My 21st Birthday

I’m 21! My birthday was June 5, and although turning 21 doesn’t mean much in Australia, I took a few days to celebrate making it this far and thought I’d share it with you.

With my best friend and my mum, we took off to the Gold Cost in QLD, where, although it’s winter, it was warm enough to swim and be in the sun. We had cocktails, beautiful lunches, played putt putt golf (which I won), went to the Star casino and won $50 on roulette, visited Dreamworld theme park and went to this cool holographic place that had a holographic planetarium.

The weekend afterward, I also had some drinks with friends in the city and saw my family for a delicious lunch.

Enjoy the photos!

We stayed at the Hilton Residences in QLD and had this amazing view!

If you’re anything like me, a night of cheese, rose and a shitty movie is perfect.

Cuddles for mumma bear x

Way too much good food!

A selection of photos of me drinking in different locations

Staying humble

Back in Sydney, here I am at The Grounds of Alexandria…

Ucello Italian Restaurant in Sydney is absolutely stunning but needs a bit of work on their spelling haha!

Out for drinks with friends in this Boohoo playsuit and F21 boots

So, in conclusion, happy birthday to me!

 

Zoe x

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June Bullet Journal

Welcome to June!

June is my birthday month so I’m very excited about it beginning. I love the beginning of the month – you really feel as if you’re turning a new page. And with my bullet journal, I get to do that literally!

I set my June spread out a bit late, so maybe this can serve a inspiration for next month, or if you’re just starting a bujo. Hope you enjoy!

Constellations, space and stars are some of my favourite things, so I went with that theme for this month for my birthday. As you can see, my colours are primarily purple and yellow (if only Crayola did a supertip marker in gold!) and I’ve continued the theme throughout the spreads. For what I use in my bujo, read here 🙂

For my first pages, I set a title page and a monthly goals page. This is also where I keep my grid of the month to keep track of days and my writing tracker. I really like the simplicity of this page and how it has everything that I need for June on it.

For my next spread, I have my monthly layout, blog post tracker and expensive tracker. Although my May spread was only a half month, I used up the entire expense tracker page, so my goal for June is to keep it to one page for the whole month! My monthly spread is pretty simple, with just writing down the big things that day, and then I have some blog posts I’d love to get up in June if I can.

These trackers are probably my favourite part of the whole bujo system. I loved filling them in every night and holding myself accountable for what I did that day! Last month, I had the water tracker with how good my skin was looking, and the habit tracker above the mood tracker, but I decided to change it up with the mood tracker under the water, to see more how I’m feeling when I drink more water. I graph the mood & water with dots that I join up in a line graph, and the habit tracker with little dots. Last month I tried to colour in the habit tracker with squares, but I don’t have a dotted journal so this didn’t work out super well. I think the dots will look way better. This month I also added in cuticle oil, no spending, reading and doing something that scares me every day.

For the first week of June, we only have 4 days, and whilst I normally wouldn’t do a spread like this, my birthday is the 5th and I’m heading to QLD for a couple of days. So, I thought I would block a page out for my packing list/itinerary/notes for my birthday and I really like it! I kept this page very simple for my tasks for the half week.

This is my next spread! I had to set it out now as I’ll be so busy over the week I’ll not have a chance to do it. I set out my May ones slightly differently, but I realised I needed more space for to-do lists and ideas, so kept it reasonably simple and didn’t block any space for decorations. I really like the simple design with the little suns! A weekly events space is also essential for me as I love seeing my week in action.

I hope you liked my June bujo! Let me know if you have any suggestions for me and what you liked best!

Zoe x

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Declutter My Notebooks With Me!

I don’t know about you, but I for one am a H O A R D E R of notebooks. For some unknown reason, I’m obsessed with stationery and just end up with way too much stuff. On my journey to decluttering (I don’t want to say minimalism, I’m wayyy off that lol), I decided (finally) it was time to part with some of my notebooks. I was keeping them in this shelf next to my desk, which can be used way better, so – let’s declutter!

I started by pulling all the notebooks out… you can see just how ridiculous my collection is! Remember, on top of this I also have my bullet journal, a book for random notes, a book for scrap paper and a diary…

I then sorted these books into definitely keeping, definitely getting rid of and maybe piles. I find this is the easiest way to do any sort of decluttering, as you can just continuously sift through the maybe pile until it doesn’t exist anymore.

In my keep pile, I have my travel journal from Hong Kong and South East Asia last year, that I moved to my bookshelf with all my other travel journals. The stripey book is my recipe book, which needs to go to the kitchen. The bottom book with the peacocks in it is the book I jot all my ideas for birthdays and Christmas presents & cards into, the little blue book is my gratitude journal which should be by my bed, and the yellow one is my old ideas notebook for writing that I’ll keep, but it should probably be in my bookshelf or in storage, as I don’t use it anymore.

The definitely getting rid of books were these; the green and black are used up, the blue geometric was my old journal, and the one on top was from my final year of school that I kept for tutoring kids, but everything in it is online. Time to go!

These notebooks are so beautiful and I live for them, I just never know what to put inside! I’m definitely keeping them, but if anyone has any ideas on what to use them for let me know! I like keeping the darker brown one in my bag as a little ideas notebook, but I like using my bullet journal as a place for that kind of thing… Either way, they are staying.

The other black book and the Newt Scamander journal I don’t know what to put into either. I’m definitely keeping them, and might have to bring them into work. I just need to figure out what I’m going to do with them! I think I’m going to make the NS one a dream journal and keep it by my bed, and the black one a sketchbook. We’ll see!

Here it is after decluttering! And for those who’ll ask about my cars tin… it has important stuff in it and I love it haha.

I hope this inspired someone to go through and get rid of all those notebooks they don’t need anymore!!

Zoe x

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My Bullet Journal Supplies

Recently, I have gotten right into bullet journalling, and I’m absolutely obsessed with it! I’m definitely going to do a complete post on my bullet journal soon (probably for my June spread), but for now I thought I’d share my favourite journalling supplies. Amanda Rach Lee – one of my favourite BuJo youtubers – always says you don’t need anything to bullet journal other than a notebook and a pen, and she’s right. Don’t feel like you need any of this stuff – it’s just what I decided to use and I’ve been having lots of fun with it! Also, I’m obsessed with stationery haha.

The Journal

I couldn’t be bothered ordering/finding a proper dotted journal, so I use this spiral art notebook from Kmart ($4). Honestly, this works perfectly for me because I like the pages looking cleaner, and because it’s spiral it’s really easy to fix mistakes (i.e. rip out pages). I like the plain cover too – I’m definitely not one for crazy outside patterns! With a good ruler, I find i don’t even need the dots on the page as I can make my own if I need them!

The Pens

For my pens, I use a combination of normal pens, calligraphy pens and markers. My go-tos are below!

Sharpie pens, ZIG Millennium pens in 03 and 08 (black x2, blue x 1). Also use Artline 200s in 0.4.

Manuscript Italic calligraphy pens in 2,5 and 4,5, fountain pen with multiple nibs, parker quink.

ZIG double ended calligraphy pens in black and blue.

ZIG writer thick & thin ended markers, black, blue and grey.

The Pretty Stuff

For colour, I chose to go with the crayola supertips markers and I LOVE them! In this pack, you get a great range of colours, the marker tips can go thick or thin, they were only $10 so super affordable, and they make me feel like a kid again. All bonuses – I really love these!

I’ve also been really liking these faber castel brush tip pens (PITT artist pens) meant for manga colouring in!

The Extras

I use miscellaneous stuff too – this gun ruler is from Typo, the double sided tape is from a stationery place and the double sided stickers are from a scrapbooking shop. For any little bits and pieces that I like sticking into the journal, I find my inspiration on pinterest, tumblr and youtube, print stuff out and stick it in or go crazy with little scrapbooking stuff. Sticking in ticket stubs and stuff like that is also a really cool idea!

Places to find BuJo Inspiration:
Amanda Rach Lee
Rachel Aust
Amanda Rach Lee Doodles Instagram

 

Zoe x

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My Skincare Routine

I have recently changed up my makeup routine a fair bit, and thought I’d share it with you guys! I’ve been having a few issues in regards to not drinking enough water, changing my diet, hormones, etc, so I have tried to listen to my skin more and have built this routine up from there. For example, I loved the Simple cleansing oil, but although it worked really well, smelt great and made my skin feel smooth, I ended up with clogged pores all over my chin and had to stop using it. So, I’ve taken it back to basics, gone with products that I love and am definitely seeing a difference!

My first step is removing my makeup with the Garnier micellar cleansing water, which I obviously don’t have to do in the mornings though I sometimes do just to freshen up a bit. I squirt a bit of this onto a makeup round and soak my face in it till it’s feeling clean.

My next step it to cleanse, which I do in the morning at the sink and at night in the shower. I use my Vanity Planet ultimate spa system brush for this, with the Simple Face Wash. I tend to opt for the silicone brush head, but occasionally use the exfoliating one or the general one when my skin is feeling sensitive. I like the silicone one as it doesn’t harbor any bacteria. I will also use the St Ives Green Tea Scrub in place of the Simple wash a couple of times a week to give my skin a proper exfoliate every now and then.

As soon as I get out of the shower, I tone with Witchazel, which I have decanted into spray bottle to make it easier for me to use. I try to do this immediately, as the sooner you tone after cleansing the better. I’ll then use my acne treatment (clindatech), and then when that has sunk in, I’ll go in with the Simple Light Moisturiser. I used to love using the NUXE oil and I still like it, but I feel it’s a bit heavy on my skin these days, so I’ll only use it occasionally.

 

If needed, I’ll do some extra things. If my skin feels particularly disgusting, I’ll use a homemade sugar scrub (see the recipe here), and follow up with a face mask or pore strip. Read about my favourite face masks here! I’ve also really been liking this Kmart branded one with charcoal, jojoba and clay in it recently. Tip: always use a makeup brush to apply a facemask – minimizes wastage, is more hygienic and goes on smoother!

If I go with a pore strip, it will usually be a Biore one.

A love of mine recently has been the Mario Badesco drying lotion, which I apply overnight to dry out spots and it really does work! Buy off beautybay though – shopping for Mario Badesco in Sephora or Mecca in Australia is very expensive.

I’m really bad at remembering, but if I do, I like to put eye cream on at night. Literally any one I have at the time will do!

Is your skincare routine any different to mine?

Zoe x

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How To: Nail A Job Interview

Job interviews are pretty terrifying for almost everyone. We tend to overthink and over analyse every minute detail, usually resulting in us being a basket case of nerves when the time to actually do the interview comes around. I have had a pretty good run with interviews, so I thought I’d share my tips! These apply for ALL jobs – from casual to full-time corporate!

Don’t underestimate the power of a good CV

To have a chance at any job, you need a CV that is easy to read and relevant to the job. Make sure you use the key words from the application/job description in the resume and cover letter. There are a tonne of different ways to write a CV, so you need to do the research to figure out which one will be the best for you. If you are in the interview stage, likely they would have seen your CV already, but make sure you bring some more copies for everyone at the interview.

Dress to Impress

I feel like this is an obvious one, but people still overlook it. Dressing well is CRUCIAL to performing well in an interview. Make sure your clothes have been selected to fit the job, and have been ironed if they need to be. Freshly paint your nails, brush your hair, wear nice jewelry. It isn’t difficult to do and trust me – chipped nail polish comes across worse than you think!

Be happy and confident

People are very receptive to someone who is friendly, sunny and sure of themselves. They will be more likely to like you and go easier on you in the interview if you give them no reason to be otherwise. If you’re nervous, take a deep breath before answering any question. Be polite and keep smiling! If you’re going to inject some humour into the interview (if it’s appropriate) go ahead, just make sure the jokes won’t offend anyone in the room.

Do your research

This is another essential. Don’t just research the job, but research the people who will be interviewing you. What are their strengths? What do they like in a person? Researching this will also make you feel much more confident when you get into the interview, as there will be no curve balls thrown at you.

Be open and accepting

If the interview turns out differently than you’d expected, be open to it and accept it for what it is. By forcing your preconceived notions onto the interview, you won’t be at your best for the position.

Be positive if things don’t turn out your way

If you don’t end up with the job, don’t give up! Thank them politely for their time and consideration, and maybe ask for feedback as to where you went wrong. If it went particularly well and you still didn’t get it, maybe ask the boss if they can recommend anywhere similar for you to apply. Any connections made during the interview should’t be lost!

I hope this was helpful – and good luck if you’re going into a job interview soon!

Zoe x

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March Favourites 2017

This month I have discovered a whole array of new things that I have come to love!

Mario Badesco Drying Lotion

I know everyone harps on about this, but it is completely warranted! I use this stuff to calm down spots, ones that have come up and ones that are brewing, and also to dry out those weird hormonal bumps on my chin. I absolutely can’t get over how much it has cleared up my skin, and it’s definitely worth a try!

IKEA Bed & Bedside Tables

My new TARVA bed and RAST bedside tables have been an obsession of mine. When I moved into this apartment I didn’t have a bedframe, and having one makes a huge difference to the overall ‘homey’ feel of it. The fairy lights are from kmart, the bedding from IKEA and the cushion was a gift. Stay tuned for more ~aesthetic~ photos in my apartment tour!

Elf Flawless Finish Foundation

I would consider this $10 foundation comparable to the NARS Sheer Glow. I’m not kidding. Their shade range for pale skin is amazing, with just the right amount of yellow to neutral out the pinkness in my fair complexion. It has great medium coverage, a lovely demi-matte finish and lasts quite well throughout the day. It also comes in a gorgeous glass bottle that makes the product look like NARS as well as perform like it!

Lip Lab Lipstick

For Christmas, my mum bought me a voucher to go to the Lip Lab in Paddington (Sydney), where you get to create your own lipstick and they make it in front of you. You get to personally create the colour, pick a formula, choose a scent, name it, insert additives like lip plumper and moisturiser – you can basically create your dream lipstick, and that’s exactly what I did. I’m in love with it!

Zoella Sweet Inspirations Body Mist & Double Creme Lotion

This range has recently become available in Target in Australia and I was super excited about it! I have to say, I still prefer the original scent but this is still a very nice sweet scent. I find it works really well as a base for other perfumes too, complementing them with vanilla and sweet almond. The bottle is also beautiful, making it perfect for display

Pop Sockets

I have been on the popsocket trend for a while now – so much so that I physically cannot hold my phone without it! If you haven’t tried popsockets, get on board! Phone grips, headphone winder and phone stand? Absolute win. I also recently picked up the phone holder that I have attached to my car dashboard, making my life SO much easier. I get my popsockets online and from Sportsgirl, my phone case is from Kmart.

Simple Oil Cleanser

My best friend got me onto this and I’m really digging it! It’s a lovely hydrating and gentle way to take your makeup off at the end of the day. I definitely need to cleanse afterwards, and if I’m wearing a particularly heavy face of makeup I tend to swipe a bit of micellar water over my skin too, but for the most part this is just fine at melting down the makeup. Its scent is lovely and it’s a super inexpensive product.

Elf Acne Fighting Primer

I picked this up at the same time as I got the Elf foundation, and I really like it! I can’t wait to grab their illuminating one. I don’t think it does a heap for my skin in terms of ‘blemish control’, but it’s a light, fresh and moisturising primer that definitely keeps my makeup looking nicer for longer. For the price, you really can’t go wrong. Also, can we just take a moment to appreciate the step up in Elf packaging?!

 

Morphe M504 Blending Brush

This blending brush I ordered off Beauty Bay and I’m obsessed with it. I’ve never used anything Morphe before, but the quality for the price is incredible. It picks up colour so well, blends it out nicely and doesn’t disrupt the pigmentation. I love it!

Zoe x

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