The good oil

I don't know about you, but I get pretty dehydrated skin. It's particularly bad in winter thanks to the dodgy weather, but sitting under an air-con vent in an office all day every day certainly doesn't do me any favours. There is of course a difference between dry and dehydrated skin. You probably already know that, right? The former is internal (your skin doesn't produce enough oil - you need more) and the latter is external (winter wind, sitting in air-con all day, not drinking enough h20 - solution is a good dose of warragamba white). So really, the solutions to each of these problems is different. In fact, as different as oil and water! Zing! Clever.

So, even though I just said you need water for dehydrated skin, I have fallen in love with Neutrogena Body Oil (which locks in moisture, which is ace). I'll be honest...I tried it because it smelt good. Or rather, my flatmate was sent a sample of it when it launched and she just smelt so tasty that I went and bought some (take note Neutrogena; your seeding campaign resulted in at least one sale). It might be a body oil but it's just so gosh-darn light that it doesn't feel heavy and gluggy like some body oils do. I was always strictly a sorbolene girl but I really enjoy the light sesame fragrance and the resulting softness. That said, it isn't suitable for the hardcore dehydration of winter, but it's perfect for spring and summer (which, thankfully, is just around the corner*)

Anyway, I picked up a bottle on sale today at Priceline (score) so thought it was a good time to share.

Price: on sale for $10.39
From: Exclusively stocked in Priceline in Australia
Why you need it: For delicious, soft skin that smells great


*not really, but we can hope, right?

Picture credit: neutrogena.com

Wrapped up in pink

Is there any greater joy in life than receiving a parcel in the mail? Well, yes, there probably is. But that doesn't mean it isn't super exciting when a package lands on your desk/in your mail box/at the post office. The initial surprise, the anticipation of opening the bag, the delight at pulling out the contents. No matter how big or small the package, I still get shivers of excitement (goodness me that sounded dirty, didn't it?).

So speaking of parcels, I got one today. Woohoo! Victoria's Secret! I bought two bras from Victoria's Secret when I was in San Fran last year and they are the best bras I have ever owned. Naturally after 10 months solid wear it's getting close to replacement time, so I took that gamble and ordered another two online. I figured that since hauling my buns into Myer or BnT here is such a drama because I can never find anything that fits, then I may as well order online from a brand that I know has an exact fit. Plus, the dollar is good at the moment and even with the cost of shipping it is equal to what I would spend on one expensive or two cheaper bras here anyway. Add that to the fact that VS are having huge sales and gift offers; we might not be able to get the free shipping because we are international, but the bargains are worth it and all their summer stock is going for a song right now.

Bonus gift: when you order online they send you a catalogue. Boyfriend loves me even more now!

Price: bras from $20, panties from $5, swimsuits and summer dresses from $15
From: www.victoriassecret.com
Why you need to shop here: Awesomeness! That's about it really. OH! And I bought some amazing body oil spray from here that smells like candy (called Candy, Baby) and it makes me smelled like boiled lollies.

Picture credit: That's me in the picture! I lie - www.victoriassecret.com
It's the Body by Victoria Ipex Full Coverage Bra and it's very comfortable, thank you

I can haz LOLs?

Ok, so you know LOLcats, right? What? you don't? Are you the only person on the internet who doesn't? So many questions!

I Can Has Cheezburger is an internet phenomenon where pictures of cats are given funny captions in broken english. It's a fairly simple formula but it never fails to make me chuckle on a daily basis. Call me simple, but I like cats and the funny things they do. So anyway, Boyfriend and I like to check cheezburger together and we are always talking about the cat we want to buy when we eventually move to a bigger place (grey, boy, smush-face called Gus) so I thought a cheezburger themed gift was appropriate for whatever the last occasion was that we celebrated.

Cut to the ICHC gift shop and a set of LOL-speak magnets. So now our fridge is covered in tiny little broken-english words that make absolutely no sense to anyone who isn't familiar with my cat-caption obsession (Mother:"why is there a magnet that says pew pew pew on your fridge?"). They are also marginally more appropriate than the ZOO Weekly themed words on the fridge at work - when I went to get the milk out this morning, the fridge told me it liked 'brothel dwarf condom sex'. Confronting.

Price: US$11.99 + about $8 shipping
From: LOLmart
Why you need it: to turn all the pictures on your fridge into hilarious memes

Picture credit: LOLmart.com

Carry on good chaps

I have lived in my current house for 2.5 years, but it has been constantly evolving from the day we walked in. The couches are mismatched, and so is most of the furniture. But piece by piece I have made it my own (our own?). I sanded and painted one of my bookshelves and the coffee table, I built a wine rack (essential), we have framed and hung various pictures from our trips and the shelves have gradually filled with sentimental pieces that bring enjoyment just by being there. My Mamma bought me the most amazing matryoshka dolls in Russia but since I didn't buy them I don't know if I will post about them. Maybe I'll put a pic up soon.

Anyway, I love having art on the walls. One wall is covered in trip pics, one has the most gorgeous vintage prints of cats we picked up at some markets in the financial district of NYC, one has vintage Disney pictures (which I finally had framed after 8 years) and now I am proudly hanging my latest acquisition.

Keep Calm And Carry On was originally designed as a british wartime propoganda slogan during 1939. It was commissioned to relay to the people off Britain that all was well and that everything was being done to prepare the country for the war. Sadly, the poster was never officially issued but turned up 50 years later in an auction and the rest, as they say, is history. Cut to Lark Handmade, who make the most delicious and whimsical products. Based on a cornerstone of recycled, hand made, organic, fair trade and sweatshop free, you feel good about buying their products and know that you are supporting a quality Australian company run by real people who care enough to try and make a difference. Gives you the warm and fuzzies. Lark have produced a range of Keep Calm And Carry On merchandise like tote bags, buttons, mugs and aprons, but I was instantly smitten with the poster. It fits perfectly into the Ribba frame from Ikea (as pictured) but I have popped mine into the 50x70 Fjallsta (also from Ikea) so it has a nice thick black border. It looks amazing with the red and the black together and reminds me everyday to keep calm and, funnily enough, carry on. Nothing like art that inspires you, right?!

Poster
From: Lark Handmade
Price: $19.95 + shipping
Why you need it: Everyone needs art on their walls and it's a great conversation starter

Frames
From: Ikea
Price: $59 for the Fjallsta, $49 for the Ribba
Why you need them: Art needs to be framed!

Picture credit: Larkmade.com.au

Happy birthday bella!

Well done me. Post about a Monday magazine on a Thursday. Whatever.

Happy Birthday Grazia!

Can you believe this beautiful magazine is celebrating its first birthday already?! Well I guess I can believe it since I have every single issue piled up on my bookshelf and I can't fit any more on the pile now (new year = new pile). How has this shining bastion of fashion and news evolved over the past year? Great covers, witty columns, inspiring fashion and to-die-for food. I flicked through the first few issues this week and it's amazing to see just how much it has evolved. There is a much better balance now of expensive and affordable fashion. It's the right mix of celebrity and real news. And the food...oh gosh the food...

Matthew Evans' Out of the Pantry column is drool-worthy every single week. He has a simple yet passionate way of describing food and I challenge you to read a column and not want to either a) fire up the stove and/or b) move to the country and grow your own fresh produce.

So how do I enjoy Grazia? I always go straight to the editors letter (Editor-in-chief Alison is deliciously crazy), then Matthews Evans column, then High Maintenance...just got higher by the hilarious Lucinda Pitt. After that I go front to back and devour every single page. I'm a flagger as well, so I always fold the corner on interesting stories, things I might want to buy or websites I want to check out.

What was the point? Oh, that's right. Basically I love Grazia. It's a great mag and I'm looking forward to many more birthdays.

Price: normally $5, this week $2.50
From: supermarkets and newsagents
Why: Fashion and news in a great format

Picture credit: Grazia.com.au

Peachy delight

There is nothing I love more than a fresh face - dewy skin, clean eyes, long lashes and a gentle flush to the cheeks. I have always been a powder blush girl, mainly because I have never found a cream that I actually like or that I can apply without looking like bozo. But goodness me that has all changed. I scored a beautiful Becca lip and cheek creme in tuberose (aka watermelon pink) last week and it has changed my makeup routine. No kidding.

First up, the packaging is delicious. It almost looks like a bath plug, it's rubbery so I can't smash it (clumsy) and it has a mirror inside for convenient touch ups. Big tick.

The colour suits my skin tone perfectly - I'm calling it makeup destiny (or kismet, simply because kismet is a really cool word). Has that ever happened to you? When you stumble across a product and it is just so perfect it's as if the makeup gods were just willing the two of you to meet. Anyway, it goes on really easily (another big tick); two little finger swirls in the cream and the heat of my finger softens it just enough so that it is right texture to apply. A few dabs on the apple of each cheek and the colour just seems to melt into place (a good melt, not a bad melt). I also love that it doesn't have shimmer in it so it looks fresh without looking whoreish (I can't do shimmer on my cheeks...I always look like a hooker) and it has great pigment so the colour lasts for hours. What else do you need?

I will say though - I'm not so much a fan on my lips. Maybe it's because it's winter and I'm a little dryer, but the consistency just doesn't seem to translate to lips. Cest la vie - it's still going to be a staple product.

Price: $46
From: adorebeauty.com.au
Why you need it: A cream blush that's easy to apply and a great naturally flush colour

Picture credit: adorebeauty.com.au

Masterchef?

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it before but I am obsessed with cooking. And possibly one of the only things I am more obsessed with than cooking is cookbooks. Now I'm no Chris Badenoch (that's a Masterchef reference right there) but I do have over 50 cookbooks and a host of insane cooking utensils (everyone needs a piping bag with 8 different nozzles). Anyway, so I picked up a new cookbook the other day that was just so damn cute I couldn't not share.

Cupcakes by Colour from The Australian Women's Weekly. There is just something special about Women's Weekly cookbooks. You know the recipes are always going to work. You trust them. They are the cookbooks that Mum and Nan used to use. I grew up in a household full of Women's Weekly cookbooks and I know my Mum still has dozens of them and uses them quite frequently and the same goes for my almost-mother-in-law. Side note: I bought my almost-mother-in-law two Women's Weekly cookbooks for Mother's Day. They make kickass gifts.

Speaking of gifts, I bought said cupcake book for myself and for a 25th birthday gift last week. See! I told you they are good pressies. Everyone loves a cupcake.

So this particular book is full of insanely super-cute cupcake decorating ideas and recipes. Not only does it look good on the shelf, but cupcakes are good for any occasion and you will be the most popular person in the room if you rock in with a plate of sweet, sugary goodness. Trust me, I know. It happens to me ALL THE TIME. Although my signature treats are triple choc brownies (Women's Weekly recipe) and turkish delight rocky road (Frankie recipe), I can still rock a mean cupcake when the occasion calls for it.

What was I saying? Oh yeah...I guarantee this would be a killer gift for either yourself or someone else.

Price: $24.95
From: Newsagents, bookstores, magshop
Why you need it: So you can make amazing cupcakes. Simple as that.

Picture credit: magshop.com.au