Weekly Lustables

Hello Lovelies,

Boy, has this been a busy week, with Christmas and sales shopping and the movies and don't forget the family and friends. On Monday I went and visited my little cousins, my uncle and my grandma and wished them a Merry Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve my family and I went out to dinner at Il Centro on Eagle Street Pier, looking over the River and the Storey Bridge. The whole reason we had to abandon our usual Christmas Eve dinner was due to our oven slightly blowing up earlier this year. Dinner was lovely though and we all had a wonderful night. We continued to do Christmas a day early and opened our presents that night, my big present was my keyboard and my new desk, which was a combination 18th Birthday present as well. I also got some gift cards and soap and my mum got an Elizabeth Arden makeup kit and decided that she didn't need everything and since she knew how much I love makeup I received a few extra presents. I then spent Christmas Day with Alex and his extended family. Boxing Day was filled with sale shopping and a viewing of The Hobbit 2 which was amazing. I also went for a second round of sales shopping bound with a seeing of Frozen, which is a new favourite. I can't decide whether I like it better than Tangled, what do you think?

Now onto my favourites (even though this whole week has been a favourite):

1. Coastal Scents Metal Mania - I bought this ages ago and I hardly used it, until Christmas Eve and I created this really nice smokey eye, which I hope to do a tutorial on soon. 
2. Simple Song - The Shins - This has been one of my favourite songs this week along with The Draw - Bastille
3. Christmas Eve Dinner - I didn't get any photos of the actual dinner because I was to busy eating it, but I got duck with panna cotta, roasted potatoes and for dessert, chocolate mousse and gelato. I also had a Singapore Sling which is one of my favourite cocktails.
4. My Favourite Christmas Present - As I said before, my mum got a handful of Elizabeth Arden products and she was lovely enough the lipsticks among the three of us. I got the one called Tulip and I'm absolutely in love with it. It's my first really high end lipstick, other than MAC. 

What have you been loving this week? I'd love to hear your thoughts:)

xoxo 

NOTD Elizabeth Arden Candy Apple

Merry Christmas Lovelies,

I wasn't planning on doing a post today but last night when my family did Christmas early, I got this amazing nail polish and decided to do them straight away. My manicure is a little shoddy but the colour is absolutely gorgeous. The shade I'm rocking is Elizabeth Arden's Candy Apple. I personally think this is a great shade for Christmas and I'm so happy that I get to wear on the big day.

What are you wearing on your nails? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays

OOTD Christmas Eve Dinner Feat Sister & Blogmas Wrapup - #Blogmas

What I'm Wearing:

Maxi Dress from Ally

Shoes from Dotti

MAC Lipstick in Lustre

What Beth is Wearing:

Dress from Leona

Shoes from London Rebel

The #BigBlogmasproject has been absolutely amazing if I do say so myself. Today is the last day and I'd just like to say a huge thank you to anybody who's read my posts this month or who has followed me this month. It's been a whole lot of fun to do and albeit a little stressful since I've been so busy and had to learn very quickly how to use the schedule feature. I do have a few highlights, I have personally loved reading all The Christmas Tag posts but my personal favourite posts to write this month has been my weekly lustables. I only started writing them this month and I'm pretty sure they're here to stay and if you haven't read one of them, they are my own take on weekly loves.

Last but not least, I hope each and every one of you and your friends and family have an amazing Christmas and an excellent new year.

I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays

Weekly Lustables - #Blogmas

1. My New Makeup Storage - I have to say that this is a massive life saver, it's so incredibly convenient and organised. It also looks really pretty so I can't complain :)
2. Duolingo - If you haven't heard of this, it's a language learning app, that turns learning a language into a game which you can follow people and build up a leader board. Alec and I have become addicted to this app this week and also a little competitive, it's so much fun.
3. Adventure Time Phone Case - This came in the mail this week and it looks amazing, absolutely loving the change from my plain boring pink case that I've had all year.
4. Wattle Valley Dips - Can I say HOLY CRAP! These are so delicious, been a little addicted to these this week, they are so incredibly tasty. I especially like the Baby Spinach and Feta one.
5. Herschel Pop Art Backpack - I've never really owned a backpack but after spending all year with a satchel for uni, I decided it was time to invest. This one is amazing and the fabrics on the inside are perfect for what I intend to use it for. It was a little pricey but I feel that I'm gonna get my money's worth out of it.
6. Love Actually - This week Alex and I decided to start a Christmas tradition and watch Love Actually seeing as it's one of my favourite love and Christmas movies. I honestly think this one's a classic.

What have you been loving this week? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays 

What I'm Doing for Christmas - #Blogmas

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year and it's because of the fabulous celebrations and occasions that I get involved with. Normally my family does some very nice traditions but there's been a change of pace in our lives and it just won't work, and it does kinda suck since our oven is broken. So instead of our normal traditions we're doing things a little different and I certainly have a lot to look forward, hence I'm sharing my excitement.

• Christmas Party with my friends - and not the DVD box set :P 
• Hanging with my little cousins - They're the only family that lives close enough to visit and I have to admit that my cousins are so cute and they get so excited around this time of year.
• On Christmas Eve we're going out to dinner instead of our normal baked dinner and it's gonna be awesome, the place we're going is super fancy and on the Brisbane River, so it should be a magical night.
• On Christmas Day I'm meeting up with Alex and going to lunch with his grandparents, which should be lovely.
• Boxing Day starts the shopping frenzy, and although I won't have much money I'm gonna waste a bit on the sales with Alex down the coast, we might even go see The Hobbit.
• The following day, my sister has asked to go to the city with me to do some sale shopping as well as go and see Frozen, which I'm super excited about.

That's pretty much my next week planned out, so excited for it, can't wait for the Christmas spirit to smack me in the face, gently.

  What are you doing for Christmas? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays

Gift Guide for Guys - #Blogmas

When it comes to the holidays I totally get into the spirit and I absolutely love giving and it's one of the main reasons I love Christmas so much. The only hassle is that now I have a handful of men in my life and well, they are impossible to buy for, well near impossible to say the least. Unlike girls, when you ask them you'll probably be faced with an answer like, "Anything will be fine" or "You can just give me money", well that just ain't fun. So I've compiled a small guide to buying the guys, whether they be your boyfriend, husband, brother, father, uncle or bro, something special for the holiday season.

Now all of these gifts are objective and if you feel like there is something more personal or suited to him, then for goodness sake, do that.

1. First up we have T-Shirts I've posted a picture of a Batman one, because I think it's awesome! But Christmas is a good time to give that special guy a new top, it could be smart or funny or even a personal pop culture reference. From personal experience you can never lose with a cool t-shirt.
2. For something a little more fancier, a pair of Sunglasses never go astray, especially if you live in one of the hotter, sunnier places of the world, a new pair will be well recieved.
3. Not all guys are gamers, but for the majority that are, aiding their addiction is a perfect Christmas present. Because they're probably gonna buy it themselves, it's always good to get some Video Games since it's something they're guaranteed to like and enjoy.
4. Every single person needs Soap and it's also something you run out of fairly quickly. And although guys tend not to appreciate soaps as much as us gals, if you get something special, such as something from LUSH, he's sure to notice the difference.
5. I'm not sure about the guys you know, but nearly every guy I've met has had the same Wallet since they were in their teens and from the transition into adulthood, their poor wallets have seen some serious damage, yet they never replace them. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about and thus a wallet becomes a perfect gift.
6. Cologne is something that not all guys are into, and is probably more suited for the mature males in your life (so older then say 15 or 16) but it is a wonderful gift.

If you come to a dead end, gift cards are always a good gift idea, although I find them impersonal and try to make individual gift ideas for the guys in my life who are very close (e.g. husband, boyfriend).

What do you think is a good gift for him? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays

Christmas Movies - #Blogmas

When it comes to Christmas time I love my movies and the nostalgia is brilliant and somewhat perfect. There are some that I can directly relate to my childhood and the magic that surrounded that time of year for my family and I at that age. Here's a small collection of the movies that I loved as a kid as well as an adult.

Love Actually - This is more of an adult one but I feel that it perfectly encapsulates the Christmas spirit and I love the way that it mixes the magic of both love and the childhood magic of Christmas. I can't wait to cuddle up to this one this Christmas season.

The Santa Clause - Holy cow this one is hilarious! I can't remember a time when I wasn't laughing while watching this as a kid. So it really reels in the childhood magic.

The Muppet's Christmas Carol - Another kid one, I know, but Christmas time is really made magical by the nostalgia of childhood and all the surprises that came with the season. The Muppet's make this classic tale so much better and funnier. I loved this one so much.

I'll be Home for Christmas  - Last but definitely not least, this one is the most special to me personally. When I was a kid this movie was on television every year and I would sit down with my siblings and watch it. I love the scene with the old ladies and Tom Jone's "What's New Pussycat?" it was hilarious. For me this is an absolutely classic and one of my favourite childhood Christmas traditions.

What's your favourite Christmas movies? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays

Christmas Songs Highlight - Playlist Style - #Blogmas

When it comes to Christmas time I love a good playlist and with 8tracks I'm overwhelmed with choices. After scouring the internet, I found this one on Tumblr and I think it's an amazing find.

 Here's the links to listen to this beautiful collection of Christmas songs.

(listen pt. 1) (listen pt. 2)

 

What's your favourite Christmas playlist or album? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays  

Gift Guide: Palettes - #Blogmas

Now palettes are a perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season and there are so many to pick from, but I've narrowed down the thousands out there to just 4. Personally I would love to get any of these as a gift and I'm fairly certain that others wouldn't mind these in their stockings.

1. This is a no-brainer by the newest addition by Urban Decay - Naked 3 - this would be a perfect gift for people who only wear their "no makeup" makeup or girls who love their pinks and neutrals.
2.  Lorac Pro Palette -  This is another one for the neutral lovers but it also has the inclusion of some smokey and darker shades which makes it a great all-rounder. This would be ideal for a starters kit and the stocking of a fellow makeup lover.
3.  Too Faced makes some amazing palettes and any of them would make a wonderful gift but the Pretty Rebel one in particular provides a good range of neutrals and wild colours which makes it a great gift.
4. Last but not least, Inglot has an amazing freedom system and a wonderful and slightly more interactive gift for those ladies who like to do their own thing. You could make it a day gift and take her to one of the Inglot stores or you could purchase an empty Freedom system palette and place a gift card inside.

Those are my picks for palettes for the upcoming holiday season.  There is quite an array and any would be a wonderful gift for anyone who likes or wears makeup.

Which of these would you most like to recieve as a gift? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays

The Christmas Tag - #Blogmas

Being apart of the #Bigblogmasproject is so much fun, and I absolutely love this time of year, and as well as attributing more posts to my blog, I get to see a whole range of new blogs and bloggers. From discovering and reading new blogs, I found the Christmas Tag and thought it was a brilliant idea for Blogmas. I found this tag over on Sarah's Blog and I think this tag is a wonderful idea for the Christmas season.

Now to get onto the questions.....

1. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic? 
Since I've never had a real Christmas tree, I would have to say synthetic. Ever since I was a kid we've had the same year and we would spend the first week of summer holidays decoriating the tree and the house. The only drawback to the synthetic trees were the fall out of all the little fake leaves, which my mum detested cleaning up.

2. You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?
Unfortunately my answer isn't very Christmassy, since I live in Australia and our summer is on during the holiday season. I would probably pick a iced mocha or a frappe, I do like to opt for some peppermint flavouring. 

3. What's your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?
I've never really had very much say in how we decorated our tree, I would get given specific ornaments to put on and that was about it. It ended up following a red and gold theme, with little bits of silver around it.

4. Giving or receiving?
I enjoy getting presents as much as the next person but by far, I love buying and giving presents. One of the main reasons why I love this season so much is that I can show the important people how much I care and I love putting in extra thought and personalizing my gifts.

5. To mince pie or not to?
My mum is a big lover of the fruit mince pie, and when the season comes around I will definitely nibble on a few. I wouldn't say they're my favourite Christmas treat though. 

6. What's your traditional Sunday Lunch?
Every year we've had our big Christmas dinner/lunch on Christmas Eve and it's been the same forever. Roast Pork, Honey Carrots, cauliflower and broccoli with white sauce,  roast potatoes, gravy and you can't forget the trifle or pavlova.

7. Christmas day fashion
This depends if I'm leaving the house for a family gathering or not. If I am, I get pretty dressed up and treat it like a semi-formal occasion, because why not ?!? If I'm staying home, it's normally a tank top and pj bottoms haha.

8. What's your favourite Christmas song?
I get really into Christmas music so it's near impossible for me to pick just one. I do like "All I want for Christmas is you" by Michael Buble and "Merry Christmas, Here's to many more" by Relient K, Their Christmas album is awesome :D

9. What's your favourite Christmas film?
When I was a kid a tradition started that my siblings and I would watch, I'll be home for Christmas, and although we don't keep to the tradition anymore, I loved that movie so much. Now that I'm a little older I would also add Love Actually into the mix of favourite Chrissy movies.

10. Open presents before or after lunch?
I don't even know why this is a question, it's been a tradition since I was a youngen to wake our parents up as early as godly possible and open our presents as soon as mum had made her coffee. So I would definitely have to say before lunch, before breakfast even :P

I tag EVERYONE who read this post, I would love to hear your answers :D

xoxo - Happy Holidays

Christmas Song Highlight - All I Want For Christmas is You - #Blogmas

With December coming finally starting, the Christmas music in stores and on the radio is now on in full swing. Now I'm aware a lot of people hate Christmas songs with a passion, but I've always had a soft spot for at least a few, and I hope that over the Big Blogmas Project, I can share a few of my favourites with you.

Now for my first Christmas Song Highlight, I've picked Michael Buble's version of All I want for Christmas is you, I absolutely love the song and with Buble's voice setting the tone for the Christmas season, I couldn't be more happier. This version is amazing, but the one cover that I remember the most is the one that the little girl from Love Actually sings. What's your favourite version/cover of this song?

Sidenote, I didn't think I would be making a post today, since my internet provider has decided to become a grinch, and I had to set up a portable hotspot on my phone, because this project has only just began and I don't want to stop posting. Hopefully my internet will be up and running tomorrow, but I will never know.

What's your favourite Christmas song? I would love to hear your comments :)

xoxo - Happy Holidays

The #Bigblogmasproject

Hello all my lovely readers, I have some exciting news for you. Since I did the September Beauty Blog Challenge, where i blogged everyday, I've been waiting for an opportunity to do something similar. I saw the big blogmas project floating through my blog roll and immediately decided I needed to be apart of this incredibly exciting project.

The general concept is that between December 1st to 24th there will be a blog everyday (hopefully hehe :D). From what I've seen from the other lovely bloggers participating I don't think they have to be Christmas themed, but I plan on incorporating my favourite holiday of the year into a handful on the posts.

I'm so excited to get started this sunday it's gonna be a blast and I would love for you to check out some of the other amazing bloggers that are taking part. I've linked them all below. Also to stay up to date with all the post and the general discussions there is a hashtag on twitter and my twitter username is kaitlynisabel.

Coleoftheball   Kammitted   Pp_puff   Missbeccabeauty   Hanclarky   Ambipage   Jessbarnes  Cometomybdr   Bw_sheep   Ohkalukalay   Missmills_   Lovelyjubbly8   Nikmakeupjunkie   Tansandtiarasx

Vintageteapot   Amelia_florence   Likeslippy   Twiceuponablonde   SGBlogxx   Thebeauty_baker   Berrycrumblexxx   April_todd   BethanywellsMUA   Sassydoveblog   _Sammyjane_x   Bexclaree_

Kellovesclothes   Hannahlouisa__   CourtneeeyJ   2sisters1blog   Unexpected_roar   Char_beyy   Naomi_joy_   Neyavbeautytalk   Victoiraearls   Anothergirlyblg   Beautyblogger20

Cerysannex   Missksmudger   Sarah_lumsden   Byalextweets   Sarahivell8   Jessicakbrown

Shadowlinergirl   Allmadeup21   Hintofsparkle   Jessiekinsxo   Srslylou

Tayscollectionn   Lianne84   Cutelil_b_blog   Chloe_bellamy   Kendalsblog   CMWB   Lucy_a_bigail

 Sophieeroseex   Jesslynjuly   Misslaurameow    Adaynasaur   Hitnmiff   Knitteddaisy

 Sweetsparklyser   4evafashion92   Mallowbeauty   Beautysupergirl   Aqeela_mua   Jordanmarie89   Polkadotteapot2   Fashforeverblog   Kelseyshepherd_   Hmkeyes   Dixxgina   Uggynog   imogenrose20   Joni_blog   Laural0uisee   Frostedplanet   Rowbowk   Maclovergirl96   Danniannie   Juststephblog  _bethhenderson   saloca    Kaitlynisabel   _nameofbeauty   cutesybluekitty

 

Would love to hear your thoughts on the upcoming Christmas season :)

xoxo 

LUSH Christmas Wishlist

Recently I noticed that Lush has released it's Christmas collection and after skimming their website, I've compiled a small little list of some of the items I would love to get or to give for the upcoming Christmas season.

1. Sikkim Girls Body Lotion

"Fragranced with ‘Sikkim Girls’ from Gorilla Perfumes, this decadent cream will perfume the skin like no other. Jasmine flowers infused with vanilla pods and Darjeeling tea creates the soothing base.  Unpreserved and beautifully rich, creamy butters and hemp oil nourish your skin while Tuberose, Jasmine and Frangipani essential oils entice others closer.  A sexy, nourishing cream that will leave you feeling seduced after the bath or shower." - LUSH Cosmetics

2. Let the Good Times Roll Cleanser

"You can use this cleanser for your face and body – it’s gentle enough to polish and buff your skin all over. It’s scented with Pia’s popcorn perfume that’s in the sugary lip scrub of the same name. It’s smoothing and soothing and ever so slightly warming on the skin." - LUSH Cosmetics

3. Sandy Santa

"Keep your skin looking and feeling amazing with this limited edition sugar scrub.  This year it’s even more beneficial for the skin, with added coconut oil and butters, such as murumuru and organic shea butter, to intensely moisturise.  Sugar and sand add the gentle polishing effect.  Fragranced with toning Brazilian orange oil as a nod to his exotic inspiration – the sand sculptures on Copacabana beach!" - LUSH Cosmetics

4. Angel's Delight Soap (I really wanna get my hands on this one!)

"If you’re a fan of the popular Angel’s Delight dessert then you’ll love this classic Lush soap.  A yummy pink soap, adorned with stars, moons and all things glittery – tangerine oil, orange oil and gardenia oil provide the sweet, jelly baby fragrance and also really work to cleanse, refresh and detox the skin" - LUSH Cosmetics

5. Snow Fairy Shower Gel (And this one too!)

"No bathroom would be complete this Christmas without a bottle of Lush's fruity, sugary and sparkly Snow Fairy shower gel.       

Candyfloss pink and with a sweet, magical scent of soothing and comforting vanilla, the flecks of blue glitter leave you shimmering.  Wash your hair and body with this sparkling seasonal must-have." - LUSH Cosmetics

6. Celebrate Body Lotion

"Celebrate the festive season with this beautiful unpreserved hand and body lotion.  Rich and wonderfully emollient, the cocoa butter and almond oil will replenish and moisturise your skin, while the intoxicating cocktail inspired fragrance uplifts your spirits.  Brazilian orange oil and lime oil tones the skin and lifts you out of the winter blues while cognac oil gets you into the party mood." - LUSH Cosmetics

Here's where you can check out their Christmas Collection!

Would love to know your picks, wishes and wants!