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!

Weekly Round Up - Face Masks

Face masks may be one of the first skincare products we used, as a group of teenage girls at a sleepover, slapping on thick coats of green stuff to our skin with no knowledge of why. Masks are a great way to nourish the skin, draw out toxins and they make us feel good. There are tonnes of masks out there for every skin type, just remember that once to twice a week is enough and leave them on until tacky not completely dry. Frequent and prolonged use can dry skin out.

1. Lush - Love Lettuce: All Lush masks are preservative free so need to be kept in fridge. The coldness pf the mask I feel makes it that much more refreshing. This mask provides a really good deep scrub thanks to ground almond shells. The Honey and Seaweed gel helps to soothe and moisturise skin.
2. Wild Ferns - Bee Venom Mask: This tingly mask helps to build collagen and keep  the skin plump. I love the feeling of this mask after an exfoliater as it increases the tingly feeling. Manuka honey and Sweet almond oil help to soothe skin.
3. Freeman - Anti-Stress: Even the colour of this makes me feel much more relaxed! Lavender and Bergamont give a beautiful relaxing scent while brightening the skin. Dead sea minerals combined with sea salt draw toxins from the skin and balance your facial oils. Great mask at a good price
4. Queen Helene - Mint Julep: This mask reminds me so much of the green masks we all first tried. Excess oils are absorbed and any impurities are drawn from the skin. The result is deeply clean, smooth skin.
5. Lush - The Sacred Truth: Packed full of anti-oxidants and powerful ingredients this mask is a life and skin saver. Papaya breaks down the dead skin leaving behind youthful glowing skin. Wheatgrass feeds and hydrates the skin. Lavender oil and rose oil soothe the skin and help with redness. As I have gotten older I find myself turnig to this mask a lot more. 
6. Queen Helene - Avocado and Grapefruit: We all know how good Avo is for out body, well it's really good for your skin too! I find this mask gives me such a healthy glow. The grapefruit is not only a fantastic anti-oxidant but also helps to draw out excess oils. Better for normal - dry skin than really oily as the Avocado packs a mighty good hydration punch.

Which mask is your go to?