Halloween 2011 - Down Under

There's nothing as enjoyable as the squealing peals of kids on All Hallows Eve.  I cannot be too shy to say that my enthusiasm for Halloween has become a viral epidemic in my small suburb.  I have been a grubby canibal hedge witch 3 years ago, a twilight style ancient and glamorous vampire last year, but this year was declared my best performance yet.

Here I am as dead zombified Haitian witch.  I did not whiten my face too much.  Being olive skinned, I simply used a shade paler foundation and dusted plain flour over the top (as I couldn't find any cornflour in the pantry).  In the end the plain flour created a better look.  My face was a bit cracked and flaky and it made my complexion look rather coarse.  This was perfect.  Here is a list of the makeup involved in this look:

Foundation: Almay Truly Lasting Colour in Sand 06

Contouring: NYX Runway Collection in Jazz Night - Matt Black

Eyes: MAC Mystical Mist, MAC Beauty Marked, NYX Runway Collection Palette in Jazz Night, Lancome Le Crayon Kohl Waterproof Liner Pencil in Raisin Noir, W7 Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Nose: NYX Runway Collection Palette in Jazz Night - Gold (highlighting), Matt black (contouring)

Lips: MAC Creme Stick Liner in Velvetella, NYX Felt Tip Liner Jet Black, Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in 071 Pure White

The wig was a cheap $2 shop Morticia type with bright green strips (which I pulled to the back).  A full black wig would have been better.  Also, I accidentally stuck myself in the eye with a Yucca leaf in the morning, while gardening.  Funnily enough this added to the look, by making that eye horribly and naturally bloodshot!  My eyes were hideous. :-)


I hope you all looked really scary too and if you want any further info on how to create this look, let me know.

Decorating your home with style cheaply...

Can it be done?  Sometimes you think not.  Flipping through interior design magazines reveals timber floors, super high ceilings, designer lighting and ridiculously expensive furniture.  I am not a scrapbooker and keeping a look book seems nerdy to me.  I do all my researching online and simply find things at low prices.

This week I have been desperately searching for an aqua lamp base.  The cheapest I could find (when Ebay had nothing on offer) was $320!  I needed two.  So off I went to Target and found cheap and cheerful aqua lamp shades in two sizes.  With their mix and match lamp bases I varied the look but it has the same impact as what I saw in a magazine, and at only $14 each I am well ahead.

Ikea is a mate of mine.  I know that their stuff is fairly commonplace these days but I think it's how you put it together.  I wouldn't do an entire room in Ikea but there's something from there in every room in my house.  I especially like Expedit and Malm for form and function.  The colour choices are cool as well.   A large Besta storage unit saved my bacon when we moved houses.  There was nowhere for the books.  There is a ladder to reach the higher shelves and this adds a quirky and groovy feel to the family room.

My next Ikea purchases will include the following (coastal style):

Time is No Slouch

The older you get, the more work you have to put in to just looking respectable.  Old habits have to change.  A lick of lippy and a blown kiss to the mirror just doesn't cut it anymore.  The simple little knickers and a sexy bra do nothing to enhance your mystique.  Everything is heading south except your age.  I can let you in on a few godsends that make life a little easier.

1.  Tinted moisturiser - gives a light coverage and doesn't sink into pores or wrinkles, providing it is well applied.

2.  Eyeshadow as eyeliner - applied deftly under the eye provides definition without drawing attention to crows feet or bags.

3.  Primers - face and eye, help your foundation to last longer and eyeshadows stay out of creases.

4.  Concealers - there is a dizzying array on the market, yellow to mask dark circles under the eyes, green for redness and all flesh colours for general correction.

5.  Matt eyeshadow - if you have any loss of lid condition STAY AWAY FROM SHIMMER EYESHADOWS, except for highlight just under the brow.

6.  Glitter eyeliners - just for the upper lid and not too heavy.

7.  White eyeliner - on the lower water line, will make you seem far more alert than you actually are.

8.  Lip liners - are a must to make the most of your best facial feature, line lips then fill them in with the pencil and apply a matching lipstick with a brush, or lip gloss.

9.  Moist shimmer lipsticks and lip glosses - make your pout very desirable indeed.

10.  Pluck those eyebrows - a narrower line is better now, to maximise your eye area but don't over do it.

11.  FOUNDATION GARMENTS - use them... ALL THE TIME.

Remember, above all, go easy on yourself. You'll feel great when you can make yourself up and look better than you have in years.

Everything Old is New Again

The resurgence of classic pinup style for women is a welcome change from the coat hanger cut clothes designed for women with the shape of men. Blouses with darts for bust shape are now back on the racks (thank God!) and shoes are becoming round and cute.

A streak thin woman will have trouble pulling of signature pin up style. 1940s and 1950s clothing was all about the curves. Though demure in some respects, the out in out shape of the silhouette remained alluring.

It's all about the eyebrows. Perfect, pencilled and precise. Ruby lips and false eyelashes. Hoop earrings and smaller handbags. Gloves, belts and hats are back.

Embrace your womanly shape with this retro style and you'll be va va va voom wherever you go. x