May 2017 Favourites

Middle of the year! Right now it's dry A.F. in North ZA and the South is in a storm

Via Vintage Lover

Here are my favourites for the last month of Autumn:

Essence Nail Polish:

Cheap and cheerful. I bought a few in the end of April and wore them through out May.(All can be bought online at Takealot.com. I bought mine at Dischem)

The Gel Nail polish in Crash the Party?!

The Gel Nail polish in Crash the Party?! is H💿L💿 and I don't think anybody realised that. It's nice as a sheer polish, a topper and also nice to add more layers of holo with a sponge (See Simply Naillogical)

Mega Last base coat

It so does what it says. It lasts for 4 to 5 days with out getting weird. I like to do the Base coat sandwich trick (base – polish – base – polish – top coat) that makes it last longer.

All That Shimmers in Make a Wish Topper:

This a milky Dual Chrome shimmer topper. When I don't feel like doing a big deal nail art, it's easy to add a topper for extra dimension to a flat coloured polish.

Quick Dry Top Coat:

This is super handy when you want to add a second coat of a coloured polish and don't have time for it to dry. I also use this as the everyday top coat to make polish last.

Beanies:

I recoloured my hair and because it's an unnatural colour, washing is restricted. Most weeks it looks awesome for days. Other times, not so much. With the fear of having a hair style mainly consisting of a mixture of dry shampoo and/or baby powder I like to disguise with a slouchy beanie.

H&M

MrP

DcatsG Studios

These are a trick thing to find because though I found them in-store there is none listed online.

Shopped in my closet:

I recently had a few occations I had to dress for. Because I have good basic pieces, instead of buying a whole outfit, I could piece one together. As a child, my mom thought me to have a few good pieces: A white t-shirt, a nice black knitted top (When I where it with a jean, flats and a slouchy beanie I feel French), pair of black pants, as well as plain black shoes. From these elements I had a few accessories to dress casual to a bit more formal without spending any money.

Humidifier:

This is one of the most expensive things I have bought the last few months but so worth it. I got mine here on Takealot.com but this specific one is available at Dischem and Baby Boom. I suggest to shop around. This has solved most of my congestion woes. This is the 4L and does not last during a whole night even on the lowest setting but what I do is to put it on and close the bedroom door 1 and a half to 2 hours before I go to bed and keeping the door ajar during the night.

Soaring free Superfoods Organic Hemp Seed Protein Powder:

I like Chia seeds. So when I was browsing in the health section of Fruit& Veg Food Lover's Market this item was cheaper than Chia. SO it naturally migrated into my trolley. I add this to smoothies and when ever I'm baking stuff that don't really have substance I add some of it. Like flapjacks (“Pancakes”) and even those premix bran muffins get a few spoons full. I like the idea of adding extra natural protein to anything.

I got mine in the health section of Fruit and Veg but it's also available at Faithful to Nature.

YouTube App Save Offline and Telkom Nitesurfer:

This is my app and free favourites in ONE. Now lately there have been a lot of videos I like to watch and these days I'd rather watch online content than what DStv thinks I must watch (Because all their ads look like all life is about is not missing your show and “family time”. Believe me, someone will die for deleting a show that was not watched yet.)

Now we have Night Surfer Data that we kept losing. (That is technically free) SO I started downloading stuff in the mornings. Because Telkom is sketchy A.F and don't state it outright the times anywhere on there site I had to cyber sleuth that the times are 00:00 to 07:00.

That means I've been binge watching Laura Lee and caught up with the Jeffree Star/ Nikkie Tutorials/ Too Faced/ #nounicornsintheamazon stories.

That is my things I've been liking in MAY and #unicornsareeverywhere

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Cheap to Free: Winter Tips

In the last weeks of Autumn we were truly feeling the big chill of Winter. Freezing at night, icy in the shade and dry all the time. That's not even when the wind picks up.

Here's some of my tips and tricks to deal with Winter life:

Pep 200mm X 200mm Coral Fleece Blankets:

This is the first of my PEP buys. In normal PEP stores it's usually towards the back of the store and some malls have a PEP Home. I love picking up trend pieces there. Now I know there is always a question about quality with cheap products (R149.00) BUT the leopard print blanket is 5 years old! I also wash them often so they hold up quite well. They are nice to hide cracked up leather seats:

Lola doing some low key modeling

Nice for decoration

But also:

Double Blanket Bed Hack:

Now this is a recent thing I tried. I don't even know if it is a thing. I've been having a problem were the duvet is some how too small for the bed. Especially since it's been getting colder. Instead of going to buy a bigger (more expensive) duvet I hang a blanket over the edge each side. It may sound and look not so aesthetically pleasing but it does the trick. No one is cold at night.

I store the blanket under pillows during the day

Cheap Dog Sweater Hack:

My dogs (even though they originated in England) are cold in Winter. These two shiver and full out refuse to go outside if it's cold. (On several occasions I had to leave them inside unsupervised because they objected to go outside in the cold.)

Animal abuse, clearly.

Instead of buying a dog sweaters or coats, I sized them up and bought cheap PEP kiddies shirts. They also have hoodies but they got bigger in Summer. The last ones I bought a bulk pack of PnP Clothing long sleeves. With minor no sew alterations they are warm (I cut the sleeves in half and cut it like a high low top for the boy-boy because pee pee on a shirt is not cool.)

Close your curtains:

It looks like I only have grey curtains 🙈🙈🙈

Most homes in ZA don't have double glazed windows. When I stand near my windows I can feel the cold seeping into the house. Just pull them closed and they will absorb the cold from outside and make it feel more cosy inside.

Eucalyptus and Peppermint Oil:

Wow yeah I'm going there with the oils. I just don't like going to doctors. I have a nose issue so even if it's minor, I am guaranteed to have full on congestion. Now I had all types of nasal sprays prescribed and that stuff is not always great. My two methods are:

My Humidifier:

This is my expensive winter thing I bought recently (available at here at Takealot.com and I see in the front of Dischem's end of Autumn.) So pricey but cheaper to buy and run that a doctors visit with meds. (Also didn't have to leave my house. It came in 2 day.) I advise if you do suffer from congestion to get one. I got the 4 litre because 2017 is the year of extra.

Shower Sauna:

How has this gone unnoticed? I love this. HERE is the article. There are so many ways to get spa like effects with a bath but you only get steam showers when you Google 'Shower Spa'. The gist of it is that you shower and stuff then drop a few drops of any aromatherapy oil on a wet towel and sit in the steam for 10 minutes to inhale the good properties.

Wash your hands:

This has saved me from the sick (and if I was sick, I saved others). So simple but if you know #officelife, there is always some sick idiot who rarely washes their hands. They cough, give you germ laden paperwork you asked for 3 days ago. (Side note: They are also the ones who stay home conveniently on Friday as well as Monday because they are sick. #JustSaying) Or you know/ have a child that goes to the place that keeps sickness alive: Preschool.

Also always keep a tube of hand sanitiser AS WELL AS hand cream (winter hand washing is drying for skin) in you desk and bag. I would rather look OCD then sick.

Lip Balm:

Imma keep it real: I love these fake 4ss eos orb lip balms. I like pearl balms, ones with light pigment, gloss type to real old school tin types. With the matt lipstick trend (that has become a pillar in the beauty community) formulas tend to be drying. During the day I can remove the matt lipstick with lip balm and after blotting reapply it. I also suggest if you are going to do matt lips, to apply lip balm before even applying foundation so it has time to moisturises the lips before application.

Bonus Tip! The Over the Counter:

*Please Note: I am NOT a medical professional. I am suggesting these items that work for me. If you feel poorly and don't feel better for a few days, please consult with your doctor.

Now after that disclaimer: I hate going to the doctor. Sometimes when I sit in the waiting area I feel myself miraculously being healed and can run a 5 km fun run and I'm not even a runner. No lies, my one doctor asked me if I'm seeing another practice because the last time I was there was 5 years before (This story is 2 years ago).

My first pick is Oscillococcinum. YAS COME THRU WITH THAT NAME!!!! This is the most expensive one. One little vial of powder does magic. It's also homeopathic.

Next is Med-Lemon. My mother swears by this. If you have a nagging head ache that doesn't go away (no I'm not talking about the office idiot who can't work the copy machine) this would help for that too.

Last is McNabs Super Guard. Their products are my jam. Only good things are used to make this and as a bonus, you get a cool motivational quote square. It's no GMO, wheat AND dairy free.

The biggest thing these have in common is NONE of them will make you tired or sleepy. You are taking these to not need down time, what's the point if you can't focus on the job?

And that is all the things that make Winter a better time for me and hopefully for you as well.

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