My makeup tip

I love makeup as much as the next girl, and like every other girl, I don't have a fortune to spend on it! I've gone through a few makeup and foundation brands, and also different ways of applying it, but have finally found something I truly love.

For my makeup, all I use is Covergirl Clean Normal Skin Makeup in buff beige and I apply it using a foundation brush. I don't know why I've never thought to try applying makeup or foundation with a brush before, maybe because they usually come with an applicator, or it's just easier to use my fingers, but applying this makeup with a foundation brush really makes a difference!

All I do is pour a little makeup onto the brush, then I dab the brush into the lid to spread it around the brush more so I don't just have a big glob on the brush. I also don't waste the makeup, because now I can dab inside the lid if I need more. Then I just dot around my face and start brushing the makeup in. You really have more control and more evenness using a brush... maybe it's my artist ways, but I feel like it's more even and Covergirl's makeup is really smooth! It's water-based so it doesn't clog pores (and you can really feel it). Make sure you don't have brush strokes across your face though, so just blend the makeup with a circular motion using the brush to get rid of them. And that's it! Then I use a concealer and powder to finish it off!

Now here comes the best bit! These two items are so inexpensive it makes MAC look ridiculous! I bought the Covergirl Makeup at Target for only $16 AU, and the foundation brush (Artiste Manicare) at Priceline for only $11 AU (something you'll keep using too)! You'll probably need to buy a brush cleaner eventually (I havn't yet... anyone know of a good inexpensive brand of one?)

Remember, Covergirl you can buy anywhere - Priceline, Target, BigW, etc... and even at supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles, so wait til one of them has a special (one of them usually does!)

What's your favourite inexpensive makeup brands to use?

Mel xx

Top 10 Family/Children's Films

I'm a bit of a movie buff - my fave genres are action and thriller, but I absolutely love family/kids movies too.

The other day, I saw a facebook group called P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney, and it made me laugh because Finding Nemo is one of my favourite movies! There's so many laughable quotes in that movie:

Bruce: "I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food."
Dory: "I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy. Come on, Squishy, come on little Squishy. (Jellyfish stings her). Ow. Bad Squishy, bad Squishy."
Bubbles: "Bubbles. Bubbles. My bubbles."
Bloat: "Nemo, newcomer of orange and white, you have been called forth to the summit of Mt. Wannahockaloogie to join with us in the fraternal bonds of tankhood."
Crush: "'Cause we were like, 'woaaaah', and I was like 'woaaaah', and you were like, 'woaaaah...'"

Anyway, I started to think about my all time favourite family/kids movies and have come up with my Top 10! This was not easy!

#10. The Princess Bride
This was a favourite and memorable one when I was younger. It's smart, and funny, full of fantasy and adventure and is just a classic bedtime story.
Inigo: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

#9 Shrek
The story line in this movie is great - A Princess and an Ogre falling in love - it's just a simple but entertaining story line all in the land of far far away. Great cast, great jokes, and great animation.
Donkey: "We can stay up late, swapping manly stories, and in the morning, I'm making waffles"

#

 #8 WALL*E
The sound work and animation in this movie is outstanding. The main two robots in this movie say little more than their names to each other, but animators were able to create and cover the entire spectrum of human emotion  - you can understand exactly what they're saying and feeling.
MO: "Foreign contaminant!"

#7 Nightmare Before Christmas
My favourite Tim Burton movie. I love how this is animated, it's hilarious even though revolting and morbid and it's just wacky, inspiring and very clever. The songs are catchy too!
Lock, Shock, Barrel: "(singing) Kidnap the Sandy Claws, / beat him with a stick, / lock him up for ninety years, / see what makes him tick."

#6 Ratatouille
A rat that can cook? That's just hilarious! I love watching people cook and eat, so having it animated is just so fun to watch. I love the message in the movie too, "anyone can cook"or "a cook can come from anywhere" - much like real life situations.
Anton Ego: "I don't like food, I love it. If I don't love it, I don't swallow."

 #5 Alice In Wonderland
Alice In Wonderland is in my top 2 Disney 2D animation movies ( I should do a list of these too!). I love how absolutely wacky and crazy it is, whimsical and magical, but it has some meaning. Alice grows up in the end but we all wish we could have a Wonderland to fall down into too.
Walrus: "The time has come, my little friends, to talk of other things / Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings / And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wigs / Calloo, Callay, come run away / With the cabbages and kings."

#4 Monsters Inc
I don't know what it is about this movie, but it makes me cry every time! I just think it's so incredibly sweet - in this world of monsters and scaring, comes this bond between the scariest monster and this adorable little girl. Everything in it is spectacular - monsters in the closet, scaring to get energy, animation, laughing, doors... I can watch it again and again.
Mike: "Oh, Schmootsie-poo?"
Celia: "Googlie Bear"

#3 Finding Nemo
Maybe it's because this movie is so Australian... but I absolutely love it! I love the dialogue and what this movie is about - the bond between father and son, the aussie-ness, the beautiful creatures of the ocean, how incredibly big the ocean can be, and the bond of family and the friendships of all different kinds of creatures. Beautiful.
Nigel: "Okay, dont' make any sudden moves. Hop inside my mouth... if you want to live."

 

#2 Spirited Away

I love Hayao Miyazaki and the vividness of this movie. This film is thematic, visual and imaginative. The animation/illustration is so fantastic and wonderful that this style will be forever Miyazaki. I love all the characters - Chihiro/Sen, Haku, Yubaba, Zaniba, Jamaji, No-face (especially No-Face! "eh.. eh.. eh.." - when he's trying to give Chihiro things). And in all the craziness of the film, Miyazaki tells a story of a girl's journey to decide who is friend, and who is foe; and being your own worse enemy.

Bo: "I'm not afraid of germs. And if you don't play with me, I'll cry and Mama will hear me and Mama'll come in here and kill you."

  

#1 The Lion King

My absolute favourite movie of all time. Is it because of those incredibly catchy songs? (which I still play today on my iPhone!). Is it because of the characters and bond between family, pride and friends? Is it because of the many lessons this movie teaches us? (Hakuna Matata is one of my life mottos!) Is it because it's just a movie about animals and life - the struggles we face, the friends we make, and the triumphs we celebrate? or maybe it's just because I have a thing for animals and how natural they are in life and their environments - it's just all part of the circle of life. Maybe all of these things.

Timon: "What do you want me to do, dress in drag and do the hula?"

Rafiki: "Asante sana Squash banana".

Some others that I love that just missed out  - Ice Age, The Little Mermaid, UP, Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp,  Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Fantastic Mr Fox.

What are your faves?

Mel xx

New Polymer Clay Items

I've just done a batch of cute polymer clay jewellery items the past week. They include adorable cupcake earrings and cake slice earrings! I've really grown since the very first time I attempted making items with polymer clay! My fave items are the carrot cake earrings and strawberry earrings! They are all now available to buy in my store now, so go have a peek!

I've also made another set of hamburger earrings, rainbow earrings and also made a sushi plate and sweet plate that I might make into rings later. Unfortunately I ran out of earring hooks, so I'll have to order some more before posting these in my store!

Mel xx