Vera Wang Princess Night

The bottle I love. 

The texture I hate. 

The heart shape and crown on top is typical Wang of the Princess editions, but the dark chunky purpley glitter is nasty to hold.

But I do love Vera Wang's girly perfume bottles. I tried to love Lovestruck, but just couldn't purchase it... as mentioned in my Perfumerie link!

Vera Wang's Princess Night has been described as "an exotic blend of flowers, fruits and woody tones" (Fragrantica).  Perfect for the depths of winter..No wonder I love it: rose and jasmine. 

The notes are:


Wild berries, watermelon and raspberry are the top notes- which fade quickly unfortunately. The core is jasmine (yum), spiced orange, rose, vanilla and musk. 

The bottle is $79 Limited Edition at Farmers for 30mls.

Budgie xo

Relish

It is mid autumn and it feels better than the summer. My tomatoes have now been ripped out and replaced with hardy buxus hedging to survive the winter. So with the last of my summer tomatoes, I have endeavoured to make some relish. Two whole jars full from the fruits of my arduous labour as in seen in my gardening post. Tomatoes Link!

L-R Tomatoes Relish, Pineapple Pickle

The tomato relish is delish and from an Alison Holst Recipe.

The consistency can be quite runny, so boil away and leave the vinegar in good balance with the tomatoes- this is what will reserve the jars in storage for winter.

Pineapple Pickle Recipe

Another cherished family favourite. There is something retro and kitch about cheese with pineapple relish... but oh, it's good!  A little bit sweet and a little bit curry too.

 I understand that Alison Holst also does a variety of this pineapple and cucumber concoction but she adds celery seeds. I am an avid hater of cucumber, we do not mix well. But even my tummy can handle this. Enjoy!

Hobbiton-

On a beautiful Autumn Saturday afternoon my sister and I visited the movie set for The Shire in Lord of the Rings and the two new Hobbit movies about to come out.  Cue lamb running in foreground!

How idyllic... and in my backyard. How lucky are we to live in New Zealand?

Budgie xo

Stop at Nothing..

I know what you are thinking... what sort of languid fool would hand over their money to an organisation that they haven't met, that spread their cause through social media...and what sort of person would buy into it?  Well, I have to say that this cause got me... and for $15 is wasn't a hard sell.

Countless times I walk past Greenpeace collectors or lifesavers and not donate, so for once I gave money and for a pretty worthy cause. Stopping someone committing horrific crimes? Count me in. Against children? Even better. Joseph Kony is on the International Criminal War Crimes list as Number One. (If you haven't heard about him then google/You Tube his name).

So tonight is the where people in countries all over the world 'Cover the Night' to spread the word via posters and t-shirts to make Kony known.

I worn my bracelet for a week and have spotted a few people wearing them. My nails are O.P.I's Skull and Glossbones ( trust me, I notice the superficial and symbolic contradiction here- but hope it balances me out slightly).

Is anyone else Covering the Night?  I hope you can spot some posters around your town.

Budgie xo

Benefit Make-up

I spent a bundle at Benefit Melbourne last year (not available in New Zealand) and knowing that I was returning to Sydney this April, I saved my pennies again.


Cue picture of my haul.. * rubs hands in smug glee*

Clockwise top left: Coralista Boxed Blusher, Finding Mr Bright Boxed highlighter mini set, Girl meets Pearl liquid highlighter- from set, M.A.C 208 chisel tip, Bad gal Brown mascara, Browzings Brow kit, They're Real black mascara, Lite You Rebel tinted moisturiser, Skinny Jeans Creaseless cream eyeshadow and Dandelion Boxed Blusher  (Blushers and Brow Kit purchased in Melbourne).

Boxed Blushers

So firstly, the boxed blushers are part of Benefit's signature range and exemplary of their packaging: Cute, feminine and a little bit 1950's kitsch. Coralista smells like freshias and my nose dives into it everytime. Perfect for summer- a slight shimmery coral pink. 

Dandelion is more matte and baby pink- perfect for winter rose skin. Gorgeous.

Creaseless Cream eyeshadow number 3.

Skinny Jeans and I are two star-crossed lovers.  Here is a picture of my new edition to my creasless cream collection as noted in my Paint Pots  blogpost. (If you are unsure of what these do, then read the link above- I'll be happy to set you up with a new love).

So Skinny Jeans and I finally unite. It is greigey (grey/beige) with a slight gold shimmer/sparkle. This shadow has been on my radar for over a year. I quickly snapped up the sampler and ran to the counter to purchase it last year. I was heart broken when Benefit Melbourne declared it to be discontinued despite the States having it fully stocked in their collections. And then it happened again in Sydney last week...

I spied yet another pot on the counter and in bewilderment, enquired after the shadow again. The assistants replied that no, it had indeed been discontinued and the sample shouldn't have been on display. I explained my case; distraught that this could happen yet again. They then said it was a new pot, that it had just been placed and that for my worries I could have it... for free  :)   Yipee!

Finding Mr Bright- box set highlighter minis.

L-R Girl meets Pearl liquid shimmer, Posietint, Highbeam- liquid highlighter and Erase Paste concealer.

Posietint (liquid cheek tint) and Highbeam are part of Benefit's signature collection. Erase paste is very much more a sheer cover than a concealer- somewhere between a tinted moisturiser and Chanel's Touch Eclat; but in pot form.

I wouldn't necessarily purchase any of these products in full-size, but the minis make it so much fun to dabble and play with.

Browzings brow kit- light.

A wax to tame your bushy brows (l) and then a setting powder (r) for a filler too. This set also came with mini tweezers and chisel tip applicator, but I love the long handled M.A.C. 208 (pictured above) for this.

Mandatory before and after shots to follow...

(excuse the dark circles)

So you see the brow kit isn't too dramatic, it just leaves your brows tidy and tamed for the day. 

I have Girl meets Pearl shimmer on the cheeks too (just seen as a golden hue) and Badgal's mascara in brown. 

I am also wearing You Rebel tinted moisturiser- which I love. It is so dewy and fresh looking on your skin compared to Garnier's BB Cream.  BB creams (Blemish Balms) are the next big thing to hit our shores from Asia- a heavier type of tinted moisturiser aimed to help with spots and discolouration. I'm not a convert, but You Rebel may have convinced me...

Budgie xo

Sydney!

A UK reunion in Sydney?  Just what the doctor ordered.


I arrived on a Thursday night, it was a balmy 24c and boarded the ferry to Manly...

Sydney Harbour Bridge.  (picture taken at the Ferry Terminal, Circular Quay). 
Drinks at the wharf and a warm hug from an old friend greeted me. 

Then along with slight jet lag from the mild time difference, a change in climate and a midnight sheet lightning storm, I stumbled into a brief slumber to wake to a gorgeous sunrise from the top-rise balcony.

A beach run ensued, a good bye wave and then a ferry trip ride back into the city. I spent the morning nose delving into the Harry Potter exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum.  Bliss.

My highlights:

Saturday morning was a sparkling sunny one and another run around the Bondi beaches was my idea of traveller heaven. There is no better way to see the local sights than a run in a foreign setting to get your bearings. Love.

The rest of the Sydney weekend was spent in a champagne haze and various drunken debacles. It had to be done with my London girls and I loved every minute of it.

...And I managed to finally complete my Couch to 5K Running App. Yay me!

Unsupported walking shoes (wedges and my Havaianas), dancing in heels and along with the two 5K's, saw me hobbling to board the plane back to NZ with a possible stress fracture (or outer arch sprain). Doctor's appointment booked, ice compressions, heat packs and levitation have been the focus of my recovery. I'm looking forward to a new running goal, joining a winter running club and new prescribed runners.

Along with my liver and foot, my credit card received serious damage at many bars, (including the beauty variety). 


Benefit make-up haul /post to follow shortly..



Budgie xo

Battle of the Dahlias

It has almost been a month, but here I am back and about to swamp you with blogs of my travels to make up for it.  And I have brought to you some flowers..

Since I have been gone, my gardens have got overrun and now look very English cottagey.  Love.
Especially my Dahlias.

I'm not normally one to like 70's retro looking flowers, but the apricot species that I've grown are so beautiful. The reason while I have battled with them is because they have such delicate stems, are easy to snap off accidentally and are very floppy- requiring constant propping up with stakes and ties etc. Countless times I have come this close ( ) to ripping them out.

But look how stunning they sit in my coffee table vase.

More whimsical nonsense to follow this week, I promise..


And Happy Easter!

Budgie xo