Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Beauty



Spring Into Summer

These are some of my favourite things…

I haven't blogged in awhile, however I have some great posts coming up for you all regarding all things spring/summer. I am actually super excited that the weather is warming up! Summer is so near!! So in honour of this beautiful weather I want to share with you all my current favourite beauty products that will prove to be handy in the upcoming seasons.

Nars Bronzer "Laguna"  



I walked into Mecca Cosmetica a few weeks ago and I was drawn to the Nars make-up section and, like many girls out there, I was sucked in to all the amazing products. I ended up choosing only a few of my faves and one of them was the Nars Bronzer in Laguna. It is literally the nicest bronzer with a gorgeous golden shimmer. It will be perfectly fitting for the summer months as it is a true brown-based bronzer with a gold shimmer fusion that's excellent for creating or enhancing the look of healthy, glowing, tanned skin.

Nars Blush "Orgasm"




The blush is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L peachy pink with a shimmer and it goes hand in hand with the Laguna Bronzer. This blush is a very subtle pink for a real natural day look and it can definitely work well for nighttime too. Enough said. It sure did win me over!

Rouge Coco Shine "74 Parfait" 





This lipstick is soft and sensual, which makes it the perfect pink for summer. I have had it for quite some time now and constantly use it. I definitely recommend it if you are after a light colour with a nice shimmer.


Napoleon Luminous Lip Veil Lipgloss "In The Flesh"





This lipgloss adds so much gloss and shimmer and another bonus - it's long lasting. I usually apply this over my Coco Chanel lipstick just to add extra shine so I guess you could do that with one of your favourite light coloured lipsticks.


EOS Lipgloss "Strawberry Sorbet"





One of my ultimate FAVOURITES!!! It's my newest lipgloss and it is the only lipgloss I have that smells so good that you just want to eat it! It is so soft and sensual that your lips are literally left feeling as soft as a babies bottom. EOS products are exclusive only in America, however you can purchase yours online at a very good price like I did. I recommend!


Olay "Complete Moisturise Lotion" 





Okay, I think I have saved the best for last because although make-up is great, I personally love nothing more than the feeling of a fresh face that doesn't need any beauty products! I am so proud of girls who can go outside of the vicinity of their own home with minimal to no make-up and I am proud to say that I have no shame in doing it either. As the good old cliché goes, "beauty is skin deep" and "it's what's on the inside that matters most" - absolutely true! So that brings me to Olay. It is a moisturiser in the form of sunscreen and I've been wearing it whenever I have no make-up on. I recommend this product purely based on the fact that by using it you will hopefully be able to be confident in wearing no make-up as it is a fantastic facial cleanser and best of all, it prevents ageing!! How good is that? Also, another tip for anti-ageing: consume as little sugar as you can because while sugar itself is not necessarily the enemy, the way the cells in your body recognise and use sugar may speed up the body's aging process and make your skin look older. Reading that definitely changed my mind about eating and drinking yummy things that contain prolific amounts of sugar - why oh why are the delicious foods/drinks so damn bad for us!? 


Well there you have it beauty Queens! Stay tuned for more.


- L xo 

Saturday, 31 August 2013

Fashion and Beauty


My Winter Favourites

Well, it's hard to believe that we're at the end of winter and the warmer months are fast approaching! Seriously, where does the year go? I love winter in general so I'm sad that it's almost over as it's been an amazing few months fashion wise and just having those much-needed snuggle days by the heater, watching a favourite movie with a cappuccino in hand. In honour of winter I have decided to let you all in on some of my winter favourites. Enjoy! 

Bombardier Designs Soy Candle $34.95

If you follow me on Instagram and have read my post from June then you know that I am totally loving Bombardier Designs' soy candles. So far I have purchased two personalised candles from the lovely Kayla Bombardier, and have been burning them all winter long! They are such a fabulous idea for a gift, which is what I have just purchased my mum for her upcoming birthday. Being black and white, these candles look so beautiful around the home and I know that my collection will definitely be growing as I just can't get enough. My favourite scents are Pink Peony, French Vanilla and Roasted Coffee.


S&P Reflect Mirror Tray $29.95

I LOVE my latest purchase, which isn't just my winter favourite as I will be using it all year round. In saying that, this S&P has become a must in a lot of homes (as I've noticed on Instagram) and it's not hard to see why. It's such a gorgeous tray to serve drinks on or to just have looking pretty as a main feature on your coffee table. You can put candles, skulls, and/or any other interesting and beautiful accessories on it. So far this is how I have styled mine although I'm always changing it up and doing something new so watch this space!



Williamsburg Bucket Bag $39.95

LOVE LOVE LOVE! As soon as I saw this beauty I knew it would be fab for a casual day out or a dinner date. It's such an Alexander Wang inspired handbag, which is great for the bank account! ;) I have used this so much lately and recommend it. You can purchase the Williamsburg Bucket Bag from Dotti, either online or in-store.


Coco Chanel Noir $248

Two words come to mind when I think of this perfume… Très chic! It is the perfect scent for winter and it is just so AMAZING that I have been wearing it all day every day just about. I recently blogged about Coco Noir so you can read all about it in my previous post, "My Chanel Favourites".



Senso Ita Boot $295

I personally think that each girl should have a pair of these bad boys in their shoe-drobe as they are without a doubt the most wearable booties. I have worn these day in and day out, whether it be on a shopping spree or out for dinner. PERFECTION! These shoes are a staple for the winter months and I am so glad I purchased them as they are worth every cent.


There you have it! Goodbye winter and hello to spring. I am really looking forward to the upcoming season, especially for the fashion and trends. It's going to be a fun few months!

- L xo 

Thursday, 1 August 2013

Beauty


My Chanel Favourites

Hi everyone,

I feel as though I haven't blogged in awhile so I'm going to make this post an extra good one. ;) Today I updated my Chanel beauty products as I was long overdue! I mean, who doesn't love a bit of Chanel in their lives... (this post is sounding good already.) I am super happy with my new products and have decided to share them with you all. 



Coco Chanel Noir

I love love love the smell of this gorgeous perfume! It is a perfect scent for these cold months and is very long-lasting. I recently used up all of my Chance Chanel perfume and was in desperate need of a new one. I couldn't decide on whether or not to stay with Chance or try another so I decided to try Noir and after one whiff I was sold! If you're looking for the perfect Chanel perfume then look no further than Coco Chanel Noir.


Perfection Lumièr Long-Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup: SPF 10 30 BEIGE

I am absolutely obsessed with this foundation! Three amazing facts: it's perfect for people who have oily skin (like myself), it's long-lasting and leaves a smooth, photo finish look. I dislike foundations that leave girls looking like a cake face so once the Chanel consultant applied this shade to my skin I knew it was going to be my new go-to. Effortless to apply, with seamless blendability for a naturally flawless effect, this breakthrough foundation is the ideal all-day, everyday formula - suitable for a majority of skin types in a diverse range of 20 shades. The shade I purchased is the SPF 10, 30 Beige. My skin is quite fair and I've always had trouble finding a perfect shade that isn't too light or too dark and I'm so glad this one is the perfect match. 


Correction Perfection Long Lasting Concealer: 20 BEIGE IVOIRE

To go with my foundation is this Correction Perfection concealer. I will be using this for random blemishes on my face as well as those dark circles that nobody likes. Again, this concealer leaves a flawless finish and does exactly what the name says - corrects your imperfections.

To all my Chanel lovers, you can purchase any of these items from Myer and they aren't exactly inexpensive so I would suggest that you get a Chanel consultant to advise you on the perfect shade that will match your skin tone. 

Happy Shopping!

- L xo 

Monday, 1 July 2013

New Week


Monday Vibe


Who said Monday mornings aren't ideal? If you get off to the right start and set a happy and positive vibe then you will be guaranteed to have a fabulous day and even a fabulous week! This week represents a new beginning in my life. I love new and exciting endeavours!

I am off to work soon so currently I am enjoying a delicious cappuccino (extra froth) with some raisin toast and catching up on some morning reading ... VOGUE ... what else? Just so you know, fashion magazines and E! News are possibly two of my greatest guilty pleasures. 

Recently I have learned that life is all about how you look at situations that are thrown at you. There is no point perceiving something as negative right from the get go because believe it or not, you will be setting yourself up for a major failure. Life is way too short to let misfortunes cloud your shine. Be present. Be content. Be happy. That's my message to you on this fine Monday morning so I hope you take it in your stride and have a week to remember.



Love and Light!

- L xo

Sunday, 30 June 2013

Cooking


Banana Bread

Who doesn't love a delicious winter warmer? Why not try one of the most popular recipes - Banana Bread! This super moist treat is easy to make and even easier to eat. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (225g) plain flour
I tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup (80ml) sunflower oil 
1 tsp vanilla extract 
4 ripe bananas, mashed
65g pecan nuts, roughly chopped (optional)
Butter and honey, to serve

Method

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease and line the base of a 900ml loaf pan.

Step 2: Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar with 1 teaspoon of salt into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the egg, oil and vanilla.

Step 3: Add to the dry ingredients with banana and pecan and fold until just combined - do not over mix.

Step 4: Place into the loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then remove, and slice thickly. Serve spread with butter and drizzled with honey.



ENJOY!  

- L xo 

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Beauty


Mani Mania

Guys love their cars, girls love getting their nails done! I think most of you will agree that a girls time of relaxation and pampering mostly takes place at the nail salon, right? I, myself, am obsessed with getting my nails done and it definitely helps when you go to the BEST beauty clinic in the city!!! Le Corte Beauty has been and always will be my number one go-to when it comes to all things beauty! The girls at Le Corte are so creative when it comes to nail art and do such a good job each and every time I go there. The attention to detail and focus they have is incredible! I would recommend that beauty clinic to anyone. 

Tonight I got a mani at Le Corte! I always like to try something new and different so tonight was no exception. Check out the gallery below to see what design I went for this time and also, take a look at my TOP 5 FAVE NAIL DESIGNS! I have had so many, which is why I didn't post all of them, so I narrowed it down to the top 5. 

If you want to you can leave me a comment about what your favourite nail designs are as I love reading about what other people like too. 

Enjoy!!! :)

L xo
 



The first time I went for the "stiletto nails." LOVE!


My Christmas Nails 2012.


Summer 2013.


The princess nails I had for my 20th Birthday. These are my #1 fave!


Black & Gold for winter 2013.


*MY LATEST MANI* 


❖ Winter Blue ❖

- L xo 



Thursday, 13 June 2013

Things I Love


Bombardier Designs || Personalised Candles



Recently I came across Bombardier Designs' Instagram page through mutual followers and instantly fell in love with all of the photos Kayla (founder of BD) posts and beautiful candle personalisations. My first purchase was the alphabet candle that is personalised with my initial and I LOVE it! It is a pink peony scented Soy Candle that smells so divine, so for that I love it just that little bit more. Here's a little bit about Bombardier Designs, quoted straight from their website: www.bombardierdesigns.com.au :) 

"Bombardier Designs believes that Designing Simplicity is the key to a happy life. However simplicity is not easy to achieve, it comes with the trial of many elements and a sense to truly determine what is essential. This belief shines through in our work of Event Designs and in our Soy Candle range, using what is needed in other to bring a piece of happiness to you."

What a clever and very successful business! So successful that Bombardier Designs is even featured in Vogue Brides 2013 under 100 Bride Essentials. If you're a bride-to-be or even an interior designer, home decorator and completely style obsessed like myself then check out Kayla's Instagram - @kaylabombardier. There you will find fabulous photos and fashionable ways in which you can display your new candles just like other Bombardier Designs customers have.

Happy online shopping! 

- L xo

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Bedroom Decor


IN MY BEDROOM


Secrets of my room…

A little over two years ago we moved into a beautiful new home and ever since I have been planning how I want my bedroom to look. It's been a working progress and I have finally reached completion! It has been such a fun time searching for the perfect bed, quilt cover set, dressing table and side table, as well as photos to decorate my room and add a pop of colour. So where did it all start? …

Initially, I knew that I wanted to create an Old Hollywood Glamour theme and so I definitely knew that the colour scheme I wanted was black, white and silver as they're such classic tones that I love so much. For my 18th birthday I received my dressing table and bedside table (photographed below) as a gift so that was the first step to creating my dream bedroom. Of course, I went shopping and chose it myself as I wanted some input. I love mirrored furniture and it's so in at the moment so this was the perfect addition to my room as the dark silver would blend in perfectly with the colour scheme I envisioned. The next step was purchasing my bed, and let me tell you, this was a huge decision as there are just so many amazing beds in Perth! I originally fell in love with leather beds, however quickly changed my mind. After a trip to Domayne and two hours of deliberating, I bought this beauty of a bed (photographed below). I am so in love with this bed as it's a perfect fit for my room and it's silver so it definitely ties in well with my colour scheme. A few short weeks later, I purchased a gorgeous quilt cover set to finish my bed off. It took weeks of searching high and low but I finally found the most amazing quilt cover. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Now, who doesn't love photos? I absolutely love adding photos of myself and friends around my bedroom and, as you can see below, I have done exactly that. I bought a stunning Marilyn Monroe framed photograph to finish off the "Old Hollywood Glam" look for my room. I am so happy that I found this piece. AMAZE!

All in all, I could not be happier with the final product of my bedroom, especially since I have dreamed of creating the perfect room for years now and I'm just so pleased that the idea I had visualised has now come to life. Although it may not have been an easy task, creating a bedroom that's chic and stylish is definitely fun. Of course, as the years go on I will add some new finds to jazz my room up a bit. Be sure to check out my photo gallery below to see what my room now looks like! :)

- L xo


My little beauty!

You can never have too many pillows!



My gorgeous quilt cover is made up of gorgeous tulle fabric with a few diamantes. LOVE!






My dressing table.


What's on my dressing table.


My newest piece! I'm a little obsessed with Marilyn Monroe.

Thursday, 30 May 2013

Accessories


Personalise Your Clutch || MNO.logie

This post is for the ladies who are impossible to buy for, which makes this must-have the perfect gift!

Recently I came across a style accessory online that I couldn't resist buying. For those who know me well enough you know that I am a total shopaholic - when I see something I want I just have to have it and these gorgeous perspex acrylic clutches were no exception. I love a fab clutch for a big night out or even as an accessory for a mellow dinner date, so it's fair to say that I have always loved clutches of all different designs. However, this clutch from MNO.logie is at the top of my favourites list! 

So how is this beauty made? It is handmade of course, and the clasps are made of recycled coins, which I thought was very cool and clever! Also, you get a choice of what pouch you would like for the inside of your clutch (with so many options), and more importantly it's personalised to me. 

BELONGS TO LEAH




Above is a photo of my new clutch and below there are photos of many other clutches that are featured on MNO.logies's official website, Facebook page and Instagram feed. You can find the links to each of these pages below too.

I hope you love these fabulous accessories as much as I do. I can't wait to use mine for the first time!

- L xo












Official Website, Facebook, Instagram

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Rest and Relaxation


Family Holiday 2013

These past few days have been absolutely perfect. Spending time with my close family in a beautiful location was just what what the doctor ordered. Last Friday, all 11 of us headed off on an adventure to celebrate a milestone - my Baba and Dedo's 50th Wedding Anniversary!!! 50 years is such a long time to be committed to your soul mate so we all felt it needed to be celebrated accordingly. We arrived at our gorgeous abode in Dunsborough feeling so excited and overjoyed to be spending 4 days in peaceful bliss - what could be better? It really was a trip to be remembered and what better way to hold onto those beautiful memories than by taking lots and lots of snapshots. So here's a sneak peek into our weekend family holiday in Dunsborough, Western Australia. ENJOY!

Our gorgeous abode - Regency Beach Club, Dunsborough


My lovely Baba and Dedo at Bootleg Brewery, Yallingup. 
18.05.13

Afternoon stroll on the beach. 
18.05.13

50 years on and still so in love. 

A view TO DIE FOR at the Anniversary lunch on Sunday.
19.05.13

Sipping a delicious cocktail at the Anniversary lunch with a stunning view.
19.05.13

Love this photo! Cheers!!! 
19.05.13


My little cousin, Sienna and I celebrating. She's the cutest. 
19.05.13


Madison magazine + a perfect view = me-time. 
20.05.13


I can tick that off my 2013 list of places to visit.


To view more of my family holiday go to my Twitter and/or Instagram - @msleahmaree.

Happy Wednesday!

- L xo