Funny/Interesting/Awesome (20/3/15)

Getting ready for the weekend? I know I am!


1. Geneva from A Pair and A Spare has this unconventional yet gorgeous DIY backless top to try!

2. For all you perfume addicts out there: this is what your 'amber' perfume is actually made of.

3. I love this image of the moon Prometheus against a backdrop of Saturn's rings - it truly shows a glimpse of the beauty of our solar system.

4. It's a fact that can be hard to swallow at times, but we are far from invulnerable as a species. Will humans last forever?

5. A great read for a slow day, with the usual mix of humour and sarcasm of a Cracked article: 5 bits of "common knowledge" science has disproved (as usual, nsfw).

6. Some helpful hints from College Fashion if you think you dress like you're stuck in a black and white film.

7. As if honey wasn't awesome enough already (especially on toast!), here's why you should incorporate honey into your beauty routine.

8. This is TOO ADORABLE! How to plant succulents in in eggshells (and I bet they would make great gifts - who wouldn't want a tiny plant in an eggshell?!)

9. What a cool idea: throw confetti in some clear balloons for a cheap and easy party decoration!

10. The age old adage: where there is a cat, there will be a box...


Happy Friday!

Review: Toni&Guy Glamour Spritz and Shine Liquid Mousse (and a new haircut!)

Quite recently, I had a haircut. I'm not one to hold sentiments over the length of my hair, so I simply showed my mum some pictures (she has hairdressing qualifications) and 2 hours later, I had a new lob! Of course, with shorter hair comes different ways of styling it. In this area, I will admit my newbiness - with my longer hair, I would at most spray a little hairspray into the roots to give it some volume... and that's it, because I have very thick and heavy straight hair that will not hold a curl no matter how much I threaten it with a hot tool. Thus, I had resigned myself to wear my hair straight for the rest of my life.

Now that my hair is no longer so heavy, I decided to try using products to give it some pizazz. Off I went to the nearest Priceline (which happened to be in Town Hall, Sydney) and came across this:

Source: TONI&GUY

This is the TONI&GUY Glamour Spritz and Shine Liquid Mousse. At first, it was hard to find because its light yellow packaging kind of blended in with the shelves. But I had read great reviews about it online, and it was on sale for $5.00 so I snatched it up, brought it home and tried it on my hair... to my disappointment.


Here's my hair before:

And after:

As you can see, there is a very slight wave to my hair... but that's about it. I was hoping for something more defined, because I scrunched like hell. Oh, how I scrunched. Unfortunately, that made barely any difference to my adamant hair, and in fact, even gave me a little frizz.


THE VERDICT:

- Packaging: Quite nice. I really like the soft pastel colour, and the can's paint had a texture that was nice to touch.
- Product: It would work better on someone with finer hair than mine. However, it just left my hair greasy when I tried putting in more.
- Smell: Not very pleasant to me. Some may like it, but it smells very similar to my brother's hair gel which I'm not a big fan of. Kind of smells like deodorant.
- Longevity: Very good; it lasted over two days in my hair, and if you want to revive it, all you need to do is dampen your hair with a bit of water and reshape.

Overall, it would be a good product for someone with thinner hair that already has some wave to it (and isn't so damn stubborn) as not much product would be needed.


Of course, this is just my own personal experience. By no means is this product bad; it just means it isn't right for my hair (not that I blame it - Asian hair is notoriously hard to style). At the end of the day, I wouldn't buy it again, but I still have a whole can to go through. Let's see how that goes, eh?

What's in my bag?

They say you can tell a woman by the contents of her bag... Whether that's true for me, I don't know. I like to consider myself a low-fuss kind of girl. I usually don't carry makeup with me, as I don't wear much anyway. More often than not, my bag will be stuffed with exercise books and papers, since I'm a full-time student. I used to be one of those people who carried her whole life with her - bandaids, drawing supplies, novels for when I was bored, a jacket in case I got cold, pencil case, extra shoes in case the pair I was wearing somehow broke - but that got a little heavy (and really did my back in) so this year I pared down the contents of my bag to the bare essentials.

I've always been a big fan of minimalism, so I love the look of this bag. It's a smooth black leather tote that I ordered off taobao when I was in China (cheaper shipping, baby). I'm aiming to cut out even more of my items one day - maybe a smaller wallet, or just having a tablet instead of bring a notepad and pens. Anyway, here's what is in my bag:


1. Hair ties: I have chemistry lab twice a week, and anyone who has ever been near a Bunsen burner knows just how quickly hair can catch fire...

2. Earbuds: Morning commute is a boring obligation we must all go through at least once. To make my 45 minute train ride bearable, I listen to some music while I read my notes (or sleep) on the train.

3. Notepad: Any writer's best friend. You can be waiting for the light to turn green when you're suddenly hit with an idea as fleeting and beautiful as a rainbow. I'm always looking for something to scribble on.

4. Sunglasses: Sydney is bright. Very bright. This pair is by Collette Dinnigan, one of my favourite Australian designers. They're so massive that they protect my cheeks as well, which is awesome - my cheeks get sun burnt very quickly.

5. Phone: For the obvious. Also, Candy Crush.

6. Wallet: My wallet holds money for my coffee. That's the only requirement I have of it.

7. Tablet: The most important thing in my bag. I use it to download my lecture notes, catch up on blogs, surf the web, draw - it's super convenient. Also, Candy Crush.

8. Keys: To get in and out of the house. I hate having to break into my own home.

9. Pens: To write with. Also, to have something to click when feeling anxious.

10. Calculator: Most of my classes involve calculus and other nasty things. Calculators are a must if you don't want to badger the person next to you for answers.


What items do you have in your bag?

Funny/Interesting/Awesome (13/3/15)

Hello lovelies! Another week, another Friday...


1. While photography is an endeavour everyone should try at least once in their lives, it is important to be aware of your surroundings when you are chasing that perfect shot. These are some great tips on how to stay safe when shooting travel photography.

2. Reddit, as well as being the bottomless pit of the internet when it comes to cat pictures, sometimes gives a useful insight into what other people are thinking: "What is a social norm you feel is outdated?"

3. I love this transformation! Read about how this couple turned an unwanted bedroom into a cosy library.

4. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Asap Science explains the biology behind your sleep preferences (and why I'll probably nocturnal forever. Sad face).

5. Here's an awesome game that tests your geography knowledge AND demonstrates how the Mercator projection affects the shapes of countries.

6. This is one trend I'm all for: Head-to-Toe Red.

7. Hmm, an interesting experiment from xoJane: is it possible to remove your online presence?

8. Thinking about bleaching your hair? Make sure you know how to NOT end up with fried hair.

9. If the weather is too cold where you are for a trip to the beach, don't worry! Here's how you can get the perfect beach waves from the comfort of your own home.

10. An Australian love story... meet Penguin, the magpie who bonded with the family who rescued her.


Happy Friday!

Outfits Inspired by The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship (Part 1)

Have I ever told you about my love for The Lord of the Rings books? My undying, to-the-moon-and-back love? They're also my favourite films ever (and yes, I cry every time Frodo says goodbye at the end of Return of the King) and no matter how long Peter Jackson makes the movies, they will never be long enough.

Unfortunately, Middle-earth will only ever stay between the pages of a book (or on a screen), but that shouldn't stop you from taking a pinch of inspiration from it. You may not want to wear Frodo's baggy trousers, or Gandalf's unwashed blanketrobes, but there are other ways of inserting a bit of fantasy in your every day life without having to resort to medieval hygiene standards!


Look 1: Gandalf

Source: imgkid.com

Gandalf is a wizard who alternates his time between advising kings and hanging with the hobbits. He has a soft spot for all living creatures, especially those as sweet and innocent as the residents of the Shire. As powerful as he is, Gandalf often prefers to err on the side of caution. His grey robes earned him the name 'Gandalf the Grey', and he is respected by both elves and men alike.

Channel Gandalf's voluminous robes with this comfy coat, sweater and jeans combo. You can even go with a pointy wizard hat if you'd like, or stay with a wool hat that's more in trend with the season. Gandalf likes to keep his hands free for his sword and staff, so wear a backpack to store all your odds and ends. Add the finishing touches to your outfit with a ring that looks like Narya, the Elven ring entrusted to Gandalf.


Look 2: Frodo

Source: Pinterest

As the unlikeliest of heroes, Frodo is tasked with the duty of carrying the ring all the way to Mordor to cast into the fires of Mount Doom. Along the way, the burden of the Ring transforms him from a bright and cheery young hobbit to one that is tortured by the Ring's power. In spite of his size and utter ineptitude with a sword, Gandalf still recognises his strength as Frodo is able to resist the Ring when greater men could not.

Frodo's outfit has a lot of earthy autumn tones, so replicate it with this red velvet dress and camel cape. The leaf earrings represent the leaf brooch Frodo wears at his throat, gifted by Galadriel. Finish off your look with these gold rings, a green bag (like his cloak), and a hint of black on your nails as a reminder of the dark power of the Ring.


Look 3: Aragorn

Source: Imgarcade.com

Aragorn is the last descendant of Isildur and the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor. He is first introduced to the hobbits as a mysterious Ranger named Strider, and as time progresses, is revealed to be a selfless leader and unrivaled commander who later leads his army into battle in order to hide Frodo from the Eye of Sauron. His love interest is Arwen, the daughter of Elrond, and he wears the Evenstar around his neck to remind him of her when they are apart.

Aragorn's look is probably my favourite out of all of the Fellowship - it features lots of dark leather and armour with a very lived-in look. Capture some of Aragorn's austerity with this all black outfit and wavy flowing locks. A replica of the Evenstar and the tree ring will hint at his roots, while the sword earrings are reminiscent of his prowess with in battle. Finally, finish your look off with a dash of red lipstick to break up all the black. 

So there are the three outfits inspired by the Fellowship. Which one was your favourite? Tune in next week for the next part of the series!

Funny/Interesting/Awesome (6/3/15)

What's that? It's Friday already? YAY!


1. If you've ever been a victim to overplucked eyebrows, here's a great guide from Vogue AU on how to get them back to normal.

2. Anyone who's ever needed to reference their research material knows how much of a pain in an ass it is. That's where this handy tool comes along to make your 3 a.m. all-nighter a little less miserable!

3. Being a chemistry student, I find this a great resource on what elements look like when they're in their pure solid/stable forms (I've also wondered what some of them taste like, because sometimes they look exactly like candy. I'm looking at you, copper sulfate).

4. Hmm... do fish drink water? The answer is both yes and no, as Scishow explains.

5. Check out this AMAZING Gem Mirror DIY from A Beautiful Mess. It totally looks like something you buy out of a store for a very pricey amount!

6. Again from A Beautiful Mess, this interesting wall hanging you can make in an afternoon.

7. Why does February have only 28 days while every other month has 30 or 31? The answer is a lot more convoluted than you may think.

8. Really loving this DIY Skateboard Shelf  from A Pair and a Spare - in fact, you can do this with any flat, long object (like a cheese board, perhaps)!

9. Don't you hate it when you try to fold up your sleeves, only to have it cut off your circulation to your arm? Refinery29 has another way to cuff your sleeves and still look as good as ever!

10. This otter can juggle better than I can...


Happy Friday!

DIY Denim Bow Tie

I don't know what's come over me, but lately I've been rather obsessed with bow ties. They imbue upon you a sense of class no other accessory can give. And who can deny something loved by both Bill Nye and the Doctor?

So here's a little DIY I did with some scrap denim I had lying around. I can't wait to wear it with my favourite button-ups!

What you'll need:

• Some denim fabric
• Matching thread and needle
• Scissors

1. Cut out two pieces, the larger one 20 x 12 cm and the smaller one 20 x 3 cm. 

2. Taking the larger piece, fold it in half with the wrong side facing out. Stitch along the open edge and then flip it back right side out.

3. Have the seam sit horizontally down the centre. This will ensure your bow looks smooth.

4. Fold the edges in towards the middle. You can glue it down, but I find that stitching in together is more secure.

5. Turn it around and pinch the middle so you get the three folds in the centre (like in the image). Stitch through the centre to secure the shape of the bow.

6. Take the smaller piece and fold it so the raw edge is hidden, then stitch or glue it flat. Wrap it around the centre of the bow, secure and cut off the excess.

There! Nice and simple. You can either attach a safety pin or ribbon to the back so you can wear it around your collar (or put it in your hair?). Then we can all be as cool as the Doctor ;)

Looking good, Matt.

Image: Variety.com