Haul: Victoria's Secret, Lorna Jane, Glassons & Dotti

Hi everybody!

Gosh, it's been about two weeks since I last posted which is really, really bad for the readership and everything else, but in all honesty, I have spent these two weeks in New Zealand (without internet!! YAY!) which is quite crazy and it's been wonderfully magical. If you haven't been to New Zealand...I can't even...it's the most magical place I have ever possibly been in my life; from Hobbiton (The actual set where Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was filmed - it's so beautiful, just out of Auckland) to ice-climbing, to Queenstown (jet skiing, relaxing by a picturesque lake, and white water rafting) to star gazing at 2 in the morning, it was all in all amazing.

But, aside from the amazing touristing around New Zealand, I did find myself wandering some shops (mostly in Queenstown), and I did buy some stuff here and there so I thought I'd do a little haul for everybody who is interested!

As you probably know if you have ever travelled internationally, at the airport, there is a shopping area which consists of duty and tax free buys, so naturally, this is just kind of a spider's web for me. Because in Sydney city, we don't have Victoria's Secret, but yet at the airport, we do, I popped into the old lingerie shop and did a bit of snooping, buying some undergarments which I won't post on the website because I think it may be a tad awkward if I do. I also bought a phone case for my iPhone which I got at Christmas (my world is just finally upgrading itself in the technological world hah!).

I actually bought another phone case off a shop on Etsy but it never arrived (which fluffed my feathers a fair bit), so I sent a bit of an obstinate and slightly ill-mannered (ahem*) email to the seller about contracts and all that, and if they don't reply back, I'll be emailing Etsy...(ANYWAY!! Way off topic there!)

I got the case. It stood out to me because I wanted something quite girly, but not too over the top extremely superficial girly. I thought the stripes were quite pleasant, as well as quite minimalist. The other case had an Eiffel tower and some other crazy knickknacks on it. Though expensive, I'm expecting this to be good quality and to last a fair while.

Next was Lorna Jane (which I actually bought several weeks ago in Sydney, so not part of the whole NZ thing but anyhow). I bought this very snazzy backless gym top. If you've seen my New Year's resolutions, of course one of the goals would be to lose that smidge of weight so I thought I'd go hard core and buy a jogging elliptical top to do my intense workouts in.

I love the blue. I think it's such a beautiful and fresh and also quite summery colour. The material is fabulous as it's quite thin, elastic and would be very easy to wash and quick to dry. I love the design on the back as well. The open back gives it that little bit of sexy-happy-to-be-wearing-this kind of feeling.

The only thing I'm slightly concerned about is either my clumsiness to mix the blue with the whites and turn all my whites turquoise (this happened the other week! Eugh...). Because it is such an intense and bright blue colour, I'm a bit nervous about washing it firstly because like I said before, I don't want to colour to drain onto other garments, and secondly, because I think (like jeans), the colour will fade.


I also bought another one, but I don't have it with me at the moment thus, I couldn't get a picture of it, but the second one is a closed back, more loose and baggy bright fluorescent pink. (Just something happy to be working out in!)

I came across this very neat little coloured nail polish from BYS cosmetics. It's almost a gold colour, with flakes of silver; very interesting. I love the nail polishes (I know OPI do some good ones) where it starts off one colour and then changes according to the light; so, in the dark, the polish is a very silvery colour, but then in a brighter atmosphere, it's almost gold. It's very cool indeed.

Whilst in Queenstown, I visited Glassons and got a snazzy pair of socks there. I love frills. There's something about the frills that just make me very happy and almost classy I suppose haha. The only thing about the socks is the colour. It's a burgundy colour and the frill is black so I'm actually not too sure what I can piece this with, but we'll see how it goes. I got these for about five dollars (something like that).

Also at Glassons, I found this very pretty, mauve coloured collar shirt. As you know, I'm quite fond of my collared shirts, and the detail around the bodice and the neck was very pretty - it almost has a feel for a soft and cute country style (which is very me, indeed!). I reminds me a bit of my grandparents' house!



This was a bargain for about 7 dollars. It does crease fairly easy (as it's silk) so that just means a bit of extra tender loving care towards it, but I'm cool with that! It's fairly long so I suppose one could wear it tucked into a skirt or pulled out over leggings. I actually wore it with the following pair of blue leggings and they looked quite pretty and summery!

Walking around Queenstown and peaking through the tourist souvenir shops, I came across a pair of socks. If you don't know NZ, then you wouldn't know that New Zealand is sheep-land! It is filled with thousands and thousands of sheep so these socks were a bit of a must have take home momento!

(P.s. going to speed this little rant up a bit because I fear I'm dragging on!)

We popped into a bit more of a department Myer kind of store and I got this candle. It smells like heaaaaven! It's a very Christmassy candle with cinnamon and roses and other homely scents that I quite like and it's in the shape of a very pretty rose with little golden glittery sparkles throughout the wax.

Lastly, we went into Dotti and immediately, my eye caught the leggings for 10 dollars. Because I'm a legging freak, (if you haven't realised that, then I'm doing something good), a pair of bright blue floral leggings made me very happy indeed. The colours are so bright, and it surprisingly works very well with the mauvey top above.

Pretty much, my only "con" would be that when I tried them on back at the apartment, the seams seem (heehee) to be splitting. I have no idea why they would be though, because the leggings are too big for me anyway so it's not as if my legs are bursting the edges of the leggings. They don't hug my skin so that I don't have any breathing space at all, so it tis a bit odd. Maybe it's just the quality? If so, I am a bit disappointed, especially coming from Dotti as I am a "regular" at that shop and in the past, I've been rather pleased with the quality of my garments


Anyway, I hope this is all okay for you and I hope you like what I've bought! I don't know when the next post will be (tis all a bit higgletipigglety as I've been in NZ and now I'm going away with some friends for the weekend), but tomorrow morning (Sydney time), I'll try to fit in maybe a 1930's fashion post to follow on with my 1920's one I did a few weeks back.

Hope your holidays are going well! School starts next Tuesday for me (EW!)

Xx

Lucy

5 Ways to Quickly Treat Sunburn

Hi everybody!

Oh dear, dear me...Where I live, it is that time of the year when summery dresses are out, the boats are go and the sun creeps up to a blazing 45 degrees Celsius by 9 in the morning, and only increases in it's ferocity until there is no better thing to do than to poddle off to the closest beach or a swimming pool.

Just read the title......."MANY DEATHS"...okay? This was
quite a few years ago though haha.

Well, I can tell you that last Tuesday in Sydney, we reached 43 degrees Celsius (that is 109 degrees farenheit), and so this is exactly what I did. These past few days, I've been associating with some serious R&R at my Dad's beach house up the coast and on this blaze of a day, I went to the beach and spent a good ten or so hours there swimming in the crystal clear, yet still slightly chilly and delightful ocean, eating a good ice-cream, and of course, soaking up the bright, hot sun.

This is Bondi Beach several years ago. Wowlycaboo

Sounds like the perfect day? Not quite. You see, it's days like these that one just happens to forget to wear a certain cream that later that day, one would regret not slapping it on after viewing the monstrous bright red of a sun burn on their arms and face - not to mention an increase in brown nose freckles too... Here are some terrible pictures of me feeling sorry for myself.

Weird lomocam made it look weirder than it actually is 

Damn

Today, after several painful days of awkward firetruck red burn marks, skin peeling and a regretfully painful story to tell my father when he saw, I've decided to put together a post on 5 Ways to Quickly Treat Sunburn for all those who, like me, have again decided not to "waste" several minutes of our lives that could save us from that burning feeling, and potentially skin cancers too. So...without further ado:

1. Ice on skin: Pretty basic and quite easy - not a scientific experiment involving slugs, snails and puppy dog's tails, but it does ease the pain to a bearable standard and it does get rid of some of the red and the heat as well. Simple, easy and effective.

2. Aloe Vera: Yes, we've all heard it before but I may as well say it again. Aloe Vera prevents the peeling of the skin after the sunburn as well as cooling the burn at the same time. Unless you have your own plant (which I do recommend as the plants are easily nurtured and are quite useful when it comes to certain times like these), buying it can get quite pricey considering that you're basically buying goo from a plant, and be wary that sometimes they do put other things like water and alcohol to dilute the goo.

3. Black Tea...: What? Tea? Really Luceindia? Yes, tea does work wonders. A hell of a lot cheaper than Aloe, and a tad (how to put it.......) classier and nicer than spreading plant goop all over your body. Science fact here; I believe it's the antioxidants in the tea leaves that pretty much extracts the heat and the redness of the burn, making it unjust to blister. Just make a casual cuppa (I used two tea bags for this) just without the milk. Pop a few ice-cubes in there to cool it down to a tepid temperature and with a cloth or a paper bowl, just dip it into the tea and hold it on the burnt area from anywhere between thirty minutes and an hour. (TIP: peppermint and spearmint are more effective than your average English Breakfast that I used, but if you don't have any of the minty ones, any flavour will do)

4. Baking Soda: I also swear by this one - I've used to quite a few times and it gets rid of the redness. Add a splash of baking soda into a cup of cool water and like the tea, dip a paper cloth or towel into it and dab it onto the affected area. It's a good idea to let it dry naturally afterwards as well.

5. Luke-warm Shower: Seems odd? I know at this time you realllllly just want a cold shower to take the pain away, but the warmth of the water actually aids to take out the heat on your skin. I also heard somewhere that the warm water will increase the circulation of your blood and will make the healing process go by quicker. I have yet to try this, but will let you know how it goes through my twitter (@luceindia) or something.

Hope these five tips helped you a bit and if you, like me, are sitting here aching with the burn and soaking your face in a bowl of cold tea for half an hour and then baking soda for the other half, know you are totally not alone and that even the most cautious person gets sunburnt! (Note to self: next time, wear sunscreen)

Xx

2013 Resolutions

Write down one grateful thing per day for 365 days

Continue o uphold an interesting blog that others will enjoy as well as myself

Learn to play the banjo

Gratitude Grows wherever it is planted

Compassion means to live with love

Avoid making judgemental remarks

Deep and Meaningful Relationships with Boog

Hi everybody!

As you may (or may not) know, I haven't posted in a few days because of a terrible case of bloggers block (I believe it is called) and due to a complete blank in my brain and a loss of knowing what to write about, I haven't really posted anything. Anyhow, today the idea dawned upon me that I hadn't actually done a post on my new New Year's Resolutions yet, and I thought it may be somewhat interesting to some people to see them so here we go!

I think it's almost universal that we all make new Year's Resolutions at the start of the year, but by the end of the year, they are kind of the furthest things from our minds...or maybe that's just me? Last year, I tried to stop this compulsion of just carelessly throwing something as important as the "chance to change who I am to become a better person" into a box and keep it there until I can be bothered to clean it out again. I did this by writing up my resolutions and pinning them on a pin board of which I'm sure to look at every day to remind me of what I can do each day.

For me, this worked really well as it meant an increase in motivation prospect of by the end of the year, I can see what I have accomplished and, though it may come across as egoistic, be proud of what I have done. This year, I'm planning on doing the same thing, but naturally, with different goals.

- Lose weight by doing exercise at least 3 times a week (they aren't New Year's Resolutions if the goal to lose weight isn't on the list, eh?)

- Limit myself to only 50% of my budget (last year, I went a little bit overboard)

- Develop deep and meaningful relationships (What's life without relationships?)

- Take vocal lessons (because I'd very much like to increase my vocal stamina)

- Achieve higher than 75% in all of my mid-term reports (This is hopefully quite achievable)

- Avoid making judgemental remarks (Very important indeed)

- Continue and interesting and motivational blog (That hopefully others will enjoy to read too!)

- Write down one grateful thing per day (I think it's very easy to lose sight of how lucky we all are, and I know I do take a lot of things for granted so I'm hoping that this will almost reduce my narrow-mindedness and make me a bit more gracious - I suppose one could put it that way?)

- Learn to play the banjo (Life long dream right there...If you follow me on Twitter - Luceindia - you might have heard that yesterday, I bought myself a banjo)

- Live by Shakespeare's famous sentiment "To thine own self be true" (Though friends, family, opinions and just life in general may take dramatic twists and turns, it's important to stay true to yourself)

Xx

Favourite Things of 2012

Hi everybody!

I thought maybe today to really wrap up 2012 in a good way, I'd do a post referring to my all time favourite "things" (if you may). It's basically going to be an archive of some stuff I've collated over the past year that I'd easily recommend for you and that I've basically loved, so enjoy!

From top left to right:

- Though you can't really tell, it's the Perks of Being a Wallflower (fantastic movie!)
- View over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on NYE
- Natio Ageless Collection
- Snazzy peace leggings from Topshop
- Dot by Marc Jacobs
- Skiing with my friends in Colorado
- Sushi yummy!
- Think Pink Lush bath bombs
- The Script's album
- Kate Nash's album
- Wittner stiletto boots
- Pilgrim and Thomas Sabo necklace
- Burberry 50's Scarf
- Hibiscus blend from T2
- Biguine Makeup nailpolish in the colour Blue Jean
- My favourite puppy pooch <3

Xx

Haul: Peter Alexander, Natio (Myer), Lush, Topshop, Betsey Johnson

Happy New Year everybody!

I can't believe I haven't posted on this blog since last year (hee hee hee). I hope your New Year's Eve was wonderful; I can safely say that without offending anybody, the fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge are truly magical and the effort that goes into it just makes the world spin around. This year, I was lucky enough to spend the evening with my best friend and two other guy friends, and even luckier to snag a spot at the best Harbour Bridge viewing fireworks show in all of Sydney, right on the bay smack-bang in front of the bridge and Opera House themselves. The fireworks over the Sydney Harbour get more and more magical as the years go by, and I can honestly say that this year was just...splendiferous!

To kick start the year, I thought I'd do a blog about some of the clothes I've been hauling up over the past few weeks so I could do a bit of a collective haul, as you all seem to enjoy a bit of clothes shopping.

I actually went to several stores this time; Peter Alexander (which is an Australian Pyjama branch), Myer, Lush (naturally), Topshop (yes, again hehe), and a new recently discovered shop named Betsey Johnson of which I've actually never heard of before.

Little bow on the top of the Pyjamas

Starting with Peter...well, I am a member of the shop and being so has it's advantages as I am able to know first thing when a sale or new line hits the stores, so that morning I was checking my emails to find that they were having a fifty per cent off sale, so at this point, I'm kind of dying to go (as peter makes gorgeous PJs, but also they are quite on the expensive side so having a sale is really good)...Not a few days afterwards did I get another email saying another 20% had been taken off already 

reduced stock items. I went into the shop and did some browsing and I came across a rather cute pair of pyjamas with little Bambi. Call me a little bit childish, but I've always had a soft spot for Bambi and other Disney characters so I went for it. With 70% off and also a PA gift card for Christmas, I practically got these for free -- which I was very chuffed at!

PJ top

A very cute image!

I actually serious very much like these. I did at first go for these from the aesthetics, but afterwards I kind of decided to go for it due to it's more practical side referring to the summer. Because I'm living in Sydney (and here it does get quite hot in the summer), I needed a short pair of Summery pyjamas that I could just easily wear around the house. Though I did get it a size too big, it means I'll be a bit loose, yet comfortable. 

PJ shorts

A few days ago, I ran out of my Natio Daily Moisturiser (I really hate the word moisturiser :P), which if you click here, you'll be flown away to my September Monthly Favourites Part 3 post where I did a full on thorough review of it there. Anyway, I was in Myer, searching for the same product when I came across a deal pack. I could get the Moisturiser for about $16, but I could get a four pack of them for $24, so for me, this was a bit of a better deal. In the package came a Cleanser Exfoliator, the Moisturiser, a Primer and an Eye Brightener . You can buy each separately, as well as in online packs which could be quite handy for Birthday or Christmas gifts. I absolutely love the Natio Ageless collection. Though I am only a teenager and technically speaking I don't need to use ageless creams, I love the flawless effect that it has on the skin. For several months, I've been using the moisturiser, and I've found it amazing on the skin. It's proves as a fantastic cream from everyday wear, and also consists of 30+SPF, it is not greasy, it is very natural and organic, and it leaves my skin soft and gives it a soft and healthy glow. I highly recommend the product, and I am thoroughly looking forward to using the other three.

Lush Christmas Products

Unfortunately, I can't really do much of a talk about the Lush products as I haven't used them yet but when I do, I will let you know! Until then...I went into Topshop (I think I've become a bit of a Topshoppaholic) and as they were having a 50% off sale, it was just a tad bit hard not to venture into the shop and explore. It was there where I came across two fabulous pairs of leggings; one cotton and one more disco pantish.

Interesting Disco Pants

I know it's very mainstream and "in" again from the 80's, but I have really been begging to come across a cheap and cute pair of disco-pant/leggings for a while now, and whilst in Topshop, I saw these beauties and found them quite interesting. When I picked them up, they were a purple snake skin patterned and normally I wouldn't dare wear snake skin as I think it's quite flamboyant and a bit "out there" for me, but I saw a fellow blogger advertise a pair herself and I thought they could work and look quite snazzy, so I went for it.

Probably the most interesting thing about these disco pants is the material. It changes colour! As I say before, when I picked them, they were a purpley colour, when I tried them on, they were more burgundy, and then when I took a photo of them in the light, they were almost a greyish colour. I thought it was pretty magical, to be honest! Plus, they were originally $42 and had been reduced to 50% off, so in the end, I bought them for $21.

Greyish coloured snake skin

The next pair I got, (also for 50% off and at $21) were cotton, a lot tighter and had little peace signs on them. I thought they would be quite easy just to wear around the house and would become quite useful during autumn/winter when it gets a bit colder, and, though I hasten to add, I will have probably bought them cheaper now than they will be in several months time.

Here's a close up

The final shop was a new one that I had never heard of called Betsey Johnson. I was actually just in the shoe shop to buy a new pair of cheap black flats as the soles on the previous ones had begun to split apart so...I went a bit bold and brave this time....

 I am honestly so out of my comfort zone buying these. I would never have gone with these on the regular occasion, but because it was the first day of 2013, and on special occasions like these you do special things, I went for them with a bit of a chin up and an excited presence. Let me know what you think?

Xx