2014 Favourites #1

Since it's been about 10 months since I've last published a favourites post (what!? where has the time gone???), I thought I'd start them up again. Since I haven't written a favourites post this year, this will be a recap of my major favourites from the beginning of the year. Who knows? I may even compile a second list in December! (Hey, the interests of a teenager can change a lot in a few months)

Makeup Favourites
I'm going to start by talking about a well-known brand of makeup that is loved by ladies around the world - M.A.C. Sadly, this brand isn't available in the city where I currently live. However, I purchased a few products while I was in America. And wow. I now understand why M.A.C is so popular - the quality is amazing! While it may seem a little expensive, it's definitely worth it. The favourite product I purchased from M.A.C is the Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation. It gives great coverage without giving your skin the 'caked' look. Since it's a liquid, I set it with the M.A.C Mineralise Foundation (loose powder).

Another popular makeup brand is Benefit Cosmetics. Benefit products are recognisable due to the retro-themed posters surrounding them in stores, not to mention their super-cute packaging. I use the Pore-fessional balm I recently purchased and use it as primer, and I absolutely love it! Also, my sister would definitely recommend the They're Real mascara. It may seem a little daunting to be applying a mascara that promises the illusion of fake eyelashes, but trust me - it does wonders for your eyelashes!

Other Favourites
For a while, I've been looking for a simple, classy, everyday watch. And surprise surprise, I found one while I was at Macy's in America! I love Michael Kors products, period. His bags, clothing and even bracelets are all completely gorgeous, but don't get me started on his watches. It's amazing that he's created such a diverse range of watches to suit both men and women, and it was pretty crazy when I saw my watch (pictured below) and instantly knew that it was the only one I wanted. (Okay, I really hope I'm not sounding crazy to all of you right now) But anyway, I nearly purchased the rose gold watch in the same design, but instead chose the gold one. Gold is just so classic, and will go with a lot more of my clothes.

Michael Kors Midsized Golden Runway Watch with Chronograph

Let's move onto hair! In between washes, it's not unusual for the ends of my hair to feel dry. I'm so glad I was introduced to the L'Oreal EverSleek Oil Treatment, because although I love Moroccanoil, it's way too pricey, considering the rest of the market.

Now onto oil treatments in general...
If you've never used an oil treatment on your hair, you should definitely consider trying one. Although it does seem a little strange that tree sap will do any wonders for your hair, you'll be surprised at the results. All you need is 1-2 pumps of whatever product you choose, depending on the length and thickness of your hair. Massage it between your fingertips, then run it through the lengths of your hair. You may want to comb your hair to evenly coat the ends, but other than that you're good to go - no rinsing is required!






This next favourite may seem a little twelvie-style for some people, but I'm going to mention it anyway: Arizona Iced Tea in peach flavour. In my opinion, this narrowly beats peach-flavoured Lipton Iced Tea in the taste department, but how can you walk past their packaging? Although I never purchase things for their packaging alone, I have to admit it's a cute bonus.

My sister and I have been obsessed with iFunny for about two and a half years. And finally, we created a joint account! While it's been active for less than three days, it's been fun creating original content and finding photos/gifs/videos to repost. Although the app revolves around American holidays and inside jokes (The Super Bowl! College Decision Day! Freedom!), it's almost guaranteed to make me smile every time I open the app. Go iFunny!

Finally, my favourite song over the past six months has probably been MMM Yeah by Austin Mahone and Pitbull. Remember that favourites post from last year where I mentioned Austin Mahone trying to make it? Well, he's finally broken through with this song! Although it was released some months ago, radio stations have begun to put this particular song on replay. I love the beat of the song, and the music video is a-ma-zing.

It's been a short but jam-packed six months for me. Make the most of these next six months, because 2014 seems to be dissolving quickly. Stay tuned! xx


Currently listening to: It's my Birthday (Will.I.Am feat. Cody Wise)
Currently watching: The Vampire Diaries Season 5

Top 10 things you need to do in New York City

New York City: The Big Apple. The City of Dreams. The Concrete Jungle. You get what I'm saying. In actual fact, I was in NYC less than two months ago. It was the first time I'd ever been there, and I absolutely loved it. I love the hectic feeling of being in a city where you're a complete stranger to everyone else. Okay, I'm getting off topic. My point? Since New York can be pretty crazy at times, it's important to have a plan as to what you want to see or do while visiting. Most people, like me, are pretty clueless as to what they want to see/visit/experience while in The City. Don't stress, though - I've done most of the work for you and compiled a list of the top ten things you "must do" while in NYC. Read on.

10. Buy a hot dog from a street vendor
I don't care what kind of attitude you have towards hot dogs (unless you're a vegetarian/vegan, then by all means ignore this), but most people know that hot dog vendors are an iconic thing in New York. In actual fact, the (one) hot dog I ate while in New York was probably one of the best I've ever had.

9. Walk through Times Square
Ahh, Times Square. You'll all probably agree with me when I say that it is absolutely insane. The arrangement of different shaped posters and electronic signs is so beautiful that you may get distracted while walking and end up bumping into another person.
On a side note, I wouldn't recommend walking through Times Square if you're claustrophobic. However, the top deck of a tour bus is a good option.

8. Shopping on 5th Avenue
No matter your budget, shopping on 5th Avenue is almost guaranteed to make you feel 10x more glamorous than usual. For me, walking down an unfamiliar-yet-extremely well-known street (that word may be a little downgrading) is pretty special. You don't even need to purchase anything; just surround yourself in the glamour of beautiful stores (from designers who you may never have even heard of) and soak in the atmosphere - trust me, you'll appreciate the memory after you've left.

7. See a Broadway Show
Yes, Broadway shows are quite expensive. However, I recommend you see a show if you're an international visitor - when else are you going to get the opportunity to go, so just do it! :) My family and I saw Wicked while we were there, and it was honestly the best musical I've ever been to.

6. Go on a river cruise
You can interpret the word 'cruise' however you'd like to, depending on your budget. Basically, it's a good idea to go on a river tour around Manhattan (under the Brooklyn Bridge) and ultimately having a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Have your camera ready!

5. Visit the Empire State Building Observatory
No matter which viewing platform you go to, the view from the top of the Empire State Building is stunning. It's a great way to see Manhattan from above, since you can spend as much time as you'd like analysing just one part of the city. Just a warning, though - it was 0 degrees C (32 degrees F) while I was up there in April. Don't underestimate the temperature at that particular altitude, in addition to the wind chill!

4. Walk through Central Park
There aren't many parks this large that are so close to the CBD of a major city. It would have been lovely to lie in the grass while I was there, however it was pretty cold at the time. The ice skating rink is beautiful, too - can you imagine it in winter? While walking through Central Park is nice in itself, the horse and carriage rides were probably the major highlight for me. How can you resist going on a trip through Central Park via horse and carriage? I've included photos below, just in case you're missing the point here :)

How relaxing does this look?

   

3. Go on a bus tour
It's probably the best way to get to know where everything is (How many blocks is Times Square away from your hotel?). Plus, most companies have hop-on, hop-off tours arriving every fifteen minutes to each stop. I probably enjoyed the Midtown and Downtown tours the most, while I didn't enjoy the Uptown and night tours to Brooklyn as much (although they were still interesting).

I definitely recommend Gray line tours

2. Ice Skating at the Rockefeller Center
When I first laid eyes on The Rink at the Rockefeller Center, I actually gasped. It's the most beautiful ice skating rink I've ever seen. My first assumption was that it was probably incredibly expensive to use, but I was actually quite wrong! I mean, it's expensive for what it is; however, it won't break the bank! Plus, you'll get a good deal if you purchase a conjoined ticket that lets you go up to the Top of the Rock, too!

It actually looks exactly like this

1. Go to the Top of the Rock
In my opinion, this is no doubt the number one thing you need to do while in New York. I mean, the observatory of the Empire State Building (refer to 5) is pretty cool, but isn't the centerpiece of New York the Empire State Building itself? The Top of the Rock has a perfect view of this iconic building, in addition to holding about three observation decks on consecutive floors. That way, it doesn't get too claustrophobic come sunset (trust me, everyone wants a good sunset photo).

Yes, it really is this stunning. I recommend going at dusk for some sunset/night shots

In case you didn't already know, I'm Australian. This means that neither my family or I were extremely interested in various historical sites. However, if you're an American (or interested in American history), you may want to consider visiting locations such as the Twin Towers Memorial. 

Wow, that was my first ever travel post! Which surprises me, because I've always loved travelling and want to share my experiences with you all. If you liked this, please let me know! That's all from me for now, so I'll talk to you all next time xx

"The Basics"

Okay, so I know what you're thinking: uh, Katrina, why haven't you posted in like, 3 weeks? I know, I know, I can explain! I've actually been overseas, and I queued 2 posts (including this one) to publish while I was away. The problem was, I only realised blogger didn't post them until I got back and one of my friends asked why I hadn't posted anything over the holidays (shoutout to Yemi!). So I'm sorry if I've been seeming inactive lately, but I'll definitely try and get back on top of things. For now, enjoy this post :) xx

Have you recently bought something incredibly cute, but have nothing to wear it with? Already owning all the basic clothing items can save you heaps of time and money when it comes to wearing a new piece with your current wardrobe. Want to know what all the basics are? Read on.

- White and black t-shirts (help with making statement shorts stand out - ones with pockets are extra cute!)

- White and black singlets (great for sheer tops and wearing under normal shirts when it’s cold)

- Trench/winter coat (make sure you try to get one that’s waterproof! And it's a good idea to splurge on a trench coat, as you're likely to keep it for a few years.)

Perhaps you could channel your inner 'A'?

- Denim blue and black jeans (you don’t have to get skinny jeans - choose any sort of cut you want! Thick denim is especially helpful for those chilly days)

- Jeggings (they're so much more comfortable than jeans - great for flights and road trips)

- Nude coloured underwear (never wear white underwear under white clothes - it will show through!)

- Boots (if they aren’t your thing, you could always get booties. It’s best to get leather ones and spray them with waterproof spray.)

If in doubt, dress up...

- Everyday sweatshirt/jumper (get a dark coloured one, so it won’t easily stain and look dirty)

- Casual dress (something that could be worn to the pool or out to lunch)

- Formal dress and shoes (so you don’t have to panic whenever you get invited to a formal dinner)

- Black blazer (for job interviews or any time you need to look formal)



- Everyday earrings (small-ish in size, and at least made of sterling silver so they last longer)


- Swimmers/bathing suit (this is obvious, but I’m saying it anyway)


I’m pretty sure I've covered everything. Since I'm currently overseas and away from my beloved laptop, I'll mainly be using popular posts from my second tumblr until I get back xx

Taken from: My second tumblr

I'm just a little clueless...

So I was going a little crazy while attempting to study/finish homework/start on assignments last weekend, and I thought I needed a little break. Since I'd heard a lot of good things about this particular movie, I decided to watch ...Clueless. Oh. My. God. This is actually my favourite movie at the moment, I'm not even joking.
Before I go into detail about what this movie has taught me, I thought I'd share my favourite Clueless quotes with you all. Read on.

[driving up to a huge house]

Cher: "This is where Dionne lives. She's my friend because we both know what it's like for people to be jealous of us."

Amber: "Was I the only one listening? I thought it reeked."

Cher: "No, I believe that’s your designer imposter perfume."

"Ugh, as if!"

Amber: "Ms. Stoeger, my plastic surgeon doesn’t want me doing any activity where balls fly at my nose."

Dionne: "Well, there goes your social life."

Mr.Hall: [as Travis goes to jump out window] "And could the suicide attempts PLEASE be postponed until the next period?"

"Christian said he’d call the next day, but in boy time that meant Thursday."

"So okay, I don’t want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don’t get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair (eww!) and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we’re expected to swoon? I don’t think so."

"He does dress better than I do, what would I bring to the relationship?"

Mel: "What the hell is that?"

Cher: "A dress."

Mel: "Says who?"

Cher: "Calvin Klein."

Cher: [wondering why she feels so horrible because of Tai and Josh; looks in a store window] "Ooh! I wonder if they have that in my size."

Cher: "If it’s a concussion, you have to keep her conscious, okay? Ask her questions."

Elton: "What’s seven times seven?"

Cher: "Stuff she knows!"

"I was just totally clueless."

Okay, I'm done (but seriously, this movie is like the Mean Girls of the 90's!).
Just about all of us are a little clueless about something (or everything), and during our teenage years especially. I actually think this is a pretty good thing. I mean, life wouldn't exactly be exciting if we knew all about anything and everything. This is the beauty of life - no one truly knows what is going to happen in the future, so this definitely gives you the right to take chances. Discover new things! No matter how 'crazy' your ideas may seem, you should definitely attempt to put your (not too extreme) ideas into action by doing whatever you can to make your dreams into a reality.

Still not convinced you should share your ideas? Maybe I should give you an example. I'm guessing you're all familiar with Richard Branson (or heard of any business beginning with 'Virgin'). He single-handedly began quite a large number of his own businesses - some failed; others are now extremely successful. My point being, Branson had an idea. No matter how many times he got knocked down or was laughed at, he didn't stop giving up and is now one of the richest people in Britain.

So no matter how clueless you may be right now, someday everything will make perfect sense. So make the most of it! xx

When you don't like change...

If you've read my favourites' posts from mid-2013, you'll probably know that I love Lauren Conrad and everything she's written/appeared in - her TV show, her fictional books, as well as her Style and Beauty books... Don't even get me started on her personal website and The Beauty Department! She's a very talented woman, who happens to have made some comments that have stuck with me. I won't mention all my favourites just yet (maybe in another post?), because I'd like to talk about one particular quote right now. I've included it below...

“And lastly…why did you move to L.A.? Besides your job, why L.A.?”

Jane thought for a minute. “To be uncomfortable.”

Dana and Wendell looked at her, a little confused.

“My whole life I’ve always been safe, boring…comfortable,” Jane explained. “I’ve had the same friends my whole life. I have a great family. I grew up in a beautiful place. I was really lucky, but I came to L.A. to get out of my comfort zone and do something different.” 

(Conrad, L. LA Candy, 2010)


It's a well-known fact that almost every human doesn't like the idea of change. And why would you? Things are (mostly) perfectly fine as they are, and it's quite common to become hesitant when it comes to changing things up. Things are familiar, routinely...comfortable for you. Which is why it's good to remember that stepping out of your comfort zone may be just what you need in life. I mean, how else will you get to see everything the world has to offer for you?

And as for stepping out of your comfort zone? Well, the choice is up to you! Just do whatever makes you feel uncomfortable (in a good way), such as changing jobs or taking up a new hobby. And I don't know if I should be asking this, but I'm going to do it anyway: Do you really want to have the exact same life in 20 years as you do now? If the answer is yes, then that's completely fine - actually, that's great! However, if your answer is no, then you may want to think about trying something different every now and then.

If you don't like something, change it. If you've decided what you'd like to try, but are scared, click here for a post I recently published that's all about making decisions.

No matter how much you deny it, you're probably hesitant when it comes to trying something different. But this is completely okay! The best thing to do is to accept that at some point, change is going to happen. Focus on the positives of these changes, and you'll be able to handle anything. xx

Valentines' SOS

So Valentines Day is tomorrow! I personally don’t have any plans (except for the usual), but I know a lot of you do. The key thing to remember when putting your look together for a Valentines date is to keep it as soft and natural-looking as you can. Here are some tips on planning your look with minimal stress...

Hair - don’t spend heaps of time on it. Today isn't necessarily the day for tight ballerina buns and multiple cans of hairspray (unless, you know, that's your thing). Braiding your hair then taking it out after a few hours will result in soft, touchable curls - a great Valentines' idea. Remember to try to have a relaxed look, so wearing your hair out with nothing done to it is completely fine, too!

Makeup - this needs to be really natural. This means minimal foundation, long eyelashes (If you have brown eyelashes, use brown mascara if you can), and soft pink lips and cheeks. If you can, red lipstick is a great idea. Also, I'd try to stay away from eyeshadow unless it’s mostly shimmery/nude colours.

Clothes - try to wear something that suits your everyday style. This could be a floral dress with flats, or a knitted jumper with jeans and heels (if it’s cold). If you don't like wearing pink, but would like to dress in traditional Valentines' colours, opt for something like a red bag, pumps or baby pink nail polish. Just be yourself - really!

Jewelry - wear your normal earrings/bracelets that you would any other day, but just add something a little different (a statement necklace? An over sized ring?).

Okay, so this is actually one of the prettiest Valentines' Day outfits I've ever seen...

[Photo Source: Windsor Store]

Don’t get upset if you don’t have a special someone to spend the day with. Valentines Day is all about spending time with your loved ones, not necessarily your boyfriend. After all, what’s better than watching rom coms with a bunch of your friends, with lots of popcorn and ice cream? Happy Friday everyone! ;) xx

Taken from: My second tumblr (I've added a lot more to this post since I initially wrote it last year)

Next Week: When you don't like change...

Making a decision (the right way)

No matter who you are, no matter how smoothly your life may be going at the moment... there will come a time where you'll need to make an important decision sooner or later. Don't stress, though - I've compiled a list of questions (with not-so-creative examples) you may need to ask yourself before making the all-important decision, ASAP.

Is this possible?
Let's say you were wondering whether to put medicine as one of your preferences on a university application. If it's obvious you don't have the grades to get into this particular course (doctors have to be unnaturally smart!!), you may want to consider another course. On another note, if your grades are just a little away from being doctor-standard, you could consider an external program or a training course to make your application really stand out and higher your chances of being accepted.
-> Before deciding to do something, just check if it's feasible before you set your mind to it. :)

If I go through with this, how will it affect everyone around me?
So you've just been offered an amazing job... that's halfway across the world. Your decision as to whether or not to accept this offer really depends on how settled you are right now. If you're really close to your family and are in a serious relationship with someone who can't move, maybe taking the offer just isn't right for you. However, if you're a pretty independent person and the people closest to you wouldn't mind (or may even move with you), taking the offer may be the thing that really kickstarts a great career for you.
-> Of course, at the end of the day it's your decision that matters the most - but it's probably best to consider the feelings of those closest to you before you decide on something potentially life-changing.

Is this what I truly want?
So you live in a relatively small town and your parents are expecting you to move to the city for university. Despite the fact that you think it's a good idea, think about what you really want to do. If you'd feel comfortable staying where you are for a little longer (or maybe you'll never really want to leave), then I recommend doing what you think will make you feel the happiest at the end of the day.
-> Try flipping a coin to decide whether you should leave town or not - while the coin is in the air, you'll suddenly know what answer you're hoping for.

Will this make me happy?
Your friend has decided that she's sick of your long hair and has suggested you get it cut a bit shorter - no, make that a lot shorter. Other friends and family members may agree with this idea, but you need to consider your own feelings towards this decision before the opinions of anyone else (and no, this isn't being selfish).
-> Focus on making yourself happy before dedicating your time towards helping other people find happiness.

Best/worst possible outcomes?
Okay, so you want to join a club/sports team, but you're worrying that it'll be difficult to make new friends/master the skill/etc, etc. Before you freak out, just take a moment to consider the best and worst possible outcomes from joining. The worst outcome would probably be that you hate the commitment and end up leaving after a few weeks. Not so bad, is it? However, the best outcome could be that you love your team/club and make heaps of new friends along the way.
-> Seriously, though - you'll never know if you never try.

Okay, so I accidentally posted this a week late... But I'll definitely try to keep up with blogging from now on! xx

Next Week: Valentines' SOS

When to replace...

Sure, there are a lot of things that need replacing - but this week, I'm going to be focusing on makeup and skin care products. I used to be completely clueless when it came to replacing pthese kinds of things, and often  freaked out when I realised the problems of keeping certain  products for  longer than I should be. So I've saved you the trouble of non-stop googling for 2 house and have compiled  everything into a list. :) Read on.


Makeup

Mascara (3 months) My sister and I used to think the "3 month mascara rule" was just a strategy that drugstore makeup brands used to sell more mascara, in less time. It turns out we were completely wrong! Since eyelashes are covered in a safe amount of bacteria (this is normal and completely fine), this bacteria is transferred to your mascara brush whenever you use it. After about 3 months of this multiplying bacteria sitting in your mascara, you can take a guess at just what you're applying to your eyelashes. It's just best to play it safe and buy a new mascara every 3 months.

Foundation (About a year) Since foundation isn't exactly a breeding ground for bacteria (you' squeeze the product out, rather than using it like a mascara/lipgloss tube), it can last for a while longer than some other products. This can also depend on how often you actually wear foundation - that is, if you use a small amount when you first purchase it, then don't use any for a few months - you should be fine (I really hope this is easy to understand).

Concealer (About 6 months) This is the same deal as mascara, only your skin is less likely to be holding the same amount of bacteria as your eyelashes.

Lip balm (9-12 months) It's usually easier to use one (and only one!) lip balm at a time. Once you begin to use it, the whole bacteria-spreading thing starts to happen. Just stick to one lip balm and you'll probably find that you'll finish the tube by the time you're due to throw it out.

Brushes (whenever) Depending on the initial quality of your makeup brushes, you won't need to replace them until you really need to (the bristles start falling out or become stiff, etc.). Instead, focus on taking care of your brushes by washing them 1-3 times a month.

Eyeliner (3 months) This is basically the same deal as mascara. This 3-month rule applies for any kind of eyeliner, whether it be pencil, liquid, gel or felt tip - if you've had it for longer than 3 months, get rid of it!

Hair

Brushes (depends) Once your hair brushes begin to dramatically lose their quality (you'll know when this happens), it's time to replace them. To avoid racking up some serious bills, invest in good quality brushes to begin with.



Anything else (whenever) When it comes to just about any other beauty product - toner, shampoo, etc... Replace it when you finish it. Also, please don't begin to use new products while your old ones are still half full - it's how girls archived the "goo hoarder" stereotype ;).

xx

Next Week: Making a decision (the right way)

New year, new you!?

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Yeah, it's pretty crazy that 2013 has already been and gone, especially with all the drama that has happened in just one year (Miley Cyrus' crazy performances, Kimye's, ahem, very public confessions of love for each other, and of course, Cory Monteith :'( ). But anyway, you've all probably been thinking and reflecting on how the past year has gone for you. Hopefully, it's been great! But if you feel like there's something you may have to change, such as stopping a bad habit or spending more time and effort in your schoolwork or sport. These things are perfectly fine to make your New Years resolutions list; however, there are unnecessary wishes you may be adding that are likely to end in excessive worrying if/when they don't come true. Some things such as...

I will get a boyfriend. 
No, no, no! You can easily ruin love by wanting it too badly, especially if you force yourself to put up with bad behaviour from other people. Love will come at the right time, trust me! For now, focus on loving yourself and maintaining good relationships with friends and family.
"Never allow loneliness to drive you into the arms of someone you know you don't belong with."
- Unknown

I'll get straight A's at school
This could only be a reasonable resolution if you were previously sitting on a B+ in a few subjects, and getting straight A's in the others. In most cases, this resolution will only cause you unnecessary anxiety and stress over assignments you can only do your best in (I'm not saying you will never get straight A's, though - try your bet and that's seriously all that matters). Instead, promise yourself that you'll put an extra effort (and procrastinating less - yeah, we all do it) into your schoolwork this year - who knows, your grades may end up skyrocketing before you know it!

I'll stay best friends with ____.
Ba-bow! Once again, you can't force something like friendship. Sure, you can definitely make an effort to maintain a friendship with someone (but don't force the pressure of being their best best friend), but who knows? If you're weighing yourself down by a friend who's clearly moved on from your group of friends (keep in mind that this may also be temporary), you could also be stopping yourself from making new friends of your own.


Instead, say things like...

I'll try to be more positive
I'll learn to cook/clean/master another important skill
I'll put more effort into sport
Etc, etc...

Really, it's what you think you can accomplish in the time frame of one year, in addition to school, work and any other commitments you have. And definitely don't try to reinvent your personality ("New year, new me!!"). Just stay true to yourself, be kind to others, and accept the fact that either way, 2014 will be amazing xx

Next Week: Alphabet Creams Decoded

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

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

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.