Leather, Stripes and Studs

I am a big fan of how leather looks, however being a vegetarian I am not keen on where it comes from. So when I found this fake leather pencil skirt I knew I had to have it. It was perfect for our last night date. I paired it with some studded silletos, of course, but also a striped multi coloured chiffion top that soften the look. Ths skirt has the ability to be dressed up or down and I am going to try it with a casual T and some flats next.

Weekly round up: Vases

I thought I would shake things up with the round up this week. With spring here there is an abundance of beautiful cut flowers around. With some many vases on the market it can be tricky to find the right ones. I hold a small collection of vases all the time, a few big ones and an army of bud vases. I also like to find unique items to use as vases such as old liqueur bottles, Mason jars, old candle jars

1. Hexagon Vase - Collected
2. Swirl vase - Stevens
3. Pastel pop Vase - The Warehouse
4. Copper Geo vase - Vintage love
5. Swan Vase - IkoIko
6. Montana flower vase - Briscoes

Seaside Green

Before we lived together Brendan and I would often go on drives in the weekends, most of the time we had no idea where we were going to end up. The other day we did that again and happened to stumble across the beautiful beach. It was just too pretty not to take a few photos. The best part about spring is being able to wear cut off jeans again, this pair are so comfy and flattering. I am trying to love green a bit more lately so this top with a mix of green, black and yellow is my new thing. Together they make a great weekend outfit.

Weekly Round Up: Blush

Blush has taken me a long time to love and understand how to use. A lot of people say to apply it to the apples of cheeks when you are smiling but I find that when you stop smiling it tends to make your cheeks look lower. Instead I sweep it upwards along my cheek bones, this gives my face a bit of definition also. Here are my favourites.

1. Phoenix cosmetics Hush pink Mineral Matte Blush: The great thing about this blush is the girls at phoenix matched it to my skin tone through my custom blend foundation, so I know it suits me. The powder is build able so I can choose how intents I go. The powder sits seamlessly on top of my custom blend foundation from the same company.
2. Jordana Blushing Rose: Such a beautiful colour and blends really well. The deep rose is probably more of a winter colour as it is very dramatic. There is a slight golden shimmer to this which makes it very wearable for night time.
3. Kleancolor American Chick in Fruit Sorbet: Never mind the very low price tag for this the blush, the colour is absolutely beautiful. A nix of hot pink, lavender, tone balancing yellow and much more. This blush gives a stunning effect on the skin, with a small amount of product going a long way. My favourite low cost blush. 
4. Elf St Lucia: This is the blush from the blush and bronzer palette. I have never touched the bronzer but this dusty rose and gold shimmer blush is almost gone. It adds a lot of warmth to the face and works well to add some definition. Elf is a great quality low cost brand

After I wrote this I noticed my lack of blush! Leave a comment and let me know which ones I should try!

Pastel Perfect

There is something about pastel colours that shout spring time, they are soft, fun and ultra girlie. Mix that with polka dots and the outcome is perfect for a spring weekend. I mixed this up with a vintage bag since the ruffles in this top give it a slight vintage feel. This look can be paired with flats for a great spring casual look.

What I've learnt: Self confidence

 

The confidence we have within ourselves and about ourselves is hugely important to how the rest of the world interacts with you and your attitude towards life. I can be hard to achieve and although I may be relatively young I have learnt a lot about how self confidence is effected and achieved.

Growing up I didn't have a lot of self confidence, I was a tom boy so I put on this front of "I don't care what you say" but to this day the bullying and name calling from childhood has stuck with me. Being called "Freckle face"  for the most part of my younger days is the reason I am yet to love my freckles, for a while during the wedding planning I thought about getting a long sleeve dress because I was so worried about how the photos would look if you could see that my arms are covered in freckles but I have learnt not only how to reduce them with makeup but more importantly to focus more on the features I do love about myself. I have tried so many creams to fade them but once I accepted them as part of who I am and remembered that there are some people who find them endearing I became more comfortable.
I think a lot of self confidence is about being comfortable with who you are. Yes there are things we all don't like about ourselves but being able to see past those thing and keeping in mind that you are more than your "flaws".
I got to a point in my life where what people thought of me affected how I lived my life and how I felt about myself so much that I needed to take a step back and look at myself. I had a loving and supportive family, a boyfriend who thought I was beautiful, funny and clearly loved me since we are now married. I had to realise that although I didn't have a huge group of girlfriends like the movies, my friends would do anything for me in a heartbeat, which is much more important than how many people I could call a friend. It was at this time that I realised my self confidence was not only more important but also influenced how people acted towards me. From that moment on I have really worked on the way I feel about myself. To not doubt people when they give me a compliment, to not justify why I left the house in track pants, understanding that if I am negative about myself around people that will rub off on them.
Most of the days I lack confidence is because of the pressure I put on myself, Can i do something as well as she can? Do I look as nice as she did when I wear my hair like that? Did they notice that I haven't wiped down the windows? It's the pressure I put on myself to be perfect, which is silly because I know that perfect doesn't exist. Understanding that even the people who look perfect and seem to have a perfect life sometimes stay in their pyjamas until noon.
Mostly I have learnt to not compare myself to others. There will always be someone who can do something better than me, that is taller, has nicer clothes but at the end of the day if I am happy with my self does any of that matter? Why waste a night dancing carefree on the dance floor because you were worried about what that guy would think? What people think about you is not important, how you feel about yourself is. As soon as you understand this your confidence will increase by leaps and bounds. If you are confident it will shine through in everything in you do.

" Confidence is silent, Insecurities are loud"

Four Favourites

Mid week treat from Petit Four

This week marked the first week of Spring and it has done nothing more than to damped my excitement. It has been raining and cold all week, with reports it will be like this until Christmas. So my spring dresses go back in the wardrobe and the jackets come back out. That aside, it has been a good week, lots of small changes around the house, Spring veggies growing and a bit of shopping.

The window we used as a seating plan, turned into something beautiful

Irises and Rosemary

Red lipstick on coffee

weekly roundup - Highlighters

With the new trend of "Strobing" highlighters are in the spotlight at the moment. They are an easy way to make you appear fresh and glowing. Highlighting the high points of your face is also a great summer alternative to contouring and highlighting as you don't need to wear as much make up on a hot day.  Below are my favourite products to highlight with.

1. Lush Feeling younger: This cream highlighter is the first one I ever used. When the make up line first launched at Lush we were taught how to apply the product, little did I know at the time they had just taught us how to strobe. The cream is easy to blend and doesn't have any glitter chunks that sometimes get left behind. A small amount of product goes a long way.
2. Bossy cosmetics Strobe effect highlighter: I had heard a lo about this product so I had to try it. The powder is easy to work wit and a small amount will go a long way .  It can be a bit to glittery to pass as a natural glow but none the less the highlighter really makes an impact.
3. Mellow Baked eyeshadow in Peach: That's right, this is an eyeshadow but it makes such a beautifully natural highlighter. The peach colour is similar to skin  tone so blends flawlessly, leaving behind a pearlescent glow. Very build able and easy to work with. 
4. No 7 Illuminating lotion: A lovely pink pearlescent lotion that is natural enough to be worn as a highlight with no other makeup on. It can feel a bit heavy If it is used with a full face of makeup but the effect it gives you is fantastic. Start with small amounts as the effect can go from natural to heavy fast. Easy to blend with fingers or a blender.
5. Mellow Baked eyeshadow in Cream: She product as the peach but this is a simple off white  version. I find this colour great to add to the inner corner of the eye to make you look more awake also. 
6. Sleek Precious metals palette: This palette is stunning, the colours are so pretty. The creams are easy to apply and blend. The four different shades are great to use on the different parts of your face. The product is build able so you get control over a subtle look or a more dramatic look.

I would love to know if you have tried any of these or what your Favourites are.

Four Favourites

Morning light in the dining room

It has been a pretty rollarcoaster week for us, so the little things this week really meant a lot to me. With the first day of Spring tomorrow I am excited for the warmer weather and longer days. I replanted both the veggie patch and the greenhouse over the weekend and can't wait to use what we harvest in the kitchen.

Spring time flowers

The view from where my husband took us for a picnic

My little sunbather

Company Watchlist: The Herb Farm

I first went to The Herb Farm when I was around 11 years old, back then I was more interested in the magical gardens than the brilliant skincare they make. I had grown my interest in their skin care as I got older and it is now one of the main brands you'll see in my house.The skincare covers Teenage right up to mature skins and goes right through any skincare regime. The packaging is simple and classy which lets the products shine, the copper touches making it look very luxurious. The prices are affordable and since the small amounts of product are effective the jars last for a while. I am a true believer in natural skincare, I feel it gets to the root of skin problems rather than masking them with chemicals.  The herb farm products do just that as one of the creators has a Herbal Diploma, so you know that the right mix of herbs have gone into each product. This is one of my favourite brands and if you live in New Zealand you should give them a try, they even have a day spa where you can get pampered with their products.

Weekly Round up: Foundations

A good foundation is so important if the rest of your make up is to look flawless. It can take some time to find the right formulation, colour and the way to apply it. This website will help you to find the right colour and this weeks round up may give you an idea of some foundations to try.

1. E.L.F - Flawless Finish in Porcelain. This is a great everyday foundation. It's affordable, provides good coverage, light weight and long lasting. I am a big fan of E.L.F, I think they have wonderful ethics and they products are pretty good quality for the price. This is the best foundation from their range. Best applied with: Beauty Blender
2. BYS - Complete Coverage in Light beige. This foundation is a little dark for me in winter but blends well as I get slightly more tanned. As it says, the coverage is very good however this formulation doesn't last that long on my skin (which is oily) without a setting spray. Best applied with: Beauty Blender
3. W7 - Sheer in Natural Beige. W7 is really hard to find in New Zealand which is such a shame because it is such a great brand. This foundation is super lightweight, long lasting and gives a really natural finish. It will be my go to in summer. Best applied with: Brush or Beauty Blender.
4. Phoenix - Matte in custom blend. Phoenix is a brilliant New Zealand cosmetics company that a friend of mine got me hooked on. You can choose between a Matte or a Dewy finish and they will blend the colour to match your skin perfectly. This foundation is so long lasting and looks like air brushed skin. It is the top end of my current foundations but worth every penny. Best applied with: Brush
5. Bourjois - 10 Hour Sleep Effect in Rose Clair. This does what it promises! My skin looks so refreshed and awake with this foundation. The colour is slightly dark for me but it is long lasting. This formula in a dewy finish which can make my skin look oily towards to end of the day so does need to be touched up. Best applied with: Beauty Blender. * I recently found out, through a lot of investigation that this brand now sells in China, meaning it has to be tested on animals. I will not be replacing this*

Which brands do you love?

Father's day present guide

Dad's are always hard to buy for and with Father's day just around the corner here are some ideas that suit any Dad's taste.

1. Scully's gift pack. Dad's don't often go and splurge on skincare products but their skin probably needs it the most. This pack is manly yet really takes care of his skin. The pack contains Shaving oil, After shave lotion, Exfoliating soap and a face cloth in some cool vintage bottles. $24.90
2. Irish Cider homebrew kit. For the Dad that enjoys making his own beer and ciders. This kit gives him everything he needs to create his very own crisp apple Irish Cider.Perfect for the upcoming summer $49.95
3. Shoe polish kit. The business Dad may have a range of expensive business shoes but does he look after them? This well presented kit contains everything he needs to keep those shoes polished and supple. Every man should own one of these. $39.99
4. The Wild Chef. This book is perfect for any Dad that enjoys either hunting or cooking. With recipes from Venison to Turkey, Pies to S'mores this book covers everything with brilliant photography and a section at the back that includes hunting tips. $44.94
5. Lush Veerappan Moustache Wax. Dad can style and condition his stache with this wax. With 4 different types of natural wax product is secretly good for him too. $18.90
6. Whiskey. A good bottle of whiskey will last longer than Father's day. This is the kind of gift you can share with your dad. $36.99
7. Sports bag. Great for either the sporty dads or the dads that enjoy hunting or camping. This bag is big enough to fit all their essentials while being stylish. It evens comes with a ventilated shoe compartment $49.99

What will your Dad be getting for Father's day?

Marble Magic

This spring home decor is leaving behind the heavy copper influence and heading more toward marble, which I am so excited about. Marble is soft yet industrial  and can be used in so many ways. Don't rush to ditch your copper as the two trends blend so seamlessly. There is a range of marble decor to suit all budgets and below are some of the pieces I will be incorporating into our home.

1. Plates (This would make good trays also)
2. Cushion
3. House
4. Candle holder
5. Shelf unit
6. Mortar and Pestle
7. Tray (This is the one on my coffee table)

Dear Momma

Today is my Mum's birthday and I wanted to dedicate this post to her. Two years ago she moved 7 hours north and it's hard for both of us to get the time to see each other. I miss our coffee dates and our shopping trips even if she did make me question if I really needed another dress or if I just wanted it, which saved my bank account a lot! I miss the way we would both try and figure out Criminal minds in the first 5 seconds while snuggled up on the couch.
We have alway been really close, being the only girl in my family probably helped but so much of our closeness is due to her.  She has always gone above and beyon for us, she even made two of my ball gowns. I am at the point in my life now where we are thinking about children, which part of me is really excited for because I know she will make an amazing Nana and I can't wait to see the look on her face when I tell her that I'm pregnant but the other part of me is nervous that I won't be as amazing as a mum as she is. There has never been a time where she has judged a decision I have made only support and realistic expectations. I owe her for my determined natured, my natural curls, my fondness for coffee and love of heels( it's rare to see her in anything but)

Happy birthday Momma, have the most amazing day.
Love you and Miss you

Monochrome Pop

On these gloomy winter days I feel like monochrome outfits are perfectly acceptable however to life my mood slightly a bright cobalt bag and candy pink lips work a treat. The simple outfit lets the bag shine while the bag draws attention to the outfit. The cut of the jacket is ideal as it sits just above the waist making it look smaller, which is always good! Hope your day wasn't as gloomy as ours.

10 gifts for Mums

To honour my beautiful Mum's birthday next week, I have been on the look out for some great gifts for Mum's. I always like to get mum something indulge or something pretty since she often doesn't buy herself nice things.  Mum's so often spoil us but never themselves.  Here's a little list of some great gifts to spoil your mum on her birthday or even just because

1.  Vixen and Co candle
2.  Blackrobin skincare
3.  Bossy cosmetics face mask
4.  Coffee
5. mycarepack Subscription
6. Print
7. Moreish Skincare
8.  Flower Subscription
9. Champagne and luxury chocolate
10. Comfy throw

P.s Mum if you are reading this,  your present isn't on here x

Four Favourites

Adorable fudge cupcakes favours

This week has flown by, which is great because it means we are another week closer to spring. I've been day dreaming about summer BBQs with friends and being able to leave the house with a simple summer dress on. Apart from our friends wedding it has been a pretty quite weekend and with the weather being awfully cold most of it was spent indoors. The next few weeks will be busy with my Mum's birthday and my little god daughters first birthday.

A shot from our last visit to Napier

This beautiful book was sent to me and I'm loving it

New lounge decor

Beaded Bliss

As you know I love anything that is reminiscent of the Art Deco period, that's why this dress caught my eye. Its delicate beading and classic shape made it a must have for me. I felt it was perfect for attending our friends wedding during the weekend. I paired the dress with these shoes to give the it a more modern feel.  Cold wind and rain forced us to take photos inside so the light isn't that great sorry guys!