October Favourites 2012

Now that October has ended, it's time for a rehash of my favourites for the month!

Beauty Favourites...

Beauty

– Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation (in the colour Beige Rose 10)

I purchased this foundation a few weeks ago after all of the hype about it inspired me to get my hands on it. I’ll do a full review of this soon, but I will say it has a gorgeous finish and is so luminous and gorgeous on the skin. It seems to even get better on my skin as the day progresses somehow! It's a great every day foundation, and I'm really happy with it so far.

Nails

–Essie’s Boxer Shorts

Without flash

With flash

This polish was purchased online because it’s not available in Australia for some reason. Boxer Shorts is a bluey purple creamy polish, that looks different in different lights. I was convinced it was blue until everyone said it was purple and then I’ve felt confused ever since! It’s so gorgeous on every skin tone and it is a really pretty, happy colour. I think it’s hopped into my top five nail polishes of all time already! I just love it more than most polishes I’ve tried ever.

Skincare/Bodycare

– Dior One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum

This is just incredible. Goes on after toning and before moisturising (I do it at night before bed). It just leaves my skin baby soft and it looks so glowing and fresh in the morning after I’ve used it. You know how sometimes your skin feels a bit rougher and you can sometimes feel tiny little bumps on your forehead caused by dehydration? This completely wipes them out and rehydrates your skin, leaving it softer and smoother than ever.

General Favourites...

Food

- Sweet and Salty Popcorn (Coles brand)

Source

I don’t even like popcorn, but I love this. This is actually addictive. My friend brought it over and was like Kate you will love this. I initially was disbelieving as I never eat popcorn because to me it tastes boring, but this is something special. The salty sweet thing just works, and creates a dream team of flavor that is unbeatable in my opinion. Perfect for movie nights and a relatively healthier snack if you feel like junk food.

TV Show

– The Vampire Diaries

Source

This show has escalated so fast up the line of my favourite shows that it’s jumped into my absolute best top favourites. And keep in mind I watch an insane amount of TV shows! To be honest it seemed stupid before I watched it, but after a few episodes I was addicted to the drama, the thrill, the characters and the romance. The best romance ever, mind you. I LOVE DAMON! If you watch it let me know who you are rooting for Elena to end up with! If you don't watch it, then start now. You won't be sorry.

DVD

– Man on Fire

Source

Source

I wanted to watch this movie because my friend said the film Taken ripped the idea off from this film. It was very similar, but as a whole I preferred Taken as I just love that film. But this was still really good, but kind of dark and depressing and a bit slow in parts (which Taken is definitely not!). 

I feel that this film's iconic status can basically be attributed to the littlest actor in the film - Dakota Fanning. She is an absolute star and she acts better than most adults I've ever seen. When she acted scared or worried or anything in the film I felt like my heart was being ripped out and felt like crying! Look how cute her little face is in that picture above awww! After watching it I googled Dakota Fanning's other films, and put them all on my list of must see films! She made this film.

Film

- Argo

Source

I saw this recently as my boyfriend picked it as our movie choice, and it was actually amazing (good choice Rich!). It's based on a true story where Iran takes some American hostages and it centres around the CIA's elaborate and crazy plan to smuggle them out unnoticed. They do this under the guise of filming a (fake) Hollywood movie, and the plan is just so crazy it might actually work... see it to find out what happens! It's full of thriller, on the edge of your seat moments, with humour and drama too. Ben Affleck directed, produced and was the lead actor in this film, and I think he did mighty well!

Clothing

– Black lace peplum top from Portmans

This top is amazing for many reasons. It’s feminine and girly and pretty, and the sheer lace up the top looks so lovely. It’s so flattering as black is slimming, it cinches in at the waist and slightly flares out into a peplum design over my stomach. But it’s very subtle for a peplum which I like. It looks great over a skirt or jeans and is very office or just general life appropriate.

Jewellery

– Rose gold and silver coin pendant necklace from Mocha

My lovely auntie bought this for me as a present and I just love it! I wear it almost every day and it goes with everything. I love rose gold teamed with silver, and the design is so pretty. The necklace feels nice and sturdy and really good quality whilst still having a delicate chain. I just love this necklace so much and it goes with everything in my wardrobe.

Item

- Glasshouse Christmas Party candle 

I recently posted about this candle in my Christmas haul. It has made my whole room smell like Christmas and the smell is just so incredibly festive and delicious and such a pleasure to my nose. It has an orange/ginger/nutmeg/sweet spicy smell. Pick it up before it all sells out because it is a limited addition!

So there you have my October favourites! Hope you all had a great October and Halloween, and if you are in Melbourne that you are enjoying the racing season and Spring! 

Hope your November has started off well :) I've got a four day weekend ahead of me so I am incredibly happy! xx

September Favourites 2012

Now that September has ended, it's time for a rehash of my favourites for the month!

Beauty Favourites...

Beauty

– MAC’s Patina eye shadow (all over my lid)

An amazingly pretty, subtle and beautiful antique gold colour that complements brown colourings and pairs with brown eye shadows in the crease stunningly.

-Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Blossom

Very moisturising and comfortable to wear, amazing natural colour that makes your whole complexion look healthier. Like your own lip colour but better. Also use it on my cheeks as blush on the go, it’s such a perfect colour for it.

Nails

– Illamasqua’s Nomad and Essie’s Bahama Mama (a tie!)

Nomad for its creamy, fun, happy, perfect green, and Bahama Mama for its beautiful plum, deep creamy sophistication.

Skincare/Bodycare

– Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish

Can’t believe how smooth, soft and flawless my skin is looking all thanks to this.

General Favourites...

Food

- Five:am Honey and Cinnamon Yoghurt.

So incredibly sweet and creamy. Aside from breakfast I often eat it as a dessert or a sweet snack. Tastes better than ice cream to me!

TV Show

– Sex And The City

During the break in show seasons, I have been desperate to watch basically anything that’s semi good/recommended by someone. For some reason this iconic show slipped through unwatched for 23 years of my life. Now it’s very much watched, and I’m up to the final season. Really funny, hilariously relatable and a bit of light relief.

DVD

– Pearl Harbour

I’ve watched a few this month but my favourite would probably have to be a DVD of Pearl Harbour. Surprisingly I found myself loving Ben Affleck in it, as I usually don’t really like him. Aside from the cute bromance going on between him and his best mate Matt Damon, I generally find him annoying. It was very exciting and dramatic and kept me enthralled the whole way through. Although it could have been a tad shorter!

Film

- Ruby Sparks

I recently went to see the film Ruby Sparks with my friends and it was so cute and clever and touching. The actors are a real life couple too which somehow makes it even cuter. It was a romantic comedy but it had some darker undertones such as the exploration of issues of control and trying to change your partner. It really made you think and was very entertaining.

Reading

– Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I’m rereading the Harry Potter series again, and I’m up to book 5. I love how when I read it I get completely absorbed all over again with the whole wonder and magic of it all. The world created in it is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I also love the feelings of nostalgia and youthful innocence that surface when reading it, as I think back to when I first read it and what stage of my life I was at when doing so.

Clothing

– Marcs navy blue blazer

The fit is flattering and it sits better than any other blazer I’ve worn. I like the sort of nautical look of it, the classy buttons, the stripy lining and the three quarter length sleeves. It makes any work, dress or jeans combo look better and more put together. Cost a bit ($249) but worth every cent in terms of wear, quality and longevity. And I always feel good wearing it, rather than the frequent wear it a few times and get bored of it scenario.

Jewellery

– Venice glass blown necklace and earrings

My best friend bought this back for me from his Europe trip. I can’t tell you how much I love these. I love how 3D they are, and how there are multiple colours swirled around, and how you can look deep into its depths. And I love the combination of purple, silver and black. It looks so magical and has little bubbles in it too. The earrings are cute and little but still make a statement. I have received so many complements on them! And the necklace is an amazing feature necklace.

So there you have my September favourites! Hope the new month has started off amazingly for all of you :)

IPads And My All Time Favourite TV Shows

When your life seems to be all work, sleep, eat on repeat, you need to find things that get you excited and passionate. Things that can provide entertainment, escapism and something to look forward to.

Since starting full time work, I’ve been pretty overwhelmed by my lack of spare time, huge commutes, long work days that leave you exhausted by the time you finally get home, and the fact that I’m always seemingly living for the weekends. So I’ve found it really important to find things that make my work days a bit brighter and more bearable.

I have a few go-to activities that provide me with great joy and escapism, however the number one at the moment is my addiction to TV Shows. Specifically dramas.

One enormous tip I can give to those of you that have a long commute or travel lots on public transport is try and save up and BUY AN IPAD (which I did really recently!).

Isn't she pretty?

Before my iPad, my 45 minute train ride to work and then 45 minutes home again nearly killed me. Now when I wake up in the mornings and when I step out of my building at night, I really look forward to my iPad TV show watching on the train. It’s a perfect amount of time to watch a full episode, and train trips fly by so fast to the point where I barely notice them anymore. Sometimes I even wish they would go longer so I could watch another episode! 

I feel like I’ve gotten back an hour and half of my life a day (that equates to 7.5 hours over the work week!), and time is so precious to me. So an iPad has been a brilliant investment for my life and wellbeing. It creates my own little movie theatre on the train where I can zone out and be fully engrossed in my shows and not even notice I’m on a train.

So getting your hand on an iPad would be one of the biggest work/life balance recommendations I could give you.

Anyway now to get to what I actually watch on my iPad!

If you are anything like me, you’ll whizz through every season of a whole TV show and then constantly be in search of your next potential show addiction. I’m currently waiting on about NINE shows to start in the new season, which is pretty crazy! So I’m always looking for new recommendations of the next show I should watch. I’d actually love it if you guys could recommend shows to me!

So in case you share this show addiction of mine, I thought I’d create a couple of posts on my favourites. This one will be my all time favourite shows that are now finished and are my top shows of all time. The next post will be current favourite shows that are still being produced.

So let’s start with a BANG. My favourite show of all time...

#1

One Tree Hill (9 seasons)

Part of my OTH collection - have leant the others out to friends who now share my addiction!

Basic Plot:

The show centres around two half brothers- Lucas and Nathan, and the girls in their lives- Peyton, Hayley and Brooke. It covers their struggles with their selfish and difficult father Dan, relationships with their friends and family members, and the issues experienced as a teen and as a twenty-something.

It’s 9 seasons long and the first four seasons span their 16-18 year old lives, and then the show skips forward five years in season 5 and shows their lives from 22 onwards. It’s great to be able to follow the characters as they grow and see where they end up.

Genre:

Drama, Romance, Feel Good. 

Why I love it:

It’s one of the only shows I’ve watched that focuses on the life of the young adult (rather than just teen or college student). The characters grow as you do, and I started watching it when I was the same age as them (around 16) and then finished watching it when I was a similar age to them.

The show includes elements of many different interests of mine. For instance there’s a fashion designer, a music label owner, a singer, an author, a sports star, a movie producer, a model/actress, etc. Through each of these characters we see their related element play out, so it feels like many shows in one.

It’s such a feel good show that portrays relationships so incredibly well, and you get to know the characters in enormous depth. There are some really fast paced thrilling episodes, but also plenty of slower moving relationship focused ones, but all of it is full of drama and incredibly exciting. It’s just such a genuine, sincere, lovely show.

Yes... I do have a Clothes Over Bros T-shirt!! (don't judge me too hard - I wear it as PJs!)

Any Negatives?

Stick with it, first season takes a while to get into. I watched the first five episodes and got slightly bored, and then a bit later really got back into it! After about episode 10 of first season, the show is absolutely amazing. So stick with it, I promise you’ll love it! Also some people weren’t sure about the five year jump that occurs in season 5, but I think it was a perfect addition to the show.

Favourite Characters:

Brooke, Nathan, Julian and Jamie.

#2

Lost (6 seasons)

Just part of my Lost collection

Basic Plot:

A group of (very good looking!) strangers find themselves stuck on a deserted island after their plane terrifyingly crashes mid flight. Turns out the island is no ordinary island, and the survivors have to band together to survive.

Genre:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Mystery. There is also quite a lot of Comedy and Romance too!

Why I love it:

For its emphasis on human drama and relationships. No other show that I have ever watched has had so many main characters (this has over 20!), all of whom you get to know in enormous detail. Each episode tends to have a specific character focus, so the show will ‘flashback’ into the lives of the character before the island, and you can find out why they act the way they do due to past experiences, and discover what motivates them.

I really love psychological shows where humans are tested to their limits by extreme circumstances. It’s the psychologist in me coming out! It’s a brilliant, addictive, clever show, with the most well developed, plausible characters at its centre.

One of my very lucky friends had the 21st of a lifetime (cost over $25,000!!!!??!) and had four TV shows as the theme/sets - Dexter, Simpsons, Sex and the City and Lost. It actually felt like you were in each of the TV shows, it was that good! I stole this secretly as a souvenir - I think I appreciated this more than anyone!

Any Negatives?

You will probably hear of people complaining about how confusing Lost is. It is a very high involvement show definitely, one where you have to watch every single episode in order. But if you follow it religiously you will understand it. There are constant clues and mysteries and things you pick up on, which just adds to the enjoyment of the show.

Also the show takes a slight sci-fi path in the middle, and so long as you are prepared to slightly suspend disbelief, it makes sense in the context of the whole show. In addition, the ending is highly debated, but one thing to keep in mind is that there are many interpretations to the ending (which sporadic watchers missed), so choose the one that you are most comfortable and satisfied with. A lot of Lost is about personal interpretations and meanings derived from events.

Favourite Characters:

Kate (love it when my name’s a character’s name!), Jack, Sawyer, Locke and Sayid.

#3

Friends (10 seasons)

Box Set!!

Basic Plot:

Centred around 6 best friends living in New York City, and the show follows their lives spanned over 10 years. Covers their friendships, loves, losses, work life, and just everything friends go through.

Genre:

Comedy, Drama, Feel Good.

Why I love it:

It’s so true to life and genuine and it reminds me of my group of friends. It’s so comforting and happy to watch and always puts me in a good mood. It’s extremely relatable.

Poster in my room

Any Negatives?

It’s not as addictive as the top two shows, I love shows that have cliff hangers where I can’t wait to watch the next episode. Even though there is a continuing plot, most of the episodes could be stand alone. Good for quick or random viewing, but I prefer to get fully absorbed in a show. Although I can still do this with Friends, and I have been known to sit there for a few hours and watch episode after episode! Also the episodes only go for 20 minutes, whereas I prefer longer episodes of shows that get me more absorbed.

Favourite characters:

All of them! Particularly the boys! But Monica annoys me.

So there you have my top three shows of all time!

If you pushed me to make it a top 5 (I couldn't help myself!), I would also add Gilmore Girls and The OC in there.

Gilmore Girls is such a clever, witty drama with plenty of comedic moments. The banter that goes on between mother Lorelai and daughter Rory is brilliant - they speak so fast! Slightly slow moving in terms of plot, but along the same lines as One Tree Hill in terms of being a sincere, genuine feeling show. There are 7 seasons, that cover the ups and downs of the mother daughter relationship, family, friends and romance, switching between focusing on both Lorelai and Rory’s lives. Lorelai is a stand out character in this show.

The OC came out at a similar time to One Tree Hill, but instead of being set in a small town with more normal characters, the characters in this are more along the lines of Gossip Girl. Incredibly rich and spoilt, it spans the lives of a group of high schoolers and their relationships. An addictive, exciting, glamorous show that never fails to remind me of summer and of my youth. There is an innocence and sincerity that lies at the middle of this show, that’s different to others of its kind, which makes it a stand out in my mind. Absolutely love Seth and Sandy Cohen! It is let down slightly by its final season however (there are four seasons).

So there is my top three/five (it was hard to decide okay!)

I’ll do a post soon about my current, still screening favourites. So are you a fan of any of these shows? I’d love to hear your opinions on them in the comments below! I always enjoy a good chat about the TV shows I love!