Pimple face fart machine

I had to share this most exciting news with you all.

1 week out from mine and The Geord's engagement party, I discovered a pimple on my chin. Being the idiot I am, I of course squeezed it. It looked OK and was certainly cover-able, but I wasn't convinced it was going away.

After many a beverage that night, once I got home, I decided to squeeze some more and more and more, only to wake up with a mess the size of a 5c piece on my chin. A mess that not even giant amounts of concealer could cover.

I know you're all probably thinking "Oh I bet it wasn't that bad", but I am not exaggerating. This thing was no longer a pimple, but more like a giant cold sore.

In my desperation, I called the only person I knew who'd be able to give me some sort of cure. Caroline.

She advised to LEAVE IT ALONE, go to the pharmacy and get some nappy rash cream STAT. The zinc ingredient within the cream aids the healing process, while keeping it moist and therefore not allowing it to scab. She told me to blob it on at night as it's impossible to rub in for under makeup/day time usage.

This wouldn't do. I needed to speed this process up. Thankfully my bosses are aware of my vanity issues and accepted the fact that for 2 days I was going to work with a blob of nappy rash cream on my chin. In fact, in the end we all became so used to seeing it there, I even went shopping with it on.

So after 3 days of nappy rash creaming it up, I am happy to say, I shall be attending my engagement party PIMPLE FREE!!!!! The cream worked absolute wonders and has left no sign of a scab, merely a red mark where the pimple was, which can easily be covered with makeup.

I've said it before and I will say it again and again. I LOVE YOU CAROLINE. 

O Thermomix, where art thou?

Twas autumn, 2011 when I first lay my eyes on him.

A handsome specimen, who could stop even the most resilient woman dead in her tracks. But with an air of mystery and an expensive price tag was he really worth the risk? Were the things ‘they’ said true?

Was he really that good?

Surely dips, cakes, curries and jams; sorbet, ice cream, bread and soups; pasta, rice, yoghurt, skin care, cocktails and play dough are not even something we could consider one machine to accomplish!?

It wasn't until a recent weekend away, I realised the truth. The lovely Rachael had decided to put my mind at ease and bring him along for the ride.

I watched with a sense of nonchalance as he was turned on to 'work his magic'. Not only was our friend able to be carted 2 and a half hours away, but he seemed to be quite easy to put together - show off.

The first creations were a beetroot dip and a Cashew Parmesan and Spinach Dip. In a matter of 3 minutes, the dip was made from fresh ingredients and devoured.

 

With 12 people eager for more and to prove it wasn't a fluke, he went on to produce the most delectable sorbet.

While we sat and pondered whether we were living a dream, he sat quietly... modestly and left us to consider his worth.

And as if I wasn't already sold, I was recently lucky enough to enjoy a coffee with gorgeous Marnie, who just happened to have baked a sweet walnut bread... in her Thermomix!

Well... not only did she reserve judgement when I literally inhaled this delightful treat, but she let us take the rest home!!!!!!!!

Oh my word.

There was nothing left to decide.

I need a Thermomix.

Mum?

I spy with my little Lomo

If I was lucky enough to be allowed a second alter-ego, she'd be something like Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith. A super mysterious, highly paid, incredibly efficient...super spy. But unlike old Ange, my alter-ego would also be carrying one of these uber cool Lomo cameras.

The Lomo camera was originally developed during the Cold War to be used for spy games and international espionage. However, the camera failed it's Russian inventor when it was too heavy, too cumbersome and not quite precise enough. 

But when two Austrian art students - Wolfgang Stranzinger and Matthias Fiegl, stumbled across a second-hand Lomo in a Prague junk shop, the 'Lomographic Revolution' was born.

Capitalising on the camera's origins, the pair took shots in true spy style; shooting from the hip, in haphazard directions, to capture their surroundings in a manner that rebelled against the logic of traditional camera composition. The seemingly humble camera captured moody shots, obscure light effects against vibrant colour and movement.

Pigeonhole's 10 Golden Rules:

1. Take your LOMO with you wherever you go
2. Use it all the time, at any time - day or night
3. Lomography does not interfere with your life, it's a part of it
4. Get as close as possible to the objects of your lomographic desire
5. Don't think (William Firebrace)
6. Be fast
7. You don't have to know what's going to be captured on your film
8. You don't have to know what's on the film afterwards either
9. Shoot from the hip
10. Don't worry about rules

If this is possibly the coolest thing you've ever heard then it will now become the second coolest; because Pigeonhole are currently promoting 'Lomovember' - an annual fundraiser showcasing the best of Perth's lomographic talent, held at a secret location on the 11-13th of November.

This year’s exhibition will feature 100 photographs to be block mounted, displayed, and sold at a silent auction with all profits going to Movember. Lomo workshops will also be held over the weekend for both budding and seasoned Lomographers alike.

Here are a couple of amazing photos from previous years Lomovember events:

Hannah McGrath
"Secret Garden", WA
Lomovember 2009

Rikki Burns
"Above Manhattan", NY
Lomovember 2009

If, like me - you must become a Lomographer, visit the Lomography website for everything you need to know to get started.

* Distracted - Merchants of Fancy also stock Lomo Camera's

Essie Nail Polish

You can tell a lot about a lady by the state of her nails...

But let's face it, being a lady is pretty darn time consuming and sometimes, said lady simply can't go past PJ's, a sumo bun, no makeup, un-painted nails and some chocolate when spare time presents itself.

But when the urge to preen pops up (usually once you've looked in the mirror), urgent attention must be paid to returning yourself to your usual 'pristine and lady like' condition.

Now - unless you can be bothered with gel nail polish and the effort that comes with application and removal, or have a spare half an hour every day to touch up normal nail polish, it is extremely difficult to maintain 'polished' nails...pun intended.

With a beauty case full of at least a gazillion polish brands and colours, my sister and I have been through them all and to be quite frank, even the most expensive of brands chip within a day or so of painting them.

But thanks to the parentals recent trip to New York and the pinning of fellow Pinterest pinners, I stumbled across the brand Essie. At $8 per bottle (in the US) I didn't hold much hope, but the colours were too cute to pass up - so I requested a bunch.

As you can imagine, I was most excited to try it and when I did, my colour of choice was:

Peach Daiquiri

Timeline:

Sunday 9th October at 12.00pm - The Painting (consisting of base coat, two coats of colour and a top coat, of course)

Tuesday 11th October at 10.00pm - Unfortunate chipping incident - suffice to say, do not try to remove the lid of a paint tin if experimenting with the longevity of your nail polish. The chip was touched up...

Wednesday 12th October 7.00pm - End of day four and they are still looking perfect - even after a boxing session!!

Friday 14th of October 5.00pm- Final day and the polish must come off as a Hens Night outfit calls for 'fire engine red' rather than peach! However, I am so impressed with how they are looking! The photo is pretty terrible, but there are literally no chips - just a tiny bit of wear and tear on the tips and cuticles where my nails have grown!

So, in conclusion..... BEST NAIL POLISH EVER!

Check out their website for their gorgeous range of colours.

Myer is currently the only stockist in Perth, however I have heard on the grapevine that Lotus Beauty in Kardinya are considering stocking.