How to: Finding a decent make-up brush

The small amount of brushes in my collection :)

I'm not sure about you, but when I search for a decent make-up brush the brushes are only available online or overseas. They are usually really expensive and that's not even including shipping! So today, I thought I would give out advice on what to look for in a make-up brush in your local chemist, supermarket or local make-up store. So have no fear! Amy's advice is here!

What should I look for?
Look for a brush which is made from good quality fibers. The softer and higher density of the fibers in a brush usually means that the brush is better quality.

How big should the brush be?
That depends. If your looking for a powder brush, then go for a wide brush which which is filled with thick, soft and a high density of bristles. The larger brush means you can cover more area and the high density of bristles allow you to collect more powder. If your looking for a blush brush then go for one which is roughly the size of the apples on your cheeks. Again, make sure the brush has a high density of fibers. Eye brushes

How do I know that the fibers won't fall out of the brush?
Most drug and make-up stores have their brushes on display. If this is the case then I recommend the 'squeeze' test.  Pinch the top of the brush and gently pull. If bristles fall out then you know the brush is not at the highest of qualities. If the bristles are firmly in place even after pulling a little harder, then the bristles are unlikely to fall out any time soon. However, if the brushes aren't on display and you are still  not sure then I would recommend to read reviews online. Some bloggers might have used the brushes and put their thoughts about them on their blog.

Why is the density of fibers important?
If you want an even complexion and a brush which allows you to blend easily, then the density of fibers matters. The higher the density, the smoother and easier the application will be.

Does the length of the handle matter?
It doesn't matter at all. It all depends on which one you like best.

How do i know if the brushes are environmentally friendly?
Usually on the back of the packaging they will exemplify that their products are not made or tested on animals. With many advances in technology, the bristles in the brushes are made from very fine pieces of fiber. So they are just as soft if not softer as what make-up brushes use to be made from. The other end of the brushes are usually made from wood. You can also get alternative such as metal and bamboo which are more environmentally friendly.

Does weight matter?
No, it doesn't matter. Again, it is completely up to you and how you prefer your brushes.

I'm just starting out in make-up brushes, what do you suggest to get me started?
I would recommend starting off with drugstore brushes then going all out for the ones from MAC. You can usually get them in packs which is great if your just starting out. Start getting use to the techniques of make-up brushes before you start going all out on high end brands.

I hope this helps some of you out there. The brushes seen in the picture above are my absolute favourites. they are all good quality and are easy to blend foundation and eye shadows.

Here are some links for the brushes I use:
Real Techniques Flawless Core Collection
Real Techniques Duo Fiber Collection
Nude by Nature Professional Brush Kit

Have fun!

My Little Hideaway

15 Random Questions Tag

A lot of Youtubers and Bloggers have done this, but to know me better I decided to do the 15 Random Questions Tag. Here it goes!!

1. What’s a nickname only your family calls you?I get Mimi a lot. Especially when my siblings were younger they couldn't pronounce Amy so instead they would say Mimi. 

2. What’s a weird habit of yours?Apparently I sleep talk. In saying that I apparently told people my darkest secrets.

3. Do you have any weird phobias?I'm not sure if it's weird but I'm afraid of loosing my teeth. I can't go to bed without flossing and brushing my teeth. Same in the morning, I refuse to leave the house unless my teeth are clean. I have had this habit for a while now

4. What’s a song you secretly love to blast & belt out when you’re alone?At the moment I'm belting out to Iggy Azeleas 'Fancy'. This one is my current favourite but give me a few weeks and it'll likely change. Sometimes its even Taylor Swift!

5. What’s one of your biggest pet peeves?I can't stand people who think they are better than everyone else. It really annoys me! 

6. What’s one of your nervous habits?I tend to bite my nails. I know its disgusting and I have no nails because of it but I am trying to break this habit. 

 7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?I dont really have a side. I look like a starfish when I'm asleep!

 8. What was your first stuffed animal & it’s name?My first stuffed animal was a pink teddy bear I've had since I was born. It has never had an actual name, I would just call it teddy.  

9. What’s the drink you always order at Starbucks?We don't have a local Starbucks, but if I'm in ton I'll usually got for an iced chocolate. They are so good!!

10. What’s the beauty rule you preach, but never actually practice?The beauty rule I preach is probably washing your face. I'm guilty of not doing this but washing your face reduces pimples! When I do take my make-up off I use a microfibre washer with some cleanser. The one I'm using at the moment is Simple, but Neutrogena works too :)

 11. Which way do you face in the shower?I'm usually facing towards the shower, especially if the water is really hot!! haha

12. Do you have any weird body skills?I have this creepy thing with my eyes. I can actually vibrate them and it freaks people out. I've done this to some colleges at work at they just give me strange looks, it is fun though!

13. What’s your favorite comfort food that ‘bad’ but you love to eat it anyways?HOT CHIPS. Literally anything potato works with me.

 14. What’s a phrase or exclamation you always say?'Whats Crack-a-lackin' is probably my most used one. Also instead of saying goodbye I will use 'see ya!' or 'have fun'

15. Time to sleep!! What are you actually wearing?I'm currently wearing my rabbit onesie. In summer though I usually wear a set of pyjamas. 

My Little Puppy

Recently, our beloved family dog Hermione passed away. Named after my favourite Harry Potter character, she the most beautiful, adorable thing. Since her death we have been longing for that comforting feeling when she was around. Although we know deep down in our hearts that we can never get her back, we decided to get another female Spoodle. We have a male Spoodle as well, but since Hermione's passing, he has been longing for a friend. With this said, we believe that this was a good decision.

Four months later, we got a call from a lovely lady who told us she breeding Spoodles and put us on the waiting list. The wait had been anxious, we had been told that if anything were to happen we would be one of the first to know. The weeks went by and our impatience grew. We had no idea if the dog was pregnant and because we hadn't heard anything. As time went on, we assumed she wasn't and we were beginning to think we would have to wait until next year to have another Spoodle in our lives.

Last week, we received a call from the breeder who told us the dog had just had her puppies. I think we were all bouncing for joy when we got the news. We got to choose our little girl and we get to pick her up in 2-3 weeks time.

Here is a photo of the newest member of our family:

So here begs the question: How many of you have dogs? If so, what breed?

I don't' think I can live without my little Spoodle as they are the most attention seeking, lovable and loyal dogs. I'll keep posting pictures of this little one as the weeks go by. I hope you are all as exciting as I am!

Amy

P.S. If any of you were wondering what this little ones name is, it's Luna. Keeping the Harry Potter theme alive we decided to name her after Luna Lovegood. Hopefully she lives up to her name! :D

Yummy Chocolate!

So the other day I decided to do a chocolate feast and I thought I would show you the delicious foods I happened to come across. You probably don't know but I am a huge chocolate fan and if you placed chocolate in front of me, I will devour it in seconds! I kid you not, haha. 

So the first place I went to was a cute little coffee shop (I couldn't remember the name of it) and I ordered an iced chocolate. Its was absolutely delicious! 

The second place I went to was Max Brenner. This is one of my favourite chocolate places! I decided on getting a chocolate fudge brownie smothered in milk chocolate and my mouth is watering just describing this haha. If your anywhere near a Max Brenner I would definitely recommend trying their brownies or waffles as they are divine. 

What chocolate stores would you recommend?

Breakfast at the Beach

This wasn't so much of a 'healthy' meal you could say, but it sure tasted yummy! Bacon and eggs with some sour dough, bring me some more! Throughout last week, I was lucky enough to spend some of my holiday time up at the coast. I must say throughout this experience I met some lovely people and had many experiences I won't soon forget. 

Whilst on this trip, I put myself in situations which I normally wouldn't be in. Partying with people I had only just met, playing soccer for a team I had yet too meet and staying over a strangers apartment, were just a few. I really put myself out of my comfort zone and I must say it paid off! I became friends with some of the most hilarious, friendly and very talented people. It was well worth it! So the point of this post? Put yourself out there, you never know what lies ahead.

Just reading over my post now, I realized how quickly it escalated from talking about breakfast to giving out life advice, haha. 

Perfume Favourites

The other day I was walking through the perfume section in a department store and I couldn't resist stopping and testing out some different perfumes. I began spraying some of Taylor Swifts Wonderstruck (Which might I say I adore!!) and noticed her latest perfume called Taylor, which I didn't mind. I have to say though, I prefer sweet, fruity perfumes over the others. So I thought I would do a list of my favourite sweet, fruity perfumes, in case anyone was interested or need help choosing some perfumes.

1. Daisy by Marc Jacobs


This is my absolute favourite! Its a bit on the expensive side but its a very nice summer fragrance. Its a very nice floral scent with a hint of violet, giving it a nice edge. I would highly recommend this one as it is a guarantee hit and perfect as a gift for someone special.


2. Taylor Swift, Wonderstruck



Taylor Swifts Wonderstruck is a fragrance which will remind you of a spring garden. With a hint of apple and green tea, this scent is definitely sweet and fruity. It is in moderate price range but it's available in gift sets as well, so if your thinking of buying this one for a gift you might want to consider that option.

3. Our Moment, One Direction.



You are all probably rolling your eyes looking at the picture but this is definitely one of my favorites. It is floral and fruity making it a playful and sweet perfume. It is in the moderate price range, but just like the others it does come in gift sets.

So there you have it, my favourite perfumes all of which are currently on my shelf. What are your favourites? Tell me your recommendations and I'll check them out.

My Little Hideaway x

Winter

Here in Australia, its that time of year where the days are shorter and I hibernate under plenty of soft blankets. Its winter. Even though many of you probably experience much colder temperatures, it is still very cold! As I write this blog post, I am currently under my thick duvet and sitting next to the lounge room heater. (As you can probably already tell, I prefer the warm summer months)

I didn't really have a purpose of writing this blog post, I just thought I would discuss the winter chills with you :) Its currently 5 degrees Celsius in Brisbane and that is much colder than what we normally experience. You may think Australians are invincible because of our extremely hot summers but put us in an environment under 20 degrees and you shall watch us suffer.

Right now, I'm making a hot chocolate covered in marshmallows and I feel like I need to buy a large amount of cloths to survive this winter. Whats the current season where you are? What are the pros and cons to it?

I hope you all enjoy your day!

Amy