Make your own cute wall art

Hey everyone! A few months ago, my school started talking to us about what we wanted to do as adults. At that point, it dawned on me that I’m growing up way too much, not to mention how often my interests are changing. I decided to make my own wall art filled with pictures of my current obsessions, so I can keep it and go back and see what my interests were at a certain point of time. I think it’s pretty cute, and I hope this inspires you to do something similar. 

You will need:

- Scissors

- Glue

- A3 paper (this will be the size of your poster, so you can use a bigger or smaller page if you like)

- A4 paper (to print your pictures out onto)

- Coloured pens

- Access to the internet and a colour printer

How to make it:

- Search the web for about 20 pictures that make you happy (I normally just go through my tumblr archive) and make sure you get some pictures of your current interests, such as your favourite actors or singers. Below are some examples of pictures I've used for my latest posters. 

Emily from Pretty Little Liars

This is just a cute photo I wanted to add

Who doesn't love sparklers?

I say this way too much...

- Load these pictures onto a Word document, (I use two A4 pages) making sure you leave a good amount of space between them. 

- Print the pictures and cut them out

- Lay them down on an A3 page and decide how you’d like them to sit, leaving a generous space in one of the corners bare. 

- When you’re happy with the layout, you can start gluing the pictures to your page. 

- While you’re waiting for the glue to dry, you can use some coloured pens to write the current month/season and year in the corner you left bare. You could also draw some hearts etc. if you want (and if there's room). 

- Tape/stick your poster to your wall, stand back and smile at your work!

That’s it!

I really hope some of you decide to do this yourself, because it only takes me about half an hour and I do it four times a year (the beginning of every season). I started doing this about a year ago, and my wall's already filling up. By the time I finish school, my whole wall should be covered with posters showing my current interests as I've grown up. I really hope you guys try this out, because I seriously think it's one of the best ways you can document your teenage years! xx

Next Week: 

Speak Now. Yeah, right now

Whoa, Katrina's posting again?? Sorry this blog hasn't been updated in ages, but things have been so hectic at school lately. But, guess what? Tomorrow is my last day of school for the year, which means I'll be regularly posting again! Yay! Oh, and if you haven't noticed (well, of course you have), I've updated the entire theme of my blog. Let me know if you like it!

So, to start things off again, I wanted to post about something I think everyone should know. Because if you don't learn this lesson, things have the potential to get pretty ugly. So what exactly is this "important life lesson?" It's to speak now. Yeah, right now.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you really like someone, but you're not good friends with them and want to talk to them more often, please listen to me when I say SPEAK NOW. No, this doesn't mean call that person up right now and express your undying love for him/her. It means that starting from today, you should definitely begin to either start making contact with this person (smiling at them when you catch their eye, or just saying "hey" as you walk past them), or try to become better friends with them (snapchat has definitely made me closer with some people). The reason I'm insisting you do this ASAP?? Because I've had a few moments where I've either been too shy or worried over what people will think of me to have the courage to talk to certain people. And trust me, this hurts more than rejection. I mean, I'd much rather feel temporarily sad because I've made a bad impression on someone, than stay quiet and feel horrible because I'll never know what would have happened if I'd only done something, anything!

On the last holiday I went on, there were a bunch of people my age there - with the added benefit of a "teens club." Normally I'm quite shy when it comes to meeting new people, but for some reason I turned into a very loud person on the first few days of this particular holiday. Long story short, I ended up in an amazing group of friends from all over the state who I'll never forget. It's also pretty safe to say that it was the best holiday I'd ever been on, ever. I mean, imagine if I'd been my usual, quiet self in those first few days of the holidays? Would I have seen them doing everything together while I'd wondered what it would be like to hang out with them?

I really hope you get the point of this post, because you know how the famous quote goes, "I'd rather have a life of 'oh well's' than a life of 'what if's.'" And as of today, I'll be continuing to post every Thursday afternoon! :D So that's all from me for now, so I'll talk to you all again next week, bye! xx

Next Week: Make your own cute wall art

Getting Motivated. You can do it!

We all know the feeling. You’ve got exams to study for and assignments to finish, but there’s a problem. You just can’t be bothered and you don’t want to. Yep, happens to everyone. Don’t worry though, I’m here to help.

So, what exactly is your goal? Whatever it is, just make sure it’s realistic and if it’s a large goal, set yourself mini-goals that lead to it. Secondly, what are you going to do to achieve that goal?

For example, your goal may be to update your wardrobe. Set yourself a weekly/monthly clothing allowance, and stick to it! You could aim to get at least one new piece every few weeks, over three months. By the end of it, you will have your desired goal and possibly extra spending money. Win-win!

Now, this is the part where you groan. You know what your goal is and what you have to do to get it, so now you actually have to do something to achieve it (Oh no, too much effort? I know what you mean). A lot of people say that they don’t have/can’t find time to do what they want, but…

You can’t find time, you have to make time.

That’s my little secret. Also, if you have a boring goal, then you can reward yourself at the end! Yes! You can have a picture of your goal or write it down and keep it somewhere you’ll always see it, like in your purse or next to your bed. You create your own motivation.

There may be a time when your progress towards your goal gets interrupted, but you need to look through that problem and go back to what you were doing previously. You can do it!

I hope you all achieve your goals and have an amazing weekend! xx

Taken from: My second tumblr (I'm on holidays! :D)

My Crazy Camp Adventures

This is going to be a little different to what I'd typically post, mostly because this is going to be about my real life. (What!? Katrina has a life outside the internet? Believe me, I'm shocked, too)
Last week, I went on school camp to a little town right next to the ocean. And don't let the location mislead you, because we didn't go tanning and swimming all day... Just read on :)

On the first day, we drove to a little caravan park and had lunch, then we were dropped off at the entrance to a 27km track through the rainforest (no!). And to top it all off, most of us had backpacks weighing about 13kg (NO!). It was okay though, because we only walked 8km on relatively flat ground. (Actually, don't tell anyone but I pretty much died, shh) But in reality, the whole walk was much easier than what everyone made it out to be.

The next day, we got up at 5:30am, packed up our entire camp and left by 7am. In my opinion, this was by far the hardest day for the whole camp, mostly because there were So. Many. Hills! I was a bit sick, but I was still pretty happy with the speed I walked at - And I think some expert deep heat massages helped everyone's muscles to feel a lot better ;) -

The last day of the walk!!!! Today was basically just 4km's of going up one massive hill, before nearly tripping down the other (very steep) side. Also, our "parkour" (jumping over rocks with our backpacks on) helped pass the time. After we finished, we all went back to the caravan park and showered (finally!), then went into town and ate our way through McDonald's - hey, I'd just gone through 2 days of eating nothing but muesli bars!

The next day, we left our trek bags at the caravan park and swapped them with smaller backpacks because... we were going to an island! And instead of travelling there on a boat like normal people, we kayaked about 5km to get to the island. It was super fun, but my shoulders are still sunburnt :(. That afternoon, we had heaps of fun burying people in sand/coral, and just hanging out on the beach in general. It would have been nice if we stayed for longer, but we still had to go home the next day (I still loved it and had so much fun!).

On the way back from the island, I made a terrible decision by convincing myself that I'd be able to steer the kayak. After getting a little too close to everyone else, some of my friends thought it would be funny to flip up our steering thing (yeah, I forgot the name), causing us to go backwards for a while until I realised what was wrong. After this, I decided to keep well away from everyone else - and ended up bumping into a stationary yacht with 200m left to paddle. Yeah yeah, laugh all you want - but it's hard to steer with your feet! (Oh, and we saw a dolphin about 10m from our boat - seriously!)

Sadly, this isn't my photography... but this view is amazing!

Aaaaand that was my week! If I had the chance, I would live it over again because I had so much fun and I absolutely loved it! :) - I know I've left some inside jokes in this post, but I know a few of my friends read this blog. - The things I'll remember the most about the camp include...
- One of my friends running down the street with a McDonald's bag on his head :')
- Watching massage trains :')
- Finishing the hike without any scratches or sprains
If you liked this week's post and want to hear more about my "adventures" and whatnot, leave a comment! Other than that, that's all from me for now and I'll talk to you next time, bye xx

Next Week: Getting Motivated. You can do it!

September Favourites ♡

Hey Hey! That's right - my monthly favourites are here yet again! So let's skip the intro and get straight into it, shall we? :)

Beauty Favourites
For those of you who don't know, lip balm is by far my favourite beauty product, ever. The Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balms are super good quality, and come in a range of pretty shades (I own the rose tinted one). These take literally no time to quickly swipe on your lips as you run out of the door, and the right colour can make you look much more polished.

Secondly, paw paw (or is is papaw?) ointment has been my love for months now. It can be used as a lip balm, clear mascara, brow gel or even a highlighter. Yeah, I know - What!? Since the formula is nearly transparent, it can easily be used in your everyday routine without being detected as makeup (if you have a no-makeup rule at your school like I do).

Casual Favourites
Yeah, I know The Hills is pretty much old news by now... But I absolutely love it! I watched one episode to see what the big deal was about (and because LC stars in it), and next think I knew I was already onto the second season. Scripted or not, this show is super addicting!

Ever since I got some black high-top Converse shoes from some very generous friends on my birthday this year, coordinating outfits with shoes has been so much easier. Whatever you're wearing, these can easily be slipped on and still look cute! Plus, since they're enclosed, they are appropriate for just about anything you do. (I actually wear mine to theme parks so I don't have to keep slipping them on and off between rides)

My favourite song lately has been "R U Crazy" by Conor Manyard. It's seriously catchy and I think it's Conor's best song yet!                                                                                       Oh, and just to be fair, "Better Be Mine" by Cody Simpson isn't my favourite song at the moment, but it's still pretty amazing so I think it deserves a special mention :)

I'm actually away camping right now, so I've had to quickly write this on the weekend. Next month, there'll be heaps more favourites, I promise! xx

Next Week: My Crazy Camp Adventures

Finding your Signature Scent

Anonymous asked, “I need a perfume that I can wear every day, because I have no idea!!”

Well, normally people break perfumes up into four groups: woody, oriental, floral and fresh. These are the basic four, but click here if you'd like to see a full list of perfume categories. Figure out what type you like first (ask your mum and friends if you can sniff some of theirs, or for their personal opinions) before you go shopping. Go to a store with a lot of different perfumes available for you to choose from.

Tell a staff member about what type of perfume you’d like, (tell him/her about one of the four groups I mentioned earlier) and they should be able to help you. If the store has some coffee beans, it’s good to sniff them because it clears your nose before you try on your perfume (if not, sniffing your bare skin works just as well, if not better!). Also, make sure you leave a minute or two between fragrances so your nose doesn't get confused.

Once you've chosen your perfume, it’s good to ask for the larger version because it’s usually better value for money. Forget about the price - perfume is worth it, because it'll make you super happy knowing you now have an amazing signature scent!

Keep your perfume in a cool place away from direct sunlight, so it lasts longer. Keep sending in your questions! xx

Taken from: My second tumblr (I'm in the middle of exam week, and I'll start writing more original posts soon!)

Next Week: September Favourites ♡

First World Problems

Although first world "problems" aren't actually real problems, they're so easy to relate to that everyone loves talking about them. I mean, it's not like I can't post about them at least once on this blog! (And Yemi said I had to) So without further ado, here's a list of what I think are some pretty common first world problems.

- Finishing 3 seasons of a TV show in 3 days and wondering what to do with your life

- When your cookie is too big to fit into your glass of milk

- You reach your post limit on Tumblr or Twitter for the day

- When you look amazing, go out and see no one you know. Then, when you look horrible it's like a reunion.

- When you're singing really loudly and forget the words to a song, then just sit there mumbling to yourself

- There're nowhere to put the sticker from your apple

- I don't know what I want for my birthday, and everyone keeps asking me

- You stuff up your waterproof eyeliner and it takes 5 minutes to get it off

- When your favourite singer/band is touring and you can't go because you have to travel on an hour-long flight to get to the closest city that they'll be playing at.

- The TV remote is way over there... But you're way over here

- YouTube loads the advertisements perfectly, but has trouble buffering a 10 second video

- When you see a really cute, single guy but can't think of anything to say so you don't talk to him (or maybe that's just me?)

- McDonald's is so cheap and easy to reach, but you know you'll feel super guilty afterwards

Why can't my glass just be a little wider?

Of course, there's problems that are much more important than the ones I've just mentioned. So grab a straw, suck it up and appreciate how lucky you are to have the amazing life you do! :) Bye xx

Next Week: Finding your Signature Scent

The Perfect Subtle Make-up Tutorial

School, work, a fancy lunch - sometimes it's just more appropriate for your makeup to be a little subtle. This can get a little tricky, especially if you've stuck to the same makeup routine for ages and can't imagine ever having to alter it. Remember, subtle makeup doesn't necessarily mean you have to ditch it all - keep your same products, but look for colour alternatives where you can. Too confusing? I've described everything in detail below...

Base
Before you open those foundation bottles, it's a really good idea to apply BB or CC Cream first. This will even out your coverage so you won't need as much proper, heavy-duty makeup afterwards.

Concealer, baby! Use a concealer that is an exact match to your skin, if you're lucky enough to find one. If you've had a really hard time sleeping, use a concealer/eye brightener one shade lighter than your skin tone to the area under your eyes only. Apply your normal concealer to under-eye circles and any blemishes you may have.

At this point, you can either apply a lightweight foundation all over your face or a heavy-duty one only on the areas you really need it (which shouldn't be much after you're used concealer). When you set your foundation, opt for a translucent-coloured powder rather than one that is yellow-based. This will keep it looking super natural!

Eyes
The best part about mascara is that you can pile it on and it almost never looks OTT. The only things you need to watch out for are clumps and lashes that are way too long (easily avoided).

You can definitely apply eyeliner and stay subtle! Just keep the line relatively thin and stay away from winged lines.

Barbara Palvin

When it comes to eyeshadow, think about the colours of the normal products you'd use before you pile it all on. Use a light brown as your "base" colour, then use a darker colour for your outer crease. Finish it off with using a very light colour on the inner corners of your eye, as well as a brow highlighter. Remember, this is all optional.

Lips
Sadly, you should keep your lips looking natural. This doesn't mean you have to keep your lips bare - just try to use lipsticks that are brownish-pink, or ones that are quite close to your natural lip colour. I always stick to my Maybelline Baby Lips, because it's moisturising and easy to keep in your bag.

Extras
If it's winter and you haven't quite kept your tan from summer, you can definitely get away with bronzer! Draw a "3" on both sides of your face from your forehead, through your cheekbones and down to your jawline.

When it comes to looking subtle, I would try to stay away from blush. Most people naturally have slightly pink cheeks anyway, so no one will know the difference!


Wow, that was actually a lot of writing! Remember to let me know if this helped you at all, because I don't normally post about tutorials. Till next time xx

Next Week: First World Problems

Making a Statement. You know you want to.

Party? School? Whatever the occasion, sometimes (or all the time) you feel like you just need to make a statement. But do you know how to? Read on.

Make-up: And the golden rule is… only focus on one area at a time. This means a bold lip during the day, then taking your lipstick off and having a smoky eye at night (whatever works for you!).

Clothes: Try to have plain colours around your statement piece. For example, you may have an Aztec print shirt and choose to pair it with a black skirt. For belts, try to wear the opposite colour to the colour of the belt (for a black belt, wear light clothes, and for lighter or neon belts, wear darker colours). For shoes, you can wear (almost) whatever you want with them, keeping in mind that printed jeans won’t draw attention to your shoes.
                             

Jewelry: It’s all about the bling! If your jewelry sparkles or is metallic (silver/gold/charcoal), make sure if it matches your outfit (only for necklaces and earrings). You can go crazy with your bracelets etc. For colourful jewelry, make sure you wear something white to really bring out the colours!

When it comes to jewelry, you can be as subtle or obvious as you're comfortable with

Hair: Do something you wouldn’t normally do. If you check my archive for this blog, you’ll be able to find something new to try that you haven’t even taken a second thought about!

Nina Dobrev

Nails: White clothes look so pretty with coral coloured nails! Black looks amazing with glittery colours, especially silver. For other colours, just look on a colour wheel and go either similar colours or the complete opposite of the wheel!


If you keep these tips in mind, it’ll be all eyes on you next time you’re out and about. If you need just one more tip from me, it is to be confident! You’re beautiful no matter what, just remember that. Till next time xx
Taken from: My Second Tumblr

Next Week: The Perfect Subtle Make-up Tutorial

August Favourites!

Hey Hey! So this week I'll be talking about my August favourites (oh, and is it just me or is 2013 going way too fast?). I have no idea what else to say in this intro, so let's get started :)

Makeup Favourites

I like to think that I'm pretty good when it comes to applying makeup, but there's just one problem: I've only learnt half of it! I mean, I've got blending concealer and applying mascara down pat, but I've never been brave enough to try the complicated stuff, like eyeshadow. Yeah yeah, I know - I'm boring! Since then, I've started to make an effort in learning how to master eyeliner. I decided to purchase a liquid eyeliner because I was struggling with my kohl pencil, but a very helpful sales assistant deterred me from the expensive brands and to the ChiChi Black is Black Liquid Eyeliner Pen instead. It worked just as well, if not better, than any other eyeliner from a well-known brand. (plus, it's a fraction on the price!) Remember, sales assistants are paid to help you, so make the most out of them!

Ahh, Maybelline Baby Lips! Just about all my friends keep one in their pencil case at school, because they're so handy to have wherever you are! Plus, the name isn't misleading; your lips are so soft when you regularly use it!

Okay, this is another long-time favourites of mine. For too long, I've been suffering from dark circles (no matter how much sleep I get). However, it's unlikely that you'll ever see them while I have makeup on. My secret? I've been using the Garnier Anti-Dark Circles Roll-on nearly every day for the past 2 years, because I love it so much! It's not the strongest concealer out there, so it doesn't look like you've covered your face in makeup - but still covers your dark circles. In addition to this, the formula includes caffeine, which helps to de-puff your eyes. Seriously, this thing works!

Beauty Favourites

As horrible as it is, a lot of people have dandruff. Also, cheap shampoos that you pick up from your local supermarket may seem to fix the problem, but will actually damage your hair if you use them for long enough. As for the expensive products? As much as I hate to say it, the upmarket products are the ones you should be looking at. Sure, they may be expensive, but they definitely work. Currently, my favourite hair product is the Kerastase Bain Exfoliant Purifiant anti-dandruff shampoo. 

                                

Casual Favourites

My favourite clothing item for this month are the Lorna Jane tank tops (wow, trust me to include workout clothes in my favourites!). But hear me out: everything from Lorna Jane is perfect for almost any sport, no matter what your size. Also, I find their clothes are super comfy, and are made from good quality, breathable materials. 

Okay, I know you're all probably sick of hearing me talk about Lauren Conrad's books, but seriously! I'm currently reading the final book in her The Fame Game series, and I'm literally glued to it! I strongly recommend reading her books, because they're really well-written and the stories are quite unique. 

TV Favourites! Okay, so whoever hasn't seen an episode of Pretty Little Liars should definitely consider doing so (Warning: you'll be hooked). The storyline isn't the best, but it's just too easy to watch episode after episode without hesitation once you get started. Plus, the clothes these (extremely lucky) girls wear will definitely give you some fashion inspo. 

Finally, my favourite song is currently Summertime of our Lives, by Cody Simpson. I can't think of what else to say, so I'll leave you to form your own opinion on this super-catchy song. 

                  

That's all my favourites for August, but I'll definitely have a lot more next month! Don't forget to keep visiting this blog every Thursday for weekly posts. Till next time xx

Next Week: Making a Statement. You know you want to. 

The Adventures of an Athlete

When I use the word "athlete," I generally use it as a loose term. In my eyes, an athlete is someone who loves sport and can even be a little bit competitive. So basically, I think everyone is an athlete at heart.
This week, I wanted to talk about my crazy "adventures" with sport, while also mentioning a few lessons that have helped me along the way, to help you get motivated.

Ever since I was little, I've loved to run. I remember winning my first cross country race back when I was in grade 1 (I think it was about 1.2km - intense stuff for a 6 year old), and realising that I actually wasn't too bad when it came to middle-distance running. Ever since then, I've taken running pretty seriously, but didn't start to properly train until I was 13. Also, I never really believed I was good enough for the district cross country team, until this year when I tried out and got in straight away! That taught me a pretty important lesson: You'll never know if you don't try.

Since I wasn't properly training until a few years ago, I wasn't doing any sport for a number of years - and this didn't make my parents too happy. In this time, I played basketball for a year (and hated it), was part of an athletics club for 2-3 years (and liked it, but ended up quitting because I didn't have a lot of friends there - another thing to remember is Don't let other people drive you away from something you love), and I nearly joined netball. This problem ended ended in grade 8, when I signed up for soccer because some of my friends were also playing. It took me a while to get used to it, especially when you have to alter your technique whenever you change the position you're playing. I'm so glad I signed up though, because I absolutely love it, and I've continued to play ever since.

If you're looking to get more serious about sport, one thing I cannot stress enough about is to take it easy when you're training! About 2 months ago, I was training for an event (that got postponed anyway) with so much intensity that I actually ended up tearing a muscle. Luckily, my school holidays allowed me to relax while I (rather impatiently) waited for it to heal. Which brings me to my next point...

When I haven't ran for about a week, I literally go crazy. Oh, my bedroom's just down the hall? Better sprint. I'm guessing half of you are thinking that I'm really weird right now, but I promise you I'm not. I mean,  being unable do what you love would probably make everyone go just a little crazy.

My advice when it comes to sport? Try a bit of everything to see what you enjoy, or you're good at. After that, join your local team and don't look back!



Everyone knows that regular exercise will cause you to look and feel healthy, but did you know that it can also make you happy? When you exercise, your brain releases feel-good hormones that can quickly improve your mood.

Okay everyone, that's all from me this week! If you have a question or suggestion about any of my posts, feel free to leave me a comment. Bye! xx

Next Week: August Favourites!

Get Confident!

Just like writing an essay, being confident is something you’ll eventually have to learn sooner or later. Only, writing an essay can be much easier at times. And much less stressful... About six months ago, I had horrible self-esteem issues and kept telling myself that I was ugly, too fat, too skinny, and other terrible and untrue things. I’m here to tell you all to stay away from becoming what I used to be! So without further ado, here are some things you can do to become more and more confident every day.

Talk to new people  With today’s technology, this is easier than it seems. Go onto websites like omegle.com and choose to talk via text (you can even enter your interests to find like-minded people) to strangers. A lot of these people are really nice, and it definitely helps you for when you meet new people.

Unfollow her  One of my best friends is absolutely gorgeous, and was always uploading her pretty selfies to Instagram. Nothing was wrong with our friendship and we were definitely still friends, but I still unfollowed her until I was okay. (And because she was following so many people, she didn’t even notice!) If you get rid of the things that trigger negative self-talk, then there will be less of a chance of it happening again. 

Join a Club  By joining a sports team or a club, you'll be with a ton of people who will share at least one interest with you. Making new friends can really help you on your way to being super confident!

Stop Looking!  Looking in the mirror for extended periods of time isn’t that great for your confidence. It causes your mind to point out your tiny imperfections that no one else notices. Think about it: you’d never scrutinise over every little detail on your friends face, so why do you think that everyone does that to you?

Have amazing posture  Don’t slouch, stand up straight with your shoulders back and your head held high (not in the I’m-better-than-everyone-else way, but the I’m-happy-and-confident way) to look and feel super confident.

Listen to music  You know that playlist on your phone that’s filled with sad songs? Don’t listen to it! This will encourage your thoughts to remain negative, so play happy-sounding songs instead!

Smile!  Your brain knows that you smile when you’re happy, and releases feel-good hormones when you do. Even if you don’t feel like it, smile and you’ll instantly look and feel more confident!

Go outside  When we’re upset, it seems normal to match your thoughts with your surroundings and shut out the sunlight from your room. This doesn’t help! Try to go for a walk outside (if possible, the beach is a really good option) for at least 10 minutes to clear your head. 

That's all from me for now. Remember, being confident is something that takes time, and you will get there eventually! xx

Next Week: The Adventures of an Athlete

A Crazy Acne Tip

Acne - we all get it at least once in our lives, and when we do it can range from a small pimple to a huge breakout. We all know that pimples suck! But not all of us have heard of this one crazy acne tip...

Ever had a growing pimple, but run out of spot cream? A quick solution to this problem is to actually dab some toothpaste on the area. What!? Why toothpaste? Well, it contains ingredients such as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, which dry out your skin. This will reduce the inflammation of your pimple and help your skin to clear up. Because toothpaste isn't as strong as your general spot cream, leave it on overnight (if you don't sleep on your front!), then wash it off when you wake up.

Warnings: Although this is a handy tip to keep in mind just in case you're out of spot cream, it shouldn't become a substitute for it. Toothpaste has been created specifically for your mouth, not for your face! One-time uses of toothpaste every once in a while won't hurt, but using it too much can actually make your skin inflamed and even peel. (gross!)

Sorry if this wasn't as long as you hoped - I'll try to make next week's post much longer :) Just letting you all know I've decided that I'll be publishing to this blog every Thursday, so remember to check this page every week for new posts! xx

Next Week: Get Confident!

July Favourites ★

That's right, it's that time again - it's my July Favourites! From now on, I'll be trying to add more products into my monthly favourites, so stay tuned!

Makeup Favourites
Unless you haven't read a magazine or gone shopping for the past few months, you'll know that the first CC Creams are now available! CC (colour correction) Cream is the newest makeup priming product to hit the shelves at the moment, so most people don't know what they are. Basically, CC Cream is just like BB Cream, only it's self-adjusting - giving you a tailored nude base to match your skin tone. Since I don't really use primer or BB Cream (gasp!), I thought I'd try the green L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream. The formula is green because it's for exclusive use on red spots (green cancels red). My response? Although I don't get many red spots, I LOVE IT! I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who has trouble covering up those pesky red spots.

Every week, I move to either my dad's or mum's house, causing the pain of having to bring everything I need for the week around with me when I move. This is a larger problem when it comes to makeup, because there's no way I'm going to buy two of everything! I solve this problem by fitting it all in my makeup bag from Sportsgirl (a lot of people use them as pencil cases, too). I couldn't find the exact design of mine on the website, but below is an example of what they typically look like. Why a Sportgirl makeup bag? They're good quality, a good size, really cheap and come in heaps of really cute designs! I mean, what else could you want in a makeup bag?

Skincare Favourites
Even though it's winter in Australia, I live in a tropical area (and no, it doesn't look like the Tumblr photos!), where it only gets "cold" for about 3 weeks each year. Naturally, my skin isn't used to cold, dry air, making this year's holiday a bit of a problem for me. My family and I headed down south, and although it was only for a week, I still had major skin problems. I was originally using an oil-free moisturiser on my already dry skin - add in the dry air and I had cheeks that felt like snakeskin. After a few days of wondering why my moisturiser wasn't helping, I decided to go to the pharmacy and they recommended the Natio Intensive Moisturising Day Cream. It isn't that expensive, and it caused my skin to go back to normal in a matter of days. If you have dry skin, this is for you!


Casual Favourites
If you didn't already know, I LOVE The Vampire Diaries! I've nearly finished Season 4, and I'm still hooked! My favourite character would definitely have to be Elena, but seriously - who can choose between the Salvatore brothers? If you've never watched an episode, I strongly recommend that you do!

Clothing Favourites
Finally, this is my favourite clothing item for the month. The skirt shown below is from Mooloola @ City Beach, and I love that I can wear it with almost anything! I originally thought that the zipper was meant to be worn at the back, but this model is shown wearing it at the front. Could you guys help me out and tell me which side you think the zipper would look best worn on?

Wow, that was a lot of typing! If you'd like to ask me anything or suggest any ideas for what you'd like to see me post about in the future, feel free to leave any comments. xx

Next Week: A Crazy Acne Tip

The Balancing Act

This week, I thought I'd publish my first fashion post and share an old (and very helpful!) tip of mine with all of you. Here it is...When putting an outfit together, try to achieve a balance between tight and loose fitting clothes. This means that when it comes to clothing only, if one half of your outfit is a loose fit/baggy, the other half should be a tighter fit (it fits comfortably without being skin-tight).

Still confused? Here are some examples of where you would use this rule...

Floaty skirt or pants? Balance this by teaming it with a relatively tight tank top or shirt. If you'd like to wear it with a shirt that is slightly baggy, using a thick belt to cinch in your waist will cause your shirt to look a little tighter.

This shirt with a 1/3 sleeve is perfect for this floaty skirt! Team it with a pair of embellished sandals and you've got yourself one cute summer outfit. 

Skinny jeans or pencil skirt? Team it with a slightly oversized or baggy shirt to keep your outfit balanced. If you'd like to team it with a shirt that fits a little better, don't hesitate to add a blazer or jacket into your outfit. This will create the illusion that you're not wearing an all-tight outfit. Alternatively, you could use accessories to balance your outfit (think chunky jewelry and a ruffled/oversized bag).

Adding a blazer or jacket over a tight shirt can cause your outfit to look a little more balanced. 

This rule doesn't have to apply every day, but it's just something to keep in mind if you're ever stuck for ideas on what to wear with a new clothing item. Till next time xx

Next Week: July Favourites

Ultimate Fangirling

When it comes to celebrities, everyone knows that some dedicated fans can go absolutely over-the-top crazy over them - fangirling.  It's pretty common these days, mostly because there are so many singers, bands, actors, You Tubers and bloggers out there that just about everyone finds someone they like.

The first time I remember I went crazy over a celebrity was during my (and just about every other 10 year-old girl's) Disney phase. Oh, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers! No matter how much you deny it, you've most likely have gone through a Disney stage in at least point in your life. I mean, it's likely that you'll still know all the words to one of the Jonas Brothers' songs that you haven't heard in about 5 years. 

Anyway, fast forward to where I am now. You'll find that although I'm definitely not as crazy over celebrities as I have been in the past (thank god!), once I find my favourites, I'll stick with them for a long time. Here's a list of  my current (and long-time) favourite singers, You Tubers and the like. 

Cody Simpson 
Before you comment, think about how many songs of his you've actually listened to. My tumblr playlist has 6 of his songs in it, because it's so hard to choose which ones don't deserve a place. My favourite songs of his right now include "Summertime of our Lives," "Awake All Night" and "Pretty Brown Eyes."
Austin Mahone
I first discovered this cutie about a year ago, and I'm so excited about the release of his new song!
The Collective
If you haven't heard of them, search up their X Factor performances from last year. I probably wouldn't love them as much if they hadn't come to my town for a concert a few months ago, because people can be so different when you finally see them in person.
MakeupbyMandy24
I'm subscribed to a lot of You Tubers, but if I had to choose just one as a favourite, MakeupbyMandy24 would have to be it. I first started watching her videos about this time last year, and it's crazy how every one of her videos is both different and interesting.
Lauren Conrad and The Beauty Department
Here I go again... This girl is amazing, and her beauty website has to be the most helpful I've come across!

Okay, so I'm definitely not this OTT...

I would go on, but I don't want this post to be too long! Don't forget to keep checking back for new posts every 1-2 weeks (I'm trying to get in the habit), and I'll talk to you next time. xx

June Favourites

Hey hey! I haven't posted in a while, so this week I thought I'd do my June Favourites. This is actually my first favourites post, so I'll try to make this as detailed as possible.

Beauty Favourites
Since it's winter here in Australia, my lips are getting really dry and chapped lately, especially at night. I fix this by applying the Vanilla lip balm from Colette. I've never really been a fan of lip glosses that come in pots, but this one is really thick and easy to apply - and stays on all night! Also, I've been loving the Givenchy PhenomenEYES Mascara for so long! Its unique wand design helps coat and define each lash individually, causing your eyelashes to look amazing. Oh, and it may be expensive - but it's so worth it. Finally, the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (that's a mouthful!) has been my favourite coloured lip product lately. I own the colour "Sweet Valentine," but it's really about what colour looks the best with your skin tone. If you don't eat or drink for about 10 minutes after you apply it, the colour will stay on for hours. Really!

Casual Favourites
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Lauren Conrad's books are perfection! I'm currently reading Sugar and Spice (the third book in the L.A. Candy trilogy), and I love it! Also, just because it's winter here, that doesn't mean it's not sunny! This isn't my picture, but my glasses look similar to those shown below. Because they have a similar design to Ray Ban sunglasses, you can easily pick up a cheap, similar, stylish version from just about anywhere.

Other Favourites
I got these boots the other day, and I'm already in love with them! They're from a brand called Bellissimo, which I found in a shoe warehouse at DFO. Be quick and get some of your own before the sales end!

From now on, I'll attempt to publish monthly favourites posts, and I'll talk about even more things next time! Stay tuned xx

Getting the best results from exercise

Hey! I've taken this post from my second tumblr, so please don't accuse me of stealing -  I wrote this myself! This post got a lot of notes on tumblr, so I thought you guys would like to read this, too. (:

You’ve all probably heard about how exercise is so good for you, so I won’t go on about that. Instead, here’s a few tips on how to get the most out of your exercise sessions. 

- Aim for at least 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Everyone can achieve this, trust me. You just need to make time rather than try to find it. 

- 1 weights, 2 cardio, 1 stretch and 1 sprint sessions per week. Weights sessions are pretty straight-forward: get some weights and target whatever muscles you like. For cardio, try running or swimming non-stop. Stretch sessions (probably not the proper name) are basically just yoga or Pilates. Finally, sprint sessions are just fast-paced exercises such as cycling, running, swimming or rowing (as fast as you can!). This is just an example/guideline. Do whatever suits you. 

- Warm up and cool down. A lot of people just can’t be bothered to do a cool-down, but it’s really important. Try to get your heart-rate up by doing something like taking a brisk walk and lightly stretching for both your warm-up and cool-down. 

- Wear good workout clothes. This could just be a tank top, tights, runners and a sports bra. 

- Drink heaps of water. This is much easier than you think! Just keep a water bottle next to you during the day and drink whenever you want. This, and not eating 1.5 hours before you exercise, will help prevent stitches. 

- You got a stitch!? This could mean that you are breathing too shallowly. Slow down a bit, breathe deeply and grip the stitch until the pain goes away. 

- Don’t be too intense. This is just common sense. If you know you have a sore muscle, don’t crank up the intensity. If you can, try to focus on another muscle group while you give your sore muscle some well-deserved rest. 

Of course, you can alter these tips to suit your own personal lifestyle. That's all from me for now. Bye! xx

Yeah, I'm a bookworm...

When it comes to books, I'm usually in one of two stages.... I either have nothing to read and am extremely bored, or I have a long list of books to read, because all of the good ones always have to come out at the same time. I have the same problem with movies and TV shows, but let's just stick to books for the moment...

Not to sound like a pushy teacher, but reading is seriously good for you. I mean, just 10 minutes of reading can help you get to sleep much faster than 10 minutes of texting, which ultimately leads to less dark circles. Yes!

Ever heard of the phrase, "don't judge a book by its cover?" It's so true! If a book has won countless awards but has a boring cover, don't hesitate to get it and see what it's like for yourself!

In case you didn't already know, I LOVE Lauren Conrad! Her books are perfection, and I'm currently in the middle of her two series; L.A. Candy and The Fame Game. 

Who couldn't forget Vampire Academy? Definitely not me! I first finished reading the series in grade 7, but I still love them and can hardly wait for the first movie to come out next year!

What are your current book obsessions? Let me know in the comments! xx

It's parafaction!

Hey there! Wow, this is my first ever blog post on blogger!
I'll be posting about beauty, fashion and whatever comes to my mind on a regular basis, so make sure you follow/subscribe (whatever you do in blogger to receive my posts) to this blog.
The name of this blog came from my friend's old tumblr URL, and I just think it's a cool blog name - but I have no idea what it means (I thought I'd just use the name until I thought of an original one, but it kinda stuck. I hope you don't mind, Lauren! x)

Also, if you like what I'm posting about, feel free to share or comment. 

Ok, that's all from me for now. Talk to you soon! xx