Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday Musing

"A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting"
- DIOR


My current perfume favourites (L-R): Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline, Dior Miss Dior Cherie, Chanel  Coco Mademoiselle (purse size), Jo Malone Blue Agava & Cacao Cologne & Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne

What does your scent say about you?

x

Friday, April 27, 2012

Friday Favourites

Three things I'm loving this week...

Flirty, pretty nails with Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel in 'Peachy'

Coffee catchups at my favourite breakfast spot with the girls



Pretty blooms in the window of my favourite florist

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend!
x

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Spotlight: Teeki Designs by Amy Oram

Even before getting engaged, I knew that I wanted to wear my mothers wedding dress when I walked down the aisle. The dress itself is in immaculate condition, its lace perfectly preserved & the delicate buttons still completely intact. Having my gown already has meant I completely side-stepped the whole ritual that is 'finding the perfect dress'. The moments I have perhaps missed however in ooh-ing & ahh-ing with my mum, sister & bridesmaids over beautiful bridal creations will be well & truly made up for...



I am so excited to have the super talented Amy Oram of Teeki Designs designing & creating my bridal headpiece. I have long been a fan of Amy's exquisite pieces & couldn't wait to meet with her to discuss my wedding & ideas.




Amy, a talented designer, dress maker & stylist is the creative beauty & brains behind Teeki. With a dedicated following both here in her native Australia & internationally, Amy specialises in creating unique, couture bridal headpieces. You only need to look at her work to see the incredible amount of detail and intricacy that goes into each piece - she sources materials and textiles to suit each & every Brides gown & wedding style. My wedding will be very much a pretty,  vintage country affair which suits my gown perfectly, however Amy is equally clever with Boho, Modern & High Glamour occasions.

I'm meeting with Amy soon to talk concepts and make plans for my own headpiece. She'll also be working on a secret piece I intend to gift to someone very special to me who has played an instrumental part in my love story. I couldn't imagine anything more perfect to give.

You can check out Amy's beautiful work on her website or shop the collection on her Etsy shop.

x

All images courtesy of Amy Oram (Teeki Designs)

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Trans-Seasonal Skincare

Another Australian summer fades & takes with it the long sunshine days & my cravings for coconut gelato.

Summer & winter skincare is often straightforward & easy - our skin practically tells us it needs cooling gels & mattifying, light textures in the warmer months & craves rich, nourishing formulations in the dark days of winter. When it comes to the months in between however, it can be a little less straightforward.

Here are my top picks for keeping a-glow in the trans-seasonal autumn months.

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is my go-to skincare product when the seasons are changing. No other is capable of comforting my temperamental combination skin the way this natural wonder can. Balancing for oiliness, deeply moisturising on dry patches & soothing when my skin is sensitive - all while improving texture, tone & elasticity. Could a girl ask for more?!



Absolutely essential is a good bronzer for extending your (faux) summer glow. At the moment I'm loving bareMinerals 'A Little Sun' which is perfectly coppery, with a pretty pink undertone to warm the face. Densely luminous, a little of these minerals go a long way!



Urban Rituelle's Coconut & Honey Soothing Body Balm is a silky smooth, deeply moisturising balm that smells like heaven - perfect for dragging every last summer moment out! If I can't continue to eat delicious creamy coconut ice-cream with sweet honey swirled through it, I may as well smell like it! This decadent balm adds sunshine to my day.


x

Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday Favourites

Three things I'm loving this week...



This Dark Amber & Ginger Lily cologne from Jo Malone is in my top three fragrances of all time. The rich, heady scent is so totally different to anything else I've ever worn, but I couldn't help falling for the incredible blend of black orchid, amber, cardamom, water lily & ginger. Luxurious & unique - be prepared to have people stop you in the street to ask what scent you're wearing!



Lorna Jane's amazing new book, Move. Nourish. Believe. The ultimate poster girl for living a healthy, positive & successful life, Lorna Jane shares her secrets in this inspirational read. I keep it by my bedside to flick through of an evening; it inspires me to make good food choices, think clearly & get to the gym!



This week I'm resisting the shift to pale winter skin & getting my glow back with Decleor's Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk. With a delicious fragrance characteristic of the classic French Aromatherapy brand, this is my pick of the bunch when it comes to gradual body tans as the colour is natural & warm and the formulation hydrating & nourishing.

x

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Review: Instant Gratification Mani

Perfect for those days when you need a slick, pretty mani but don't have the time or patience for a traditional file, buff & paint, these nail polish strips are a fun & easy way to bring a pop of colour!

Available in a whole range of shades, ranging from the super sweet 'Tu Tu Much' to the crazy finger party that is 'Collide-O-Scope', Sally Hansen Salon Effects are hassle-free, easy to apply & most importantly, have zero dry time so you're out the door as soon as you're done! They last ten days & unlike shellac or gel nails which demand soaking time to remove the polish, they are removed simply with a swipe of regular polish remover. 

Sally Hansen Salon Effects in 'I Dare You' with my current perfume obsession:
India Hicks Island Living

Simple, fun beauty...I'm predicting a new nail obsession.  

x

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

He asked. I said yes.

This year marks a significant one in my life - it's the year I'll marry my long-time sweetheart & favourite person in the whole world. Planning our dream day is fun & exciting, though time-consuming! There seems to be an endless supply of beautiful ideas and things that I want to include in our celebration. Each week, I'll be sharing snippets of my journey as a Bride-to-be...because really, who doesn't enjoy a bit of loved-up prettiness?

In a pattern that's becoming all too frequent as I stumble upon website after website of amazing bridal offerings, this week I was delight to add to my wedding collection this divine ring-bearer bowl from Paloma's Nest.




I chose the version with script from the famous love poem by E.E Cummings, but this was a close second. Visit the site to see the beautiful collection.

x

Friday, April 13, 2012

Friday Favourites

Three things I'm loving this week...


The release of the first Harper's Bazaar 'Brides'. Packed full of exquisite gowns, beautiful reception styling suggestions and lust-worthy bridal beauty, it's a Bride-to-Be's dream...


My new Tory Burch wallet - a delicious surprise gift from Hong Kong! {2012 Diary & Pen from Kikki K}


Postal delivery from kit! Next week I'm excited to be trialling Mario Badescu skincare...stay tuned!

Have a beautiful weekend
x

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Vitamin Therapy - Monoderma

The change in seasons has left my skin feeling a little average; uneven in texture & tone and generally lacking the glow that summer brings. In a bid to get it back on track & supercharged for the fast-approaching cooler months, I've begun a course of vitamin therapy, with Monoderma Vitamin skin capsules.

Just like the variety you might pop when your system feels lacking, skin vitamins are designed to boost & supplement your regular skincare regime, but are applied topically to the skin, rather than taken in tablet form. Formulated by a group of Italian Chemists, the Monoderma range offers active, concentrated doses of Vitamin A, C & E - each designed to target specific skin concerns. They come packaged in clever, single application ampoules & are designed to be used as a month-long, intensive course.



Given the current state of my complexion, I chose the Vitamin A (Retinol) 0.15% variety, although my skin would have been just as grateful for the Vitamin C boost, which is designed to seriously amp up glow. The promise of refined texture & increased cellular turnover to aid with premature ageing (the result of too many days spent basking in summer sun!) won me over however & so I opted for Vitamin A. Complexions prone to adult breakout will love these wonder capsules too: by encouraging accelerated cellular turnover, they assist skin in regenerating & clearing - an added benefit!

One week in, my skin already seems brighter and softer to touch. The vitamins have a lightweight, velvety gel texture that absorbs rapidly into the skin and sits comfortably under my evening moisturiser. I plan to treat my skin with a course of Monoderma vitamins at times when it needs increased luminosity & vitality. By their very nature, the vitamins are ideal as a pre-event treatment, or for any occasion that demands a state of complexion perfection (Brides-to-Be, are you listening?!)

x

Monoderma is distributed in Australia by True Solutions International. For stockists, visit their website

Monday, April 9, 2012

Sweet Escape

This Easter long weekend, we escaped the city & headed to the Hunter Valley wine region for a few days of great wine, delicious food & clean air. Every since I was young, I have loved mini-breaks, favouring them to long trips abroad when I would often find myself homesick and missing the familiarity of routine.

We spent sunny days dropping into boutique wineries to sample local delights, nibbling endless supplies of chocolate eggs & playing bocce on the lawn outside the cottage where we were staying. The change in routine offered a chance to regroup & recharge and today I feel rested and ready for an (allbeit short) week!

x

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter

Wishing you all a beautiful, safe Easter filled with chocolate & love! 


x

Friday, April 6, 2012

Review: Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector All-In-One BB Cream

After seeing this little one take out 'Best New Day Moisturiser' in the beautyheaven Glosscar Awards, the promise of a 'Miracle Skin Perfector' was too great to resist & I had to try it...



Following the emergence of the international trend for CC Creams (already hugely popular throughout Asia), Garnier has released their own version of the hardworking product, designed to offer five benefits in one. Multi-tasking product heaven! Hydration, even skin tone, blemish correction & a healthy glow, all while offering SPF 15 UV protection are the promises this BB Cream makes & I was pleased to discover - it delivers!

I love the light, fresh fragrance & creamy texture of the product, which smoothed on and instantly evened out pigmentation and uneven skin tone to leave a dewy, hydrated finish. A perfect product to throw into your makeup bag for those days when time (or care) for a full face of makeup elude you!

x