N I N E T E E N ♥︎

Another year has come and gone, and yesterday, on the 29th of July, I turned another year older! Nineteen years and counting, I've entered the last of my teenage years, before next years milestone of the big two-oh.

I spent the day at uni, a group of us - including a friend who also turned 19 on the same day - went to the Emporium for lunch, followed by a cheeky macaron-cookie style treat (with peanut butter filling, I was in love)! Then went to my favourite cafe with mum in the afternoon. It wasn't too eventful, as we'll be heading out to a buffet lunch at the Crown Conservatory next week (due to a last minute booking meaning we missed out on going for my birthday) - I'll definitely be posting about that!

Anyway. Nineteen years! It doesn't feel any different, however I feel more aware of the fact that I'm getting pretty close to my twenties and so have decided that for this post, I'll be doing a list!

A list of nineteen things I want to actively work towards doing/achieving over the next 12 months. I guess it's a sort of 'New Years Resolutions' style post, but for my birthday!

1. Learn to speak basic French. Je m'appelle Chontelle!

2. Get my P Plates.

3. Spend less money.

4. Spend more time with friends and family.

5. Visit Hobart, Tasmania.

6. Be more happy.

7. Achieve a Distinction average at uni.

8. See the 12 Apostles / Great Ocean Road.

9. Perfect my winged eyeliner.

10. Exercise more often.

11. Learn how to use highlighter/bronzer really well.

12. Visit Canberra, ACT.

13. Finish reading a book for the first time in a while.

14. Focus on buying mostly basics/neutrals for my wardrobe, rather than spending big on trends/colours I won't wear for long or often.

15. Get an internship in PR/Social Media/Marketing (a longer one this time, so I can really get involved).

16. Post videos on YouTube at least once a fortnight.

17. Get out more, and explore the city I live in.

18. Save up at least half of what I'll need to go back to Europe!

19. Be more confident.

#MOTD ♥︎ Pink, Pink & Pink!

 

I love the way my makeup looks here! Pink has always been one of the most flattering colours on me, it just suits me down to a tee! Also, I gave liner another go (with my new Punker'd liner by Ardency Inn, courtesy of Mecca Maxima) and I absolutely love it. I usually hate liner because my hands are the total opposite of steady and I always end up looking like I've attempted (and failed) to get the Taylor Momsen panda-eyed look - not. flattering. This liner was so easy to apply and I've officially made it my one and only go-to eyeliner! So yeah, loving how a little liner made my eyes so much bigger and bolder!

I also want to point out how good my foundation is looking here, which I can thank my new Real Techniques buffing brush for - it really works wonders! The liquid foundation is Mac Studio Fix, with Revlon PhotoReady Powder on top. I also added a touch of blush - Nude by Nature's Virgin Blush.

Another new product on my face here - a blend of nude/pink shades from my brand new, very first Urban Decay Naked Palette (the original of course, btw how amazing does the case feel?!?!)! I used the shades Virgin, Sin, and Toasted. I'm obsessed with Sin - such a gorgeous nude pink colour! I'm looking forward to experimenting more with this palette!

What's left?! Oh, mascara - I actually used a combination of my trusty Maybelline Black Drama mascara, followed by a coat of the Waterproof mascara by Essence (only $2.95, what a steal)! And finally, for my lips I've got my Faces of Australia in a deep dusky pink - I don't know the exact shade as the lippy's a bit old and the name is rubbed off haha! But it's definitely gorgeous <3

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed this #motd post. I'm thinking of making more of these kinds of posts, especially since they take less time than making a video for my channel (Which I will be doing still, just not as often for now!!) - with uni now, I'm super busy and I rarely get the chance to sit down, film (in daylight, as any other time has terrible lighting) and still edit and upload! I'll do my best, but I think these blog posts will help fill the gap, especially as my blog is my main 'thing' really!

Let me know what you think of this look in the comments below!

xx Chontelle Louise

Suede Accents

My Outfit:

Brown Suede Jacket - Temt
Black Roll-Neck Knit Top - Temt

Black High-Waist Skinny Jeans - H&M

Brown Suede Booties - Dotti

Cream Shoulder Bag - Colette

Hey lovelies! It's been way too long since I've done an outfit post, especially considering it's a major focus of my blog! But no worries, I'm getting back on track, I promise! I seriously loved wearing this outfit today, it's just perfect! The jeans and shoes are older pieces from my wardrobe, super comfy though. My lovely Colette bag is actually less than a week old, I snapped it up for only $45 on sale in Melbourne Central as a replacement bag to fit my laptop, books and other uni things in (although I love it so much that I'll be using it outside of uni too!

Now. The roll-neck knit and brown suede jacket. I'm actually in love with these pieces, they're both so soft and comfortable and I never want to take them off! What else are they? Well, I wasn't supposed to have them yet as it's about six days too early.... but they're part of my Birthday presents!
Oops!

The suede jacket though - it's so so soft and falls in a waterfall style, and it makes me look and feel amazing! Definitely a new winter essential right there. And let's not forget the knit. A simple black, roll-neck knit, I've been wanting one of these for a while now but the places I was looking (ShowPo, Beginning Boutique, Dissh, Melrose Avenue etc) all wanted $35+ for such a simple piece. Then I found this lovely one for only $15 at Temt, and I had to get it! It's so comfortable, can be dressy or casual, and perfect to wear all year round!

Anyway, today brings with it the end of my third week back at uni. I'm really loving the amazing campus, and the course is fantastic! It took a little while for me, having spent most of my schooling dreaming of becoming a Journalist and then discovering it was totally wrong for me. But now that I've found my vice in PR, I feel more excited and motivated than ever for my future!

Do you like my suede-themed outfit? And how have your last few weeks been, anything exciting happen!? Let me know in the comments section below, and thankyou for reading x

xx Chontelle Louise

12 Songs I'm Lovin' Right Now!

Lately, I've seen a lot of bloggers making posts about their favourite songs of the moment. A person's taste in music can really say a whole lot about their personality - are they girly? hardcore? country? do they prefer the classics?

I think it's a really fun and interesting way to get to know & connect with your readers, and so I thought I'd share with you guys some of my favourite songs at the moment (and if you enjoy this post, let me know and I'll make it a more regular thing, seeing as though it's pretty much constantly changing)!

1. I Put A Spell On You - Annie Lennox
Oh my gosh. I love this song. I don't even know how to explain why I love it or what exactly I love about it because I honestly just love everything about it! Annie's voice is just amazing, it's mature, powerful, seductive, and paired with this song - it's simply perfect!

2. Pon Ya Body - Carlito Olivero
Super catchy, hot, upbeat and all-round a great song! This ones on repeat in my head at the moment!

3. I'm A Mess - Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is the greatest. And that voice! I'm pretty much a fan of everything by Ed, especially from the album 'X', but this one stands out for me!

4. Ayo - Chris Brown ft.Tyga
I love me some Chris Brown (past negative publicity aside), and this song is so freakin' catchy. I listen to this on the train every morning as I head into the city for uni, it's so upbeat and fun (perfect to prepare you for a long day of study)!

5. Sugar - Maroon 5
Can we just take a moment to appreciate Adam Levine - his voice, his body, and how sweet the Sugar music video portrays him to be? Ugh, Behati Prinsloo is one lucky woman! Maroon 5 is one of my all-time favourite bands, and this song is so perfect!

6. Or Nah - The Weeknd
Ahh, The Weeknd. The kind of music that gets stuck in your head because it's so smooth and sounds so great, but then you listen to the lyrics in public and realise why their songs can never be playing when you're with your parents. It's basically the music version of 50 Shades, and a totally great guilty pleasure (Quick Fun Fact - The Weeknd were actually on the 50 Shades soundtrack with 'Earned It', and that was one of my favourites for quite a long time)! I'm loving this song right now!

7. Bitches & Marijuana - Chris Brown ft.Tyga
Yep, another Chris Brown ft.Tyga track. Once again, super catchy & upbeat, always lifts me up and I just love Chris & Tyga's voices (like ugh, seriously, they sound perfect)! I pretty much love it for the same reason as Ayo, so I'll add a fun fact in here. My first (and only) concert I've ever been to was Chris Brown's F.A.M.E World Tour 2011. Literally best night ever.

8. Pull Up - LA Leakers ft. Kid Inc, Sage The Gemini
I cannot deal with how catchy this song is, I always want to get up and dance or sing along whenever I hear it (or both)! I can listen to this one on repeat all day, no problem!

9. Bitch Better Have My Money - Rihanna
So. Much. Sass. I love how in your face this song is, it's got a great strong rhythm and 'feel' to it, and the Queen of Sass has literally out-sassed herself right here. Loving it!

10. Jealous - Nick Jonas
Little Nick, all grown up (and very attractive)! I was obsessed with The Jonas Brothers back in '08, '09 and all that, when they were big, and Nick was always my favourite Jonas! I'm so glad he's branched out and made his own solo music career, and I absolutely love his style! Smooth, flirty, this song ticks all the necessary boxes!

11. Trap Queen - Fetty Wap
I hadn't even heard of Fetty Wap until I heard this song at my university orientation, of all places! (points to my uni for being awesome)! I love his voice, so different to most R&B artists and it just makes his songs even better! Great tune, great voice - can't fault this song!

12. Hell Yeah - DJ Rapture & John Hart ft.Milla
Another catchy one to round off the list! Love this song, it's super catchy & confident, and really gets you up and moving!


I hope you enjoyed this post! What are your favourite songs right now? Do we have any in common? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks so much for reading! <3

xx Chontelle Louise

My Top 5 Back To School / Uni Study Tips!

As most of you would know by now, I've recently returned to university just this past week. With a renewed sense of motivation and a clear idea of where I want to go with this course, I've committed myself to doing my absolute best this year, and throughout the entire course. So I've decided to put together a list of the 5 study tips I find the most helpful and essential when going back to school/uni!

Get Organised 
Before you even go back to study, or at least within your first week back (while you've still got a bit of free time on your hands), get yourself organised. Print out or save your timetable, factor in any other extra-curricular commitments, work etc, and put those in your timetable too. You need to know when you're free and when you're not, and it's always better to figure out the basics sooner rather than later.

Make Friends
I cannot stress enough how important it is to make friends at school/uni. Even if you're not the most social type, or you've got classes with some unsavoury characters - try to get along with them at the least. Having somebody to sit with, to work on group projects with, to ask for notes if you happen to miss a lesson (but try not to!), is so so important as it can really mean the difference between a positive study experience and good grades, or the opposite.

Do Your Homework
I don't want to sound like your mother, but I've gotta say it. Your homework could be something specifically set for you by your teacher/lecturer/tutor, working on assessment pieces, or simply revising the days lessons and content. Whatever it is, you should be doing it daily. Even 10 minutes is better than nothing, and will save you a heck of a lot of work further on down the track (you know, when you've got 100 assignments due and nothing done?)!

Show Up To Class, and Be Punctual
Again, I sound a bit like your mother. But you seriously need to be in class if you want to do well! The more 'hands-on' learning you do in person is such a great way to learn the course material and be able to ask questions right then & there if you're struggling with something. You'll also be there when your teacher's give you some sneaky hints at what you'll need to know for exams or the best way to complete your assessments & more! Not to mention, attendance is often considered as part of your overall grade!

Relax
Okay, so it might sound contradictory to the rest of my advice, but it's really not. You need to have some down time, whether it be laying in bed with some tea and netflix, or having a night out on the town with your friends (preferably not the night before class). It's important to take some time away from your studies, allow your mind to absorb the information it's learnt, relax, and return to it later. That way you're not getting overly stressed our burned out (a sure fire way to end up failing despite all of your hard work)!

I hope these tips have been helpful for you, whether you're returning to study or just looking for some general advice! What are some of your best back to school/uni study tips? Let me know in the comments below! <3

xx Chontelle Louise

Puckle Street Precinct, Moonee Ponds

Looking West down Puckle Street, through the station crossing.

Moonee Ponds Station.

Looking East down Puckle Street.

The other day, mum and I decided to go somewhere new for lunch. Being new to Melbourne, we've been doing a bit of exploring of different suburbs/areas and somewhere we'd been planning on checking out for a while was Moonee Ponds. 

Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds is the suburbs 'high street' and home to the Puckle Street Precinct. The Precinct occupies the first couple of blocks both north and south of Puckle Street, and includes a small essentials shopping centre (Moonee Ponds Central), along with standalone Supermarkets and an array of cafe's, restaurants, clothing stores and businesses. 

After a stroll down Puckle Street, we decided to step in to Lil Kitch for some lunch and coffee. 

Exterior of Lil Kitch Cafe.

Lil Kitch is located at the end of Puckle Street nearest to Moonee Ponds Station. The cafe is warm and comfy, it feels a little bit fancy (in design) but still nice and casual. The food is reasonably priced for the most part, and the quality and taste of the food is just lovely. Mum had the Omelette on Toast (which was freakin' massive!) while I had a Turkey Foccacia. 

I'm not much of an omelette person, I find the taste kind of sickening so I'm going on my mum's review of the meal, which she says way really nice. She loved the variety of toppings with the melted cheese, mushrooms (her favourite), tomato and spinach leaves. 

My Turkey Foccacia was really nice. The bread was lovely and fresh, there was a whole lotta shredded lettuce (which I think made the sandwich's presentation rise a few levels), just the right amount of melted cheese, 'smashed' avocado, and a deliciously sweet cranberry sauce. 

As I mentioned, we also ordered coffee with our meals however I've chosen not to include those in this post due to the fact that I've had better coffee in a pie shop/garage up in Queensland than the coffee we were served here (and given that Melbourne is known for it's coffee, it should of been average at the least. It wasn't).

Lunch at Lil Kitch.

Omelette on Toast.

Turkey Foccacia.

So all in all, Lil Kitch is a great place to grab a nice meal, but perhaps leave the coffee until later. Which brings me to the next place we stopped in at.

After a bit more of a stroll around the Precinct, supermarkets, Kmart etc, we made our way down south of Puckle Street to The Daily Grind. 

Interior of The Daily Grind.

The best coffee in Moonee Ponds (I think so, anyway!) 

Feeling like we still hadn't truly had our coffee fix, we decided to sit down, relax, and have another drink at The Daily Grind. This cafe is about a 3 minute walk south of Puckle Street itself, and just opposite the massive Woolies. They have a great selection of light foods and snacks, including sandwiches, cakes, wraps, croissants, and the most delicious *insert heart-eyed emoji here* cupcakes I've ever seen! 

Then there's the coffee - oh, am I glad we stopped in here! This coffee fully lived up to the 'Melbourne Coffee Standard', meaning it was really really good and I will definitely be returning for more at some point. I'd definitely recommend The Daily Grind if you're ever in the area, it's got lovely, reasonably priced coffee and food, as well as a really comfy and cosy atmosphere - especially great on a dreary winter's day.

OOTD

I hope you enjoyed reading this post! If you did, be sure to let me know! Have you been to Moonee Ponds, or any of the places mentioned in this post? 

Thanks so much for reading lovelies!

xx Chontelle Louise