Sunday 28 June 2020

Thoughts of the week

1. We've only been out of lock down a few weeks and I'm already thinking of ways to slow down and simplify our lives.

2. This week I wore normal shoes on both feet for the first time in 8 months! It was very exciting. I only lasted a few hours, but it was still nice.

3.To all of those reading this on Bloglovin, hello and thank for reading!

4. To all of you not reading on Bloglovin, thank you for reading too :)

5. How good is coffee. (That's a statement not a question.)

Friday 26 June 2020

FFS Friday - Broken wings

We're now a week closer to BIL's arrival and I'm filled with dread. I really, really don't want him here. I hate having people in my space. I have no idea how I'm going to cope. 

I've been asked by several people if Tiger discussed this with me before telling BIL he could stay with us. He did. He knows how I feel about it. If I insisted then BIL wouldn't stay, but he's family and I would never put Tiger in the position of having to tell his brother that he can't stay. 

As awful and difficult as it will be for me, Tiger hasn't lived in the same state as his brother for over seven years so it'll be really nice for them to get some quality time together. They are very close and Tiger has really missed BIL. I wouldn't deny him time with his family just as he wouldn't deny me if the tables were turned.

Tiger will do his best to protect me and make sure I'm coping okay. I've also arranged with my BFF to spend time at her place if I need to. She has a spare room and I have a key to her house so if I need to escape I can go there and stay a few nights whenever I want to. 
Added to that, I have a good friend who lives across the road so I can always go visit her when I need some peace.


This week it's become quite apparent that Chai is trying to kill us. He's expertly utilising various torture methods.

Sleep torture is his most effective weapon. After lulling us into complacency by giving us around three blissful weeks of him sleeping in his own bed all night, he's now reverted to coming into our room every single night. 

Not only does he come in, he makes sure to wake us up by shining a light into our face and talking until we are both wide awake. Once he's woken us both up he then refuses to go back to his own bed and tells us that he can't sleep because he's either scared or having bad thoughts. Fight this all we like, he will not go back to his own room and ultimately ends up happily ensconced in our bed whilst I lie there wide awake in our bed and Tiger does the same thing in Chai's bed.

We thought we'd outsmart him by putting a mattress in our room and telling him that if he came into our room he had to sleep on the mattress. That resulted in our worst night ever. He didn't like the mattress where it was so refused to sleep on it. We put him back into his bed where he started crying so we had to quickly get him out before he woke up Eljay.
Back in our room he still wouldn't sleep on the mattress and we were all wide awake. Mother Nature then decided to lend Chai a helping hand and started a huge storm. Chai is petrified of storms. 

I spat the dummy and went to the lounge room, resigned to being wide awake. Tiger put the mattress in the spot Chai wanted it and tried to get to sleep. Undeterred, Chai made sure Tiger couldn't get to sleep by asking to hop into bed with him every two minutes until he wore Tiger down. Chai slept in our bed with Tiger, I slept in Chai's bed that night. I think Tiger and I got about three hours sleep. 

We're totally broken.  

Added to that Chai's behaviour is horrible. He's so awful to his brother and nothing we do changes that. 

In a way it's been really good for Tiger to finally understand what I've been going through all these years. He's always thought that everything would be okay when he wasn't working away.
He's not working away and it's not okay. It's far from okay. 

We're both broken and I don't know how we're going to continue. I also know that we will continue because there is no other option.

If only we could find someone to help. 

Tuesday 23 June 2020

The Lip Oil Series: YSL Beauty Volupte Tint-in-Oil

I'm not sure what happened but I totally forgot about The Lip Oil Series. My last post was in July last year. Oops. I have plenty of Lip Oils so shall continue the series until I've reviewed my whole collection.

Today I'll tell you about the YSL Beauty Volupte Tint-in-Oil.



I've long been a fan of YSL lip products. They're expensive but so beautiful. I love the apricot scent and they always nail the formula. 

Volupte Tint-in-Oil is one of the first lip oils I purchased. It's a light, hydrating wash of sheer colour. On me the glossy shine wears off after a few hours however my lips feel hydrated for around six hours.  

The hydration is thanks to a combination of four different oils: apricot kernel oil, coriander fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, and passiflora edulis seed oil (aka maracuja oil). 

I really like the applicator, the bent shapes fits my lips perfectly making application precise and super easy.



I have the shade Pink About Me, which looks very bright on the sponge applicator but is clear on my pigmented lips. On someone with lighter lips it would give a lovely sheer pink flush.


As with most YSL lip products Tint-in-Oil has a lovely apricot flavour and fragrance. 
If you'd like to read my previous Lip Oil Series posts they're:
Zoella Tinted Berry Lip Oil
Physician's Formula Argan Wear Lip Oil Duo
Lancome Juicy Shakers vs Designer Brands Lavish Lip Oil
Kiehl's Love Oil for Lips and Yes to Coconuts Cooling Lip Oil
Rimmel Oh My Gloss Oil Tint

What's your favourite lip oil?

Sunday 21 June 2020

Thoughts of the week

1.It was my birthday this week and I was given a voucher for Saison. I've never looked at their website before, they have so many beautiful products and unique brands.

2. I've been meaning to ask this for a while now. What is with people highlighting the end of their nose? I don't understand.

3.The last few days have been rough. Chai's crap behaviour has sapped my will to live. I have no idea how people with severely autistic children survive, Chai isn't even autistic and I'm struggling. If only it was easier to get help.

4. The new Burt's Bees vanilla maple lip balm is so good! I got mine at Big W, it's also available at Chemist Warehouse.

5. Speaking of Big W, if you want something from the toy sale but can't be bothered dealing with the huge crowds and empty shelves, take your catalogue and go to Target, they'll price match.

Friday 19 June 2020

FFS Friday - FFS

I was recently complaining to a friend that I've had to buy "so many new pairs of shoes" thanks to my ankle surgery.
Would you like to know what I call "so many"? 
Two pairs. 
Yes, that's right.

Pre surgery I was okay. It was summer so I just wore slip on sandals and there was no problem. After surgery it was cold so I couldn't wear my light, material shoes. I needed a pair of joggers that I could get on my swollen foot whilst wearing the ankle brace. I bought a pair on sale and that was great until I didn't have to wear the ankle brace any more. Then I discovered that all of my shoes rubbed on the scar.
I had to buy another pair of shoes that didn't touch my scar. Luckily I found a pair of Sketchers on sale.

So why do I call two new pairs of shoes "so many"?
Since I stopped working I just wear the same pair of shoes every day. I buy a pair that I love and wear them until they die. I don't go anywhere that requires me to dress up, so I wear joggers and casual clothes. I don't need several pairs of shoes, I just need one comfortable pair. 

Now, thanks to my ankle I have lots of shoes. I suppose that's a good thing because they'll last for ages so I won't need to buy shoes for the next ten years, unless I manage to get a job or a life so need shoes that are a little more dressy.

It's funny how things change isn't it? In my pre child days I bought shoes regularly and I never wore the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Those days are long gone.


This week we found out that Tigers brother (BIL) is coming to stay with us. FFS.

I am not at all happy about it. FFS.

I'm an introvert. I don't like people in my space. I can handle it for a few days but anything more drives me crazy. 

BIL is not a good house guest. Some people are easy to have around, BIL is not. He doesn't clean up after himself, demands a lot, expects that his desires are more important than the boys and is just not fun to be around.

Tiger has told him that he can stay for a month. FFS. 

It's going to be a very long month. I may not survive.

He'll be here in around three weeks. FFS.

Wish me luck. 

Tuesday 16 June 2020

June Fox Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Blue light blocking glasses have been around for a while now. I wasn't sure if they would work or if they were just a gimmick, so when I was given the chance to try some I jumped at it. 


After using them for around four weeks I can tell you that they aren't a gimmick and they actually work. 

Tiger and Chai use mine a lot more than I do, I need to get three more pairs so that I can have my own pair. 

Tiger uses the glasses at night as he has problems sleeping. On the nights he wears them he gets to sleep easier.

The biggest difference I've noticed is with Chai. He's one of those kids who can't cope with screen time, it sends him crazy and has a very negative effect on his behaviour. Whilst I limit his screen time as much as possible, some of his learning is online. 
I've noticed that when he's wearing the glasses his behaviour is a lot better than when he doesn't wear them. 
Clearly there's something about the blue light that just doesn't work for him. 

Blue light inhibits melatonin production (melatonin helps us sleep) and can also cause eye strain, headaches, blurred vision and vertigo.
 

Above is a video showing how the June Fox glasses block blue light.

Have you tried blue light blocking glasses?
 

Sunday 14 June 2020

Thoughts of the week

1. Here in Western Australia the libraries have re-opened and I'm thrilled. I don't mind reading books online but much prefer holding a book in my hands. The boys have really missed the library too.

2. Chai has only had four lessons with his tutor and already his reading and writing is so much better. It's amazing how quickly children thrive when they're taught the right way. If all children were taught to read and write as if they were dyslexic there would be very few children with literacy issues.

3. I've totally lost my motivation the last few weeks. If anyone sees it, can you please send it back to me?

4. Who's bought something fun lately? My shopping mojo has gone too. I think it ran away with my motivation.

5. Selling Sunset Season 2 is on Netflix. I watch it whilst I'm at the gym. The houses are amazing but I don't understand why the women are so nasty to each other.

Friday 12 June 2020

FFS Friday - I don't like it

All of a sudden life has got really busy and I don't like it at all.
We're now out of the house five days a week. My previous routine we were only out of the house three days a week, so we'd go out one day, then the next day we'd stay at home. It was nice. Now it's not like that.

Chai has started seeing a tutor to help him with his reading and writing. That's two days a week. The other three days a week we go to the gym. I don't like this at all. I'm not a people person, I need every second day off to recuperate from peopling. Even worse, we usually see people on the weekend too, it's all too much for me. I've been hiding in my wardrobe to get away from everyone but it's not helping. I might have to move in with my bff for a few days just to get a rest. 

Considering that's all I have to complain about, clearly life is good.

I've now moved on to the next stage of ankle rehab. I no longer need weekly physio visits, my rehab is purely gym based. I'm allowed to do whatever exercises I want at the gym other than running, jumping and classes. 
I've got a set of exercises that I do three times a week and I see the physio again in four weeks.

It feels so good to be getting back to normal. My ankle is still sore and swollen, I still limp at times and I need to elevate it whenever I'm sitting down, but at least I'm no longer majorly restricted. 

Wednesday 10 June 2020

Two products I've been loving lately

It's been so long since I did a favourites post. I used to do them monthly, maybe I should get back to that. What do you think? Let me know in the comments. 


My routine has been quite boring for a while now, I haven't changed things up so there's not much to talk about. I've been using the same skincare and wearing the same make-up, purely because I'm trying to use things up. Using things up can be so tedious. 

There are two products that I've been using for the last few months and absolutely loving. They were both gifted to me.




I'm really glad that I was sent Sunescape products as they're not products I would have purchased myself, however I will definitely be purchasing them once they've run out. I'm working on a full review of all the products, so keep an eye out for that. Today I'll just tell you about one of the products, the Hydrating Body Butter. It was love at first application. 

First up, I love the scent. It's amazing. It's a beautiful blend  of coconut and lime that I wish came in a perfume, I'd buy it for sure. When I hear coconut and lime I think of something topical, however this smells edible, like rich cake.

Secondly, despite being super hydrating, it absorbs quickly, which is perfect in winter when I don't want to stand around for ages waiting for my body lotion to absorb. 

Hydrating Body Butter is full of lovely, skin loving ingredients such as sweet almond oil, shea butter, cacao butter, argan oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, macadamia seed oil, aloe vera, vitamin e, green tea, kiwi seed oil and kakadu plum.

All Sunescape products are free from petrochemicals, parabens and sulphates. Their fake tans are one of the few tans I can use (most of them irritate my skin). 

A 250ml tub costs $29.95. 


If you sign up on the Sunescape website you'll get 15% off your first order.  


The other product I've been loving lately is the newest addition to the  Bobbi Brown Crushed range, the Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss. If you've been after the perfect lip gloss/lipstick/lip balm hybrid, this is it. 

When I wear this I feel like I'm wearing lip balm, yet when I look in the mirror it looks like a glossy lipstick. Perfect. Bobbi Brown has really nailed it with this formula. 


Oil-Infused Gloss contains lots of lovely hydrating oils including; apricot, olive seed, kukui seed, avocado, jojoba and coffee seed oils. These oils make the gloss super hydrating and very comfortable to wear. Unlike regular gloss, it's not at all sticky.

The shade shown here is New Romantic, which is a great, everyday mauve pink. I get around three hours wear before the colour fades, however my lips feel hydrated for a few hours after the gloss is gone.

A 6ml tube costs $40.

What have you been loving lately?

Sunday 7 June 2020

Thoughts of the week

1. I have a pink cactus! It's so cute.


2. Parenting without any family support is so difficult.

3. The world is going so crazy that I want to buy a block and retreat.

4. I was sent some blue light blocking glasses and they're amazing. Chai has been wearing them and I've definitely noticed a difference in his behaviour. Screen time usually sends him crazy, however he's much better when he wears the blue light blocking glasses. Mine are from June Fox Co.

5. We went to the city for a few days this week. It was lovely to be there and lovely to come home.

Friday 5 June 2020

FFS Friday - I'm walking

THE GYM OPENS TOMORROW!!!!!
I'm just a little bit excited.

We're going in at 10.30am. They're having all sorts of re-opening specials. I'm hoping it won't be too crazy, I don't like when they gym is busy and I can't get on the machines that I want to.

This will be my first time at the gym without an ankle brace. I don't see the physio until Tuesday so will only be doing upper body exercises until I get the go ahead from my physio.

This week has been eye opening. I'd never realised how terribly people of colour are treated. Even people who I wouldn't have thought would experience racism have. It's made me realise how privileged and ignorant I am. 

Is anyone else over everything? I am. Not for any particular reason, I'm just over everything. I don't have the energy for things and I just want to lay in bed for a few days. Wouldn't that be nice?

So many awful things have been going on in the world lately, it's just horrible. I'd like to hide away until everyone learns to be nice to each other. 
 
Has anyone noticed that my titles are usually totally irrelevant to what I'm talking about? Today's title is because I have a Pink song stuck in my head, hahaha.

Tuesday 2 June 2020

May empties


Tribe Skincare Scrub Me Exfoliant
I still haven't got the hang of powder exfoliants, they truly are beyond me. I found this one balled up and wasn't very easy to use so I won't be purchasing the full size.


Wrinkles Schminkles Chest and Décolletage Smoothing Kit
If you get chest wrinkle and haven't tried Wrinkles Schminkles, what are you waiting for? It gives overnight results. The results are cosmetic, so when I don't use this I wake up with chinkles (chest wrinkles) but I wear it every night so there's no problem. This is always in my collection.

The Chemistry Brand Intense Youth Complex Hand Cream
I really enjoyed using Intense Youth Complex and will happily buy it again when I get through my current hand cream stash. 

Natio Wellness Body Scrub
You know those products that you like but don't love? That's what this is. It's nice but not amazing. The scrub is in a gel base which feels nice on my skin. It doesn't give the same intense scrub as a coffee scrub, but it does the job and smells nice. 

BX Earth Good On You Love Body Wash
If you're after a gentle, cheap shower gel, this is for you. The boys go through a ridiculous amount of shower gel, most of it ends up on the floor and walls of the shower to make it slippery for their cars. BX Earth has large bottles that last for ages even when most of it ends up down the drain. I buy mine from Chemist Warehouse. 

Dearest Lips Lip Scrub
My love for Dearest Lips knows no bounds, their products are perfection. This gorgeous little pot of lip scrub is brilliant and something I'll constantly repurchase. 

La Roche-Posay Toleraine Cream Cleanser
I love the LRP Toleraine range, it's super gentle and perfect for sensitive skin. It doesn't irritate my eyes even when they're super sore and dry. I've already got a full sized tube ready to go.

Clinique Moisture Surge 
I think most of us dry skinned people have tried and loved Moisture Surge, it's an all time classic and something I always have on hand. I like to add a layer underneath my moisturiser for an extra hit of hydration.

Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Cream
Crabtree and Evelyn have some beautiful products. I've long been a fan of their hand creams, they're equally as good as the L'Occitane shea butter hand creams.

Seba Med Baby Wash
Both boys loved using this on their faces. It's very gentle and didn't hurt their eyes. This bottle was gifted, however I'll be purchasing another bottle. 

Lanolips Lano Allover
Allover is one of my favourite products. It can literally be used all over. I take it when we go away for a few nights because I can use it on my face, body and on the boys. It's great to use on Chai's eczema and my allergy patches. I'll be purchasing another tube soon.

Perfume Samples
I don't even remember what these were, so clearly I didn't love them.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Signature Moisturising Cream
Oh how I loved this gorgeous moisturiser. It smells great, is richly hydrating without being greasy and was a joy to use. Unfortunately it costs $89 so is out of my budget at the moment.

Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask
Why do I always love the expensive products? Typical. Aside from being an amazing, glow inducing mask, it's purple! One day I'll buy the full size, but not any time soon because Tiger is currently unemployed.

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser
This one should have been included with my tosses, I didn't finish it as it irritates my skin.

Bioeffect EFG Serum
I got about five uses out of this little bottle, so really can't form an opinion.

Tarte Shape Tape
I know this gets a lot of hype, but I just don't like it. No matter how well I prep my skin it creases really badly and I look like I'm 90. It's not a good look. 



Assorted face masks and samples.
These were all okay. Other than In-Flight Magic, none of them were outstanding.

Both the gel lip masks were crap, I couldn't even use them as they wouldn't stay on my lips.

The In-Flight Magic masks are brilliant. They're clear, super hydrating and can be worn on bare skin or over make-up. If I was flying anywhere I'd definitely buy a few to wear on the flight.


These are all tosses.
The Sephora foundations were all too dark for me and the other products are old.

I'm annoyed at how quickly Nude By Nature products go off. I've had this lipstick for around 6 months, it's been stored in a cool dark place and it's off. Such a waste of money.

Everything else was well used and ready to be tossed.

I'll probably repurchase the Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer again, it's lovely and doesn't crease. 
The Becca Concealer is nice too, but not quite as nice as Benefit.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?