lately

finding pretty spaces in adelaide

best new coffee spot

weddings 

tony taking over my psychology assessment

spending money on the internet

attempting to dress up as lindsey from freaks and geeks

beers at ze german club

lovin'

i have a new blog crush. jessica stanley is an australian living in london (hey i've done that!) and maintains an atheistically pleasing and well educated blog (a rarity) that causes me to stop and think, and look at things on the internet other than what celebrities wore to cannes (however I did think that emma watson looked looked totally babin' at the bling ring premiere). i love the feeling of going through my google reader (soon to be DELETED! what are you thinking google?!) and coming out the other side feeling smarter and more well read, rather than my head feeling heavy with trash.

ps. another great blog i turn to in order to clear my mind is hila's beautiful and smart blog.

proud face

finding this little article in my newsfeed today certainly makes me feel a little prouder to be an australian. i find it hard to be proud somedays when considering our asylum seeker policy and mandatory detention. but thats another rant for another day. le sigh. so lets just look at this pretty picture for the time being. 

reunion

Thanks to the internet, more specifically eBay, knitted oatmeal coloured Lover jumper and I have been reunited. The whereabouts of the original is a sad tale whereupon I most likely got drunk and left the it at the Exeter (Adelaide pub). Many said Lauren, don't be stupid and buy the same jumper again, get over it. I saw their logical point but said psssh and now jumper, we are together again.

caroline hirons

This lady has become my skincare god, she knows her shit and isn't influenced by selling certain brands.  She has some general skin principles that have seen my skin become clearer and hydrated in the last few months. I have read all of her 'cheatsheets' on her blog! (Too much spare time) A great beauty blogger Amelia blogged about an info session with Caroline and the key messages she took away from it. Check it out here. She also did an interview with the amazing Pixiwoo sisters where she has a good rant. The general things I have incorporated so far have been:

Cleanser that foams is bad. Leave bubbles for your dishes. Try a cream cleanser or a balm cleanser and take it off with a warm flannel. One that I use is Elemental Herbology purify and soothe balm.

Exfoliating is important: not manual exfoliation but masks or toners that take away dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling new. I use the Elemental Herbology 'Facial Glow Radiance Peel' often and have just bought the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner for this step. (Stay away from alcohol-based toners like Clinique Clarifying Lotion - they strip your skin of moisture)

MOISTURISE! with a serum and a moisturiser. Caroline recommends Hydraluron which is a clear serum packed with hyaluronic acid which helps hold moisture in the skin. Following the serum should be a good moisturiser that isn't cheap. Most cheap ones contain 'mineral oil' which just creates a surface over your skin meaning that other products cant absorb in and it can trap stuff underneath your skin so you get breakouts. She recommends investing in a better quality moisturiser. I usually try to afford Aesop moisturisers (thankyou credit card).

She says a lot of other things like how bad sugar and alcohol is for your skin and to take fish oil supplements and a lot of things  I can't do because i don't have that much money or willpower. However, just a few of her hints have helped my skin look much better and I haven't had to spend heaps of money - I've just been more careful in the products I chose for my skin.