April Favourites!

In Australia, the onset of April brings cool chilly mornings, darken afternoons and a whole load of rainy days!

Winter is coming!

LOLs 😀

So with that, here are the things I loved during the month of April…

Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay Gel Nail Color – 06 Deep Red

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From the very first stroke in application, I knew that this had to be included on my favourites list!
It was the first time I had ever used a gel nail polish and I immediately noticed a huge difference between the consistency and smooth application compared to that of a ‘normal’ nail polish. I was super impressed with how quick it dried and the fact that I only had to apply one coat – score! 

For a while now I’ve been looking for a beautiful intense red like this one that I would be happy to add to my collection as one of those ‘classic’ type colours… And after using this one a few times, I can definitely see myself reaching for it quite often in the future!

Sukin Facial Moisturiser

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I’ve shared with you before a few other of my favourite products from the Sukin range and when the time came around to finding a new face cream, I knew I had to try this one out!

Things I love about Sukin and this facial moisturiser…

1. It’s Australian owned and made

2. It’s made using natural products: no nasty parabens, 100% vegan, 100% carbon neutral and are against animal testing.

3. It’s ‘skincare that doesn’t cost the earth’.

4. Natural ingredients like aloe vera and nettle hydrate and soothe my skin. While rose hip, wheat germ and avocado oils renew and promote healthy skin.

5. When I lather this cream all over my face after getting out of the shower, it feels cool, refreshing and luxuriously healing!

6. I love the way that it absorbs quickly into my skin without leaving a sticky or greasy feeling, allowing me to simply get on with my day!

Hexies

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When I sew, there are times when I crave a good sewing session on my machine or I have a strange urge to just simply measure and cut up some fabric!

Then there are other times when I just want to relax, go slow and concentrate on some comforting repetitive sewing. And for me, that’s making hexies!

Throughout April, I felt my brain was so full of emotion and information that I found myself craving for those moments where I could whip my hexies out and get lost in the repetition of stitching…

I couldn’t quite tell you how many hexies I made during April or how many ‘flowers’ I formed them into, but this simple, traditional form of hand sewing saved my sanity and soothed my anxieties in so many ways. It brought to me a comforting happiness that no words could ever describe.

Twinings English Breakfast with Honey & Vanilla

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Oh, tea! Where would we be without your warming amber liquid, filling us up with hope, comfort and the feeling of home! *sigh*

It’s with thanks to my parents that I’ve become a slave to the delicious taste and allure of tea! I’ve watched them drink it all my life, at every meal and every occasion we’ve celebrated!

However, I always like to take it a little bit further and explore those types of teas that have something a little different to them!

I’m a big lover of herbal teas. One of my favourites to drink is Twinings Green Tea with Lemon – usually a breakfast favourite! (With the other favourite being Black Tea with Madagascan Vanilla from T2! Delish!)

So when I saw this new flavour of tea from one of my favourite tea companies, (Twinings, that is!) I knew I had to try it!

The promises of Honey and Vanilla swirled among the rich taste of black tea…oh…my knees went all jelly-like in the aisle as I imagined the taste!

And believe me, it tastes beautiful! The aroma that radiates off it is so delectably sweet and hypnotic that I almost wish it was a perfume! ‘Cos I’d wear it! Everyday!

 Game of Thrones – Season One

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House of Stark – SOURCE

As usual with anything that’s huge in the Pop Culture world, I’m late to the party!

The phenomenon that is ‘Game of Thrones’, started years ago but it’s only now that I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon and see what the fuss was all about!

And the ‘fuss’ was right! (As usual!) The series is fantastic! The story line is dramatic! It weaves in and out, too and throw between all of the characters. Each episode builds upon the last and there’s no room for slacking – if you miss a slight detail or need to leave the room for a loo break, you instantly fall behind with what’s happening and it can be hard to catch up!

What I love about the series are the intricate bits of information that eventually explode into a major theme that will ultimately impact everyone in Westeros!

OMG, it’s just so good!!

Passenger – Whispers II

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If I could name just one artist who soothes my soul, ignites my passion, takes away my anxieties and just makes me simply happy when I listen to their music…

I would have to say it’s this guy – Passenger – aka Mike Rosenberg.

Be it the lyrics, the catchy rhythm of his songs or the sheer heartfelt passion that he radiates when he sings… All of it captures me and takes me to a place where I’m safe, happy and on fire for life!

Whispers II is the follow up album from his last, called Whispers. And what makes me love this guy even more is that all of the profits he makes from Whispers II is going towards UNICEF to help fight against child malnutrition in Liberia. Geez, what a guy!

See, making music for him isn’t all about the profit, the glory or the fame or achieving no. 1 statuses on songs and albums sales. It’s about making music that feels, gives, loves, transforms and changes others for the better.

That kind of music and intent behind is always the best!

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So as always, these Favourite posts come with a YT video where I’ve chatted a little bit more about my favourites! If you would like to check that out, click here and you’ll be taken straight to it!

Happy Favouriting, friends!

xx

PS. Let me know of anything you loved during April! Or perhaps you share a love for one of the things I mentioned above…?!

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March Favourites!

A bit late, huh!? Well, there’s no time better than present, so here were the things I most loved during the month of March!

HOME by Peter Morrissey Vanilla Candle

HOME Candle

I love a good homey vanilla scent candle! They fill the house with a lazy comforting aroma that makes you feel happy all day! I usually like to burn candles later on in the day and into night as it makes the house cozy and delightful!

This particular candle is the first I’ve bought with double wicks. At the time of purchasing I wasn’t sure how quick it would burn through. But now that I’ve had it a while, it seems to burn in the same similar time as a single wick.

I’m not too sure what I’ll do with the glass dish once the candle has died. I was thinking of cleaning it out and using as a place to store random knick-knacks. Do you have any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments!

Bourjois Limited Edition Vintage Blusher in 16 Rose Coup de Foudre (Love-Struck Rose)

Bourjois Blush

I say, ‘what’s a favourites list without a few beauty products?!’ And this one doesn’t disappoint!

Now to be completely honest and melodramatic, this blush has changed my life! It is so beautiful, petite and lush that I’ve been swooning over it all month! It’s this gorgeous shade of pink/coral that has a delicate shimmer mixed throughout. It’s quite a heavy type covering blush, so only a little on the brush goes a long way!

I bought it online through ASOS who, I happily discovered, have a pretty good beauty/makeup range to explore with some very competitive prices that makes this little Aussie smile! (Cosmetics are super expensive in Australia, so any place where I can buy at a cheaper price is fantastic!!)

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006 Pink Blush

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Along with my sweet little blush, I also purchased another Rimmel lipstick. My excuse for buying it was that I didn’t have this shade of pink lippy in my collection. (As one does!) I find that I really like soft pinks like this when I want a makeup day to be really light, casual and minimal.

Pieces Akamo Bar Stud Earrings

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I’ve been looking for a pair of stud earrings like this for a good little while now, so when I was browsing on ASOS, I checked out their jewellery section and found these little beauties! They were super cheap and the exact colour I was wanting! Win! So naturally, I’ve been wearing them all month!

Fluffy Socks

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Autumn has finally set in in Australia and the nights are getting particularly chilly! So to keep my little piggies (my toes, that is!) warm, I’ve been snuggling up in these cozy fluffy socks! I find because it’s not quite Ugg Boot weather yet, these socks seem to do the best job at keeping me warm. Their soft, feathery nature makes it feel like I’m walking on clouds! It devine!

A Circle of Geese foundation paper piecing pattern by Piece By Number

A Circle of Geese Block

I’ve had a great month getting lost in some random and fun sewing projects, especially this block pattern by Piece By Number. It was a bit strange actually; I had this odd craving to get stuck into some foundation paper-piecing for some reason and remembered this great block I had made when I was doing the Craftsy Block of the Month with Amy Gibson a few years ago. So I printed out the pattern pieces, dug out a few of my favourite DS Quilts fabrics and simply got lost in the sewing process! It was wonderful!

Hot Cross Buns!

So March was Easter. And with Easter comes chocolate and Hot Cross Buns! And man, was I craving them! I’m pretty sure I bought over three packets of buns in as many weeks! And don’t worry, I did share them with my family but even that was pretty hard to do!!

The way that I love to eat them is heated to warm, with a good spread of butter and a hot cup of tea! Ooo, heaven!

BONUS FAVOURITE!

AVPM One other thing I absolutely loved throughout March was re-watching A Very Potter Musical, A Very Potter Sequel and A Very Potter Senior Year by StarKid on their YouTube channel. If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter books I would very much encourage you to watch them! They’re ‘totally awesome!’

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So one month over and another has replaced it! Let me know of any things you’ve loved over the past few weeks! I would love to know!

I also uploaded this video chatting all about these favourites! Check it out if you wish!

Happy Favouriting, Friends!

xx

Other Favourites posts from this year…

+ January

+ February

February Favourites!

{Oh my, my! I’ve been so slack with getting my posts written and published this week! Naughty! So because of that, three new posts (including this one) will be published over the next few days! Hope you don’t mind!!}

…And so, another month of our new year has been and gone. It’s a bit scary to think that we’re almost halfway through March! But before we get a little bit too panicky about how fast the year is moving, allow me to share with you the things that made February a happy one!

one // Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in ‘005 Effortless Glam’

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Since becoming a little bit more interested in beauty and makeup these past 12 months or so, I’ve struggled to find a lip colour that a) suited me b) didn’t make me look like a drag queen and c) came close to matching my natural lip colour to the point were it didn’t really look like I was wearing any lipstick at all.

I quite accidentally came across this lipstick while grocery shopping one day… I was walking past the cosmetics section and saw that my favourite brand had some great little sales. Whoo! So of course, I had to have a little bit of a look to see if there was anything I liked and quite innocently found this lippy! As soon as I got home and gave it try, I knew instantly that this was my new go-to lip colour for days when I chose to work a natural/everyday makeup look.

two // Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush Balm in ‘220 Rumour Has It’

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In stark contrast to the last lip colour, this one is as bold as I’m willing to confidently wear! It has a bright pink tone to it and makes my lips pop!

My bold-lippy look from when I was on holiday!
My bold-lippy look from when I was on holiday!

I think it takes real guts and confidence to wear a lip colour of this intensity, especially when you’re first starting out! I like how easy it is to apply as well as the soft matte finish it gives. It’s hydrating (hence why it’s called a ‘balm’) and doesn’t feel sticky on the lips. The colour makes me feel like a real grown-up (even though I am!) and really girly at the same time. And I’m okay with that.

three // Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in ‘200 Soft Beige’

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Because I’m a make-up newbie, this is the first foundation I have ever bought! And because I really have nothing else to compare it with, naturally I really love this one!

Now, I don’t wear foundation (or make up) everyday. I keep foundation for those special kind of days… Appointments, meetings, special occasions etc. So when I do get a chance to wear it, I find that it just makes everything on my face look so much brighter, smoother and prettier. It’s easy to blend in, hides all of the red bits wonderfully and soothes those horrid colours that unfortunately form under my eyes when I go to bed too late!

four // OGX Kukui Oil – Anti-Frizz Hydrating Oil

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A few weeks ago, I boarded a ship in Sydney that would take me to one of the most humid places I have ever been – Fiji!! Now luckily for me, I’d visited this part of the world before (Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands) and knew how the humidity would affect my hair…

Monica and that moment in Friends...
Monica and that moment in Friends… {SOURCE}

So I bought this and used it everyday on my hair while away and fell in love with it! I spritzed it in while my hair was wet and/or dry and it just helped to control those pesky fly-away hairs that make me look like I don’t own a hair brush as well as giving a nice a little shine to my finished hair-do.

five // Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Perfume

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When ever I go on a cruise, I always take full advantage of the duty-free shops onboard, where I indulge in my love for pretty perfume! And this time around was no exception!

The first perfume I came across was this one. It was actually the only one that stood out to me at the time – it smells so wonderfully pretty!

The over all scent of this perfume is soft and light, feminine and delightfully subtle. This too is highlighted in the design of the bottle – sleek, slim and very old-school. I feel like a million bucks when I spritz this all over, it fills me with confidence, allowing me to feel like I can do and achieve anything that is put before me!

And I think any perfume that can do that, is a keeper!

six // L’Occitane Jasmin & Bergamote Perfume

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The second perfume that caught my eye…? Nose…? Imagination…? Well, the one that made me weak at the knees – was this one from L’Occitane.

It’s a total polar-opposite to that of the Chanel perfume. The scent is hard hitting, heavy but fresh and is perfect to wear as an all day perfume. The strong notes of Jasmin remind me of the spring when all of the bushes are flowering in our neighbourhood. It’s just delightful!

seven // Album of the Month: Hozier

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I’m always on the hunt for new music and this month Hozier caught my attention!

iTunes sums up his sound as ‘haunting’ and ‘bluesy’ and as an album full of ‘spine-tingling soulful rock’n’roll’ combined with ‘elements of gospel, primitive rock, vintage R&B and ancient blues’. And I would have to agree 100%! It’s so easy to listen, groove and sway to all day long!

Stand out tracks for me include: From Eden, Someone New, Like Real People Do and Foreigner’s God.

eight // Film of the Month: Whiplash

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[SOURCE]

I saw this movie while I was away on holiday and I was absolutely blown away by it! I had seen a few little promos for it here and there, but I didn’t really have any idea what the plot of the movie was. 

And woah! Does this movie hit you in the face or what!? It’s fast, intense, challenging, dramatic and so wonderfully shot and edited. I loved the jazz music that was woven throughout the whole story and I found myself emotionally rooting for the main character and his struggles – I wanted him to succeed and prove everyone wrong about his talents! (See the movie and you’ll know what I mean!)

J.K Simmons very much deserved the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that he received for his role – he was cunning, challenging, manipulative and intense. He was utterly brilliant!

nine // Kikki.K Grey Felt Travel Wallet

KikkiKWallet - Feb Favs

I don’t know whether you know this already, but I recently went away on holiday to Fiji! (Don’t worry, I know that you do. It’s hard to express sarcasm in writing!) And for ages I was looking for a basic travel wallet were I could safely and easily store my passport, boarding ticket, money and I.D all together.

One lucky morning, a few days before our departure date, I walked into my local Kikki.K store and found this great felt covered travel wallet featuring all of the right pockets, zips and clasps I was looking for. And even better, it was on sale – half price baby! Whoo!

The only down side to it is that it is a little bulky i.e. a bit long, but I can live with that. Everything else about it I love: the tactile felt surface, how slim it feels when in hand, easy access to every pocket and the secure stud button.

It really makes me wanna travel again…sigh.

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So February Favourites are done and dusted! If you’re interested in watching me talk about these favourites, click here for the video!

And, if you missed my January Favourites, click here to read all about them!

Did you have anything in particular you loved in February? Comment below, I would love to know!!

Happy Favouriting, Friends!

xx