Christmas gift ideas: Foodie friend

It's just over a month away guys! It truly is the time to start feeling festive, get into it and start planning what you're going to buy for whom. Hopefully you have a little dosh up your sleeves? I certainly don't but it won't stop me from finding thoughtful gifts!
This post is for your friends and family who love to be in the kitchen, hopefully their repotior involves more then sandwiches?

Under $30:
I wish I could justify buying another set of measuring cups because these are too damn cute! Inside stacking matryoshka dolls, perfect use and display, they also come in owls!

Matryoshka Measuring Cups available from Typo

Under $50:
Ice cream machine have always been one of those frivolous items that cost too much to justify, so when I spotted this cute as candy red machine for $30, I knew I had to buy one! Or two... I can't see myself buying one to give and not picking one up for myself.

Licorice Ice cream Maker available at Myer

Under $100:

Yes, I am quite partial to Tupperware (I'm a retro housewife at age 24, sigh). This is one of their indispensable items, use it to obliterate anything that really needs to be chopped into tiny pieces. Minced onion? Done. Puréed anything? Give it a whirl. Easy dips? Yup yup! I gave one to my mother in law for Christmas last year, She wasn't impressed when she opened it, but once she used it, she raved about it!

Now because you are likely to require a whole Tupperware party to buy one, I'd suggest you just get on eBay and buy one instead.

TurboChef by Tupperware.

P.S If you have any other people genres for me to try and give ideas for let me know, I hope to do more then a few of these posts up until Christmas!

Product review: Hissyfit Flawless Face

Got this for free when I bought Hissyfit's Saving Face the other day at David Jones. But unfortunately I'm finding it kinda gives you a ghost face, I was asked by someone who didn't think I usually wore make-up if I was wearing make-up when I first wore this. Though the product was effective as keeping shine at bay I just couldn't get past the very pale colour. I have tried it a little more sparsely since that first day but have found it doesn't have a desirable level of shine stopping power without a heavier cover.
There is another darker colour, but I find this is too dark for my tone, it could be used as a bronzer though
I think ultimately I'll just have to put it aside and bring it back for winter when I am actually that pale and it won't wash me out quite so much.
So Birdette's ultimate thoughts? So long as you have a very light skin tone, or a tone that matches the darker shade its a great product, but if not I'd keep looking.

Flawless Face Finishing powder by Hissyfit

Why you shouldn't wear babydoll tops with low waist skirts ...

I have seen this about town and I can't help but practically shake my head in disgust. How can you not realize how pregnant this makes you look? Come on ladies! look in the mirror.
Basically it happens when you wear an empire line top tucked into a skirt, sometimes, only sometimes when you pair it with a very high waisted skirt it works alright because it doesn't poof up around your middle.
Want to know the trick to tell if you'll look OK,when you have your outfit on? Reach your arms over your head and then bring them back down. Does it poof out around your tummy? Yes? Then FIX IT! Change your top, or put on another skirt or trousers, if it looks good untucked then don't tuck it. but Please, you have no need to look preggers when you are not.

Loving this week: Greeting stamps by Kikki K

These totally saved my ass today, over the last year or so I have slowly been collecting various stamps, a lot of them are from Typo but I also splurged and bought this set from Kikki K. Handy as.

I had a baby shower to go to and realised that the gift bag I was going to use didn't come with a card, so I cut up some card from a shopping bag and attacked it with this stamp set, congratulations does the job nicely as well as a few other cute animals and birds I've bought. Instant greeting cards. Certainly something I'd recommend adding to your home-made kit.

Greeting stamps by Kikki K <3 <3 <3

How to Hair: Serena Van Der Woodsen's Ponytail

My recent post for an easy bad hair day solution was pretty popular so I'm going to talk you through another favourite and easy hairstyle of mine. It's a very chic up-do that looks great on everyone.
On Gossip Girl, Serena has an iconic hairstyle. Blake Lively looks fabulous and instantly done when she puts her hair up, (but wouldn't we all if we had hairdressers on our beck and call?) It's actually quite easy to do at home too.

Source

Step one: If hair is a little on the dirty side spray some dry shampoo through it, and if it's clean, apply some mousse and blow-dry upside down, this will give the hair some texture to play with.

Step two: Without brushing too much, pull hair back into a ponytail at the lower crown of your head, about halfway down the back of your head. You don't want it to look smooth, it if is looking a bit too smooth, rake your fingers from your face, back to the pony to rough it up a bit.

Step three: Rough up the pony a bit by getting a few chunks of it and teasing with a tail comb, spray the pony and make sure it still works as one piece, not a strange tangle.

Step four: Pull aside a small bit of the ponytail and wrap it around the hair-tie to hide it, then pin in place, for a hard to spot job, pin underneath the pony, and aim the pin back into the pony.

Step five:  Mist with hairspray to finish.


All you need is a pair of bold earrings or a statement necklace and you've got a 'done' look in no time at all.

What styles do you do to look done in a hurry?