SAMSUNG CSCHere’s the goodies I was loving last month…

 Mac Prep n’ Primer Lip Primer – This was a gift from a very thoughtful friend. A primer for your lips. Blinkin’ genius, who would have thought? You simply apply the hydrating lip balm-like product, wait a few moments, apply your lippy on top…. Boom! No more bleeding or feathering lipstick. My lippy definitely lasts longer with this clever product.  A must have item to party proof your makeup for the upcoming holiday season!
Where to buy: From a Mac store. NZ$25

M488007_183192661873146_1703594608_nac Bronze eyeshadow – I bought this halfway through November in desperation with fingers crossed that it would be the right shade! You see, I’ve been looking for the perfect bronze eyeshadow for my skin tone for ages. I thought I nailed it with Mac Woodwinked (too orange). So then I got Patina (too pale).  So I got Mac Mulch (too brown).  I got both Urban Decay Naked Palettes. Nope, lots of great colours, no bronze.  You think it would be simple to find just one bronze shade that I could swipe all over my eyelids, blend up into the crease and I’d be done? Shouldn’t be too hard, right? Hmmmm. Anyway, then I found Mac Bronze. Too obvious really.  *Contended sigh*. It’s love. I adore this eyeshadow so much that I’ve kicked to the curb my rule of not wearing the same eye makeup in a week (hey, it keeps life exciting)… I wore Bronze three days in a row last week. Four days the week before.  It must be love.  Here’s a pic on the right of how it looks in person.  This shade looks gorgeous on blue eyes too (I’ve tried it out on a few blue-eyed babes).
Where to buy: From a Mac store.  Price NZ$38.

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil (black) – Oh, I do enjoy cheap beauty finds!  This was $10 from Kmart and it’s a little ripper.  It’s waterproof, stays all day and blends out beautifully.  If you haven’t tried Rimmel, take a closer look, their products are really affordable and the more I try of their range, the more I like!
Where to buy: Kmart, Farmers (though not all stock Rimmel) for NZ$10.  Or online at ASOS for $NZ6.70 with free postage…

Flowerbomb –  I’m naughty:  This was an impulse purchase whilst Christmas shopping (does anyone else always end up buying themselves stuff when Christmas shopping for other people?!). Hot Hubby told me off: He was going to buy it for me for my birthday. Opps.  This is my third bottle of Flowerbomb and it’s my favourite scent ever. Funny story, I got my first bottle after my brother told me to check it out, he’d caught a whiff on a girlfriend and knew I’d love it!  This has quite a sweet smell and has notes of jasmine, orchid, freesia, underlined with patchouli.

SAMSUNG CSCT2 Melbourne Breakfast Tea – My bestie introduced me to this last year and it’s my favourite ever tea, big claim, I know. It’s a black tea with a smattering of vanilla and I love it with a teeny splash of milk and to leave the tea bag in while I drink it!  I need a whinge though – T2, who are one of Australia’s leading tea retailers set up shop in Auckland’s Queen Street earlier this year but their ‘systems don’t allow them to ship within NZ’. In other words, unless you are Auckland based or have a friend that visits the City of Sails (thank you Karla!), if you want to experience the Greatness of T2 you need to order it in from Aussie and pay international shipping to get it to NZ.  Dumb. Yes, I’ve emailed and had a moan (I’m still waiting on a reply!).  All of this ridiculousness doesn’t stop me loving it though.

Where to buy: T2 website, or in store in Auckland on Queen Street. Price: AUD$28 for 60 bags

Asparagus: I look forward to asparagus season all year, it’s my favourite vegetable, there is no competition.  My favourite ways to eat asparagus are: In this yummy quiche that I blogged about;  Wrapped in bacon and dipped in parmesan and baked (recipe here); Steamed to go in a salad, along with bacon, a soft boiled egg and homemade (guilt-free) croutons (recipe is here).  I also adore it cooked to perfection on the BBQ (ideally finished off with a little citrus salt).

imageAvocado Dressing: This recipe popped up a few weeks ago on Low Carb Healthy Recipe’s Facebook page and I knew it was going to be good (although I adapted it slightly as I can never resist).  Biff the following ingredients in a jug:   1 large avocado, 3 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 cup natural (unsweetened) yogurt or sour cream, 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/4 c lemon flavoured olive oil and 2 crushed garlic cloves.  Blend with a stick mixer.   Use in place of wherever you’d use a salad dressing or mayonnaise (amazing as a dip with prawns). Delicious.

 

What are you loving at the moment?