Flats For Days

I adore shoes as much as the next fashionista,  but with my budget it's not something I tend to splurge on. Most of the time I am wearing black leather flats or my Lipstik birkenstock look-alikes. I am, however, trying to add a bit of variety to my shoedrobe and these flats from Big W are just what I needed! Fun and unique at a seriously affordable price .. I got these for $10 a pair! As you can tell I am loving blue this season. Considering the price, I am super happy with the quality of these flats. I suggest you run, not walk, to Big W now!

P.s I am in no way sponsored, just love a bargain!

Affordable Make Up Storage

I love buying home wares even though I don't own my own home, so it's all about the compact and affordable for me. I recently picked up these two holders from Officeworks and decided to use them for my beauty needs. The first item, a vertical file holder, thanks to Pinterest is now used for storing some of my palettes. I find it so much more convenient having my palettes on my counter rather than tucked away into a drawer. I'm going to use the acrylic pen holder for make up brushes and bits & bobs. Both of these totalled up at under $25, BARGAIN!

Vertical Wire Folder Holder

Acrylic Desk Stand

Sunday How To: Plant Your Own Cacti & Succulents

I've recently been seeing Cacti and Succulents all over Pinterest & Instagram. I love how they can really brighten up a room, yet they are super easy to care for even people like me can't kill them. I thought I'd share how I potted the plants & what you'll need to do the same.

What You'll Need:

•  Plants -  I got the two colourful Cacti from Coles, and the Succulent from Bunnings. They have a really big variety at Bunnings so you can find everything you need there.
• Gloves - To protect your nails from dirt and hands from the prickles.
• Shovel - To fill the pots with potting mix
• Cacti Potting Mix - The one specific for cacti and succulents is less dense
• Pebbles
• Container/Pot - Here you can really choose anything you like. I liked the colours and 'mexican' feel of these pots from Coles. 

Directions:

1. Pour a layer of pebbles into the bottom of each pot/container.
2. Fill about three quarters of the container with the potting mix. 
3. Scoop a hole in the centre of the mix. Now remove the plant carefully from it's current container and gently rub off the excess soil. Place the plant into the hole that you have made in the new container.
4. While holding the plant upright, continue to fill the sides with soil, pressing firmly down as you go.
5. Once the plant is secured, cover the soil with a layer of the pebbles.
6. Wipe the excess soil off the pot, place it on a sunny window sill and you're done!

Note: Make sure you don't over-water your succulents & cacti, as it is about the only thing that can kill it. Hoping mine lasts a while atleast.

November Beauty Wish List (featuring Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palettes & Nars Audacious Lipstick)

With the Christmas season right around the corner I am definitely feeling #spendy! Here is what I have on my current beauty wish list! Itching to purchase these beautiful Stila palettes! What's on your beauty wish list?

Click the links to take you directly to the product

Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette | Mind | $49.00

Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette | Soul | $49.00

Bobby Brown Creamy Concealer Kit | $52

Bourjous Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation | $32

Bourjous Healthy Balance Compact Powder | $20

Nars - Audacious Lipstick | Catherine | $44

Nars - Audacious Lipstick | Rita | $44

Nars - Audacious Lipstick | Anita | $44

All Black Workwear

A few weeks back I started a new retail job which required no uniform, however outfits have to be black. At the time I was over the moon because I love black… four weeks later and I am so sick of wearing black. No more stripes, no print, just black! Here are a few of the items I have added to my work-drobe recently, they make it a little more bearable. 

Click here to view my Polyvore with direct links to items

Forever 21 Brisbane

It goes to say, I was excited when I found myself in central Brisbane for work yesterday and had a spare moment to suss out the very first Forever 21 to open in Australia. I think it's great that the international retail market is expanding across Australia. Being such a well know clothing retailer I had high hopes for Forever 21. However, I was extremely disappointed. 

Upon entering the store we were presented with a very awkward staff member, whom I assume was a door greeter. No greeting or smiled offered, we approach her to find out where we can find the dress on the mannequin in the main window display. The girl told us the dress was out of stock and couldn't help with any details of whether it will be restocked or how we can go about obtaining it. Personally, I don't get why the dress is left on a mannequin in a major window display, if it is out of stock. 

We continued to browse the store which was firstly messy as hell, and secondly dirty… as in clusters of dust on the change room floors.

Regarding staff, there was basically no one around to help on the sales floor, and one person serving at the counter with a line of people (serving at a leisurely pace as well). Change room staff was unhelpful and gave me attitude when I requested they take the items I wasn't buying. I ended up buying a few plain V-neck tee's, other than their basics, nothing appealed to me. This could be because of the messy and confusing layout. 

I work in retail, which means I do have a high standard when shopping. However, for an international retailer first entering a new country, I think they could've put in more effort. Maybe they should take a leaf out of Zara's book. If you've been, let me know what you thought of the store.

Creative Birthday Gift Idea

A few weeks ago it was a friend's birthday and I had no idea what to get her. As I was in the middle of two jobs, I found myself trying to find a nice gift on a budget. I thought the end result was a unique and creative idea and wanted to share it with you guys. To add a personal touch to a gift, giving a product which is a favourite of your own is quite nice. SO I decided to get some of my favourite nail polishes at that time and packaged them in a cute TYPO mason jar… Ta da, affordable, creative, with a personal touch!

September Favourites

September was a hectic month - I started a new job, mid-semester Uni assessment was all due and I am finishing off my internship. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised at how quickly the month flew by. I can't believe it is already a week into October, which means we can start getting excited for Christmas season! Here's what I have been loving throughout the month of September.

BEAUTY

None of the beauty products that I loved during the month of September are really spring appropriate, but I don't believe you have to use a product specifically based on seasons. Firstly I have been loving Essence lip liners, seriously these $2 liners are better than any I have tried before. I have the colours In The Nude, Wish Me A Rose & Satin Mauve (Satin Mauve being the perfect Kylie Jenner shade). I often wear these liners completely on their own, but I have also been loving pairing In The Nude with Pixi Shea Lip Butter in Honey Nectar. During this busy month I have been all about the easy and fuss free make-up. Which brings me to the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium, this crayon like eyebrow pencil makes it so easy to fill in brows. Following that step, I have been setting my brows with the Maybelline Brow Drama in Dark Brown. I have also been trying to experiment a bit more with eyeshadow this month, and these Revlon Colorstay Shadowlinks have been working amazing. You create your own palette by mixing and matching the single shadows, which is not only a creative idea, but the packaging is super compact. I have the colours Bone, Chocolate and Copper.

LIFE

I often joke that where I live we have only two seasons - winter or summer. It's either cold (ish) or we're dying of heat. But this month we actually experienced a few days of spring, where it's not cold but not hot enough for shorts and a tee. Ripped Boyfriend Jeans were my saviour, they are breezy but not too exposed to be cold. P.S they aren't pictured because unfortunately the rips got so big I had to make shorts out of them, but I am on the lookout for a new pair. When I have had a chance to relax at home, I have been loving burning my Lychee & Peony candle from Eat Street Markets. I prefer to burn candles in summer as I'm always drawn to the fruity/Caribbean scents. My last favourite of the month has to be Yorkshire tea. I am a big lover of tea but don't often branch out, however I recently picked up this tea (simply because Essie Button mentioned it) and turns out I love it!\

If you have a blog post up of your September favourites, link it in the comments, I love to see what everyone enjoys during the month.

ZARA COMES TO QUEENSLAND!

Since my first experience at Zara in Melbourne I was hooked - everything is my style, from the basic colour scheme to the chic styles.  I find that the fit and the price of most things are just right - however some pieces lack in quality. None the less I've been hanging out for a Zara to open in QLD, and it finally has! 

The latest Zara to open in Australia is at Robina on the Gold Coast, which is a bit of a drive for me, but well worth it. The store is only one level, but does not disappoint. I made three trips to the changing rooms and left with damage of $300. There was so much more that I loved but I decided to restrain myself and only get what I really needed - summer shorts, a basic tee and a fitted blazer - and then I splurged a little on a bag. If you live in QLD I definitely recommend you head to Zara, I'll be back there in a month or so!

Styling The Versatile Striped-Tee

'Sunday Markets' to 'Drinks with the Girls' Outfit