April Favourites + Highlights 2020

Let me start by asking how everyone’s quarantine/lockdown/isolaton life is going? Whilst each country has different measures and restrictions in place we are all in this together. As mentioned in my March Favourites, I’m here if anyone would like a chat!

Over the past month I have adapted well to working from home, I am pretty much able to do my job as usual which keeps me in a good routine. Like so many other people I am using Zoom to connect with work colleagues and I’m really enjoying doing my makeup on the days there’s video calls and making myself that little bit more glam. I am also proud to say I haven’t worked in my pyjamas once (no shame if you do) and have gotten dressed each work day. This month has been relatively quiet but I have enjoyed the calm peacefulness. I am eating less than I would if I was going to work and I’m back into an exercise routine. I feel like I’ve been singing better as a result too and I’m not as stressed which is huge!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia – I have been a fan of Dua for a while now and ever since she released Don’t Start Now as the first single from this album I was excited! The vibe, the beats and the lyrics really stood out to me and it’s probably my favourite track Dua has released to date. Dua puts so much personality into her music and I love the deep, raspy element to her voice. The songs on this album are personal but still radio friendly and whilst she’s undoubtedly pop she adds in her own unique touches. This album is very cohesive and by the time it’s over you want to go right back to the start and press play again. Standout Tracks: Don’t Start Now, Physical, Levitating, Hallucinate and Break My Heart.

2. MAC Viva Glam III Lipstick – I purchased this alongside another MAC lipstick in March and over the past month I have already worn it a handful of times. I saw pictures of this shade online and was unsure whether it would suit me and be too dark but I really don’t have anything like this in my collection. Viva Glam III is described as a muted brownish-plum and is a matte finish. This lipstick has a very comfortable matte finish that doesn’t dry out the lips and despite the dark shade I don’t need to wear a lip liner with this. I wore Viva Glam III when I tried false lashes for the first time – CLICK HERE to see.

3. The Guest List by Lucy Foley – I have been smashing my Goodreads target during lockdown and I finished this particular book last week. It is one of my favourite reads of 2020 so far and the second book I’ve read by Lucy Foley in a matter of weeks. Set on a remote island off the Irish coast, guests are invited to the glamorous wedding between Will and Jules. Lives unravel whilst on the island and secrets from the past are revealed. Everything comes to a head when someone is murdered on the night of the wedding. I won’t spoil who is murdered as we don’t find out until the last quarter of the book but it was obvious to me who the victim would be and I was right. The reveal of the murderer wasn’t as easy to guess but it definitely makes sense. If you’re an Agatha Christie fan or enjoy reading books with plenty of twists you will enjoy this!

4. Glassons Cropped Stretch Skinny Jean – I picked up these jeans in a mid blue wash at the beginning of March when I was out shopping with a friend. This is the fourth pair of these jeans I have bought as the cropped length is the perfect full length on me. I also have these jeans in white, black and a light blue wash. The jeans are comfortable, have a slight stretch to them so they are the good kind of tight and won’t lose their shape but still allow you to move. These are probably my favourite pair as they are that classic blue denim and don’t attract cat hairs like my black pair.

April Highlights

• I have completed a few jigsaw puzzles this month.
• I treated myself to a couple of luxury lockdown purchases: YSL Black Opium perfume and Hourglass Veil Mineral face primer. I have sampled both of these in the past and loved them!
• My Future Nostalgia CD arrived in the post.

April’s Spotify Playlist

---

How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

April Favourites + Highlights

April has been a decent month. The weather is starting to cool down and the temperature is dropping gradually which is nice, I’ve had time off from work, I’ve been reading a fair bit and I’ve acquired some new beauty bits which I’ve been happily trying out. I’ve also been eyeing up more Zoeva makeup brushes after purchasing the 104 Buffer Brush. Ideally I’d like a pencil brush or something of a similar size to apply eyeshadow in the outer V and under my lower lash line.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Colourpop Sol Palette – I can already tell this is going to be one of my most used eyeshadow palettes. Every time I reach for it I get excited to use it! The shades are versatile and the orange tones suit my fair skin more than I thought they would. The mattes aren’t patchy and can be built up easily. The shimmers glisten and are equally as pigmented if not more than the mattes. The palette is compact and lightweight and I’m so happy I picked it up!

2. Colourpop Slave2Pink Super Shock Shadow – The last predictable favourite for the month and then I promise I’ll stop going on about my first foray into Colourpop! Basically the story behind this eyeshadow is I wanted to try this colour on my eyes. Fuchsia is my favourite lipstick colour and I wanted to experiment with the colour on another part of my face and see what the hype around the Super Shock Shadows is all about. The formula of this is super smooth and the pigment is like no other.

3. Britney Spears Prerogative EDP – I purchased this perfume blindly a few days after Christmas 2018 and I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s possibly my favourite of Britney’s that I’ve tried to date. The bottle is adorable (I have the 30ml) and I’d happily purchase this scent in a larger size. The scent isn’t the longest lasting but it’s very pleasant. The scent is unisex and isn’t designed specifically for women, I like that the notes aren’t all traditional and differ from my other perfumes. Prerogative reminds me slightly of The Body Shop’s Black Musk due to the pink pepper but this is nicer.

4. Glassons Tie Waist Crop Pant – I bought these pants in March and I had been searching for a pair like this for a long time. The pants have wide legs (perfect for a curvy girl like me) and a paper bag waist that doesn’t accentuate my tummy when I tuck tops in. Tops really do have to be worn tucked in to these to a) show off the waist detailing and b) stop the top bunching and bulging around the bow. The best part about these pants is because they are cropped they are the perfect full length on me without being too long. They are seriously comfortable too.

April Highlights

• Found a tube of my favourite mascara from Rimmel that has been discontinued here in NZ.
• One of my work mates bought me back an Essence lipgloss from her trip to the Philippines. I hadn’t tried anything from Essence before and this gloss is lovely.
• Had my first proper time off work since October 2018.
• Bought discount Easter eggs after Easter; Lindt bunnies, Mini Eggs and Creme Eggs.

April’s Spotify Playlist:

---

How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

End of Year Haul (Beauty & Fashion)

To celebrate my new job I decided to treat myself. I definitely go through stages with buying and most of the time I’m good but it’s getting close to Christmas and that’s a good excuse to treat yourself, right?! For Christmas this year mum and I are considering not buying presents and everyone buys something nice for themselves with the money they’d spend on others. I didn’t want to miss out so I got in early!

MECCA:

1. Stila 3D Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow Set 

Rachael from Helpless Whilst Drying absolutely loves the Stila Magnificent Metals and this set is a great way to introduce myself to the product. The set features 3 x 2.25ml tubes in the shades Kitten Karma, Perlina and Golden Girl. These seem perfect for simple, easy eyeshadow looks. I don’t like to spend a lot of time on my eyes if I don’t have to.

2. Stila Nude Attitude Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set 

I’ve never tried Stila before so why not buy two three piece sets in the same order?! The Liquid Lipstick sets intrigued me and the one I chose – Nude Attitude Stay All Day – features one matte (Patina) and two shimmers (Illuminaire and Miele). It will be interesting to compare the formula of the matte shade to the two shimmers.

3. Clinique Merry Moisture Set

I have always wanted to try Clinque’s Moisture Surge moisturiser and this set offers a 30ml tube of the moisturiser and a mini lipgloss in Rosewater Pop. The gloss looks like a pretty colour and aims to be hydrating, weightless and not sticky.

The Body Shop:

4. Strawberry Fragrance Mist

I have previously tried and loved the Strawberry EDT from The Body Shop and figured this is mostly the same but there’s more product and it’s cheaper! I am nearly finished both the White Musk and Black Musk fragrance mists so purchased this is a backup. Strawberry is one of my favourite ranges from The Body Shop.

5. Black Musk Body Lotion

I prefer body lotions that come in bottles or squeeze tubes rather than ones with a pump as there it less wastage and it’s easier to get product out. I do like the spiciness of the Black Musk range and this will be a really nice lotion for autumn/winter. The Body Shop lotions aren’t the cheapest but they soak in quickly and the scents are long-lasting.

6. Metal Lip Liquids in Pink Nickel and Plum Titanium

I don’t like matte liquid lipsticks. Granted, I haven’t tried many but the ones I have I didn’t have a good experience with. I’ve been loving the look of metallic lips lately (not full on glitterball but shades with more of a subtle shine). I saw these online and swatched a few in store and they are so pretty! Pink Nickel is a soft pink-rose gold shade (not to be confused with the actual rose gold shade called Rose Gold) and Plum Titanium is a beautiful berry red. I have worn both shades and the formula is very comfortable and lightweight. The formula applies streak free and doesn’t dry down straight away so it gives you time to perfect your application.

Glassons:

7. Oversized Knit Jumper

My name is Chanelle and I’m addicted to jumpers! Jumpers make me feel cosy and if I could wear them year round I would. The colour of this jumper is called ‘Salt and Pepper’ and it is a lovely light grey. I don’t own any other grey jumpers. This jumper is also lightweight so it will be better for the warmer months and in summer I imagine this could be worn with just a bra or a singlet underneath.

8. Axel Bleach Wash Cropped Jeans

I have blue jeans, black jeans, grey jeans and white jeans but something about the light blue wash was drawing me in for summer. I haven’t worn my white jeans a lot because they are quite stark against my skin and I’m worried they will stain easily. I’m considering selling them. The white and black jeans I have are also these cropped jeans from Glassons and on me they are the perfect length! If you’re on the shorter side, try cropped jeans.

What the Glassons pieces look like on:

---

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I’ve picked up over the past couple of weeks. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Collective Clothing Haul (White Fox Boutique + Glassons)

Does anyone else feel like treating themselves to some new pieces of clothing when they lose weight? I haven’t lost a significant amount but I look slimmer and I’m feeling more confident. I was in need of a few basics and the two crop tops I thought would be really cute for summer with jeans, leggings or a skirt if I’m feeling brave enough to get my legs out! Let’s jump straight in!

Starting with what I got from White Fox Boutique:

1. “I’m So…” Slogan Crop White

I don’t really have any slogan tees and this one looks girly and stylish. White tees are a really good wardrobe staple and everywhere at the moment. I love the calligraphy style writing of the word obsessed on the front and it’s a pretty light pink colour. I ordered a couple of sizes bigger so it will be more of an oversized fit. The sleeves are a good length as well and I much prefer round neck tops to v neck.

2. Smoothie Crop White

This smoothie tee is adorable! The little drink detail reminds of a Starbucks frappucino and strawberries are one of my favourite fruits and one of my favourite flavours. This is basically identical to the obsessed crop top and again I ordered bigger for an oversized fit. These two tees are part of a collaboration with New Zealand beauty vlogger Shaaanxo. She designed them herself and I can’t get over how cute they are!

(I’m sorry about the dirty mirror, I really need to clean it!)

Moving onto Glassons:

3. Linen Blend Pleat Back Shirt – White

Like the crop tees from White Fox Boutique this top gives me summer vibes. The colour and linen material make it light and breezy and as with everything else in this haul will go with so many things. I’m a fan of the rolled up sleeves because full length is too long on me and it gives the shirt a more relaxed, casual feel.

4. Long basic legging

Leggings are so comfortable and one of my go to pairs of pants. I haven’t bought a new pair in a while. My mum has a pair of these ones from Glassons and says they’re really good because they’re thicker than pairs she’s tried from other brands. They are not too long at the ankle either which is a bonus when you’re short!

5. Cotton Blend Scoop Neck Tank – White

I have a basic white tank top but it’s very low cut so I have to be mindful when I wear it. I bought this one as a backup. Tank tops are great for layering under blouses when the weather starts changing or on their own under cardigans on cooler summer evenings.

6. Ribbed Tank Top – Navy

This tank top was on sale for $7! I really like navy as similar to black, white and grey it goes with most things and you can mix and match with lots of outfits. This tank top has a ribbed pattern giving it a point of difference from the white one.

Wearing the white shirt, white tank top and black leggings from Glassons. I apologise for the creases in the shirt as it had been folded and I tried it on straight away.

---

Which item is your favourite? Have you splurged on any new clothing lately?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Redhead Rambles #28

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• I had leftover pizza and garlic bread from Dominos last Friday for lunch and I don’t know what it is but leftovers always taste so good!
• I placed an order on White Fox Boutique for two white crop tees. The tees are a collaboration with Kiwi beauty guru Shaaanxo and while everything looked nice I wanted these most. The order arrived on Thursday and the crop tees are everything I wanted them to be!
• On Saturday I made myself and omelette for breakfast before placing another clothing order. This time it was Glassons who I have ordered from lots of times before. In this order I picked up basics like tank tops, a pair of leggings and a shirt. My Glassons order arrived on Monday and I am always impressed by their shipping. I will have a haul up next week sharing what I bought from Glassons and White Fox Boutique and what the items look like on.
• Saturday afternoon was spent on the couch reading Still Me by Jojo Moyes.
• On Sunday I tried some new makeup and was impressed with everything. MAC’s Soft and Gentle is amazing!
• Claire Richards announced her solo album ‘My Wildest Dreams’ and I instantly pre-ordered a personalised copy. I also stayed up a bit later to listen to the premiere of her debut single on BBC Radio 2.
• I had Subway for lunch on Monday; three pepper chicken.
• Dannii Minogue answered my question during a Twitter Q&A.
• The weather has been mostly wet and dull and the internet has been cutting in and out all week. I wouldn’t be surprised if the internet problem is weather related.
• I shared a post all about my breakup and what happened that led to it. Writing it felt good and I feel like it will help me move on and I’m not carrying this secret around because my blogging friends now know what happened. All the comments have been kind and supportive so thank you! *CLICK HERE* to read about the break up.
• I got some new page ideas for my bullet journal so I might try and implement those over the next couple of weeks. Looking at inspiration also made me want pens and stationery, in particular a set of pastel fineliners from Staedtler.
• I picked up my new glasses on Thursday! I shared photos of both pairs over on my Instagram if you want to take a look!
• Thursday afternoon was spent blogging, reading and catching up on a few bits and bobs at home.

What I’ve been listening to:

Claire Richards – On My Own – Claire is one of my top five favourite vocalists and as the lead singer of my favourite band Steps she has had a very successful career. For the first time after 20 years in the business she is going solo and releasing her own album away from the band. I’m expecting heartfelt, catchy lyrics with a powerhouse vocal and the first single doesn’t disappoint!

How was your week?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Shop With Me: Glassons

Over the past year or two Glassons has become one of my favourite places to shop! I purchase in store and online and their delivery service is great. Glassons have a quality mix of stylish and affordable pieces. All of the items in this post are tops, I tend to buy those the most and mix and match them with different pants. The first two blouses were bought in store and the two t-shirts and hoodie were ordered online.

1. Frill hem blouse – milk

I fell in love with this blouse on the hanger. 3/4 sleeves are what I personally like to wear and the sleeves are beautiful and flowy – I feel a bit like a fairy. I am short so the length of the blouse is perfect and it emphasises curves in all the right places without clinging. There is also a cut out detail on the back but it’s only small so nothing is on show. This blouse would be lovely to wear on a casual day out or in the evening if you’re going out.

2. Frill Blouse – Black

This blouse is similar to the first one but there are some differences. The sleeves on this are long and not as flowy and have cut out detailing with a button at the wrist. This is a peplum blouse so it’s slightly more fitted around the middle but like the first blouse doesn’t cling and shows off curves. This also has the same back cut out detail. This top could be worn casually too or would look nice for a job interview.

3. Slim Fit Crew Tee – Fairy Bread

T-shirts are an essential, they are nice to wear on their own in summer and can be layered up when it starts to cool down. I have a small criteria when it comes to t-shirts: I don’t like v necks and I don’t like the sleeves to be too short. The material of this tee is super soft and the colour is unlike anything else I own, it’s a pretty peachy-rose pink.

4. Crew Tee – White

This t-shirt also has a crew neck but the material is slightly different, it’s thicker and not as soft (not in a bad way). You can’t go wrong with a classic white tee, it goes with everything!

5. Waffle Crop Hoodie – Blue Me Away

I don’t know what it is about blue jumpers but they always sucker me in. I wanted a casual hoodie and liked the look of this one. The length is cropped but I find lots of cropped things are the correct length for me. The material is light with a waffle pattern and the hoodie sits nicely on the body. You can definitely layer up underneath or even wear a coat/jacket over top.

---

What was the last clothing item you purchased?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Redhead Rambles #20

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• This past week I have had time off from work and it has been nice to relax and complete tasks from my to do list. I’ve slept in pretty much every day and I’ve loved it!
• I painted my nails using Two-Timing the Zones (the second OPI polish I purchased in my Discount Beauty Haul). I needed three coats of polish.
• Mum cut my fringe.
• On Saturday night I ordered curry and there was so much food! I had butter chicken, pakora, fries, cheese and garlic naan and pappadum. I had to save some for the following day.
• On Sunday I went into town and did some shopping, I purchased two blouses and a new bra. Bras are difficult to buy, I’ve got narrow shoulders so the straps have to be in the right place, I like the cups to cover my boobs a decent amount and I don’t like a lot of lace. Bras are either pretty but impractical or they don’t suit my personality.
• I thoroughly enjoyed watching *THIS VIDEO* of The Anna Edit decluttering her makeup.
• On Monday I woke up with a stuffy nose and thought I was getting sick again. My nose feels better now thanks to sinus rinses.
• I cleared out my drawers and wardrobe and will donate old clothes and pieces I don’t wear anymore.
• My mum made homemade vegetable soup which is one of my winter highlights.
• Tuesday was a windy, dull, grey day so I stayed inside and didn’t do hardly anything. The internet was cutting in and out too which was annoying.
• I placed an online clothing order on Tuesday night, it only makes sense when you clean out your wardrobe right?!
• I took a bracelet into a jeweller as I want some links taken out. The bracelet has always been big on my wrist and I hope in getting some links taken out I’ll wear it more. The bracelet is beautiful and it was a graduation present from my mum back in 2014.
• Wednesday was another takeaway night, this time fish and chips which I haven’t had for ages.
• I watched *THIS TV SPECIAL* of Delta Goodrem’s Wings of the Wild Tour. Delta has such a beautiful soul and is one of the most talented musicians.
• The clothes I ordered online arrived on Thursday afternoon. A post will be up on Monday showing what I got.

What I’ve been listening to:

Two of my favourite albums from 2017 that I still listen to all the time:

• Steps – Tears On the Dancefloor
• Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
  

How was your week?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Beauty Bean + Glassons Haul

Hi everyone!

I have been on an unintentional makeup low buy this year and have barely purchased anything new… until last week. I first heard about Beauty Bean through a work colleague. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular at the time and it wasn’t until I was Googling foundations that the website popped up again.

Long story short, I made an order and purchased three items. The prices are really reasonable and if you buy three or more items shipping is free. Everything is stocked locally in New Zealand and shipping was a breeze, my order arrived within days.

1. L’Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup W1-2 Porcelain Ivory

If you saw my recent post about Rimmel’s Match Perfection foundation you’ll know that I used to adore it until the formula changed and my shade was discontinued. I’m not a fan anymore and I am simply using it up because it’s not bad enough to throw away and I don’t like wastage.

Buying foundation on a whim isn’t something I normally do but I know a lot of people enjoy L’Oreal’s True Match and I’m guessing this is meant to be the more dewy, luminous version. According to the ingredients the foundation is 40% water for all day hydration and contains antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E for improved clarity. Sounds like a dream for dry skin, right? I was a little worried about the colour match but I looked up swatches online and they don’t look any darker than my Max Factor foundations which I’m a big fan of.

First Impression: The shade doesn’t look dark for me at all. The formula feels light and blends easily. It seems to layer nicely as well. I’m impressed!

2. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara (Blackest Black)

Ever since this mascara launched I have heard nothing but rave reviews for it! The mascara goes under the name Paradise Extatic if you live in The UK and it has gold packaging. I recieved the American version of the mascara in a gorgeous, metallic light pink tube which I am glad about – I love pink! This is supposedly a dupe for Too Faced’s Better Than Sex and while I haven’t tried that, this L’Oreal mascara is half the price of Better Than Sex (in NZ). The wand isn’t plastic and is big which I like – I am used to working with a similar size wand on my favourite Rimmel mascara. I ordered the washable mascara and opted for blackest black because I love my lashes to be super dark.

First Impression: The formula isn’t wet which I like and the mascara doesn’t smudge or flake as the day goes on. My lashes look similar if not better to how they do when I use Scandaleyes Lycra Flex from Rimmel.

3. Real Techniques Sculpting Brush

This brush was added to my cart because I needed a third item for free shipping. It was a toss up between this brush and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Since I prefer to apply foundation with a brush I went for this. The brush has really good reviews and like many of the Real Techniques brushes has multiple uses. This brush can be used to apply foundation and also to highlight and contour. The shape of the bristles means the brush fits perfectly under the cheekbones.

First Impression: The bristles on this brush are so soft! It blends foundation quicker than my Expert Face Brush also from Real Techniques and doesn’t eat up product. I haven’t tried to contour or highlight yet but I will.

Onto the Glassons part of the haul:

Glassons is a popular clothing store across Australia and New Zealand and price wise I’d say it’s mid-range. You get stylish, quality items for a good price, clothing isn’t cheap but isn’t expensive either. I have shopped in Glassons for years and have made numerous online orders and in store purchases in the past year. Shipping was also free as I spent over $40 and the order arrived less than 48 hours after I placed it.

1. Seagrass Sloppy Cardi

This is described as a lightweight, sheer cami for the trans-seasonal weather which is exactly what New Zealand is going through right now. The mornings and evenings are cooler but the days can still be warm. I really like the colour of this, it’s almost a light khaki and I love the way it was styled online.

2. Black Flare Sleeve Knit Jumper

I love my cosy jumpers and this reminded me of one Lily Pebbles wore in THIS VIDEO. Black is a staple colour in my wardrobe but I think I only have one other black jumper. I like the flared sleeves and the material is super soft.

3. Black Cropped Jean

I have a pair of these jeans in white already and they are super comfortable. As I am short these are full length on me and the jeans are stretchy and really nice to wear. I bought these to replace a pair of black jeggings I intend to get rid of. Black pants/jeans go with just about anything!

I shared this Instagram snap of me wearing the cardi and jeans:

---

Have you tried any of the makeup items?

What did you purchase in your last haul?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

August Favourites 2017

As you may have read in my Life Lately #2 post August has brought about some changes. I left my job and started a new one a couple of days later so most of the month has been preparing for and leading up to that. August has gone very fast and been a bit emotional. I am looking forward to getting stuck in to my new job and getting into a new routine though.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Black Chenille Cardigan – I mentioned this cardigan in my Boohoo & Glassons Haul but wasn’t able to show it to you in black. I could only find an image of the blue online but the black cardigan acts as the backdrop for this month’s photo. Chenille is beautiful material and the cardigan looks lovely on. I intend to wear this a lot over the next couple of months before summer kicks in!

2. My Filoax/Stationery – Fun fact, Filofaxes and planners are what inspired me to start my blog! I have had my Hot Pink Domino in personal size for three years now and I still use it all the time. I have weekly and monthly layouts and normally plan at the beginning of each week, appointments, paydays etc. I find it useful to record my hours of work each day and on the monthly pages I record my blog views each week. I incorporated stationery into this favourite as I have been enjoying decorating my pages lately (I always used to) and personalising them with stickers and washi tape. I have a lot of washi tape!

3. Nescafé Vanilla Latte – I’m not usually a coffee girl but on a whim I decided to get a box of vanilla latte sachets from the supermarket. I tried and adored the Tahitian Vanilla Latte from Starbucks when it was out and I was reminded of that when I tasted these sachets from Nescafé. The aroma and taste isn’t as strong as other types of coffee and the coffee is nice and fluffy and smooth. I will repurchase these for sure.

4. Canon 700D DSLR – I purchased the Canon 700D in July and I have been using it for blog photographs as well as test shots and personal images. I started on Auto Mode and through watching tutorials and reading articles online I quickly switched to Manual Mode. I have a better understanding of what the numbers for aperture, shutter speed and ISO mean now. Manual Mode does make a difference, if something’s not right it might only be one setting that needs changing and experimentation helps you learn and develop your style of photography. I really want to go on a day trip or outing with my camera and get some beautiful nature/scenery shots, that’s the next step.

5. The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter – This was a Christmas present from my boyfriend last year and I began using it in February. I was convinced I had mentioned this body butter in a favourites post already but checked back and saw I hadn’t. The texture of this body butter is soft but firm and is very moisturising on the skin. It has a lovely chocolate/cocoa scent which is quite natural, not artificial or overly sweet. I imagine it would work for males and females. The Body Shop has discontinued the Cocoa Butter range but if they bring it back I would repurchase the body butter in a heartbeat. I highly recommend it!

August’s Spotify Playlist:

---

What were your favourite things in August?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Fashion Haul: Glassons & Boohoo

Over the past couple of weeks I have added some new clothing to my wardrobe and the pieces are all stunning! Glassons is a popular New Zealand and Australia fashion retailer and I quite often pick up items on sale. I check their website regularly and I have signed up to their mailing list. Boohoo is a company I have heard of numerous times but had never purchased from before. Let me show you what I bought!

Glassons

1. Black Chenille Cardigan – 2017 has been the year of the cardigan! I have found a couple of different styles that suit my shape and this one is especially lovely. The fabric is beautiful and soft but also warm and will be good going into Spring for layering. I wore this cardigan to a job interview a few weeks ago and this is a piece that works dressed up or down.

Note: The cardigan in the image is blue, I couldn’t find a picture of the black one.

2. Ponte Pant and Rib Panel Ponte Pant – I have been after this style for a while. I love leggings as they are so comfortable and these are like leggings but thicker. They stretch and have an elastic waist so they are easy to wear. I purchased both pairs for $50.00 (NZD) and both in black. Black goes with anything and these pants are nice for any situation. My favourite of the two pairs is the ribbed pair, it’s a simple detail but it adds interest to an otherwise ordinary pair of black pants.

Boohoo

3. Hollie Denim Dungarees – I have been loving this trend for a while now and I’m glad I was able to pick up a cute pair of dungarees. I went for black as I preferred the look to normal blue denim and if I wear coloured tops over/under the dungarees the colour will pop more. I like the distressed detailing as it makes them more edgy and playful.

EDIT: Since writing this post I received the order from Boohoo and will be returning the dungarees due to poor fit. Denim can be a snug fit so I went up a size but the dungarees still aren’t the right size for me. To prevent this from happening in future I will only purchase dungarees I am able to try on in a shop first.

4. Mara Slinky Wrap Long Sleeve Bodycon Dress in Berry – This was a risky purchase. I have never worn a bodycon dress before and I didn’t know if it would suit me as I’m curvy. I fell in love with the Berry colour which is another risk. I don’t wear red clothing because of my hair but this is deeper rather than a bright red. I’m hoping the ruched, wrap style will hide my tummy. 

---

Do you like the look of these items? What’s on your clothing wishlist?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest