Young Designers Market

Hmm, let me see, something to do next Sunday? Well there is this.
Want the clothing industry in Brisbane to grow?
The best way to do this is to support our fledgling designers, and they can be a little hard to find.
The first Sunday of every month the Young Designers Markets set up shop near the regular Southbank Markets on Little Stanley Street (mmm, churros).
Starting of with humble beginings, and occuring once every three months, the markets have grown in demand to occur on the first Sunday of every month, with stacks of returning and new stalls.
One  to look out for -that everyone says to look for- is the MSIT students stall. The TAFE fund this stall for the students to peddle their wares and make some money while they're slogging it out in their fashion courses. Check it out, and support a hard working and most probably poor student.
I'll be checking it out to see what's new and to pick up a few things to tell you about!

Loving this week: Mimco, Palmers and Kikki K

For a long time I've been after a bag from Mimco, I've always liked their Viking Pouche Style, but in the latest range drop soemthing else has caught my eye, the Faraway Hip Bag. It has a top opening like a doctors bag, and come with both a long strap and carry handles. I'm always a fan of long straps as shopping is so much easier when you don't have an arm already occupied with carrying your handbag. It also comes in a nice neutral brown that will go with stacks of things.

 

Faraway Hip Bag by Mimco.

Next on my list this week is an oldie but a goodie. Over the years I have introduced many of my friends to this product, and I fell in love with it yet again this week while trying to make myself feel better in my sick state. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Moisturiser. If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest it. (They even have free samples to send out via their Aussie Facebook page) It smells divine, even the boys in my life are suckers for the smell, and the effect is magnificent, you feel totally pampered, and your skin glows. not bad for a supermarket buy. I also read that they don't test on animals, so it's good for any ethical readers out there!

 

Palmer's Orginal Cocoa Butter Formula.

I love stationery. When I move into my new house in a few months, I hope to have a room that I can say is purely a creative outlet for myself. I'll set up my sewing machines, mannequins, fabrics, stationery, computer, everything that I do to keep myself smiling and sane. Kikki K has just released a new inspiring catalogue for the new ranges coming out, you can see it here. I find it helps to see how other people fill ther spaces and create their niches without being pigeon-holed. I cannot wait.

Sweet Hearts Adhesive Notes by Kikki K

New Design!

I got sick of crediting someone else, and she may look kind of like a zombie, I haven't done any art in years. So shut up! lol.
No doubt I'll get over her and put something else up soon.

Tip of the day: Skincare and Make-up when you have a cold/the flu

There are two things that spring to most minds in Brisbane when EKKA is mentioned, one of course is the show, and the other is the Flu. Both are timed at near identical times of the year for many.
And some are like me, the trendsetters who already have the damn flu. I have been sick all week and its really playing on my looks. But there are ways to minimise this.
My first tip is to STAY HOME if at all possible and look after yourself! I do understand this isn't something that everyone can do, When you work in retail, when you're a mum, when you run your own business and no one can fill your shoes. Do everything you can at home, gets friends and partners to help you out with errands. Repay the favour when they are sick. It's good karma.
Secondly, do not stop your skincare routine, it can be hard to drag yourself over to the bathroom when you have to find your way through mountains of tissues, but don't drop the ball.
Aloe Vera Tissues are awesome, get them on hand ASAP. They will make you less of a red nose monster.
Use a thicker moisturiser then normal around your nostrils. Kind of an icky thought and description, but it'll help stop your skin freaking out.
Do not forget to use a scrub. But don't over-do it, your skin will become duller because you are skin, give it a hand to look it's best.
Kinda linked to the previous, but use brightening skincare too.  Your skin needs help to glow again. I like Loreal Skin Expertise Youth Code Day / Night Cream

Now this is just what you need to do if you're staying at home during this time, Make-up will need to be adjusted in a similar fashion.
This change in skincare can make you break out, stay on top of it with a target treatment. I love that Clearasil four hour difference cream, you know the one with the guy in the chicken suit on the ad?  Yeah ... that one.
There is hardly ever a time when less is more is more suited to a make-up situation, You do not want to overdo your make up when you are sick. The urge might be there to layer it on to try and hide that you are sick but this is not the way to go at all. it will flake off with your dry skin around your nose, and be hard to blend.
If you can get away with it, use just a tinted moisturiser all over. You can then use concealer/foundation on area that aren't your nose. Healthy glowy foundations are the order of the day, I tried Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation and found it perked up my appearance nicely, but needed reworking in the mid afternoon.

Use an illuminating concealer around your eyes. They're puffy because you're sick right? Pay special attention to them and pat on a Touche Eclat-esque product to throw some light onto your face.

Use a blush as well, it'll help liven up your complexion and add some warmth, otherwise a pale pink will lessen any dullness you may have too. I recommend Benefit blushes in Dandelion and Sugarbomb.

Lastly, use a waterproof mascara if any, you do not want to smear it all over if you need to wipe away any mess during the day.
All you need is a slick of lip balm to sooth away any dry lips your flu may have given you, and you're as good as you can be. I still recommend staying home, but sometimes you just have to get out!

Bought! Reebok, Puma, Asana and Target

Had a sporty shop up this evening, I was in dire need of some new sneakers after the soles of my dunlops started to flake off.
Amart All Sports had a special, 50 different sneaker types for $50, bargain! So I got some advice from the assistants and was sent in the direction of some Puma Cell Ikonis 2 Q111's. I asked for gym shoes that could also be used for jogging in a pinch.
Of course, in pink.

Ladies Puma Cell Ikonis 2 Q111

After I picked those out I went and had a peek at the rest of the sports gear, I love a snappy sports singlet, but it has to be something that either speaks to me or makes me laugh, some of the Slogan singlets you see are just too OTT. " I earn my choccies one step at a time" anyone? Blech.
I snorted out loud when I spotted this singlet by Asana .. no one said it didn't run faster then me too!

 Asana Slogan Singlet

I've already been through two gym bags since I started training at the start of the year, the first one turned out to be too small, even though I loved the design and colours. and the second was a freebie attached to a magazine, certainly big enough but the straps were waaaaay too short. I wasn't even browsing for one today but I spotted this and loved it. It's very sleek, has both carry handles and an across body straps, large zip up pocket on the front, two internal sewn in pockets, and a removable small pouch with wrist strap.
I'm really quite appalled I can't find this bag anywhere online to show you guys!

Lastly, I'm in need of sports bras, and don't want to spend too much, it's kind of hard to find them to fit my 12dd size. (This size is a curse, not a blessing.) Most of the time I opt for 12d. Target is having a sale on underwear at the moment, but it's worth having a good dig, there were different colours in this bra, at different prices just because of unpopular colour combinations. I got a bright pink with dark purple detailing version for less then $10! Sweeet.

Target Moulded Medium Impact Underwire Sports Bra