Covergirl Nature Luxe Gloss Balm

Covergirl Nature Luxe Gloss Balm

Cost: $6-7
Purchase From: Most pharmacy's, Supermarkets and Department Stores.
Available Colours: Tulip 205, Peony 220, Grenache 235, Cabernet 250, Sandstone 265, Clove 280, Thistle 210, Anemone 225, Muscat 240, Marble 255, Spice 270, Hibiscus 215, Coral 230, Pinot 245, Clay 260, Cinnamon 275.

I bought three in the shades; 270, 255, 235 and if I had to give this product a score out of 10 it would be generous to give them a two! one point for the nice packaging and the other for it having an SPF15. When you look at the product you think, oh the colours are pretty but when you apply it you quickly realise that looks can be deceiving.... You apply and apply and apply with little results. I don't know what happened to the colour but I do know it's NOT on my lips.

Won't be re-purchasing nor recommending. And to boot, the smell is yuk!
This product will suit people who want a lip balm (as the name suggests) and expect little to no colour on your lips, please don't expect it to moisturise your lips, it dried mine out. If you like the taste of a chap stick then this will work for you as it leaves a bad taste in your mouth just like a chap stick.

The Body Shop - Shimmer Waves - Bronze

Cost: $39.95 (cheaper alternative also mentioned)
Available Colours: Bronze, Blush
Purchase From: The body shop either online or in store
http://www.thebodyshop.com.au/

This would be my favourite product out of everything I own. you can use this for not only contouring your cheeks, giving you skin a healthy glow but use each colour individually as an eye shadow. It's light on the skin and if you need a darker tone just apply a bit more. I enjoy the waves more than a single colour because you can give your eyes dimension by using at least three different shades and not just one flat colour.

This is not as cheap as I'd like it to be, but if your able to save up for it then please do. If you do purchase this product I recommend that you go into the store, talk to the staff and get them to show you which colour would suit your skin tone. you won't regret this purchase! This product is long lasting and easy to apply.

The packaging is simple and compact. I like the clear case so you can see the product.
As I mentioned above, this is not the cheapest so I thought I'd find an alternative...
NYX Tango with Bronzer Powder which costs $8 on http://www.cherryculture.com/ and $10 http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/. NYX offers five different choice of colours.

Covergirl Lash Blast Length

Covergirl Lash Blast Length - Very Black
Cost: $12-$18
Purchase from: Just about any supermarket, pharmacy or department store.

Available Colours: Very Black 800, Black 805, Black Brown 810, Brown 815
So far, this has been the best mascara I have used. The brush is plastic and clean. This mascara does not clump nor does it sting my eyes (until it starts to age of course). It does go on thin but it gives your lashes a longer and separated look. This mascara is easy to apply because the brush isn't at an angle to your eye. I have, as many others have, poked myself in the eye with other mascaras mostly because of the shape of the brush.

You do not need to re-apply this but if you want a thicker look, put some on just after you have finished your eye shadow and then again once you have finished your make-up routine.
I like this mascara so much that I purchased a spare. I don't do that sort of thing but seeing as how it was also on clearance, it didn't break the budget.

Please don't keep your old mascaras because when they age, their bacteria level increases which can lead to sties or cysts. (not saying that you will get them) but the risk increases.
Please don't leave your make-up on overnight, take it off and have a good cleansing routine.

NYX Mosaic Powder - Rosey 06

Cost: Cherry Culture sells for $8, NYX sells for $7
Purchase From:
http://www.cherryculture.com/index.php
http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/
Colours available: Dare, Highlighter, Latte, Plummy, Peachy, Champagne, Rosey, Cafe, Spice, Paradise, Love, Truth.

This was my second blush purchase. I bought this from Cherry Culture because I had bought more than one item from them and the shipping worked out cheaper.
I enjoy this blush and I use it most days. It has a small amount of shimmer to it but the pigment is prominent and you don't need to use as much. This is a long wearing blush and I haven't had to re-apply it during the day.

The blush goes on smooth and has no visible streaks. To apply I use a small/medium Kabuki brush.
Make sure to tap off the excess product from the brush before applying it to your face.

Small/Medium Kabuki Brush
Coast: $7
Purchase From: Cosmetics Plus

I use this brush to apply my blush. This is a nice soft and easy to use brush.
I only had one problem with it, and this will help you choose your Kabuki....

When you're looking for a make-up brush be sure to pick it up and play with it. Rub it along your forearm and if it's rough then put it back and find another one. If it's soft, it has promise....Lightly tug on the bristles, I failed to do this and when I got home I found that I was pulling out quite a few 'cough' a lot of bristles. I's assuming that when it was made, not all of the fibbers stuck and they just came out. This hasn't affected the brush but I don't want you to buy something that once you get it home it falls apart.

As well as feeling soft, look for thickness and I nice even curve, sort of dome shape. The thicker the brush the better the application of your make-up.

To care for this brush, please don't lay this brush or any brush on its side. You will need to purchase yourself a brush cleaner. I bought a bottle of Bare Minerals brush cleaner to care for my brushes. You should be cleaning your brushes on a regular basis and after each colour change. I will do a more
in-depth post on how to clean your brushes soon.

Getting Started

Getting Started:
When buying make-up, I find the most important part is knowing which colours suit you. Just because you like a colour and that it looks great on someone else, it may not look so great on you....
Here are a few examples; If you have blue eyes, the best colours for you are Orange Bronze and Gold tones.
If you have Brown/Hazel eyes then Violet and pinks are going to work well for you.
And if you have Green eyes then you should try using eye shadows that have a Red base to it. I know that Red sounds a bit over the top BUT, try mixing some brown into the red to warm the colour a bit.

BYS Blusher: Pretty In Pink

BYS Blusher: Pretty In Pink
Cost: around $5
Purchase From: Kmart
Colours available: Coral, Candyfloss, Fierce Fuchsia, Peach Sundae, Perfectly Peachy, Pink Velvet, Pretty In Pink.

This was the first blush I bought myself. For the price, it's ok, however...You can't tell from just looking at it but it's not a matte blush, it has a high shimmer to it. I use a bronzer as well as blush and as the bronzer already has shimmer in it, you don't need more. It's also not very pigmented which means that if you apply more, you won't get a deeper colour but you will get more shimmer....
The product doesn't last all day, and you may need to re-apply around lunch time.
To apply this I use a small/medium Kabuki brush. The blush does go on evenly without leaving streaky lines.

General Make-up

Of late I have been watching a lot of Utube videos and reading blogs on people who make their own make-up videos and tutorials. It has been a great experience but I began to notice the ever rising cost of it all and I thought that there has to be a way around that, so I decided to buy some less expensive brands and see how it all works.
Stay tuned for some reviews on the "not so expensive" make-up brands that can be used on a daily basis. Oh and before I forget, all of the make-up I mention can be either bought or shipped to Australia. I'm not a fan of paying high shipping and handling costs so I will do my best to minimise your pain as well as my own....

This dressing table came from IKEA and it was a present from my wonderful man on Christmas.
My make-up and stuff had been gradually taking over the bathroom and as we live in a unit space is at a premium



Here is a more updated picture, just after i started to move some things into my awesome new area.

Mile-a-minute with border

Halloween 2012

This was my costume for work on Halloween.

Mile-a-minute Pattern

Ok, here is my attempt at writing this pattern, or any pattern for that matter.

Hook size 3-3.5
Stitches used: ch - chain, sl - slip stitch, tr - treble

Row 1: ch7, sl into first ch to form a ring, ch3 and turn

Row 2: Into ring tr2 (1st cluster), ch3, tr3 (2nd cluster) into ring, ch3 and turn

Row 3: 3tr into the 3ch space. 3ch 3tr in same space, 1tr into last tr of previous row, 3ch turn.

row 4: 3 tr into the 3 ch space. 3ch 3tr in same space, 1tr into previous 1tr space ch3 and turn.

Notes: A cluster is 3tr. On row 2 it only says 2 tr but the previous 3ch make the last tr needed to make the cluster.

Mile-a-minute Rug

Here is the start of my new rug.
I love this stitch because it's simple and really doesnt take long at all. It's also hard to make a mistake.....

Kokada book highlights

My Highlights from the book Kokoda by Paul Ham

As you go through, stick them.’ A rather quiet, introspective soldier refused. He was told, ‘It’s for all our safety’—and he was reminded of an incident when an apparently dead Japanese had shot a passing Australian. The quiet soldier said ‘Okay’, and lunged his bayonet into the nearest Japanese body, which groaned and crawled forward. The Japanese had been hiding his rifle. The Australian shook with revulsion and never quite recovered from the incident. He died later in the campaign.

The Japanese bound and bayoneted dozens of tribesmen who refused to cooperate with them. Women were raped, sometimes with bayonets. One native woman was pegged down and slit from her throat to her vagina; a teenage girl was nailed to the ground with a bamboo stake through her chest. The genitals and anuses of several native men and women were mutilated; the breasts of several women were chopped off and left on or beside their bodies. One woman was disembowelled, and one man’s buttocks were hacked off. At Moteo the Japanese tied a man’s hands with signal wire and shot and bayoneted him several...

But the…information that [the] wounded would have to fend for themselves, received in the darkness of a tent at midnight, to men just awakened from their sleep, was shattering.’9 Of 65 Australian Victoria Crosses won in World War I, thirteen went to troops who rescued the wounded under enemy fire. ‘Now the men were told that if hit…they would have to get back as best they could.’

Next Projects

Here are the next two rugs that I'm going to make

Rugs finally finished

This is the last rug that i needed to make for my Nephew

Light of Requiem by Daniel Arenson

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


All i can say is, thanks god that series is over!

I don't think i will read another of his books.



View all my reviews

will it ever end!

Tears of Requiem by Daniel Arenson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The story line is getting silly now....

The best part was when the king dies and there is still one more of these horrible books to go but i have to finish it now.



View all my reviews

Meh book

Blood of Requiem by Daniel Arenson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Honestly, this book hasn't grabbed me like other books have, but, I have to finish the series now that I have started so I hope that it gets better.
The book is too predictable and it feels like I have read this book before.

It has all the things needed to make a book interesting, dragons, griffons, good guys and bad, and don't forget the romance lol.

I think this book would be good for the young and shouldn't be read if you are currently reading or have read the Eragon series.
Once you have read the Christopher Paolini books you will expect to read the same sort of thing.

I don't feel that Daniel has delved deep enough into the story/history to make the book in-depth enough to go for 2 more!




View all my reviews

Eragon series is over!!

Inheritance by Christopher'>http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8349.Christopher_Paolini">Christopher Paolini
My rating: 5'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/170370964">5 of 5 stars

So the end has finally come for the Eragon series.

Its amazing how eager you are to read all of the books in a series, but once its finally here you hate it because you know that you will no longer get to read and know about what is going on with your favourite characters anymore.

I enjoyed the series from start to finish, but i have to say that i wish they would have put more in the books from Saphiras point of view and less of the other characters. I personally couldnt give too hoots about Eragons cousin and blah balh...I want to hear from the awesome Blue Dragon (who lost a scale from her nose LOL).

Anyway, thank-you Christpoher for a great series.

Another series bites the dust!

View'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4720541-carroline">View all my reviews

Some days I wish that somebody wont take "I'm fine" for an answer and let me break down in their arms while they tell me everything will be okay...