rotation

Wowser, that's a lot of oils. But as dry skinned girl, oils are a must (I also recommend it for the oiler skinned too!).  They will save you from flakes and balance your skin if you naturally produce oils already. They are multi-functional products that can be used with other products or on their own, but this post is just about facial skincare.  My biggest tip if you layer you skincare like me, apply oils last to trap in the moisture from the previous layers, especially since most products are water-based. 

Now, going from lightest to heaviest, here is a tour of my favourite oil discoveries so far..

Rosehip Oil

A fad oil indeed but deservedly so. This number has helped brighten up my skin as dry skin can look a little dull. It is also the one I recommend to try first if you're hesitant about oils as it's the lightest of the bunch and will suit many skin types. I've got some of my mates on this one with good reports back, so lots of points there. Where it loses points is hydration for those with dry skin, but will definitely be enough for the normal and above.

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil

This was the first fancy oil I've ever tried, it's a concoction of many oils including almond, kukui and good ol' rosehip thrown in there too. The texture is similar to the Acure Argan Oil and so the hydration levels have been revved up. This isn't a favourite but I thought I would mention it in here in case you're wondering how it stands up to the others. Why it doesn't stack up might have to do with its price - at £30 a pop it is a bit too pricey and doesn't outperform it's more inexpensive sisters. I do recommend you get a trial like I did, you might still like it.

Acure Argan Oil

Oh, my first love. This will always be in my stash because it's the first skincare product that really changed my skin and I've repurchased it numerous times. I've raved about it before but in short, it's a hydration hero that will deliver pre-pubescent skin (weeell, one can hope!). It's got a thick texture which I love, and I'm a stickler to the one by Acure because they are a fair trade, organic brand and this bebe is around the $12 mark (!). Lots of skin types have reported good news on this so go on, give it a go!

Essential Care Superfruit Concentrate

Now this little oil concoction is well, gorgeous. I was about to buy this at full price at £33 but on a super lucky day, I found it for half price and it was the last one! But lemme tell you, I would be prepared to spend the full price amount on this, because it's good (I actually forgot that I didn't until I just looked it up then). It's not quite as thick as argan oil, but it is dense. It just feels like it's packed with lots of skin goodies. It's so good that sometimes it's the lone product I slap on my face and I still wake up with soft skin. I initially thought this was a serum but it's really an oil so I definitely recommend to use this as a last step. A bonus is that it smells nice too, which adds to the luxe feel of this product. My one gripe is the packaging, this really should be in a dropper bottle, no matter what I do the product leaks and hence why it ain't looking pretty in the picture.

Sophyto Super Skin Concentrate

Now this, is the big daddy of the bunch (even though I got the little guy version). No more mucking around guys, this is the most moisturising blend of oils I've ever tried and it's worth it. I can't even..

Its the densest of all the oils mention with the same thickness as the argan oil and I highly, highly recommend this for the dry-very dry skintypes. I only have a small vial of this so I only use it once a week after I exfoliate to get the maximum benefits out of it. If you're afraid of the price tag, mybeautyemporium sells the mini for £13 which is a good chance to test it out (they also often have discounts too). A definite repurchase is on the cards next winter.

Writing this post is getting me excited to take of my makeup and splash on some oils. Love..

Have you tried any of these or have any other recommendations? 

x mai-anne

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TWTW #14 - Figuring it Out

Every time I think I'm starting to figure myself out, something hits and I'm lost again. Tis the path of life I guess, and I don't think I'm ready to be "sorted" anyhow (though if you ask me, I really would have wanted to be in Gryffindor and would've begged the hat to get me out of Hufflepuff! :P ).

Beauty

The Makeup Area (a sneak peek!)

Ahh, I de-cluttered and simplified my on the table stash and I'm lovin' it. Too many products out and I feel guilty and overwhelmed. I started feeling like I had too much makeup (damn youtube) after talking to a friend who is just starting to get into it, but it honestly is one of my loves and I put a lot of thought into what I buy. Self-justification...

Music

Mariah Carey + Miguel - Beautiful / Lana Del Rey - Young & Beautiful

Oops, didn't realise how similar these titles are but both songs are gorgeous. I just love the production on MC's new song and it's been awhile since I've loved a new song of hers. She was my absolute idol in my young in' years and I'm not ashamed to admit that anymore. I'm not a huge fan of LDR but a piano student of mine showed me this song and it's got me. I initially couldn't take her seriously since I saw that video on SNL but there is something so unique yet authentic about her voice that I love in this song. 

(Home / ) Inspiration

My little room is starting to feel sorted, with of course space to grow. I moved some bits around and have found a little corner to be able to store things for fashion inspiration. Now I'm not a big Harper's Bazaar reader, I'm not a high fashion girl at all, but I'm definitely looking forward to collecting magazines to help me 'hone my style' so to speak, and above all, to be inspired. I don't like the word fashion, but clothing is definitely another creative outlet for me so I'm glad to have found this spot to well, stir that pot..

Hope you've had a lovely week!

love, mai-anne

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Topshoppin' [Haul]

Some new pieces I found in the Topshop sale, one of the benefits of living in the opposite pond :P But boy, I didn't realise how pink everything was until now! O_o

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TWTW #13: Be Yourself

Nawww how sweet. Hehe, in all seriousness, I've had a soul-searching past few weeks and this month has been about getting my sh*t together. At home, uni, life etc so I'm sorry for ally my "deep and meaningful" posts, it'll get more fun soon :P

Beauty
Wayne Goss Eyelash Tutorial

Lord I've got stick straight mamas hanging off my lids. I've also got thick hair so my lashes are the same and they don't have too bad a length on them but this combination means that most mascaras drag them down almost instantly. I decided on a whim to find some answers on youtube and Wayne Goss (you beaut) answered me. This technique works. *fist pump* Now I just have to find a better mascara that doesn't flake on me. On the other hand, doing this without mascara does keep my lashes curled all day so it's good for those lazy days. 

Music.

Microsoft Zune, 30gb

Yup, I spent $55 on "old" 2006 technology. What?! I missed having my home travelling with me - I've gone from a walkman, to a discman, creative zen, an ipod classic to just an iphone and it wasn't cutting it.  So I decided to get a fat mp3 player to bring it back and I love it, makes me feel whole again. It was actually hard finding something like this. You would think old technology like would be easy to find and be cheap, but most devices are such multi-taskers that simple devices are hard to find (without a hefty price tag). It don't look pretty but I like that - makes me worry less about scratches and an extra device means that I can always have my headphones wrapped around them. Lazy bones..

Find / Book

Blog Inc by Joy Cho

I've been itching to get my hands on this book and I'm so glad I got the physical copy and one for my kindle. I've loved having a blog and even though it's a small fish I know I need to have it in my life. But I've really struggled with direction since I've been in such a strange place in my life. I'm only in the beginning chapters but it's really got me thinking in ways I didn't expect. I think everyone would benefit from this book, with or without a blog, as there are some really interesting points and stories that Joy shares. It's really helped me find my feet with myself and blogging.

Lesson

Well the titles does say it all. We're always making steps and leaps at becoming ourselves and I was reminded again this week, thanks to Joy Cho's book. It is so important to do things that we believe in and fight for it, in whatever situation, big or small. I'm a very happy duckling at the moment, feeling settled and determined, a cool combo.

There isn't much in this week's post as I'm in the midst of a uni paper and assessments, which may explain the more introspective posts these TWTW can turn into.. how have you been fairing? :)

x, mai-anne

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New in: Home Decor ft. Daiso!

I've been a bit of a home decor monster lately, painstakingly perusing numerous websites to spruce up my living space. My home is my base, and I really want it to reflect and inspire me. 

The other day I found out about Daiso and that a few had opened in Sydney! Daiso is dubbed the "100 yen" store in Japan, as everything inside is 100 yen. 100 yen is roughly $1 in Australia, but of course, being Australia, it has been marked up to $2.80 (more thoughts on this later..). So yesterday I trekked up to Chatswood Daiso before uni, and Ikea afterwards and these were the items I scored..

At Daiso, I picked up some cute little fruit plates and a heart one which I thought would be adorable as tealight holders. I also was curious about the eyelash curler since $2.80 was a very bargainous price. Don't recommend these. I tried them today an they do feel very cheap and rather than curling my lashes, they bent them 90 degree up! It didn't even help my lashes stay curled after mascara. I didn't go for much more since at $2.80, some things felt like a rip off and are more expensive than our normal dollar stores. The range was nice and I think if you're looking for utensils and what not it's a possible option but at that price point it doesn't really invoke a shopping spree as I imagine it would in Japan or the States where the price is $1.50. I think it should have been priced at $2 or $2.20 for the Australian market, I would be happy with that price.

I also had a quick look around at Ikea. I ended up with the kvarna table lamp for $8 which wasn't too bad (is it like 45 cents in the states though? lol) and the infamous white pot plant holder. I really didn't plan on that one but when I saw the small potted plant inside the white one, I thought it was too cute a combo to miss.

(can't wait to keep decorating this little spot..) 

I also threw in some bunting in the pictures as I ordered them off ebay recently. Am currently trying to make work in my room, it's not working...

So there it is, more things I've been picking up! I'm on a bit of a roll, there probably is more coming..

Do you have any home places you like shopping at? Do share! :)

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