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!

My Month On Instagram - October.

If you've been following Christie's Take on Life, you'll know by now that I'm a major lover of Instagram! It's the perfect outlet for posting inspiration and little snippets of life, and seeing what my favourite bloggers and friends are up to.

There are so many times my Instagram posts never make it to my blog, and that's a damn shame because I consider myself quite the photographer.

Instalife the past month looked something like this:

  

Cute look-out dates with Jesse at King's Park.

My beloved Kurt Cobain shirt dress FINALLY came!

I know you are all sick of hearing about my birthday, but I'm pretty sure I have the best boyfriend ever, getting me this stunning Michael Kors watch. 

Getting spoilt by the work folks with a $200 Westfield gift card, amongst other goodies.
KA-CHING!

It saddens me to say, this is probably the most decent photo from my birthday party. Oops.

October Lookback & November Goals.

I'd just like to begin by saying, it has really helped me to write and share my goals each month and then to reflect on what I’ve accomplished at the end of it all. That being said, I can't believe it's November already! Guess we should take a look back at my October goals then. 

Try out some punch recipes for my 21st
Vodka, Mountain Dew, Midori, Malibu and Peach Schnapps. Enough said.

Get serious about buying a house
Ugh.

Read a book
I don't mean to alarm you, but I read three.

Attempt 3 new recipes from Pinterest
Zero recipes were attempted. ZERO!

100 sit-ups and 50 squats daily

I hate to repeat goals, buuuuutttt
Attempt 3 new recipes from Pinterest
Must. Cook. The food.

Get a new car
Preferably by selling my current car first, rather than trading it in.

Update my shoe & makeup storage situation.
I've been inspired already.

Be mindful of others
But not let them sap all my energy. I'm actually a bitch nowadays..

Hit up a bar I've never been to before

Make the effort to see a friend I haven't seen in a while

Bedroom Storage Re-Vamp Inspiration.

As a perfectionist who constantly tires of her surroundings, my room is in a constant state of evolution and I feel it's right time I updated my shoe and make-up storage.

 

It's too damn hard not to look to designers, models, and bloggers for every single bit fashion and beauty inspiration. Sure, they have dream-worthy wardrobes and killer closets, but let's be real: how many of us have huge walk-in closets? For inspiration that's just as chic but a little more practical, I headed over to Pinterest. Once I got a look at the spaces and all the tips I can take away from them, I'm itching to run home and give my room the makeover it deserves.

 

Bookshelves are great for organizing just about anything and I'm currently loving using bookcases with square cut-outs to display shoe, make-up and jewellery and as I have limited space to work with, it'd be just the thing for my little space!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think a trip to IKEA is in order. 

October Beauty Favourites.

I cannot believe there's only two months left in the year!
I swear, my terrible, tonsillitis-ridden New Year was just yesterday. It's actually unreal.

 

Onto the favourites though, these are a few products I've been loving this month:

 

 One: L'Oreal False Lash Butterfly Wings Mascara

This is my favourite mascara. The wand shape really helps to extend those corner lashes that are hard to reach to make your eyes look bigger and more elongated. I have smaller eyes so I tend to do all my eye makeup up and out. The finish is nice and dark and almost vinyl looking. It doesn't flake (which is always a deal breaker) and overall has a nice texture once dry. It's not clumpy at all and the bottle is huge, and very nicely designed - I love the sleek chrome look. Easy clean up if you do make a mistake, but lasted until I washed it off with no transfer or raccoon eyes and cleaned up easily with plain soap and water. This is pretty much what I look for in a mascara, as it's not ever going to recreate false eyelashes for you. Smooth, even coverage with a glossy black finish and easy to remove when you're ready.



Two: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Glossing Mist Spray
Heat is not my friend. The warmer months kill my dry hair and it tends to get a little.. afro-ish come lunchtime. This product works to tame my dry, frays, frizz and flyaways during the warmer months all the while being Ultra-light and  non-greasy. I apply this straight after straightening and it makes my hair feel lovely! So silky, glossy and smooooooth. The loveliness lasts all day and smells pretty too.

Three: Innoxa Pure Silk Skin Primer

This is still my favourite primer to date. You can see my full review here.
It provides a silky base for even coverage, with a smooth, velvety finish. Not only does my make-up last a full day (including my blush which would usually fade away to nothing), but it literally glides onto the skin making it feel super smooth and touchable. It feels very light and natural on the skin, which is super advantageous given how sensitive and irritable my skin can get!

Four: The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

Mango is by far my favourite fruit. So sweet and summery.

I would love this body butter just for dat smell. But no, there's so much more to it than that. Aside from smelling so amazing, it's thick and it's creamy, and it leaves my skin feeling so nourished and the smooth, soft feeling lasts all day.

 

Five: Nivea In Shower Body Lotion

This ingenious product may (or may not) have been created specifically with me in mind. This my friends, is the ultimate lazy girl's body skin-care product! Over the years I have been notoriously skipping the oh-so important moisturising step. This is such a time saver, solving all my dry skin/lazy girl problems in one! I've never had such touchable and silky smooth skin all over my body, especially not this time of year. My skin always feels soft and hydrated after use and applying additional moisturiser isn’t necessary. 

 

Six: Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream

I've previously noted this Springtime scent in my Spring inspiration board, this floral, yet fruity scent is perfect for Spring, and I'm loving it! With top notes of blackberry, grapefruit, lychee and pear and floral jasmine and blue wisteria undertones, brought together by white woods, musks and coconut water. It sounds (and smells) good enough to eat - Nom.

 

Seven: Essence All About Matt! Oil Control Paper

With the temperatures quickly rising, I always keep a pack of Essence's blotting paper inside my purse for easy touch ups when I am out and about. Each thin sheet does a nice job of soaking up oil and sweat and mattifying the skin.

 

Eight: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder

Winter always makes my complexion drab. Come Spring, I like to add a pop of bronze to my face. This is everything you want in a bronzer- great for contouring, not muddy, not too brown, not orange at all and it's completely matte. I use shade 'Medium Matte' lightly in the Springtime for a subtle grow, but build it up through the Summer months for a more sun-kissed look. Either way, it never looks cakey or tacky.

Home Is Where My Stuff Is.

"Home is where the heart is..." is a poetic notion.

It’s almost too easy for me to admit this to myself – I’ve never been one to bend the truth and I can whole-heartedly say that for me, home isn't where my heart is. Or ever has been.

Home is where my stuff is.

The concept of “home” has always been unclear, and its meaning, a jumbled mess of feelings and people. I'm a mismatched puzzle piece..

..and everyday I feel like that is more and more true.

For years of my youth – long, tiresome years, I never felt as if I belonged.
See, I believe that home is supposed to be where you feel the safest and where you feel the most loved. I've never experienced that luxury. There was never a time when my house actually felt like home. Throughout my years filled with fights, insults, violence, countless nights of being alone, of self sufficiency, relying on only myself. I feel it's a parent's duty, as the two people who decided to bring me in to this world, to nurture their child, ensuring it has the leg up on life it deserves, no? Well what happens when one party drops that ball and fails such a duty? In a fucked up kind of way, or pretty glass slippers for Christie.

Never have I truly felt wanted, appreciated, safe, valued by said one party. 

and I am unable to escape this toxic environment that has been created around me.

Despite the lack of support, the "you're useless"-es, the lack of energy and will to try, I pushed myself to get a good education and I graduated within the top 10% of the state for my English exam results and I got myself a good job.

Fuelled by my determination to not end up anything like my 'father'.

 

Even though I have some place where I put my shit, I feel homesick for a place that doesn’t even exist.

I stopped wanting to come back to this place a long time ago. I rush off to work to relieve her frustration at living in a foreign place. It's like taking an aspirin for a toothache. The pain may subside, but unless the underlying problem is treated, the discomfort will always reappear.

What I’m saying is, if I never came back to this specific house, never saw this specific person who occupies that space again, I wouldn't care. I have no concept of home or family anymore.

I am determined to leave this place. No matter how hard the people around me make it. I'm stronger than I give myself credit for. These people will not break me.
I am my own goddamn magic pumpkin.