K & P's Engagement Party

So at the weekend it was the lovely Kricket's Engagement party and it was such a good night.

It was very much worth the same night drive up and back.

My roll for the night was to take photos for her, since she always forgets. I think I did well and got a few good ones. Here are some of my favourites.

The Cake!

K was very sneaky and let us all think she was having cupcakes...

But as you can see she tricked us! They were actually push pop cakes! Very clever!

 Some of the girls and I.

I got lots of compliments on my dress. Pretty good for a Cotton On dress!

 Miss B & I!

 The Bride-to-be & I.

The fiancé & I <3

The speeches were quite funny and the night was really great fun.

They got really spoilt as they later said they couldn't get all the gifts in their car!

Weekly Update

Last week was basically the same as any other, during the weekend at least. 

Work, play with the puppy, cook, clean, sleep. 

The weekend was crazy busy. I babysat Friday night. Saturday (finally) got my hair done - byebye regrowth! Then made a 4 hour round trip to attend Kricket's engagement party. Before family duties on Sunday. I'm going to do a separate post on photos from the e-party.

Anywho, these are my pictures from the week!

Newest Makeup Additions.

Limited edition Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Pop of Purple

& Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Honey. 

 OPI Gone Gonzo.

 These brooches I have purchased with my bouquet in mind. I decided to get three since they were cheap and I quite like them. My bridesmaids are all keeping an eye out for me for brooches that fit in with that look.

The Hen's party I have on next weekend has a pink theme. 

Why do they always have a pink theme!?

Either way, I don't own much pink. I purchased a pink top from Supre for the day portion and decided that I would wear a black dress with pink accessories for the rest.. The above are the goodies I ended up with. Apparently one of the only times Lovisa sell these colours at the moment is for parties. They actually had them stuffed in a box under the displays - I'm glad I asked!

And when I was at Lovisa I may have picked up a few other things as well...

The owl necklace I was stoked with since I've been looking for one like that for ages. 

 I'm a self confessed nerd when it comes to history and the Titanic is one thing that always peaks my interest. This book is great and was good entertainment when babysitting.

This is me and how Just Bitten looks after eating. The stain really does work!

My latest OPI purchases. Thank you eBay!

Into The Night (Spiderman Collection), a shimmery dark blue.

 Metallic for Life (Nicki Minaj Collection), a black with silver glitter 

& It's My Year (Miss Universe Collection), a shimmery purple.

Can't wait to try them all!

And as if you can't tell I've discovered Instagram and love it!

Where has the year gone!?

As I mentioned in my wedding updates post there is less than 14 months til our day.

But that means it's already heading towards the end of August.

Seriously, where has this year gone?

Even the work weeks seem to be flying past lately. Nuts.

This week has been much the same as any other with work taking up most of my time. 

Here are a few highlights/photos from the week.

Mani for the week - OPI Big Apple Red.

This is seriously my favourite red polish.

Vanilla, Chocolate and Top Deck cupcakes I made for the lovely T who was in need of a cheer up after a not so nice breakup.

 This 1000 pages of work I got Friday afternoon. I got through 20-odd. Guess what I am finishing today?

Marshmellow Creme!

Thanks to Kricket for the heads up on where to buy this. We both need it for recipes we want to make in the Hummgingbird Bakery Cookbook.

I only got one since it didn't have a price on it. Turns out it was only $2. Totally going back to buy some more soon.

 I went to Aquire and couldn't help but buy some things for myself as well as the gift I was getting.
A small Krosno vase which was $15 and a set of 6 whiskey glasses for $19.95.
I only realised I needed these as when we had friends over for dinner Friday night he had to drink his scotch out of a tall/normal water glass. Oops. 

The dinner that night was lovely by the way. I made a slow cooker Beef & Red Wine Casserole with rice and got to try out my chocolate fondue set. It was sooo yummy.
I got cadbury cooking choc chips and we had fresh strawberry, banana and marshmellows. 

 I was good and only ate a couple before I melted them...

My serving plate - in progress of setting it all up.

This bag was a total bargain from Betts. 70% off so I scored it for $14.99/

These heels also from Betts, for work. A bargain at $29.99.

And we decided to hire some videos to top off our night in. We couldn't walk out with getting some Pop Tarts. The video store is about the only place in the area that sells them. So good.

Overall it was a good weekend, except for the stupid headache that won't fully go away. 

Hope you all had a good weekend too. xo

Latest Wedding Thoughts

Here's a scary thought. During the week it hit 14 months til our wedding!

Seriously, it feels like yesterday there was almost two years to go. Crazy.

This idea I saw on I think it was the Wedding Dress Express facebook page. I really like it:

I think this is a great way to get people to take photos of those special moments. I'm currently trying to decide whether to purchase some disposable cameras or to simply as those friends that do bring their own cameras to take part in this. 

My thoughts against disposables? The cost and we all know what boys get like when there is cameras and alcohol involved... 

I've been looking more into the thank you gifts for the guests as well. The fiance has suggested stubby holders as what he would like so I've been researching those.

This picture is thanks to Google.

The above is what I always think when someone says Wedding stubby holders. Silly little stick figures and some tacky saying - though no offence if you like them, they just aren't me. 

However, I've come across http://www.coolaz.com.au and am loving their stubby holders. They can do scenery type holders which is exactly what I was after.

Image from coolaz.com.au

This one is which I really like, not only as it is a pretty location/photo but we got engaged on Whitehaven Beach which is in the Whitsunday Islands and basically on The Great Barrier Reef so it holds a special meaning for us as well.

Even the fiance has approved so unless I find something better I think this may be another item I can check off my list. Progress!

With the help of my soon-to-be sister-in-law we've been looking online at sites to try find some lovely and cheaper bridesmaid dresses and a flower girl dress. The prices I have seen on some sites for stores are insane. I wouldn't consider asking or expecting my girls to pay anything that much. 

I've also been looking at invitations and have decided I definitely want names of the guest printed on them so save confusion and some places can do that as a small extra charge which is good. 

That said we're still trying to work on the guest list. Oh the politics involved!

Bits & Pieces of the Week

So I've been a bit slack with posts lately, I just really haven't had much to say. 

This post is basically some photos and little stories of the week. 

To start - have you ever left the house wearing daggy clothes or your ugg boots and thought "oh I'm only going to get take out, no one will see me". Yes? Me too. I did that tonight. And I got caught out, I ran into one of the guys from work. Thankfully I don't see him that often that I don't think he would mention it. 

Last Friday was my lovely Nan's birthday. So to celebrate we went to her place, got chinese take out and just hung out for ages talking. It was actually a really nice night. The language barrier didn't really come into play much either (Nan is Italian and as she gets older she reverts more and more back to speaking Italian).

Saturday, I went on a photography trip with a couple of friends. It was so much fun. And of course since we were down that way we had to go to the chocolate factory....

My goodies: Almond, milk chocolate nougat & a foundue set. The front block is a cookies & cream one I got for the fiance. 

This is a photo I took on the day. It's got to be one of my favourite shots.

China Glaze, Skyscaper.

Oh it looks nice, but damn this polish was useless. Not even 24 hours in it had chipped like mad. So much so and so easily I chipped the rest off my self by that night. Not impressed at all. 

What I am impressed with however is these:

Revlon Lip Butters.

These beauties I got from ebay, so they were only about $9 each. I'm happy to pay that, not the $24 odd dollars each at priceline.

The ones I have from left to right and Sweet Tart (a bright, fresh pink), Strawberry Shortcake (a shimmery light pink) and Berry Smoothie (a shimmery, more natural looking darker pink).

At the moment Berry Smoothie is my favourite. I'm glad I decided to try these!

The fiance's sister wants to catch up soon as she said she has come across some ideas that I might like for the wedding, so interested to see what she has found. She's also my Bridesmaid and makeup artist too! My sister-in-law to be is very talented. 

Weddings & Family

So since tomorrow is the first day of August, I thought I should start discussing some of the ideas the fiance and I have come up with for the wedding with Mum. 

Now I kind of regret it.

My mother and I have never had the best relationship (though it's better now I live out of home) and she has always been super opinionated. I just knew she would have something negative to say about our plans so far. I'll give her points that she was actually pretty good, but it was still a kick in the guts in a way. All you want is your parents approval really, but I didn't get it.

There was the "well the wedding is still a while away, you might change your mind" line and the "well I would do things differently, but it's not my day" type lines which are just laced with "what on earth are you thinking?". I know she is more traditional than I am, but all I really wanted was something positive.

She hated the lolly bar idea, was very disappointed we veto-d sugared almonds, dislikes we have chosen a cocktail function, then went stingee as and suggest getting flower from woolies to make lapel pins for the men? I said I wanted to save money, not be a scrooge. 

Then there is this competition she is having with M's Mum. Though his Mum doesn't know it. She's a bit jealous I think.

On the plus side she liked my brooch bouquet idea and is more than willing to help with that.

Anyone got any tips to help deal with family? We're not going to budge on what we want (most things anyway), but ways to politely say that or anything?

Dress shopping will be interesting that is for sure.

BellaBox July 2012

My first thought when I got this box was wow. I'm actually rather impressed.

Though it's a cute little bella-bag, not a box.

Either way, there are a lot of full size or large samples (100ml sample? Don't mind if I do)

Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm

This is a full size product which is great, I had been curious about trying them before and to be honest, I'm kind of glad I didn't actually buy it. The smell is odd, kind of like play dough I think? And oh my gosh does it make your lips feel all tingly. It's nice and smooth on and not all sticky either.

Royal Moroccan Shampoo, Moisturizing Conditioner & Hair Serum Treatment.

These I thought would be interesting to try as I normally use Macadamia Oil but have heard lots of people that like the moroccan.

Okay so, the shampoo & conditioner don't smell the best but they did leave my hair lovely and soft. The treatment kind of smells like a cough medicine my mother would make me take when I was little. I used an amount about the size of a 5cent piece and it wasn't too sticky or anything. My hair does feel nice and soft.

My verdict: It's alright, but I wouldn't buy any. I will happily stick to my regular products.

Ulta 3 Nail Polish in Mulberry

Honestly, I'm not even going to try this. I hated the last Ulta I got in a Bellabox. Sure for the price it might be good, but it's not what I am after in a polish, I want long lasting, few chips so I shall stick with my OPI/China Glaze.

e.l.f Defining Eye Brush

I've recently discovered a hatred for a slanted blush brush I got - oh the reviews said it was amazing but it';s driven me nuts. So does not work how I want a blush brush to work at all. But anyway, this brush as you may have guessed is slanted. Hopefully since it's for eyeshadow it might not be so bad. Will test it out and see. The brush is only about $4.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser

This one I was hesitant to try as I had previously tried a grapefruit nueturogena product and my poor skin took a while to recover. I really should have read the back of the product because this is meant to make your skin tingle. I felt the tingle and was paranoid I'd hop out of the shower and have a bright red face. But no, it's meant to make your skin tingle and believe me it did for a good two or three minutes at least. My skin felt lovely and soft afterwards. And it really does come out like a foam. It's not something I would want to purchase again purely because I don't like the tingly sensation.

Nutri-Synergy Sensitive Skin Cleanser

I thought it was a bit odd to get two cleansing products in the one box, but of the two this one at first glance appears to be more for me - sensitive skin friendly.

I don't know if it's just me, but I felt like this left a residue on my skin. I ended up washing my face again with my usual cleanser. No reaction and was nice and soft with a fresh lemony scent.

Givenchy pi Neo

A sample for your Mr. I can't see the fiance trying it

You, Me & Everybody Shady Lady Daily Face Mix

First thoughts? I love the hot pink box and what a long name! It comes out of the tube really quiet fast and it's a pinkish colour. Very smooth feeling. Seems to work quiet well and no break outs yet. 

It's been a very good box. Way to restore our faith, Bellabox!