I'm in England!!!

Dearest of apologies because it has been far too long since I last updated my blog! Major oops. The most exciting thing is that I'm now in England!! I kept blabbing about it since I bought my tickets in May, and I'm in England as I write this post to you right now. I'm going to do my best to update this as often as possible while I'm here, mainly so that I'm able to look back on it in years to come. Instagram is another platform of mine that I've been regularly updating, so I encourage you to go and have a browse (you can do so here). 

So I'll keep this post short and sweet, but I've been in England for almost 2 weeks now! Which means I only have 5 weeks left - boo. However I'm doing my best to make the most of the time I've got here. I've done a bit of exploring around the Norwich area (where I'm staying for the 2 months), and I've also been to Cambridge - which I absolutely adored! I've got a trip to London booked for this coming week which I'm super excited about too. 

The whole point of this trip was to get a real feel for the place, and live it more like a local rather than a tourist. So far I think it's going pretty well. I've tried to incorporate a mix of the two and I'm enjoying things so far. I think my favourite bit is just how Christmassy and pretty and chilly it is here. So much more so than Australia, but that's mainly because it's summer back home. I'm well excited for experiencing my first cold, English Christmas, and I really hope this isn't the last time that I experience this either! 

If you know of anything particular that I should do while I'm here, let me know in the comments! 

Much love, S. 

(Below are just some lovely pictures for you to enjoy. The top one is my friends cat, then me being happy with the Christmas tree, and my friend and I after enjoying a yummy afternoon tea.)

The Countdown is On!

Sooooo I leave for England in 48 days! How crazy. I apologise that I haven't been doing much blogging at all this year, I really need to try and get out of the rut that I've been in this whole time. Today I'm doing another brief update style of post in order to try and get back into the swing on blogging again, and from here on I'll try to make the posts more regular - and more interesting! I have been uploading some videos on my YouTube channel though, so you can go and check that out here! 

The countdown is well and truly on for my departure and I can't contain my excitement. While there are some things that make me sad and I know that I'll miss home while I'm gone, I'm so overwhelmed with all the great and exciting reasons for going that I can't stay sad or worried for long. My dream of visiting England is finally coming true. I'll try not to babble on about this for too long, because that's what I talked about in my last post. 

Something that I want to quickly touch on in this post is that I've been in such a spiritual rut lately. My faith had lost its fire and love and pure excitement for a few months and it was incredibly difficult to get it back. However, last week things finally changed for the better. I met up with and had lunch with one of my beautiful friends and she answered my questions and stilled my worries and concerns and just reassured me that everything I was feeling was completely normal. She spoke life into me and encouraged me and inspired me with her story and it was so refreshing and much-needed for my soul! After that I came home and discovered the incredible Gabriel Conte and Jess Bauer on YouTube and my life is now so much better because of it. I was so desperate for a good Christian couple to be encouraged and inspired by - and then I found Gabe and Jess. They have been such an answer to my prayers and I wish I had discovered them sooner. 

So I say all of that to say that things are better. They're more hopeful and happy and I'm overjoyed about all that is to come. I'll keep todays little post short and sweet, so that's pretty much all that I have to say. I also just want to encourage you that beautiful things are coming your way, and happiness is all around. I know that sometimes it's hard to feel hopeful, but try not to give up along the way to greatness. 

Love, S.

Image: Tumblr 

Bit of a Rambly Update...

It has been quite some time since I have last written a chatty update type of post so I thought it was about time that I did! For starters, I hope that you've been doing well! Feel free to give me a little update on your life in the comments below - I'd love to hear. As for me, life has been pretty up and down these past few months but I feel like it's beginning to level out again which is refreshing. I've had my fair share of down days, and they still come around every now and then, but I'm trying my best to focus on the positive things rather than immediately jumping to the negative. It's a hard journey, but one that I'm focused on doing. 

Soooo for those of you who may not know, I'm going to England at the end of the year! Yay!! This has been my dream for about 8 years and now it is finally a reality. My flights are booked and everything. Today I also hit my money saving target to take with me - and I don't leave for another 4 months which means I still have another 4 months of saving ahead of me. I'm so pleased with myself though because I honestly wasn't sure if I'd be able to save enough - but I did! Now I can stop being so stressed and just carry on saving, now that I know I'll have more than enough. I still need to sort my passport out though, but I'll do that with my next pay check in a few weeks time. 

As for the going to England part, I'm equally stressed as I am excited. I've never travelled this far on my own before so I'm not entirely sure what to expect. The closer I get to it the more excited I get though, so that's definitely a good thing. I read an article a few days ago that talked about how our bodies see anxiousness and excitement as the same (something to do with the way our brains recognise them, it's the same to our bodies, they can't actually tell the difference). What that means is that anytime you feel anxious about something, you tell yourself that you're excited instead and it should hopefully ease your anxious thoughts and your body will just think it's excitement. I've been trying to do this, and it's difficult, but I think it's beginning to work. As I'm such an introverted scardey-cat this is a big deal for me, and one that I need to constantly overcome in order to actually get on the plane. If you have any tips and tricks for overcoming anxiety about flying on planes or living in a different country, do let me know! (P.S. the article I was talking about above can be read here)

So I'll be staying with one of my friends and her family for the 7 weeks that I'm in England, and I hope to explore as much of the UK and Europe as I can whilst I'm over there (which means I need to save as much as I can in order to do so). I'm just excited to do something different and exciting with my life for once, as I'm always so safe and reserved and well, boring, to be honest. I don't know exactly what to expect, but I know that it's going to change me for the better, it's going to push me out of my comfort zone into unfamiliar waters where anything can happen - and I'm actually really excited about that! 

Everything else in my life right now is still pretty much the same. Just working and reading and doing a bit of baking here and there. I actually just spent the last few days watching Stranger Things on Netflix and oh my word you need to watch it!! It was SO good that I'm honestly considering watching it again because I just loved it so much. Everything about it was great - the storyline, the acting, the editing, the music, absolutely everything! It's only 8 episodes long and you'll fly through them because they're so good. 

I also bought some new skincare products this week from a brand called Go-To (you can have a look at the range here) which was founded by Zoe Foster Blake - aka the beauty genius of Australian magazines. So far, so good, but I'll update you once I've actually used them for a few weeks. I was using some bits from Goodness (and I wrote a little blogspot about them, which you can read here if you like), but I wasn't totally satisfied after using it for a few months, so decided to try something new instead. Plus the Go-To products are in pretty peachy packaging and they smell like sherbet and make your skin so soft, so I feel like I could be onto something good here, but I'll know for sure in about a month. 

I should probably stop rambling now, kudos to you if you've actually read all of this, it's much appreciated. I'll just leave you with a few inspiring and encouraging quotes I have come across this week:

"It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to, has power over you."

"There is literally nothing in nature that blooms all year long, so do not expect yourself to do so."

I've found these to be helpful, especially when I'm not feeling all that great. Our minds are so powerful, and we need to be extra careful about what information we're feeding into them. Are you feeding it something nutritious or something that's plain junk? Be careful. It's also helpful to be reminded that we shouldn't expect ourselves to be 100% productive the whole time. It's just not possible. I'm definitely not in a 'blooming' season at the moment, but that is okay. My time will come and it will be beautiful. I'm trying to see this time right now as the planting and growth period, where I'm really focusing on planting deeper roots and having healthy soil - metaphorically speaking, of course. Once they're healthy, I'll bloom. It's just the way it works. 

That's it from me now! I hope your day is beautiful and you can find wondrous parts that fill you with euphoric joy. Even if it's something as small as sitting in a sunshine spot, making yourself a nice cup of tea, slathering yourself in gorgeously scented body lotion, etc. It's the smallest of things that make the biggest difference in the end. Lots of little things that equal something bigger, so make those little things a daily priority. 

Love, S.

Image: Tumblr

Lust Have It: June Box

I'll be honest and say that this months Lust Have It box wasn't one of my favourites. I hate to start this on a less than positive note, but honesty is so important here, and it doesn't do either of us any good if I'm pretending to love something that I don't. 

As always I was eagerly awaiting the new months LHI delivery, but unfortunately this one didn't wow me like some boxes in the past have. As I've mentioned before, this just happens sometimes. Occasionally you get a box that doesn't quite match up with your needs, and that is totally okay! It's all worth it when you receive the box that blows you away with excitement. However, I'm sure there are so many people who loved the items they received in their boxes, and I know that companies can't please everybody all the time. But onto the items...

What was in the box...

1. Edgy Tempting Cosmetics Eyeliner Pen in 05 Grey Blue, $15 (full size)
2. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes, 7 wipes sample, full size $12.99 (sample size)
3. Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub, 15mL sample, full size 125mL for $12.99 (sample size)
4. Sasy n Savy Peppermint & Rosemary Revive Bath & Shower Gel, 30mL sample, full size 250mL for $35 (sample size)
5. Paula's Choice Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum (this was a mystery sample size so I don't have any other information sorry!)

The standouts for me...

The standouts would have to be the two skincare items from Neutrogena. I'm going to be traveling towards the end of the year so I'll hold onto the wipes to take with me on the plane - as they just make everything easier! The scrub is also something that I have heard good things about in the past, but never got around to trying, so I'm excited to finally give it a go. The shower gel is also something I'll be able to use because I'm starting to run low on mine. I have a feeling this will be better used in the morning though because the peppermint is perfect for waking your body up as it's so fragrant and refreshing. As for the other things, I might hold onto them and see if any of my friends are interested in giving them a go, because I'm not too sure if I'll personally get much use out of them. 

I hope you still enjoyed this little review/unboxing post and it didn't come across as too negative or anything. Believe me, I love receiving these boxes each month, but they are a lucky dip and sometimes it's not as exciting as the month before. Something that is exciting though it that my promo code now gives you $10 off your first box (instead of just $5, which is what it used to be) - YAY! So that means your first box will be half price, how good is that?! Just enter the code SAMINDIGO1 when you checkout for the discount to apply - and you can buy your own box HERE! 

Goodness Skincare

Goodness me I love Goodness skincare! So, a little back story...I was on the hunt for some new skincare products, a new cleanser and morning moisturiser to be precise. The ones I was using at the time just weren't all that great and weren't doing anything for my skin. But I didn't want to have to spend loads of money on new products, but I also didn't want to waste my money on cheaper products that just weren't very good. Do you see my potential dilemma? So I spotted these products on Woolworth's website (so random, I know), and was immediately drawn in by their cute and simple pastel packaging. I did a quick search of them online to briefly read some reviews and everyone was writing really positive things, so I thought I'd give them a go - plus they were 30% off, so perfect timing! 

Can I just take a quick moment to say that these products are so good! I almost want to say that they're amazing, but I don't know if that's going too far...but they kind of are! For starters, the range is so affordable. I'll go into each product specifically in a little bit, but nothing is over $20. What's even better is that they are filled with great ingredients and are good for the environment too. They are a new brand that originate from New Zealand and are kind of along the same lines of brands such as Sukin and Antipodes. They don't test their products on animals, their packaging is all recyclable and the products are biodegradable. They also don't put any nasties in their products - so no parabens, petrochemicals, PEGs, sulfates, silicons or harsh surfactants. Meaning it's good for you and good for the environment! Plus they have chia seed oil running through all of their products - which is high in omega 3 and omega 6 (both of which our bodies don't naturally produce) and has them in the perfect ratio to each other. 

At the moment they have 5 products, and I currently own 3 of them, and I plan to pick up the other two at some point as well. To give you a quick debrief of my skin it's oily/combination and prone to breaking out. I have some left over scarring and larger pores too. It can get quite dehydrated in the winter, but still oily at the same time - it's very frustrating! 

I'll start with quickly chatting about the Every Day Cream Cleanser. As I have oily skin I was a little scared this product could go horribly wrong for me, but I love it! It cleans my skin really well without ever making it feel dry or flaky. It removes my excess makeup and works just as well in the morning as it does at night. It does kind of smell like grass, which takes some getting used to, but it's a lovely feeling product to use so I don't mind. 

Next is the Every Morning Moisturiser which is so so so good!! This one has a different scent, a little bit more on the floral/fruity side, which is really nice. It's hydrating without leaving my skin feeling greasy. It is so nice under makeup and keeps my skin happy all day. Finding a good moisturiser has been such a struggle for years, but I think I've finally found the one! If you've got extremely dry skin you might find this isn't hydrating enough for you, but if your skin is like mine then I highly encourage you to check this one out. 

Lastly, the Every Week Face Scrub which isn't like your typical harsh face scrubs. This has a milky consistency and the powdered pumice is so fine that it won't aggravate your skin. It's so nourishing, which isn't what you usually expect from a scrub, and feels so nice to use. If you're after some hard core exfoliation, this one isn't for you, but if you're after something a little more gentle then this is perfect. 

You can currently find the brand in Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, and selected Woolworths stores. The products range from $12.99-$19.99 and there is also an Every Evening Cream and Organic Chia Seed Oil which I have yet to purchase. I have nothing but good things to say about these products and I'm so pleased that I took a leap of faith and bought them. What a great decision that was!

Lust Have It: May Box

Another month, another great Lust Have It box! Sometimes these boxes can be a bit hit and miss for me, as you would expect with these sorts of things, but it's another month where the box has been a hit. Now onto the good stuff that was inside...

What was in the box...

1. Teeez Cosmetics Spectrum of Stars eyeshadow in Sea Glare, $29 (full size)

2. PHR Recovery Leave-In Moisturiser, 15mL sample, full size 125mL for $35.95 (sample size)

3. Lollipops Baume Grenadine, $7.45 (full size)

4. Starlooks Luxe Longwear eyeliner pen, $20 (full size)

5. Urban Skin Co. Infuse Body Balm (this was a mystery sample size so I don't have any other information on it sorry!)

6. Razza Matazz Perfectly Matte Opaque leggings, $11.95 (full size)

The standouts for me...

Once again this was another month where the whole box really appealed to me. I was most intrigued by the eyeshadow, however the shade I received is green and sort of reminds me of a mermaid. It's a beautiful shade, but I can't really see myself getting a lot of wear out of it - unless some sort of fancy dress party comes up! The packaging is stunning and the eyeshadow itself is so reflective and the formula is smooth and buttery, however it's not overly pigmented upon first swatch. You can build it up a bit, but I think I might apply it with a wet eyeshadow brush if I decide to wear it, as that should intensify the colour a bit more. The liquid eyeliner also caught my eye, but when I tested it on my hand it wasn't as pigmented and creamy as I would have hoped. I'll give it a go, but I have a feeling it could get messy very quickly if you're trying to get a perfect wing, but we'll see. The tinted lip balm also stood out to me as a pretty thing just to keep in your handbag for when you need a hint of colour on your lips. The only downfall for me is that it's very sweetly scented and a little sticky, but I'm sure I can make it work as long as I don't wear it on a really windy day! 

The PHR leave-in moisturiser is also something I know I'll get a lot of use out of because I use a leave-in moisturiser pretty much every time I wash my hair, so it'll be nice to try this one out. The body balm is another thing that isn't particularly exciting, but it smells nice and I know that I'll use it. Finally, the leggings. I have to say that I was a bit surprised to see a clothing item in the box, but it's kind of cool. I was given the size tall/xtall so I'm hoping they're not going to be too long for my legs, but I'm sure I can make them work either way. It's perfectly timed too as we're in autumn now and it's definitely the season for tights to wear underneath cute skirts and dresses. 

Overall I was pretty happy with the items included in my box and I'm very interested and excited to test them all out and see how they go. It was a nice little assortment of mostly makeup (which is one of my favourite things to receive), with a few extra bits in the mix that I'll also get use out of. I also judge how much I like a box by how likely I am to use what was included, and I feel like I'll be very likely to get use out of everything in this box!

If you're interested in purchasing one of these for yourself and seeing what goodies you get, you can use my code SAMINDIGO1 to receive $5 off your first box - and you can order your box on Lust Have It's website HERE. Until next month...

*This box was sent to me for consideration, however all opinions are my own. This is NOT a sponsored post. 

Lust Have It: April Box

I was eagerly awaiting this months Lust Have It box because I just had a feeling that it would be a good one, and I wasn't wrong! This months box was lighter than usual, but it didn't lack anything. Last months box left me feeling a little underwhelmed, but this months box really made up for it. Bet you're interested to see what was inside...

What was in the box...

1. Manna Kadar 3-in-1 blush, highlighter, eyeshadow in Fantasy, $25 (full size)
2. Marsk eyeliner in Snowflake, $28.95 (full size)
3. Personail nail polish wraps in Glamour, $18 (full size)
4. Marsk brow liner in Audrey, $28.95 (full size)
5. Soak hair shine shampoo and hair revive conditioner 25mL sample, full size 500mL for $24.95 (sample size)

The standouts for me...

This box as a whole was great value, but the three main standouts were the eyeliner and brow liner from Marsk and the 3-in-1 powder from Manna Kadar. The liners are certified organic and are so smooth; they glide on without dragging. I'm worried the brown might be a bit too light in colour for my brows (because my brows are so very dark!), but I'm still going to give it a go. If it is too light I can always use it as a regular eyeliner. I also love the lighter liner in Snowflake because I don't have any white/pearl coloured shades, I only have one in nude. Plus I just love the shade names - it's the little things, you know.

The other item that grabbed my attention and did not let go was the blush/highlighter/eyeshadow in Fantasy. For starters it is just so pretty. I want to look at it all day long. Not only that, but it is so smooth and creamy! I can't wait to use it on my face. However, I think I might start by using it as an eyeshadow and then go from there. I'm not sure that I'm brave enough to use it as a highlighter just yet, because it's quite rosy in its tone and that is a little out of my comfort zone when it comes to highlighters (as a reference, I usually use The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter). I can't wait to shove it all over my eyes though!

My mum showed an interest in the shampoo and conditioner so I'll pass those onto her, and I have a friend who I think would love those press on nails, so I'll give those to her to try out as they're not really my style. All in all though I'm really pleased with this box!

Look how pretty the swatches are!!! That 3-in-1 is simply amazing *insert all the heart eyes*. If you would like to drool over this box for yourself, you can order one on Lust Have It's website here - and don't forget to use my code SAMINDIGO1 so that you can save $5 off your first box! Now I'm going to go and continue obsessing over that powder...

"This box was sent to me for consideration, however all opinions are my own. This is NOT a sponsored post.

This Isn't the End (Keep Going)

I felt on my heart to write frankly in today's little post, so I hope you don't mind. I just had these words racing around in my mind and I needed to get them out. I hope you find comfort in my survival, and that you know that you can survive too.

Quite often these days I find myself feeling down about my situation. I know that there are worse things happening than what I happen to be going through, but I don’t think we should ever disregard our feelings based on relativity. i.e. that someone always has it worse than you. Sometimes things are really crap. There’s no sugar-coating, no hiding behind encouraging quotes, no tricking yourself into believing something that isn’t true. If I'm completely honest there are times when I cry out to God, pleading to know and understand why things played out the way they did. But I don't think I'll ever know this side of eternity. There are many things in life that we'll never understand, and I suppose for now this happens to be one of mine. To summarise a long and agonising story, I lost my mum to cancer when I was about 10 years old. That will probably be the hardest thing I'll ever have to go through. The ripple effect afterwards caused damage that I suppressed for years and never fully dealt with (but I'm beginning to deal with them now). Situations that I was then placed in caused me great unhappiness, and I still search for silver linings in the way things played out today. I apologise for writing coyly, but some details are better left out. I know that this crazy testimony of mine is for a purpose, and I hope and pray that it will somehow bring light into someone's life who may be suffering similarly to how I was. 

There were moments where I wanted to cease existing. It wasn't that I wanted to die necessarily, but I just didn't want to have to endure anymore pain. Even now I sit and dream about how things could have happened differently, and there were many moments where I wished that they had. However, the fact is that they didn't. No amount of me wishing and dreaming of a different ending would actually bring that different ending to life. Things happened the way they did, and I must go on. It feels like an almost-daily basis that I'm reminding myself to not sit in my sadness. That I have to push past how I want to respond (which wouldn't be helpful) and do what's best for me instead. Forgiveness from a distance is far easier than forgiveness close up. That is something I'm working on, for my benefit. I want to feel the freedom that comes with it. 

I suppose I'm writing all of this to say that sometimes things just don't make sense. We all go through something we wish we hadn't, and even though we didn't choose that, we can choose how we go on from there. Am I going to stay unhappy, bitter, resentful, hurt, and broken? Or am I going to pick up my fractured pieces and carry them to my Father's feet, where His love can put me back together? This is a choice that I have to make daily, and I'll be honest, sometimes I choose the wrong one. I still have days where I sit in my pain, but then I have to pick myself up again and remind myself that I'm better than that. I won't let my sucky past win. I have to get back to the place of believing and trusting that it's for some bigger purpose than I'll ever understand; to find a new strength and to rise within it. 

So now I speak directly to you. You are strong, and mighty, and brave. Whatever you're facing, you are resilient enough to handle it. But don't feel like you have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders all the time. You have a Saviour that wants to carry it for you. There is something positive that can come out of any situation, sometimes you just have to look a little harder to find it. I know that my past has shaped me into who I am today, and I hope and pray that it only ever makes me better. I know the sort of family environment that I want to create, the kind of relationship I want to have with my future husband, and the type of life I want to live. These things may not have been as solid or important to me had I not endured what I did. I know what I want, based on what I never had. 

I hope you sense love and a fighting spirit from within these words, and not a bitter and resentful person. I pray that I always remind in control of my outlook on things in life, and that I see things through gracious eyes. You know when enough is enough, and there are just some people that we are better off not having in our lives. It is okay to admit that! You need to do what is best for you, and sometimes that means removing unhelpful people that won't contribute positivity to your journey in the longterm. Some just cross our paths to teach us things, both good and bad, so let them simply pass you by once that lesson is over. 

Remember that you are loved and cherished and you deserve the best. Like diamonds, we too sometimes need a little pressure to get to the best bit of ourselves. But also like diamonds, we are strong and beautiful and so very valuable. You are worthy of so much more, and you are more than the sum of experiences that you've gone through. This life is beautiful and it is yours, so don't waste another day. Squeeze all the glorious juices out of it and dance in the warm sunlight and no matter what, keep going. I love you.

Love, S.

One For the Books...

Today something very exciting happened; I graduated from university!! I can still remember when I started my degree, three years ago, and graduation day felt like it was eons away. Now that I'm here, I feel like the time absolutely flew by. While this is an exciting and momentous occasion, it's also a slightly scary one. It's scary because I'm not quite sure what to do next. I always envisaged that by the time graduation came around I'd have a more solid idea of where to head next, but I don't...yet. I'm a big believer in the timing of things, and that when something is supposed to happen, it will. That's not to say that hard work isn't involved, of course it is, but I feel like the small beginnings will flourish into something eventually. Even though I feel a little lost at the moment, it will all come together in time, and with perspective I'll see why it took that little bit longer. They say just because you took longer than everyone else doesn't mean that you failed. I firmly believe this to be true. Comparison is the thief of joy, right? So let's quit comparing! Embrace, and love, the season that you're in (this is something I'm working on, and you should too). 

My time at university taught me many things, but the most important was not to give up on myself. There were countless times throughout my degree where I honestly thought I was failing - but I never did. In fact I usually did far better than I expected. Perseverance and hard work will always pay off in the end - and this applies to any sector you find yourself in. Take encouragement from that. I know that all these little bits and pieces I'm doing along the way will have a benefit somewhere along the line, whether I realise it at the time or not. So for now, I'm going to continue working on myself when it comes to developing skills to combat my anxiety and depression. I firmly believe this is where my time and energy has to go right now. If I'm not mentally healthy I won't be able to handle everything else as well, so it's important that I become better at dealing with the stresses of life. Once I feel like I'm in a better place mentally, I'll be ready to conquer the world. While I'm not striving for perfection necessarily, I do think that taking care of your mental state is so important. I know that I'll never be completely "healed" in that regard, but I do know that I can make progress and develop skills that will allow me to perform at my best in every area. 

With that being said, I'm excited. I know that I can achieve great things and go to places I never thought I'd get to. I just need to be patient with myself for now. This journey that I'm on is only just beginning and there is so much more to learn and accomplish along the way and I'm excited to document the journey on here for you all (and in videos on my YouTube channel too, I will definitely get better at that!). So here is to the future and all the golden moments it will hold. T.S Eliot once said, "To make an end is to make a beginning". That's exactly what this day is. It's the beginning of something bright, something new, and something noteworthy. I'll conclude with a dash more inspiration from Steve Jobs, "If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." So let's go find it!

Love, S.

Lust Have It: March Box

Another month means another Lust Have It box arriving on my doorstep! It's always exciting to see what products will be included in the box, but unfortunately the March box missed the mark for me. I'm sure many people loved all their items, but the ones I received were simply things I just wouldn't really use. That happens sometimes, and it's all part of the fun, so I don't mind having a few misses here are there - because the great boxes absolutely make up for it! 

What was in the box...

1. Be a Bombshell eyeliner in Radiance, $20 (full size)
2. Sebamed liquid face & body wash 50ml sample, full size 300ml for $14.95 (sample size)
3. Glazel Visage matte eyeshadow in S40, $15 (full size)
4. Jersey Shore Cosmetics anti-aging whole body balm, $20 (full size)
5. Ruby eyeliner slanted brush, $22.40 (full size)

The standouts for me...

Even though this box contained mostly full sized products - which is a good thing - they simply weren't shades or items that I could see myself using regularly/would have gone out and bought myself. The two items that stood out the most was the anti-aging body balm (that looks like a lip balm) and the eyeliner brush. The balm is multi-purpose and is all natural and organic which is so nice to see. It's the type of thing I'd keep by my bed or in my handbag and would reach for it whenever my skin, hands, lips, etc are feeling dry. The eyeliner brush looks really lovely too. The hairs and synthetic and really soft, so I can't wait to give it a go because I don't own many brushes, if any at all, that are like this. 

The rest of the items in this box will be passed onto family or friends because they just aren't suited to me, but that's alright. I'm sure they'll get plenty of love from someone! 

If this box looks like something you'd love to receive then pop over to the Lust Have It website here and use my code SAMINDIGO1 for $5 off your first box - bargain! Or sign up in time for next months box (which will be this month now), and join in on the fun and anticipation over which lovely things we'll receive. 

*This box was sent to me for consideration, however all opinions are my own. This is NOT a sponsored post. 

Freshly Baked Jam Drops

The other day I stumbled upon a recipe for jam drops that someone I follow on Instagram had posted. It included very few ingredients and looked simple to make. Jam drops are some of my favourite treats to eat, and they go perfectly with a cup of tea! So this morning I decided to make them and share it here so that you can make them too.  

You'll need...

• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup of soft butter
• 2 cups of flour
• jam - I used both strawberry and raspberry jam

Then all you have to do is mix the ingredients together (minus the jam of course), roll the mixture into little balls, and push down on them with your thumb to create a little dip which you then fill with jam. Bake them for 10 minutes on 180 degrees celsius (my oven was preheated a bit). Ta-da, you now have delicious jam drops to enjoy for morning tea. 

Such a simple treat to make, right? Happy baking loves!

You can see the Instagram account where I got the recipe from here.

Pondering on Love... | Part Two

Last June I wrote a post titled Pondering on Love... (which you can read here) and I thought I would write a part two of that post today. Pretty much everything that I wrote in that post is still relevant today and my views on love are still the same. Although it's eight months later and it seems like I'm still no closer to falling in love, I can't help but be excited. Don't get me wrong, I still feel down about it sometimes, but right now I'm excited and expectant. 

Sometimes I freak out a little because I feel like I wouldn't be a very good girlfriend. When I try to picture it, I just don't know if I would live up to certain expectations. But how can I know for sure until I'm actually in a relationship? I can't! However, that doesn't mean that I can't start learning now before the time comes. I read an article this morning that went through the 7 Ps of Christian Marriage. It was an eye-opening and encouraging article and exactly what I needed to read and be reminded of. I won't go through everything it said, but I will point out some bits that really stuck out to me. There was a bit that talked about praising God for the husband that He will one day bring you. The one line in particular that struck a chord with me was, "the same God that blesses them, blesses you." Simple, yet so profound to me. It was a basic truth, but one that I tend to forget so easily. The God that is bringing couples together all around me desires for me to find my forever love as well. Another line that I found equally encouraging said, "God's desire to reveal will always be greater than your desire to know." In other words, God wants to reveal and bring my future husband to me more than I want to know who my future husband is. How crazy but encouraging is that thought! 

My urgency to find out has slowly begun to diminish as I begin to realise that God actually cares, and He's not keeping me waiting for no reason. It just simply isn't right yet. He hasn't forgotten about me, He's just still working things out. Ann Voskamp once said, "Waiting is just a gift of time in disguise - a time to pray wrapped up in a ribbon of patience - because is the Lord ever late?" No, God's not late, I'm just impatient. And I need not be. Some days are hard, some days are easy, and I know that it's not always easy being single. But I also know that it's probably not always easy being in a relationship. Both rely on trusting in God completely. 

So while I'm in this season, I intend to squeeze all that God wants me to know out of it. To not let myself go to waste because I'm single - because how silly does that sound? I'm not going to sit around twiddling my thumbs until prince charming strolls on by, but I'm going to grab life with both hands and run. As I mentioned in my previous post, life hasn't been super peachy lately, but I'm on a new road now. A road to recovery. A road to somewhere better. There are going to be lessons and tests along the way, and God is with me through every single inch of it. He knows my steps. And somewhere along the way I'll fall in love and step into a new season altogether. Every day that passes is another day closer to that happening. And I intend to live fully, starting now, instead of waiting until I've got a boyfriend, or waiting until I know what my purpose is, or waiting until I feel like I'm fixed. Why wait? 

I'm going to leave you with these beautiful and uplifting words from Lysa TerKeurst...

"That hard thing you are facing right now? Remember, you are strong. You are persevering, tough, able to bend without breaking, willing to be humbled to the point of humiliation, not blinded, a hunter for wisdom, a praying-through-it woman, a courageous gal, one who wants to learn the deep dependance of following hard after God himself. 

Let me reach through these fragile, typed-out letters and take your hand. And stand with you. From that cracked-open-heart place, a God-Breathed strength will rise. Rise. Rise."

Love, S.

Images: Tumblr

New Roads, New Rivers // We're Gonna Make It

It's been a while since I last spilled my raw thoughts into a blog post so I thought it was about time I did again. In all honesty, I haven't been doing that great lately (which is why I haven't written a post like this in a while), but then I thought about it some more and decided that the not-so-perfect parts of life will come and they will go, and they are just as important as the rest. It's in these down days that we are tested, and from that comes strength, growth, and the ability to rise again. Recently I came to a crossroads in my life. A moment where I could choose to stay stagnant (and ultimately go downhill) or I could choose to do something that scares me greatly, but will actually do me a world of good. I chose the latter. Seeing a psychologist is a topic that is not spoken about all too often. People tend to brush over it, or simply won't even mention it at all. I suppose even I am a little hesitant to bring up the subject sometimes. I think it's because it can be a scary thing, and not something that we feel great sharing. It's admitting that you need help, and that makes you vulnerable. I haven't been to a session yet, but I've got one booked in, and I feel like good things will come of it. 

Earlier on this year someone told me that this will really be my year of stepping into all things great. Little did I know they also said that I would have to work for it, it wouldn't just fall into my lap (and I wasn't told that at the time). Once I booked in my session my mum told me the rest of what was said. She mentioned that perhaps me starting this journey was me working for it. If so, bring on all things great! Another area of work and growth relates to my purpose in life. Right now I honestly have no idea what it is. However, I have started to read a book written by a pastor named Rick Warren called The Purpose-Driven Life. While I'm only on day five, I already know that things are changing. It's a 40 day study and I cannot wait to see where I am in 40 days time. 

Writing all this down feels a little uncomfortable, but I'm doing so in the hope that it might help someone out there reading it. I have felt so lost and confused and sad lately, but I'm not sitting in that pit of despair any longer. I'm being proactive in making a change. I don't know what your change looks like, but I urge you to pluck up the courage and make it. Surely it'll be better than staying where you are. "A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there". With that in mind, I'm waving goodbye to certain 'comforts' and moving towards a better me instead. I'm calling this year the one where I work on myself. I've neglected certain things for so long, and it's unhealthy, and about time I just dealt with it. I'm cancelling my pity party and getting ready to celebrate for real instead. I don't know what this year will bring, but I'm believing it can only go upwards from here. At my church we're calling this the year of new roads, new rivers. I can't wait to explore them. 

I was on Instagram the other day and I came across this encouraging message that someone I follow had posted. Straight away I had to write it down in my diary because it spoke straight to my heart. I'm going to end this post with this. I hope that you find joy and encouragement in these words and in my own. I hope that you're reminded how beautiful and worthy you are - and if you're not, go somewhere where you are reminded. This world is beautiful and filled with amazing moments that we are yet to be a part of. God only ever wants the best for us, okay. 

"His heart is never to silence the desire of our hearts or to shame us for those desires. His heart is to pull us up on His lap while we ugly cry out the disappointments and curveballs we've faced. His heart is to listen to us laugh at how silly we've been and to marvel at how beautiful the future is. At the end of that, we just have to be willing to hop down and only take the steps He leads us to. It's the year of reaping what we have sown in sadness and hurt, it's the year of deferred dreams coming to fruition, and it's the year of big honking leaps of faith into His plan. We're gonna make it."

Love, S.

Image: Tumblr

Lust Have It: February Box

If I thought last months box was exciting, it was only to prepare me for a whole new level of excitement over this months box. For the February box, Lust Have It hinted that some products from The Body Shop would be included, and I could not wait to see what they were. As it turns it, there was not only three products from The Body Shop in my box, but also some other really amazing products too! This months box was a standout one, and I urge you to get your hands on one while you still can (do so here, and read on until the end to get my code for $5 off your first box!). 

What was in the box...

1. Be a Bombshell mascara in Nightfall, $21 (full size)
2. Lanolips Everyday Hand Balm 120mL, $22.95 (full size)
3. Mellow Cosmetics Matte lipstick in Candy Floss, $18 (full size)
4. The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil 7mL sample, full size 30mL for $54.95 (sample size)
5. The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream 15mL sample, full size 50mL for $24.95 (sample size)
6. The Body Shop Italian Summer Fig EDT 1.5mL sample, full size 50mL for $36.95 (sample size)
7. Garnier Fructis Full and Luscious shampoo and conditioner 10mL samples, full size 250mL for $5.95 (sample size)

The standouts for me...

Honestly, the whole box was a standout! The only thing was the lipstick isn't really the right shade for me, but I'm sure I can pass it on to someone who'll love it. As for everything else, I know I'll get use out of it all. I love trying new mascaras so I can't wait to see what this one is like. I also love skincare, and have been wanting to try a new facial oil so that has worked out well. As for the vitamin e moisture cream, I might have to wait until the colder months when my skin is a bit drier in order to get use out of that, because my skin is usually more on the oily side. The fragrance that was included smells so lovely. Just as the name would suggest, it smells like I would imagine Italy to smell like in the summer - it's divine! So creamy, but fresh at the same time. The Lanolips Hand Balm also excites me greatly because I try to use a hand cream every night because I can suffer with really dry hands sometimes, and this one looks wonderful and I've heard really positive reviews on it - and apparently it has won multiple awards too! 

I couldn't be happier with this months box and I cannot wait to start using all my new treats! If you want to get your hands on this box before it sells out then you can do so here, and don't forget to use my code - SAMINDIGO1 - in order to receive $5 off your first box. If there was ever a time to try Lust Have It, it's definitely now! 

*This box was sent to me for consideration, however all opinions are my own. This is NOT a sponsored post. 

Lust Have It: January Box

When this months box arrived on my doorstep I couldn't have been more excited! Why? Because I knew that it included a micellar water. I'm crazy, I know, but I just have a thing for micellar waters. They are the lazy girls best friend when it comes to skincare. Now, I don't recommend using it for everything, but it is great to take your makeup off before you use a proper cleanser, and it's also great to use in the morning to give your skin a quick cleanse and refresh before applying toner and moisturiser. That's how I use them anyway. I'm a big fan of the one from Garnier, so I was excited to see how this measured up. But more on that in a minute, let's get into the box.

What was in the box...

1. Unani Micellar Water 200mL, $22.50 (full size)
2. Hikari Blush in Sun-Kissed, $21 (full size) - unfortunately mine was smashed on arrival, but that's okay. These things happen. As I receive these boxes complimentary I'm not going to ask for a replacement, but I know they are more than happy to replace broken products. 
3. SkinYoga Almond & Orange Face Scrub 5g sample, full size is 50g for $24 (sample size)
4. Hikari Lip Crayon in Amour, $18 (full size)
5. SkinYoga Sandalwood & Saffron Face Mask 5g sample, full size is 50g for $24 (sample size)

The standouts for me...

Once again it was the skincare products that came out on top for me. I'm just really having a moment with skincare right now and Lust Have It have been including some great products on that front in their boxes lately. The Unani micellar water is lovely to use. It cleanses well and doesn't leave your skin feeling tight, dry, and stripped of moisture. However, it is fragranced, so that is something to bear in mind if your skin doesn't react well to fragrance in products. I haven't had a chance to use the face scrub and face mask from SkinYoga yet, but I cannot wait to! The ingredients are so natural and healthy, you could literally eat them - but I'd say it's probably best that you don't! It's always a good feeling when you understand what ingredients are in the products that you're using, and these ones would cause no worries to you at all. Prepare to see a post in the future once I've been able to use them a few times because I have such high expectations. 

Like usual, I might pass on the lip crayon to one of my friends because I probably don't need another red lipstick and I know they'll love it. If this box interests you, then be sure to check out their website here so order one for yourself. You can also use my code 'SAMINDIGO1' in order to get $5 off you first box! Until next time...

*This box was sent to me for consideration, however all opinions are my own. This is NOT a sponsored post.