8 I've Learnt About Managing Money So Far

Financial literacy is an interesting topic. For something that permeates every aspect of our lives, its astonishing that there is no clear path to being "good" with money. In my opinion, there is no such thing anyway. We're all learning and what makes sense for one person's lifestyle or budget might not work for someone else. In saying that here are the most important things I've learnt about managing money over the last decade.

If you need to budget, then you need a budget.

This year I switched from a steady 40-hour a week job, to becoming a "full time" freelancer. While I don't actually work "full time" it is my sole source of income and makes me enough to pay the bills and then some. Up until now, I've managed my money in more of an intuitive way. I've paid my bills first, then socked some money into savings and kind of mismanaged the rest. What I've found is this attitude does not cut it when your income fluctuates wildly from one month to the next. Instead, I've written out a one year budget (template courtesy of One Big Happy Life) and am managing each month as I go.

It's SO HELPFUL. Honestly, I was kind of terrified about how I was going to manage my money going forward. If you are at a stage in your life when just winging it won't cut it, I highly recommend spending an hour or so setting yourself up with a yearly overview. I do log every purchase I make but it takes me less than ten minutes a week to keep up with and I've already made countless money decision based on knowing what was left in each of my budgeted categories for the month.

You can still do smart things with your money even if you don't know what the future holds.

Currently, I'm living in New Zealand after spending one year in America. As me and my partner try to figure out visa's and jobs it's a little bit difficult to think about anything beyond the next year, let along saving for a home or god forbid children one day. I think one of the hardest things for Millennials, and Gen Z after us, is that our lives aren't as linear as generations before us. It's no longer meet someone, get married, buy a house, have kids.

I came to the conclusion that while I couldn't define whether I would be buying a home or even staying in the same country in the next year I could make decisions based on when I might want to access my savings. I have short term savings in a high-interest bank account. This I can access for big payments that I don't have on hand like flights or emergencies.

The rest of my savings are split between a long-term deposit and investing in my ETFs. The long-term deposit I can access in a years time, meaning if I do want to think about a deposit for a house then I can use some of this for a deposit. My investments are for much further along in the future - like my midlife crisis or retirement.

You need to save for retirement. And not just the mandatory minimum payments.

I was 27 when I first learnt that other people my age were actually adding to their retirement accounts - and I'm not talking about opting into the government minimum payments. It's bonkers that this isn't even taught to us at school but, chances are that there will be very little money left in the pension fund by the time we Millenials turn 65. Making monthly contributions to your Kiwisaver, over the mandatory amount is a good idea.

You don't need to be obsessed with FIRE to be "good" with finances.

Here's the thing about money. Utilizing every dollar to build yourself a life you love is more important than saving 70% of your income. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the F.I.R.E (financial independence retire early) clan because living super frugally would drive me crazy. And I should know because I used to date someone who lived this way. Spending money on clothing, entertainment, makeup, sports, craft beers or other non-necessities does not make you bad with money. It just means you have different priorities for your life than someone who wants to save every (and I mean every) penny. Be smart with money. Invest for your goals, pay your debts and save for retirement. But don't feel guilty for whatever "self-indulgent" things you spend money on each week.

Investing isn't just for the super-rich.

There are so many ways to invest money these days from Sharesies to Smarshares and InvestNow that didn't exist ten years ago in New Zealand. I am by no means an expert on what type of fund is best for you but if I can do it it can't be that complicated. My only advice is to invest in your future self. Your investments will go up and down so don't invest if you need to access this money within the next five years.

This morning I woke up to my investments plummeting by 7%. I had two options. Invest some more money while the market had dipped or close my app and ignore it. Since I invest with an auto payment plan at the end of each month (and a lot of studies show that timing your payments doesn't make much of a difference in the long term) I decided to close my app.

There are very few things worth going into debt for.

Cars are not one of them and neither are electronics. Apart from a mortgage or a college education, I can't think of anything that I've bought in the 13 years I've been working that would be worth paying interest on. Most things can wait until you can afford them.

In saying that credit cards aren't necessarily evil.

I was always told that credit cards were bad and that holding debt on them is a huge waste of money. While this is true, there are perks to having a credit card. I've been penalized for taking money out of my savings account because I didn't have enough money in my checking account to pay for flights. With a credit card, I could have paid them off during the month avoiding any fees while keeping my bonus interest. I got a credit card for the first time a year ago and wished I had gotten one sooner. It's also a great way to build credit.

On applying for an apartment this year I requested my credit score to use as a resource to show how great I am at paying my bills. Except...since I've never used credit I have a decidedly average credit score! While I'm sure this matters less in New Zealand than it would in say, America, it's still something to think about.

Check-in on lifestyle inflation every six months. 

Lifestyle inflation or lifestyle creep is when your spending increases as your pay increases. So, rather than being able to save more you just spend more money on unnecessary purchases or nicer more expensive versions of what you used to buy. I like to check in on my lifestyle inflation every six months or so. Too many coffees out or Kindle purchases can blow our budgets without us even realizing.

Now that I have my handy one year budget I find it easier to manage this but even so, I still decided to cancel my subscriptions to The Cut and Spotify (!) because my income is lower than usual. While this only comes to an extra $19 a month and $228 a year, that's the price of hosting my website on Squarespace. Since the gym and my house are the main places I listen to Spotify, and they both have wifi (my rent includes unlimited wifi) it wasn't a sacrifice to me at all.

I'm sure I've learnt more good money habits but these are the main ones that come to mind when I think of what has shaped my finances over the last ten years.

My January - February Goal List

Since moving stateside I've experience the turtle speed slowness that January and February have crept by at. These months have always been my favourite at home. It's hot (finally) and the pace of life crawls in a good way. Nights are spent outdoors and the days feel like they're never going to end. In contrast the northern hemisphere shares many of these same attributes, it's just not as appealing when the average temperature is below freezing and it's still snowing in February. Here's how I've been tacking my goals in the depths of the winter season.

Manuscript: The hardest part about starting again on my manuscript has been...starting. I knew I wanted to make a lot of changes to my first draft - big changes - I wanted to make my main character younger so it was a firmly YA story and the overall 'feeling' my first draft gave me felt like it was too heavy. My character is going through a lot of growing pains but I still wanted my book to feel optimistic and funny. I've edited 9,000 words this month and written a much more solid outline for the book, changing up scenes I no longer thought worked or were necessary. I'm enjoying this process much more than I did when I first wrote my draft.

Sustainable shopping: Overall I think I definitely need to scale back on the amount of clothing I buy  but I'm pleased to say that 90% of what I've bought this month has been second hand, However some things have crept into my cart just because they were cheap versus an actual need for them (which I never do when paying full price). I failed in early January by buying a pair of sweatpants and leggings from Old Navy as I really really needed some warm cosy pants that I could wear at home. I also bought a warm winter coat brand new but to be honest I don't regret this purchase as it's so warm and I didn't want to risk buying something that had already been worn to death.

Read more books: I'm five books into my reading goal of completing 30 books this year which is way ahead of schedule! So far I've read the latest book in The Diviners trilogy, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The Underground Railroad by Coulson Whitehead, Into the Water by Paula Hawkins and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. I'll put up some brief reviews soon!

Career: I've talked a little bit about being interested in transitioning into UX design in the future. So far I've signed up for a few free introductory courses on the subject and have really enjoyed it. I'm still interested in applying some of what I've learnt into a more practical project though as even though I find the theory interesting I want to try applying what I've learnt in a real world way.

How are your goals going this year?

3 free ways I’m challenging my imposter syndrome this year

We’ve all experienced feelings of self-doubt from time to time. Some days you just feel just ‘off.’ Maybe you blundered your way through a job interview or pitched an idea that was shot down in a ball of flames at work. These things happen and it can be hard to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off again. But what about when self-doubt starts manifesting as more than just the occasional negative thought?

Imposter syndrome, although rarely talked about, is something that up to 70% of people have experienced in their lifetime. The feeling of being a fake or a fraud has affected such successful heavy-weights as Maya Angelou, Serena Williams, David Bowie and Sheryl Sandberg. If there’s one thing we can take away from this knowledge it’s that a) literally more than half the population will feel this way at some point and b) it’s not altogether bad company to be in.

Imposter syndrome isn’t just something that can make us feel crap about ourselves it can also have financial implications. It was the reason I didn’t negotiate my job salary until I was in my third professional role and has cost me the potential job earnings of every job I’ve failed to apply for because I couldn’t do all 500 things the job advertisement asked for. Rather than just revel in the feeling of not-being-enough I’ve decided the time has come to conquer my imposter syndrome. Here’s how I’m doing it.

Reinforcing what you already know. I’ve been job hunting for a couple of months now (ain’t nothing like being unemployed to really level-up your imposter syndrome) and it’s easy to get caught in the trap of equating a lack of call backs to your - perceived - lack of skills. One thing I have found helpful is reading up on the industry I’m applying into. This has a two fold effect of often learning about some cool new things but also reinforcing that I already know this shiz. I recommend signing up to some free industry newsletters or even completing a short intro course if there’s one area of your skill set that is bugging you. I recently completed a free two hour short course in digital marketing and although I learned a few new tips and strategies, it also reinforced to me just how much I do know. 

Embracing gratitude. I’m a naturally anxious person so sometimes being given a chance to prove myself can feel like I’m setting myself up for failure. My mind immediately races thorough all the things I think I can’t do instead of what I can. Rather than embracing this glass-half-empty perspective I’ve decided to seek out opportunities as opposed to the hurdles in my way. Instead of feeling sick at the thought of leading a group of my peers in a project it’s a great opportunity for me to champion my colleagues and level up my skills in an area I want to improve in.

Rewriting my narrative. Another fun that anxious brains like to do is equate our past successes with luck rather than skill. I’m a firm believer that we spend too much time dwelling on our failings and not enough championing our successes. While it’s important to learn from our mistakes it’s also helpful (and confidence building) to remember the steps we took to earn our wins. That time you put together a winning strategy wasn’t just blind luck, it was because you did your research and crafted a well thought through response. Writing not just your wins, but how you got there, down in a journal is helpful not only for a self-induced pep talk but will come in handy in the future. You can use these success stories for your resume, at your next job interview or as a reminder that you can take on whatever challenge that comes next.

3 Easy Ways to Stay on Track of Your Goals

I was never a goals orientated person. I mean sure I had big dreams, and things I wanted to do in life but they were vague things like 'finish my degree', 'get a job' and 'start looking after my body.' The older I get the more I've realised the value in both setting goals and the work that goes into achieving them. Writing my book has been a huge dream-come-true for me but the process of writing was one that I needed to get serious about.

In 2017 I finished my year of writing having bled, sweated and cried 80,000 words into my novel. Through editing and revising I finished my year with a solid 50,000 words in a tidy but not-yet-finished manuscript. After getting off track last year (my two month break turned into about ten months) I'm back at weekly writing goals for 2019 and am aiming to have a polished 80,000 word draft by the end of the year. Sidenote - my manuscript is very much in it's draft stage so there's a lot of work that needs to be done not only writing another 30k but severely editing what I do have.)

Here are some practical ways I'm trying to stay ontop of my writing goals this year. If you're not a writer don't worry as you can apply them to almost anything!

The tomato timer method :: Committing just one hour during the day to doing a job I'm struggling with was a lifesaving method for me while I was studying. Sitting down for one hour, whether I achieve anything or not, is a far less overwhelming task than say forcing myself to write 1,000 words or applying for 'x' amount of jobs. While the output is about the same (it takes me an hour to write around 1200 words) I often found myself not just writing for one hour but three or four. 

Writing down your wins :: I used to write down a list of things I wanted to achieve each day or week and it was always longer than what I could reasonably achieve. Now instead of feeling disappointment that I only achieve two of my four planned workouts in a week, I celebrate what I did do instead. I also think there's a weird psychological shift in wanting to improve on work I've already done. When I've smashed out two workouts in a week and squeeze in a third it feels like a win as opposed to only completing three out of my four planned sessions.

Tracking your progress :: Because my ultimate goal with my book is to have a 80k word count having what I've achieved each week written down can be really motivating. While I was studying I had a weekly word count of 4k and I would mark each week's achievements on my calendar above my desk. While it can sometimes be despairing to see the week's when I haven't done much I actually found it really motivating to see how much I had already achieved. Looking at your progress as a whole can be very satisfying and I'm planning on taking this tip into 2019 with me.

The self-care acts that actually make a difference while unemployed

Instagram, and lifestyle blogs in particular are awash with suggestions for practising self-care. Everything from bubble baths to 'treating yourself' to a starbucks, or face mask or [insert whatever thing you usually do on special occasions here]. I am all in support of this. While a lot of the time self care articles can seem a bit frothy I think we can all agree the general point is that every now and then we need to slow down and take some time to ground ourselves. However, I've found the times I need the most self-care can often coincide with a need to be frugal. A month ago I moved countries to be with my boyfriend in America. Being away from friends and family and spending a lot of time on my own while I look for work is tough. Not to mention that I have a side project (a novel manuscript) that I both love spending time on yet simultaneously feel guilty about devoting time to since I don't yet have a paying job. After reading a lot of 'self care' lists that don't fit into my budget category right now I've noted the things that I can do that make the biggest difference to my sense of self care (and overall mental health).

Eating well is boring but nutrients are actually important :: I would love to give the illusion that being both unemployed and a writer involves spending days at coffee shops tapping away on my novel in between firing off job applications. Alas, sipping on lattes costs money and I don't think I need the extra pastries in my diet. Instead I make sure that when I do eat it involves lots of boring but accessible things like vegetables, whole foods and home-brewed coffee. While it's not as glamorous it does mean that my savings are at least going a lot further than they would otherwise. I buy non-organic vegetables from big brand supermarkets and make them feel more exciting by adding a sprinkle of chilli flakes, garlic powder, salt and pepper on them. Most meals consist of greens (brussell sprouts, asparagus or broccolini) baked sweet potatoes and a source of protein like roasted chicken breasts or frozen fish fillets. I think it's easy to under-estimate the importance of taking care of yourself from the inside out or that good food is expensive.   

Getting sweaty:: Moving to the land of the free has certainly made me a little envious of how cheap everything here is compared to my home country of New Zealand. Getting a gym membership while I was unemployed was a non-negotiable for me. My gym charges $5 a week (compared to the $19.99 weekly fee it would cost for something similar at home) and includes all classes in the membership for that price. I recommend signing up to a gym in person as the rate I was charged was even cheaper than the advertised rate. While a gym membership isn't necessary for everyone, being active (in a sweaty way) three to four times a week is something I find essential for my mental health. I also love that I can feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement in at least one area of my life. If a gym membership isn't in your budget I would recommend a pair of fitness bands. They are an easy way to up the resistance of at-home workouts and cost very little.

Making time to get out of the house and meet new friends:: The hardest part of moving to a new city (or country) is always making new relationships. I've been using a mixture of Bumble BFF and Meetup, as well as tagging along on my boyfriend's after work drinks. Connecting with other women who work or study during the day has been a great way for me to get out of the house and gives me something in common to talk about. While I'm an introvert by nature, socialising is actually something I've come to realise is hugely important to my mental health. While Meetups are often group-based one of the perks of Bumble BFF is that it's usually one-on-one. It's certainly easier to spend less money (or nothing at all) by meeting up for a coffee or suggesting a walk rather than dinner or drinks with a larger group of people.

Keeping an 'I did' list rather than a 'to do' list :: I started a 'to do' list in the first couple of weeks of moving and guys, it was pretty depressing. Because number #1 is still 'get a job' it had the effect of making me feel like a pretty big failure for not having all my ducks in a row, especially as the weeks grind on. Instead I've been writing down how many times I've worked out each week, the number of words I've been writing and the number of job applications I've sent off. There's no reason you can't add additional achievements on there like books read, skype calls with loved ones or chores completed that emphasis that just because you aren't actively employed doesn't mean you aren't achieving anything.

Replacing social media scrolling with a productive habit instead :: Is there anything worse than getting stuck in a black hole of Instagram, comparing both loved ones and "influencers" lives with your own sad couch-related existence? Thanks to the 'Screen Time' app on iPhone I've learnt that being unemployed has left me with a newfound habit of wasting literally hours and hours looking at social media and feeling shit about my existence. Last week I decided that instead of picking up my phone whenever I felt idle I would pick up my Kindle instead. Reading is the second best thing I could be doing to improve my writing (after, ahem, writing). Using this technique I'm already three-quarters of the way through Beartown by Fredrik Backman and have remembered how much reading revitalises my love for my own work.

Giving myself permission to write :: Writing for me is an act of self-care. I started writing as a creative outlet and because I was lacking a sense of fulfilment in my corporate job. It's also the only thing in my life that is wholly mine and this creative decision making is something all together new and exciting for me. After a few weeks of job hunting I've finally worked out a structure for my days that allows me to spend time on my novel without feeling guilty that I should be on LinkedIn instead. I write best in the afternoon and early evening which means job hunting and applying can be my first priority for the day. I can feel a sense of achievement by applying for jobs early in the day or scheduling interviews in the morning. It's easy to think I shouldn't allow myself time to devote to what is essentially a side-hobby but there aren't many times in my life when I'm going to have whole days at my disposal. After all the difference between a published book and an unpublished book is often a finished book.   

Should You Take A Writing Course?

One of the things I love about taking a writing course is the conversations it sparks with other people. I can't count the number of times that people respond with positive questions and comments like 'I've always wanted to do that' or something similar. Usually when I pry a little deeper or say, 'why don't you?' a lot of people aren't really sure what a writing course can offer or are under the misconception that writing courses are only for a certain type of person. Well, spoiler: they are for a certain type of person - those of us who like to write.

First of all you do not need to have any type of plan or agenda to take a writing course. Perhaps you want to dabble in novels in your spare time or you are convinced you have the ability to be the next J K Rowling. Both of those are great reasons to do a course! You don't need to be a literary whizz to take creative writing. The point of you taking a class is to become a better writer. In both cases, amateurs and the blessedly gifted can become better writers. So, how do you know a writing course is right for you?

• You want to learn. I am a huge believer that every person can learn to be better at their chosen craft. For some reason there's a belief out there that you are either born an artist or you're not. (Although, yeah it helps to have a smidgen of talent to begin with.) The latter of us are forced to live out an eternity side-eyeing our naturally gifted friends and should just throw our laptops and pens out the window. This is a) dangerous b) costly and c) stupid. Completing a formal qualification is not a pre-requisite to being a great author but a lot of published authors became great writers through learning and then practising what they have learnt over and over again. 

• You start projects and never finish them. You wanna know how many non-books I started and got nowhere with before starting my course because I didn't know where to start and how to finish? Too many to count. Sometimes the discipline of having a tutor to prod you along is just what you need to help you achieve your goals.

• You don't know the basics. I didn't know what filtering was before I took my course. I knew what bad writing felt like as a reader but I often couldn't pinpoint why. Sometimes it's the seemingly simple things that can speed us ahead light-years when it comes to our own writing (and oh, filtering is a biggie). 

• You want other people to read your work and critique it. Having other writers to soundboard off is key and writing courses are often built around workshopping each others work.

• You are an open book. Be open to learning and you will enjoy the experience, trust me. The great thing about taking a course or a writing class is that you do not have to agree with everything you are taught. Writing is an artform, a craft. It can be as experimental or ridged as you make it. The only truth I have learnt through my course, is this: You cannot edit what you don't finish

Writing courses or classes come in so many different shapes and forms that there is no one way of studying or learning that is right. You might want to complete a Bachelor of Arts, or a diploma in the subject. You might be more interested in a semester course after work or doing something online that has more flexibility in the class hours and deadlines. Whatever you chose, if any of the above ring true joining a writing course might be a great fit for you!

Top 10 Inspirational Youtubers: Fashion & Finance

It might seem like fashion and finances are polar opposites especially when Youtube is chock full of haul videos but to me they are two sides of the same coin. Making smart decisions with your wardrobe not only saves you money but help you develop a better personal style. Here are ten Youtubers who I recommend binge watching pronto.

Justine Leconte
Justine is a French fashion designer with her own label, who lives in Germany. Her videos are super informative and cover things like the history of clothing, how to shop for your body type and trends in the fashion industry.

Lauren Messiah
Smarty, witty and totally stylish, Lauren is a personal stylist whose videos cover practical fashion questions, advice and tips. She has a super helpful Style Type series to help you nail down your personal sense of style.

Sugar Mamma
Cana is a financial advisor who offers loads of great advice on finances and shopping smart. She has a great minimalist mindset which I find really inspiring about loving and investing in the things that make you happy. She's also a total boss when it comes to investing.

The Financial Diet
Possibly one of the only blogs about money that make it interesting and fun?! Check out Lauren and Chelsea's Youtube videos for great advice on being smart with your money. They offer tips on everything from where to invest in your kitchen, how to not be broke at College and general financial advice for twenty to thirty something women.

Ashley Brooke
Ashley's channel recently went into an uproar over her 'How to Style' series ending. Fortunately this super-sweet New Yorker has brought them back. Overall her channel is fashion based and while it doesn't focus on buying less, I do find her style advice extremely helpful.

Daria Andronescu
Daria is a Russian personal stylist living in Europe and she is all about the capsule wardrobe. What's different about her is she loves colour and prints. Her videos are probably the most inspiring about how you can create a capsule wardrobe without it being black, white and denim focused. Her style is so not basic and for that I highly recommend watching.

Kristin Leo
My most recent ethical fashion discovery is Greek Youtuber Kristin Leo. She's vegan and all about ethical fashion encouraging thrift shopping and buying ethically sourced clothing. I really like her videos about shops she avoids (H&M, Ikea, Zara) as she is informative without shoving her message down your throat. Basically she makes you want to be a better person without hating yourself in the process.

Lindsay Albanese
Lindsay is an American celebrity personal stylist and has the biggest, bubbliest personality on Youtube. Her videos are just so damn helpful. It's practical fashion advice delivered in a friendly and fun way. She's also not adverse to throwing every rule out the window and just saying 'You do you.'

The Anna Edit
What started out as a beauty channel has merged into a bit of everything - fashion, beauty, fitness, food and interiors. The thing that's kept me watching over the years with Anna is she's all about that balanced life. Her capsule wardrobe series are informative and it's refreshing to see a youtuber with a paired back collection of things. If you're over 'keeping up with Joneses' then I thoroughly recommend giving her channel a watch!

Karen BritChick
Karen's love of fashion is infectious and she is a literal joy to watch. Her videos offer great advice on styling - she's done a great video on different ways to wear a button down shirt - you're sure to come away with a new way to wear what's already in your closet.

Mid Year Book Manifestations

With over half of 2017 gone (where? how?) I thought it would be fun to do a little mid-year check-in and set some manifestations for the remaining months ahead. With course-related reading out of the way I wanted to share some goals/personal mantras that I'm hoping to take with me throughout the rest of the year and beyond. Here they are:

Read More New Zealand Authors
My mum has always been great at buying and reading New Zealand fiction whereas when I was growing up all I wanted to read was anything set in a different culture. I want to get better at reading New Zealand stories and authors. Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones and The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton are two great examples of what authors in this country can produce.

Buy From Independent Retailers
I am an avid library user and will take my library card with me to my grave. However, I can't resist buying books so I would rather my money supports local businesses who in turn support local authors. Independent shops or the book chain store Paper Plus are the best ways to support the book trade. Paper Plus have a great reputation in stocking kiwi authors and the profits stay in our country while any small store means your money really is staying local. Fortunately, Wellington has a great little independent bookshop scene.

Read Two Books A Month
I am a fast reader but I am also a) easily distracted and b) prone to procrastination. With Netflix, Youtube and Season 4 of Black Sails all tempting me away from my bookshelf, I need to make more time for reading each night. I set myself a reading challenge on Goodreads of ten books for the rest of the year and I'm quietly confident I can make it.

Stop. Getting. Library. Fines.
Is this why checking out books doesn't seem to be as popular within the book blogging/youtube community than just buying them? Library fines, like parking fines, seem to be the bane of my existence and one of my more costly failures at being an adult. Damn you Wellington library for your pricey overdue items!

How are you going with your mid year goals?

March Life and Style Favourites

Boho Glam Decor :: Last month I was obsessed with reading styling magazines and this month I've found a particular style that's really appealing to all of my senses. It's a little bit boho without being too hippy and satisfies my inner magpie. The bonus to this decor style is that it's a beautiful blend of the old and new, earthy and luxe.

Palm Beach Candle :: You know me, I love a good candle to burn and the weather is finally showing signs of turning cooler and we even had a full day of rain over the Easter weekend. The scent this one kicks off is hard to describe but is a very refreshing and invigorating one, perfect for this time of year!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Mineral Foundation :: Along with my new skincare regime I was recommended to ditch and type of liquid/powder foundations in favour of mineral makeup. After much analysis of what my skincolour actually is I picked up the Tarte Amazonian Clay full coverage airbrush foundation and have been impressed with how good this stuff is for oily/combination skin types. I still need to find a concealer that has mineral properties as this doesn't do much for my blemishes but it feels so lightweight on the skin and looks very natural.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed :: Being a reader of beauty blogs for a few years now I already knew that this blush was lauded as a universally flattering shade. It's the perfect shade to give your skin a flushed glow and filled the gap in my stash for when I wanted something more neutral - not straight up pink or coral toned. The pigmentation is good but due to the subtle shade colour it's pretty much impossible to over-use.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray :: While I haven't quite finished reading this I spent a good portion of the long weekend tucked up on the couch absolutely engrossed in book 2 of The Diviners series. It's so good! And, I love that focus of the book is on two characters who played side roles in the first story. It almost feels like a standalone novel which in my eyes keeps the reader fresh with excitement for what's going to happen.

The Financial Diet :: You know that feeling when you discover a new blog or website and spend hours and hours devouring their entire back catalogue? Yup, that's exactly what's happened here. Money talk doesn't sound like the most interesting topic but The Financial Diet have found a way to make it not only appealing but aspirational. In the blogging world sometimes I feel like buying things or spending money is constantly on our radar and this website is a nice anti-dote to that without being preaching or judgemental in tone. If you're planning a big career change or looking at how you can make more money on the side there's a tonne of inspirational articles that will inspire you to follow your dreams while making sure you've got money in the bank to do so.

Things I've Learnt About My Writing Process

I've been a little bit absent on the blog this month due to the fact that I've been focusing on my work in progress! Last year I had a goal of getting a first draft of a novel off the ground but it never really took off due to procrastination. This year I've taken a slightly different approach to writing and I've found some tips and tricks that have really worked for me!

Planning, Planning, Planning!
Planning is an interesting one as I think how much you plan your novel varies from person to person. In general most writers are either planners or pantsers (where you make it up as you go along), but I've found a combination of the two works best for me. I need to know my characters goals and key events in the timeline but I don't like to restrict what happens too much as I find as I write, things can change and new ideas develop along the way.

Mini-word Goals
I decided to make life easier for myself by giving myself 2000 words per week goals. It's so much more manageable and takes the pressure off the 80,000 word finale that I'm aiming for by the end of the year. Writing a whole book seems like such a daunting task, but cutting it down into a few chapters a week suddenly becomes not only manageable but aspirational too.

Just Get Started
Oh lordy, how many times I have started and rewritten and jumped between my book ideas, deleting entire pages and giving up before I've even started. Just starting writing is all you have to do. You don't have to start with the first scene of the book, just write something down. I've also fallen into the trap of struggling to work out ever single finer details of the plot in the first draft but have since decided that's exactly what second drafts are for!

Act on Positivity
Writing is an incredibly emotionally draining hobby, in the best way possible. But, that also means that as writers we can be ecstatic with our work one minute and beat ourselves up the next. I think I actually understand the plight of the tormented writer since I've begun consistently writing this year. Acting on positivity means I like to start writing when I'm in a good mood so that the confident vibes are flowing. It also means I finish writing when I'm still feeling inspired and happy rather than completely at my wits end.

Take On All Of The Advice
I'll be the first to admit I am an amateur when it comes to creative and fiction writing but soaking up as much advice, finding what works for you as a writer and chucking out the rest is a great place to start. I've read lots of advice on planning and developing your book, some of it which works for me and some of which doesn't. One thing I've found really helpful is to have a really good idea of who your characters are. Answering simple questions about what they like, how they react to certain situations and what their goals are, are great ways of clarifying their personalities in your mind.

Are there any things you have learnt from starting a work in progress?

February Life and Style Favourites

Even though the weeks are flying by it feels like an age since I wrote my January Life and Style post which I suppose is a good sign. February has been a funny month as in some areas I feel like I've been making a lot of progress while other things I have completely slacked off on (here's looking at you exercise plan). Here are some of the things I've been loving for the month of February:

Setting mini writing goals :: This year was going to be the year that I worked on my first draft of a manuscript I've been thinking about writing for at least a year now. But when I thought about how many hours and thousands of words I needed to write this year it was kind of a daunting prospect. Instead I've set myself monthly word goals of 10,000 words and weekly goals of 2,500 which actually seem very manageable and I've even be exceeding them.

Interior Magazines :: I've always been more of a Pinterest/general website dweller when it comes to looking for interior inspiration but when a workmate gave me a stack of her Home Beautiful (doesn't that title just sound the wrong way around?!) magazines they have provided me with so much inspiration as well as local places to actually source stuff from. The internet is great but if you live outside the US/UK local magaizines are a great alternative.

My Skincare Regime :: It's been five weeks since I first saw a dermatologist about my skin and although my congestion issues are still being delt with it feels so much better. Yes my wallet has definitely taken a battering but it's nice to see results when it comes to how my skin feels under the surface and dehydration was really making me feel tight and uncomfortable.

Autumnal Fashion :: Although February is the last month of summer it's been damn hot the majority of the time but I'm so ready for cosy knitware and all of the layers. I picked up a really cute rust orange mock-turtleneck knit from Target (they are killing it at the moment with their fashions) and it's a nice nod to the 70s trend as well which is something I haven't really bought into.

Matte Eyeshadow :: Since I'm a bit of a magpie when it comes to eyeshadow I usually prefer some type of shimmer on my lids but lately matte has been all that I've been reaching for. There are two neutral shades from my Naked Original Palette that I reach for on rotation and I have a couple of completely matte palletes on my radar.

How To Be Single :: I scored some free double passes to the movies a few weeks ago and had to give a shoutout to this film for actually following through on its progressive attitude. Rebel Wilson and Dakota Johnson are hilarious and I loved how its stance towards singledom was one of empowerment and not something we should fix. My boyfriend thought it was hilarious too so even if you're not single I highly recommend it for a date night!

Why I've Quit Using Over The Counter Skincare (Almost)

Somewhat unconsciously 2016 has become the year of 'getting shit done' for me and it's only January, oh yeah! This is the year that I've decided to stop complaining about things that I'm not happy with or aren't working for me and actually action some changes. Top of my list along with finally creating my own writing space - more on that in another post - was tackling my skin issues.

I've mentioned the frustrations I've felt with my skin before with constant congestion causing breakouts and this summer I noticed an increased area of pigmentation on my forehead. Although I've discovered some nice skincare that has helped - and it has helped - nothing has actually permanently helped to change my skin. Taking matters into my own hands I decided to seek help in the form of a professional dermatologist to see what actually was going on with skin at a cellular level (fancy huh). So I googled, read some reviews and booked in a free appointment to get a skin consultation and guys, it was an eye-opener.

After sitting down for an hour with a very lovely professional (sidenote her skin is amazing) I found for the first time I was getting advice on what the hell my cells under the surface are actually up to and as it turns out it's not much. My cells are lazy guys, they are pretty crap at completing their supposed 30ish day life cycle of forming, rising to the skins surface and sloughing off naturally. All that laziness is causing a lack of water getting to my skins surface which is why I've always confused about how my face feels tight and dry but appears oily. It's dehydrated and all those lazy-ass cells are getting congested and causing pimples to form.

I can't tell you how good it was to sit down with someone who has science on their side and tell me exactly what I mentioned above without me actually saying it to them. And all for free! At the start of my consultation I wasn't entirely sure about what I wanted to come away with. Mainly I wanted to know which products to buy and what would cure my skin woes.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) my dermatologist only prescribes products which have been tested and scientifically proved to show a different to skin cells. Which means no over the counter skin products. Now I should point out that this doesn't mean nothing from a beauty shop or supermarket can cure my pigmentation/dehydration woes but often the research done by pharmaceutical companies has a conflict of interest (ie. Their own brand scientists doing the research so it's not really peer reviewed or independent) meaning it's hard for dermatologists to recommend them.

At the end of my session I came away with a new understanding of what my skin is actually up to (being lazy apparently), what products will actually make a difference (hyraluronic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin A) and the offer of skincare products which have been proven scientifically to make a difference. I decided after the hour was up that since I've been spending my hard earned cash on products that were only cleaning the surface of my skin it was time to delve a little deeper. The price of the skincare I came away with - a cleanser, serum and moisturiser to start - isn't that different to high end skincare. Ranging from $60 for the cleanser to $90 for the serum requires a bit more budgeting for me but is overly not too bad considering I only get one skin to care for.

While it's early days yet to see what is going to work for me, I've also got a milk peel booked next month for the pigmentation (also caused by my lazy-ass skin cells) so I'll keep this blog posted on what changes are happening.

The main point of todays ramble, and it has been a ramble, was to say this. If you have skin concerns that you feel haven't been overly helped by over the counter skincare then why not book in with a dermatologist. Most of them give free consultations so you are under no obligation to spend any money and it's an amazing feeling to get some advice from a medical professional concerning your skin.

Have you ever thought about consulting a dermatologist before for your skin?

An End of Summer Beauty Wishlist

I think I'm going to make these beauty wishlists a more regular occurrence as they help satisfy my need to peruse all my favourite beauty websites without necessarily spending any money. Here are the products I'm lusting over before the Summer is over:

Stila Convertible Colour Palette :: Sometimes the beauty gods release a product that takes all the difficulty out of being unable to decide on which colour to choose. I've had the Stila Convertible Blushes in my MECCA bag for ages but have been unable to decide on which one I want to take home. Sunset Serenade is the warmer toned palette of two options and includes three shades (Petunia, Gerbera and Peach Blossom) that I was torn between choosing!

Essie Nail Polish in Maximilian Strausse-Her :: I've been very picky in adding nail polishes to my collection but I love the muted tones of this greeny grey polish. I think this will be a perfect subdued option for when the weather starts to turn a little colder and is a more sophisticated shade for wearing to work than some of my bright coral polishes.

Dior Diorskin Star Foundation :: The more I hear about this foundation the more I really think it might be something that sits well with my skin type. I love glowy skin and need a bit of coverage to mask the redness around my nose and chin which is exactly what Diorskin Star Foundation promises. Not gunna lie though, the $80 plus price tag makes my eyes water a little. One for special occasions maybe?

Chanel Chance Eau Frache :: Speaking of champagne taste and beer budgets Chanel fragrances have been something I've been lusting after for a while now. Two years ago I tried out the Chanel Coco Mademoiselle fragrance and loved it but I'm looking to replace it with something a little different. It's hard to pick between the three beautiful Chance fragrances but Eau Frache has a beautiful fresh scent to it that might just become my new favourite.

Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick :: I have a weakness for pharmacy brand lipstick (usually from Rimmel) and it's usually where any excess parking coinage ends up going! Finding a peach coloured lipstick is actually quite hard as I found out not long ago by swatching nearly every peach hue I could find. This colour looks so pretty and I don't have anything in my makeup collection like it.

Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette :: The palette with the longest name ever has been on my radar for a while now. I've slowly started to come around to the idea of matte eyeshadows and not just for wearing in the crease either. This palette is so pretty and warm toned but I think it would be just as stunning yet understated to wear a fully matte eyeshadow look. Unfortunately it's been out of stock for a while now I'm patiently waiting for it come back in store!

Let me know what beauty bits you've been lusting after lately in the comments below!

January Life, Style & Beauty Favourites

January's a funny month isn't it? The month we all go back to work and school and it can be slightly depressing even for those of us enjoying the Summer sun down under. Fortunately for me it's also my birthday month which always gives me something to look forward to. Here's what I've been enjoying the most this January.

My New Ikea Desk :: My desk was a present for my birthday after I complained about not having anywhere to write in our house and I just love it so much. Even though I'm yet to style it in any way just having a space to blog and write from that doesn't have to get tidied up and put away at the end of the day has made a big difference to how often I sit down to tap away at my keyboard. Stay tuned for some desk styling content as I'm really excited for all the copper and rose gold accents you know are gunna be coming at ya!

Essie Cute As A Button Mini Nailpolish :: I seriously think that all Essie nailpolishes should be available in mini form easily as who even uses up a whole bottle of varnish before they get weird and gloopy and need to be chucked in the bin? This colour is such a cute one for the summer and compliments a tan just nicely.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask :: Oh the hydration in this mask is so good for holiday-bad-diet skin! I love the moisturising texture on the skin and that I can just slather a layer of this on and head to bed without actually looking like I have weird goo all over my face. Winning.

Morning Work Outs :: What a difference a change in schedule has made to my week! Since both my boyfriend and the sun rises at a ridiculous hour in Western Australia I've started making the most of the three hours of sunshine before I head to work at 8.30am and fit in a sneaky workout before hand. Not only do I get it done and dusted before the days begun but I'm actually working out more than ever since it feels like such a long time between workouts. Like, who even am I?

Mums, Cooking and Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Meals :: I was a lucky girl this January and got to have my mum come over from New Zealand to stay with us for a while. Mum did most of the cooking over this time as me and the boyfriend mainly just tried to stay out of the way in the kitchen but I didn't realise that all the recipes she was whipping up were from my very dusty edition of Jamie's 30 Minute Meals. Thanks mum!

What have your favourite things been this month?

Ten Wardrobe Updates for 2016

Cheap Monday, Asos, Asos, Windsor Smith, Status Anxiety, Surf Stitch, Spurr, Asos, The Iconic, Style Stalker

Just as I have visions of my perfect bookshelf being a collection of well loved and carefully curated books my ideal wardrobe is small but with every piece used and loved. It's been a bit of a mission of mine to refine my wardrobe year after year - it's a long process I tell ya - and I slowly think I'm getting there.

My most recent trip interstate had me packing a suitcase which turned out to be almost perfect for every occasion we went on - city, beach and outdoor trips included. There are still a few tweaks, culls and purchases to be made before I'm 100% happy. Here are ten items that I would like to add to my wardrobe in 2016.

Cropped Sweatshirt :: Being a tiny person (holla to all my petite girls out there) I wear a lot of high waisted jeans and skirts to make the most of what stunted leg length I've been blessed with. Normal sweaters just don't seem to cut the mustard and can be a bit too bulky tucked in and swamp my short frame when untucked. The cropped sweatshirt is the perfect solution!

Leather jacket :: I've been holding off on buying a leather jacket until I find one I really really like as I'd like to invest a wee bit of money in it. The perfect throw on solution to just about every casual outfit and something that is definitely needed in my wardrobe.

Heeled black boots :: One of the most worn items of my shoedrobe (that's a word right?!) has to be my black flat ankle boots but they justv don't have that extra something that takes them from work to nighttime appropriate. Finding the right ankle cut off point is key though - short girl problems again.

Little black bag :: I love being hands free when shopping/eating/going out and a cross body black bag for nighttime is pretty high on my wish list. I've spied a pretty faux ponyhair one from Status Anxiety that gives me all kind of heart palpatations and I love that it's as perfect for a night out in dresses and heels or jeans and a tee.

Smart coat :: Whether it be a trench coat (I spied a dusty pink Coach one in Melbourne that made my heart melt) or a sophisticated leopard-ish number my black totally-not-made-of-wool coat isn't the tidiest thing for wearing out out, if you know what I mean.

Studded heels :: Okay okay, these are by no means a necessary item to my wardrobe but they are so pretty!! I've been after a pair of studded flats or heels for a while now and nothing has fitted right or flattered me plus these bad boys are only a 9cm heel meaning I won't be tottering around like an idiot. Ugh, so pretty!

Casual jersey dress :: Last year I found the perfect striped dress. It was number five million that I tried on but is the perfect solution to 'don't know what to wear days.' It's perfect for everything from shopping to aeroplane journeys to movies, date nights and Sunday slob days and it made me realise that I need a backup for when it's in the wash.

Black A-line skirt :: Because A-line skirts are my jam; they're so flattering and easy to wear and yet I don't have one in black which is kind of ridiculous considering how much of a gap it would fill in my wardrobe both for work and more dressed up occasions.

Lace bralet :: Not only these bralets cute but they are also kind of functional in the way that normal bras aren't. I have a few tops that are lower cut in the arm holes and need a thiner strapped bra under the arms. The bonus is if you do end up accidentally flashing your underwear at least it's pretty to look at!

Slogan Tee :: Does anyone reall need a slogan tee? The answer to that my friends is yes, yes they do. Especially ones that reference Kendrick Lamar lyrics.

New Additions to the Beauty Shelf #3

My last update of pretty new thangs on my beauty shelf was way way back in April of 2015 which means this post is long overdue. Whoops! With the festive season just gone I received some lovely beauty bits and bobs from my sisters (they know me so well) and did a little splurge in MECCA when I visited Melbourne for the first time over the new year. Here’s what I’ve been loving lately:

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask :: A hydrating face mask that doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything on your face? Yes, please! I’ve been wanting to buy Origins products for ages and have been thoroughly impressed by my first purchase. This mask is perfect for lazy girls who can’t be bothered with the faff of waiting around to remove their skincare.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette :: Oh so shiny! I will admit I’m still mildly perplexed at how this palette works best but so far I've been using Incandescent Light (furthest left) to set my makeup and it does have a very 'lit from within' effect on the skin. Is it magic? I don't know but I do know it doesn't make my skin look cakey which is often what I get from using powders to set with.

NARS Isole Eyeshadow Duo :: I am all about coppery, goldy, orangey coloured things on my eyelids. Blue eyed girls need to pick this duo up because it will make your peepers pop. The quality of NARS eyeshadow is also amazing and I had a ‘this is what I’ve been missing out on’ moment the first time I used it.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfumes :: Mini perfumes are great because a) tiny things are cute b) trying out multiple perfumes at once is where it’s at and c) They are so convenient for travel and handbag usage. I've never tried any of the Daisy perfumes before but these three minis are all sweet and floral without being overpowering or too 'young' if you know what I mean. I still can't pick a favourite!

Antipodes Aura Hydrating Manuka Honey Mask :: I just really like face masks okay? I replaced my clay mask from Moorish Skincare with another tip top New Zealand brand Antipodes and I love this one. My skin is oily but needs hydration and I also love the fact that I don’t have to sit there with my face feeling like its cracking in a clay mask. Manuka honey has antibacterial affects which are great for spot prone skin too.

What lovely beauty things have you been using lately?

Top Ten Tuesday :: New Year Resolutions

I was debating whether or not to do a ‘New Year Resolutions’ Post but the Broke and The Bookish have kindly solved that dilemma for me. I think I’m pretty typical of most people who never actually stick to their resolutions made over this time period (mid year goals on the other hand seem to work pretty well for me) but this year I do actually have a lot of things I want to achieve to make this year the best.

Book a Holiday :: The boy wants to go diving at Ningaloo Reef while I’m dreaming of blossom trees in Japan. This should be an interesting mix of adventures!

Make a Writing Space :: I am much more productive when I have a dedicated space for something so this year for my birthday (it’s in January) I’ve asked for a writing space. Let the desk buying commence.

Write that book :: Erm, remember how 2015 was going to be the year I wrote that book? Yeah, it didn’t go so well. This time around I have planned and I am ready to do this!

Finish our Renovations :: Because that bedroom ain’t gonna paint itself and nobody likes peach trimmed walls, am I right?

Go on more Date Nights :: With the boy and friends! Because 2015 saw us foregoing a lot of fun weekend activities to do boring but necessary things like paint rooms and install bathrooms. Ugh. Now that I can shower indoors again it’s time to explore our lovely beachside town some more.

Ride my bike more :: I have a really cool bike and hardly ever use it. It’s time to dust off the cobwebs!

Do more cardio :: I’ve been doing pilates consistently for two years *pats self on back* yet have a real aversion to doing cardio because high intensity kills me. Bike riding totally counts!

Focus on the positives :: I have a tendency to focus on the things I don’t want to do because I am a worrier and I always think that I’ll be a disaster at everything. It’s honestly tiring and I can’t be bothered anymore so focusing on all the good fun things that happen every day is going to be my new mindset.

Do more on my blog :: Books have really taken over on the blogging front in 2015 and while that’s awesome and probably just signifies my love for reading in general I want to have more varied and interesting content.

Read all the books :: Because 2015 was an awesome year for my bookshelf and I read so much great work that was outside my comfort zone (YA and Fantasy/Paranormal which I loved!) so it’s time to up the ante!

Hit me with your New Year resolutions!

5 Reasons You Should Start A Blog in 2016

With a new year almost around the corner I’ve been thinking about all the good things that 2015 has brought with it for my online space and it lead me to thinking about why everyone should have a place for their creativity and uniqueness to shine. Here are my reasons why I think 2016 should be the year you start your blog (if you’re not already part of this cool club).

It’s a place for your creativity and uniqueness to shine. Well I kinda gave away this point in the intro but having your own blog or website might be the one and only place you ever have to be fully in creative control and your wonderful personality shine through. Even those of us who work in creative fields often spend our time bringing other people’s dreams to reality – products, businesses, services – but your blog can be 100% about what you and only you care about.

It’ll push you to learn. I think one of the biggest things I’ve missed since leaving my studying days behind me is the constant stream of new information entering my brain. Blogging in lots of ways has brought new skills to my fingertips and while sometimes it’s highly frustrating trying to figure out coding and editing and photographing on your own its also highly rewarding.

It will increase your confidence. When I published my first blog post I was so nervous about putting my words out onto the internet where the whole world could see them. But slowly over time I started to feel more comfortable about having a voice and putting it out for people to read. When a few months ago I had an idea that maybe I should film a video for my site it only took me a few moments to decide that it was a good idea. Just like that my confidence had grown without me really realising it!

It shows you have passion. If you are looking for a job in a certain area or dreaming of working one day in a different field, a blog is the perfect way to show you have passion. Employers love people who are passionate about what they do and blogging really is a hobby fuelled by this.

You never know where the future will take you. Opportunities on the internet are abound for people who want to go out and grab them. Now I'm not saying you should start a blog because you want to get internet famous but, if you do want to create wonderful beautiful things for other people you should absolutely start a blog as you may amass a few fans along the way! As long as what you are doing is with authenticity blogging is a great way to reach out to an audience and build your community up.

So, if you have always thought about taking the plunge online and starting your own space please, make 2016 the year you do. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

The Christmas Tag

The tree is up, the Buble is on and almost all of my Christmas shopping is done and yet can you believe that we are half way through December and I haven't yet mentioned the word Christmas in a post on this blog yet? In a bid to bring some festive cheer to these parts I give you the Christmas tag (Michael Buble songs optional while reading this post).

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
Festiveness in general is what I love about Christmas to the point that most of the time I enjoy the lead up to Christmas almost more than the day itself. I love putting up the tree and decorating it. I love playing the Buble in the office when its quiet, Christmas films and snacks, oh the snacks!

What is your favourite Christmas film?
I would probably choose to watch Love Actually over anything else if I could only pick one. I love that it has lots of little story lines and Bill Nighy is hilarious. I also love watching Christmas specials like Father Ted and the Vicar of Dibly which are always on at Christmas.

Real or fake tree?
I like the idea of a real tree and for my whole childhood we always always had a real tree. However living in Australia now I don't think a real tree would survive and I dont like the idea of bringing whatever spiders are living them into my house (okay I dont think that Huntsman or Redbacks live in Christmas trees but whatever!)

Giving presents or receiving them?
Both, I will never pass up the opportunity to get a present lets be honest. But, the older I get the more I dislike this idea of like going crazy with consumerism at Christmas. I love giving and receiving presents that are thoughtful and will be used or utilised in some way as opposed to just giving gifts for the sake of it.

Do you open presents on Christmas morning or evening?
Morning, there is no way that I can wait till evening! We are actually having an early present opening this year as i'll be travelling on Chrismas Eve so we will celebrate before hand too.

What tops your tree?
We actually don't have a tree topper this year so there is just a silver bauble near the top. I might buy one if I see a pretty star or angel in the shops.

As a child what was the one thing you always asked for but never received?
I actually can't remember asking or being disappointed at Christmas ever but I do remember one year my Dad doing the Christmas shopping and well lets just say it was interesting. But hey the man only has daughters so it can't have been easy. One of my sisters now gives him suggestions.

Handmade Christmas cards or bought?
If I do them at all they are usually bought!

What is your favourite Christmas food?
My mums Christmas cake is so delicious. I usually hate Christmas cake but this one is a delicious fruit cake and she usually makes it with whisky icing which is amazing! I am also a fan of shortbread biscuits and any type of Christmas dessert.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?
Before I moved to Australia I loved going to the NZ Ballet every year before Christmas as they do a Christmas performance that is always amazing (this year it's A Christmas Carole) and as soon as we move home I'll be doing that again! This year me and my boyfriend bought ourselves a shared present of an experience rather than buying gifts for each other and I think it's a great idea to continue this as a tradition.

Easy Eyeshadow

It's been a while since I've shared any of my favourite beauty or skincare bits and pieces on this blog so I thought today it was time to dedicate a post to my most recent love. And, while they are hardly new these tiny pots of coloured goodness are transforming my love for eyeshadow.

Whether wonderfully mousse-like in texture like the Max Factor Colour Tattoo or the creme Maybelline Colour Tattoo pots I have a steadily growing collection of colours from pink, gold and taupe to a browny bronze shade. The best thing about these little pots is that they are great for a quick dash of colour across the eye and super easy to blend out if you are short on time in the morning. The even better thing is how great they are at being a base for eyeshadow colours packed on top.

I have been loving using all four colour pots in conjunction with my Naked original palette and love the way really deepen the colours of my eyeshadow as well as creating an extra look that's slightly different than if I were to just use the naked palette.

The only downside is there shortened shelf-life of six months. As they are creme and mousse textures (although they dry down to a powder like finish) these pots will inevitably dry up and can't be kept as long as most other powders. For now I think I have covered all the colours I use on a regular basis but the fact that they can only last a certain amount of time has been spurring me on to get as much use out of them as possible.

Are you a fan of the Colour Tattoo pots? They've been the best thing I've added to my beauty stash all year!