Tanning Delight and Fright + a Vani-T Bronzing Custard Review

I am sure we have all been there. The fake tan didn't go as planned and you are either looking patchy, orange or both. I have never self-tanned but I have had four spray tans in my life which is not a lot but enough to know when they are good or bad. Here are two examples of how good it can look when it's done well, and how bad it can look when the tandoori chicken look has been maximised in true Snog, Marry Avoid style. Sadly I was not invited to be on the show when I was sporting tan number two.

When tans delight.

When tans cause fright!

As a non self-tanner I think gradual tanning lotions are a fantastic alternative to the full thing because you can't muck it up, it is cheaper and you can stop when you feel like the colour is strong enough. It is also great to use them for when you are maintaining the tan in between salon visits. The Bronzing Custard from Vani-T is a great example of a gradual tanner and it gives you results really fast. I am a big fan of the delicious packaging because I cannot resist the combination of bronze, pink and diamonds. 

Hello Darling in Hot Diggity and Ganache

Lately I have been venturing away from the pinks and more towards darker, more autumn colours. I am also very into mustard at the moment so having mustard nails was just natural progression. This is Hot Diggity.

I also tried doing a half-moon manicure but I failed epically so I ended up just polishing over with chocolaticious Ganache.

I assure you that the matching with the magazine cover (and the hazmat suited cover model) was purely accidental. 

As usual, all Darling polishes are 3-free and long-lasting. Both polishes are from the new Get Cozy collection.

Which colour is your favourite? Are you drawn towards different colours in Autumn?

Xx

Before and After. A Table Tonic Transformation Story.

Yesterday I got the best kind of mail from Louise at Table Tonic. I have been wanting some Tonic in my house for a long time but I finally got around to ordering. There was also a 25% sale on so I technically got one cushion for free. Louise was very helpful and answered my questions quickly. There are so many gorgeous ikat cushions to choose from so I was very grateful for the assistance.

Here is what met me in one of the boxes. I was very excited!

The yellow ikat has arrived!

Here is a before shot, it was all very beige and brown. Too dull!

Snapshots of Last Year's Holiday Part 1

Looking fresh prior to departure. 

About a year ago we were either in Denmark or Switzerland, I can't remember. On the second Monday in May Mike and I packed our bags, had a four day stopover in Bangkok (loved it!) and then jumped on a Thai Air flight which went directly to Oslo. We took the train for one hour to stay with my grandma and then two days later we took the train back and got on a plane to my hometown Bodø. We stayed there for almost two weeks and had the best time. Mike improved his Norwegian, I chilled out with the family and we celebrated my sister's confirmation. After that we went to Oslo again (Mike's claim to fame is that he has been to Oslo airport seven times), and went in for the day to see my BFF Linn and also leave our suitcases at the hotel we would be staying at. We therefore only had hand luggage for our little Europe-spree but it worked fantastically. Except for when I was stranded in 30+ degree Berlin with having to wear Converse shoes. This also limited how much we could shop but I think our wallet benefitted from it. As I would love to be on a holiday right now I thought I'd share some pictures of our trip.

My suitcase broke the day before departure so luckily we could borrow one from our friends.
Bonus points for being easily recognisible too! 

Posing on Kho San Road where you will be asked to buy a suit every 5 seconds.

Beauty Confessions + an Organix Macadamia Oil Review

I am sure we all have some secrets and I feel like it is about time I share some of my beauty confessions. Some I take pride in, others are a little embarassing but isn't that part of the fun?

Bobby Pins: Lately I have started sleeping with bobby pins in my hair. This is a win-win situation in my eyes because my fringe is not in the way and in the morning when I am getting ready, I don't have to scramble to find a bobby pin. On a sidenote, I often find pins on the floor. Not sure why, they just gravitate there like magnets. Maybe this could be an A Current Affair story? I am sure we would all like to know!

Hair Brushing: I don't always brush my hair. Let's not dwell on this.

The Lemon Lightening Trick: I once tried applying squeezed lemon to my hair in order to naturally lighten it in the sun. It did not work for several reasons; I was brunette, I was in Northern Norway where the sun doesn't shine so bright and it was tough to wash out. Lesson learnt.

I'm Not a Good for a Sleep-In: I have always been an early riser (lucky mum and dad), and even now I struggle to sleep in for longer than 7 or 8 am. Years of working shift work hasn't helped either. Even if I go to bed at midnight my body still just wants that early start. I don't deprive it, I just take extra power naps.

I Spill Makeup: My wonderful mineral foundation from Kit has a flaw. First of all it looks a little yellow because it has to even out my naturally rouge skintone, and further to this the lid has a chip. This makes it a little hard to apply without spilling powder on the floor but lo and behold, if Mike's gym-bag is at the floor it gets even worse. At least I have apologised on behalf of Kit but I won't change.

The Unlikely Project: Quitting Sugar

For those who know me, I am a very unlikely person to try to quit sugar. I love my sugar and I do sense that there is an addiction underlying the love. I was initially sceptical (and I probably still am) to getting the I Quit Sugar book written by Sarah Wilson, but I figured I don't have much to loose over $15 and it is a really interesting concept. I know it will be hard so I have enlisted Mike to join me in the IQS fight. It is only an 8 week program and then you can re-introduce sugar into your life. I am not doing this for weightloss but for improved health and also to distance myself from food as a reward.

The reason I am letting you know I am doing this is that hopefully you will keep me on the straight and narrow. I want to give this a really good go and see how it goes. I promise I won't preach (after all I had to postphone the project so I could finish my Nutella jar) but hopefully this will go well. 

The things I am most sad about giving up are fruit, tomato sauce, pasta sauce, Up & Go (my morning routine), cinnamon sugar, chocolate, ice cream and the occasional soft drink. I am the girl who has tomato sauce on everything and I appreciate a jar of Dolmio like it is a fine glass of wine. And with the mention of wine, this will be my lifeline. You can have one glass of either red or white daily and I think that will help me get through it all. Looking at calorie-free sweet things like young Gustaf will also help.

I have never been much of a diet person and I don't have a very good track-record when it comes to these things. I once tried the lemon detox diet but gave up after 8 hours and ordered Dominos instead. I do think it will be different this time because I want to see how my body reacts and plan ahead to avoid the afternoon sump and the first week you swap. I will swap my Nutella for peanut butter (Macro does an amazing organic version with 100% peanuts), the Up & Go for chai tea and along the way I will figure out the rest. Hopefully this will be a fun experience!

I would love to know if you have ever tried to eliminate anything from your diet? Have you done a detox?

Xx

Pink and Sparkly Nails with Rimmel + Darling

There is something so fresh and nice about pink nails and finding the right shade can prove to be quite a  journey. I received the Rimmel Lasting Finish polish in the Priceline Free Beauty Bag and I was excited to receive it in the shade Strawberry Fizz.

What was more impressive was the fruity scent I could smell coming out of the bottle. It was even stronger once my nails dried. I do have to apologise to my dear colleague Alie because I made her smell my nails. I hope she will recover one day.

If you couldn't tell, my sweater motto is "go loud or go home". This one is from Jay Jays and truly connects me with my Nordic heritage.

After a couple of days I added my new Darling Paillette Top Coat in 24k to the mix and I loved the result. Loved! 24 k has large glitter pieces and they look absolutely divine.

I do know that many people stay away from glittery polish because it can be a handful to remove. When it came to removing the glitter tips I just soaked the cotton bud in nail polish remover and placed it over the nail for about a minute to soften it up. This did the trick and I am not worried about removing glitter anymore. Put on your favourite song (Princess of China)/movie (Zoolander)/show (Revenge) and you won't mind the repetitive task.

What do you think of glittery tips? Scented polish? The perfect pink?

What is your favourite song/movie/show?

Will Alie ever forgive me?

There are just too many questions and not enough answers.

Xx

A Tale of a Bath, a Candle and some Chlorophyllic Water

Some days you just need some time out and it can be nice to take a break from our busy and often technology-heavy lives. Autumn is also a time when it is easier to get sick so looking after yourself is even more crucial. Lately I have started having a teaspoon of Chlorophyll with my water in the morning. The colour makes it look like a glass of flat Coke but it tastes better than it looks. I got mine from Priceline and at $20 for a bottle it isn't cheap but I see it as an investment in my health. The 500 ml will give you about 100 glasses of water so if you think about the bigger picture it isn't so bad after all. The benefits include supporting the detoxification in the body and Chlorophyll can also improve the skin appearance and its condition. Chlorophyll is also high in Vitamin K.

I have also started having baths again. I used to do them and then I just kind of forgot because they take time and I feel it can be quite unenvironmental. Then again, sometimes you just need to indulge and you may as well make it a little special. I lit my Slatkin & Co candle which is still going strong. Even when it isn't lit it just smells delicious.

For my afternoon spa session I wanted to use my sparkling new 1Skinsolution Travel Pack. It contains a Lime Thyme Body Wash, Vanilla Bean Body Cream and Bath & Shower Chrystals which come in 50 ml sizes. The Vanilla Bean lip balm (which is good enough to eat by the way) was an added bonus.

1Skinsolution is an Australian brand created and developed by Raylene Barton. She uses natural ingredients and doesn't compromise on quality. She is currently working on developing some tinted lip balms so stay tuned for the next chapter for 1Skinsolution. 

My reading material was a photo album by Frankie magazine.

The Bath & Shower Crystals are absolutely amazing. They are a mix of sea salt, minerals, brown sugar, lavender and lime. You can actually apply it to your body as an exfoliant before you go in the shower or use it as a bath salt. Sadly I am a clutz so I managed to drop it all in the bath so I didn't get to try the exfoliant trick.

Put the lid on ladies or there will be no more crystals.

I also put on some John Mayer, I am a big fan of his music. I have pre-ordered his new album called Born and Raised which will be delivered on Friday. This is almost as exciting as Eurovision and Snog, Marry, Avoid being on at the same night. 

All in all it was an amazing afternoon and I felt so much better for it. I applied some Vanilla Bean Body Cream and it smelt fantastic. Even 24 hours later I can still smell the sweet scent of vanilla. 

How do you relax? Are you a bath fan? Do you like vanilla? Will you be watching Eurovision, Snog, Marry, Avoid or both?

Xx

PS - The travel pack was kindly provided for consideration. This has not affected my opinion. Please click here to see my disclosure policy. 

New Purchase: Clarisonic Mia

When I first heard about the Clarisonic Mia, I thought I didn't need it. This mentality changed a couple of weeks ago when I was just disillutioned with my pores around my nose. They were letting me down and I had heard the Clarisonic would fix it. They also promise that the Clarisonic (I used to call it a Clarasonic but that's just me) cleanses 6 x better than a normal cleanse. All this in just a minute. Myer was also doing a gift with purchase promotion where you would receive a toiletry bag and a Clarisonic pore brush valued at over $30. The Mia was available in either pink or white and comes with a sensitive brush for us gals with sensitive skin. It retails for $149 and how could I justify such an expenditure? Well let me tell you, I had a rewards voucher from work and I also found a letter in my pigeon hole with a tip a guest left me. In the letter he had written Merry Xmas so I guess I should check my paperwork more often. After these deductions I ended up paying less than half price which is not bad at all. It is all justified in my parallel shopping economy.

I did think it was cruel that I had to charge Mia for 24 hours before I could use it. It was like I had a new toy but it couldn't be touched. After it has been charged it should be good for 20 uses at 1 minute each. Mia will switch off after 1 minute and you use it for 10 seconds each on the forehead, chin, nose and both cheeks in a circular motion. 

It is much too soon to do a review but I will share with my first impressions with you. First of all, Mia tickles my nose. Apparently this will pass but it does make it hard to do a proper cleansing session there. I can also definitely feel that my skin is very clean after I have used it but I do also notice a little redness. I would also really like it if Mia came with a shower strap so I can hang it in the shower and it will make it easier to dry. I am thinking along the lines of the Nintendo Wii remotes. This may not be possible since it needs to be waterproof.

So far I am enjoying my twice a day Clarisonic experience. It has made cleansing fun again and I am looking forward to seeing if we can reduce those pesky pores.

Do you have the Clarisonic? Had you heard of it before? 

Xx

Review: SHE Pure Minerals Pressed Foundation

I didn't start using foundation until I turned 20 and I have always preferred mineral foundations because I have sensitive skin and it works best for me. I have in the past only used loose powder foundation so I was intrigued to try a pressed foundation for the first time. The SHE pure minerals foundation is made with Vitamin E in order to comfort and nourish the skin. It has a matte finish which is great because I don't like having a shiny face. Currently there are three shades available; Warm Beige, Golden Medium and Natural Tan. I have Golden Medium and it works really well with my pale and slightly red skin tone. The SPF15 is also a bonus and just perfect for winter. The RRP is $19.95.

The compact is very travel friendly and it has a mirror. I love it when compacts have a mirror, I am easy to please.

SHE does not test on animals and the foundation is also free from talc, parabens, fragrance and bismuth oxychloride.

The SHE foundation does not come with an applicator so I used the Models Prefer sponge that came in my Priceline Free Beauty Bag.

The multi-purpose sponge was great fun to use and it has become quite a staple in my beauty bag. It is just so spongy and pretty. 

I found it really easy to apply the SHE pure minerals pressed foundation and although I feared that it would get cakey, this did not occur. Mike actually commented on how he really liked that he could still see my skin underneath (millions of freckles). 

I truly appreciated how SHE evened out my skintone whilst also nourishing it at the same time.

Have you tried pressed foundation before? Are you with me on team mineral or not?

Xx

The foundation was kindly sent to me for consideration. This has not affected my opinion in any way. Please click here to read my disclosure policy.

My Norway Day Manicure

To go along with the Norway Day celebrations I wanted to get my flag manicure on. I didn't have much time so I just did triple-coloured nails. I used two OPI minis and the white Mecca polish from the French Manicure set.

I also wore my Mushu scarf, Cotton On cardi, Tigerlily dress and my hair was curled with the Remington Perfect Curl. 

The Arm Party was the gorgeous Princess Jasmine from Shabby Sisters.

I love the clashing colours and I matched the colourful birds and fish in the Zoo. 

Do you like to match your nails to a special ocassion? Which Arm Party are you currently rocking?

Xx

DIY - Armband Holder

After I made my DIY Headband Holder, one of my fellow bloggers Joanne from Jimmilou.com left a comment suggesting making an Armband Holder using the same technique. This was a fantastic idea and I made it on Monday and it was so quick and easy. This DIY took less than five minutes and all I used was fabric, scissors and the paper towel roll.

First I tore off enough sheets to make sure my bracelets would fit perfectly around the holder. I then cut enough fabric off to cover the roll, having about 5 cm on each side spare.

I then rolled the fabric around the paper towel roll, tucking it in on the sides. No glue required which was handy since I didn't have any left in my apartment and I simply had to make it right then and there. The result was great and I dressed it up straight away.

This was the quickest DIY I've ever done and it was such an easy way to organise my bracelets. 

Do you DIY? Will you be making the Armband Holder?

Xx

How to Pack for that Transatlantic Flight

A few weeks ago I wrote about packing for a weekend away. It's quite easy because you are only away for a limited time so as long as you remember toothpaste and a toothbrush, you'll be fine. On a long-haul flight on the other hand, it can be quite handy to prepare ahead. When I went home in February, I had less than 20 hours to get everything ready but I got it done and it was due to pure instinct only. Mike was also tremendously helpful, he is so amazing and I am so lucky to have him by my side.

My first piece of advice would be to take a picture of your luggage prior to departure. If your bag goes missing like mine did, it is great to have a visual clue as to what was in there. It is easy to remember the big things like my Parlux, but what about my favourite rose top? I also always bring presents home so that's why there was lots of chocolate present.

In terms of beauty stuff, I prefer to bring most of it in a ziplock bag so that it is easily accessible.

I brought sachets because I knew I would be stopping over in Abu Dhabi and I had planned to buy access to the lounge. That shower was just glorious and I felt so re-freshed and ready for my homecoming. 

I had asked Mike to buy me some toothpaste and apparently the Dora the Explorer was the only travel-sized paste available. It made for some fun and sparkly toothbrushing experiences. I also brought the Dermalogica multi active toner and the Estee Lauder Time Zone eye cream.

I also had the Lush Charity Pot, Jurlique Love Balm, Thierry Muegler's fragrance, John Frieda's Frizz Ease styling cream, Moo Goo's Fresh Cream deodorant and Jurlique's hand sanitiser.

In terms of what to wear, I prefer a comfortable yet stylish outfit. I have tried so many outfits on flights (ie boots and dresses, a nice track suit, jeans) but my favourite remains the dress/opaques/flats combo with a scarf and cardi to match which was the option I went for last time. I don't wear makeup on planes but I always go heavy on the moisturiser since it is such a dry environment. 

For the return flight I pretty much went with what was clean. My new H&M jeans are super comfortable and high waisted so I wore them with a white sweater, a Country Road cardi, Converse sneakers and a scarf. The picture was taken at 4am before leaving my hotel so the quality isn't great but I am sure you get the gist.

I think the top 3 tips I would give is to be comfortable, moisturise and know where your passport is. This will avoid the flight being more uncomfortable than it should be and it helps being in a positive mind space before starting your journey. For the record my flight was 14 hours Sydney to Abu Dhabi, 7 hours to Brussels, over 2 hours to Oslo (including luggage going missing) and then 90 minutes to my home town Bodø where we also circled above the airport for 35 minutes because they had to de-ice the runway. This does not include waiting times and lines at the security check and yet, I don't mind flying. I love airports because there is so much to see and experience and whilst their prices can be unreasonable, at least the duty free shopping makes up for it. 

Do you like flying? How do you pack for an international trip? Outfits?

I would also recommend you check out Kim-Marie's post on how she packed when going to Bali - she is one organised and lovely lady!

Xx