Primark Haul!

It's no secret that I love a good bargain, and Primark would have to be the best known for a wide range of styles at pretty good prices. Now, some of their stuff is a bit on the iffy side, but if you check items carefully before buying (no missing buttons, straight seams, no pulled threads etc) you can pick up some neat clothes at purse-friendly prices.

Recently I was assigned back to back London flights. While I don't loooove these trips (since there is not a lot to do out near the airport, and the Tube trip can be a pain in the you-know-what) I do like the chance to pick up some goodies on the high street. (Reading UK magazines does not help to curb this addiction, lol)

On my last trip, it was cold and rainy, so I was inspired to pick up some winter woolies. Helps that currently it is 'winter' in Dubai and actually doable to wear cardis and long pants when you go to the mall or even outside.

Was happy enough to pay 16 pounds for this
snuggly cardi-scanned at 7! Win!

Wanting a black leather-look vest for ages.
Done! 15 pounds

I do love me a good graphic tee, combine it with my favourite
NYC skyscraper, cool Art Deco vibe and a 3 pound price tag- I'm sold!

Finally, who could pass up these cute Fox Sox?
Not me! Perfect, my slippers are getting daggy
and these are the most adorable replacement.

Shopping all over the world, just one of the awesome perks of my job. Love! Have you picked up any amazing buys lately? Tell me!

Glorious...

A little something I've been using a lot lately is the cutely-packaged and sweet smelling "Hand Food" by British brand Soap & Glory.

I'd used other products from their range before (mainly bath stuff) but not the hand cream. This one was actually a present from Sarah of Temporary Secretary, sent as part of a 'care package' that she posted to me full of lots of cute things!

The tube I have is in the handy travel size, and it really lasts quite awhile. I've been using it on nearly every flight since I got it a few months ago and it's only just started to run out.

The pros are it doesn't feel too greasy and you don't need a lot to get the job done. Some people who are sensitive to fragrance might not like the smell but then again that's true of most of the S&G range. However I find fragrance to be a bonus in my job as not only will it function as a hand cream but also as a 'stink shield' in the event of a smelly cabin; just a dab under my nose can get me through the worst clouds made onboard with a smile! ;P

Previously Soap & Glory was only available in the UK but I have since seen it sold at Sephora in the US and also in various locations in Oz. For my Dubai peeps who don't travel, you can buy it at most Boots outlets. (Keep an eye out for the 3-for-2 specials to get extra bang for your buck!)

Caine's Arcade

Guys, you totally have to watch this short film.

Caine is a little boy living in East L.A. His dad runs an auto parts shop. During the summer Caine decided to build some "pretend" arcade games as he loves playing them so much. Only these weren't really pretend games- they actually work. He built them using tape and cardboard packing boxes.

A man buying parts in the store happened to see Caine's homemade arcade, and the rest is history...

If you want something to smile about, if you want to remember what it was like to be imaginative when you were little, do yourself a favour and go click this link to Caine's Aracde.

This kid is so driven and determined to get what he wants, if you wish you too could buy a 'Fun Pass' you can donate towards Caine's college fund so he can become an engineer, video game maker, entrepeneur- you name it!

I haven't been impressed like this for a long time, I totally would buy a Fun Pass if I could so I sent him some money. This kid could be the next Steve Jobs! I wasn't told to post about it, some people might scoff at sending money to strangers, but I just wanted to share it with you my readers because it's simply sweet and made me smile so much!

No-burg...

Right now I'm in Johannesburg, South Africa!!!

Like me, your head might be full of lions, safari & colourful local people when you read the word "Joburg". Sadly for me, this layover has been quite uneventful.

One of my fellow crew agreed to join me and visit the Lion Park just outside the city. A few others told us they wanted to go too. As usually happens, by the time we reached the hotel, everyone but us decided they would rather sleep after our overnight flight. (Fair enough). What this meant for us though was that the cost of the ride to the lion park would cost more than our allowance once we paid for that and the entry fee to the park. My visions of cuteness in the form of white lion cubs evaporated. Darn it! My friends had been earlier in the week and had amazing photos with giraffe & lion cubs.

Had I known my ATM card was in my bag and not at home like I'd thought, I'd have just spent the whole allowance going to see the lions and used my ATM card to pay for meals. D'oh!! Hopefully next time.

Instead we walked around the hotel area and found a supermarket, stocked up on some goodies to eat during the layover and wandered around. We met a Polish man selling all sorts of yummy smallgoods. The other girl, being Polish, got us a good discount on some super yummy kransky-type sausages and we got a picture with the jolly stallkeeper and his wife. I just hope I'm allowed to bring this stuff back with me! The other crew assure me that it's legal, but I want to check just in case!

After that we wandered sleepily back to the hotel, having been awake for almost 24hours. We stopped for a few silly photos then went our separate ways. I went to the pool area to catch some sun, but didn't stay long. Sadly for me some people were being inconsiderate and had put all of their bags on the sun loungers, when they were actually sitting at a table as a group eating and not even in swimming clothes. I asked if I could use one since it didn't seem as though they were going to lounge and they said no! Considering there were only 5 lounges and one cabana (and they had all of them!) I thought it was pretty rude. Evidently so did everyone else who came after me that wanted to swim then dry off on a lounger. There was nowhere else to sit so after I finished reading my magazine I went back to my room for a nap before dinner.

Rubber duckies!!! (Not allowed to take with- boooo)

I am still there now after failing to set my alarm correctly and missing the crew for dinner. Boo. No clock in this room makes me very confused!! On the plus side, I have rubber duckies in my bath!!! :) For the rest of this layover I think I will take it easy and catch up on the sleep I missed this week. It's been a  busy one with back to back late night flights scheduled and very little sleep gotten in the daytime. Room service dinner is on the way...

Until next time Joburg!!!

Dressing Table

I don't really have a "dressing table" as such- actually a desk & drawers in my room, but a few months back I bought a set of shelves for extra storage. Here's some of the things I have sitting on top to make it pretty :)

I like to display cute things in my room.

On the left I have (out of shot) an oil burner from the Body Shop & some of their fragrance oils. My favourite two are Strawberry & Satsuma, both hard to find in Oz. Next is my In Essence candle in 'Zanzibar', a very exotic African-inspired fragrance. I'd left this behind at home and regretted it, so brought it back with me when I went home on leave. These are normally about $40 but I got this one for $20 on clearance at Priceline.

Behind the candle are two ceramc birds I picked up in Turkey. One of my favourite colours is blue and I'd noticed a little theme starting to occur of both blue and birds, so I've been consciously adding to it since I noticed the little collection begin on its own. The framed picture is by Matou En Peluche, a Sydney based illustator who is also on Twitter. I love the whimsical designs & I've also got two of her Deco Girls which I'll post about later.

It's a little hard to see but under the picture is a small square porcelain box; this was bought in Shanghai & holds some small jewellery items. The Matryoshka doll is from my trip to Prague. My O.P.I. polishes already featured in another post; the box they are sitting on is a gorgeous game board purchased in Turkey which also deserves a post of its own. I had to haggle hard to get the price down but in the end I won, very happy with this purchase!

Far right are some fragrances; a French perfume from Fragonard, Benefit 'Your Place or Mine Gina', Elle by YSL EDP, Miss Dior Cherie, a mini Lanvin and a Korean hand cream. I'm planning to post reviews about the Fragonard perfumes and the hand cream at a later date.

Finally at front is my cheap but super cute tree-print necklace. I love this to death & call it my "Lord of the Rings" necklace as it makes me think of the tree carving on the entrance to Moria. Hope you enjoyed some of the cute things that make me smile.

Have you bought anything lately, just because it was cute? Leave a comment & tell me what you got! :)

Retro Flight Bag

It's no secret that I love me some vintage, and vintage airline stuff? Even better!! I have my own mini collection of books and bags, but if you haven't been lucky enough to score a Pan Am bag like me, or aren't a fan of bidding wars on eBay, then I saw just the thing in Typo recently. They have a retro-style airline shoulder bag, complete with the white trims so classic to this type of bag.

The cool thing is, they've updated it just that little bit, by adding the iconic giant aircraft, the A380. You have no idea how tempted I was to buy this, but since I have one of the coveted Pan Am bags from the tv promos, I left it for someone else to snap up. (Post on my Pan Am adventures to come later!) I love the Typo store and always have to restrain myself from spending too much whenever I go in there. Currently I've got my eye on their thermal mugs, perfect for work! :)

(This was not a sponsored post- though if Typo wants to send me some free stuff they are more than welcome, LOL)

Cosmetic Review: Besame Classic Color Lipstick

I've been very behind with this blog post but finally I'm glad to be able to share it with you. Part of the delay was in getting some good photos that I was happy with, but the other night I finally managed to get the elements together that I wanted for the photos.



The lovely Gabriela from Besame Cosmetics sent me a 'Classic Color' lipstick to try out for myself. I'd long been an admirer of the range both for its vintage appeal and also the natural pigments- the reds of which are reproductions of the shades used in old Hollywood films. How glam! :)

Of the ingredients, Gabriela says on the website:


Formulations that I consider responsible luxury, non-toxic, natural, and beneficial to your skin, while still retaining the feel and performance of a truly luxurious product. A mix of today's cutting edge technology and some wonderful natural ingredients that have proven benefits to your skin.

Aloe, ginseng, olive oil, green tea, jojoba oil, rose waxes, lavender flower extract, avocado oil, just to name few. Ingredients that go beyond the glamour and contribute to your well being, delivering the quality that has become synonymous with Besame Cosmetics.

The lipstick arrived in my mailbox the morning I left for a trip, I was excited to try it out but had to wait until I got back. It went in my suitcase and gave me something to look forward to when I arrived at the hotel.

This version of their lipsticks comes presented in a cute velvet pouch for safekeeping. The case is a nice metal embossed with the signature chysthanthemums and the Besame name.

It is heavy enough to be substantial but not too heavy. The size is a little bit smaller than my Maybelline Color Sensational, but still plenty big enough.

The lipstick itself is in the old 'blunt bullet' shape which means you can use either the edge for lining or the blunt face for coloring. Very handy actually!



The shade I tried out is called 'Dusty Rose'. It's a nice, slightly dark pinky brown. The Classic Color comes in 12 different shades, with a good range including a coral-type for those girls who like their bright colors.



I also got a pamphlet in the package which tells a bit about some of the Besame range. The Classic Color lipstick includes Vitamin A, E & C as well as aloe and green tea. I definitely noticed this when I tried it out. Felt very moisturising, but not too shiny or slippery- almost like a balm which is a nice change from the usual drying-out feeling I get from some other lipsticks. (The website describes the CC lipstick as "semi matte"). It also has a slight but pleasant fragrance, nothing too strong but quite soothing which I am guessing is from the aloe and other oils used in the products such as jojoba and avocado.

Photo showing me with makeup but before applying the lipstick.

The colour coverage was great; It only took one sweep to get a deep colour. While I didn't do any heavy-duty eating, I did have a drink out of a glass and while there was a little bit of transfer (usual I think with moisturising lipstick) it wasn't anything major. For me, I usually reapply after eating or drinking so personally I wouldn't find it a problem at all had it been more left.




As I don't usually wear a lipliner for everyday (non-work) wear, I tested this the same way, with just the lipstick. I didn't notice any feathering, even though the colour is quite dark on me. I hate it when my lipstick feathers so this was a plus for me. I think for a deep red a liner would be a good idea anyway, but for this shade it wasn't really necessary.



Another way I tried this lipstick was to put it on & then blot some of the colour away, leaving more of a stain and then some gloss on the top for a more understated look. I liked this method for times when I didn't want so much colour. For night time wear, I'd probably wear it right out of the tube. The only negative would be if you don't like a lipstick that's not matte. In which case one of the other formulas might suit you better. For me, I don't like totally matte so this is a nice compromise.

Overall, I really liked this lipstick, and when payday allows will be getting one of the reds for work. =)

Currently the Classic Color is available to purchase online for $22USD. Considering the packaging I think this is very reasonable. In Australia, the Maybelline I used everyday retails between $12-16AUD and my L'Oreal between $22 to $30AUD. Those are lipsticks I don't know the ingredients of and also with plastic packaging. Besame Classic Color comes in a very attractive tube which is more substantial and an accessory in itself!

(For those of you who are eco-conscious, metal tubes are great for re-using once your colour is done- just Google for how to re-make your lipstick using the tubes)

Overall, I was very happy with the product and think any girl would love to have a little bit of glamour back in her makeup bag, without breaking the bank.

Thanks Gabriela!

Be sure to check out the Besame website as there are some cool instructional videos and other vintage-styled makeup products that might be just what you're looking for to complete your look.



(Note: In the interests of transparency; my Classic Color was sent to me as a gift from Besame Cosmetics. All views are my own and aside from the product gift I was not paid for my review. You should read my review in conjunction with the Besame website to decide if this product is right for your personal circumstance.)

Makeup: Cover Girl Advanced Radiance Foundation in Buff Beige, CG Eyeshadow Quad in Country Woods, CG TruBlend Minerals Powder Compact in #2 Creamy Natural, Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara in Black & Besame Cosmetics Classic Color Lipstick in C212 Dusty Rose.

Tick Tock...

Since my last post I've done two trips; one to Manchester and one to New York. Of course I took lots of pictures in New York, so a post for that will be following shortly. Manchester was fairly quiet but still worthy of a post so hopefully I will be able to write about that on my next days off.

Of course the big news this week was the floods in Brisbane. It's been quite surreal to see something like this happening in my own country, albeit only on tv. It almost doesn't seem real, but for the emails & Facebook posts from my friends from and in Brisbane.

Luckily the worst of it seems to be over, but the cleanup will take a long time. Now I've logged onto Google and seen that Victoria is now under threat of flooding. Actually, some areas are already cut off by floodwaters. What on earth is going on???

As the authorities are asking for us NOT to donate physical goods at this time, I made a small donation online today. This is the most immediate need- financial aid to get the recovery & cleanup efforts starting immediately. Material supplies aside from food can come in later on. I'm planning to sort out some of my things in storage when I go home on leave and donate the excess. I also have a large stash of hotel toiletries which I collected during the flooding in Pakistan last year, but by the time I got back from my trip the company had asked for no more as they had received more than they could handle. Hopefully I can take them with me when I go on leave, or get someone taking a Brisbane flight to take them for me.

If you want to make a donation too (however small or large) go HERE- every bit helps!!!

I'll leave you with a photo of the retro airplane clock I bought on my travels... cute no??

Read At Your Own Risk...

Seriously.

I don't know if it's the writing, the deviousness or the hilarious cartoons, but this is one of THE funniest blogs I've seen in a long time.

Hyperbole And A Half

You'll laugh 'til you die. I'm not kidding, I woke up my roommate.

Do not miss 'God of Cake'.