January 2015 - WEDDING FLOWERS
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Pink Lips, Winged Liner & Simple Shadow








Products used:

Primer - Smashbox Photofinish
Foundation - Mac Studio Fix Fluid NC15
Concealer - Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser in Light
Contour - Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess (Temples and Cheekbones)
Blush - Mac Fleur Power 
Highlight - Benefit Watts Up
Eyebrows - Rimmel Pencil in 001 Dark Brown
Eyeshadow - Naked Basics 2 palette (Stark on lid and Cover in crease) 
Eyeliner - Soap and Glory Super Cat Liner
Mascara - Revlon Lash Potion
Lipstick - Mac Lovelorn 

I thought that today I would upload a pretty simple makeup look because I haven't in a while and lot of people enjoyed them previously. I love how gorgeous the finish is of the Mac foundation - I luuurve high coverage. The lipstick adds a lovely pop of colour to the look, as I decided to do simple eyes for those, like myself, who haven't yet mastered the art of eyeshadow-ing! I've also been really into winged liner recently and it fits perfectly with this little daytime designed face. 

Hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Love

P.S. Hoping to upload tomorrow too if I get the chance (Hint - It's all about concealers)

Myrtle Beech Foliage - Nothofagus Cunninghamii

Lyell Highway Lake Burberry
I started the year with a short break to the west coast of Tasmania, my island home.  It was so nice to get away from home for a few days with the whole family.   We ate out every day for lunch and dinner, so no cooking or washing up (no small thing in a family of 7).  It was relaxing and fun and a great way to start the year.  

King River Gorge
It was also fabulous to explore parts of Tasmania that I've never been to before.  Tasmania's west coast is wild and largely uninhabited in the south which is almost entirely national park.  We stayed in Strahan midway up the west coast on the shore of Macquarie Harbour and had a great time exploring the region.  It was also a special experience for me, seeing the native vegetation in pristine temperate rainforest in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. 

Gordon River
Myrtle Beech, or Nothofagus Cunninghamii, is a beautiful tree that grows in Tasmania and in southern Victoria.  I grow it here at Swallows Nest Farm for its glossy green long lasting foliage.  I have seen it growing in the wild on Mount Wellington in Hobart, but in the temperate rainforests of the west coast, it is so abundant!  Around 50% of the trees in the forest are Myrtle Beech.  

Myrtle Beech - Nothofagus Cunninghamii
Myrtle Beech is slow growing and can live up to 500 years.  In the west coast rain forests, where the Myrtle Beech are the dominant species they grow up to 40m tall with nobly wizened trunks and a dense canopy high up the tree.


The west coast area has a high yearly average rainfall - between 3 - 4 metres of rain per year.  I heard it said that there is rain in the rain gauge 330 days of the year.  That's a lot of rain!  We were so lucky to be there for 4 consecutive sunny days!


The trunks of the myrtle beech are covered in mosses and lichen.  The dense canopy of the myrtle foliage creates a perfect environment for them to flourish in the wet, deeply shadowed understory.



Myrtle Beech Foliage

The foliage of the Myrtle Beech is really pretty.  It has small glossy green leaves that grow in a fanlike shape.  As a cut foliage they have a long vase life.  
Myrtle Beech canopy
It was great to see the trees growing in their native habitat.

Hogarth Falls
Hogarth Falls is a short, simple bush walk right in Strahan village.  Our kids really loved this walk.  The myrtle towered above abundant ferns and lined the banks of the creek and the waterfall.


The tree ferns are abundant in the west coast.  They are so beautiful!

The colours of new growth
 Early summer brings new growth on our Myrtle Beech at Swallows Nest Farm.  The colours of the fresh leaves are very pretty - orange, pink and red.  

New foliage in red
The new growth is very obvious on this tree.  Unfortunately, it is no good for picking as it wilts quickly.


Once the new growth turns green though, it can be picked without fear of wilting and it lasts really well.    


 In Tasmania, you'll see fresh bunches of myrtle foliage in the local florists.  It is brilliant for use all year round, except in its new growth phase.  It's nice to know a little about this beautiful foliage and its natural habitat, the temperate rain forests of the West Coast.  

Potential Royal Couture of the Day: January 30

It's Couture Week in Paris, where the Spring 2015 Haute Couture shows have been laying on the luxury. A quick rundown of some royal favorites today, and an opportunity to gaze at some pretty and pick your wish list for sightings on the royal runway. Click the designer names to see the whole collection.

Always the royal favorite, we're sure to see some of this on display at some point. This collection starts with Russian-inspired patterns which remind me of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's ability to take any folk art-type thing and give it a Scandinavian flair, and ends with some gowns that take the romance a bit too far by indulging in actual words flying across the fabric (something which always and forever feels gimmicky to me). The romantic angle does get me wondering if we'll see any more Valentino couture royal wedding gowns in 2015, though. Finally, we must note that there's plenty here that would make Sheikha Mozah happy, and there ought to be since the Qatari royal family owns the company.

I'm not sure midriffs and millinery have ever coexisted anywhere as much as they do in this season's Chanel show, but I am now officially eager to see what Princess Caroline and crew make of their next hat-wearing occasion.

I know some of you like to use the dependability of Elie Saab as a mark against his collections, but that's why I love them - always, without fail, pretty. We have some larger scale patterns this season, which are a nice break from the smaller scale and overall embellishment we've seen in past couture shows. There are some major gowns on display, gowns that make me wish the next Nobel Prize ceremony was next month instead of next December so Crown Princess Victoria could bring the label back up on stage. But a more likely appearance for these gems will be on the Luxembourg ladies, so let's get some gala occasions for them ASAP.

A few more fashion houses we might just see on the royal parade:
  • Giambattista Valli's got the florals that make Mette-Marit's knees go weak.
  • Ulyana Sergeenko has outfitted Sheikha Mozah in the past.
  • Ditto for Ralph & Russo. I'd like to see the Duchess of Cambridge try out this UK-based label, but this collection doesn't feel much like her.
  • Can't say I'm a big fan of the latest from Christian Dior, but most of what we see on the royal ladies (mainly Princess Charlene and Queen Mathilde, thanks to Dior's Belgian designer) is bespoke anyway.
And more! Indulge in the pretty on your Friday.

Photos: Style.com

Royal Event Speculation of the Day: January 29

I have no Tiara Thursday post for you today - I know, tragic - but I can offer you the hope of some real live tiaras in action not too far in the future.

Queen Margrethe II is turning 75 in April, and if there's one thing those Danes know how to do right, it's a birthday celebration. Her 70th birthday, back in 2010, was a huge royal event with plenty of foreign royal attendance and three separate tiara events. (Three!) (And I covered them here, here, and here.) I don't know if this year's festivities will be quite so grand, but the schedule was released this week and there is some tiara potential in the mix. I also don't know if she will be joined by such a large gathering of foreign royals this year, but my guess is we will see Princess Benedikte and Queen Anne-Marie's families, plus a showing from the other Scandinavian royal families, at least.

Here's the schedule:

March 25: A new exhibit on the Queen will open at Frederiksborg Palace, Hendes Majestæt Dronningen 75 år – En dragtkavalkade, a "costume cavalcade" as the translation tells me. Anything involving her gowns would be well worth a look if you can get there.

April 8: A gala concert in Aarhus, which will apparently also include foreign official guests. A gala performance was also held in 2010:


April 15: A gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace. Again, a banquet at Christiansborg was part of the festivities in 2010:


April 16: This is Her Majesty's actual birthday. The family will make a balcony appearance during the day and there will be a luncheon at Copenhagen's City Hall. In the evening, there will be a dinner at Fredensborg Palace. And once again, something similar occurred in 2010:


Will we see similar majesty this year? Ehhhh, I dunno. But my fingers and my toes are already crossed.

P.S.: We still have two posts today, keep scrolling.

Source: Kongehuset

Royal Coats of the Week: January 29

First, we had Crown Princess Mary's lovely gray coat, mentioned in Sunday Tidbits.

And now we have Princess Charlene's lovely gray coat, spotted out this week for the Sainte-Devote procession in Monaco.
I think it's Gray Coat Week. Then again, it might just be January. (Mathilde's wrap thing showcased earlier this week was also kind of gray, though we've certainly said enough about that outfit for a week.)

Crown Princess Victoria has a submission too. It's technically light blue I suppose but I have a theme going here so just go with it already okay.
Click here for video.
She opened the European Figure Skating Championships in Stockholm, and I was glad to see she had a little sparkle going on with her earrings. I mean, if you're not going to wear some sparkle to open a figure skating competition of all things, when can you?

Anyway, back to da coats: I'll take Mary's version for myself, please and thank you, though I can't deny that Happy Char is doing a pretty good job of selling her whole look here. Simple, but effective.

Photos: @Royal_talk, Didier Baverel/WireImage and Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images, TV4 video
Royal Remembrance of the Week: January 28

Royal Remembrance of the Week: January 28

Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, a day which is also honored as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The day was marked with a service at Auschwitz in Poland and in events around the world, and royals from many countries joined in the commemorations. This is not the lighter stuff that we usually (and purposefully) stick to around here; this is really nothing to do with the sartorial side of things. But sometimes it's important just to take a moment and remember.

Among the royal contingent paying their respects in Poland were the King and Queen of the Netherlands and the King and Queen of the Belgians. Willem-Alexander wore a kippah (yarmulke), which was a touching gesture.
The Crown Princes of Denmark and Norway were also in attendance, as was the Crown Princess of Sweden and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
Below, Guillaume and Stéphanie laid a wreath at the camp.

Holocaust memorial events were also held around the world, some drawing royal attendance.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a memorial in London, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit joined in the events in Oslo.
Many others not shown here also participated in various events at home, including the King and Queen of Sweden, Prince Daniel, and the King of Spain. The attendance of this particular set of people is not the point of these events, of course, but I can't help but find it lovely to see so many in our frame of reference united, from whatever location, to commemorate and to remember this important moment in history.

If you would like to watch the entire ceremony from Auschwitz, you may do so below.


Photos: Getty Images as indicated

Royal Wedding of the Week: January 27

Princess Astrid of Norway, daughter of King Olav V and sister of the current king, married Johan Martin Ferner on January 12, 1961. As I mentioned in Sunday's post, Mr. Ferner passed away on January 24th, not long after the couple marked 54 years of marriage. Today, a look back at their Norwegian winter wedding.
Princess Astrid's older sister Princess Ragnhild caused her share of controversy in 1953 by marrying a commoner, and Astrid then doubled up by marrying a commoner who also happened to be divorced. The couple shared a social circle and bonded over their love of sailing (Ferner was an Olympic medalist in the sport) but they had to wait to make things official. When they finally did, they got married in Asker with a recently retired bishop presiding, as there were many in the church that refused to marry a divorced person.
It was a cold and snowy winter wedding, and the bride arrived and left with a short fur coat to keep her warm. The dress underneath featured a skirt with wide bands of silver embroidered lace and a lace top with long sleeves. A fingertip veil in tulle was topped with a small crown headpiece that appears to have been made from the same style lace. The bride also wore a pair of pearl earrings and a triple strand pearl necklace.

The dress seems very much of its time, and is lacking in many of the grand features that usually set a royal wedding gown apart, like a big train or a long veil. This was a more practical choice, and Princess Astrid later took advantage of that practicality by removing the long sleeves and reusing it as a gala dress. (An exhibit in 2011 showed the dress in its final design alongside the wedding gowns of Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Princess Märtha Louise.)
The groom's entrance into the family may have come with some fuss over his first marriage, but soon enough the controversy faded away. In the end, Johan Martin Ferner was not a well known member of the Norwegian royal family by choice. He focused on running his family's business, a department store in Oslo, while his wife carried on with her royal duties. He seems to have been the model of discretion, a quality in today's world that's well worth a little initial controversy.


Photos: Ray Bellisario/Popperfoto via Getty Images, NRK video, Kongehuset

Royal Head Sculpture of the Day: January 26

Well, well, well. The Benelux party antennae ride again.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde attended the opening of Mons 2015, 
the European Capital of Culture
First Queen Máxima (in the darker version), now Queen Mathilde. An inevitable progression. I always hope something will break the chain, and I am always wrong.
Click here for a video.
The rest of this cream outfit does seem to have some potential, but that's not what we're looking at. Actually, I'm looking at the people surrounding Mathilde and thinking it's pretty lucky that both she and Máxima are fairly tall. I mean, put this on someone of QEII's height and somebody's gonna get an antenna to the eye.
Safety hazards aside, you do have to admire her dedication to giving us something wacky to start the week. Oh, Mathilde.

Photos: Benoit Doppagne/AFP via Getty Images, Deradactie video 

Sunday Tidbits for January 25: From Farewells to Fashion Shows

Seems we have an awful lot of royal deaths lately. That can stop anytime soon. But for the moment, that's where we must begin:

--Johan Martin Ferner, husband of Princess Astrid of Norway, passed away on Saturday. He was 87 years old. Ferner, a businessman, married Princess Astrid in 1961, and the couple had five children together. [Royal Court of Norway]
In 2012, celebrating Princess Astrid's 80th birthday: Princess Astrid and Mr. Ferner, center, the late Princess Ragnhild and husband Erling Lorentzen, left, and King Harald and Queen Sonja, right.
Photo: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen / Det kongelige hoff

--The King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, also passed away late last week. He was 90 years old and came to the throne in 2005, though he had been the country's de facto ruler since 1995. The Prince of Wales, the Crown Prince of Norway, and the Kings of Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Jordan are among the dignitaries who traveled to Saudi Arabia to pay their respects and greet the new sovereign, King Salman. Salman was half-brother to the late king and served as crown prince; the throne currently passes between the sons of the first King of Saudi Arabia and a council exists within the large family to vote on the succession. [NY Times, Washington Post]

--With Abdullah's passing, Queen Elizabeth II is now the world's oldest living monarch. [ITV]

--On a lighter note, an excellent anecdote told by a former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia has been flying around: King Abdullah, while still crown prince, visited the Queen at Balmoral and was treated to a tour of the estate. Much to his surprise (and slight terror), the Queen took the wheel of the Land Rover herself. And that's how you welcome the ruler of a country where women aren't allowed to drive, kids. [Twitter]

--Continuing to lighten things up a bit here: Princess Athena of Denmark, daughter of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, turned three years old this week. Berlingske has some of her new photos plus a little gallery of her little life so far. [Berlingske]

--At the Danish monarchy's site, you'll find the latest engagement of Crown Princess Mary, in black and gray basics. [Kongehuset]

--Luxarazzi is shining a spotlight on the diamond and ruby necklace belonging to the lovely Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg. [Luxarazzi]

--Are you in need of a wearable portrait of the Prince of Wales? Sure you are! Vivienne Westwood's got you covered. Her recent menswear collection featured nods to the Prince's style and pictures of both Charles and the Queen. [Hello]

Stay tuned for Monday, we have matters of a Belgian sort to discuss. Prep your waffle maker for the occasion.

Royal Closet Raid of the Day: January 23

As promised, one last thing before we stop celebrating the Countess of Wessex's 50th birthday: her closet raid! This is our time-honored tradition (eh, well, it's been around for a few months) of taking a look through a royal wardrobe and seeing which pieces we like so much we wish we had them for our very own. Praise with a dash of selfishness thrown in, just the way I like it.

When it comes to the Countess, I knew precisely the outfit I was after:
Emilia Wickstead is a favorite of Sophie's, and with good reason. This dress, debuted at the Luxembourg royal wedding in 2012, is a good example of Sophie's style on the whole: basically classic, but with a bit of quirky fun too. It also happens to be my personal favorite, because full skirts, belts, square neckline, three-quarter sleeves, and fun prints that aren't too cartoonish are just a few of my many favorite things.

A few more of my favorite Sophie things, for good measure:
A fun floral dress in a flattering cut, yes please.
Purple Prada coats, YES please.
And cute clutches, ohhhhh yes. Now, your turn:

What do you covet from Sophie's wardrobe?

Photos: Pascal Le Segretain, Max Mumby/Indigo, Ian Blakeman via Getty Images, and Emilia Wickstead

Tiara Thursday: The Murat Tiara

The Murat Tiara
Built as a showcase for three large pearls, the Murat Tiara is a creation by Joseph Chaumet. It dates from 1920, when it was created as a wedding gift for the marriage of Prince Alexandre Murat (1889-1926) and Yvonne Gillois (1894-1961). The large pearls came from the Murat family. The center pearl, noted as an "exceptional treasure" at the time of the tiara's sale, is a baroque button-shaped natural pearl of over 75 carats (75.84 carats to be exact, or 303.37 grains). Two additional large pearls, also button-shaped and natural, were added to the sides of the design, adding some balance to the large centerpiece. The family also supplied most of the diamonds used for the design of acanthus foliage scrolls that accent the pearls.
The Murat family's title goes back to the reign of Napoleon I, when Joachim Murat (1767-1815) rose up through the military and married Napoleon's sister Caroline Bonaparte. Titles were granted and eventually Joachim was King of Naples and Sicily (though all did not end well for him; he was ultimately executed for treason after the fall of Napoleon). The family maintained a prominent position in French society, and at the time of this tiara's creation, there still would have been plenty of tiara occasions for the new bride to attend.
This is a tiara certainly intended to convey status, thanks to those enormous pearls. The design itself is grand enough to recall the family's roots, with an acanthus motif that would have fit in at Napoleon's court. The tiara originally had a separate bandeau on which it could be worn for additional height and an option to be worn at the forehead, in a style very much of the 1920s but also very much in the style of Empress Joséphine. All of that grandeur paid off when the tiara was auctioned at Sotheby's in 2012. Estimated to bring in up to $2,445,636, the tiara sold for $3,864,318.

What do you say: A successful incorporation of large single gems?

Photos:  Sotheby's, Miguel Medina/AFP
Royal Outfit of the Day: January 22

Royal Outfit of the Day: January 22

Well, this is...dour.
The King and Queen of Spain held an annual reception for foreign ambassadors yesterday.
Given the dress code - this is another court dress occasion, with morning dress for men - a choice like this places them straight off the set of Downton Abbey. Mrs. Hughes goes to Spain!
Okay, well the top is sparkly. Mrs. Hughes goes to a disco in Spain, then.

Photos: Carlos Alvarez via Getty Images

Luxury Nude Lips | Mac&Chanel







If you've been struggling to create that flawless nude lip that takes yours from concealer lips to Kylie Jenner, then you should carry on reading...

When wearing nude lipstick, I tend to be drawn to warmer pinks tones rather than cooler, as they work better with my natural lip colour. Usually, I find nude lipsticks to not be as long lasting as brighter colours, so the majority of the time I opt for liner to pair it with. Mac's Dervish is perfect for the job - it is the exact colour match for Chanel's Satisfaction and beautifully intensifies the warmness of the original tone. I apply Dervish slightly over my natural lipline to bring out my inner Kylie (I wish) and marginally enlarge them.  

Chanel Rouge CoCo Shine in Satisfaction is a god send. A warm, rose nude with a buttery, moisturzing texure is all I could ask for in my optimal lipstick. It gives a slight glossy finish which is really flattering, especially in the winter months. This lip combo is ideal for everyday wear, as it is both subtle and pretty. The packaging is also to die for - I loooove the Chanel logo!

Thanks for reading x

Love

Royal Outfit of the Day: January 21

Royal Outfit of the Day: January 21

Somebody got their hair done for their birthday...
The Countess of Wessex was out and about, looking fab, on her 50th birthday yesterday. There was cake! I'd show up for any royal engagement if dessert was a guarantee. And she sported a hairdo which was simple from the front and anything but from the back:
That's a lotta stuff going on there. But I'm all in favor of daytime updos any which way, you know me. The 'do crowned an outfit of simple pieces that came together pretty harmoniously: a Prada coat, a pink Gucci dress underneath, a burgundy Sophie Habsburg Design clutch, and black L.K. Bennett boots (per the Countess of Wessex Blog).
Sophie's obviously been making great strides in her style in the past few years, and this is the kind of simple but chic outfit that comes from having a wardrobe filled with higher quality individual pieces. As I tweeted the other day, the Wessex family's chef has apparently been appointed Sophie's new personal dresser - an unusual move, but if he keeps her moving on this path, more power to him.

Stay tuned, we may just have another Sophie fashion feature before we're done marking her big birthday.

Photos: Tristan Fewings and Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Royal Outfits of the Day: January 20

Yesterday was a red day, today is a blue day. I love it when royals accidentally color coordinate with each other. Yes, I'm very easily amused.
For more pictures, click here or here.
Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, and Princess Estelle started their visit to the Bay Area. Estelle wasn't expected to be a big part of the visit, but she did participate in the casual first part, including a visit to the Church of Sweden San Francisco. They presented a united family front in a series of blues, from Victoria's bright dress to Daniel's light tie and Estelle's printed dress and cardigan. Coordinated, but stopping just short of overdoing it, I think.

And in a land far, far away, someone else unknowingly played along with the Swedish matching game:
Duchess of Cambridge had an event in Kensington yesterday.
I'm in favor of all Estelle-approved color schemes, and she's smartly left the hair bows to the professionals, by which I mean toddlers.
Kate's take includes maternity pieces from Seraphine, a light blue cashmere blend coat (with more Pocket Flaps to Nowhere, though these make a little more sense at the seam and in the same color and fabric) and a printed crêpe de chine dress underneath.
Classics, very flattering, and I wouldn't mind a non-maternity version of that coat for myself. Or just the maternity version, and I'll call it my Thanksgiving coat. I could make it work.

Photos: @bjornly, WPA Pool via Getty Images, Seraphine
Royal Outfits of the Day: January 19

Royal Outfits of the Day: January 19

A red suit showdown!
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde attended another New Year's reception last week
Mathilde's entry is a repeat from the couple's introductory visit to Germany last year, a red suit with pleated details by Pierre Gauthier.
The original appearance, in Germany
Better without the hat? I think so. The suit's plenty of pleating all by itself.

And over in Spain, on the same day, an entry from Letizia:
King Felipe and Queen Letizia gave out the National Research Awards last week
I've always liked this Felipe Varela suit, with its delicate scalloped detailing, and red is definitely Letizia's color. Both she and Felipe were wearing bracelets from ARHOE, an organization that promotes more rational working hours and a better balance between work and life in Spain. The group was included in one of the couple's recent palace audiences, and they've apparently won some royal support. A yellow bracelet with a red suit is certainly an effective way to draw attention.
So, who comes out on top in this style duel? Red suits in general, probably. More of that all around would be fine by me.

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2





If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I am a crazy Urban Decay fan - especially when it comes to their ultra pigmented, buttery eyeshadows. I have been using this little palette throughout the whole of January and I cannot get enough of it! 

Naked Basics 2 holds all matte shadows (with the execption of skimp - it is slightly shimmery), all of which are neutral and highly wearable for anyone. I am in love with all the names - all cheekily related to the whole 'Naked' range. There are two lighter shades and the rest of the palette is orientated around taup-ier/grey colours...very similar to the Naked 2 which happens to be my most used and very well loved palette. 

Over the past month, I have been really into subtle eyeshadow with a slick feline flick. I have been wearing stark all over the lid, cover in the outer corner(also mixed with frisk in the crease) and finally skimp on the inner corner and brow bone. As skimp is the only shade that isn't purely matte, it looks beautiful when highlighting the brow bone. I'm also really into the warm tone cover beholds, as it really accentuates the eye shape and compliments hazel/brown eyes. Finally, when discussing the colours, I love how the darkest shade, undone, is not an intense black, as seen in the first Naked Basics palette. I think a muted black is far more wearable, perfect for wearing as smoked liner and nicer for creating more natural looks.

On the topic of formulation, this palette does not fail to meet my expectations. Like all my other Urban Decay palettes, the shades are all very buttery and pigmented. This makes it so much easier to blend the shadows, especially those being applied in the crease. I do this usually with my E.L.F Professional Eye Blending Brush. 

Overall, I must conclude that this is a definite must-have for those who are a cool-toned shadow fan, love matte shadows, are a lover of Urban Decay palettes, obsessed with neutral eyes or anyone who travels alot, since the palette is small and compact. I cannot compare this to the first and I don't own it/never tried it but let me know in the comments below if you loved it! 

What are your favourite products from Urban Decay? Do you like their eyeshadows as much as I do?

Love

Sunday Tidbits for January 18: Birthday Portraits Galore and More

It's double the birthday girls and a potential for a dash of royalty in an area near you (uh, if you live in very specific areas) in this week's batch of tidbits. Read on:

--A new portrait was released to celebrate Princess Michael of Kent's 70th birthday last week, featuring her cuddling her cat while sporting one of her tiaras (the Kent Festoon Tiara, which was worn to Queen Elizabeth II's coronation). We've reached peak Princess Michael, with just one image. [Hello US]

--And two new shots of the Countess of Wessex have also been released, in advance of her 50th birthday. Alas, they feature neither tiaras nor cats. [Countess of Wessex Blog]

--Are you anywhere near Sydney, Australia? You can see the Australian Wattle Brooch in person, lucky you. It's on loan to the Powerhouse Museum as part of a jewelry exhibit through April. [Powerhouse Museum, with thanks to commenter Kathy]

--Heads up, northern California: Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel are visiting you. They've already arrived, with Princess Estelle, but the visit officially runs Monday through Wednesday. They'll be in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. [Svenskdam]

--The International Circus Festival in Monaco is Princess Stephanie's big event each year, and it's been in full swing this week. Prince Albert gives it an awkward thumbs up. [Paris Match]

--This story about the Duchess of Cornwall sending a bouquet to a longtime royal watcher who missed Christmas at Sandringham is so sweet. [EDP24]

--The Japanese imperial family really loves their court dress this time of the year. They were back at it with the New Year's poetry reading this week. I'm so happy that Princess Kako was allowed something beyond the deeply unflattering hat that she got last time, I'll overlook the spread of glorified headband hats. [Imperial Family of Japan Blog, ANN News video]

--And finally, over at the Jewel Vault, I broke down the jewelry additions from the royal gift lists for 2014.

Locker cum closet.

I finally got myself a metal locker for my room. I gor two. How awesome!

My current obessession has got to be the industrial details, interior, very minimal almost bare, raw. I I've been eyeing on these gorgeous lockers for almost 3 months, and listed to have 145 units, so I wasn't too pushy for it, and finally today I got the time to personally go to the shop and have my close inspections. 

It looked perfect, although it would be even nicer if I could get the tall ones, stack it in five and make a solid closet. Oh yes, only 14 units left. I just had to take two. 


There something so iconic about refurbished furniture. That stories that no one knows, Another one thing I am obsessed about is oversized photo as a headboard. I am scrolling for nice photos that I can blow it up and have it hang on the wall. 


and I am in love with this too, MGMT Electric Feel cover. F. just F.

sex and companionship

sex and companionship

“Do you have a jumper”

(with a weird look, started taking off my cardigan)

“for car..”

Oh my god! I’m starting to think that my soul might secretly be a woman. I had two amazing conversation with two great people. Companionship. The preliminary look into the collection of the letters that create the word might feel a little blurgh, barf-worthy material. I am starting to like the term.

I am pretty sure that I have previously sold my  soul to the devil for wanting a partner. Then I realized, my soul isn't actually attracted to the idea of marriage in general, or maybe at least to permanent commitment to a person, or a paperwork to make it a workable relation.

Maybe not even sex.

Maybe the following terms/explanation/descriptions are not what I want, or at least looking for now.

  • How “till jannah” our relationship is.
  • A beach-themed pre wedding photographs, post wedding shots anything in between,


Maybe all I need is just someone I could randomly share nonsensical things with, that person who I can talk to at wee hours, someone who confirms me as another person, its feels good waking up to see someone familiar.

Maybe all I need is my crispy deep fried salmon skin over at sushi king.

Maybe all I need is you.

wedding

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