Before I begin:

- Right now I'm capped so I won't be able to reply to comments or visit blogs until next week but I'll be housekeeping next post so feel free to ask me questions, ask away!

- I also have a question to ask you guys: What is a formspring? I had a comment suggesting I make a formspring but you kind of lost me at the word 'formspring' haha please help granny annie keep up with the times! :(

When I realized my bottle of Revlon Colorstay Foundation had no more love to give, strangely I felt a bit liberated. On my way to work I was reminded why... MAC's Warm & Cozy Collection just released the day before and I had an itch for those MSFs - I had it bad!

I know my New Year's resolution was to only buy make up once I've hit pan but who said it had to be one for one? I woke up the next day with a spot on my face so I've paid for my mischief but part of me commends myself for only snatching up two things, the shadesticks were very worth breaking the bank for!

Comfort and By Candelight MSF from the Warm & Cozy collection


Comfort MSF

'Comfort' is a deep bronze with gold veining. It actually is not frosty when applied, it's a lot darker than other bronze MSFs but still gives off a subtle sheen on the skin. Shimmer is minimal and it has quickly become one of my new favourite MSFs!

By Candelight MSF

'By Candelight' is described as a "Golden Pink". Next to 'Soft and Gentle' they could almost pass as twins, both look frosty and both with minimal (if any) veining but surprisingly when swatched, 'By Candelight' is darker with a lot less frost, which I love!

While we're on the topic of MSF's I'll attempt to answer a question I've recieved countless times:

"What are MSFs ?"

MSF - the acronym for Mineralize Skinfinish powders.
They're dome shaped multi-purpose powders which contain minerals and can be used to "add buffed-up highlights to cheeks and brows, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face". They're slowly baked on terracotta tiles therefore can be used wet or dry without causing any damage to the product still inside the compact, each compact contains enough product to last a lifetime, each is unique in colour and veining and I am crazy over peach and bronze MSFs!

Collecting MSFs is a common MAC cult. Almost all MSFs are limited edition and with all the hype over new MSF releases, it's either now or never. Once an MSF becomes rare they're usually listed at crazy prices on ebay. I remember missing out on Shooting Star and watching them sell on ebay for up to $90AUD! Insanity!

There are two types of MSFs. The first type is MSF Natural which come in 7 shades, are completely matte and used as a finishing powder to set and fix foundation.

Medium Dark MSF Natural, Dark Natural & Shimmer MSF


Medium Dark MSF Natural

These MSFs are part of the permanent collection and probably the least domed of all my MSFs because I use it almost all the time.

Dark Natural & Shimmer MSF

This is a limited edition MSF Natural which comes with its own chunk of shimmer. The shimmer is SO pigmented but a bit too frosty to use on its own. But with a little bit o' this and a little bit o' that they make a pretty little mix!

And the remaining MSFs are limited edition (except Gold Deposit and Soft & Gentle, the only 2 permanent MSFs)

Petticoat, Soft and Gentle, Triple Fusion MSFs

(The labelling of the swatches of Petticoat + Soft & Gentle should actually be the other way around!)


Petticoat MSF

'Petticoat' is a pale rose with gold and amber veining. Probably the most beautiful veining of all my MSFs and although it's limited edition and hard to find I'm pretty sure you can still order it from the MAC website online. Although its described as "Pale rose" its quite dark with a beautiful amber sheen.

Soft And Gentle MSF

Described as a "gilded peach bronze". Its very frosty and almost the powdered version of Benefit's high beam. This is my mum's favourite hehe

Triple Fusion MSF

Part of the Color Craft collection and not as smooth in texture as the other MSFs. Its high in shimmer and frost and a lot more glittery.

Warmed, Gold Deposit, So Ceylon MSF


Warmed MSF

Golden Bronze with light yellow gold veining. It's a beautiful golden peach on the skin with minimal glitter but a pretty little sheen!

Gold Deposit MSF

Soft reflective golden bronze. This is also chunkier than other MSFs and higher in glitter which means it should be used in moderation - part of the permanent collection.

So Ceylon MSF

Pink bronze with a gold amber veining. One of the famous MSFs but surprisingly not one of my favourites. Its very rosey and quite pink for a bronze based MSF but another one of mother's favourites :)

This is probably the fastest I've updated, why? Because:

1. I am capped and with these pictures already uploaded into a post I decided to finally post it since nothing else will load.
2. In 5 days I will be off to Fiji!

Back to old habits

Four more NARS compacts later and I realize... the amount of blush I have is ridiculous, the amount I spend on makeup is ridiculous and the only thing I can see in my near future is being diagnosed with compulsive hoarding...

So on my list of New Year's Resolutions will be: To only buy makeup once I've hit pan (I'm aware that this rule will be tweaked through the course of the year but ..eh, I tried.)

But with one category of cosmetics aside, I've been won over by the fresh handmade cosmetics of LUSH. I've drifted in and out of interest with LUSH in the past but I fell back into relapse when one of my best friends, Fiona, let me have a big ol' whiff of her Snow Fairy lip balm.

I gave LUSH a visit, bought some soaps, recieved some samples and we literally spent a whole night watching LUSH hauls on the tube and discussing bubble bars and bath ballistics. Next thing you know, I'm a sworn LUSH fanatic and seeing that one of my new faves in blog world has already fallen into the same ordeal (yes jenny, that is you, hah!) just reassures me that it's okay, spending this much on soaps and such is not that ridiculous ....and I am not alone hahaha.

So I mentioned in my January 1st post that I had a few LUSH things to discuss, I haven't actually got to use them all yet so the best I can do for now is pictures and scent descriptions which is kind of hard because everyone interprets scents differently. I guess this will be "useless-LUSH-rave" for short.

Honey I washed the kids
Is meant to calm sore, sensitive epidermis with rich aloe vera lather to leave the skin feeling smooth. It's LUSH's best selling soap and the scent is described as "sticky toffee and honey with hints of bergamot and orange". I can't smell the bergamot or orange and the smell of "sticky toffee and honey" is really slight, it kind of smells like hardened caramel. The honeycomb top smells a bit sweeter than the rest of the soap but the sweet smell is very subtle. See what I mean by it's hard to describe the scents? haha

Rockstar
Is meant to give a "creamy candy bath" and smell like "sweet, vanilla perfume" but it actually smells exactly like Red Skins! Like sweet raspberry candy and the scent is amazing in the shower. I sliced a chunk to use as hand soap and now I can't stop smelling my hands.. how very lady-like! :P

Vanilla in the mist
There are actually black streaks on top of the soap which are meant to be "real vanilla pods, from the vanilla orchid, dried, crushed and fragrant." The scent should have a dash of coconut and tonka but I think it smells exactly like coconut. Sweet, soapy, coconut.

Ice Blue
Is meant to wake you up in the morning and leave a "peppermint lather" on your skin but it's very minty, kind of smells like toothpaste. I hate the smell of toothpaste.

Sea Vegetable
Has a crust layer of sea salt and black pieces of arame seaweed which should nourish and revive dull skin and "give it the scent of the seaside". LUSH describes the scent as lavender and lime oils but it's sort of like minty menthol.

My LUSH Hitlist for 2010 (in no particular order) so far will be:
1. Porridge
2. Sultana of Soap
3. Butter Ball
4. Chox Away
5. Angels on Bare Skin
6. Snow Fairy Shower Gel
7. Cupcake face mask
8. Ma Bar Bubble Bar
9. Sunny Side Bubble Bar
10. Honey I Washed the Kids solid perfume
11. Mask of Magnaminty
12. Dream Cream

So, the main reason for my lack of updates was because my parents had taken their camera on their Vietnam/Taiwan trip but they're back now! I actually just picked them up from the airport this morning.

Even though I told my mum didn't know what I wanted from Taiwan.. I think she sort of picked up on my fascination with studded things - the amount of studs on the shoes is a bit ludicrous but it was a sweet gesture and it made me laugh haha thankyou mother! She also bought a couple more Fendi goodies from Duty Free for herself. My favourite of her Fendis was her Black Chef Med Boston but she was using it for the day so I'll snap a picture next time.

This entry took forever to do, my brother is downloading Avatar and my laptop is about to have a meltdown. Avatar by the way, is one of the best movies ... ever.

P.S A little side note for those who made it to the end of this entry - Bardot will be having FINAL REDUCTIONS of all sale items starting Tomorrow (Tuesday 12th Jan) we're taking 20% off ALL sale stock! Have fun and ciao bellas! xx

2010

7:00am on New Years Eve and I was up at work manually counting and restocking all the full priced items before opening time. About three coffees and eight hours later I drove home to prep up the house for a night of food, friends and $400 worth of fireworks - it was a blast!

Thankyou to all those who came and Happy New Year to all!
Here's what the boyf managed to capture from our little fireworks display in my backyard. I actually deleted this video from my memory card by accident the next morning and wonderful Marcus helped me recover it - Thankyou!

Amy & Amelia - we wish you were here!

Just bought a few LUSH goodies so I'll be back to normal posts from here on (like it mattered haha)

Polaroid update

Happy 2 years and 7 months babe.

We made a gingerbread house last week to practice before Christmas day, can't wait till Friday!

have a safe and happy Christmas all!

xxx

You crazy bafoon!

Anise cropped top, Bardot Piper frill jacket, Bardot Pretty Punk Tank

Extended trading hours commenced this week as well as our $30 sale on dresses and a whole lot of pizzazz in the sales rack so drop by Bardot and join the hussle and bussle! Gosh, I've turned into a retail spruikazilla!

And when it's busy it means more work outfits which probably will make do for any hauls from now on.. buying clothes from the store means doubling them as work outfits and now I find myself passing shops that I'd normally enter (urgh, such a sacrifice!). I haven't had the urge to buy things but I find myself having to for the sake of work, which sounds like a pleasure but sometimes - it's a pain ($$$)!

Cinderbox jacket ($89.95), Holey Moley tank (SALE! $19.95)

Space junk maxi dress ($119.95)

Piper Frill jacket ($89.95) , Pretty Punk tank ($59.95)

Night Owl Jacquard (SALE! $29.95), Monaco Panel Skirt ($69.95)

I've also picked up a few more cubes for things that found no place on the chrome stand.

Housekeeping time! Not much to do but I have some time to spare for answers :)

Annie: Hehe, you have an uber cute smile. Have you had braces before? :)
Why hello fellow Annie! No I've never had braces before but I think I might need them in the near future :( my front teeth on the bottom row are being pushed inwards by the sneaky little wisdom teeth that will soon be peering from the tiny space left on my gums. Gah, dreading their arrival!

Anonymous: Hey Annie, woudl you be able to tell me what is the brand of your friend's camera? I love the quality of the photos!

I love her camera too! Hopefully next year I can cash in my next few paycheques for a new snapper! Her camera is a Samsung st500

Anonymous: hey annie is that black top from bardot a one top or like a singlet and something else? how much was it, since u work there eheh :) do u get good discounts??
Hello Anonymous :) the black Pretty Punk top is actually one top, the singlet inside was mine so I'm sorry for the misleading picture! I've reposted pictures of it with all the prices and yes I do get a discount on the clothes (but not as much as the full-timers, if only!)


Anonymous: Hey annieo, just wondering if you can help me out! LOL I just wanted to know what your getting your boyfriend for christmas, i'm absolutely clueless of what to get my boyfriend, his 18

Funny thing is I was just about to post up a question asking for xmas pressie ideas for the boyf! I had a plan to save up for things he really wanted and used, like part of his home entertainment system. But he's bought his own and it's better than what I could've given him - so that idea has gone down the gutter! He has said he wants a few things from IKEA, even though he thinks I won't be able to afford the things he wants I'm willing to cash in my next few paycheques and if anything get him a belated pressie - one that he'll make use of! Last year I got him a DVD player, the three seasons of Family Guy he didn't have and a Mossimo belt. Other pressies I've given him has just been things like Lacoste shoes, belts, jackets, shirts, Nintendo DS - guy presents are so difficult! This year I'm clueless :(

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.