Telephone - Lady Gaga ft Beyonce

My parents are leaving to the coast this weekend then overseas on the 28th so, with the duty-free opportunity, my mother surprised me one night with an early Christmas gift!

She had been meaning to wait until Christmas but thought it was better if I could make some use of it now before their overseas trip since she'll be taking it along with her to claim back the GST at the airport. She surprised me with a Speedy and revealed that she also treated herself to a Fendi Chef Boston hehehe, nothing says x-mas like a self-pressie! Thankyou mother dearest, I promise to take good care of the house + pets! (If gifting me with a bag was a bribe for extra good behaviour ... it sure as hell worked hahaha)

My vanity (as you've probably seen) is a complete clutter. So I've been raiding the storage and kitchenware store sections for cake displays and pantry organisers which finally came down to this:

Still cluttered but there's finally a clearing on the table-top!

I found a 3-shelf pantry organizer (Target), plastic utensils container (Target) which I placed on the top shelf of the pantry organizer for MAC compacts and an X-Cube organizer (Officeworks) for lippies and mascaras.

A little cake display (Target) for cuffs, rings and bobbypins and things that have no place on the jewellery stand.

A 4-shelf and 4-drawer cabinent (Target) for bottled things and I just sort of shoved my boots on a store-display stand my dad grabbed from a pharmacy from work. I also thought I'd show you the Paul's boutique bracelet I got for myself purely because it had Paul's name on it - my friends think I'm psychotic! hahahaha

I've been bugging Paul to come with me to IKEA, just thinking about the storage shelves they'd have makes me feel all tingly inside! But we haven't had time to do so and whether or not he can come with I should head there soon for a gingerbread house kit - most exciting buy of the season! ... and usually the buy I can never grab in time :(

This week the store owner will be coming in and out of work which means best behaviour and sporting latest stock.

So, Saturday shift - Bardot Pretty Punk tank & Boulevard Bomber Jacket in Peach.

Posting work outfits - fun or annoying?
Didn't list lame as an option because you'd all pick it! hahaha.

Summer party + Stereosonic

It's summer holidays but I still haven't had a decent night's sleep. It's been one activity to the next and microdermal after-care in between so blog-wise I've been pretty inactive, most of my internet time is now used to email Amy and Amelia- two of my best friends on completely different continents that won't be back until next year :(

The fainting spell I had last week was from dehydration and since then I've unintentionally water loaded, my stomachs been in complete bloat-mode! Thank goodness for my cupboard full of loose fitting clothes hehe.

The week leading up to the Summer Party has been quite frantic. Since I lost my wallet I had debt to pay off, things to report missing and IDs + cards to be replaced. Then before I knew it it was Thursday night and time for frantic last-minute outfit shopping, my wallet was cardless so I grabbed what I could afford with the little dosh I had leftover and it was Summer Party the next night then Stereosonic the following morning.

I spent most of my Summer Party experience being pushed and shoved around, The only place with any moving space was in the public toilets (below) haha

and when the morning came it was time for Stereosonic. These photos are from Winnie's camera (which I love! Hint hint, new camera for Christmas Santa? hahaha)

The next morning I had to wake up for work and my calves were aching! Working at Bardot has been good though, a lot more laid back than General Pants. But it does scare me that my mindset at the moment is - "I don't care what my wage is, as long as I'm not couped up at a desk all day, I'm happy." ..sitting at a desk is basically ....the rest of my life after graduation :(

And now for a little housekeeping!

Anonymous: wowwwwwwwwwwwww how much did ur bf win?! lucky! can u show us ur new piercings :)

I don't know if I should mention the digits but I agree, he was lucky. I would go into another fainting spell if I had to explain to you how he played to win the amount he did though, agh my heart!

And about my piercings, I've still got about another week or two before I can take the spot bandaids off, the only time they're exposed is when I'm cleaning them so really only 4 people have seen them haha - here they are, fresh and only 8 days old.

Anonymous: hey annie did your microdermals hurt? how much did they cost and where did you get them done? post up a picture please =o)
The dermals were done at Industrie8 which are $90 each and $160 for two, then theres other costs like antiseptic and salt water sprays which are about $10-15 each.

I don't tolerate pain well. The only other piercings I've had are my ears and bellybutton so I went in expecting the worst ... but it was actually ok! The only real pain I felt was from adjustments. When he inserted the left dermal my body tensed up and it wasn't as flat as I wanted it to be so the dermal needed to be adjusted and pushed down into place but it was only a couple more seconds of adjustment pain and it was over!

Xtina: how long do dermals take to heal? does it hurt? i'm thinking of getting them on my back toooooo =] is it hard to look after?
The time it takes to heal depends on the location of the dermals, I think its a minimum of 2 weeks healing time (but then again, I'm only a patient, not a piercer! haha) but I can tell you that they've been the most easy going piercings I've had.

The after care I was given was an antiseptic spray and a salt water spray which you pretty much spray on the peircings 3 times a day. The antiseptic spray is wiped with clean tissue and the salt water spray is left to completely dry before applying the spot bandaids.

So they're pretty easy to look after, the only downside is that I'm allergic to the sticky part of the bandaid so I get a bit red and itchy but I've resisted the temptation to scratch then my gorgeous Bettina checked up on the dermals and gently scratched where the bandaid had made me itch, it felt so good, I swear I could have married here then and there LOL.

Anonymous: how long did it take to put in the microdermal piercings?
I think it took about 5-10minutes or so, it's a bit more fiddly than normal piercings but it's nothing terrible. I wanted to record it but I wasn't allowed to, which is probably a good thing. Watching the procedure on youtube never really helped me calm down all that much :

Clothes & MU

This afternoon I got two flat microdermal piercings on my back, just under my neck. Then something scary happened when I got home. I was in the bathroom with my brother explaining to him how to clean the piercings for me then my hands and arms began to tingle and when I looked up into the mirror my vision was gone.

The next thing I remember was staring at the mirror again and everything was really faint and grainy, my vision only came back when I sat down. My brother told me I was about to fall and began shaking and he held me upright for about 5mins until it stopped. I wasn't scared or nervous before I blacked out, it just sort of happened out of the blue.
Has this ever happened to anybody before? Did I just faint? Did my piercings have anything to do with it?

Apart from that, I'm happy I got the dermals done. The one on my right is just perfect but the one on my left seems a bit alleviated, I think I have to go back for another painful adjustment. The adjustments were the worst part of the whole procedure :( I have to put spot bandaids on them for the next 2 weeks, hopefully they heal fast and everything turns out a-ok!

And now here is the major haul bomb! I've been so busy I haven't been home in time to take the photos in natural light so the majority of these piccies aren't in the best quality :(

First with the MU
NYX lippies from Cherryculture, the last 4 are old NYX lippies I already had

Just realized I forgot to label the swatches! L-R: Creamy Beige, Orange Soda, Celene, Baby pink

L-R: Electra, Narcissus, Strawberry Milk, Thalia, Perfect, Honey, Circe, Rea, Creamy Beige

MAC Blushes in Trace Gold, Springsheen, Style & Peachykeen

MAC Cream Colour Bases in Shell & Hush

Stila Illuminating Finishing Powder in Gold, I placed it next to the Bronze to compare

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer NC20, MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. Stila Convertible Eye Color in Onyx (Dual shadow & liner)

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation, The MAC blushes again.. just to fill in the space haha

Now for the shoes! I have a new obsession with wedges, they may not be everyones cup of tea but they sure as hell do it for me!

L-R: Ava Lace Up Hiker boots (from Topshop's opening @ Incu in Paddington), Dolce Vita Cut-out Wedges (Urbanoutfitters), He who sees field boots (Urbanoutfitters)

L-R: Heels from ZU, Sandals from Wanted

Yes, I do realize all my shoes are black. No matter how hard I try to stay away from that colour.. I can't!

Moving onto accessories and bags.

Kidada for Disney Couture - Fairest of Them All Necklace

Necklaces all from Sportsgirl, gloves from Urbanoutfitters, Rings from Bardot, Diva & Equip. Bag from Bardot, thrifted brown bag.

And finally the clothes! Its so hot but I found myself buying a clothes for the winter, I guess at the rate the weathers been going you never know when I cold front will hit(?) hopefully hahaha

L-R: ASOS Ladder longsleeve jumper, ASOS slash back dress (front & back)

L-R: Portmans Maxi, Bardot Maxi, Seduce Maxi

L-R: IT girl maxi, Forever New dress, Staple dress (Abyss)

L-R: Bardot shirt, Mink jacket, IT girl top

L-R: Mink crop top, Witchery cardi, Sportsgirl dress

L-R: Top (?), Sportsgirl dress, Anise shall

L-R: Bardot Cinderbox jacket, Bardot jumper, Topshop jumper (Incu)

L-R: Sportsgirl top, Minkpink shorts, ASOS top

L-R: Kenji crop top, Forever21 fringe vest, Top (??)

L-R: Bardot jumper, Ladakh shall, Ladakh top

L-R: Ladakh crop jacket, Ladakh crop top, Ladakh top

L-R: Ladakh top, Ladakh top, Ladakh jumper

The Ladakh & Anise buys were from the sale. I know I was meant to notify when the next sale was going to be but it was mid-exam time and I had no clue until the morning of the sale by Wendy's morning wake-up call LOL

Now to explain the extensive haul like I said I would.. I did mention that the boyf had a lucky turn at roulette, he managed to score himself enough for the home entertainment system he'd been wanting and a shopping spree for his girlf :) I don't remember exactly which items of clothing were from the spree but I can tell you that I was given a limit to spend within a 1 day span and it was a lot more stressful then it was bliss! The bliss only set in when the shopping bags arrived home but my conscience was still weak, I had myself a shopping hangover the next day even though I knew most things were courtesy of a Star City cheque haha. I'm satisfied though, the shoes really put the icing on the cake and to my Paulfish - this Christmas, next Valentines, Anniversary, Birthday.. whatever the occasion.. I would not be able to accept another gift from you. I would like a card though.... actually write me a nice letter.. LOL

My amateur nail art isn't coming far along, I realized while doing Fiona's nails the other day- I do not have steady hands! I was trembling with the deco pens and kept ruining the nails :( but it felt good to have a nice girly day of shopping and nails. I did the leopard print on Tammy using Great Barrier Beige, V and Black LA colours art pen, blue/black on Fiona using For Audrey & Black LA colours art pen and the white/black on myself using Liquid Leather and White on white ..yes, that last hand with the ugly wrinkly fingers are mine :(

Phew, done and done.

Housekeeping & Life

Whenever I do one of these posts, seems like the tumbleweed keeps rolling by and nothing else hahaha. Life posts. Yes or No?

These past few weeks have been a horror. For the brief moment when it felt like do or die - I had myself convinced it was die. But it's all a bit too complicated for an explanation and I'm here now, turbo-charged and ready! Well actually.. I spent my first night of freedom in bed with my laptop and a long catch up session with megavideo.

Also! About General Pants, I actually got into a bit of a tiff with GP over shifts, sales and whatnot. Working there was a bit of a headache.. especially at this height I had to climb the ladders to reach just about everything haha but I haven't moved far, I'll be starting work at Bardot the week after the next. This time with a proper roster.

Three of my best friends are leaving on holidays soon :( I'm pretty down about not going overseas this summer but I guess I'll have the opportunity to do so in the future. I'll make those life long memories later in life, hopefully with my special someone!

Alright, time for a life update and sweeping! There will be a major haul bomb next post. I'm trying to save it all for when my Urbanoutfitters order arrives!

But moving on...
1. Mum's birthday. My brother and I (on the right) gave my mummy a little GUESS bag for her special day, happy birthday mother! My brother is also going into year 12 soon, yikes!

2. Kim & Peter's wedding. I've grown up with Kim and now she's tied the knot with her special man, she made such a beautiful bride. Congrats Kim and Peter!


3. Kenneth's birthday. A very delayed post haha

And now for the sweeping!

Anonymous:Which website did you buy the Minkpink Sleepwalker tank from? I've been looking for it everywhere in grey - but could only find stock in black :(
From ebay! I don't remember the price I got it for but I guarantee you'll grab one for cheap (and *fingers crossed* in grey)!

Anonymous: how tall are you!? you look real tall in your photos!
Oh how misleading these photos must be! Haha. I stand around the 1m 50-something mark. Not tall at all!

Anonymous: Hey Annie!! Just a quick question, what do you use to remove your eye makeup? I find most products dry out my lids and leave them stinging =(
I use Lancome's Bi-Facil Eye make-up remover. Its non-oily and for sensitive eyes and hopefully it'll also agree with your sensitive-sounding eyes! For late night laziness Johnson's make-up wipes works wonders :)

Anonymous: hey hey just wondering where you got your earring stand from? it looks exactly like the one in an asian store in market city, only they dont really sell it but the earrings hanging on it haha. been looking for one but no luck :(
Hahaha I first saw them at market city too, quite embarressing because I kept going around to different stalls asking if they sell their earring stands and I finally found them at Fairfield markets, hoorah for the markets! haha

thilyy.: Where did you get the china glaze from? :O My mum had to bring them back from me from the states! I think the ones without shimmer work better than the ones with shimmer!
There were a few queries about the whereabouts of the China Glaze polishes stockist so I'll answer it here! There are some Nail Supply stores near where I live, a couple of them down the Hume Highway around Carramar and they all stock China Glaze. I've visited about 2-3 and the prices have ranged from $4-6. You can also purchase them here they also stock OPI and ORLY but voguettes have said shipping may take some time and all prices are in USD, not too sure on the p&h costs. China Glaze is definitely worth the wait though!

Hil: Hi, love the products I was just wondering where you ordered the stila smudgepot trios??
Ok places to buy Stila - BeautyBay, Fresh, FragranceX, YesStyle, Myshopping, Dstore.

Anonymous: Is the Mac fluidline or Stila smudgepot better and where can you buy/order China Glaze/Stila? What breed is your dog btw!
I definitely would pick the Stila smudgepots over Mac's fluidlines. They both apply on smoothly, don't flake or clump but I still find the fluidline still runs a little under the waterline whereas the smudgepots stay put - although they do dry out quickly so application has to be fast. Both are great liners though! Oh and my dog is a pomeranian! hehehe

Anonymous: For Mac NC30 skin, is Nars Laguna or Casino more appropriate?
Laguna! I'm NC40 and some days I find the Casino a smidgen darker then I'd like so I'd be standing there sweeping up the remainder of the Laguna to use hahaha. If I wasn't so low on the $$ I'd grab myself a back-up! :(

Anonymous: how much and where is the ring from?
The 'ring' from my last haul entry was actually a cuff from Sportsgirl! Looking back I can see why a lot of people confused it for a ring haha

Anonymous: hey annieo how did you do your nails? did you use your china glaze nailpolishes? how is the staying power, have they chipped at all? i did research after hearing about china glaze from your blog and all the reviews have been FANTASTIC. i cant believe i didnt know about this brand beforehand!!!
I put two coats China Glaze's 'Great Barrier Beige' as my base, did random spots of 'V' on my nails then did the black leopard print lining around the circles with my LA Colours Art Deco Polish in black :)

Annie: Just a quick question! You probably don't use this seeing as you don't have any eye bags/dark circles, but have you heard anything about the Garnier caffeine roll on stick, or the Garnier regenerating eye cream? Thanks!
No I haven't :( and it's definitely not because I don't have any eye bags or dark circles! I don't think I've had a proper night's sleep in so long, my under-eye is a tragedy in itself! My friends and I have talked about it though, I'll give it a try next time I pass it!

j: Could you please do a favourite products post or video? Pretty please?
I'm guessing I'd do a post, I've been too much of a mess for a video.. my overgrown brows and ghastly face.. enough to give the world a fright.

Anonymous: annieeee ! where do you purchase all your NYX products ?
Cherryculture! They actually my favourite lippies on sale so I did a bit of a hauling haha, will post it up next update!

XOVINTAGELOVE: Hey Annie, how do you like the Stila smudgepots? I'm interested in the Bronze one but it is a metallic kind of bronze? or just a flat colour? Thanks :)
Oh vintagelove I love them! And the Bronze is metallic!

❤ »Twee.: Hi gorgeous! I love your haul video :) Can you do a review on the chanel Pro lumier foundation? I really wanna try out a new liquid foundation! ^_^
Yes I will attempt to! After I get groomed hahahaha!

Anonymous: just wondering where you took these photos at?
The photos were at Chipping Norton lakeside!

Anonymous: With the chanel foundation, does the spf create a white cast/does it reflect light in flash photography? :)
Foundations with zinc oxide or titanium oxide do give you a bit of a white cast in photos and unfortunately the chanel foundation does contain titanium dioxide so I wouldn't say its the best for flash photography but it's great as a day foundation!

viviannn: I was just wondering where you bought your black bag from (in the video) it's absolutely gorgeous! I heard you say from Bardot, I didn't know Bardot sold bags? hope you holla back!
Yes m'dear it was from Bardot! They stocked it in Liverpool and Parramatta and hopefully they're still around!

Anonymous: hey what subjects did you do in high school and what uai and course are you doing atm?
Well I firstly have to say - I was not a brainy kid! nor do I think I am (or think I ever will be.. hahaha) but the subjects I did in highschool were Economics, Senior Science, Studies of Religion, Biology, Maths ext.1 and English advanced. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned my uai in the past, it's nothing spectacular and to be honest I don't remember the exact number, it was around 87 or so, but I'm studying a Bachelor of Business at UTS. The cut-off for the course was about 91 or 92 and I was one of the lucky ones that were able to score an extra 5 for a band 5 or 6 in English. So yes, please no hater comments for being a failure of a student :(

Anonymous: hey annie would you be able to create a look using the gilt by association mineralize eyeshadow that you got in your mac style black haul? i cant seem to find a use for mine =(
Wow, I've just realized I haven't even got around to using it myself! hahaha I will attempt to whip up something with my gilt by association!

Hello blogspot

I'm still alive - but barely!

Today will just be a quick update on life, I've hardly had time to manage my hygiene let alone my blog so I'm announcing my hiatus from now (like I usually do around this time of year) but I'll be returning in about a week or so with bells and whistles on! I cannot wait until these exams are over, some days the stress is so immense I feel like I will implode.

Money-wise, it's been a rollercoaster. The boyf came by some roulette luck last week and we shopped up a storm and now, completely against my own will, my wallet (along with about $500 cash) and I have departed.

I had other things to say but thinking about my lost wallet made my heart so sore. When I return I'll tidy this place up with some housekeeping and other nit bits.

I'll be in work next Friday so if you're doing some shopping in Parrmatta, pop by General Pants for a visit! :)

Take care all and may your week be far better than mine!

Warning: Photo heavy!

Pardon my absence!

What a kickstart to my Tuesday. I woke up half an hour before class and I live an hour away from uni, I made a speedy exit from home and presented infront of a student body with my daggy stockings, bed hair and no makeup .... and for that brief moment, I wished everybody grew cataracts to cloud their eyes. I'm terrible, I know :(

Monday was eventful though, I helped my friend Kimberly with her photoshoot project which was also a great chance to finally showcase the DIY hand and body chains I've made :) the weather could have been kinder to us though!

Photos were taken and edited by Kimberly Ngo and some were edited by Quang!

Edited by: Kimberly

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Kimberly

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Kimberly

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Kimberly

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Edited by: Kimberly

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Quang

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Edited by: Quang

Here were the materials I used to make my hand and body chains. Silver chain from Spotlight and mum's jewellery pliers. My mum makes jewellery as a side hobby and she puts me to shame! haha if this post wasn't so photo heavy I'd upload some of her little creations but I'll save that for next post :)

And to top it off, another haul. Boy is this one hell of an entry or what! Sick of me yet? :)

I mentioned a couple of times in the vid that I'd put pictures up on my blog but I haven't had the chance to snap them in the daylight yet so - will do next post! It also seems that my photobucket bandwidth has expired, piccies will be up and refreshed in about 30 or so days but for the time being I get ugly exceeded bandwidth banners. BOO!

Nails nails nails!

So, this is me celebrating my unphotogenic day. I'm not ambidextrous so the nails on my right hand are pretty deplorable, luckily thats the hand that holds the camera! Haha.


And yet another vid, a pretty useless one considering all pics + swatches are included on my blog anyway, I apologise if I've taken 9mins of your life. I wish I could give them back to you, I really do! Ahhh, but I guess the wasted effort deserves an upload... and you get to meet my little friend at the end hehe.

Collective Haul Video

After 6 days of torture I'm finally uncapped and ready to roll out this collective haul!

An entry or so back I declared myself broke, now I feel like I'm in debt and its eating at my soul! I promise from hereon that I will only purchase necessities, absolute bargains or things for Paul and I will try to grow that petty little bank balance of mine by the end of next year so that I can go and see America! Now this, THIS, is really going to test my patience... and sanity.

MAC pressies from the boyf, thankyou Paulfish :)

(Click images to enlarge!)

Fix plus, Blacktrack Fluidline, Studio Tech and Triple Fusion MSF

And self-pressies haha + swatches

Stila Smudgepot Trio - Black, Bronze, Grey

Smudgepots + Triple fusion MSF swatches

Stila "My Mother My Hero" collection

Illuminating Finishing powder - Bronze, Eyeshadow Trio - Gold Glow, Lipstick - Natalie

Swatches


China Glaze haul - 16 bottles full of love!

China Glaze Swatches


As for the non make-up related purchases, CHEAP CHEAP sale items!



Alas, taking advantage of the MIMCO sale, this was actually purchased a few weeks back but it has been treating me well as a uni bag :)
MIMCO bag: was $499, now $249