Friday 12 August 2016

Frida Kahlo Exhibition


When I heard about the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW I was beyond excited. I ventured up to Sydney with my friend Ella for her birthday (she coincidentally shares the same birthday as Kahlo, might I add) to view the exhibition and wander around the rest of the gallery. 
Although the exhibition was both Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's works, I think we were all there for Kahlo... And the people in charge at the Art Gallery seem to think so too considering the gigantic Kahlo panels hanging outside the building.

very very low quality, mi dispiace
On the walls was a timeline of Kahlo's life and I slowly read my way through the entire wall, taking in piece by piece. I had some knowledge of Kahlo and her life before viewing the exhibition, but reading it in detail shaped a new appreciation for her and her artworks. She continues to be an inspiration for many people today, including myself, not just for her artistic skill but also for her positive attitude and perseverance during difficult times.

The exhibition features not only a collection of Kahlo's works, but photographs, letters, quotes and film. 
Page from Frida's scrapbook















The exhibition runs until 23rd October 2016, information and tickets can be found here.




Tuesday 9 August 2016

Sukin; Australian Natural Skincare

I am a big fan of skincare. I love moisturisers, facial cleansers, lotions, scrubs; you name it and chances are I will have plenty of it on my shelf at home. I'm obsessed. When I found out about Sukin, I knew I had to try their range. Natural skincare appeals to me because I want to do my part for sustaining the earth and I like knowing that the products I'm using have been made in a non-harmful way. Their packaging is minimalist and stylish, and I love the green and white combination. The vast range is affordable, 100% vegan and all of the products smell incredible! Sukin's focus is to create 'skincare that doesn't cost the earth' and I think their endeavours to do so have been a wonderful success.

They achieve their focus through:
  • Recyclable packaging
  • Plant-based ingredients rather than harmful chemicals
  • Natural formulations: Biodegradable and won't harm waterways
  • Not using microplastic beads in scrubs
  • Not testing on animals




The facial moisturiser is a staple in my everyday routine as I put it on before I go to bed, leaving my skin soft and nourished. I think it is so important to support cosmetic companies that are natural and environmentally friendly, as looking and feeling good while using ethical products has never felt better. It is so refreshing for a company to be honest and open about their sustainability practices and the ingredients used in their products, as many companies nowadays try to conceal this information from consumers. 

I would highly recommend Sukin to anyone seeking a good vegan skincare company that produces high quality and affordable products, without damaging the environment on the way.

You can visit their website here and read more about their company here.



Have you used Sukin products before? Do you know any vegan cosmetics worth trying? Let me know in the comments below! 

xxx

Monday 27 June 2016

Adventures: Minnamurra Rainforest

The other month I went to the Minnamurra Rainforest located in Budderoo National Park, which is around 20 minutes west of Kiama. It seems rather odd to have lived so close to it for all of my life but never actually visited. It was a great day walking around the forest (one of my favourite places) despite my realisation for how unfit I am... I think I stopped on more than half of the benches there for a sit-down and snack break but that was fine because I had more time to admire the view.

The Falls Walk is 4.2km return and the time suggested is 1-2 hours however I feel as though my walk was towards the longer end of the spectrum. The walking track grade is 2, meaning that 'no bushwalking experience is required, the track is a hardened/compacted surface that may have gentle hill sections and occasional steps'. Perfect for me! (Even though I still struggled, if I'm real with you).



I suggest packing water and food because there is nothing more I wanted to do when I reached the waterfall than sit down, relax, and eat. The waterfall really is worth the (hard work) walking, even though it isn't spectacularly gigantic or anything, it is still really nice. I'd love to go when it's raining one day because I think it would be incredible. I love the rain and I think the rainforest would look so beautiful and lush.

I am so glad I didn't bother straightening my hair or anything because it went frizzier than usual! It also got a bit chilly so I'd advise not to wear anything that will make you too warm or too cool. At some parts of the walk I wished I wore my jeans because my legs were freezing, but at other times I was glad to have worn my shorts because when you reach the hills you really start to warm up and break out a sweat. I also took my polaroid camera and sadly only one photo out of five developed. I'm not quite sure why; the lighting was on the correct dial but nevertheless I wasted a lot of films that day (and film is expensive) so if you're wanting to take photos when you go then don't just rely on your polaroid!



This post is a part of a new series, Adventures, where I will talk about places I've been to, what I did there and share photos. I'm looking forward to sharing more adventures with you! 

xxx

Sunday 5 June 2016

June Beauties


The other week I found myself on both Sephora and Mecca Maxima websites, with no intention of purchasing anything. 'I'll just have a look and see what there is to see', I thought to myself. A few hours later (and around hundred dollars later) both websites told me my purchases were successful. Both packages arrived within a week of ordering which I was stoked about! 

I was particularly excited for these parcels to arrive because I realised that I had never actually ordered make-up online before. I usually purchase my makeup from places like Priceline and The Chemist Warehouse, albeit I have been to Sephora and Mecca in the city once before and purchased things there; so this was new! 

I bought the Benefit Sugarlicious box, Zoeva 112 Face Curve brush, and the Too Faced La Creme in Berry Naughty. All in all, I am so pleased with the products and can't wait to use them more.





The Benefit Sugarlicious box exceeded all of my expectations. At first, I was rather hesitant to purchase it because of its cost, but then I thought I'd give it a try anyway and I am so thankful I did! I'll admit, it's smaller than I anticipated (it's length is about the size of the side of an iPhone 6) but the products are still incredible. 
This box has smaller versions of the Benetint, High Beam, Sugarbomb blush/bronzer and the Sugarbomb lip gloss. In all honesty, I hadn't read any reviews on the products so I was slightly clueless as to what the Benetint and High Beam bottles were for- and now I've used them I absolutely love them. 

Benetint is a rose tint liquid used for both lips and cheeks. I prefer to use it on my lips as it gives it not only a soft pinky glow, but it is also very moisturising which I like because my lips are always pretty dry. My cheeks have always been naturally rosy so I generally stay away from blushes of any kind, so I'll be saving the Benetint for my lips! The regular size bottle retails for around $50 which is so expensive for what it is, but here's hoping my mini version lasts me a while. 
High Beam is a highlighting liquid that is used on or above the cheekbones to give a bright, glowing, highlighting beam to the face. I think it looks absolutely gorgeous, and a little bit does go a long way! I've never used a highlighting product before but overall I am pleased with High Beam. 
I couldn't tell you the last time I used lipgloss but Sugarbomb is such a lovely sheer pink colour so it's hard to resist not liking it at least a teensy bit... Benetint and Sugarbomb can be used separately and/or together, but I love the look created together. I haven't used the blush/bronzer yet but the colours are gorgeous and the mini-brush is too cute.





I bought the Zoeva 106 Powder brush at Sephora at the beginning of the year and I haven't looked back since. I usually use my hands to apply foundation (I knew being a great finger painter would come in handy one day) so I thought it was time I invested in a brush. Zoeva brushes are vegan friendly and feel so incredibly soft on my skin which I love. The 112 Face Curve brush is great for application and spreads evenly. The design is very minimal and chic, and although there is the rose-gold brush collection I prefer the original (my taste changes constantly though so in a few months time I might say the opposite).





I can confidently say that lipstick is my favourite beauty product. I wear lipstick whenever I can and I have so many shades (most of which are dark pinks, purples and reds) that of course I needed another one for my collection. One of my favourite lipsticks of all time is the Mary Kay Hibiscus, which has been out of production for a while now. After stumbling across the Too Faced Berry Naughty, I thought I'd give it a whirl as it seemed to be close in colour. I compared the two and Berry Naughty is slightly more purple than Hibiscus, but I still really like it! I tried taking a photo of a swatch but even the photo doesn't do it justice. The lipstick is actually bright and sparkly which is unlike its first appearances. I was surprised when I opened it because I did a double take and thought 'Oh no, did I order the wrong one?' But the second I applied it I sighed with relief because it isn't as dark as it looks! It has a nice shimmer to it which I really like, I'm not a huge fan of matte lipsticks at the moment (I guess that's even more reason to try some!). It cost $32 which is expensive, but lipsticks last me such a long while so I think it's worth it. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and the gold case is stunning, Too Faced have really outdone themselves. I can't wait to wear Berry Naughty next weekend, I think it will undoubtably become one of my favourite lipsticks.


What products have you been loving lately? Let me know in the comments below!

xxx







Sunday 27 March 2016

Thoughts



I have often thought about the desire for things we aren't born with. In our minds, we believe that there will always be someone smarter, prettier and funnier than we are. There are a thousand products available to alter our appearances and change the things we dislike about ourselves. I enjoy makeup, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I don't use an awful lot of it partly because I have no clue what I'm doing, but mostly because I don't want to. We spend an abundance of our time fussing over our physical appearance and how we can change it to be more desirable.



For years, I disliked the curve of my nose and my 'Hermione hair', but now I've come to embrace it. My friends reassured me that I have a 'Disney princess nose' like Belle's (and we all know how much I love Disney). And Frizzy hair? I don't care. I was frequently told how 'lovely' my 'thick' brown hair is, and I would reply with something along the lines of "Well, if you'd like to trade hair then that's fine, have fun trying to tame the wild beast". I always I used to envy girls with perfectly straight hair. Nowadays I have learnt to love my crazy, whirly hair. I still have my hair straightened occasionally, yet I am loving the 'natural look'.

'Is that really what my hair looks like from the back?'

I have learnt to love my 'imperfections' because chances are other people don't see myself the way I do. Self-esteem is much like a roller-coaster. Some roller-coasters have their good moments and not so good moments. One day we can wake up feeling ~flawless~ and the next day feeling like utter shit. It's time for people to acknowledge and embrace the parts of themselves they are displeased with. A good friend once told me to make my weaknesses my strengths, so nobody could use them against me. In some ways, that expression could be applied to anything. There is no greater power than to love yourself; including the parts of yourself you hate.

We cannot let others validate us- because to validate something means to accept it and acknowledge its value- and at the end of the day, self-validation is what is most important. We must accept ourselves for who we are and not try to be something or someone we are not. The only comparisons we should make are of our inner-selves. Who I was yesterday, who am I today and who can I be tomorrow. If we compare ourselves to ourselves then we can strive to be the best people we can be.


  
Wearing: Topshop top, Dotti jeans, Mimco pouch

What are your thoughts on this topic? Comment in the box below.
xxx

Monday 21 March 2016

Mood

"I sometimes think that people’s hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what’s at the bottom. All you can do is imagine by what comes floating to the surface every once in a while" -Haruki Murakami

The collage above is a collection of photos from my Pinterest, which you can follow here
Sunrise last Monday morning
The past few weeks have been incredibly stressful, so tonight I've been able to unwind and release all of my creative energy that hasn't been released earlier because of exams. I love being in my own bubble; listening to music and getting some feel-good vibes going. I created this playlist the other day and it has been on repeat since.

The gum commercial featuring Reinhart's cover of Can't Help Falling in Love makes me cry every time I watch it. Elvis' original will forever be one of my all time favourite songs, yet Reinhart's rendition makes my heart swoon. 

xxx

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Hello, March

Despite being officially autumn now in Australia, it still feels like summer with our scorching heat and lack of 'almost winter' vibes. As much as I like to swim and spend time cooling off in the water, I am ready for the colder months! Winter is honestly my favourite time of year because you can get warm easily (unlike in summer, where cooling down is difficult), you can wear jeans 24/7, make hot chocolate and not feel like your insides are dying, and fall asleep to the sound of the serene winter rain. And skiing! How I love being on the glistening white snow, feeling so peaceful and at ease. Just writing this makes me crave winter even more. There is also nothing better than spending a night at home, curled up with a good book and some hot food (preferably Mum's pasta bake). Winter is the ultimate comfort time for me, some regard it as depressing months due to the lack of sunshine and warmth, but hey- each to their own.

{Skiing at Blue Cow, Perisher last year}

It's been a while since I last posted (one month and two days to be precise) and I feel like I haven't been up to much other than studying for exams and occasionally hanging out with friends. February was a busy month! But most importantly, it was a month of self-growth. The amount of positivity I gained was indescribable. This sounds incredibly cliched, however, I do feel like my old self again. After months of feeling down and lousy, I've started to pick myself back up. The most important lesson I have learnt is to be loyal to yourself because the most important thing in your life is you. Friends and family are also so important, and as busy as life may seem we still need to spend time with the ones who love us most. Unfortunately, we aren't always rays of sunshine, but for the most part, we can try to be. Having a positive attitude and mindset is everything, so make things count.



{Flowers from my friend Nadine}

On the weekend, I went snorkelling for the first time at my local marine reserve and I had an absolutely amazing day. It's like a hidden gem of paradise, only 10 minutes out of town. The weather was perfect and I was so excited. After buying my $10 snorkelling mask from Kmart, I was ready to get under the sea and explore. After parking the car on the dirt track, we took the long way around- climbing down a hill of rocks but we eventually made it to the bottom of the bay. There weren't an abundance of fish but there were still some; and it was so incredible to be a part of their world (yes- The Little Mermaid is my life). I had been swimming with dolphins before at Sea World in QLD, yet this was entirely different. The clear blue water was beautiful, and it felt so relaxing and enjoyable to swim in the ocean. In all honesty, despite living on the coast my entire life, I couldn't tell you the last time I had gone swimming at the beach. It's like a crime, I know. Last Sunday was a new experience for me and it was one of the best things I have ever decided to do. Dealing with anxiety is a pain in the ass sometimes, but when you're able to let go of all of that- life can be enjoyable.
Hopefully, I can go back sometime soon; next time I will be sure to take my GoPro along!


{Polaroids of the bay, bae and me}

xxx

Sunday 7 February 2016

The Italian Diaries; Chapter Two

Rome 

The next stop on our Italian adventure was Rome. I have always been fascinated by Rome, especially after watching The Lizzie McGuire movie when I was younger. 


The drive from Gualdo to Rome felt shorter than the initial drive from Rome to Gualdo; and in no time we had arrived. As they say, all roads lead to Rome!

Driving past the Colosseum on our way to the hotel was such a wonderful experience, yet it felt so surreal. Our hotel was in a central location which made it very easy to get to places by walking. I'm not really a big walker, I am rather lazy sometimes however in saying that I do like walking around and exploring places I haven't been before. So after arriving at the hotel and leaving our luggage, we went for a wander around the eternal city.

Our first stop was the Colosseum for a proper tourist visit before dinner.








The next day was our walking tour of Rome, and we walked from about 9am until 5:30pm when we reached our hotel. Our walking tour was probably the most exercise I have ever done in one day, which was good considering all of the food I consumed...
Highlights included the Roman Forum, Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain (though it was covered up because of construction) and the Spanish Steps.
It felt so incredible to walk around in Rome because all of the ancient ruins are fascinating, and I find it so interesting how Ancient Rome has been preserved (to some extents) and integrated into the more modern architecture of the city.







Not seeing the Trevi Fountain was one of the most disappointing experiences of my life so far, as it was number one on my 'to see' list. I decided to drown my sorrows at the nearest gelateria, yet this lead to more disappointment because the (first one) I went to was terrible. There are three gelaterias next to the Trevi Fountain and I went to all of them- and I was disappointed each time.
Towards the end of our walking tour of Rome, we went to Giolitti. This gelato changed my life. It was hands down one of the best gelatos I have ever tasted- raspberry and caramelized fig.
One of my travel tips would be don't go to cheap gelato places in touristy areas because they aren't as good as the ones that are a little bit hidden. It really shows how sometimes bad things come your way but better things come your way later.




On one of our days in Rome we visited the Vatican and saw the Pope's address in Vatican City. Wandering around the Vatican was mesmerising because all of the architecture and art is simply fascinating. The Sistine Chapel was a major highlight- seeing the works of Michelangelo. Unfortunately they don't allow photography in the chapel so I don't have any photos to share of that, so you will all have to visit the chapel yourselfs!
On our way to Vatican City we stopped for some pizza and I had potato pizza for the first time which was such a new yet good experience. Two of my favourite things combined = heaven.






Eating dinner in Rome was fairly bland because we went to the same restaurant every night (as it was a part of our travel package) and the food wasn't spectacular. Luckily the food in Florence made up for this, including our own pasta making course which I will share with you in next Sunday's chapter!

Where are your favourite travel destinations? Share with me in the comments below! 

xxx

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