Thankful.

Although Thanksgiving isn't a holiday we celebrate here in Australia, it's always nice to appreciate all the things, people and moments that I am thankful for. I honestly do not count my blessings often enough.

Today and everyday, I am thankful...

I am thankful for my true friends who've stuck by me and continue to be a part of my life today. I really have the greatest set of friends who are always willing to drop everything to listen to my worries and help me out as best they can. They're all such kind, beautiful people and I'm glad we've found one another.

I am thankful for my boyfriend, who genuinely cares for and loves me, no matter what. He is my best friend and is always incredibly supportive of everything I do. This year would have been rough without him.

I am thankful for not only having a job in the current economy, but having a job where my co-workers are also my friends. I'm so glad a met this bunch of idiots and I look forward to coming in to the office each day. They make the 9-5 bearable.

I am thankful for my home away from 'home'. The only place I feel truly at home is at Jesse's parent's house. Even though my real home life has been  terrible, meeting and spending time with his family this past year has reminded me what the word home truly means. I'm always welcome and the whole household has truly made me feel like I'm one of the family.

I am thankful for all that I have gained from blogging. Starting Christie's Take on Life has taught me so much and I have created some great friendships and opportunities because of it.

I am thankful that I didn't have everything handed to me on a silver platter. It has made me the strong, determined person I am today.

I am thankful that I am most definitely not like anyone else. I love my bat shit craziness quirkiness. What a boring world that would be without a little quirk-a-lerk.

Friday Finds.

Time to share my fun little finds from this past week...

  

 

\\  This caa-utee Bag of Pixie Dust makeup set  //  \\  Macaron Candles  //
\\  This Blogger Pencil Set  //  \\  Cute Alice In Wonderland Drink Me Raspberry Pop Rocks  //  \\  Adorable Tinkerbell Fairy Tale Book Necklace  //
\\  Jen's Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash with Honey Mustard Cream recipe  //

November Bellabox Review.

It's about time I jumped on the subscription box train so I was super excited to see my very first Bellabox waiting for me when I got home last night and I definitely was not disappointed.
This month's theme was Dusk Till Dawn.

Coastal Scents Pallette - 'Revealed'

 Bellabox announced that every subscriber would be receiving this product, just in different shades and I'm really excited about mine. It's a sample size version of their Revealed eyeshadow palette, and includes four shades -  two smokey nudes and two shimmery metallics.

I was really surprised with the quality of the formulation; each shadow is incredibly creamy and pigmented and the full palette looks gorgeous!

 

RRP: Full size palette $34.00

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - 'Milk'

I used white eyeliner once.. and the result scared the shit out of me. I looked.. creepy. Since then, I vowed never to touch the stuff again. Perhaps I was too hasty?

The pencil itself is huge, so I'm not sure how good it would be at lining your waterline, but the formula is nice and creamy, and very pigmented so it would be great if used in the inner corners of the eyes to brighten, or even as an eyeshadow base to make your colour pop.

RRP: $9.95

Kester Black Nail Polish - 'Nuuude'

I've been on the hunt for a nice nude polish for a while now, and this shade's pretty rad. It boasts a high shine, chip-resistant finish and so far, it's lived up to it's word.
A huge plus for me, is that all Kester Black polishes are 100% vegan.

The formulation is nice, but got a bit gluey during the looooonnnnngggg drying period.

One coat delivers a nice, semi-transparent finish, and only two for completely opaque coverage.

RRP: $20.00

Lonvitalite 24K Active Gold Eye Mask

It's no secret I have big ol' under eye bags. Somewhat inherited from my Italian mum, and somewhat self-inflicted from lack of sleep so I'm pretty keen to try this out! It boosts circulation around the eye socket, promising to help to relieve swelling and tiredness, remove dark circles and target sagging skin and crows feet.

RRP: $24.00


Palmers Multi-Effect Perfecting Facial Oil.

This is a new product from Palmers and claims to keep the skin healthy, tight and glowing with its blend of 9 oils. I've heard so many good things about this, so I've been dying to try it out. It smells amazing and my skin felt super nourished and supple when I applied it last night.

RRP: Pack of 5 $24.00

Compeed Blister Patch

There's not too much to say about this other than it's a handy little bonus to keep on hand for those nights out.

RRP: Pack of 5 $19.99

All in all, I'm really happy with this months box! and they came just in time for all of the upcoming Christmas late nights and parties.

Way to start of a high note, Bellabox. I can't wait to see what next month's box contains!

Friday Finds

Time to share what I have found, discovered and uncovered this past week...

The perfect little Christmas décor idea- fake snow filled jars on the staircase.

Raspberry red wine slushy with chocolate whipped cream recipe- OMG.

This top basically summarises my life.

This amazing beach set-up is getting me too excited for Summer.

This satchel is actually perfect for Autumn

I must own this mint green sweetheart corset!

Latest Pins: Seasonal Recipes.

As a vegetarian and an incredibly fussy eater, it's almost ironic for me to say that I love food. But I do. I love the community of food. I love the culture of food. I love cooking for my loved ones. I love sitting around, laughing and eating until my pants need to be unbuttoned. I love browsing food blogs and Pinterest for recipes and inspiration.

Spring and Summer are my favourite seasons food-wise; everything's healthier, fresher, juicier. Those tropical fruits are ripe and juicy, the vegetables are fresh and crisp.

If you follow me on Pinterest, you'd have seen I've gone a little wild with the food pins recently. Sorry not sorry.

Here are six of my favourite seasonal recipe finds that I am looking forward to try out during the warmer months:

 

\\  Raspberry and Meringue Mess  // 

\\  Grilled Eggplant with Leek, Cherry Tomatoes and Figs  //
\\  Collard Roll-Ups with Coconut Curry Kale  //  \\  Brown Sugar Baked Peaches  //
\\  Strawberry Shortcake Cookies  //  \\  Summer Rolls with Hoisin Peanut Dipping Sauce  //

What's your favourite Spring/Summer recipe?

These Are All of my Favourite (Summer) Things.

Before I say anything, can you believe it's already December? As spun out as I was when I woke up and realized it's the last month of 2014, a wave of excitement also washed over me when I remembered that also meant Summer is officially here. 


Summer is where I feel most alive. It is a time when I’m inspired to seek new adventures, to explore, to make new memories. To discover the simple joys of nature and everything around me, to bring a renewed spark to love, life and anything that brings happiness. To feel happy without worries of tomorrow. I get to enjoy life and all that it has to offer. I get to breathe and enjoy the world around me. On top of all the simple little joys that Summer brings, here are 8 more reasons I love the Summer.


1. The Weather

The days are long, the evenings are warm, and the breeze carries the scent of the sea. It’s a great feeling, waking up early to a beautifully warm morning, and realising that the sun is already up.


2. The Activities

There's so much to do during the Summer months; fairs and open-air theatres, concerts and festivals, street parties and carnivals. The markets overflow with fresh fruit stalls, the sales are on, the tourist crowds besiege the city streets. It’s time to explore, to experience, to live. It’s time to make some memories. It’s time to go hiking, fishing, camping, or to cook a BBQ, sit by a campfire, collect seashells, go on a boat ride, or just lie on the beach.


 3. The Food and the Drinks

Summer is my favourite season food-wise; It’s so easy to be healthy with all the fresh, seasonal fruits readily available.
Eating a frozen yoghurt and washing it down with a fruit smoothie doesn’t make you feel miserable, and a fruity cocktail or two is basically expected of you.


4. The Beauty

My bathroom shelves are suddenly overflowing with golden hues.
Lotions and self-tanning mousses, bronzing powders and body shimmers, bright lipsticks and golden eye shadows, and beachy waves are perfectly acceptable in a ny Summer setting.

 5. The Fashion

 

Blue skies and rising temperatures means that casual lace and carefree breezy tops are staples. I can take out all my sundresses and my sandals and be appropriately dressed for almost anything. 


6. The Water

 

Australia is blessed with beautiful beaches. I love winding down my windows and getting a whiff of the cool sea breeze.


7. The Good Times 

Summer comes with sun-kissed promises and blue whispers for days filled with bright skies, adventures, and sunset dreaming. With so much to do, I am able to discover people and places that bring about fun and excitement. I get to see more of my friends, spending hours on end playing games, cooking, eating, catching up, gossiping.


8. The Tranquillity

I get to walk on the sand as the days unfold, the world quiet and still. For a brief moment, I get to hear the whispers of the wind, the call of the sea and the beating of my heart.

Spring Decor Inspiration.

I was more than happy to see the end of Winter.

I don't think that I've ever mentioned that I grew up wanting to become a professional interior designer on the ol' blogaroo, but our first proper Spring day stirred that buried desire, and made me realize it’s time to move out of the cosy blanket and start to think about how I want my room to look and feel this season.

 

Spring always brings with it a sense of new life, delicate beauty and renewal.  As the seasons change, our moods change and thus, our homes change.

Below are 8 different ways you can welcome Spring into your home!

 

 

1. Greenery

Okay, this one might seem a bit obvious but it wouldn’t have been right to leave it off the list! Houseplants are a great way to freshen up our homes and add a pop of colour and life to otherwise empty areas.

 

{Via Small Shop}

 

And if you don’t have a green thumb like Christie the plant murderer over here,

other greenery options do exist. Consider preserved boxwood or a simple vase of leafy stems.

 

{Via Pottery Barn}

 

 

2. Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers always bring beauty into a home, whether they are cut flowers or flowering plants!

 

{Via Pinterest}

 

{Via Home Life}

 

{Via Red Door Home}

 

{Via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle}

 

 

3. Unconventional Vases
Being the quirky little thing I am, I love creating an unexpected design element to a room.
Putting some fresh flowers in an unconventional vase is a great way

to add some personality to any space.

 

{Via Pinterest}

 

{Via Indulgy}

 

{Via Rangi Rangi}

4. Shells

Using shells as decorative accents is a way of reminding us of warm days spent in the sun at the beach and is a great way to transition your room in to the Summertime.

Large shells can be used as bowls, planters or even standalone sculptures.

 

{Via Dimples and Tangles}

 

 {Via Pottery Barn}

 

Smaller shells look beautiful in a vase, collected in a small dish or even mixed into your shelves. Just remember, they look more organized and less cluttered when grouped together.

 

{Via Pinterest}

 

{Via Houzz}

 

 

5. Spring’s Colour Palette

Sometimes just bringing in the colours of Spring can alter the mood of your home.

The crisp blues, grass greens, sun yellows, and the cloud whites, whether used boldly, or as accents can breathe new life into your home.

 

{Via House&Home}

 

{Via Censational Girl}

 

{Via Better Homes & Gardens}

 

 

6. Animals

Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting that you bring any fury creatures into your home, but rather that you incorporate images or other representations of animals that remind you of Spring:

butterflies, birds, bunnies, and even nests and bird eggs.

 

{Via Miss Mustard Seed}

 

{Via Sean Litchfield}

 

{Via Walter Studio Interior Design}

 

 

7. Botanical Prints

Another ways to bring the outdoors in is through the use of botanical prints. Framed prints on the wall are beautiful, whether purchased from the store or homemade.

 

{Via Ballard Designs}

 

You can also look for textiles with botanical prints, such as bedding or throw pillows.

 

{Via Pottery Barn}

 

 

8. Fruits

What better symbol of Springtime than fresh, seasonal fruit?
Arranging bright fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges in glass jars makes a fresh kitchen or mantel piece, and can also be featured during the Summer.

 

{Via Home and Event Styling}

 

{Via Yellow Bliss Road}

 

{Via Hooked on Houses}

 

 So farewell dark colours, traditional plaids and furs throws, I’m ready for greenery, flowers and a fresh start to the new season!