Collective Haul - Mid 2015

I've fallen off the wagon when it comes to posting hauls...not only have I neglected to post about my kinda recent Colourpop haul, I haven't even touched on the glorious U.S honeymoon haul that happened at the end of last year! I think I'm going to round up a post on that as a way to prepare you for some upcoming reviews (and because I want to share the pretties!) but for now, here is a collective haul of what I've bought recently.

 

My obsession with tea knows no bounds, and I was excited to find this new Kromland Farm Organic Rooibos Caramel Tea on our weekly grocery shop. I found out about the Madame Flavour Tea Treats Mint Choc Rooibos when a friend posted about it on Facebook - she was not joking when she said it tasted amazing!

Not only am I addicted to tea this winter, I'm also addicted to adorable mugs! Despite having an overflowing mug cupboard as it is, I couldn't resist these patterns at Kmart when I went out shopping with my sister. The black and white is so chic and the watermelon one makes me happy - because of both the print and the fact that it holds HUGE amounts of peppermint tea for me!

I've tried to stop myself from accumulating more polishes but am currently working one a 'one in, one out' policy which seems to alleviate guilt a wee bit. The W7 'Red Debris' glitter screamed Christmas to me, and the Essie Ruffles and Feathers is a back up of the bottle I received in a PR parcel - I love it enough to need a back-up, trust me on that one! I found the Sensationail Gel Polishes on sale for $5 at Target and couldn't help but pick them up to add to my gel nail stash. I chose the shades Coral Sunset, Pink Chiffon and Pink Daisy. I also picked up one of the new Rita Ora for Rimmel shades (not pictured); that collection is seriously stunning by the way!

On the makeup front I'm doing quite well at choosing quality over quantity - I picked up two new Chanel Joues Contraste Blushes from the new Fall/Autumn 2015 collection (post up soon!) along with the Covergirl Full Lash Bloom mascara. I also grabbed the new Fragrance Mist of Britney Spears Curious (seen here in my Favourites!) and my sister picked up a tube of my beloved La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + during the Priceline 40% sale.

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I've really been focusing on reducing my stash and seriously thinking about products before purchasing them and it seems to be working quite well for me. We have a few upcoming weekends away planned that we are saving for and it's a great excuse to shop my own stash more often which is more enjoyable now than it has ever been! We're also heading overseas in 6 months and my ideal plan is a big Bath & Body Works haul...a reasonable dream, right?!

 

What have you bought recently?

What tea should I buy next?

-Emma

 

July Favourites



I didn't think I had much to bring to the table in regards to monthly favourites for July, but the work essentials made me smile and I thought that alone deserved their inclusion into this post. I fell back in love with an old favourite scent, found some accessories that made me feel a million bucks and had a staple makeup routine down pat for the weekdays!

I have decided that it is official - I have an obsession with fragrance mists! I have quite the collection happening (would you be interested in a collection post for them?) The latest in my stash is Britney Spears Curious. This one really pulls at my heartstrings - it was the first perfume Mister bought me many years ago and just one sniff takes me back to those early-dating butterflies (mushy though that may sound!) I actually really like the smell of most Britney scents I've tried - sweet and celebrity aren't a turn off for me when it comes to perfume it seems!

Another love of the month (and beyond) has been my collection of Chanel Joues Contraste Blushes; here I've showcased Jersey and In Love, but most of my shades have been in the rotation for a while now and my love for them only grows with each use.

When it comes to my daily face, I've been doing well by using my Laura Mercier Sweetheart Lip Glace which is part of my Project Use It Up (which is going terribly, in case you were wondering!) It's an easy thing to swipe on for work and it keeps my lips in nice condition without being high maintenance. I've also been using my L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Matte Foundation* daily and am loving the finish it gives my skin - I recently finished up my Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Makeup and this is what has taken that place in my daily drawer.

I've also come to appreciate my Napoleon Perdis Crease Brush more than ever, it's always been in use but perhaps this is the first time I've singled it out as a favourite? It's the perfect shape for applying and buffing colour into my crease and I love how easy it makes any eye look. A lifestyle favourite for my has to be my iPad, and more importantly the reading apps I have on it (iBooks, Kindle etc) I was recently sent Sex, Lies, and Cruising* by Cathryn Chapman and I really enjoyed it! It made me yearn for a cruise and I can't wait to read the follow up novel which is out in October: Love, Drugs, and New York. I also love that it was written by a fellow Australian!

More lifestyle favourites, a bit of a change from the usual for me! I've been smashing the Eclipse Spearmint Mint's lately, they aren't too spicy for me and the flavour is addictive - a bonus is that they stop me from snacking so much throughout the day! I've been loving little pouches lately to help with handbag organisation and while I lust over a Mimco design, I'm content (for now) with my little cheapie from Cotton On in the blue/leopard colourway. On the accessory front I've become interested in earrings once more - the golden discs have been my go-to for special nights out and the sterling silver shepherd's hook style balls have been my favourite for weekdays!

I hope August is shaping up to be a lovely month for you thus far - I'm laid out with a cold but am taking the self-imposed house arrest as time for redecorating and clearing out some unwanted bits and pieces so it isn't all bad. Do you have any tips on how to let go of possessions around the house? I would love to know!
Emma x

*Products provided for consideration but are honest favourites!