Drowning in Paper

Drowning in paper is probably an understatement, rather than hyperbole.

Tonight's desk.

I have made the (hard) decision to take a break from the blog for the next two weeks, until I am done with uni for the semester.
Coming up, I have a take home exam this weekend, a major essay due next week and an exam the day after the essay is due. I'm kind of running out of time to get it all done, and consuming more caffeine than is probably healthy.
I got promoted two weeks ago, and I start at my new store tomorrow. I am anxious and excited and scared, all at once.

There's also an open night at the pole studio coming up in a month that I would love to take part in, so I'm also trying to build a routine and get heaps of practice in.

So, rather than add to my massive to-do list, I am taking some stuff off. I have a bunch of photographs that I wanted to turn into blog posts, but no time to do it.

But hey, I've already started planning posts for November (As well as an exciting Christmas giveaway!) and I cannot wait to be back.  My exams finish on the 11th, and you can bet your bottom dollar I will be back in blogging mode then.
If you want to keep in touch with me until then, I will no doubt continue to procrastinate via twitter and instagram.

Thanks for all the support and understanding!
See you in two weeks!!
xx



Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

October Skincare Routine

It's been just over 6 months since my last skincare routine post. I've been using some new products lately, so thought I'd update you all on how that's going. At the moment my skin is looking better than it ever has, and there's definitely a few products that take responsibility for that.

For the most part this is a simple outline of my routine:
Morning: Wash, Pat Dry, Moisturiser, Sunscreen.
Night Time: First cleanse, eye make up removal, second cleanse, exfoliate, toner, treatment and serum

Review: Lush Volcano Foot Mask

Sometimes I feel a bit sorry for our feet. People hate them and are literally repulsed at the sight of them, and yet they do so much of the hard work for us... walking us around everywhere every day, treading on things, being shoved into smelly shoes, and sometimes...just sometimes they want a little loving too.

I picked up Lush's Volcano Foot Mask and have been using it once a week for a couple of months now.
The mask is quite a thick, pale-coloured clay gloop that you apply a thick layer of to your foot. Then you wrap your feet in plastic, leave for 10 minutes and rinse! Too easy.
I've been applying it before I shower, after I give my feet a little rinse, and then rinsing it off in the shower. If you plan on doing this too, I will warn that it does get pretty slippery with this stuff on your feet, with wet tiles and the like. So please, do be careful.

Like the clay you use on your face, the clay in this mask will help to draw out dirt, while anti-fungal essential oils keep your feet from getting gross. It's got papaya and lemon in it, to help with cleansing, tomatoes for deodorising (who knew!) and minty goodness.
My feet don't have any real health issues going on down there, but they get kinda calloused from wearing sandals and they do ache after standing on a hard floor for 9 hours (I hate you retail). Even so, I love the way this makes my feet feel.

The mask tingles when it's on your feet (which honestly I really like!), almost like a menthol heat rub for sore muscles. In fact, when I purchased it the sales assistant told me that sometimes he used it to rub into his calves after he'd been running long distances, to help soothe them. Interesting, but I'm not sure I can put something on my legs that has been on my feet.

Look, I'll be honest. It doesn't smell that great. If you can get past that though, you will love this. Especially if you are on your feet all day. It makes them feel great, it really does deodorise and refresh them, and there's a slight scrub when you wash it off (due to the pumice) so the dead skin comes with it.
The mask is made with fresh ingredients, so doesn't have a long shelf life. The good thing though is it is included in Lush's "Bring 5 clean pots back get a mask free" program, so that's nice!

Do you regularly apply foot masks?



Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

OOTD: Let's Get Political

Firstly…there is a slightly orange cast to all these photos. I wore this to uni on Monday, when it was ridiculously hot, and the sky was filled with a smokey haze from the bushfires that have engulfed NSW this past week. (That also explains the furrowed brow and general 'pissed off' look on my face...I swear the sun was in my eyes)
I was running late on Monday morning and didn’t put too much any thought into what I would wear. But, I got heaps of compliments so 5.30am Michaela is clearly doing something right.

 

The skirt is one I’ve had in my wardrobe since I was about 15. I have no idea where it’s from, because I ‘borrowed it’ (I swear at the time I had every intention of returning it) from a friend, who had borrowed it from another friend…who you guessed it… borrowed it from a friend. We will forever be tied together through this sisterhood of the travelling tartan skirt. This is probably one of my favourite pieces in my entire wardrobe.

I have been wearing a lot of the gold ID bracelet I got in last month’s Her Fashion Box, and again getting heaps of compliments on it. I love this bracelet…it’s easy, goes with a lot of the jewellery I already own and it looks good!
On the other wrist I stacked up my Thomas Sabo bracelets I got for my birthday. Simple, but it works.

This shirt is one of my favourites. J bought it for me at the Marrickville festival a few years ago. I thought it was apt given the current political climate and comments that have been made in regards to asylum seekers being called 'illegals'. Probably best not to get me started.

  

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

WHOA! Legs!*

This post was brought to you by Women's Health of Australia. All thoughts and opinions are my own. For further details, check out my Disclaimer.

What was your favourite thing about the 1990's? 
I was born in 1992, so growing up in this decade I was young enough to remember my childhood with nostalgia, but not old enough to cringe about the fashions (scrunchies..amirite?). I was still young enough to dress in clothes lovingly handmade by my Nan, but know every single word to the entire Aqua 'Aquarium' CD, and the Spice Girls album...as well as owning almost every piece of paraphernalia related to the Spice Girls (thanks mum!) 
I watched Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Daria, Rugrats, Recess, Hey Arnold, (as well as a bunch of other awesome cartoons... television was just better in the 90's) when I got home from school. 
I played with tazos, tamagotchis, and I don't care how creepy you think they are...but I freaking loved my Furby. 

GUYS I AM SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN WITH YOU. 

I have been lusting over a pair of Black Milk printed leggings for ... god knows how long. They are trendy, look good, fit well and the prints and patterns are unlike anything else on the market. Which is why I'm really excited that Women's Health of Australia (WHoA!) are working with Blackmilk and giving us Aussie women a chance to win an exclusive pair of 90s themed tights. Not only do you have the chance to win 1 of 2000 leggings that they're giving away, but you also get a say in what print will be on those leggings! (I would totally wear a pair of WHoA leggings with Sailor Moon on them....or mixed tapes! That would be cute!)


All you have to do to have your chance to win (and to have your say on what the limited edition 90s iconography that will feature on the leggings should be) is fill out a survey for Women's Health of Australia (just head on over here)

The survey, which has run annually since 1996, is used to improve women's health policies and practices in Australia. All information is confidential, and the survey takes less than 20 minutes to complete, with the ability to pause and resume your answers. Every year, the survey is divided into cohorts, and last year was the first time women in the 1989-1994 (year of birth) cohort have been able to take part in the survey. WHoA state that "every generation faces new and different health risks. We don't know exactly what health risks a new generation of young women will face...by completing annual online surveys, Young Australian women can help us uncover their health and wellbeing priorities and also improve health services for women of all ages and for generations to come"
So if you're an Aussie lady born outside of the 1989-1994 cohort, check out the WHoA website here, as there are other surveys you can fill out. Unfortunately you won't be able to take part in the Black Milk campaign, but you will still be able to help shape the future of women's health in Australia!

So that's it.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
If you're aged between 18-23, help shape the future of Australian women's health, fill out the survey, have the chance to win some awesome, limited edition, will-be-collector's-items leggings. What could be better than that?




Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

Outfit of the Day: Braving the Mid-driff

I bought this top from Dotti as a total impulse buy...so impulse that I didn't even try it on. I saw it, fell in love with it, and somehow it completely slipped my mind to see if it would fit me. 

Luckily, it did. It's a little bit big, but not too noticeably so. 

I bought the skirt from ASOS, and I just love the little triangle it has cut out in the front. 

 

When I asked J what he thought of the outfit, he started to say something, and then hesitated. I managed to convince him to tell me what he was going to say... "it's a bit bowling-pin-ish" he said. 

What goes through boys heads?

I have no idea what else I have in my wardrobe that I can wear this top with...but I love the pattern so, so much and with the heat we've been getting in Spring, I can definitely see it getting lots of wear in Summer!



Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

My Week in Pictures #39

(Firstly, apologies for the instagram photos. I know some of you hate when bloggers do this. But I've been busy...so busy in fact that I haven't even had a change to process the photos for Lav from her 21st back in September, let alone take photos that aren't on IG. Sorry!)

Brad took me to see Foals as a belated 21st present. Totally not complaining, this band is awesome and have such an amazing energy live. Last time I saw them was back in 2011, at Laneway festival. Such a different experience this time!

 

Lots and lots of Rommy snuggles and cuddles. We're training him to use the toilet at the moment. Yep, the human toilet. It's been an exercise in frustration and patience and there's been plenty of bonding throughout. Would anyone be interested in hearing more about this? I kinda want to share about it, but am worried this is akin to people who share too much about their children. Do the same rules apply for fur-babies? 

 

Oh yeah...I got a haircut. 

I love how hassle-free short hair is.

 

I rolled up both my sleeves and donated some of my plasma. 

Got stabbed in both arms because the first nurse was being all arrogant and didn't listen to me when I told her what vein to stab. Not only did she not stab the vein I told her to, she stabbed the completely wrong arm. "I can choose my own vein, thanks!" Yeah, you're welcome lady. My puny little vein proved her wrong when it refused to give her any blood hahahaha.

 

Then headed to the State Library for some serious studying. The place has changed so much since I used to go there in year 12, 4 years ago. 

In the throes of a pretty painful evidence law assignment at the moment. Caffeine stock up.

 

One of the girls at work left this cute surprise for me in the opening to the back room! These bears were all on customer order, so that's why we had so many. How adorable is that "roar" sign? 

J and I were pleasantly surprised to find that one of the trees in our backyard is a mulberry tree! Yayy so I've been eating big bowls of them. Unfortunately mulberries stain like nobody's business. So they're not the most ideal study snack.

And I had a quick road-trip down to Canberra to watch my pole teacher perform in the Australian Pole Championships. She came third (yay!!) and it was great seeing all the performances! We drove back the same night, which coincidentally was also the same night daylight savings kicked in. So instead of getting back at 3.45am, we got back at 4.45am wahhh. By the time I got to bed it was almost 5:30am, and I very nearly considered just not even going to sleep. But I did. and I was almost late to work the next day because silly me forgot to set an alarm for the morning. 

I always find it so funny that when I write up these posts I've actually done more in the past week than I thought I had. What did you get up to this week?

Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Pinterest |  Bloglovin