The perfect pair by Maybelline: Lash Sensational Mascara and Hyper Sharp Liner

Okay. So a couple of days ago while I was out at uni, mum decided to pick up these fab new Maybelline products for me from Big W. They were on sale so she grabbed them on a whim, and I'm so glad she did! I had been wanting these ever since they came out - there's been so much hype about the amazing new pairing and I really wanted to try it out for myself!

I've always been a Maybelline mascara kinda girl, always alternating between the falsies/black drama mascaras (y'know, the ones in the dark purple tub? love them). I really didn't think they could improve on such a great, affordable mascara, but of course Maybelline's proven me wrong! The Lash Sensational Mascara is an amazing, thick liquid that really thickens and elongates your lashes. Honestly, it makes your lashes look like (very natural looking) falsies (if that makes sense, I don't know haha!) even more so than the alternative Falsies Mascara - which mind you, already did a great job! 

It helps that the applicator is designed really well, it's got a slight curve to it which helps the product glide on and spread your lashes simultaneously to really make them pop, which is also helped by the strong bristles that really get into the lashes and give them a proper coating!

I've actually only recently gotten into eyeliner, having always been too scared to use it, worked up the courage, come out looking like Taylor Momsen after a big night out (note: I actually love Taylor, but those raccoon eyes were definitely something else!) and decided it wasn't worth it, only to repeat the process several times. 

But I decided to give it another go, and I realised that it's not as hard as it looks - I've actually been using the wrong liners all along!

The Hyper Sharp Liner has a sharply pointed long felt (so not actually 'sharp' like it's gonna poke your eye out, haha) tip that glides on with ease and definitely makes for the best winged liner (or for a nice clean line for an everyday look!), something you could easily get right even as a beginner! The liquid is smooth and long lasting - so no need to worry about smudging throughout the day!

I can honestly say that I'm obsessed with these products!

Have you tried either of these products before? What do you think of them?

xx Chontelle Louise

'Spring' into Spring

Spring. It's here. The cold season is officially behind us and as the weather warms up and everyone begins to emerge from hibernation, it can be a struggle to get back into the swing of things.

It can be easy to fall into the 'winter trap', losing both inspiration and motivation as the gloomy weather takes hold, bringing your mood down with it. All you want to do is curl up in bed, under your (several) blankets, with a hot drink and the television remote until the heat finally returns. It can be impossible to get out of bed many mornings and it's easy to feel uninspired, lazy and just, blegh. 

Sometimes you just need a little push to regain motivation and bring some life back into your life! Here are some of my top tips to help you do just that!

De-clutter. Also known as a 'Spring Clean'. Honestly, clearing out your space, getting rid of all the junk, sweeping up the dust and re-organising everything to create a space you want to spend time in - there's no better way to start the season! Clear space, clear mind!

Set some goals. Figuring out what you want to work towards is the first step in dragging yourself out of a winter rut. Setting goals gives you something to aspire to achieve and work towards. Do you want to lose 5kg? Start a blog? Spend more time with your friends? Save up for a holiday or some new shoes? Think about it, and set yourself some goals.

Make a vision board. This is such a great, fun way to gather the goals you've set, find some inspiration, and put together a visual representation of what you'd really like to set your sights towards. Ever since I started making vision boards, I honestly believe that the things I've been wanting in life have begun to manifest themselves in some way and it's really helped me to stay on track for what I want to achieve. You can stick inspirational quotes, pictures of dream travel destinations, a graduates cap, the apartment you'd love to live in, a number of blog views you'd like to reach - anything important to you!

Get outside and smell the roses (or whatever flowers are blooming near you). Being cooped up inside all winter can really put a damper on your mood. Get up, get dressed, and get outside - the fresh air will do you a world of good as you take in that spring feeling!

Catch up with friends. I'm sure we're all guilty of letting relationships fall through the cracks over winter, especially when the desirable alternative is to stay home in your p.j's and sleep. Get on your phone, Facebook - whatever, and organise to catch up for lunch or shopping with some friends. Reconnect with friends, have some social interaction, it'll be fun - promise!

Update your wardrobe. Who doesn't love a little retail therapy? Not me, that's for sure. I find that one of the best ways to welcome spring with open arms is with some new spring wardrobe pieces. Now I'm not saying you should spend all your money on things you don't really need and if you don't then you'll feel gloomy and uninspired forever, not at all. If you've got more important things to spend your money on then that'll always come first, and maybe you simply don't want anything new - but a few affordable pieces can really help you brighten up and feel good. Whatever works, right!

Begin a health kick. Chances are, you've been indulging in some naughty, hearty foods throughout winter and your body's feeling a bit sluggish and weak as a result. Now is the perfect time to...
and, bonus - you'll have a head start on that 'summer body' everybody strives to achieve (in the two weeks before summer arrives that is)!

What are some of your favourite ways to put some 'spring' into your step? Let me know in the comments below! 

Thanks so much for reading, and Happy Spring! <3

xx Chontelle Louise

Brunch at Mr Mister | Windsor

I've been wanting to try the new trend in cafe brunch food - 'baked eggs' - for a pretty long time now, but for some reason I'd never gotten around to it. Well, today was the day that all changed, and I honestly can't believe it took me this long to try this meal out!

Mr Mister is a lovely and well-loved cafe on Chapel Street in Windsor. After reading an array of great reviews on Zomato and their Facebook page, I was completely set on checking the place out for myself. I'd also already decided on exactly what I would be ordering the night before (I can be a bit OCD, but I don't see any issue with that!), and while I did have a browse over the menu in case any of the other equally attractive options stood out, I stuck by my original choice.

For my brunch food, I ordered the Baked Eggs with wild mushrooms, brie, and toasted hazelnuts. It also came with a side of toasted bread with oil.

Oh my goodness. Where has this been all my life!? I can honestly say that this is one of the best meals I've ever had! The combination of crispy melted brie, toasted hazelnuts and herbs on the top of the dish gave the most amazing first taste - and it only got better from there. Inside, the baked eggs had a fluffy, almost omelette-like quality and again, a strong but not overwhelming taste of brie and herbs. The wild mushrooms added a lovely touch to the dish. As a side, we received some simple toasted bread. It was fresh, perfectly toasted, and rather than butter there was a touch of oil on the bread - perfect.

I had also decided on trying the Matcha Latte. I absolutely love matcha, however I usually have it as a tea drink so I was really excited to find a cafe that offered it in latte-form. Honestly, it was amazing, and I'm pretty certain matcha lattes will soon replace chai lattes as the trendy new tea/coffee substitute! Not to mention, they have the bonus of being really good for you! It's a win win really! Unfortunately, I completely forgot to take some snaps of the lattes with my camera, but I did take some pics for Instagram with my iPhone so I'll pop them in here for you to drool over!

I had a really great experience at Mr Mister cafe in Windsor, and it was the perfect outing to start the Spring season with. I'll definitely be heading back for another Matcha Latte and Baked Eggs, however I'll force myself to broaden my horizons and consider something else on the menu too (can't make any promises, though)!

xx Chontelle Louise

Spring City Brunch | #OOTD

My Outfit:

Scallop Hem Check Top - Dotti

Denim/Suede Feel High Waist Shorts - Sophie Charlotte Italy

Baby Blue Leather Look Shoulder/Handbag - Laurentino

Black Ankle Boots/Booties - Spend Less Shoes

Spring has officially sprung today in Melbourne, so what better way to celebrate (while on my week-long uni break at that!) than a weekday brunch outing? For the first time in months, it was actually warm enough (for some of the day anyway) to go out in a short-sleeved shirt, so I took the opportunity to wear my new scallop hemmed top from Dotti (on sale for only $19.99!!) that I picked up at Southland Shopping Centre yesterday. Definitely loving this purchase, the top is super comfy and looks really stylish - I could easily dress this up for a day in the office or dress it down to run up to the shops.

I paired the top with my favourite shorts that I picked up from Sophie Charlotte Italy when I was on holiday in Rome last October (about 45€, so around $75aud). They're such amazing quality, so comfy & look amazing on, I just love them! I wore some thick black stockings underneath because, well it's not that warm yet guys!

I decided to add a slight pop of colour to my outfit seeing as though it is Spring now, in the form of my gorgeous Laurentino shoulder/hand bag ($65 on sale). It's got the nicest sort of crumpled-style leather look to it, cream lining inside, two separate zipped pouches, and an abundance of outside pockets for phones/cameras/spare change - you name it! I got this for my birthday just over a month ago and it's honestly my favourite bag now! I finished the look with these cute black ankle boots/booties from Spend Less Shoes. Confession, they're actually not mine! I found them in mum's shoe closet (yes, shoe closet) with the tag still on ($39.99 for anyone interested) and kind of took them over!

This outfit was perfect for a semi-casual day shopping and wandering around Chapel Street and a lovely brunch at Mr Mister Cafe (blog post here).

What do you think of this look? Let me know below, and happy Spring! (or Autumn/Fall, to all my northern hemisphere readers)!

xx Chontelle Louise