Mini Haul

Hey everyone!

I got back from Finland on tuesday night (so sad to have had to leave Helsinki, I absolutely fell in love with that place)... I will be uploading a couple of pictures of the holiday really soon to give you a little idea of how it's been! In the meanwhile, I thought I would do a brief little picture post of a couple of things I bought before I left for Finland. Nothing special, just a couple of drugstore beauty products and jewelry. 

This lipstick in a dark red-ish / purple is from Hema, a Dutch kind of department store that sells all kind of stuff, including a few bits and bobs of cheap make-up. My brow gel is from there and it's really pretty decent, so I picked up a few more pieces of make-up the other day. The formula is very moisturizing but the color is also quite pigmented, which gives a nice sheen to the lips. The lasting power isn't overwhelmingly good, but the color is just what I was looking for, a dark, velvety purple/red, and for only approx. 3€ it's quite a bargain, so I picked up a second one:

A creamy peach color, which is sort of a summery version of most "your-lips-but-better" colors. Moisturizing, cheap, average lasting power, gorgeous color, so all in all, another catch.
Then I went on to the nail varnish section, where they had a sale for the long-lasting ones, which only cost between 1€ - 1,50€ so I snapped two up that actually match the lipsticks really well!

The dark color looks nearly brown-black in the bottle, but applied it's more of a very deep, dark red/purple with a hint of brown sheen and very small sparkles. Surprisingly great lasting power! I haven't tried out the other color yet, but on the tester nail it looked like a nice, shiny nude tone.
The last couple of things I bought were a ring set from Hema, and a Moon-ring from H&M which just matches my moon tattoo perfectly...

Voilà! If you live in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium or Luxembourg and know about Hema, I suggest you go have a look because some of their make-up is actually quite surprisingly good and just sooooo cheap!
As for my traveling stories, I will get on uploading my photos soon and posting a few more articles, as I am excited to say that I got to go into the Monki Stores in Helsinki and went a little mad! It truly is my new absolutely favorite brand. Will be posting another little haul soon :) I hope you've had a great summer - let us know if there's any things you bought that you absolutely want to share. If you have a blog you want us to check out, leave your link in a comment below!

B's "currently vibing"

It's been a little while since I last wrote about the things in fashion and beauty that I'm currently loving, so I thought I'd do a little updated version.

Dark Eyebrows // Blonde Hair

The thing that I love the most in the beauty world right now is the dark and thick eye brow + blonde hair trend. My own hair is ombré-d to about ear length and very long and blonde, with quite a bit darker roots, very similar to Drew Barrymore's hair in this picture. I just really love how the dark and thick, very defined eye brows contrast with the blonde hair - the stronger the contrast, the better, I think. I don't really care for their music, but Rihanna and Rita Ora look amazing with their dyed blonde hair, dark defined eye brows and bold red lips, and both Cara Delevingne and model pal Suki Waterhouse make me jealous with their perfect hair/brow combinations. Think I will be loving this for a long time.

Tropical Colors, Scents and Flavors

I totally realize I've said this before, but I am just REALLY into tropical things lately. While I do really love tropical prints on clothes, it's mostly scents and flavors that drive me crazy. I have been buying lots of scented candles lately, and now have my eye on these two: Yankee Candles are just the best, and "Black Coconut" and "Tropical Pineapple" literally sound like they were created for me! I've been digging little funky keychains too, and while I can't afford this little Mulberry pineapple gem, it definitely meets my tropical love. Because I am dieting at the moment, I don't really allow myself any sugary drinks at all except for the morning orange juice, but sometimes I buy one of these Rubicon tropical fruit juices as a little treat. To add to my biiiig collection, I am eyeing both the Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter and the Aloe Lip Care - when the sun shines in my face all day, I need to remember to moisturize my lips frequently. For a sexy evening glow, the MAC Tropical Taboo Mineralize Skinfinish is perfect. And last but not least, the Batiste dry shampoo in the coconut & exotic scent. Literally addicted, I keep re-buying it.

Flowers // Cacti

I suppose that one's pretty self explanatory, and also goes hand in hand with my love of tropical things, but big, bold, colorful flowers and green, juicy cacti just make me feel really happy! I recently adopted a little palm tree and a cactus from Ikea, and they really brighten up my room a lot.

Tattoos // Piercings

When I think of it, tattoos and piercings shouldn't even be in my "currently vibing" list, because I've loved them for such a long time and can't see myself stopping any time soon. I have both, tats and piercings, myself - a crescent moon inked on my forearm which I've mentioned before and you can see here and here. To match my moon, I'm planning on getting a sun very soon. The one in the top right hand corner is literally perfection and is what I want to get! I also have quite a few other tattoo ideas, so keep your eyes open for future tat articles :) I also really love piercings. I currently have three on each lobe (the second piercing on my left lobe is currently stretched to 3mm and I'm planning to go up to 5mm) and a cartilage, as well as a nose ring. I'm really thinking of getting a couple of other piercings - both nipples, my navel and quite a few further ear piercings (especially rook and tragus) are all options I'm debating and planning on for the future, but for now my biggest plans are continuing to stretch my second lobe as well as finally getting my sun inked!

There's lots of other things I'm currently loving, such as nude make up, moon and sun patterns and jewelry, contrast sleeve coats, avocado and lime in every way shape and form, cute socks, matte lipsticks, messy beach waves, tanning cream, any kind of cocktails! but especially Mai Tai's with LOTS  of rum, and TONS of other things, but I thought I'd show you my top 4.

What are you loving? Share your "currently vibing" with us in the comments below

B's Tuesday Tunes

Evening, loves!

Because we've been slacking once again (I've been working out and it's been raining a lot, so the lighting has been too crap for pictures!) there hasn't been a post up in a couple of days... Apologies! I thought before I upload another proper post tomorrow, I'll follow Kym's last article and post my couple of songs of the moment, in case you are more down the electronic, alternative, disco path like me. Here my top songs of the last few weeks:

♡ Late Nite Tuff Guy - I Don't Like Acid (my official favorite song for 2013)
♡ Air - Dirty Trip (An old classic)
♡ Machinedrum - Whatnot (one of my favorite electronic artists)
♡ Chris Avedon & Coon - Als Gäb's Kein Morgen Mehr (Berlin summer vibes)
♡ Vondelpark - California Analog Dream (my favorite band this last year)
♡ Vondelpark - Quest
♡ Andrés - Moments in Life
♡ Mala - Alicia (summer nightssssss)
♡ Willow Smith - Summer Fling (this is actually such a tune guys! Not even ashamed.)
♡ Toro Y Moi - Such Bad Handling (so groovy)
♡ Gucci Mane - Pillz (Zomby Remix)
♡ Cheryl Cole - Call My Name (Hijinkx Remix) (Hijinkx is an incredibly talented friend of mine!)

Now, I know those will probably be completely foreign to most, or maybe all of you, but I just thought I'd share my slightly different taste in music anyway. If you happen to be one of the few who likes this kinda thing, hit me uuuuup :) This little list is great for chilling, staying home, going out, partying, etc.

I am heading to our neighbortown Delft (Netherlands) tomorrow, which is the beautiful lovechild of Amsterdam and Venice (and has loads of cute little shops ;)) so I will try my best to do an Outfit Of The Day and snap a few pictures!

B's Weekly Wishlist #1

ASOS Tote Bag | Basics Palette  | Ebay Coat |  Brushes Set | Monki Top | Mac Lipstick -

 ASOS  Sandals | Shop Dixi Silver Ring | Shop Dixi Moon Ring | Coconut Hair Spray 

As I've mentioned before, I am a notorious shopping addict, and while I do absolutely love to shop in actual stores, I also can't ever resist online shopping.  Here a little overview of what I've been lusting over this week... Sigh, so beautiful!

I've been currently loving nude and neutral shimmery eye shadows - I think I seriously need to take the leap and invest into an Urban Decay Palette... It'll serve me well. With more neutral eye make-up I've recently been loving darker/purple-y lipstick, like this Mac Cosmetics one in the shade Hang-Up (I, like every other make-up lover, swear by mac lipsticks, they are hands down the most amazing, long lasting, easily applicable, moisturizing and pigmented lipsticks you can get.)

 Because of the heat I've had to cut down on foundation and concealer, so I'm eyeing the Real Techniques core brushes set to buff and blend my make-up nicely.

My current smell/flavor obsession is coconut (I recently raided The Body Shop when they had a sale - oops!), so this vegan thai coconut moisturizing spray to protect my hair from the heat and give an effortless, messy beach wave look is definitely on my "to-buy" list this week.

For clothing, I have been loving the minimal, clean-cut designs from the Swedish brand Monki - I just bought their white 3/4 sleeve sweater dress (grab it here on Asos before it sells out!) and I am absolutely head over heels in love with it. Effortless, casual and still sophisticated. This grey top is also begging me to buy it...
To match my minimalist clothing love I've got my eye on this pair of gorgeous sandals in white and brown leather. Pick a beautiful nail varnish in a pop-color (or some lovely nude shades) to complete the outfit. 

For cooler summer nights (I'm traveling to Helsinki in a few weeks, it might get a bit frisky up North!), I am really liking this white and black coat with faux leather sleeves, which nearly reminds me of a longer version/dupe of the Chanel jacket... Soooooo lovely.

I haven't been very much into jewelry lately, though I've been looking everywhere for big, beautiful, summery statement rings. These two from Shop Dixi are just perfect: chunky, silvery, with intricate detail, turquoise gemstone and a little moon - to match my recent tattoo acquisition.

Anything that pleases your eye too? I've inserted the links to all the shops in the description above!