hi, again

[18/01/2015]

Oh look, a selfie. That's kinda rare for me but I actually want to change that this year. Not because I'm extra into myself this year (rofl) but because I've always been so camera shy that I really would like to change that. Aaand I've already diverged off topic..  I thought I was going to throw the towel in when it came to this blog but today I kinda realised I still want this little place hanging around. My mindset has changed drastically in the last few months (thanks America) but it might be more accurate to say that it's gone back to where it should be, but version 2.0 this time.  So where has it gone back to? My first ever, ever love, music. I started allowing myself to pursue it a few years back now and starting from scratch as an adult was a much bigger task than I initially thought. Not just the lack of experience and skillset (compared to even that of a teenager) but the mindset. I went from being an academically driven girl to a girl realising she did it because it was so externally rewarding and so fitting in to her surrounding universe. So from that to who I see myself as now, a creative, has been a long and unexpected shift and process.  

  I sort of fell out of love of music for awhile there. Never completely, but it became a ritual. Add to that were some negative people that really impacted me and my view on it and I'm glad to say that I'm now rid of them. In that mean time, I fell in love with blogs. How these girls (and I say girls because 100% of the blogs I follow are by these beautiful, smart, creative babes) run these thoughtful and inspiring, personalised spaces was and is really something to me. Many of them are carving out a career out of being a creative, regardless of the controversy (which I honestly scoff at - every industry has it's honest and dishonest folk) and to me that is inspiring. I definitely had very little influence from successful and creative people growing up so I'm glad for such industries to be strengthening. But that was my case in point, these girls are creative. They put on makeup for the love and fun of it, they wear what they want because that's who they are, and discovering those sorts of blogs was such a source of inspiration during that time.

  But v2.0 me, the music girl, is back. I finally feel like I might really have something to share and instead of just worrying about the career part. And so that bloody should be. So in the last few months I kinda neglected this little space here. But while practising my scales today, I realised I kinda missed it. When I came up with the blog name, I knew it was a keeper. While I'm definitely no ViviannaDoesMakeup or the girls at A Beautiful Mess, I definitely love writing. So.. I'm keeping it :) *audience cheer*. Instead of a blog of assorted goods, it's now my diary companion to my music journey, a letter box of notes and tidbits, if you will.

So, hi again :)

x, mai-anne

twtw 12: the week of finishing stuff and moving on..

[18/05/2014]

Concise title. I know. Things haven't been interesting enough and have been a slight blur so hence the missing twtw posts of late. But last week's theme was definitely one that felt like things were ending, but mostly in a good kind of way. 

First up, I did it! I finished the blogilates beginner's calendar! Since I'm a total noob at sports, my body is really stiff and so I decided to go lightly at it (and still felt the pain - how unfit am I!). I let myself skip a day a week though by the 2nd half, I was doing some kind of exercise everyday. I'm going to do it again and try to attack everything on the list and harder. Even though I was expecting nothing, I actually am starting to feel more strength, even in my own character too, and my core muscles (I now actually have some!) are starting to look firmer. Still hundreds of miles to go but the first mile has been knocked down. Yes..!

On the lifey side, my weirdass work schedule has now been sorted but it has meant saying a few goodbyes which were sadder than I expected. It is strange how people come into your life, in a big or small way, and then leave. What's even sadder is that you know you probably won't ever see them again. But life moves on and you have to make decisions like these but it's something I wonder about a lot. I sound super corny right now but in truth, I am a little miffed by it. On the plus side, I feel anew again for the coming week. I'm ready to work hard and go get my dreams. Let's do this!

x, mai-anne

getting my health on #1: the start

[11/05/2014]

It was time. To whip my 20-something body in shape. I've never been one with the sports. At school I ran the slowest, jumped the shortest, couldn't catch, couldn't throw and was a complete liability on anyone's sports team. YUP. I was that kid. As an adult, well I can't say much has changed, eek. Lately I've been inspired by seeing how fit some of my friends are and seeing that fellow junkfood lover ViviannaDoesMakeup could kick up her game, I had that well maybe I can do it too, thought. And somehow, I've managed to get excited by it. 

To start, I needed gear. All I previously had were my Sketchers from school (remember when they were cool?!) which were really unappealing. So my bargain eyes went hunting for a sale and found these Puma sneakers on TheIconic for $54, it's a sign. I bought a few sports bras from Target which are quite good for a beginner like me and I found these 1kg dumbbells for $5 at BigW. Pretty weak, but at 1kg, they're not intimidating, meaning that I'll actually use them.

I'm also in the midst of adjusting my diet to include more fibre and protein for my apple shaped body. I am averagely built/slightly on the small side but for someone of my size, I have a really high percentage body fat. Something I've accepted as my body shape thus far, but it's time to change that mentality. It's not healthy and it can be helped. In my quest for chia seeds I found this beetroot supplement instead and it's quite yummy with yoghurt! Great for blood circulation and general good health. I plan on doing some health food hauling soon..

The biggest change is that I'm doing blogilates as mentioned in a previous twtw post :D And I just started my last week of the beginner's calendar! I'm so happy I've stuck to it thus far, and while I have been determined to, part of me is surprised that this unsporty girl didn't change her mind about it *fist pump*. Even though it's only been 3 weeks, I already can feel the changes - I mean I can actually feel that I have muscles! My body is still very stiff though so I plan on doing the same calendar another 2 times (with all the boxes completed) with my own adjustments made for my body and needs, ie extra cardio.

Now to lift some dumbbells..

mini usa beauty haul

[07/05/2014]

Don't cha just love it when you have a friend travelling to the US? :D I had a very small wishlist as I always feel guilty asking for too much, especially knowing she was going to a festival (and coachella at that, *drools*).  As usual I had MAC on the hitlist as most items are marked up more than 200% here down under (hmph). I caved and asked for the 217 brush, curiosity has gotten the better of me and I plan to collect a few dupes for a comparison post. But yes, it does apply and blend eyeshadow like a dream, particularly for one-wash wonder shadows. The shadows I've had serious lemmings for were the khaki toned Coquette and chocolate hue of Handwritten, just perfect for the wintery eyes I'm lusting after. 

I also asked for a mini of the Urban Decay Primer Potion to see if it could do it's creaseless magic on my eyes, but sadly no - it still creased after a few short hours even when powdered on top, weep. My lovely friend also threw in a gift in there, a Chanel Nail Polish in Rouge Noir. My first Chanel product. I have never loved red nails of any sort so I was apprehensive, but it being Chanel, I tried it (of course). And the colour is gorgeous. The deep red hue also makes your hands look really healthy too. Downside? It chips so fast. So fast. I'm talking full nail chips after a shower. Eek, more experimenting required...

Now back to my parcel forwarding plans for more US goodies.. (that's if they happen!).

twtw #11 - the greatest new tv show ever

[27/04/2014]

That's right, I just discovered one of the best tv shows ever. Brooklyn Nine Nine. In short, it's BRILLIANT. I'm not a massive tv person, I don't watch that many, I just have Friends periodically on in the background and watch my fave tuber's doin' their thang when it's lunchtime (or when a new one popping up in my sub box, let's be honest) but after How I Met Your Mother ended (terribly, so terribly..) there was a little tv hole in my life. I had heard of BNN from their Golden Globes win and since I discovered 30 Rock that way, it was on my radar. And Thank God. There are so many good things about this show: the writing, the cast, Andy Samberg (warning: I'm now silly fangirl of his - funny, geeky boys *heart eyed emoticon*) and with small snippets of social commentary slipped in. Perfect. I literally laugh out loud in every episode. I really appreciate how each character is really developed, how well tied together each episode and the series storyline arc is and the diversity of the cast whilst allowing "typically similar characters" to work together instead of having them compete (with two Latina girls and two Afro-American guys, who are in the senior roles might I add). The staff really thought about it all beforehand and not just develop them as they went along. It's got that stupid-smart comedic style which I love, when characters/storylines seem so stupid but it's you know it's so clever at the same time. I hate throwing the word talent around, but the team behind this show has got it. Fingers crossed for high ratings so that this show goes on for a long, long time. Gawd, I've gushed way too much already, oops..

A really good mate of mine told me about John Newman's voice (really unfortunate name if you live in Sydney, Australia, particularly the South-West, if you know what I mean) and I listened with my jaw dropped. Such an interesting tone he's got there and while it's not super natural sounding, who cares. I'm a huge fan of Otis Redding who he references as a major influence and you can really hear that in JN's voice. I was really surprised to hear that he has the same high-pitched tone and rasp as OR did. His album Tribute is rather good and I'm sure with a few more spins I'll really get into it. 

One of my favourite moments this week was having a games night with my pals. We get super competitive and while my general knowledge just sucks (I'm such an all-or-nothing person which isn't a great skill in these scenarios) it was fun. Best of all, we played the greatest ever group game - MAFIA. Highly recommended. So recommended by me that I will look down upon those who don't enjoy it. I'm kidding, not. Ha!

it's not about the stuff (anymore)

[20/11/2014]

A few years ago I caught the beauty bug. From simply wanting to relieve my sexy eczema ailments, I found myself building skincare regimes and having too-much-makeup problems. And quite honestly, I loved it. Like a lot of beauty lovers,  I got into watching youtube videos and squealed over new releases and mac eyeshadows (still a real weakness). It’s something a lot of people don’t get and usually lump with vanity (a topic i definitely want to post about at some point) and while I once only saw that “ugly” side to it (oh to be adolescent and judgemental), I truly do see the actual beauty side of that coin now. 

So why the post title? I’ve really come to the realisation that I'm no viviannadoesmakeup (girl is the next Sally Hughes fo sho) with an insatiable lust for beauty and talent for beauty writing, or Lisa Eldridge with a deep knowledge and skill about makeup, I really just like, or love, the self-expression side. I had definitely gotten caught up in wanting to “test" products, create seasonal edits like my favourite blogs to now properly realising that isn’t the main way I enjoy it myself, even though I do get that side (oh yes, siree). It really hit me the other day the part I love most about this whole beauty shebang is that it allows for self expression, not the products themselves. It's the part where I get to look the way I want to because I chose to. Where I get to pair certain colours together because that’s what I'm feelin'. It sounds dramatic but isn't that is one of the best parts about art, that feeling it evokes or brings out in us. (Even though I’m nowhere near as avante garde as that sentence might suggest). I still love all of this, it's just much less about the stuff side now. And this light bulb moment has got me excited for this little corner of the interwebs again. Yey :)

the sunday scribble #04: grandma night in

[19/10/2014]

ANTIPODES GRAPESEED BUTTER CLEANSER || MICHAEL TODD AVOCADO & MANGO HYDRATING FACIAL MASK || ESSIE GROW FASTER BASE COAT || ULTRA NAILS NAIL STRENGTHENER || CLINIQUE NAIL ENAMEL, BLACK HONEY || SALLY HANSEN MEGA SHINE TOP COAT

on the playlist: george ezra, wanted on voyage

Sometimes, you need a granny night in and chill. I had this one in the books and after really only planning a movie length to pamper, I ended up staying up much later after a long chat with my mum and some night writing inspiration, whoops. So while I'm a little tired this morning, I hath no regrets. :D
  The pamper started with some serious cleansing with the Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser and Lisa Eldridge's face massage video to guide. While I previously thought the video fascinating to watch (as are all LE's videos) I thought it might be slightly boring to actually do but nope, I'm converted. Boy did my face feel relaxed after that session and the cleanser was a great choice with plenty of slip and a slight pretty menthol fragrance. After the surprise burn from the Michael Todd Pumpkin Mask (maybe a face massage shouldn't be followed by a AHA mask?) I turned to a trusted goodie and it's another MT mask, but this time the Avocado + Mango Hydrating Facial Mask. It smells of my favourite fruits and is seriously hydrating, it's really becoming a favourite around here.  The amount of work needed to paint my nails can put me off but the weeks of bare tips finally got to me  so last night I finally gave them a paint job. While spring has sprung here down under, I really wanted to try a newbie to the stash and that is the Clinique's Black Honey. While it doesn't make the hands look as healthy as Chanel's Rouge Noir, it's still very pretty.

Accompanying me on the night was a "chick flick", but of course. I picked About Time mainly because I love Rachel McAdams, and she and movie didn't disappoint. The film is nothing groundbreaking but it is heartwarming and sometimes that's all you need.  Domhnall Gleeson is such a sweetheart (Bill Weasely!) and I didn't realise how much I like Richard Curtis' work! *doh!*

(PS, man is this George Eszra album, good. And this is only my first spin.. wowser.)