6 Shows That I've Been Watching on Netflix

Riverdale

Riverdale has been a Thursday night tradition for Jesse and I since it first came out. It is definitely my favourite series on Netflix. This series is based off of the old Archie comics (apparently. Other than the same character names and traits, I don't really see it) with a sort of murder mystery twist. I'm super caught up in the drama and mystery of it all and am invested heavily in basically every single relationship there is. If you haven't watched Riverdale yet, I highly recommend that you give it a watch.

Dynasty

Jesse doesn't like this one a whole lot, but I'm such a fan. It's a little bit trashy, a little bit sassy, and a lot bit dramatic. It actually reminds me of a more business-focussed version of Gossip Girl: beautiful rich people behaving badly, affairs, secrets, loyalty and betrayal. What I think that what love the most about Dynasty is the amount of bitchiness and savagery that Fallon brings to every episode. She alone makes this series worth watching.

The End of the Fxxxing World

We've been watching this very slowly because there aren't a whole lot of episodes in the one season on Netflix. We're actually up to the last episode, but we've been putting off watching it for well over a month. This is such a light-heartedly bleak show - I can't help but love the quirky fuckups that are the two main characters. A pleasant combination of "what the?!" and heartwarming moments, I definitely recommend this show if you're after something quick (episodes are only 20-or-so minutes each) and a little left of field.

Girlboss

This was funny as hell. I always enjoy Britt Robinson's sarcastic characters. The series is loosely based on the autobiography of Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal. Largely appealing to millennials, I would say, the premise of the show is basically a lazy, unmotivated dropkick of a young woman who turns her passion and keen eye for vintage fashion in to a living and hustling her way to the top. It definitely leans more towards the comedy side of things, but it still manages to be rather inspirational at the same time.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Jesse enjoys this one a whole lot more than I do. I don't think I'd have watched it on my own accord, but I do love me some Neil Patrick Harris and the show does have its moments. I've not read the books, but I have seen the movie starring Jim Carrey and season 1 suck pretty closely to that. It's dark, humorous in a dry kind of way and just a little but campy. The beautiful, almost steakpunk vibe to the sets (as well as Patrick Warburton's commentary) is what makes this such a delight to watch in my opinion.

Blue Planet II

I can't believe it has taken me this long to start watching the second instalment of Blue Planet. I have always adored David Attenborough. I think that I've watched every one of his documentaries to date. Until Blue Planet II, that is. I'm so glad this is on Netflix - it's impossible not to become mesmerised by the bright colours and beautiful shots taken by much more modern technology than what was used back in the days of the original series. Milla is always so involved when we put it on, too. She loves watching the animals and her eyes never leave the screen. Super cute.

What is your favourite Netflix show? I'm always looking for new shows to binge.

ALSO! I can't be other only one who isn't overly excited by Stranger Things??

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:

\\  I would love to sew my own make-up pouch or scroll!  //

\\  How cute is this DIY bear laundry basket?  //

\\  These cactus sno balls are so fun!  //

\\  I'm getting all the retro vibes from this DIY colour blocked velvet bench.  //
\\ Does an earl grey blueberry eton mess sound dreamy?  //
\\  A super easy beret makeover? Yes please.  //

Happy Friday!

What's in my Everyday Bag?

I love reading "What's in my Bag" posts. I really do. Maybe it's because I find bag spill photos to be so very satisfying. Maybe it's because I'm nosy (probably). Either way, I'm always super interested to learn about what other people carry around with them on a day-to-day basis.

For everyday, I carry this simple, black Kate Hill waffle tote (old) with me wherever I go. Whether it be to the office or a lunch date, it's sturdy, it goes with everything and it has enough room for all of my bits and bobs.

Of course I carry the essentials such as my everyday wallet, which is nothing special - just an old Bluebird wallet, my phone and my keys with me at all times. My trusty sunnies also come with me to most places (in their little case to avoid scratches, mind you), too. I've been wearing my Locello aviators lately. I think they're perfect for Autumn.

I don't always carry my planner around with me, but I have it on hand more often than not. I usually treat myself to a kikki.K* planner each year, but I received this beautiful holographic planner (which is no longer available, sorry) from Typo* for my birthday from Jesse's mum. I also carry a pen, naturally, and my current read with me if I'm going in to work. Right now, I'm reading Still Me by Jojo Moyes - the third instalment in the Me Before You series. Stay tuned for my thoughts in my next Recent Reads post. ;)

I carry a small bag of touch-up make-up around with me at all times (how cool is this Face Shit bag, also from Typo*?! unfortunately no longer available). I don't wear much other than eye make-up and some concealer on work days so my make-up bag more or less just consists of a travel mirror, a packet of blotting paper, which I don't often need because I have dry skin but it's nice to have on hand. My trusty Rimmel eye-liner pencil, a good lip gloss and balm for my perpetually dry lips, Maybelline's FitMe concealer* for touch-ups if necessary, a facial spray; I'm currently using Swisse's Deep Sea Hydrating Mist Toner which is super refreshing but I like The Body Shop's Vitamin C Energising Face Mist* too, a lip liner, usually nude; I like M.A.C.'s Whirl, and a couple of versatile lipsticks. I always have a classic red and a nude lipstick on me. In this instance, I have Huda Beauty's Cheerleader and Velvet Teddy by M.A.C. on hand. I also carry a couple of hair ties and a few bobby pins with me as well as a hair brush - I've been using my Tangle Teaser for years now and it's absolutely amazing.

I always like to have a bunch of body care products on my person, too. I hate the sight of uneven nails, so my nail file comes with me everywhere I go. I get very dry hands throughout the day so a hand cream is also a must. Lately I've been using The Body Shop's Mango Hand Cream* - the formula of THS hand creams is so good and I'm such a fan of their mango range. It all smells amazing! Speaking of smelling amazing, I also always carry around a small bottle of perfume. I'm in the process of using up my old perfumes (I have so many) so I'm currently finishing up an old Playboy set, which all smell amazing. I'm on my last bottle! I'm a little bit of a germaphobe so I also like to carry a small bottle of my trusty Dettol hand sanitiser around with me. More for peace of mind than anything.

I'm prone to frequent headaches so I always have a packet (or two) of Panadol on hand and a box of band-aids too. I'm pretty clumsy and the office is prime location to receive paper cuts. They're also good to go over blisters or sore spots from my (pretty, but painful) shoes rubbing. I'm also sure to have a pocket pack of tissues on hand too.

My umbrella is usually stashed in the depths of my bag too. There was a time when I'd only carry it during the rainy months, but it's gotten to the point where I got lazy I just leave in in there over Summer too. I guess it's reassuring to have one on hand - you never know when you may need one. I also always have my Typo marble metal drink bottle* (isn't it pretty?!) on me. I like to sip water throughout the day and it's nice to have my own (non-plastic) supply on hand. This particular bottle is like a thermos in which keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. It's super versatile. I also carry a USB with me at all times. It's a bit of a random object to carry, I suppose, but it has come in handy on numerous occasions, especially at work.

That's it! I'm a massive neat freak so my bag never has any rubbish or receipts or (sadly) money floating around in it. There are a few things that I'd like to add to my daily bag such as a pocket power bank (I've been meaning to buy one for years), but I think that I've pretty much mastered the art of packing all that I'll ever need for day-to-day life in to one tote. What do you think?

What are some of your everyday essentials?

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:

\\  I love these DIY small accomplishment trophy planters.  //
\\  This white wine apple spritzer! The apple rose!  //
\\  How cute are these DIY hot air balloon favours?  //
\\  A DIY crystal planter would make for a cool present.  //

\\  Well isn't this DIY cactus pom-pom sweatshirt (with-printable) adorable?  //
\\  These DIY mini planters are made from.. wait for it.. empty moisturiser jars! What?!  //


Happy Friday!

An Instagram Recap

There was a time when I did these Instagram (shameless plug) round-up's monthly. I used to adore taking pictures and sharing them with whoever cared, but I've since lost my drive. I think that the negatives that have been surrounding Instagram for some time now have contributed to the fact that I've been finding it hard to upload consistently. I can't blame it all (or even most of it) on Instagram, though.. I just haven't had the motivation to take photos in general for a while now, let alone publish anything to Instagram. Don't get me wrong, I still use the app every single day. I scroll through my feed religiously. I like photos, I watch stories, I comment but I just don't have any content to publish these days which makes a monthly Instagram round-up pretty redundant.

I've actually made it a goal to post to Instagram at least once a week, every week this month (so far, so good!) so, I thought that I would post the pitiful amount of photos that I did publish between December and March in the hopes that it will motivate me to get back in to the swing of posting, or even just taking photos to begin with:

Christmas Eve essentials. 🎅 #Christmas #ChristmasEve #MerryChristmas #Pamper #LUSH #LUSHie #TheHolidays #Cosy #Cozy #NightIn #Skincare #Beauty #BeautyJunkie #Coffee #Tea #MovieNight #CozyNightIn #CosyNightIn #SilentNight #Relax #Sleepy #BathBomb #Flatlay #Relaxing #Bath #Festive #Candles #TreatYoself #Relaxing #Calming #PamperRoutine

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Dec 24, 2017 at 2:12am PST

This is exactly what I was talking about! Christmas Eve! I haven't posted enough to recap since Christmas friggin' Eve!
Here is the full post about how I relax on Christmas Eve. Relevant.

Current desk situation. 🙊 #Desk #InteriorDesign #DeskStyling #DeskStyle #WorkHard #WorkHardPlayHard #Flatlay #Details #DeskDetails #Decor #DeskDecor #Study #ModernDecor #WhiteandGold #Candles #Coffee #Macbook #Laptop #Layout #DeskSituation #Shelfie #Hustle #Stationary #DeskInspiration #Stationery #PrettyLittleDetails #OrganizedChaos #DeskGoals #ChaseYourDreams #JustGirlyThings

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Dec 27, 2017 at 7:05pm PST

I love desk tours! I've been working of getting my own desk area to be a more inspiring place lately.

If you were to ask me what turns me on, I would tell you that a good book on an overcast day with a warm cup of tea in hand does it every time. 📖 ☕ #Books #Bookstagram #BookWorm #BookLover #RecentReads #Read #Reading #ReadingList #Cozy #Book #GoodReads #GoodBooks #Novel #Fiction #Cosy #Bibliophile #MeTime #GoodBook #Escape #TeaandBooks #Novels #Coffee #Tea #Desk #DeskSituation #DeskDetails #Decor #Shelfie #Minimalist #MinimalistStyle

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Feb 2, 2018 at 7:31pm PST

I'm a massive bookworm! Here is the full post about what I had been reading here and if you have any book suggestions for me, I'm always open to hearing them!

If your Valentine's Day didn't include pizza and Prosecco, you did it wrong. 😋 @jesse_whiteout #Pizza #Prosecco #Italian #ItalianFood #WoodFiredPizza #ValentinesDay #Valentine #DateNight #Wine #DoughPizza #Dinner #DinnerOut #Romantic #Date #Love #CheatMeal #SparklingWine #Boyfriend #DinnerandaMovie #Italiano #ItalianRestaurant #Food #Drink #FoodandDrink #FoodandWine #MargheritaPizza #RomanticDinner #BemyValentine #VegetarianPizza #Vegetarian

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Feb 14, 2018 at 6:31pm PST

There's nothing better to me than a good, authentic wood fired Margherita pizza.

Well today was 0/10. 😵 Take me back to this (much better) weekday. #TBT #TakeMeBack #ThrowBackThursday #LongWeekend #LittleH #Fries #EggsBenedict #Chips #EggsBenny #Coffee #Latte #Cappuccino #LatteArt #CoffeeArt #GoodMorning #Cafe #Breakfast #Brunch #MorningCoffee #CaffeineHit #EasyMorning #Mornings #CoffeeDate #LazyMorning #CupofCoffee #CoffeeLovers #CoffeeBreak #MorningCoffee #CoffeeTime #ButFirstCoffee

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Mar 14, 2018 at 7:49am PDT

GUYS! EGGS BENEDICT FRIES EXIST AND I STILL CAN'T GET OVER THEM!

I die. 😍 #Samoyed #SamoyedClub #SamoyedsofInstagram #SamoyedsofPerth #MillatheSamoyed #SamoyedxHusky #SamoyedCross #Samoyedx #SamoyedCrossHusky #Dog #DogsofInstagram #FurBaby #Pet #Floof #Puppy #InstaDog #InstaDogBreeds #InstaDogOfficial #PuppyLove #InstaPuppy #PuppyPalace #DogLovers #DogLover #InstaPuppies #PuppyGram #Doggy #Doggo #DoggyLove #CuteDog #DogLife

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Mar 17, 2018 at 8:05pm PDT

My little Milla girl. <3

Welcome 😏 #Decor #Welcome #WelcomeMat #WelcomeBitches #AutumnDecor #Autumn #Fall #FallDecor #FallVibes #Hallway #HallwayDecor #HomeDecor #AutumnVibes #Coffee #Boots #Booties #Home #HomeDecor #House #Farmhouse #FarmhouseDecor #FarmhouseStyle #HomeStyle #HomeStyling #Sassy #HomeSweetHome #MyHouse

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Mar 24, 2018 at 7:59pm PDT

The $6 I spent on this doormat was the best $6 I've ever spent.

Cotton candy skies to start an evening of burnout fun @motorplex ☁😏😏 #Clouds #CottonCandyClouds #CottonCandySkies #Nature #Weather #CottonCandySky #Sunset #Cloudy #CloudySky #CloudySkies #Burnouts #PinkClouds #Evening #EveningSky#CottonCandy #CandyFloss #CandyFlossSky #CandyFlossClouds #CandyFlossSkies #GoodFridayBurnoutKing #FairyFlossSky #FairyFlossSkies #FairyFlossClouds #Sky #Skies #GoodFridayBurnouts #GoodFriday #PerthMotorplex #KwinanaMotorplex

A post shared by Christie Brown (@christieee__x) on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:49am PDT

I've always thought cotton candy skies were so magical.

I love finding pretty new feeds to follow on Instagram; leave your account deets in the comments, or come find (and motivate) me: @christieee__x

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:

\\  This giant avocado shaped rice krispie is so extra and I need it in my life.  //

\\  How cute are these citrus Himalayan salt diffusers?  //
\\  DIY pannier bags for your bike for when the weather warms up. You're welcome.  //

\\  A Springtime shoe makeover, anyone?  //
\\  Terrazzo is back, and these DIY terrazzo chocolate bars are calling my name.  //

\\  I love this simple way to make a dress from any T-Shirt.  //

Happy Friday!

March 2018 Beauty Favourites

One: BECCA Sunlit Bronzer in "Bronzed Bondi"

This is such a beautiful bronzer! I often struggle to find a good bronzer shade to suit my skin tone but Bronzed Bondi, I feel, is my perfect colour (Milk Chocolate Soleil* is a good one too). BECCA powders are all of such high quality - so soft and creamy and incredibly pigmented, and this is no exception. It has a little bit of sheen to it for a healthy-looking glow, but isn't glittery and it applies and blends out beautifully with a big, fluffy brush. I used it a whole lot over the tail end of the Summer months and I could easily bring it in to the colder seasons too.

Two: Too Faced Sweet Peach Creamy Peach Oil Lip Gloss*

Anyone who knows me personally just fell of their chair. I, Christie, lover of matte lips and avid hater of glosses... likes loves a gloss. I've spent years loathing the tacky feeling, smudgy looking, hair sticking to your mouth on a windy day inducing lip product that is gloss but upon picking up a few of these (because girl loves the Sweet Peach line), I may need to rethink my ways.. These don’t feel like a traditional lip gloss but still deliver that juicy, high-shine finish. They are not sticky-feeling in the slightest AND they're super hydrating - something that my forever dry lips very much love. The shade range is pretty decent - they cover the different hues of the peach spectrum wonderfully. I have the shades Papa Don't Peach, Peach Tease, Tickle Me Peach and they are all surprisingly pigmented - I'm not sure how the lighter shades sit it terms of opacity, but the shades that I have tried  do not look streaky and apply so smoothly.

Three: LUMA On The Glow Highlighter Stick in "Cashmere Casbah"

This is in no way a blinding highlight - if that's the kind of thing that you enjoy then chances are this isn't going to be your cup of tea, but for an every day, natural-looking glow, this is your jam! It gives such a beautiful, healthy-looking sheen to the face and it blends beautifully. It does not emphasise my texture, as many formulas do, nor does it look like a stripe on your face. I love it for "no make-up" make-up days, too.

Four: Models Prefer Soft Touch Mineral Powder in "Soft Focus"

Don't die when I tell you that I feel as though this powder is a pretty good dupe for Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powder... I KNOW RIGHT?!?!?!!?!?!?

Of course, I wouldn’t say that they’re exactly the same but the similarities are too great to ignore, especially for the price! This powder gives me that soft focus effect that I've come to love from my Hourglass powders and gives off a beautiful, soft glow. It is smooth and soft to the touch and delivers a lovely blurring effect. Being a luminous (but not glittery) powder, my skin isn't left looking flat as it would with a regular pressed powder. I still absolutely love my Hourglass powder, but I save that for special occasions and bring out the Models Prefer powder for day-to-day wear.

Five: Clinique Cheek Pop Blush* in "Ginger Pop"

I had been eyeing this (not by any means new) blush for a while, but as someone who doesn't wear blush a whole lot, I was a little hesitant based on Australia's astronomical prices. I'm glad I finally bit the bullet because this blush is gorgeous! I personally prefer a more minimalistic approach to blush, so this formula is perfect for me as it starts off nice and subtle and natural looking but can be very easily built up for a more intense look if desired. You don't have to worry about picking up too much product at once and looking clown-like. I love the smooth, creamy formula - it blends like an absolute dream. My only issue is with the packaging and that's only for aesthetic reasons. I feel as though it looks a little cheap, but I have always said that if the packaging is your biggest concern, then you've still got a good product on your hands.

What products have you been loving lately?

As always, this post has not been sponsored in any way, meaning that none of the items mentioned have been sent to me, endorsed or paid for by anyone other than me, myself and I. This post does, however, contain affiliate links. I will always disclose such information with an asterisk (*) for full disclosure to my readers.
Feel free to find and purchase these products elsewhere if you don't get down like that. :)

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:

\\  This creamy, dreamy London fog latte does sound dreamy.  //

\\  How adorable are these flower shaped pop tarts?  //
\\  This DIY floral chandelier would be a prefect way to liven up a space!  //

\\ These robin's egg carrot cake doughnuts just scream "Spring".  //

\\  Chamomile macarons sound so good to me, you have no idea.  //

\\  How cute (and budget friendly) are these DIY wedding confetti toss pouches?! You could personalise them for each guest to keep!  //

Happy Friday!

March Look Back and April 2018 Goals

n

Get back to the gym
"I was so slack when it came to getting to the gym last month; I was honestly surprised to see a weight loss (it must be all the extra walking I'm doing with Milla). I'd definitely like to try and get to the gym at least 3 times each week this month. I've done it before, I can do it again."

Cross: I finished the month off strong but I went maybe two times over all of the first two and a bit weeks of April. Oops.

Book holiday experiences

"Third time lucky - I better get on to this soon because I downloaded a countdown app and holy moly there's just over 5 months until we leave!"

Tick: Done and done *queue holiday excitement*

Find a dog house for Milla

"Ummmmmmmmmm so yeah, hi. I have a dog now (!!!!).
She has a bed under our patio, of course, but with the approaching Autumn weather, I'd like to give her a cozy spot to lay out of the wind and rain. It'll be nice on hotter days too, providing some shade, which we don't have much of in our yard."

Tick: I didn't have to end up buying one in the end, a (very kind) friend made one up for us. The thing is.. we have a dog house buuuuttttt it's not in our backyard. It's currently sitting on our driveway because it is huge and heavy and doesn't fit through our gate. If anyone with muscles wants to come and help us lift it over the fence, that would be grand.

Spending ban
"It seems a little redundant to have a spending ban directly under a bunch of goals that require money, but I have been extremely naughty when it comes to unnecessary personal shopping over the past few months. With the holiday experiences basically paid for and money set aside for a dog house, I don't want to buy a single non-essential item this month and nurse my poor bank account back to health."

Cross: I did so poorly with this one. Although I barely spent any money on treats for myself (I'm being an organised Little Bean and buying birthday and Christmas presents as early as I can this year. I get too stressed out otherwise), I still spent a fair amount of money over March - oops.

h

Follow my fitness plan

I created a fitness plan for myself two weeks ago and so far, I've stuck to it. My plan consists of me working out twice a day most week days which does seem quite intense and my non-morning person self sure was daunted by the early morning starts at first but I've found that it has really been working for me. My motivation to work out after work is always lacking and I'm the type of person who cannot get back to sleep once they've been woken up so once the alarm goes off, rather than lay there for an hour or so, I get up and work out. By breaking up my workouts in to two less intense sessions a day, I find that I'm working out more parts of my body and I'm doing it more effectively than I would if I had done one big workout after work where I almost always slack off in one way or another, skipping bits and pieces or whathaveyou. This way, even if I skip an after work session (which I'm determined not to do), I can still feel good about myself because I still worked out that day. I can feel myself adjusting to the early morning starts (I can also feel parts of my body that I didn't know existed) and I'm determined to stick to it, especially considering my upcoming island holiday! If you're interested in a more in-depth post about my fitness plan and how I've been staying motivated, definitely let me know in the comments!

Rejuvenate the back yard

Ever since we brought our little Milla *insert all the heart eyes here* home, our yard has looked worse for wear. I've got some ideas in mind to bring the yard back to life in a more dog-friendly way (read: less plants for her to dig up).

Post to Instagram more

I've set this goals a couple of times throughout my time as a blogger but with all the drama in relation to the algorithm that is constantly clogging up my feed and just the general negativity towards the app, really, I've been finding it hard to upload consistently for more than a month (on a good month). There was a point where I went for over three months without uploading a single image! If I'm honest, though, my lack of activity goes further than just posting to Instagram and I can't even blame it on the changes that the app has been making.. I haven't really even had the motivation to take photos in general, let alone for Instagram. I've gotten a little better recently but I am nowhere near as consistent as I'd like to be (or have been in the past). The algorithm is pretty shitty, yes, but it's not necessarily about the likes and the comments for me. I don't make money from what I upload and my livelihood is not at stake.. I just genuinely enjoy taking pretty pictures and sharing them with whoever cares. It's as simple as that so there really is no excuse for me to be shying away from the app. I'm chalking it up to pure laziness on my behalf.

Come find (and motivate) me @christieee__x!

Produce more blog content

Hi, I'm Christie and I haven't been around these parts a whole lot lately. A combination of a lack of motivation, a mild case of writer's block and handful of new personal commitments has meant that I have definitely been slacking in the blogging department of late. I need to find a way to get re-inspired, which I guess more or less goes hand in hand with uploading more content to Instagram, and start blogging regularly, and most importantly, enjoying it, again.

Reply to blog comments

I went from replying to every single comment left on my posts to replying to absolutely no one (I'm sorry. Don't leave me). I read every single one of them, but when it comes to replying.. oops. It warms my heart to see that people care enough about my content to take the time to leave me a comment.. the least I can do is reply so I'm definitely wanting to get back in to the habit. If you get a reply to a comment you left four months ago, heyho! I'm following through.

This is probably the most ramble-y post that I've ever published.

What are you hoping to achieve this month?

See also:

March 2018 goals

2018 Resolutions