Brisbane Food/Restaurants - #2014BloggerChallenge

Hello Lovelies,

I love food! I'm fairly certain that's an understatement because i seriously love it, I especially like trying new things, so I thought I'd share with you the handful of restaurants I've tried this year (or since I've been dating my new man). We actually have this little tradition going where we alternate between who gets to pick a restaurant each month and then have a little date, trying new places and new foods.

Wagaya Japanese Restaurant

I actually did a date night post about this one which you can read here. This is one of my favourite Brisbane restaurants, I've been here more than once now and can say that I absolutely adore it. The service is amazing and the experience is so unique. We ended up getting:

• Tonkatsu Kushiage - which was deep fried pork
• Takoyaki - these are AMAZING deep fried octopus
• Yakitori - marinated chicken skewers
• Ox Tongue - a lot of people get weirded out by the sound of this but it really is amazing, and I would definitely recommend.
• Eel Tempura - can I just say YUMMM
• Chicken Nankotu - Now when we ordered this we though it was just chicken pieces but it was actually soft bones that you ate, there was chicken as well, eating this was definitely an experience.
  
    (At the top is the Yakitori and the bottom is the ox tongue)
  
  
  
   (This was the eel tempura)
  
  
  
  Caravanserai
  
  
  This was one of my picks (again) and it's a Turkish restaurant in West End, I'd never had Turkish before and my friends and family were telling me it was amazing, so I simply had to check it out. Alex and I ended up getting this massive platter which was more than enough. I absolutely adored the grilled Halloumi, I can't wait to try it again.
  
  
   
  
  
  Jujuba Asia
  
  
  Last week Alex and I went to the Brisbane Comedy Festival and paired it up with dinner at this place in the Valley. Most of the selections were typical western asian food, and we picked the pork belly and sweet and sour chicken. Although they were somewhat familiar, they were in their own way unique and both tasted amazing.
  
  
  
  (pork buns for an entree)
   
  
  
   
  What are your favourite restaurants?
  xoxo
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

FOTD - Soft Smokey Eye

 (with flash)

 

(without flash)

 (close ups)

Hello Lovelies, 

Unlike my usual uni days,  I had some extra time to get ready and decided why not change it up from my typical go to neutral eye. Firstly I was just going to add winged eyeliner but I thought, am I really just going to go half crazy? No sir, definitely not, so i added some black, cause why not?!? I really like the way it turned out.

PRODUCTS USED

Garnier Perfect Blur Primer

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC20 (loving this by the way)

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20

Rimmel Silky Loose Translucent Powder

Benefit 10 Bronzer

NARS Orgasm Blush

Elizabeth Arden Shimmer Powder in Nude Shimmer

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

Urban Decay Shadows in Zero, Naked, Virgin

Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner

Chi Chi 3D Magic Lash Mascara

Maybelline Color Whisper in Pink Possibilities  (blog post here)

xoxo

Nail Inspirations and Bloggers - #2014BloggerChallenge

Hello Lovelies,

Boy, it's been awhile since I've posted but since then, I've been sick, the internet went down and not to mention I started back at uni, which made my life super busy. But what better excuse to actually post something decent than post my 2014 Blogger Challenge post.

As much as I wanted to do a NOTD, I really haven't been loving any of my nail polishes enough to paint my nails. So instead of showing my nails, I thought I'd share some of my fellow bloggers and instagramers and their amazing fingertips, in no particular order of course.

Geeky Owl

This blog has to be one of my favourites, all of her designs are so creative and I love seeing her nail creations. Here is her latest post.

The theme was Mardi Gras, and it's so awesome and totally takes in the bright colours that surround that particular event.

The Happy Sloths

Every time one of Jasmine's posts pop up on my feed I get so happy, since they are always so incredibly cute. She utilizes a lot of nail decals and they always work for her and go amazingly with her polishes. Here is her latest post.

Love that mustache!

Ginger Loves Makeup

When it comes to Ginger's nail related posts, I just love her selection of polishes, they are always so gorgeous. Here is her latest post.

Such a stunning teal shade!

Paint Those Piggies!

If I could get any nail/beauty blogger to do my nails it would be Erin from Paint Those Piggies, her designs are so unique and I wish I had her talent. Here is her latest post.

Anniep1124 - Instagram

Although Anniep1124 doesn't specialise in nail art or design and instead is the instagram account for an online jewellery store, she still shows some gorgeous fingertips. Here is two of their latest nail arts.

Who's your nail inspiration?

xoxo

Brand Spotlight: Essence - #2014BloggerChallenge

Hello Lovelies,

Now most of you may have noticed my love for high street/drugstore/cheap makeup, since it's a recurring theme in many of my posts. In particular I have been experimenting with Essence, which happens to be the cheapest brand I've found in Priceline. I started off with a few lip liners to expand my collection and then slowly started taking notice of a handle of their product. So far I've tried out the Sun Club Bronzer, their eyeshadows, lip liners, one eyeliner and their concealer.

Essence I think ranges from prices as low as $1.50 to I think $8/9, which is crazy cheap. It was surprising for such a cheap range that they actually had a decent payoff. I for one, love their lip liners and I did a full review of them here. The sun club bronzer is also really good and has an sweet scent of coconuts and although I think I may have picked up one that is not really my shade, it's slowly growing on my and I did a review on it here. The eyeshadows aren't crazy pigmented but they are quiet buildable and can add a really nice layer of sheer color.

There are many drugstore brands that I am in love with but I would have to say that if i wanted to try multiple product or really needed to replenish something in my collection I would definitely head to Essence. Sometimes it surprises me with how cheap their products are. I really want to try out their blushes next :)

What's your favourite drugstore/high street makeup brand?

xox

Cosplay Inspiration - Lisa Lou Who

Hello Lovelies,

As some of you might know, I'm a massive fan of almost everything pop culture related and I am in complete awe of the guys and gals that do cosplay. I wish I had the skill (in relation to creating the costumes) and the confidence to pull off such amazing characters. The other day I stumbled upon this wonderful cosplayer by the name of Lisa Lou Who and I fell in love with some of her costumes and I felt the need to share her with you all.

Costume: Harley Quinn

Series: Original Design, inspired by Sakizou

www.AndrewDHphotos.com

Jasmine, Thief of Agrabah

Player2photography

Daenerys Targaryen

JasonChauPhotography

Ana from Frozen

Fairshadow Photography

I love all her costumes and think she's incredibly talented at what she does, and seriously can't wait to see her future creations. She seriously inspires me to take a crack at cosplaying myself, although I seriously lack the sewing capabilities hehe. 

You can find Lisa at these links:

Wedsiter: http://www.LisaLouWho.com/
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/ItsLisaLouWho
Deviantart: http://lisa-lou-who.deviantart.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ItsLisaLouWho/
Etsy: http://www.RaritysBoutique.etsy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaLouWhoCosplay

What do you think about her costumes? And about cosplaying in general?

xoxo

Miscellaneous Mondays - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Hello Lovelies,

Some of you may know I've been reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn as of late and I finished it this morning and well even though it's over I can't get my mind off it. Simply put, this book quickly became one of the best books I've ever read. I loved every second.

Gone Girl is a psychological thriller about the disappearance of Amy Dunne on her 5th wedding anniversary and it's implications on her husband, Nick Dunne. The book is divided between the two characters, with real time action from Nick and diary entries from Amy. Before the disappearance both Amy and Nick were having some trouble's in their lives and especially in their marriage.

Both characters are created beautifully and are incredibly flawed people and each of their imperfections is part of what makes them so perfect for each other in such a weird and complicated way.

I'll try my best not to spoil anything since the twists and turns in this book is the reason why I was so hooked. I was changing my opinions and my alliances so quickly I didn't even know where the book was heading. The whole way through I felt like I knew the characters and I was drawn instinctively to their misfortunes.

Gone Girl had me yelling at every point of interest and I honestly couldn't put this down. I also wanted to tell everyone everything what was happening but every member of my family either wanted to read it themselves or wants to see the film adaption that's coming out later this year.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery/crime book, it's so perfectly constructed that I sincerely tap my hat to Gillian Flynn.  

What have you been reading?

xoxo

Weekly Lustables

Hello Lovelies,

Unfortunately this week I've ended it with a burst of a head cold, so I feel pretty sick, which is never good. I still have a handful of favourites to share with you all that I have absolutely been loving.

1-2. Date Night at Caravanserai - Every month, Alex and I go out to a nice restaurant and enjoy a wonderful meal. This month's pick was made by me and since I'd never had Turkish I was super duper keen. When we got there the sun was just setting and we were blessed with a perfect night. The food was sublime and I love everything on the platter! After dinner we drove around and stopped for ice cream, I picked peanut butter choc swirl and it was delicious.

3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Now I haven't finished this yet, but I will most likely finish it today. I cannot shut up about this book, I've been wanting someone to talk to about it but everyone in my family wants to see the movie when it comes out, so I can't really wreck it for them. The story has really stumped me and that's it's main reason for intriguing me and keeping me from putting it down. I love it and can't wait to see how it ends but at the same time, I don't really want it to end.

4. Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk - Finally I got my hands on this little baby and well there's not much to say that you haven't already heard. It's incredibly creamy and I love the pigmentation. Definitely going to become a staple!

What have you been loving this week?

xoxo