Looking Back At The Year That Was...

I know that everyone says this all the time, but my oh my 2013 really did just fly by didn't it? As I sit here, reflecting on the year, I am once again reminded that perspective is an incredible thing. This year was my first year out of high school, so with that came many changes and new things to have to adapt to. I started my first year of University, which was scary as anything, but I survived; and even managed to make a few new friends along the way. The first 6 months of this year were still quite up and down. My anxiety was getting worse, and I was feeling less in control of my life. I stopped going to church and my faith was on the rocks. I didn't really have that many close friends and it just felt like things were falling apart and I felt quite alone. 

In June or July I began attending a connect group at my church and started to make some more friends. The girls whom I met were absolutely lovely and from then on things began to get a lot better. I was trying my best to say yes to more things, to not let anxiety control my life, and to find the beauty that was buried within myself. And I did. 

This whole year has been filled with changes. And if you know me, you know I don't really handle change all that well. This year though, I had no choice. However, looking back over this year I see that God has really taught me how to adapt to change, and that it isn't always as scary as I might think. He reminded me that he is always holding my hand, and doesn't plan on letting go. Change can quite often be a good thing, and this year taught me that. 

As I am feeling all nostalgic over this year coming to a close, I am reflecting on the year as a whole and am seeing that it has been a year of foundations. In every single area of my life I have spent the year building strong foundations for things to come. I truly believe that 2014 will be a year that sees great things happen in my life, and great things that will build upon the foundations that are already there. And that makes me excited. 

2013 saw many ups and downs, but less tears than last year, and that is something worth celebrating. I began my YouTube channel, which while it is still a baby, was a massive step in a positive direction for me, and I hope that in 2014 it begins to really flourish. My blog became so healthy, and I am so proud at how far I have come. Even though I may not have a whole lot of followers, that isn't what it is about, and I am so grateful for each and everyone of you reading this post. It actually means the world to me. I grew in confidence in my ability to take great photographs, as I would take photos of my brother's soccer games each week, and they turned out brilliantly. 

I won't babble on for too much longer, I just want to say thank you. A massive thank you to anyone who has watched my videos, read my posts, left a lovely comment, shared it with their friends. I hope that 2014 will bring great opportunities for my blog to expand even more, and that I will hopefully continue to inspire you in some way. I've included a few photos below from throughout the year, so do enjoy those. Happy new year, and here's to a fantastic 2014! I love you. 

When my friend Lizzie and I went to visit Ellie who lives down the coast. 

Colour Conference 2013 with some beautiful friends of mine.

A dress up party with some friends from school.

VIVID light show with my brother.

Some of my beautiful new friends whom I met this year.

And some more...

My forever bestie, Meghan, and my dog.

Two of my dear friends from school.

This years Instagram collage of the best bits of 2013.

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Monday Stuff #3

Today I was really in the mood to blog but didn't really have any specific post in mind, so I thought I would do another 'Stuff' post. If you aren't really sure what I mean when I say a 'stuff' post, you can go and have a look at the first one I did here to get the gist of things. 

Today is just a regular Monday, and I'm not going out or anything so these products are just body care and skincare related. Never fear though, there will be some more makeup posts coming in the near future. I'm also going to take this opportunity to mention my YouTube channel (you can go and subscribe here if you would like to), because I will soon be filming and uploading an empties video as well as my 2013 beauty favourites - exciting stuff! 

Natio Acne Clear Day Daily Repair Oil Free Moisturiser 

This is a recent purchase of mine, and I haven't been using it for long enough to give a proper review, but so far so good. It doesn't have the most pleasant smell, but if it works that is something I am willing to overlook. 

Natio Acne Clear Night Repair Moisture Treatment

Essentially, this is the night time treatment of the product above. Once again, this was a recent purchase, but once I have been using these for a while I will definitely write up a review on here for you guys to see. So I shall keep you posted on these two!

Dirty Works Glow Girl Buttery Salt Scrub

Oh my, this scrub is so perfect and lovely. It makes my skin feel so soft, moisturised, nourished, but also gently exfoliated and smooth. It also smells so incredible. I know that this will be a product that I continue to repurchase. 

Spa Mystique Body Butter in 'Berries'

This is yet another incredible smelling product. It smells so sweet and lovely and just pretty. It is quite thick, how a body butter should be, and leaves my skin feeling soft and smelling lovely. I only have about two uses left of this and it makes me incredibly sad because I do not know where to buy this from! If you do happen to know, be sure to tell me. 

Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid

These Lanolips products have become such an obsession in the beauty bloggers world, and I finally jumped on board the bandwagon and bought one. I opted for the lemon one as I'm quite funny with how lip products smell and taste, but I am obsessed with lemon scented things so I knew this one would be a winner. So far I am obsessed because it smells absolutely incredible and leaves my lips feeling like actual lips, but softer. It's great!

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Christmas Day Makeup & Outfit

Merry Christmas beautiful readers of mine. I hope that you all have magical days today, wherever in the world you may be. Remember to always share love, joy and peace with others. May the holiday spirit and cheer fill you and be with you all year round. I thought I would show you guys the makeup and outfit I had for today. I do apologise that the lighting is a bit poopy - it has been raining all day long! Nevertheless, I got my brother to snap a few photos for me to show you guys. Love you all, and hope you had a fabulous day with friends and family. 

Face of the day:

Foundation - Rimmel Wake Me Up in 103 'true ivory'

Concealer - Maybelline Fit Me in 10 'light'

Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte in 'transparent'

Blush - Essence Silky Touch in 'adorable'

Highlight - Sleek Face Contour Kit in 'light'

Eyes - Stila eyeshadow in 'bliss', Mary Kay fluid eye colour in 'spring leaf', Stila stay all day waterproof liquid eyeliner in 'intense black', and Maybelline the colossal volume express Cat Eyes

Lipstick - Rimmel Kate Moss in 107

Outfit of the day:

Top - plain black tee from Kmart

Skirt - metallic gold skirt from Glassons

Nails:

Essie Scarlett O'Hara 

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Christmas Reds

Christmas is literally just around the corner, so I thought I would do a little festive inspired beauty post while I still can. This post is sort of like a mini version of a video I made for my YouTube channel (which can be seen here, and don't forget to subscribe while you're there) which is all about red lips for Christmas. I am a huge lover of red lips all year round, but I feel like at Christmas they really add that extra little something you sometimes need. I have tried to include a little variety of shades of red, brands, and finish of the lip product as well. 

Bottom-Top: Colour Theory 'Siren', Kate Moss Rimmel '107', Baby Lips 'Berry Crush', Bourjois Colour Boost 'Red Sunrise'

Colour Theory Lipstick in 'Siren'

This is such a lovely lipstick, and is a bargain for only $6! The finish is matte and really beautiful. As you can see in the swatch above, the colour payoff is incredibly pigmented and is quite smooth to apply. I think this is the perfect red for Christmas time if you want something not too bright and not too dark. 

Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in '107'

This is such a cliché bloggers lipstick, but I don't even care. Everything about this lipstick is so beautiful. It is really pigmented, lasts a decent amount of time, doesn't move all over your face and has a velvet matte finish. It's a little bit more on the dark and vampy side, but why not go a bit darker for the festive season? 

Maybelline Baby Lips in 'Berry Crush'

This lip product is nice if you don't want anything too heavy or pigmented on your lips, but still want a nice sheen of colour. These are reasonably noticeable on the lips without being too much. Perfect for if you don't want to wear a lot of makeup or want lovely red lips but don't want to go all out with lipstick. Plus they smell delicious and act as a lip balm as well! 

Bourjois Colour Boost Lipstick in 'Red Sunrise'

This is my favourite chubby lipstick variety because the colour is beautiful, it feels really hydrating on my lips, the wear time is long, and it's just an all round great product. This is probably my most-worn red because it is so versatile and easy to use and wear, and can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. With it's beautiful glossy finish it's an absolute beauty staple, especially around Christmas. 

Don't forget to leave some comments below of what your Christmas reds are, or if there are any posts you would like me to do in the future. 

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Friday Stuff #2

I'm back with another 'stuff' post, and it will feature some of the products that I'm going to be using throughout the day. If you haven't seen my previous stuff post you can go and have a read of it here to see what it is all about. Today is an exceptionally hot day with temperatures hitting above 40 degrees celsius (gross!), so my beauty regime is quite simple and relaxing because it's too hot to do anything too exciting. 

Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh

This is a lovely body lotion that isn't too thick and isn't too watery, being just perfect for those hot summer days. Obviously you still need to moisturise in the summer, so I always find myself using this one a lot because it smells so fresh and isn't too heavy and gross on my skin, but still provides the moisture I need. Plus it has SPF 15 which is good for everyday sun protection. 

Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Mud Mask

This smells so fresh and citrusy, and is great for nights when my skin needs a detox from the heat of the day. It revitalises my skin and leaves me feeling fresh and clean and cleansed. It also helps to brighten the face and provide energy back into your skin, while keeping everything balanced. I like using this all year round, but especially during the hotter months. 

Frankie Magazine

The latest issue of Frankie hit stands last week, and today I managed to grab a copy so have spent the day reading through it and taking in its goodness. I think the cover is absolutely gorgeous, and this issue is larger than normal and also has some greeting cards, patterned envelopes, and a 2014 wall planner inside. As I have spent today relaxing, this has been perfect. 

Pantene Light Detangling Spray

I was on the hunt for a new detangling spray as mine had run out and noticed this was on sale so decided to give it a go. I don't normally buy anything from Pantene, but this product intrigued me because it was a leave in conditioner as well as being a detangler. So far I really like it, and plan to use it again tonight after my shower. It detangles and leaves my hair feeling lovely and soft, without being too heavy. It's perfect for these hot days when you don't want to fuss too much. 

Sleek Blush in 'Rose Gold'

As I was doing my makeup this morning I was looking through my blushes and my love for this one was reignited. It's such a pretty pinky, peachy, golden colour and looks lovely at this time of year. It's a one swipe and you're good to go product that instantly perks up your complexion and makes you look lovely. I have a feeling this will become my go-to blush once again. 

What are some products you'll be using today or have been loving using recently? 

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Thoughts On: Bellabox (December Box)

At the end of last month I wrote a blogpost on the November Bellabox (can be read here, and mentioned that if I was not happy with my December box I would be cancelling my subscription. My December Bellabox arrived at my doorstep this morning so I thought I would share it with you guys today. 

My expectations for this box were really high as I had seen a few sneak peaks, and sadly the items that I was lusting over were not included in my box, which was quite disappointing. However, this would have to be my favourite box so far because I feel like I will use these products more than the products featured in my previous boxes. So I will stick around till next month and hope they hit the target with my next box.

I do have to say that I am impressed that they have begun to improve on their packaging, though mine still isn't the finished box, hopefully next month it will be!

Aurora Spa Rituals Vanilla & Honey Lip Moisturiser (full size) - RRP $25.00

To see that this was a full sized product worth $25 made me very happy. I'm a sucker for a lip balm of any sort so hopefully this one will be good.

Nuxe Nirvanesque Cream (sample size) - RRP $49.95

This seems to be aimed at more aged skin, so sadly I don't think I will be getting much use out of this one!

Avene Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate (sample size) - RRP $38.95

This product is meant to help soothe redness, so I think I'll give it a go and see how it works at helping my slight bit of redness that I have on my chin and neck.

Romy Eucalyptus & Lemongrass Body Lotion (sample size) - RRP $29.99

This lotion smells so fresh and lovely and I am quite excited to use this! It's a cute, decent sized sample, and I have a feeling I may possibly end up purchasing the full size if it leaves my skin feeling soft and nourished. 

Mary Kay Fluid Eye Colour in 'Spring Leaf' (full size) - RRP $20.00

This is a golden green colour and is not normally something I would gravitate towards, but I will definitely be trying it out over the Christmas season and am excited to see how it goes.

Eslor Sample Pack 

This little pack contains samples of 4 different products. It has a Comforting Mask, Replenishing Scrub, Soothing Cream, and Soothing Refiner and Cleanser. I may possibly give these a go, but they'll most likely just sit there in my drawer if I'm being honest.

Bonus: Mor Essentials Hand Cream in 'Neroli Clementine' (sample size) - RRP $14.95

Another thing I'm a sucker for is hand creams, so I'll definitely give this a go and see what it's like. It looks like it will smell incredible!

Gift: Bellabox Tote Bag - RRP $19.95

I definitely would not pay $20 for this bag, but as I love tote bags, I was happy to see it included as an extra gift in my box this month. 

In comparison to the other products that were also included in other people's boxes, I do feel as though I missed out on the good products, but I am still reasonably happy with the contents of my box this month. 

Will you be checking out Bellabox and subscribing?

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Wednesday Stuff #1

I thought I would begin a little series on here called the 'Stuff' series. Basically, every week or every fortnight, depending on life and products I'm using, I'm going to share with you some of the things I have been using that day or that week. Some of you may read Estee's blog (you can check it out here) and will be familiar with a post she frequently writes called 'Sunday Stuff'. My little 'Stuff' series is based off those posts of hers. The reason that mine isn't called Sunday Stuff is because I didn't want to limit it to a particular day, I wanted to be able to write it any day of the week, depending on what products I'm using. Plus, Estee's usually focuses around the theme of pampering, while mine will be more just the things that I've enjoyed using. Hopefully that made sense! Without further babbling, here is my stuff for today.

Essie Nail Polish in 'Bikini So Teeny'

I am quite a fan of Essie nail polishes, and I am slowly starting to build up a little collection of them. This is the one that I decided to wear for the moment and I absolutely love it. It's lovely for the summer time, but could really be worn all year round. The little bit of shimmer adds that extra something, without being too over the top and glittery. 

Dirty Works Supreme Cream Body Butter

If any of you watched my latest video on YouTube (you can see it here), you will know what I have really been loving the Dirty Works Glow Girl buttery salt scrub. This body butter has the same scent as that scrub, so I am basically in love. It has shea butter and sweet almond oil in it and feels so lovely and pampering on my skin. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask

Even though I have been using this every week for the past 4 months, this has been a particular favourite and must-have of mine lately as my skin has been breaking out quite badly - I think because of a product I've been using. This mask has helped to calm and soothe my skin, and just cool it down. It isn't a miracle worker, but does feel lovely and helps my skin out. 

Nivea Lip Butter in 'Raspberry Rose'

I spent forever searching for this lip butter, and was overjoyed when I finally found it in Big W last week, incase you were also looking for it. This smells so good and makes my lips feel really soft and nourished. I have been particularly using this before bed, and when I wake up the next day my lips feel so hydrated and healthy. Plus, can we please just talk about how cute the packaging is? 

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Christmas Room Decoration Inspiration

Tree from Kmart, decorations from Kmart, candy canes from Coles

Handmade decoration

Pillowcase from Kmart

Toffees are Thorntons from Kmart, chocolates are a mixture from Coles and Aldi, candles both from Aldi

Tea light holder and tea lights from Kmart

Teddy bear from Coles 

This is just a little Christmas themed post to show you some of the decorations I have put in my room to really get into the festive spirit. I plan to continue to add more once some of my favourite YouTubers upload decoration tutorials. Hopefully this will inspire some of you guys when it comes to decorating your own bedrooms for the Christmas time. This time of year is my absolute favourite and I would do anything to be living in England right now. I love everything about Christmas and I definitely go all out, because why not? 

Also, expect some more Christmas themed posts and hopefully some videos soon too. Happy holidays! 

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Thoughts On: Bellabox (November Box)

Today's post is going to be a little thoughts and review style post on Bellabox. For those of you who may be unaware, Bellabox is a monthly beauty box that is delivered straight to your door for only $15 (including postage). You get to try out 5+ beauty items that will range from skincare, haircare, makeup or accessories. The box that arrived just the other day, the November box, will be my second box. So far I'm feeling a little bit 'meh' about it, as I had higher expectations after seeing the GlossyBox which is quite popular in the UK. Oh how I wish they would bring GlossyBox back here! I'm going to wait and see what the December box is like, and if I'm not impressed, I will most likely be cancelling my subscription until they improve. 

This months theme was 'Refreshing Beauty', and was all about refreshing different parts of your beauty regime in time for summer. Before I get into the actual products that were included in my box, I would like to briefly comment on the packaging it came in. After seeing Tanya Burr's recent blogpost which features a Bellabox (you can read it here) I had really high expectations about how my box was going to look. Upon arrival, I was utterly disappointed as mine was just a flimsy cardboard pillow. The colour scheme of it is nice, but the quality was a bit of a let down compared to Tanya's. I'm not quite sure why ours were so different. I'm thinking perhaps her box was the new packaging they're beginning to use, while mine was the old one? 

So, onto the products that were included in my box this month. I had five products, two being full sized, and also a bonus sachet sample product. I was quite pleased to see two full-sized products this month, as it made the $15 worth it. 

1. Bellabox Pout Pencil in 'Ruby Tuesday' - RRP $14.99

The quality of this is not too bad. It seems a little more on the cheap side but is nicely pigmented and creamy. The packaging of this is what really lets it down, it just feels so cheap and tacky. This retails for $14.99 and considering the Bourjois Colour Boost lipsticks are only $15 as well, I would definitely opt for the Bourjois ones instead. 

2. Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Makeup Corrector Pen - RRP $11.99

I haven't used this yet, but I can sense that I will be getting a lot of use out of it when it comes to perfecting my winged eyeliner. I'm a big fan of Simple so I was excited to see that this was full-sized.

3. Indio SOS Gel - RRP $72 (50mL)

This gel helps to reduce redness and cool and soothe the skin, particularly sensitive skin. I haven't used this yet, and probably won't for a while, but it is a decent sized sample (10mL). Though it's a pretty hefty price tag, and I can't ever see myself spending that much on something like this.

4. ASAP Sheer Tint Moisturiser - RRP $45 (75mL)

I'm excited to try this out because who doesn't love a good tinted moisturiser, but once again it's a price tag that's not in my budget, so I can't see myself buying the full sized product anytime soon. 

5. Naked Tan Creme de la Creme - RRP $27.50 (150mL)

To be honest, I'm not much of a fake tan girl, so I wasn't particularly over the moon to see this, but I may give it a go at some stage because why not? I am pleased that it's a decent sized sample (30mL), but then again for a fake tan I don't know how much of my body I will able to cover with this stuff. 

Bonus! Caron Laboratories Bump Eraiser Medi Paste - RRP $16.99 (30mL)

This will probably just get shoved to the back of my draw until it perhaps one day comes in handy. As well as a $5 iSubscribe gift card. 

Bellabox Pout Pencil in 'Ruby Tuesday'

Fingers crossed I am wowed by next month's box, because there haven't been any major standout products from the last two boxes I have received. However, you may be overjoyed with the contents of this box and want to sign up immediately. If so, pop on over to their website here and browse around and sign up. Let me know in the comments what you think of Bellabox, or if you know of any beauty boxes that are better.

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