In & Out

In the midst of craziness with all of my assignments due and unwritten and my excitement for ABBW and IMATS growing, I thought I'd share the things I'm loving and loathing lately.



Image taken from sterling-wellness.com



In

* Wellbeing Wednesday is a whopper of an idea that I'm grabbing with both hands. I saw this over at Jess' blog and need all the motivation  I can get in regards to bettering my life. A group challenge is offered (this week is to workout 3 times!) and you can set a personal challenge to share with everyone,too. For info head to Jess' post . I'm yet to decide on my personal challenge but I'll be sure to let you know when I do!

*Procrastination in the form of the box-I've really been enjoying Underbelly Razor that is being aired in Australia right now, and as always I'm riveted by Jersey Shore as they roll all over Italy. Also watched quite a few films over the weekend, and have fallen in love with Steve Carrel all over again!

*Spent the weekend at my best friend Candice's farm and ahhh the serenity! She made us (Chris and I) the best food while we were there too, wowza.

*Rocked the same look all last week (and today!) which consists of:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

Sportsgirl champagne and neutral brown shade with MAC Mink&Sable in the crease

NYX Peach Blush

Model's Prefer Glitz & Glamour highlighter

Jack Black balm in Grapefruit & Ginger

Will hopefully nail some nice shots of this during the week to share.

Image taken from  http://wallpapers.net/view/sad_face-normal.html

Out

*Having so many assignments due when all I want to do is read all of your lovely blogs! The readings alone are overtaking my life, and my lovely farm weekend means I go nil work done so am struggling today.

*Instant coffee. I just can't deal with it anymore, I've been spoiled by good cafe coffees and my sights are now set on the orange coffee machine of my dreams (it's on the xmas list!) Nescafe just isn't cutting it anymore

*Bronzer. I have tried so many types and techniques, but it just looks bleh on me and I can't stand it. I want to look healthy more than tanned, but just can't seem to nail it. If anyone has tips, share!

*A Current Affair and Today Tonight because they are pure shite.

What is in or out for you this week? Hope your Monday is rocking, I'm looking forward to meeting a bunch of you in Sydney this weekend!

emmabovary xx

Holiday Make Up Bag 'Weekend Away' edition

I went away with Mister Christopher this past weekend for our 3 year dating anniversary. We went to Rye, and despite it being winter the weather was really nice! This is the loot I took along with me for the 3 night stay, it may seem a lot but I love playing around with different looks when I have the time.

THE LOT

I tried to get some organisation going in there, but as soon as the case lifts it all jumbles around.

THE BASE PRODUCTS

Illamasqua Concealer

Face of Australia Primer

Face of Australia translucent powder

Bourjois HealthyMix Foundation 52

Clinique foundation

THE CLEANERS

Mini versions of Benefit's new range

THE PEEPERS

Clinique E/S Strawberry Fudge Quad

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Estee Lauder Orange Pop

Australis palette in Frock and Roll (used here)

Napoleon Perdis eye dust in StarDust

Face of Australia Mousse shadow in Magic Mist

THE SMACKERS

Softlips balm in Chai Latte

NARS Carthage

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy

MAC Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks

Revlon Super Lustrous in Pink Pop

Revlon Super Lustrous in Coral Reef

Lanolips LemonAid

MAC Ever Hip

Clinique Citrus Rose

Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey

Savvy lip crayon in Cafe

Jack Black balm in Vanilla and Lavender (reviewed here)

THE CHEEKS

Sleek Blush in Rose Gold

Essence Highlight Powder in Famous Flamingo(shown here)

Lacura blush

NYX Peach

Stila Gladiola

W7 Bronzer/Highlight

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So as you can see from the display I've made of my makeup case lid, I brought heaps to play with while I was away! Admittedly not all was used, but that's the pleasure of driving to your holiday destination- no excess baggage fees!!

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Scent of the weekend was Guerlain Champs Elysees for moi, and a David Beckham for Chris.

All that was in Chris/ toiletries bag was deodorant and a roll on concealer!

If you'd like to see me review any of the above products, let me know and I'll send them to the front of the queue. Hope you had a great weekend, I'm back to reality now and drinking coffee by the boatload!

*

emmabovary xx



A Bronzed FOTD ft. Illamasqua, MAC and the Naked Palette

Neutrals are my best friends, and this look was created with some of my favourites from brands like Urban Decay, MAC, Illamasqua and Face of Australia.

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Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Liquid Foundation in Beige

Illamasqua concealer

Eco-Tools concealer brush

Essence Shimmer Powder in Flamingo Pink

BYS blush in Candyfloss

Jack Black Balm

MAC lip gelee in Straight to the Head

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Buck (from Naked Palette)

Urban Decay pencil in Zero

Napoleon Perdis brush (holiday collection)

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My base products for this look consisted of Face of Australia's Mineral Therapy foundation which I am in the midst of testing. The shade 'beige' was a little too dark for me, but still wearable. This Illamasqua concealer is one I use everyday, sadly my skin is not in top condition and I have quite a few blemishes that need covering.

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BYS have some great shades in their blush range, and Candyfloss is my favourite. I used this with Essence's Flamingo Pink highlighting powder along the cheekbones to try and brighten up my dull skin.

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Mister Christopher bought me Illamasqua Bronx for Christmas, and when I received the Naked palette for my birthday the next week I assumed I had no use for the shade anymore. Not so! This shadow is a true stunner, and I'm glad we lost the receipt and couldn't exchange it. I layered Bronx over Buck from the palette, next time I create this look I would blend lighter shades up higher for a more intense look. I finished the look with a smudge of Urban Decay liner in Zero, and Benefit's BadGal Lash mascara.

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I originally went with my clear Jack Black balm for this look, before I remembered that I had just received MAC's lip gelee in Straight to the Head from Lilit's blog sale. It's quite opaque and gives a sort of frosted finish, I will be reviewing it in depth soon.

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This look is my version of an 'everyday' casual look. I found it to be pretty subtle but Bronx really made it all pop just that little bit.

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I hope you enjoyed this FOTD, if you have any ideas of looks I should try do let me know.

I would love some inspiration!

emmabovary xx

Desk Essentials + Link Love

I've spent the last  few weeks chained to the university library desk, and I've found that these products have been major players in allowing me to hold on to my sanity (or what is left of it...)

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TYPO notebook

various styles, this being my favourite

it's actually my 'blog book' and it's got one page left!

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Mentos lollies

the fruity ones

these are ltd ed. orange flavour, noms!

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Yellow Highlighter

brightens up my studies, naw

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Jack Black Lip Balm

vanilla and lavender

if I'm not rocking brights, I'm rocking this

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Endota Spa Hand Cream

lavender and alpine pepper

wakes up the nose, soothes the hands

after a big writing session, this saves my life!

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shout outs to my favourite distractions

fables in fashion

25flondon

CClarebear

Ponikuta

Shopping Intervention

Makeup and Macaroons

Pink Sith

emmabovary xx

Jack Black Lip Balm in Vanilla & Lavender

I had seen US bloggers raving about the Jack Black balms for a long time, and had always wondered what the fuss was about. While perusing Strawberrynet a while ago, I saw that these were going for less than $10 and knew I had to give one a go. I chose Vanilla and Lavender, as I was intrigued by the idea of lavender in cosmetics. Would it be 'nanna-esque', overwhelming, horrid? I'd heard people disliked the scent, saying it was far too strong, but it was LOVE at first sniff for me!

The balm comes in a sophisticated royal blue squeezy tube, contains spf25 and is cruelty free.It's quite thick for a balm, and I found that it keeps the lips moist with that 'wet' feel I love for ages. After that wears away, you are left with super-soft lips. I found it wears nicely over lipsticks, but not under, and provides a nice glowy sheen that makes it beautiful to wear on its own.

=)
-moisturising and long-lasting
-cruelty free and spf25
-amazing smell that I LOVE
-stunning packaging that stands out in my make-up bag
-slanted applicator tip which means I can apply to finger then lips rather than straight to lips if needed (as I did when I had a cold last week, to prevent the spread of germs)

=(
-not readily available in Australia
-not suitable under lipsticks as it is thick and glossy
-that is all I can really think of

I adore this lip balm, and have used a fair bit of it since puchasing. I am interested in trying the other scents that this comes in, but I know I will repurchase vanilla and lavender over and over A big win for me, I think this may become a HG!

emmabovary xx

StrawberryNet Haul!

My very first StrawberryNet haul arrived this week, and I was beyond excited to play with my new goodies! I took pictures as I was opening the lot, so enjoy this open-box haul.

The gorgeous purple-ribbon wrapped package that awaited me.

My freebie sitting at the top of the package.

All bubble-wrapped, safe and snug in the box.

My Haul!!!

Jack Black Lip Balm in Vanilla and Lavender

Estee Lauder Pure Pops EyeShadow in Orange Pop

TheBalm Hot Mama blush

Stila Eyeshadow in Makalu. (Free as this was my first Snet order)

I am extremely happy with StrawberryNet, and am glad I have a more viable way of purchasing the items filling my lust lists. Shipping was free and fast enough for me, and the added loyalty aspects (percentages off each order,etc) make future purchases a sure thing. I will be reviewing these items in time, let me know which you'd like first and I'll focus on those.
Thanks for reading, do let me know your experience with StrawberryNet!
emmabovary xx