THE HORSE

Who doesn't love a classic leather watch with a pretty face? I am an avid watch-wearer and have been for many years. More recently however, watches have proved to be more than just a time telling device that sits on your wrist. They have also become serious fashion statements and currently sit in the jewellery or accessories category.

With the introduction of the Apple Watch I worry that beautiful, timeless, analogue watches will become a thing of the past. Yes a watch that can receive texts and calls and hold a calendar is super cool but theres something so beautiful and timeless about a classic watch.

I recently purchased this piece from The Horse. An Australian leather goods company run by Sydney couple Scott & Amy who started out in the shoe cobbler business. Originally making leather shoes they eventually delved into watches and have recently come out with other leather products. The face of the watch is a perfect statement size and the brushed gold goes perfectly with the gold jewellery I wear. It's reasonably priced and I wear it every single day! To the point where I have an awesome watch tan on my left wrist ;)

MUJI in Sydney

MUJI is a Japanese retail store that sells a bunch of different home/clothing/travel items. Its sort of like a Japanese version of Ikea I guess you could say. When I heard it was coming to Sydney I was extremely excited because MUJI products are raved about all over the blogging and youtube community and I couldn't wait to peruse all of the beautiful things!

I recently went in and picked out a couple of things including a black mesh cosmetic bag type thing which I like to use as my "emergency kit" in my handbag. I usually have it in some lip balm, hand cream, Panadol, Telfast (because my allergies are on a whole new level), Tissues, Feminine products (because you can never be too prepared) and a rollerball of perfume. It's the perfect size to hold everything and the fact that it's clear means its easy to find stuff and great for travelling!

I also picked up some of their "Cut Cotton" which is great to use with makeup remover, nail polish remover, touching up makeup etc etc etc. It comes with 80 pieces of cotton and costs about $2 if I remember correctly. Bargain! I also got some of their cotton tips which are conveniently packed in groups of 20 cotton buds, perfect for your handbag or to take travelling!

The last thing I picked up was this little squeezy tube that I will be using with me when I go away next week. They have so many different types and sizes of these- they're great for decanting your big products into.

I love everything i've bought so far! I've already got some things on my list to get when I go back. Have you tried anything from MUJI? 

Travel Tips

I am heading to Seoul and New York in less than 2 weeks (so. much. excitement.) and so I thought it would be fitting to share some of my travel-planning tips with you all

6 MONTHS PRIOR: Plan ahead! Start early with certain things like checking your passport validity. It can take a while to renew your passport so it is definitely not something to leave to the last minute. Book your airport transfers so there aren't any dramas or hassles when you're at the airport. The last thing you want after a long flight in a foreign country is to be stressed about getting to your hotel. Arrange travel insurance- something you definitely don't want to forget.

1 MONTH PRIOR: Buy any clothing/accessories/travel items you think you might need for the holiday. This also means you aren't spending so much money right before your trip and end up with no spending money (I've done this before)

1 WEEK PRIOR: Start packing. This might seem extreme, but I find slowly starting to pack in the week leading up to travel is the best way to ensure you don't forget things. As soon as you remember things you need to pack, just add it into your suitcase. Do any laundry that needs to be done.

1-2 DAYS PRIOR: Paint your nails, wash and blow dry your hair, get your eyebrows waxed/threaded/plucked, wash your brushes etc. All of your beauty chores basically.  Finalise your packing. Set aside clothing you are going to wear on the plane so you don't forget anything. Pack your carry on luggage. I like to take with me extra underwear and a couple of toiletry items with me on international flights. You don't want to end up with lost luggage and have no clean underwear or a toothbrush!

ON THE DAY: Add last minute items to your luggage; toothbrush, moisturiser etc. Lock your doors, lock your bags and off you go!

CASUAL SUNDAYS | SHOPPING

I've decided to start doing fashion posts on this blog. I must admit, i'm not the best at fashion. I love looking at fashion and researching different outfits, looks, celebrity outfits and other bloggers' fashion posts but when it comes to dressing myself in the mornings, I tend to get into a rut of wearing the same things over and over again. Im not very adventurous, each season I have about 5-7 items that I love and wear in rotation (despite having a wardrobe full of clothes). 

Im hoping that these kind of posts where i properly research outfits i'd like to wear will help me change that and also share my sense of style with you. 

This post is all about casual weekend style thats comfortable but still a little classy. Something i'd imagine myself wearing to a casual lunch but then also be able to wear out to an evening drinks or dinner. I absolutely love the denim + black heels look, its classy, edgy, and casual all in one. 

Essie Obsession

I used to be one of those girls who loved having their nails painted but never actually could do it themselves. So I used to pay twenty dollars at a salon every time i got my nails done. Which was quite a lot! But this year I have found Essie nail polish, and it's been a game changer. I haven't gotten my nails done in months! The formula is just incomparable to the other drugstore brands. Its creamy and super opaque. That black shade literally needed one coat to be completely opaque. The brush is probably what sold me on it though. Its a slightly wider flatter brush so it makes covering the entire nail extremely easy! And lastly, the colour range- ohh the colour range. I love looking at the Essie displays in my local Priceline. Its literally a rainbow and I love it. My favourite shades from the line are; Sand Tropez (the perfect nude), ChinChilly (the perfect taupe), Mint Candy Apple (the perfect minty blue), and liquorice (the perfect black).

Now lets talk about the real game changer here- the Fast Dry Top Coat. It really does what it says. Not only does it not chip for up to 5 days, it dries completely in under 5 minutes. (to the point where I can wash my hands and lather in hand cream. I know. Crazy stuff) The main reason I never used to enjoy painting my own nails was because of how long it took to dry- I am not the most patient of people so i'd always end up smudging it or denting it. This top coat however has completely changed that! I now paint my nails probably once or twice a week! 

My Dry Skin Saviour

With this intense change of weather my skin has been freaking out. More than my usual sensitive skin dramas! I've had dry skin patches, chapped lips and sore eyes. One thing that has actually helped my skin is this overnight mask by Origins. 

The way this works is you apply it at night before bed, almost like a moisturiser and leave it on overnight. Its a very thick creamy consistency that smells so delicious! When it's on you can feel the hydration and moisture sinking in immediately. At $34 it isn't the cheapest option, but I think it's worth it to invest in products that stay on your skin longer (moisturisers, serums, oils, toners etc). 

Have you tried any great hydrating masks? 

Aesop Skincare

Aesop is a brand I have only recently begun trying out. It is definitely one of the most luxurious skincare brands out there so I've never really been able to justify spending a hundred dollars on a face cream. Last Christmas however I was lucky enough to receive a gift of Aesop skincare pieces and I thought it might be a good idea to see whether it really is worth the hype and the money.
Lets talk packaging first, Aesop seriously get it right when it comes to not only packaging but the design of their stores to the bag that the products come in. Everything is well thought out and as a design student I definitely appreciate that. Theres something quite luxurious about holding a glass bottle. Practically- It's not ideal for travelling but its pretty and that's usually enough for me when it comes to packaging. *Insert heart eyed-emojis here*

The Fabulous Face cleanser is extremely gentle on the skin, it begins as a gel consistency but once mixed with water turns into a gentle foamy texture. Because of its gel consistency it's not the best at removing waterproof mascara, however it works beautifully as a second cleanser and doesn't irritate my dry sensitive skin like most foam cleansers do.

The toner is beautiful with vitamin B and Tea Tree, it is once again a gentle formula. Doesn't irritate my skin at all and leaves it feeling fresh and awake. I like using this in the mornings. A great alternative to this is the Lush Tea Tree toner water.

The Camellia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream (worlds longest name for a cream) is something I truthfully didn't love straight away. Since Christmas is in the middle of summer in Australia, I found this cream too heavy to wear during the day as it left my skin feeling quite greasy- which is not something you want before you apply makeup. Recently however, as it has gotten much cooler in Sydney and as my skin begins to require some extra TLC it has been the perfect match. Again, super gentle on the skin yet so incredibly hydrating and sinks into the skin effortlessly.

The hand sanitiser is probably the one I am not really blown away by. Don't get me wrong it totally works as a hand sanitiser and is compact and cute etc etc. But I just expected a non-alcohol formula for something nearly 3 times the price of regular hand sanitiser. It definitely smells a lot less like alcohol, and much more like the resurrection hand wash/cream that Aesop is renowned for, but sure enough in the ingredients list is alcohol- which just isn't that great for your skin!

Have you tried anything from Aesop?