Merry Christmas!!!

To everyone who stops by from time to time,

Merry Christmas and all that good stuff :)

I'm at home eating far too much food and enjoying my new amazing Mega Book of Boosh (OH YES!). I hope Santa brough everyone something special and if he didn't then just go out and buy youself something pretty!!!

Mega love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song for the moment = JINGLE BELLS :)

Makeup Tutorial: Aqua Charge

Another day - another new Lime Crime inspired look. This style is similar to my previous posting with a twist.

What I used:

Eyeshadows: Lime Crime Magic Eye Dusts in Elf, Empress, Circus Girl & Nymph
Eyes: Turquoise glitter liquid liner (I used M.A.C. glitter liquid liner), & black mascara

With a medium brush I applied Circus Girl (yellow) to the inner eye - starting at the inner corner to about the centre of the eyelid. With a slightly smaller brush I applied Elf (green) to the outer half of the eye - starting from the outer corner to the edge of the Circus Girl shade. Apply Empress (purple) to the centre line of the eyelid where the colours join - blend slightly.

With a flat brush I applied Elf across the crease of my eyelid starting just above the inner corner right the way to the outer corner of my eye. You can bring the colour out as high as you desire - for a more dramatic look bring the colour higher to your brow bone.

I wet a small flat brush and applied Elf to the lower lashes pulling the colour outwards. Then apply Empress directly below the Elf from the centre of the eye outwards.

To highlight my eyes I applied Circus Girl to the bottom inner eye and appled Nymph (gold/white) along the brow bone.

Apply glitter turquoise eyeliner to the top lashline and apply black mascara.

*To make the colours more vibrant wet the brush before applying eyeshadows and use a primer*

I have more looks but I don't want to overload on these :) I can't help it I've recieved more and more Lime Crime orders and I now have quite a few colours... They are magnificent!

What do you think? Love it or hate it??

Love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = Foals - Cassius

Sparks of Happyness - week 6

*REAL polaroid pic taken by random Jagermeister promo girl*

Thursday is quickly becoming my favourite day of the week :) Why? BECAUSE OF THIS! Thank you again Gala Darling :)

What rocked my socks this past week? Well just read on my friends...

Alicia Keys - Yes oh yes... I went and saw her last night at Rod Laver Arena and she was super fantastic, fabulous *insert lots of happy amazing adjectives*!!! It's been quite a few years since she last toured Australia and she made up for it last night. I sometimes forget how much her songs remind me of my life in America. Her second album can quite easily be the theme music for my 1st American trip and when she played some of those songs last night it gave me chills and my eyes welled up (silly emotional girl). She is a beautiful, inspiring lady and her outfit was super cute also. I don't think I've heard Rod Laver Arena cheer as loudly for an artist as I did last night. Highlight songs = No One, Fallin', Superwoman, If I Ain't Got You & How Come You Don't Call Me. She is a superstar!

Lime Crime orders arriving - Yep this make up makes me THAT happy :) I got 3 new colours and Crystal got 3 new colours. The Siren colour is SOOOO beautiful and so unlike any other colour I have in my collection. Expect new photos of my new creations soon. So far I have 2 new looks but I'm sure come next week I'll have a lot more - I just have to remember to photograph them! I haven't tried to use the new glitters but they look so super bright and sparkly in the containers. I still *squee* with happyness everytime I open one of the colours.

Nevereverland Festival - On Sunday Crystal and I headed to the Myer Music Bowl in M-Town with 2 of our friends. A long time ago it used to be the 4 of us at lots and lots of local shows - we'd drink, dance and laugh - but we haven't done that for a while. It was fun to spend the day dancing, drinking and laughing while watching some kick-arse artists strut their stuff on stage. I finally managed to (kind of) break the "Curse of the Klaxons" as well! By kind of I mean that I got to see them and I wasn't horribly ill/being crushed almost to my death/standing near boys who pee in cups and throw their urine on the crowd - but their instruments did all cut out at the same time for about 30 seconds. A small price to pay but they were still fantastic! Oh and it was fun to see my dear friend Retro Dave - sorry Dave the Block-head :) - he always brings a smile to my face.

Watching Long Way Down in full (finally) - Ewan McGregor + Charlie Boorman + motorbikes + Africa = a fantastic documentary series! I've had this series on DVD for as long as I've been home from the UK (so just about a year) and I've always meant to sit down and give it the attention and time it deserves. I knew I'd love it - I loved the last one and I loved the book - but other things always got in the way. Well I FINALLY spent the week watching an episode here and there and finished it the other day - it was marvellous!

CHRISTMAS! - We got our Christmas tree put up and mum pulled out all her Christmas decorations. Our lounge room is Santa & snowmen & reindeer & tinsel central! I love waking up in the morning, opening my bedroom door and being hit in the face with the smell of our Christmas tree! Our house feels festive now and I am looking forward to Christmas more and more!

Honourable mentions = My mum using my phrase "my brain is going to explode", boys thinking that smearing mushed baked potato on Crystal's jeans is a turn-on, MGMT (the crowd sucked but they were splendid), watching a super drunk girl at MGMT try to drunk text a boy and failing so many times, making beaded bracelets, wrapping fabulous Christmas presents, FALLS FESTIVAL timetable being released and I get to dance the New Year in with THE HIVES! & then continue the dancing with Late of the Pier, buying Dylan Moran tickets for April, seeing Pete & Linda at Alicia Keys, my new boots being worn almost everywhere when I go out, seeing Twilight again and still loving it, fabulous Polaroid photos, new HSM pens, JB Hi-Fi Christmas parties (even though I haven't worked for them in over 18 months), seeing TRACEY again!, our store wining a spot on an incentive, & seeing my niece in pigtails (a-la Pippi Longstocking) for the first time :)

I'm going out for dinner with my super friends tonight, movies with my another super fabulous friend on Friday night and then it's work Christmas bbq on Sunday and then it's CHRISTMAS!!!!

Tell me about your week... Fun? Fabulous? Fantastic?

Super duper love & sparkles
x x x
Brooke

Song of the moment = Alicia Keys - No One

2009 Resolutions

* Photo at Abbey Road - by me*

Think about what you’d like to achieve in 2009. Then phrase it in the present tense!

For example, I am living in New York, or I am in an incredible relationship with someone who inspires me, or I can now do a standing back-flip!

Seems simple right? This was posted as a competition on iCiNG and I wanted to enter but I couldn't get the words out. It was like writing this was writing my own personal script for my life and if I did that then it would be like telling someone a wish - it won't come true.

Then I had another think about it and I realised I was being silly. This is too late to enter the competition but I thought the idea behind this was so good I couldn't NOT do it, so here we go...

"I am sitting in my room in my own place. I've just moved out of home properly for the first time and I'm so close to the city that all it takes is a tram ride and I'm out! I've spent the year saving and it's all paid off for the best - I'm debt free!

I'm a kick-arse travel agent who moonlights as a make-up artist (after completing a short course to learn the techniques).

I've travelled back to America and spent some fabulous quality time with some of my most favourite people in the world. I've also been interstate on numerous occasions to experience some of the greatest gigs of my lifetime. I'm planning my African Adventure for '10 and am counting down the days before I'm face to face with some beautiful mountain gorillas.

I'm happy in my job and my life - my friends and family are happy and healthy and make me smile. I am taking more photos and constantly finding new things to inspire and motivate myself. I'm not afraid to chase the things I love or want anymore.

Life is grand :)"

Thank you Gala Darling. This took me a few tries to complete but I got there. I know what I want out of 2009 now I have to do the hard yards to get there.

Try it for yourself. Tell me you new years resolution - put it out there so that this time next year you can look back and see what you've achieved and if any of your goals have changed.

Love & sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = The Kooks - Seaside

Sparks of Happyness - week 5

*photo of Bridie - taken by me*

It's that time of the week again... I feel like this week past has been filled with so many things that made my heart want to explode that I don't even know where to start :)

My beautiful niece - This week was the week of Bridie. On Sunday the family went to her "music recital" (remember that she is 2 1/2 years old) where she danced on a tiny stage, sang, clapped and was totally cute. She was one of the only kids who didn't need their mum onstage with them (they were all teeny tots) and she smiled and looked like she was having a ball! We also went out for dinner on Tuesday night for my Dad's birthday and I was lucky enough to be sitting next to Bridie for dinner. She was so adorable - we read books together and ate our dinner (well kind of) and she LOVED my new sequin hoodie :)

RAZORLIGHT TOURING IN JANUARY - I still can't find the words to describe just how excited I am about this. I bought my tickets on Tuesday for the Melbourne show and I CAN'T WAIT! They have never toured Australia here and FINALLY after 3 albums they have decided to journey to our shores.

I have been in love with this band since the first time I heard Johnny's voice blast through my speakers. I can remember the DAY I bought their first album - it was December 2004 - I was going through a change with my music tastes, trying to find something new, and for some reason their first album completely pulled me in. It opened me up to a whole different genre of music and I've never looked back. British Indie Rock/Pop is pretty much the back-bone of my music because of them.

I travelled to a small French town about 2 hours from Paris last year JUST to see them because I was tired of waiting for a tour. It was one of my aims of our European trip (I only really had 2 - go to the Glastonbury Festival & see Razorlight live). I have seen them play every song from the first 2 albums that I wanted them to play so this tour is new songs plus bonus super amazing fun!

Twilight the movie - I saw it, I loved it, I'm seeing it again on Friday night. I had a fun afternoon on Sunday - travelled with my sister to a cinema we don't usually go to (because it's further away than our local ones), we were early so we looked around the shopping centre a bit and both ended up with dresses - mine was on sale *joy*. Then we met our friend Julz for some Twilight action. When we were waiting in the cinema for it to start it reminded me of the excitement I held before seeing the third Lord of the Rings movie (am I revealing too much geek-dom?). I won't go on and on about it... Just KNOW it made me (a very big fan of the books) very very happy. After the movie we went and ate food, drank beer and talked about the movie for a REALLY long time.

High School Musical 3 - Yes I am a fan, yes I saw it the night it came out, yes I loved it... I just wasn't expecting the squeals and outcry of love from all the 8 year old girls in the audience. It was WAY better than the 2nd HSM and I want to see it again and again! The songs, the dances, the sets - all spectacular. My sister (who is 23) coped some crap from the people at her work after she said she was going to see it and I told her to tell them "don't knock it til you try it". I am a huge fan of musicals so I was always going to love it - it's cheesy, it's fun and Zac Efron is destined to be a super star!

Creating Christmas decorations - I spent almost an entire day at work (it's been quiet) cutting out and creating elves & reindeer & sleighs for our window display. It looks cute and festive and it makes the office feel a little bit more Christmassy :)

Honourable mentions - finding gifts for that hard person to buy for, the other niece and her crazy ways, new boots, Forever 21 orders arriving, planning USA holidays, comments on my posts (knowing people are reading and enjoying what I write makes me smile), catching up on Amazing Race episodes, super long weekends that are filled with busy stuff, new iPhone applications (ProPol is my new fave - it turns photos into polaroids - like Polaroid.net only not as good but I don't have a MAC so it's a good substitute), delicious Greek dinner with workmates, spanakopita (delicious), Rob Pattinson as Edward *swoon*, being able to look at Twilight related websites again, making gifts for friends overseas, making Christmas brooches & birthday dinners with the family (my Dad's birthday).

Tonight I am going to see MGMT & I'm super excited. I'm going to dress in sequins and dance like a crazy person. I'm then going to the Nevereverland festival on Sunday to again dress in sequins and dance like a crazy person. AND then I have Alicia Keys to see on Wednesday night - you guessed it, I'm going to dress in sequins and dance like a crazy person :) Are you seeing a theme for my week ahead - great music + sequins + crazy dancing = fabulousness!

Oh and I just bought tickets for Twilight tomorrow night - eeep! - and am having dinner with some friends who I haven't seen in a while (but have spoken to on the phone a lot this past week because I'm bored at work).

Tell me about your week... Was is as super squee worthy as mine??? Share!

Super duper love & sparkles
x x x
Brooke

Song of the moment = Razorlight - Fall, Fall, Fall

Makeup Tutorial: Neon Lights

I know I've been going on about Lime Crime make-up since I started writing this thing but the truth is that this makeup is THAT good. I've fallen head-over-heels for this stuff and it makes me excited to plan my makeup when I go out.

It's been a while since I've been this excited about makeup - I love just about everything about it. The colours are bright and are easy to apply, blend and fix (if you make a mistake).

I've been spending a bit of time playing around with the colours I have got and now I'm waiting for the most recent order I placed to arrive at my house so that I have new colours to play with.

I thought it was about time to post some of my creations on here so that you can see I'm not all talk when it comes to this makeup. I WOULDN'T be going on about it if I didn't love it so much. I also thought I'd share how I created the look so that if you feel you love it so much you can try it yourself :)

What I used:

Eyeshadows: Lime Crime Magic Eye Dusts in Cleopatra, Elf, Empress & Nymph

Eyes: white eyeliner (I used Prestige waterproof eyeliner in star) & black mascara

With a medium brush I applied Cleopatra (orange) to the inner eye - starting at the inner corner to about the centre of the eyelid. With a slightly smaller brush I applied Empress (purple) to the outer half of the eye - starting from the outer corner to the edge of the Cleopatra shade - blend slightly where the colours join.

With a flat brush I applied Empress across the crease of my eyelid starting at the inner corner right the way to the outer corner of my eye. You can bring the colour out as high as you desire - for a more dramatic look bring the colour higher to your brow bone.

I wet a small flat brush and applied Elf (green) to the lower lashes pulling the colour outwards. To highlight my eyes I applied Nymph (white/gold) to the inner eye and along the brow bone, I also applied white eyeliner to the lower lashline.

Then apply black mascara - If I had have been going out at night time I would have applied liquid liner to the upper lashes, I think I would have used a turquoise or purple.

Well thats it! That's how I created this look! I like this style a lot and have substituted the colours a few times to create totally different looks. It's easy to do and doesn't take too long to master.

What do you think? Do you want to see more of these?

Love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = Razorlight - Up All Night

NEW BOOTS *swoon*

Yesterday I went shopping. I was supposed to be Christmas shopping for other people but I bought myself a gift also.

A new pair of black boots. I know it's almost summer time but I couldn't resist them. With their buckle & cowboy boot heel they were too good to be true :)

Plus I found them at Payless shoes and they seem to be quite good quality for what I paid for them.

I did manage some Christmas shopping also. Some more gifts are out of the way.

Only 16 days til Christmas :)

I also bought RAZORLIGHT tickets today on pre-sale - *JOY*! I officially have tickets to see them in January. I don't know how my heart is supposed to handle all this happyness. 2009 is MY year - I've decided :)

Love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = Razorlight - Wire to Wire

Twilight love

I saw Twilight today.

I didn't expect to love it... But I did.

There was so many things that were done perfectly - the casting, the characters, the sets, the script, the voice-overs & Edward *swoon*.

I really thought I would find lots of things wrong with the movie version because I love the books so much but the only thing that annoyed me was that Mike Newton wasn't good looking enough :) I can live with that...

I am so relieved.

I don't really have the words to describe it right now.

I need to see it again.

I'm off to re-read the books (for the millionth time).

Super love & sparkles & beautiful vampires

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = Bellas Lullaby

OMFG *dies*

I can't even explain the JOY!!! It's been 4 years & a journey to England to see them because I didn't want to wait anymore & this time they are coming to my town!!!

Razorlight (UK)
Saturday 31 January 2009 8:00 PM - 18+

Hi Fi Bar & Ballroom
On Sale December 11 - Ticket Price TBC
Michael Coppel Presents
with special guests

I can't explain it - I'll try tomorrow. Right now I'm smiling from ear to ear.

Super love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = Razorlight - Golden Touch

Why I love: Christmas movies

* Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf*

Every year it's hits December time and I go through the DVD collection to find those few Christmas themed movies that I love to watch every year. I've done this with my sister for a few years running now and it's become a kind of tradition.

I have 3 movies that I HAVE to watch in the lead up to Christmas - it's always open to additions and this year I have added an extra 1 to the list :)

I love Christmas movies because they are ALWAYS fun, family friendly, festive and fabulous. They always make it feel like Christmas and they always make me want to dress up in tinsel and wear red & green & dance around the house singing Christmas carols.

Here are my 4 must watch Christmas movies:

1. Elf (2003) - It's a must! Buddy the Elf is the epitome of all that is Christmas and if he can't get you out of the holiday blues and into the Christmas spirit then you're a lost cause :) He's innocent, adorable, loving, full of Christmas spirit and a complete JOY!

2. Bad Santa (2003) - Not your traditional Christmas movie I know, but Billy Bob Thorton is classic as the alcoholic conman who poses as Santa so that he can rob department stores. It's crass, it's crude but it is also fantastic.

3. All I Want For Christmas (1991) - The story of 2 young kids who try and get their parents back together for the holidays is my little piece of nostalgia. I can remember watching this movie on TV when I was little and when I found it on DVD a few years ago I was so excited - I was even more excited that it was in a sale bin for $5.00!

4. Fred Claus (2007) - This movie was the last movie I saw before I left London last year. I was sick, tired, wanting to be home and it lifted my mood. It's a funny take on sibling rivalry as we watch Santa's bitter brother Fred try to survive Christmas. It also start Vince Vaughn who brings that perfect level of sarcastic bitterness to a character who could have been 2D.

I know there are a lot of Christmas movies to choose from but those are the ones I watch to make me feel a little more in the Christmas spirit.

Other Christmas movies I love but aren't as essential - I'll Be Home For Christmas (1998), The Santa Clause (1994), A Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Eight Crazy Nights (2002), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), Home Alone (1990), National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1938) & Love Actually (2003).

I am also aiming to watch a few Christmas movies that I haven't watched before - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2003), It's a Wonderful Life (1946) & Polar Express (2004).

I'm going to see Four Holidays this week sometime (if I can find the time). I know it looks cheesy and cliché but it wouldn't be a Christmas movie without a bit of cheese!!!

What Christmas movies put you in the Christmas Spirit? Do you do have something you like to do each year in the lead up to Christmas?

What Christmas movies put you in the Christmas Spirit? Do you do have something you like to do each year in the lead up to Christmas?

Mega Love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = JINGLE BELLS :)

Sparks of Happyness - week 4

* Bob Evans picutre from past tour - taken by ME*

Another week has passed. I had intended to post a few different articles this week on things that have been happening and more things I love but life caught up with me this week. (Well life and season 3 of Bones).

So what made me squee with happyness this week?

Unexpected new purchases - I went shopping on Saturday with the sister and we wandered around Fountain Gate. I didn't really have my eyes out to purchase anything but I walked away with a super cute denim dress. Most denim dresses I have seen around have been that "shirt dress" style but this one I found in Kmart (of all the places) is in no way like that. It's dark denim and I can't even describe it but it has a 60's feel to it. I love it! I also bought new bright bonds underwear, a 2009 calendar, a new book (that I am yet to start reading) and I've found the shoes I've been wanting for AGES with a more "Brooke-sized" heel (I didn't buy them but I will - the website has them on sale - I'll try them on tonight and buy them soon).

Bob Evans - I went to two of his shows last week. He's so adorable and love-able and his songs are simply magical. On Thursday night we ventured into a venue we had never been to before - The Toff in Town - and it was amazing! As we walked through the doors of the bandroom it felt like we had been transported back to London to one of the many small beautiful venues that we'd been to previously. It was the PERFECT venue to see Bob Evans acoustically and I think the venue added an extra something to the experience. The second show was with his full band so it was totally different to the first night - no less fabulous and no less beautiful. He has a new album coming out in the new year so I'm looking forward to more tours and more shows and more songs.

Spending Sunday market shopping with my Mum - On Sunday I woke up, put on my new dress, applied some bright eyeshadow and put a bow in my hair and went to the local market with my mum. We haven't had a day together without nieces/sisters/other family members in a long time and it was lovely to spend the day with her. We bought Christmas decorations, yo yo biscuits and looked for Christmas presents. The market was a bit of a bust (apart from the yo yo biscuits) so we headed to Fountain Gate to look at Chrsitmas decorations. We found a bright, glittery "Merry Christmas" sign and some Santas. My Mum gets a Christmas decoration each year for the family members who are not at home and I always have fun helping her pick them out.

Decorating the office in Christmas decorations - I LOVE this time of year. It's all about tinsel and Santas and bright shiney things that most people see as taboo year round (not me). It's fun to see people getting into the spirit. I love driving past houses where the owners have put in that extra effort and covered their house with sparkling Christmas lights. We don't decorate our house until after my Dad's birthday (December 9th) so while I don't have Christmas love in my house, it's EVERYWHERE else!

Shana Logic orders arriving - I love recieving mail especially when the parcel is filled with cute robot plushies, new adorable necklaces and 2 bright new Lime Crime eyeshadows. So bright, so beautiful - I should really start taking pictures of my make-up creations and posting them here so that there is visual proof of it's wow-ness! Bridie saw me with my new purple shadow on and went "oooohhhh purple... preeeetttyy" - so it has her stamp of approval :)

Honorable mentions - work visits from sweet nieces, long conversations with friends while at work, ordering new Lime Crime makeup, ORDERING THAT SEQUIN HOODIE, eating kiwi fruits with spoons, summer fruits in season, twitter on my iPhone, dreaming of Macbooks, deciding that new shoes I buy will have heels from now on (thanks for the inspiration Gala), looking at cute pictures on the internet, finding Christmas headbands to convert to Christmas badges, & watching lots and lots of Bones on DVD.

I have so much coming up this week it's crazy! I will be so super busy until well after Christmas. I AM GOING TO SEE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 TONIGHT and I'm super excited about it!!! I am also going to see Twilight on Sunday. I can't even think about that one though.

How was your week? Sock it to me, tell me about the fabulous things that happened...

Super love & sparkles

x x x

Brooke

Song of the moment = MGMT - Kids Oracular