Thursday, January 28, 2016

PUPA MILANO MISS WORKSHOP


Back in December I was one of three lucky ladies to win a make-over by beauty brand Pupa Milano. Owner of the Miss Netherlands Organization Kim Kötter hosted a giveaway on her Facebook page which I entered and ta-da! My name was one of the cheerful chosen ones. While I'd heard a lot about Pupa, I had never actually tried any of their products before. Simply because they're not being sold in your everyday drugstore. But I was definitely interested in learning more about their products and creating a whole new look.
May the wings of your eyeliner always be even! My right eye was already done by a pro. So guess what it was like trying to get my eyes even, haha!
Last Friday was the day of the Miss-Workshop. Very early in the morning I cycled to the train station #nomakeup and all that, hopped on a train and I was on my way to Dordrecht where I took a bus to the industrial area of the city where the headquarters of Pupa Milano Netherlands are situated. It took me 2 hours and 45 minutes, which was a pretty long journey compared to the size of the Netherlands (let alone the distance I had to travel). And of course my train was delayed which caused me to arrive 30 minutes later. Bummer! If there is anything I dislike, it's being late at an appointment. Luckily during my long train ride I had a Classic Chai Tea latte from Starbucks, Ellie Gouldings Delirium and #Girlboss to keep me company.

Upon arriving I was welcomed by two lovely girls at the front desk and one of them brought me upstairs to where the workshop was taking place. The other workshop winners were already there and after a short introduction by make-up artist Fanny and a conversation with the other attendees, we started right off!
Posing with lovely Fanny :)

I took a lot of photos. Wait, let me rephrase that. WE took a lot of photos. As it turned out, I wasn't the only one taking pictures during the day. One of the employees at Care Cosmetics, Rebecca, came in with a camera (and the most gorgeous red lips!) and she started taking photos of everything that was going on in the room. Her colleague send me the photographs and in this post I chose a combination of the ones she took and the pictures taken with my own camera.In the beginning of the day it crossed my mind how cool it would be to have before and after photos. But I only thought of this when I had already put on primer + foundation. Just so you know when you look at the next before and after photos. It's not an entirely fair before, haha.

Before & After
Next to taking photographs I also made notes in the training manual for advanced (oh yeah) on everything that Fanny told us #informationoverload. I wrote down all the product names and the number of the correct shades. Also made a lot of notes about the proper way to apply make-up, what brushes to use, how to fill up your eyebrows, what colors match your skin and much more. It was kindof addicting to hear so many cool things about beauty products. Especially tips and tricks that were completely new to me but are easy to apply when doing make-up in the morning in your own home. For example she taught me what kind of face shape I have, the shape of my eyes and the colors of my skin tone.
Some extra love for number 204 and 205

The colors in the eyeshadow collection are really beautiful compared to some of the drugstore eye make-up I own. I think it is because the colors are exactly the same on your eyelid as they are in the pans. The high pigmentation makes it easy to build up on your eye look without having to use a lot of product. Numbers 204 and 205 are now super high on my make-up wishlist! The purple stands on the exact opposite of the color green which is my eye color.

Fun fact: apparently the word Pupa means 'Little Doll' which is what the Italian founder of Pupa called his own daughter when he made her a make-up kit back in the day.

Face shape
I have an oval shaped lower part, whereas my forehead is more rectangular. To create the ideal face shape, which is said to be oval, one needs to learn the basics of contouring! Dark, matte make-up shades recede, while lighter, shinier colors bring features forward. I've never been too fond of my larger forehead but over the last years I've come to grown and love this interesting feature in my face. But hearing there is nothing make-up can't fix, had me prick my ears up. Fanny told me this: "When you blend your matte contour shade along the hairline of your forehead in a shade darker than your foundation, it will create the impression of a smaller forehead. It's extremely important to blend thoroughly so your make-up looks natural."

Eye shape
She also told me about the shape of my eyes. A persons eyes are never exactly the same. Once you determine your eye shape you can start applying make-up to enhance your shape and even try to make your eyes look more similar. I have upturned and deep set eyes. This means that I have a natural lift in the outer corner. Also my eye color is green with a dark grey circle around the iris. To accentuate the green in my eyes, I could work with a lot of purple colors which is what we did. It was fun to hear that Fanny actually has similar shaped eyes so she know really well how to make this eye shape really stand out!
Skin tone
My skin's surface tone is light and the undertone is warm and slightly yellow. When I applied the primer it was a neutral one but when I left the building at the end of the day she gave me a purple/pink primer to even out the yellowness. I don't have a lot of blemishes but my under eyes could use some concealer. It was early this morning! Haha...

Did you know that Pupa Milano is a brand a lot of make-up artists use? Eva Jinek is also a big fan of Pupa! She always wears Pupa on her shows.
The best part of the day was when Fanny announced we got to pick 5 products from the entire Pupa make-up collection to take home with us. I seriously didn't know what to choose. Everything Fanny had advised and used on my skin was so good. The pigmentation, the colors... I honestly didn't know what to choose so I started going through my notes of the day and I figured that I should go for the products I absolutely loved!
Eventually I went for a primer, foundation, eyebrow cream, bronzer and blush. And I have been wearing these products every day over the last week! I will review these products somewhere over the coming weeks but I'm going to try the products out for a few weeks first. It was packed in the cutest red bag which I proudly carried around on the bus, on the train and on my bicycle until I was home.
With beautiful Kim

All in all this day was awesome! Not only did I learn a lot of new things about applying make-up, my face-shape, eyebrows, eye-shape and contouring. I also experienced this day to be a lot of fun! First of all, Fanny is an extremely talented make-up artist. Next to that she was really sweet and gentle. The other two workshop winners were also friendly and so were the ladies who took photographs, brought us lunch and prepared our Pupa giftbags! And obviously it was really cool when Kim Kötter surprised us with a visit!
Such a lovely group to be around for the day. Thanks ladies for making this day great.
It was super cool when Kim walked through the door unannounced! She looks absolutely amazing pregnant and is very down to earth and sweet.
Happy faces late in the afternoon. Not just because everybody looked absolutely stunning but also because of what was given to us. Nobody went home before these cute little red bags by Pupa were given to each and everyone of us. Filled up with the products of our choosing. It even included an official make-up workshop certificate. How cool is that? I might just hang it above my bed. And Fanny used a lip pencil on me that apparently is no longer in the collection and she was kind enough to gift me the one she used on me which was practically a new one. So sweet! Be sure to keep an eye out for my post about the Pupa make-up that I took home with me. And Pupa Milano, thank you for having me and see you next time!
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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

MIMI'S HEALTHY & DELICIOUS COOKBOOK

About two weeks ago the postman brought me a package that I had been waiting for impatiently. It contained a cookbook I had ordered online with my grandmothers birthday money. I’m talking about Mimi Ikonn’s Healthy & Delicious cookbook

So that was in the beginning of January. In the meantime I’ve had the chance to try out a few of the recipes already and let me tell you this: there are so many fun and easy recipes in this cookbook… it’s unbelievable! There are 57 recipes in the categories: Breakfast, Sides, Soups, Salads, Mains, Desserts and Drinks. Recipes for any time of day and any occasion. All of them are gluten, dairy, and sugar-free. I’ve never been tested on gluten allergies but I strongly believe I do have some sort of intolerance. If you're avoiding dairy, these recipes all work for you. Personally, I love dairy and I incorporate yogurt, quark and cheese in my daily diet. There is definitely natural sugars in this book such as those coming from banana’s, honey, vanilla extract and medjool dates. Easy recipes that will make you look and feel great. Yummy!
I am a big fan of the book because everything is completely vegetarian. Next to that, I find that the ingredients are relatively easy to find in your local grocery store or market. Nothing crazy that you need to order online. And the fact that the meals are simple, makes it easier to whip up a batch of your favorite cookies because it doesn’t take up a lot of your time. I do have to get used to the fact that you can eat vegetables for breakfast. I mean, I knew I could of course but it hasn’t yet become a habit of mine. I can’t wait to try them all out! I have already made the Pizza Omelet, Avocado Breakfast Platter (but I had it for lunch), the Almond Flour Cookies and just now: Baked Banana’s! So far it all was indeed very healthy & delicious. Unless you eat the whole batch all in one go obviously! Everything in moderation J.
Now let’s talk about the photography for a bit. I don’t wanna give away too much but the food and prop styling by Mimi Ikonn is awesome. The colors, the contrast... you can almost smell the delicious meals coming from the pages! I read that Dave Chang is responsible for the gorgeous mouthwatering photographs. Well done!
 If I had to name a downside of the cookbook I think it would be the price. Yes all the recipes are carefully written down and the photography is beautiful! But it’s a pretty expensive cookbook if you compare it to others from the same sort. Seeing as I’m looking forward to making every single recipe in the book it’s been a good buy for me. Also, I totally adore Mimi for the fact that 25% of the book sales proceeds will be donated to feeding homeless people. Do good, feel good!

Mimi's Healthy & Delicious cookbook |
$35 via Mimi's website link
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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

WHAT'S SO LUCKY ABOUT ME?

A lucky girl?
Have you ever felt like the wind pushed you in the exact direction of your choosing? I used to think that I was always a very lucky girl. At times it felt like the high grades in school, travel opportunities and part-time jobs were just handed to me on a silver platter. I got all those things going for me and it was so easy. I never felt like I had to work exorbitantly hard in order to achieve something I wanted. I was being myself. I was being exactly the person that I still am today. Only older and maybe, just maybe a little wiser.
The generally accepted definition of luck: success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. I believe that this type of luck only happens sometimes and that a person's own actions are much more important than one might think. Scroll all the way to the end of this post to see what definition I find much more apposite.

Work hard play hard?
When I say I didn’t work exorbitantly hard, I mean that I did what I felt was necessary. I always listened to my heart when choices had to be made. I was always at the right place at the right time. At least, that’s what it felt like. It felt like I had no influence on the outcome but that I better be happy about it because I was lucky and it could’ve happened to anyone, especially people who were more eager to get the same opportunities I was given. Nowadays I don’t look at things that way anymore.

No Secret
My positive outlook on life has brought me certain things that I wouldn’t have accomplished otherwise. And while all of this might sound very The Secret to you, I know that the mind is a powerful tool. The way you set the mind can make all the difference in the world. I know a lot of people think the subject is a bit woozy but I promise you that it all makes sense once you apply it to aspects of your own life.

So yeah, I do believe that in a lot of cases luck plays a part in the outcome of a certain situation. I found that there are so many elements in our lives that are simply uncontrollable. Whether or not it's going to rain in those five minutes you spend riding your bike. If the numbers on your lottery ticket are a golden combination which is bound to make you rich. However, a person’s own actions can give direction and are much more important than depending on chance.

Let me give you an example: last year all students of my year had to find a suitable minor for one full semester. All the fun and exciting minors were most popular. When registration day came it was chaos. It wasn't peculiar in any way to think that I wouldn't get in because 160 students had applied while only 25 were allowed to participate in the minor I had set my sights on: Brand Management. And so it happened that I was sent a rejection e-mail. 15 days before the start of the minor was the day I found out somebody had dropped out last minute. I took his place. While it might look like I was very lucky to have gotten the last and very scarce place during the last week before the start of the minor, a lot had been going on behind the scenes. The minute I heard students were being chosen at random I knew I had to do something. I sent an e-mail to the secretary explaining my dedication and I told her I was hoping she would let me know if anyone dropped out. I didn't have any influence on whether or not someone would drop out but I did have a say in who was gonna fill up the empty spot if someone did. To me it is important that you give some credit to actions you’ve taken in life. Both consciously and unconsciously. 

Good things happen to… people
People who we often regard as lucky are more laid-back and open to the world around them. The trick they apply is not being focused on a single task, while blocking out everything else so much that they miss something unexpected and perhaps important! It all begins and ends with your mind. Maybe luck isn’t simply luck, but whether or not our mindset leaves us open to opportunities we would otherwise miss...

 "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
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Saturday, January 16, 2016

I GO BACK TO BLACK

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Friday, January 15, 2016

BOYFRIEND JEANS + BLACK BLAZER

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URBAN DECAY - NAKED SMOKY EYESHADOW PALETTE

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Eyeshadow Palette. Gasp! That is quite a long name for a make-up product. But this is not just another make-up product. And seeing as this palette contains 12 gorgeous shades I think it deserves a good name. Let's face it, having multiple names is trés chic. According to Urban Decay this palette is the key to nailing the most sought-after and elusive eye look ever! Well, that's a look I definitely want to get the hang of!
Without having seen the actual product I was already over the moon. Look at that drop dead gorgeous packaging. SOLD! Did you know the casings are all one of a kind? Because of the way they added the smokiness to the case, none of them are identical. I think that is a pretty cool extra. The case is heavy and solid in your hands. which feels strong and safe so you don't have to worry about taking your palette with you on a weekend away. I am not going to make swatches of the colors because 1. I am not a beauty blogger, 2. I hate wasting my product and 3. you can find swatches from well-known beauty bloggers all over the internet.

What I am gonna do is tell you what I think of this product. My mother gave it to me as a present for my birthday. It was again beautifully packed and I couldn't wait to open it... It made me so happy when I finally did! I had a Urban Decay Naked palette on my wishlist for the longest time. But because of its high price and the fact that I didn't know which one to choose (1,2,3 or Smoky) I never got around to buy one for myself.
On the morning of my birthday I tried it out for the first time. Unfortunately I don't have a clear picture of the make-up I wore on my birthday but this photo will give you some idea.
The smoky palette contains such beautiful pigmented colors. I had never owned such a luxurious eyeshadow palette before and I was excited to make my first eye look with it! I immediately noticed the difference with my budget eye products from other brands. The 12 shades are very well pigmented which means one swipe of the product on your eyelid is more than enough! No need to dab on more which is great because the product can last longer this way.

Typical me but I swoon over the names the eye shadow namer (is that even a job?) at Urban Decay gave to these eye shadows!
High (champagne shimmer w/micro-glitter), Dirtysweet (medium bronze), Radar (metallic taupe w/iridescent micro-glitter), Armor (metallic silver-taupe w/tonal sparkle), Slanted (light metallic gray), Dagger (medium charcoal w/micro-shimmer), Black Market (jet-black satin), Smolder (deep plum-taupe), Password (cool taupe matte), Whiskey (rich brown matte), Combust (soft pink-taupe) and Thirteen (light beige satin)

Another thing that I think is awesome is that Urban Decay made room for a double-ended brush and and a detailed lookbook! The brushes are great and the lookbook is very useful if you don't know what colors to combine or how to create a certain look. Personally, I prefer to experiment with different looks myself without copying a look from this lookbook but it's a nice gesture they made at UD. The brush is fluffy on one end and has a small pencil brush on the other end.
Fun fact: a few days after I was gifted this beautiful Naked palette I gave away all my other eyeshadows because now I had the best of the best, right?!

All in all I think this is an investment piece but you will get a lot in return. The product will last you a long time and is super versatile. You can make day and night looks with this palette and Urban Decay wants to make it convenient for you so they enclosed a brush and a helpful lookbook to assist you. You also don't need a lot of other eye shadow products if you own a Naked palette. I can't speak for the other Naked palettes but if you've had one on your wishlist like me, I'd definitely reccommend going for the Smoky edition!

Naked Smoky Eyeshadow Palette by Urban Decay |
€51,90/$54 via Urban Decay link or Ici Paris XL link
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Thursday, January 14, 2016

FOODPORN BY MAR

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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

SEA GLASS CRYSTAL NECKLACE BY SKAGEN

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