Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Digital Playground

I have stumbled into the ecstatically wonderful artworks created by one miss Sara Blake aka ZSO.  A New Yorker with a gosh darn talent for creating beautiful art.  An Art Director, Illustrator and Designer.  She recently had her first solo gallery here in Sydney Australia at the Friends Of Leon Gallery

Her works are breathtakingly good, the kind of stuff you look at...look at again... and again... and again and just want to keep staring at it, get my drift?


Please do yourself a favour.  Check out her website HERE and then her BLOG and bookmark it, save it into your favourites as you will be hooked and won't want to miss a beat in this incredible artists career.


Also check out Sara's gorgeous body art HERE as featured on one of my favourite tattoo websites INK BUTTER - she is simply stunning

x

Monday, October 18, 2010

inside out

So how's your skin these days?  Mine is on the up and up, so far so good! 

My very dear friend is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to health; nutrition, healthy living and general well being.  Here are best ways to keep  you feeling great and in achieving and keeping your skin, youthful, glowing and healthy.

Regular exercise and daily dietary decisions are instrumental in creating beautiful, youthful and healthy skin!


The skin is an outward reflection of inner health, the development of skin conditions suggests overall health of the body is compromised and that organ congestion and nutrient imbalances have developed. Balance can be re-established by nourishing the body with fresh, clean wholefoods and supplements, enjoying regular exercise and achieving an appropriate work/life balance.

Top tips for beautiful healthy skin in addition to your daily beauty care routine:

1. Foods that feed the skin include beetroot, berries, brown rice, carrots, garlic, green leafy vegetables, paw paw, quinoa, raw nuts, sweet potato, turmeric


2. Hydrate the skin by drinking at least 1.5 litres of water daily


3. Choose unrefined, whole foods.


4. Protect yourself from the sun - especially between the hours of 11am and 3pm


5. Manage stress - use relaxation techniques as coping mechanisms to help prevent stress-related breakouts


6. Avoid touching your face, even at night


7. Use mineral powders instead of heavy foundations


8. Regularly clean makeup applicators


9. NEVER squeeze blemishes

10. Always remove makeup before going to bed

The Australian Heart Foundation has some amazing information on healthy living, eating and understanding fats & cholesterol. I highly recommend taking a look at the website, especially for the amazing RECIPE COLLECTION for meal planning, ideas and recipes to get you on your way to..... Healthy eating = healthy heart!



Tuesday, October 12, 2010

skin deep

During my trip I was kind of stoked because my skin held up really well with having no breakouts.  I put it down to the fact I was just completely relaxed and having a good time, no stress or crap to bring on the wrath of the zit.
However after drinking every day, and eating the American cuisine for so long, when I got home things started to go sour. I admit, my bad holiday habits didn't die off when I got home.  I was eating crap, drinking a lot of alcohol, partying and not drinking nearly as much water as I am supposed to.
After about two weeks of being home I started to pay for it, really bad.  My skin has had the worst breakout in years.  I am an absolute Nazi when it comes to clean skin too, so it is definitely not my cleansing routine, as I have a strict regime I follow twice a day.
Last week I decided I had had enough.  No more breakouts, no more weight gain, no more shit that makes you feel shit, I'm over it!
So the detox started last week, 7 days of no meat, wheat, dairy, caffeine, sugar, processed foods - you get the drill.  It has been surprisingly easy and I'm happy and relieved that I am getting back into my healthy(ish) lifestyle.  
This was to help boost my skin from the inside out, and to get my brain retrained into its good habits.  NOW for the outside.  The best, and I mean BEST zit zapping products I have ever tried, eeevveeeerrr! I am so excited to tell you about 

I have not bought the cleanser or moisturiser yet as I am not ready for new products but I got this amazing Spot Gel.  It is an antibacterial, anti inflammatory and fast acting.  It inhibits acne causing bacteria and soothes the zits when applied.  You can actually feel it working, it has this amazing comforting tingle.  I just squeeze a little to the back of my hand, then dab onto the spots required and rub in gently. I do this after a cleanse, tone moisturise (every morning and night).  It contains Peroxide, Witch Hazel, Kaolin Clay, Canadian Willowherb, an NO alcohol so you don't get dry spots!  This is a God Send, where have you been all my life!?
After that treatment I then apply the Medicated Concealer. It contains Salicylic Acid, Canadian Willowherb, Aloe and Green Tea.  Another God Send.  Use this on your spots  under your foundation and seriously those little buggers will start to disappear!

I can't say enough how brilliant these products are, and I am excited to try the other products from the range when I am due to stock up.  Dr Lewinn's has always been a revolutionary in skin care. The products DO NOT contain Alcohol, Parabens, Soaps, Fragrance, Artificial colours, just the wonderful high concentration of active botanicals.  SO my fellow skin challenged friends, go get yourself some - get amongst it!
x

Monday, October 11, 2010

sketch sky high

Katie Gallagher has totally caught my eye and is one chick to watch out for.  A New York based designer with a gift for creating stories from her art honing in on mood, personality and attitude. Check out her fashion range for Spring Summer 2011 HERE (loving the makeup!)

METAL
DRESS BUILT FROM HANDMADE
STEEL & ALUMINUM SPRINGS


Check out this vid to see Katie at work, for her SS11 showing... Fashion, hair and makeup oh my!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

up from below

More from the USA... my Non-Beauty buys:

Orange suede vintage ankle boots, purchased from Orange Peel boutique in Jackson Mississippi

Kimchi Blue & Ecote Silk dresses from Urban Outfitters Baton Rouge Louisiana

5 undies for $25! From Victoria's Secret Beverly Hills
As well as cd's Arcade Fire - The Suburbs and The National - High Violet $11.99 ea (bargains!) Best Buy New Orleans. My Elvis Cook Book from Graceland, Guess Sunglasses, Guess Handbag, and a bunch of tees from Citadel East LA plus a bunch of other random stuff
 


Best Eats
Blues City Cafe on Beale St Memphis Tennessee. Seafood Gumbo followed by Cajun Shrimp then Apple Dumpling for dessert. Get some South in your mouth! The food and service here was freakin awesome 






The Chimes Restaurant Baton Rouge Lousisiana Cajun crumbed Aligator Tail and crab meat stuff jalapenos 








Buffalo Wild Wings, Jackson Mississippi. 6 Carribean Jerk chicken wings and Salad 

La Salsas Santa Monica Promenade. 3 xTacos with beans and rice, gotta love the condiment selve service bar, yuuum great for a hangover







Backyard BBQ McComb Mississippi - best Ribs ever
 

Weirdest Food
Pinks Chili Dog.  I prefer Hot Dogs without the Chili.  Apparently there is meat in that Chili, but I beg to differ!










The New Orleans Muffaletta... picture speaks for itself





x

Friday, October 8, 2010

Make my day

Shopping shopping shopping.  I didn't go nuts but what I did buy was gold.  Some items I truly love that I would never have been able to get here or if I did, they'd be triple the cost! My faaaavouite stores clearly would be Sephora and Urban Outfitters.  I am absolutely in love with these stores.  Sephora sadly don't ship to Oz, but alas, Urban Outfitters do!  This is the BEST news ever haha and I have already put an order in since being home.

my best beauty buys from ol' US of A are...

1) Korres Watermelon Tinted Moisturiser

This product was my saving grace.  One of the 1st items I bought on my trip.  From Sephora at Westfield Culver City. Being summer in the states, and HOT I didn't want to wear much makeup but still wanted to be protected and even my skin tone.  This is SPF 30+ and the colour is great (sand), the texture smooth and so quick to put on.  Staying with boys for 2 weeks the last thing I wanted was to be in the bathroom all morning getting ready so I'd whack this on plus some eye makeup and was always ready for my closeups ;) 

2) Urban Decay Naked Palette
When it came to eye shadows, I went empty handed because this was something I knew i'd stock up on.  I had no idea on the hype surrounding this particular product, simply bought it because it was rad and good value.  Now its in high demand and people are frothing over it. This little palette contains 12 shades that work from day to night, stay on forever and have great colour payoff - winner!

3) Noir Tease by Victoria Secret
Eu De Parfum & Body Lotion
Sweet and sexy!  I fell in love with this scent when I was at Victoria Secret Culver City but didn't buy it.  When I went into the store in Beverly Hills 3 weeks later,  it was a nice surprise to find out the full size body lotion came free with the perfume, scoooore!

4) Nars Laguna/Orgasm duo
I'd being dying to get my hands on this but refused to pay over $70 here in Australia for it.  So for a tidy $39 I picked one up. A natural non orangey bronzer (a winner in the makeup world) with a sweet subtle pink peach blush, what more do you need huh?

5) Laura Mercier Mineral Powder
love it, but on par with most other mineral powders out there.  Was great to use over the top of my foundation or tinted moisturiser

Stay tuned for my Non Beauty Buys and the Best Eats!
x

Thursday, October 7, 2010

God Bless America

It's been forever since I've been on here blaaaaa I have a million excuses but who cares.
So anyway America was good to me.  It was amazing, the people are the friendliest and most well mannered, caring people.  I have zero complaints and can't wait to go back.

What I got up to:


Chevelle & Sevendust playing for Carnival of Madness
 Cajun Dome Layfayette Louisiana

House Of Blues New Orleans

I have so much love for old Nola


Republic, by far the best club I've ever been to. Good times :)

Shopping at Rennaisance in Jackson Mississippi 


McComb Mississippi 

playing with a 12gauge 

 Graceland  Memphis Tennessee
   

Elvis's luxury car collection

Sun Studios

Beale St Memphis
 Blues City Cafe best meal eveeeer 
 

Santa Monica Pier 
 

Beverly Hills 

Cinema Makeup School LA 

Citadel Outlet Mall East LA