{Zabanna Web Ring & Studs SOLD OUT, Diamond Spike Earrings $65 @ Onceit}

This month has been all about investing in jewellery. Even though I have some very beautiful dress earrings, the majority of my day-to-day stud earrings come from chain stores. And life is too short to wear cheap crap.

So all my Diva/Bling/Wild Pair jewellery is going into storage (to give to my family or charity) and I’ve been poking around the sales to find designer sterling silver jewellery. And once again Onceit comes to my aid, offering me goodies on a virtual platter. I’d never heard of Zabbana before, and looking at their website makes me regret my ignorance. I mean, just look at this awesome Bread Tag Pendant! Not a big fan of the bags though, sorry. Too much hardware.

So I picked the Diamond Spike Earrings first because they look sexy and dangerous (and also the only item that didn’t sell out immediately). And the Web Studs and Ring I managed to get into my shopping cart through sheer luck and perseverance. I figured even though it’s nice to mix up different types of jewellery, it would be nice to have a matching set. It’s probably the only matching set I have, to be honest.

Of course they’re not quite mine yet, they’ll turn up at the end of the month. I only can only hope there’s nothing missing in my order, unlike last time!

{One Teaspoon Lonely Hearts Coat}

Thanks to the mild winter this year, the majority of outerwear is being sold off dirt cheap. I’m stocking up on super-sized faux fur coats for next winter (my crystal ball foresees a holiday in cold climates next year), and I found this long, oversized coat half price on TradeMe.  For a Size 12, it almost swamps my frame, but at least it’s quite a decent length. I’ve been looking for a longer coat for when my Stolen Girlfriends Club faux fur doesn’t cut it against the icy wind. And this one is so snuggly! Since I was saving up for a holiday, it’s the only thing I bought that month. It was a real gamble, so I hope my investment pays off in winter!

{African Amethyst Watch Ring, Moonstone and Gruen Watch Necklace, Coral and Black Chrome Necklace}

Picking my favourite stall at The Little Big Markets was never going to be easy. I wanted to find a stall that was truly unique and local to the area, and finally came across a cute stall tucked away selling handmade Steampunk jewellery. It’s rather unusual to see cosplay-themed jewellery in a rural market setting, so I felt compelled to take a closer look.

{Wearing: Closet Gothic’s Ruby Crystal Watch Ring}

These one of a kind items are made from a mix of semiprecious stones, crystals, charms, vintage watches and other found objects. The detail is incredible, my photos barely comprehend the intricate workings. If you’re a Steampunk fan who only gears up for themed events, you might feel that the culture isn’t for day-to-day life. But Closet Gothic pieces are understated enough to wear on a daily basis.

The Ruby Crystal ring I modelled was so cute, it perfectly matched my nail polish. But I already have so many rings…

{Baltic Amber and Pinstripes Ring, Gold Vintage Watch Cufflinks, Bite of the Cherry Necklace}

Take a peek in Closet Gothic for some more fantastic pieces, although in my humble opinion the best of the collection is on their Etsy store. Have fun browsing!

{Federation Royal Badge $15, Topshop Mascara $20, Citta Maravillo 6 Strand Necklace in Gold $20}

Winter is even more miserable when you don’t have any money for yourself. Since I actually buy everything on here (I’m no sell-out) it makes it impossible to show off my bargain purchases since I can’t pay for them. But putting myself on lockdown has been a positive experience. It’s given me focus, drive, and a bank account that’s finally in the black! And now it’s time to spend wisely on…

FEDERATION ROYAL BADGE

So I was driven to the laundromat outlet in Albany to add some decent pants to my wardrobe, and I happened across Federation’s military inspired badges sitting on the counter. So that was my cheap indulgent treat to go with a much needed wardrobe staple. I’m going to stick it to my Jorge ‘Hello Sailor’ blazer to smarten it up a bit.

TOPSHOP MASCARA

When I’m at the supermarket feeling like a high roller, I occasionally throw down $17 to buy the classic 60’s pink and green Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. Paying a little extra for the Topshop brand name and the stylish packaging isn’t too much of a stretch. And it’s a pretty decent Mascara, I just wish The Department Store would stock brown as well as black!

CITTA MARAVILLO NECKLACE

While I was in laundromat, Mr.  J popped next door into the Citta outlet (sounds like ‘Cheetah’, it’s Italian for City) to look at homewares. While he was picking up a bitchin’ cheese knife, he also grabbed this lovely necklace for me. How sweet! I haven’t worn it yet, I’m saving it to pair up with a ‘special occasion’ dress.

It’s not about the quantity of a shopping haul, it’s the quality. I have a lot more top notch gear for you to ogle at, so watch this space!

{Mon Coeur Sunglasses by Twenty Seven Names $30, Cotton Briefs by Huffer, $13}

I don’t particularly like Glassons (homogenised fashion, yadda yadda yadda), but the one thing that sets Glassons apart from the rest of the chain stores are their charity designer collaborations. Usually it’s just a range of tees that NZ designers create for them, but this year they’ve taken it up a notch and designed accessories as well.

They have candles from Zambesi, nail polish sets from Cybele, mugs from Ruby…it’s just a wide and varied range of awesome products you can pick up instead of buying another tee shirt. I restrained myself and only bought the sunglasses (it’s the only way I can afford Twenty Seven Names) and the underwear (they’re cheap and cutesy).

So take a browse through their Cure Shop online, or better yet take a trip in store and look over at the items first hand.

WARNING: Don’t delay, most of the items have limited stock to increase demand. When I went to pick up the sunglasses, the Sylvia Park store only had 8 pairs, and were down to 5 after I left!

{Keep New Zealand Beautiful V-Neck Tee, NZ Stamp Stash Bag, UBU Brushes, L'Oréal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer}

There haven’t been many shopping haul posts lately because I’m supposed to be in spending lockdown. But the rules were relaxed for my birthday, so over the last four weeks I squandered my cash money on the items you see in the pictures above you. These were supposed to be in three different posts but I’ve kept them together for your viewing pleasure:

MR VINTAGE

Mr Vintage is Kiwiana with a capital K. Actually, it’s probably more accurate if I say Mr Vintage is KIWIANA in block lettering. If you’re an overseas visitor looking for souvenirs or a local lover of all things ‘kiwi’ this is the place to go. We were only there because I won a $30 gift voucher from create HAVOC (thanks guys!), so while I looked for something nice, Mr J bought two shirts for himself and some as gifts for family. Definitely a male-friendly retail store!

I’ve had a lot of time to wear my two purchases in and I still rate them highly. My ‘free’ v-neck tee has been the perfect casual item to wear around the house, and more importantly I feel great, because buying this shirt helps KNZB keep streets clean. The stamp tote is roomy yet looks great, blends in well with most of my casual outfits, and the small pocket inside comes in handy a lot. The only downfall this bag has is that the straps are always slipping from my shoulders. Boo.

QVS vs. UBU

Lately, QVS have been my go-to for inexpensive beauty tools. They’re a world apart from the rubbish sets I’ve bought from $2 shops, and they’re great for learning how to apply makeup professionally. My QVS Foundation Brush has lovely soft bristles, but they kept getting clogged up and overloading my face with product because I wasn’t cleaning the brush properly. Now that I know better, it’s been nothing short of fantastic (just like my QVS Eyelash Curler). My silly, superficial problem with them? The majority of their items are what I call a hideous shade of shimmering ‘budget brown’. They’re cheap, practical, and nothing else.

But UBU are the pretty younger sister of QVS. Their brushes are bright and eye-catching, they look very upmarket and a few beauty reviewers swear they’re the same quality as the more expensive MAC Brushes. When my Drama Queen angled brush and Eyescream eye shadow applicators turned up, I threw away all the crappy applicators that came with my eye shadow set and the difference in the end result was markedly different. I was even able to attempt a smoky eye because I had the right tools to accomplish the task. I also use the Undercover Lover concealer brush for my new primer, and the Berry Blush angled blusher brush/Picture Perfect stippling brush are still sitting in my cosmetic bag unused. I was lucky to get these on sale at half the retail price, so they truly are a colourful bargain encouraging me to enjoy makeup application.

L'OREAL PRIMER

I can’t give an accurate review on the last item because the very first time I used the primer I was in a hurry and having a bad skin day. Even though my skin didn’t look 100% it did feel silky smooth and soft to the touch. Apparently this product is to be used for evening out skin texture, fine lines and pores,  and create a good base for foundation (which I don’t wear). You’re only supposed to use a sparing amount on the problem areas of your face like around your T Zone and under your eyes. It’s marketed towards more mature women, yet still works well on youthful faces.

The majority of users complain about the small size and the big price, and I’d agree with them if I had paid the retail price. But I got two 15ml primers + shipping for just under $40. One container lasts around 3-4 months, so there should be enough to get me through until I can afford to splurge on a Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer or the Dermologica Clearing Mattifier. In short: This product is nice for what it is, but there are better ones out there.

That’s all for now folks, toodle-loo!

{Maurie & Eve Creeper Wedge in Alligator}

Long before I got my hands on these  fantastic pants, I saw an awesome pair of wedges that I could not afford. They were over $300, a price I could not pay. But all I had to do was bide my time and wait for a good opportunity to come along. And voila! These surprisingly comfortable shoes (they give great arch support) are a late birthday present from family members who gave me ‘green’ birthday presents (they knew I’d spend it on something I’d enjoy).

The pattern is not as bold as the product photos make it out to be. It’s actually a soft light grey pattern on canvas, perfect for making a boring, dreary outfit look entertaining. I also think it’s a smart and adventurous way to incorporate exotic prints without the cruelty of having to farm and then slay living fossils. Not to mention the actual shape of the footwear itself, curving softly down at the back into an aggressive pointed toe right at the tip. The only thing I’m not a big fan of is the leather soles, which are made for leisurely walks at indoor attractions, shopping centres and sheltered pavements, not the chaotic terrain of Aotearoa.

Aside from that small issue, these are crazy fabulous and I love wearing them with a mixture of black, grey, white and blue. They’re not made for wet weather though, so playtime only lasts as long as the sunshine!

{Fingerprint Cufflinks from Fingerprints}

I couldn’t resist showing these cute personalised cufflinks. They may seem exorbitant for some with their $200 price tag, but if you’re a regular suit wearer this could be something a little different from the usual quirky cufflinks retailers sell. Also Cudo has a deal going on right now, buy a $100 voucher for $50. That’s a 25% discount on these babies!

{Hunter Gatherer: My Woodland Friends card set}

So I wasn’t expecting to do anything last night, but my husband decided to be sneaky and take me to Kingsland to pick up a cute little card set. After that he took me out for dinner and we took some night shots near Mt. Hobson. Isn’t that sweet? It makes me feel sad that I was so hard on Mr. J yesterday afternoon.

I’m going to have these cards framed and gift one each to my nephew,  as I know these sweet illustrations will look great on their bedroom walls.

Looking forward to First Thursdays tonight!

The first time I encountered Milly Boutique was during a sale and I loved it…I have $100 in vouchers to use in store but can’t spend them on sale stock!