2018: January Favourites | Makeup And Skincare

Well here we are for the first monthly favourites for 2018. I'm so excited for what this year is going to bring and this first month has been a great start to that. I really hope you've had an amazing start to 2018 and are ready to continue to kick some butt this year. 

Vaseline Aloe Soothe Body Lotion

Vaseline have an amazing product line overall but their body lotions are some of my favourites. The Aloe Soothe one is gorgeous for in the summer. Not only is it great if you get a little sunburnt but it's also great at keeping your skin looking healthy. The Vaseline Aloe Soothe Body Lotion is definitely my pick for the summer. 

Vaseline Healthy Hands, Stronger Nails Hand Cream

I'm always using a variety of different hand creams. I have a few laying around but my favourite is the Vaseline Healthy Hands, Stronger Nails Hand Cream. It absorbs quickly, helps with dry patches and the appearance of dry skin. I also love that it will fit into my handbag and I can take it wherever I need it. 

Nivea Sun Everyday Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30+

I can't stress how important it is to protect your skin not just in the summer, but all year around too. Nivea have a large selection of sunscreen lotions and there brand is probably my favourite. 

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen Liquid Lotion SPF 50+

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen Liquid Lotion in SPF 50+ is what I've been using on my face this summer. I really like the in dries down matte and doesn't clog pores. I don't use anything under SPF 50+ on my face and this sunscreen lotion does a fantastic job at protecting my skin on a daily basis. 

Chichi Brow Pomade

Surprise, I'm loving a new brow product! I know, crazy right? If you've been following on posts for awhile now, you'll know that in the way of brow products all I use to talk about was the Natio Brow Kit. While I still love that brow kit, it was time I tried something new. I'm loving the Chichi Brow Pomade. I'm slowly getting use to the formula as of course, it's very different from using a powder but I think the Chichi Brow Pomade will continue to be a staple in my makeup collection for awhile. 

Sons Of Anarchy - TV Series 

A little of a miscellaneous here but I finally finished the Sons Of Anarchy TV Series. It's one of the programmes that will always be a favourite of mine. The ending was sad but amazing at the same time, everything came full circle and I loved it. Definitely check it out to see if it's something you might be into. 

B x

Five Highlights From The Month | January 2018

@wlangenberg

The first month of 2018 is nearly over and I thought I'd take some time to reflect on five highlights from this first month of 2018. 

Best Friends Ashleigh and Cassidy Came To Visit

I spent the first week of January with two of my best friends and it was great to spend time with them especially because I don't get to see them often since they live back in Christchurch. I love them to pieces so it was a fantastic way to start 2018. 

With My Little Sister For Three Weeks

Over Christmas and New Year my little sister, Nicole, and I got to spend three weeks together. Again, I don't get to see my sister often since she's living in Christchurch so time together is always spent having as much fun as possible. 

Evolve Festival

Around the end of eery January Nelson holds what's called the Evolve Festival. It's described as the 'Wellbeing Sustainable Living Expo' and it's all about practitioners sharing products and services with you that will help support different aspects of your health and wellbeing. Some of those include body work, massaging, energy healing, meditation, chanting, yoga, dance, sound healing, aromatherapy and essential oils, thermal readings and psychic readings. There are also lots of natural body products for purchases. It's something I look forward to every year and this year it didn't disappoint. 

Blogging and Social Media

In the month of January I got back into the swing of things in regards to my social media and my website. A lot of the posts you would've seen at the end of last year and over the New Year would've been pre-written and scheduled purely because I wanted to take some time off  and have a bit of a break. But I'm now back into my routine and I'm really enjoying being back. 

Sunshine

The weather this summer has been slightly up and down. There have been bouts of rain and wind but for the majority of the summer so far we've had pretty incredible weather. I love the summer, the warmth and the beach so I'm totally in my element at the moment. 

B x 

Instagram Roundup

Last year I didn't post a whole lot on my Instagram but I want that to change in 2018. I thought I'd talk through some of the Instagram pictures and a few of the things I've been up to over the past couple of months. 

01 December 2017

I got my first tattoo, ahh! I've been thinking about getting this tattoo for years now and 2017 being the year that I lost both my Nan and Pop it only felt right to get in down in 2017. Not only that but it was the weekend of my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. The tattoo is a combination of both their birthdays, which to me be special because it's the very day they started having an impact on the world. 

12 December 2017 

Whether you follow me on Instagram or not, this photo probably looks familiar to you because it's my profile picture on the majority of my social media accounts. I simply took this photo because I was having a good makeup day and I knew I needed a new picture for social media, so I was really killing two birds with one stone. 

15 January 2018

Over Christmas and New Year I took some time away from social media and I didn't stress to much about posting. So my first post for 2018 is actually a repost of probably my favourite photo of Summer 2017. It's a beautiful beach house in Little Kaiteriteri. It was so gorgeous, I couldn't help take a snap of it. 

19 January 2018

I posted this photo not only because it's one of my favourites but also because I'mr really missing my Christchurch pals. I spent 13 years of my life in Christchurch and still have some of the most amazing friends who still live down there. I unfortunately don't get to see them as much as I would like but fingers crossed this year I'll get to see them a bit more often. PS; Yes, we may have been a little drunk in this photo. 

20 January 2018

I love spending time at the beach in the summer. It was such a beautiful day, 28 degrees and spending the day at the beach was a dream. 

22 January 2018

I'm missing my little sister. I can't believe she's 17 this year. I adore this photo of us, it's definitely one of my all time favourites. 

24 January 2018

It's really odd and it's something I've thought about for ages but I definitely still consider Christchurch 'home'. I've been living away from Christchurch now for three years and the city has changed so much but when I go to visit it still feels like home in a weird way. For the long time I said I'd never move back and it's only recently that I thought I might actually be able to move back there. There are no plans in the near future to move back to Christchurch, I'm loving my life here in Nelson but I'd definitely consider it if I had to. 

If you'd like to follow me on Instagram, you can here. 

B x 

When Acceptance Becomes The Truth

@freepeopleblog

A lot of us take the opportunity when the New Year comes around to set new goals for ourselves. I came across a post recently which is written by Nicole Granato on the Free People Blog and it got me thinking but also gave me a new perspective on the idea of New Year goals. 

I wanted to share the following with you because I think it would be valuable for others to read and have a think about.

"While we're all trying to be the best versions of ourselves, when does the pressure to become perfect become too much? In our quest to follow a new diet, try a new skincare brand, adopt a new way of thinking, I wonder if we are ultimately distracted from what make us truly amazing… not acknowledging our beauty and strengths as we are constantly focused on what could make us better. When does enough become enough? When does the word acceptance become our truth? Perhaps it’s due time that we check in with ourselves — to acknowledge where we can slow down, be KINDER to ourselves and just simply be. Here I’ve collected a few simple tips that have allowed me to slow down and appreciate myself, my body, my flaws and my weaknesses, and to be okay with them and nurture them."

Let me know what you think. Did it change your perspective like it did mine? Make sure you check out the full post here. 

B x 

Everything I've Been Reading, Watching And Listening To Lately

@mjagloro17

This post is going to be a round up of all the content I've been reading, watching and listening to lately. I haven't done a post like this before but I thought combining it all together would be a good way of sharing what I'm enjoy at the moment under the three categories. 

Reading

The book of choice this month is Turtles All The Way Down by John Green. It was a gift for Christmas and I was so excited to start reading it. I'm just over half way in and I'm throughly enjoying it so far, although I didn't expect anything less from John Green. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave a link here where you can find out more about the novel if you want to. 

Watching

I've been watching a couple of different things at the moment. On Netflix I've been watching Sons of Anarchy. I've been meaning to finish it for ages and now that I'm back into it I'm really enjoying it. I kind of don't want to end.  In terms of YouTube, I've been watching a bunch of planning videos. I've been looking for different ideas for my bullet journal, but I think I've got a set up now that's going to work well for me. 

Listening

I've been listening to Amy Young's new podcast, Just What You Needed and it's exactly that, just what you need. I adore Amy, her YouTube videos and just her content in general but when I heard she was coming out with a podcast I was super excited. Amy is just one of those people we all need in our lives and I highly recommend you check her content out. 

B x 

2018 Inspiration

@choisyeon

New year, new me, right? Creating New Years resolutions is a big part of the New Year for many people. While I still make goals for myself, I also really enjoy searching for new inspiration along with going through those who currently inspire me. There is so much fantastic content online these day, on various platforms and social media is great for connecting with those that inspire us whether they live near or far. I want to share those who I'm loving and are inspiring me at the moment. Some are new inspirations and others I've adored for a wee while now but regardless, maybe they'll inspire you too. Keep in mind these are just a few of my favourites, I'd be here all day if I was to list everyone. 

Beauty

Kathleen Lights, @kathleenlights

Sophie, @sophdoesnails

Lifestyle

Kalyn Nicholson, @kalynnicholson13

Health and Fitness

Simone Anderson, @simone_anderson

Elorah Harré, @elorahh

Planning and Organisation

Cindy Guentert-Baldo, @llamaletters

Kara Benz, @bohoberry

B x 

New In My Beauty Rotation

@alysa

Over the Christmas and New Year period I managed to pick up a few new products I've been meaning to try and incorporate in my beauty routine. I wanted to share those products with you and my thoughts so far. 

Chichi Super CC Cream

A lot of you will be aware that I love the Chichi Super BB Cream and for the longest time my sister has been telling me I should try the CC Cream as that's what she prefers between the two. The biggest different for me between the two is the coverage. The BB cream is definitely a lighter coverage compared to the CC cream. I've never tried CC creams before, is it normal for them to be higher coverage? Both products are buildable, with the BB cream giving more of a natural look. I believe there is a slight difference in ingredients between the two products but I'll leave the website linked so you can look more into that if you're interested. So far the Chichi Super CC Cream is working really well for me. 

Chichi Brow Pomade

If you've been following me for awhile you'll know that I'm always mentioning my Natio Brow Kit. It's been the longest living brow kit I've ever owned and it's still going strong. I did think though it was about time I tried something new. I had never used any cream pomade kind of product in my brows before so when first using it I didn't know how things were going to turn out. But so far so good. I'm loving how you can either get a natural brow or bold brow with this one product and it's surprisingly easy to get use to using. It's just a beautiful formula and if you're thinking of trying a new brow product but don't want to spend too much I highly recommend Chichi's Brow Pomade. 

Rimmel #Insta Fix and Go Setting Spray

I've never been a setting spray kind of girl but this summer I thought I'd see what the drugstore offered in the way of setting sprays. I picked up the Rimmel #Insta Fix and Go Setting Spray and give it ago over the summer. It's designed for underneath as well as on top of your makeup. I've used it a couple of times and the biggest thing that puts me off using it is how it sprays onto your face. It's definitely not a fine mist, it's more of a direct spray which is a pain because you need up needing five sprits to cover your entire face. I'm going to persist with it though and see if I can make it work. Maybe I just got a faulty bottle, I'm not sure. 

Too Faced Matte Chocolate Chip Eyeshadow Palette

I feel super lucky to be gifted this by one of my best friends for Christmas. It's such a gorgeous palette with some of the most beautiful shades. The packaging is sleek and durable which will make it perfect for traveling. Of course, being a Too Faced palette, the shadows blend beautifully and I can't wait to keep experimenting with it some more. 

B x 

Book Review: The Hate U Give; Angie Thomas

@lesanderson

“Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds; the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of the police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headlines. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gang banger. Protesters are taking to the street in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is; what really went down that night? And the only person who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.” 

The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas is a fantastic book that gives you perspective into what it’s like to live as a black person in a society where the colour of your skin effects your day to day decisions. The novel covers a variety of different things about black culture, culture appropriation, internalised racism but  also much more. Every topic addressed was approached so wonderfully and Thomas didn’t hold back. If you’re looking for a diverse read that stands out amongst most YA, The Hate U Give is the book for you. 

I can not recommend this book enough. It’s absolutely one of the favourite books of 2017. I’m so thrilled that The Hate U Give exists and is readily available all. It’s a book that everyone needs to get their hands on, especially YA. It's definitely an eye opener. 

B x 

Every Bad Situation Has A Silver Lining

There’s a silver lining to come from every bad situation. 2017 threw me my fair share of bad situations but with that being said, I’m different person to who I was a year ago because of them. 

I never imagined myself finding the silver lining when it came to the passing of my Grandparents. But the truth is, I can’t count on two hands the people I know who have lost there lives in the past year. I wake up each and every day thankful to be alive because in reality, we don’t know when our time is up. 

While I thought 2017 was the year from hell, truth is I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the lessons and growth I’ve experienced this past year. 

Thankyou 2017. For the experiences, lessons learnt, the tears, the grief, the happiness and the laughter. Without it, I don’t know the person I’d be today. 

This definitely wasn’t my original post I had planned to go up tonight but I just wanted to share what was on my mind. I would also love to do a post about grief during the festive season. It was my first festive season without my Grandparents and it was harder than I ever thought it’d be. Keep an eye out for that over the next few weeks. 

2017, I’m ready to say goodbye to you and 2018, I’m ready to say hello. I can’t wait to see what 2018 brings all of you. Much love. 

B x 

Daily Summer Routine

@yoannboyer

My daily summer routine is all the bits and pieces I do in order keep my body looking and feeling as great as possible. Summer is my favourite time of the year but to ensure that I thoroughly enjoy it there are a few things that we can all be doing on a daily basis. 

Hydrate

It's important to keep hydrated all year round but it's super important in the summer because we tend to sweat more meaning we're losing hydration from our bodies. Not only is it good for your body to keep hydrated but your skin will thank you for it too. I carry a water bottle with me everywhere because I know at some point during the day I'll need it. 

Sun Protection

Again something that is important all year round but more so in the summer months when we are spending days on end outside in direct sun light. I think I've mentioned this before but I'll always use an SPF30+ on my body, nothing less than that and an SPF50+ on my face, neck and chest. 

Exfoliation and Moisturising 

My skin kind of has a mind of its own in the summer so I prefer to keep in regular exfoliated and moisturised to keep it looking as healthy as possible. 

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Probably my favourite part of summer is all the fresh fruit and vegetables. In try to increase my fruit and vegetable intake ever so slightly over the summer, purely because there is so much more available. Summer is the time for berries and I can never get enough of them. Fresh berries beat frozen any day! Not only do fruit and veg taste delicious but they're great for you too. 

What are some of your favourite ways to look after yourself in the summer?

 B x

Beating A Creative Block

@riccardoannandale

Just a quick one from me today but I want to touch on creative blocks. Creative blocks can happen to the best of us and they're always frustrating. I do a lot of my post planning/writing in advance and when trying to figure out what content you want to post for the month, a creative block is the last thing you need. 

I tend to get my inspiration from those around me with that be in person or online. Inspiration can come from anywhere, but it's just a matter of getting your mind out of that creative rut. 

Hot Bubble Bath

A hot bath is always a stress reliever for me. It's a way for me to relax and chill out for a bit. I have a lot of my best ideas in the bath and I've been even known to write posts in the bath. But my point being, when allowing myself to relax and destress all my creative ideas start flowing more easily.  

Others Creative Content

Another way I find helps bet a creative block is indulging yourself in other peoples creativity. Looking through other peoples creative content helps spark ideas in my mind and can lead to some pretty awesome stuff. 

B x

The Lessons 2017 Taught Me

@anniespratt

2017 has been a year full of lessons. One thing I can say about 2017 is that I've learnt a lot about myself. Because of the good and the bad of 2017 I've grown as a person and I guess that's where I can say I'm thankful. 

A Healthy Head Space Is Everything

Being in a healthy head space is something I really worked on and learnt a lot more about last year. I'm someone that tends to give a lot to others but never really does much for herself. That changed and 2017 was about putting me first. A lot happened in 2017 and it was good to be able to feel like I could step away if I needed to. 2017 was really the year where I needed to put myself first and look after myself. Creating a healthy head space for myself was a big part of that. It was about getting the balance right and that's something I feel like I'll forever be working on throughout my life time. 

Home Makes Me Happy

Out of the 12 months of 2017 there have only been two months where I haven't travelled anywhere. It was exhausting that's for sure. I'll be the first one to admit that I'm an introvert. While I love being around others, it's so mentally draining. I'd much rather be in the comfort of my own home. In say that though, I still go out to do and see the people I love but I probably don't do the stereotypical activities any other nineteen year old might do. 

Stepping Away From Social Media Isn't A Bad Thing

There have been a few times this year where I've chosen to step away from social media. Either because it's got to the point where I need time away from it for my own mental health or I'm seeing more negativity than I am positivity. And if it's the latter, then I'll take some time away and once I'm back on social media I'll re-access the situation to see what I can do about eliminating negativity from my timeline and usually that's just unfollowing a few people. Highly recommend taking a step back from social media and see how things re different for you without it in your life. 

I'm So Bloody Lucky 

A lot of the time where I've talked about 2017 I've mentioned how much of a shitty year it was. And it's true, it was an incredibly tough year but at the same time I've realised that I've been so bloody lucky. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, people that love and appreciate me, physically I'm doing okay and my family are healthy. I don't really know if I could realistically ask for much more. 

B x 

Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018

It's become a little bit of a tradition here on my website that at the beginning of every New Year I reflect on the previous years worth of memories, good and the bad, and I include a bunch of photos from each month. 2017 was a rough year but there were definitely some good times amongst the bad.

JANURARY

January wasn't that start to 2017 I expected to have. I flew down to Christchurch and drive to Cromwell to attend the funeral of a childhood friend's mother. But with that I got to spend some time with family and that I am grateful for. 7 days later my Nan passed away which was totally unexpected to all of us.

FEBRUARY

February the second we said our finally goodbyes to my Nan. The above picture of us cousins is a clear indication of how emotionally exhausted we were. Overall, February was an exhausting month but nothing was going to prepare us for what was going to happen in March.

MARCH

At the beginning of March my Pop passed away. Nothing could prepare us for this. Again, it was totally unexpected. I don't think I've cried so much in such a short space of time. One thing that did come from all of this is how close my cousins and I have become. We were always close but we're definitely closer now for what went through together in 2017.

APRIL 

Easter was spent back up at the farm in Rai Valley. It was a great get away and awesome to spend time with family. I really do miss spending so much time up there especially since we spent a good chuck of our childhood in Rai Valley on my Grandparents farm.

MAY

May is my birthday month and I can't say I did too much for my birthday. I did go over to Blenheim for a weekend because Mum and I had appointments. It was never easy going back to Blenheim but it was something we always did together.

JUNE

June was my little sisters 16th birthday party. Mum and I drove down from Nelson ton celebrate with her and we had an amazing time. In the month of June I wrote one of my most heart-breaking posts. I wrote it with tears streaming down my face and surrounded by tissues but I'm so glad I finished it and published it. It's called, "It's Nearly Time To Say Goodbye' and I'll leave it linked here if you want to check it out. It's something I'm really proud of.

JULY

July was when my bestfriend came to visit. Ashleigh got her first tattoo and we took way to many trips to Starbucks.

AUGUST 

In August I went to Christchurch. I think I just wanted to be around my sister. I missed her and all the fun we have together but my time down there was great. I love spending time with my little sister.

SEPTEMBER

September was the month where I was pushed outside my comfort zone. I did something I never thought I 'd do before because I hate heights but I did it! I went on what's called the High Wire Swing at Happy Valley Adventures. I throughly enjoyed myself even thought I was terrified nearly the whole time.

OCTOBER 

I spent some time in Okiwi Bay with family in October over Labour weekend and it was gorgeous. Okiwi Bay is another place I remember being at as a kid. It's so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I just wish I could get over there more often.

NOVEMBER 

November was the month where I spent the entire four weeks in Christchurch. I was doing some work experience and I also got to spend a lot of time with family and friends. I probably drank way to much coffee and gossiped a little too much but it was all good fun and I really enjoyed being down there. 

DECEMBER 

December the second marked my Nan and Pop's fiftieth wedding anniversary and that when we decided we'd have their burial. It was a very special but sad time but I'm glad it was something we could do as a family. I also got my first tattoo which is in memory of my Nan and Pop and it's something I'll treasure forever. 

I hope you all have had a good start to 2018 and may it continue. 

 B x