What are the 5 Things in your handbag that say YOU?

Its Friday afternoon and I've decided to start a new Blog Forward*.

So, after reading this article in the Courier Mail's blog dept, I decided to start a 'Blog Forward" of my own, for the Laydeez.

In this age of giant handbags, that are apparently wrecking our posture, women carry so much crap its astounding. BUT we carry it for a reason, and its always entertaining if nothing else to see women pull stockings, calculators, shoe polish and a spanner out of their bag as we search for our ringing mobile phone, which of course is buried at the bottom in the corner (naturally).

Five things in your handbag that speak about your life, (or are just quirky and interesting).

Mine are :

1. No less than 7 different Lipglosses, lipsticks and lip balms!
2. Nutrimetics Relaxing Lavender Pulse Point Stick
3. 2 x USB's
4. Panadol, Nurofen, Codral (old and new formula).
   
5. Misc jewlery - a pair of earrings, a bracelet and a dead necklace.

The whats and whys -

1. Who needs that many? How did I get them all? Plus I have a new one that hasn't quite made it into my bag...
2. Never go anywhere without it. Its my first port of call if I get a headache, you just rub the metal tip onto your temple and most of my headaches disperse.
3. Because I'm starting to accept that I'm a bit of a nerd actually! One has music which I listen to at work, the other has files/photos/anything else I might want to transfer at a moments notice...
4. I'm always finding random pain relief in my handbags. This is SO weird as I really try to avoid taking pills if I can (hence #2). Codral always seems to float around in my bag until the next bout of 'flu I get. Downside is I become a walking pharmacy and its always "does anyone have any (insert drug here)" and I feel compelled to say yes.
5. I HATE to be without a pair of earrings. On the rare occassion I forget to put some on, its handy to have a pair to shove in, even if they aren't as well thought out as some other choices. I would surmise that in a year of 365 days my ear lobes are nude approx 10 days.

I think womens handbags are a wealth of info, so I suspect the answers from others may be fun to read :)

So here's how it works - Of course there's rules, there's always rules.

~ Link to the person who tagged you.

~ Post the rules on your blog.

~ Write 5 Things in your handbag that say YOU .

~ Tag three people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

~ Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

~ Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

(~ For the sake of brevity we'll allow multiples)

Obviously this can be extended to blokes if you know a man with a man-bag/backpack.

I'm tagging

Reanan @ Life As a..... 

K @ Life and Times of K 

Princess Emma @ PrincessEmma 

Mia Freedman @ Mamamia

Fiona @ http://littlelioness.net/ 

*A* @ Everything Under the Sun 

I know thats five, I'm just spreading the love! If I haven't tagged you and you want to play, feel free! Please link back so I can read yours though!

*I refuse to call it a meme, as the term "meme" was designed by Richard Dawkins (yes of God Delusion) to refer to a cultural reference that acts like a Gene, passed down through people ie like a folk song or hand clapping game. 

Hence, I do not think a list of things on someone's blog should be referred to as a "meme" as though that is the sole frame of reference.  /rant.

My Makeup Construction Space

Makeup, originally uploaded by dataceptionist.

I'm lucky enough, in my home, to have a whole second bathroom to myself for my makeup. Ok, we don't call it MY bathroom, or my Makeup bathroom or anything, but its the "guest" bathroom essentially, so gradually I've moved all my makeup in there.

Initially I had just spare hair stuff, and all my spare toiletries and supplies in the cupboards. Then when I did my cousins makeup last year I had to pack up all my makeup to take with me, and it just somehow seemed easier when I got around to unpacking it all, to unpack it in the spare bathroom.

The result, an awesome space for all my stuff to be spread out, without worrying there isn't enough room for M's shaving cream, or whatever.
(Ok, confession, M only really has one small shelf in our main bathroom for his few things also, I've got my everyday stuff taking up loads of space in there too.)

So this is my space. If you click on the photo above, you can find little notes on things in the photo, like the toothbrush cup, full of makeup brushes.

I use this space as my "getting ready" space in general. I suppose if I was a lady from eras gone by, I might have a boudoir for this sort of thing, with a dressing table and tasseled perfume spritzer. I do feel spoiled. It's my mother's fault though, when she redid the bathroom at home, she organised the cabinets so that there was a power outlet inside the cupboard so the hairdryer would always be plugged in (like the "appliance" cupboards in kitchens now with the toaster and kettle). She also had discreet lighting installed above the mirror expressly for makeup application. So, with lessons like these, whats a girl to do?

What would your ultimate makeup space be do you think?

Makeup 101

I think when it comes to makeup, a little knowledge goes a long way. Just a few tips can help your makeup look ten times better. I've listed a few things I've picked up along the way, even if you only used one of them that you don't already, you could save that friend saying something.

Basic rules I follow:

Brushes brushes brushes. Unless you are using it for a specific effect, get rid of the sponge applicator that might come with your eyeshadow compact. Get yourself some quality brushes. It might feel like a waste of $40 for a set, but its really an investment. Trust me.



Always apply creams/liqiuds before powders. This might seem kind of obvious after you hear it, but it also includes eye pencil, which you should do before you powder your face if you're going to set your foundation.
Creams are; liquid foundations, concealers, eye pencil, brow pencil, cream blushes and cream shadows.
Powders are; powder foundations, translucent powders, blushes, eye shadows and bronzers.


Mascara always goes on last. If you've forgotten something on your eyes, its too late after mascara, you'll end up putting shadow in your mascara which will dull it, you'll need to re-apply mascara and it will go all clumpy.

<---Did you know that Great Lash Mascara by Maybelline is apparently the best selling mascara in the world? I've owned about 5 of these and I think they're great. (go Big W/Kmart for cheap prices)

Tip: As you apply your mascara do a slight zig zag motion with the wand as you move it up your lashes, this coats the sides of your lashes and the tops, all in one go. Only do a small motion, enough to hit the "sides" is plenty.

The last thing I can say about basics, is don't be afraid to experiment before you go out for an occassion. Lots of people will say you shouldn't in case you stuff it up, but my philosphy is that if you don't go the whole hog before something you want to look good for, you'll never give it a proper chance at another time.

Who is ever going to think to themselves on a quiet night after work "I might practice making up my face tonight" You've got nowhere to go when you get it right and look gorgeous!
The trick is to just start early, keep your cleanser/makeup remover handy and don't be afraid to take it all off and start again if you stuff it up. I can't tell you how many times I've done my eye makeup and ended up being too heavy handed, so I just take it off and start again. The end result will look better than if you just try to salvage a mishap.