Nail Polish - Chanel Paradoxal #509

Here is the polish I am wearing today, snapped on a cloudy overcast day.  Just one coat will do with this formulation, however for a more professional look two coats and a top coat will ensure this look lasts all week.

I was just watching a YouTube video by Ginabinawina99 who had found a dupe for this polish from the Revlon range.  For beauty on a budget check out Revlon Perplex. I am not sure if it is available in Australia, but if you find it let me know in the comments below!

Until next time...

'My First Beauty' Tag

Thanks Sabine from Bini Blogs Beauty for tagging me for your My First Beauty Tag.

Here we go...

1. The first time I wore make up
I was a ballet girl for a short period of time, but it is fair to say I was less than graceful in a tutu.  I then branched out into tap dancing.  I had found my calling.  Shuffle shuffle tap! Shuffle step ball change!  It would have been at a ballet or tap concert that I was required to wear a bright red lipstick along with regulation bun or tight spiral curls. 

2. The very first make up item I bought/was given
My mother and I share a passion for all things makeup.  While my mother began allowing me try out her collection while I was very young, I distinctly remember the first item that was gifted to me, and was mine, all mine.  It was a hot pink lipstick by a brand called Outdoor Girl.  I believe this to be a UK brand, which probably doesn't exist anymore.  Come to think of it, my mother immigrated to Australia from the UK in 1966, and it just crossed my mind perhaps this lippy was antique before it became new to me in the late 70's.  Blurk!

My cousin Kath is two years older than me, and of course I idolised her sassy-ness from a very young age.  If Kath wore BigM shoelaces in her hair, then I had to have some too.  If Sweet Valley High books were what Kath was reading, then I had to read about those Wakefield twins too.  I even had my mother searching the shopping centres for a pinafore style dress at one stage, because cousin Kath had one.  So it makes perfect sense that the first item that I owned that was brand spanking new was an eyeshadow quad from Maybelline, inspired by Kath.  It had a Dark and Light Blue, and a Dark and Light Pink.  Think early 80's.  Legwarmers, fluorescent socks, and blue and pink eyeshadow to match.  I remember I was very particular about which side of each applicator was used in each shade.  I was obsessive compulsive about cosmetic cleanliness even then!

3. My first high end make up item
I really had to think hard about this one, and I really can't recall the first high end item I purchased with my own money.  I do recall in Year 8 at school I had a miniature eyeliner that was Estee Lauder and it was a royal blue colour.  I wore it heavily on my waterline.  It may have come with a GWP of my Mum's.  I was regularly sent to the 'girls toilets' to remove it from my eyes. 

I did start working casually in a delicatessen when I was almost 15 years old, in Year 9 at school, so I would say perhaps a high end lipstick or eyeshadow would have followed soon after.  I do think my priority at the time though was to save for a Sony Stereo with turntable, twin cassette deck and this new fandangled thing called a compact disc player.

4. My first "going out" look (as a teen, so talking dinner, not clubbing)
My signature look was a Lancome eyeshadow duo in quite neutral brown and champagne colours, and a Lancome lipstick in Sugared Maple.  Both discontinued long ago of course.  I also had Estee Lauder's Lucidity foundation when it first came out but it used to make my eyes water horrendously due to the old fashioned PABA sunscreen. 

5. My first make up faux pas
Thinking back to that Estee Lauder eyeliner in royal blue.... I definitely suffered from regular cases of inner eye goop due to the sheer volume of product used!

6. My first favourite beauty brands
I most certainly had loads of Australis, Bourjois and Max Factor products as a teen.  Nice!

7. As opposed to my favourite make up brands now
Guerlain, Chanel, MAC and Dior

8. My first perfume
I was given Charlie (the original) which smelt something like fly spray, and my mum bought me something called 'Cold as Ice' which was a perfume that felt... as cold as ice.  My first perfume splurge with my own money was Lou Lou.  I can still remember the ad...  'Lou Lou where are you?'  In my teens I wore quite a bit of Elizabeth Arden Red Door, but didn't we all?  In my late teens it was all Giorgio Beverly Hills (Roarrrrrrrrrrrrr Grrrrrr very sexy).

9. My first beauty obsession
It was all about the eyeliner.  Dark, smokey, colourful.  You name it - I wore it.  I loved a perm and highlights too.  Boing!

10. My first favourite hair & body items
I used lots of mousse and gel in my hair back in the day, but on my body it was all from The Body Shop.  I haven't been in The Body Shop for years and years.

11. My first nail polish
I remember the nail polish colour, but I am not positive which brand it was.  Most likely Cutex.  The colour was called Madly Mauve or Mauve Madness and was inspired by..... you guessed it......... Cousin Kath - the sister I never had.  I wore so many layers of this purple nail polish that there was no chance you could ever chip a nail!

That concludes the walk down memory lane... Thanks Bini for tagging me!

Stay out of the quicksand...

Okay, okay...  I know these are extremely late, but I ummmed and ahhhhed about whether to even commit to any New Years resolutions for 2011.  So here I am on a Saturday, putting my resolutions in writing.  Last year was tough for many of us, and so far 2011 is off to a rocky start. I'm starting my new year in February!

Before I get to the details of the resolutions, I must mention that I like to reflect on the year just gone to see whether there was a message for me.  Deep hey?  It is a really useful process and I encourage you to spend a moment 'listening' to the lessons from the year before.

In 2010 I made sure I lived by a simple dictum of 'if you fail to plan, plan to fail' and it served me very well.   It allowed me to save more money, arrange better insurance and superannuation choices, be more successful at work, and even slightly more organised around the home.  Slightly.  There is still a mountain of ironing to do!

The key learning for me in 2010 is just how short life can be.  I was constantly reminded of this throughout the year, watching numerous colleagues lose loved ones to illness, both suddenly and through long drawn out sickness.  Within my husbands family alone there were at least three deaths from avoidable accidents, medical complications, right through to someone drowning or suffocating in quicksand.  Yes, I said quicksand.  Apparently not just something you see in black & white movies! 

So on reflection I realise that 2010 taught me just how important it is to 'love what you do'.  So that statement will underpin everything I do in 2011. 

For those of you wanting to lose weight, grow your hair, find a partner, fall pregnant or any other special event... I wish you all the very best for the year ahead.  Let's check back in a few months and see how we are going.

Here's my list! There is no rocket science here.  These are all very simple ideas, but things I didn't do much of in 2010. 

1. I will move my body more in an effort to improve my health
2. I will take my makeup off before bed for cleaner pillowcases and better skin
3. I will look in the mirror throughout the day as shimmer on my eyelids is sassy, but glitter fallout under my eye.... not so much
4. I will dedicate some more time to my Blog as it has been lonely and is in desperate need of some attention.  It's not all about YouTube you know!
5. I acknowledge that Life is short, so I will endeavour to take more time out to enjoy the kids, my family and my home.

What are your 2011 resolutions?  Please leave a comment below!

Until next time...

Louise Young - Essential Eye Palette

I am EXTREMELY impressed with my new Louise Young Essential Eye Palette. 

Louise Young is based in the UK and has been a highly successful make-up artist for over 20 years working in film, fashion, television and theatre.  Louise is very well known for her range of top quality make-up brushes and has now launched the Essential Eye Palette as the first item in her cosmetic line. 

Photo courtesy of Louise Young's website

Here is a snap of me wearing it at work after 9 hours wear, in a very simple application.  I applied Too Faced Shadow insurance first for maximum colour payoff. 

My colleagues had no idea why I was taking a photo of myself at my desk!

One of the things I love about the shadows is the creamy matte texture.  After consistent use of the Urban Decay Naked Palette over the last few months, it has been so refreshing to switch things up and put the shimmer on hold for a while.  I found with this palette I could create both warm and cool looks depending on my mood, by adding the coral shade into the mix.  You can also use the coral shade as a blush if you use a light hand.

This palette will be travelling around Australia with me, as the colours allow for a variety of looks.  The palette is sleek and contains a small headed flatbrush and a large mirror.

I purchased mine for 30 pounds (GBP) from http://www.louiseyoungcosmetics.com/

Disclaimer:  I paid for these goods personally with my own funds, and I am not compensated or encouraged to provide reviews on products.  All opinions are my own.

Queensland Floods – Jan 2011

I wanted to say a few words about the floods occurring in Queensland. As I write this post the water still rises, and the levels are tipped to exceed the levels of the 1974 flood where 14 people lost their lives, mostly from drowning, in the suburbs of Yeronga, Newmarket, St Lucia, and the city of Ipswich. My family and I reside in Melbourne, and it feels like a world away from the events up North.

AP2011 Photo courtesy of Associated Press
Jan. 10: A man is rescued by emergency workers after he was stranded clinging to a tree during a flash flood in Toowoomba, Australia.

I overheard colleagues talking about heavy rainfall and that Northern Queensland was underwater, and I have to admit I never gave it a second thought at the time. Flash flooding and bushfires are something we come to accept living in a country with such a harsh climate. I had no idea of the ferocity of these flood waters. These are not floods were the water laps gently into your basement. These floods tear through the streets at an immense speed, pushing cars, boats and other debris up into the air like they are balloons.

Part of my ignorance is due to my avoidance of all things newsworthy. I do find it hard to sleep at night if my head is filled with tradgedy such as murder-suicide, and preventable traffic accidents. When I head that the floods had reached Brisbane yesterday afternoon I watched a news story on my work computer. I was horrified with what I saw and heard. The reporter mentioned that a 4 year old boy had been swept away during a rescue effort. Despite his life jacket he drowned. In another story a separate family were grieving the loss of a mother and 13 year old son, who had given their lives when they demanded the youngest brother be saved first. The poor man who tied himself to a pole with rope and waded out into the raging waters to help them. I can’t imagine how disappointed he feels to have saved one child but still witnessed such a scene. With tears filling my eyes, I couldn’t handle anymore, and turned off the broadcast.

I logged into Facebook to check on my friends in Queensland, and they were all safe and preparing to evacuate. I then moved to Twitter to check whether my ‘beauty community’ friends were okay. I can’t think of the exact words to describe my emotions when I saw my internet friends checking on eachother, and offering housing to anyone who needed it. I am blessed that I know so many wonderfully generous people, and so very proud to be Australian.

When I woke this morning the toll stood at 10 dead, which included 5 children, and another 90 people unaccounted for. I decided to work from home today, and despite their protests I have hugged and squeezed my children extra tight a few times, so grateful to never have experienced such an event first hand.

Please join me in praying for the Queenslanders effected by this disaster, and hope that the missing are found safely perched somewhere high.

If you would like to donate money http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
Please refrain from sending clothing and household goods as communities recover more quickly when they can make their own choices when rebuilding their lives.

For overseas readers or those unable to give, I encourage you to ‘help someone’ in your local community in honour of those Aussies who were lost in the floods.

Until next time,

Karyn