Seeing Red

I've had a bit of a change. The peachy pale colour didn't stay long, but my plan the whole time was to go bright red. Which I've now done. I have to say, I think it's one of my favourite colours I've had so far. It goes with plenty more outfits than any other crazy colour and now I don't get as many people coming up to me and asking a bunch of questions about my hair. It's a much more peaceful life being a redhead. It seems to be a lot more socially accepted than blue or pink or yellow.

Now, I've actually had my hair red since about last Friday I think. But it's taking me ages to get around to blogging about it. But I have done it now, and the world can finally know I have brilliantly red hair!

There's a bit of a funny story about when I was getting it done. I don't go to any salons, it's all done at home and this time, I had the help of Chloe, who is quite possibly the best hair colourer I've met. We had almost finished my hair,  managing to get all but my fringe and a chunk of hair about an inch thick done and saturated with dye. Thanks to Chloe and Blake, we got another box (Schwarzkopf Brilliance Luminance in L43 Smouldering Red) to complete the job, and I actually preferred that colour to the original (L'Oreal Paris Feria Preference in P67 Pure Scarlet).

Before I bought the L'Oreal box, I did read some reviews on it, and a lot of people were saying it came out plum. It didn't turn out like that at all. I find it was more of an orange red than a true red. The Schwarzkopf box came out a much more richer true red. I've also found that the L'Oreal box has already faded a lot and I haven't even washed my hair yet! Although in saying that, it has been really sunny lately and that does fade hair quite fast. I will probably repurchase the Schwarzkopf red once I need to redye it as it was very vibrant, very true, and made my hair look really shiny.

That's all I really have to say about red hair at the time being, although it's probably going to stick around for a while. I love it and I know Blake does too. If any of you guys think it does too, let me know!

Shannen xx
Photos taken on a Canon 600D
18-55mm lens used
Photos edited on fotor.com

MOVING HOUSE

Sorry about the lack of posting lately but me and Blake moved house! Things have been quite hectic with having to pack and move from one house to the next.

But today I'm going to tell you about our move. We moved from a one bedroom flat into a sleepout in order to start saving money. I plan on going back to study next year so we need to do some serious saving in order to be able to afford to do that.

Now, having a whole house full of furniture and moving into a single room caused a bit of a conundrum. What were we going to do with all our furniture? I had a room still at my dad's that we could store it all in, which definitely came in handy. We sold a few bits and pieces that were too big for my room, or that we didn't need whatsoever. I also sold some shoes to free up some space for when we moved.

In our new place, we have our room, a bathroom and a little kitchenette in the corner. Blake built us a new bed with drawers underneath so we didn't have to bring our dressers. They went to dad's and to Blake's sister. Our old bed also went to dad's.

So in our new room we have our new bed, our tv on a small tv stand, my rack, two small bookshelves and one large bookshelf. With all this furniture we still have plenty of space to move around. It's also great having our own bathroom. We have our two shelves in there from our old bathroom too.

Since we don't have any use for our fridge we had to eat as much frozens and fridge food as we could before we left our old flat. Whatever was left went into the house. We now only keep snack foods in our little kitchenette.

I love our sleepout. Its so much more warmer and cosier than our old flat, and we have the added bonus of having pets now too. Dora the cat stays with us the most, probably to avoid the puppy.

Talk to you guys soon!
Shannen xx

All photos taken on a Canon 600D
18-55mm lens used
Photos edited on fotor.com

Nails of the month #2

Normally when I get my nails done, I've been planning it since the last time I saw Sherie, so normally for about a month. This time, I was still trying to figure out how I wanted my nails done as I worked. 

I went straight to Sherie's after work with an idea of what I wanted. I was gonna get three nails in solid black, one in a colour (I hadn't decided yet) and one in solid glitter. 

Now as you can see from the photo, this is not what happened. As Sherie was applying the acrylic I fell in love with the cover pink. Its super sparkly and glittery. I was then debating to leave it at that and just rock around with super sparkly plain nails. But then I had also been thinking of doing this design as it's such a great alternative  to the classic French design. 

I suppose I did still keep to what I had in mind originally with the black, colour and glitter. It just turned out a little different. And of course I ended up choosing pink again. I just love it too much to not have at least one pink nail.

I'm not sure what gel polish she used on the black nail, but I know the pink was an OPI colour. Overall the process took about an hour this time. I don't usually get acrylic, I'm a gel girl. 

Until next time!

Shannen xx

All photos taken on a Canon 600D

18-55mm lens used

Photo edited on fotor.com

Unexpected Twist

If any of you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you would have seen my hair getting less and less blue. I was fading it out as much as possible before I bleached it for my next hair change. It was patchy blue, pink and lilac. Which was kinda cool but I was completely bored of blue and ready for a new colour.

Now I have a few colours sitting around at home and I had settled on a colour to go to next. So I get my bleach and wait for my next day off so I have the whole day ahead of me to do my hair. Saturday rolls around and around lunchtime I decided it was time to get my ass into gear and do my hair. I follow the instructions on the box of bleach and continue on my merry way. I always leave my bleach in for about the length of an episode of whatever I am watching at the moment, currently the eleventh season of CSI. So now comes the time to wash my hair out. And the biggest but best accident happened.

Turns out when you bleach Manic Panic Shocking Blue, it goes pink. I'm assuming the more vibrant the colour, the more vibrant the pink will be when you bleach it out. As my hair was super faded and washed out, it went a beautiful peachy pink that I probably would never be able to get otherwise. I am stoked with this, so much so that I'm gonna wait a while before I actually go to the previously chosen colour. I still have a small patch of faded blue but that's due to me only using one box of bleach versus my usual two.

Who knew that I was gonna get two amazing colours out of one? This is the type of beautiful mistake I would love to happen again. Kinda like that one time I left purple shampoo on for too long (I was super engrossed in House and forgot it was in my hair) and ended up lilac for a while.

Good things can come out of accidents. Even accidentally on purpose.

Shannen xx
Photos taken on Canon 600D
18-55mm lens used
Photos edited on fotor.com

Manic Panic Shocking Blue $29.90
Schwarzkopf Nordic Blonde L101 Cool Metallic Lightener $14

Imported Candy VS Homeland Candy

Just a warning, none of the food mentioned in this post is healthy whatsoever, except maybe the chocolate drink. That only has 60 calories in it.

Today is a post about my third love. No makeup, no clothes, all food. I love food. Food is my friend. I am always eating. I have more of a taste for savoury food than sweet, but I still have a very big sweet tooth.

I have a strong aversion to all candy native to New Zealand. Pineapple lumps, bleurgh. L&P, yuck. New Zealand marmite is alright, but no way near as good as the UK version, which by the way can't have it's label on display in this country. We went to the Brit shop today and UK marmite has had its label covered, same with Weetabix, the UK equivalent to Weetbix. Which is stupid because the UK has been around for so much more longer than New Zealand, who cares if they have the same name?

Anyways, a short trip to Milson and we come home with some Tea Cakes (equivalent to MallowPuffs for all you kiwi folk), 3 cans of Dr Pepper (although these came from the Pie Factory for only 99c a can!), Fox's Party Rings (childrens biscuts), NikNaks (crisps), a bag of M&S Percy Pigs (BEST CANDY EVER) and one sachet of Options Indulgence hot drink in Chocolate Fudge.

I find myself way more attracted to foods from the UK or America. It has a much better taste than food developed in the land of the long white cloud, imho. It may be more artificial and full of preservatives than the food here, but darn heck does it taste good.

Dr Pepper will be hands down my favourite 'exotic' beverage. Next up would have to be Kool-Aid Jammers in Cherry. These taste so artificial and great. I also like all things Reese's. Reese's Cups, Reese's Pieces.

I will always be willing to pay that extra amount to get candy I actually enjoy, and also because my beloved who is from the UK, gets excited when we find more food he's grown up with. The market in New Zealand is slowly getting bigger, with United Sweets opening up all over the country as well as their online site, along with British food shops.

Also, quick story, Blake and I are currently eating the pack of NikNaks and he grabbed one out of the bag thinking it was just a small one, turns out it was a solid lump of flavouring. These are the Nice 'N' Spicy flavour. He said it hurt.

Shannen xx
All photos taken on a Canon 600D
18-55mm lens used 
Photos edited on fotor.com

My go to make up look

Pretty much every day you will see me rocking the same eye makeup. This same look, I wear about 99.4% of the time. It is the ever classic winged eyeliner. I don't remember when I started wearing it, or even how I got into it, but it happened and it's become the classic Shannen make up look.

My routine in doing my makeup hasn't altered too much since high school either. The only thing that's changed is the products I use. At the moment i use a mixture of Collection's BB cream or CoverGiri's Clean Sensitive liquid foundation. Sometimes, if I want a bit more coverage I'll use Collection's Cover and Go foundation as it's a much thicker formula than CoverGirl. I then use ELF's concealer and highlighter duo to conceal under my eyes. I don't tend to conceal any blemishes unless they're really red and obvious looking. I'll then use my CoverGirl Clean Sensitive powder to set it all. Once I've set my makeup I do my highlighter and blush. I use ELF blush in Tickled Pink and ELF facial whip in lilac petal. At this point I mentally prepare myself for doing my eyeliner. You have to do this as eyeliner can smell your fear. I either use BYS liquid eyeliner or ELF cream eyeliner. Personally, I find cream/gel eyeliners easier to use but I occasionally leave it in the bathroom and I can't be bothered getting it in the morning so I will use my liquid eyeliner instead (LAZY). Once both my eyes are sufficiently symmetrical I apply my mascara (Collection, the purple one, I can't remember what it's called. Something like 5 in one or something). And voila, my makeup is done. It takes about 10 minutes for me to do my entire face of makeup. 

I use this everyday because I find it easy, it goes with whatever outfit in wearing that day and I can easily glam it up even further by chucking a lipstick on. Which I do most days anyways. The lipstick I use on a most regular basis is Collection Sweet Tart. 

I own a lot of the brand Collection, I know. But Shaaanxo did a tutorial using it and I fell in love. You can buy it at Countdown. 

Shannen xx

All photos taken on a Canon 600D

18-55mm lens used

Photos edited on fotor.com