Do you ever experience a change in the way you’re able to do tasks?  Like, something you once found easy, and were able to get done in a matter of minutes, now takes you days?

That’s how I’ve been feeling with this latest ‘Currently’ post.  I’m usually able to sit down and choose at least one thing for each category.  My biggest issue is narrowing down my choices.  For this post, however, I battled to find exactly what it was I currently loved in each category.

I mulled it over for far too long.  I then experienced such a hit of writer’s block, and a lack of inspiration – hence my lack of posts for a week, I’m so sorry – and finally it hit me!

So, without further ado, here is my latest post on what I’ve been currently loving.

PRODUCT FIND

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone

So I actually even mentioned this in my Best of Skincare 2017 post as my best night time serum.  It’s not REALLY a serum, as it’s a thick and silicone-y cream.  However, you apply it as you would a serum – after cleansing and before moisturising.  I figure you could possibly forgo the moisturising if you use something hydrating underneath (you apply water based products underneath).  I just like to add a little something extra on top, in the form of my night cream.  It doesn’t seem to affect how well this works, but perhaps I should try going without and see if it improves this product?

Either way, this is a gem.  It has helped to brighten up my skin, even it out and smooth it.  I’ve noticed that marks left behind by spots and small patches of pigmentation have lightened, if not faded completely.  Plus, it’s helped to smooth out some fine lines I had around my lips and on my forehead.  I also only found it tingled very slightly at first, and now that my skin is accustomed, I don’t feel a thing.

I’d like to try out The Ordinary’s other Vitamin C offering, the Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%.  I figure this won’t have the same silicone texture (which I’m not the biggest fan of) and give an added bit of hydration too.

These products from The Ordinary are just so damned effective, and so much more affordable than higher end brands.

PURCHASE

A6 Journal from Typo – glitter finish

I love sparkle.  I love rose gold.  And I also LOVE having a notebook with me where ever I go.

These hard covered ones from Typo are the ideal size for slipping in my handbag.  I love that they have an elastic strap to keep them closed, as this stops the pages getting all dog-eared and tatty.  It also has a ribbon to keep your current place and a little pocket in the back, where you can keep till slips or other important pieces of info.

I had this gorgeous rose gold one for so long that it’s full.  I used it for everything – shopping list, blog ideas, gift ideas, I listed all the products for my monthly favourites and currently posts, and I also used it for to do lists.  This one has since been retired, but I had already purchased a dark silver version from Typo as a backup, so that one is now being used.

I think the next time I’ll go for one of their gorgeous turquoise glitter ones!

SERIES/BOOK/MOVIE

13 Reasons Why

I was pretty late on the draw with this one.  I only started watching it this year!

In fact, the hubby and I ended up binge-watching all 13 episodes in a few days.

It was pretty intense, and I totally get the hype around the series.  It really draws attention to issues like teen suicide, bullying and rape in a way that I think a lot of other productions are not comfortable with.  And that’s good!  It’s a hard topic, but it really is necessary to bring it out of it’s taboo.  The longer these topics are kept so taboo, the longer they become something that isn’t confronted and dealt with.

This show definitely left me with a heavy heart for a few days after we finished watching it.

Philippa Gregory ‘Three Sisters, Three Queens’

I’m a Philippa Gregory addict.  I love her historical fiction novels, and I can usually finish one in a matter of days.  This one definitely took me longer to get through, but get through it I did!  I really love medieval history, and I love how Philippa Gregory turns that into fiction.  True – she uses some fact, and must use a lot of fiction too, but in each book I love each character and I feel like I’m in that day and time.  I manage to step out of my modern-day life and into Henry Tudor’s court.

I have so many of her novels, that I need an entire shelf of my bookshelf just for them!

Fifty Shades Freed

Granted – the second movie was such an anti-climax.  I have read the books, I know that the writing is not ideal, but I liked how easy they were to read and the romance of it all.  The second film went so far off the track of the book, and in parts the acting was awful.

However, I feel I must watch the last film.  It might be better?  It also appeals to my OCD to finish the trilogy, regardless of it possibly being terrible!  Haha!

Either way, I’m going to book for this with my buddy Amber, and we’ll have a wonderful girl’s night out at the cinema!

LUSTING AFTER

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Baci (available at The Beautiful Store HERE)

I’ve owned the shade Patina in this formula.  While I adore the formula, I don’t much get on with Patina.  It isn’t an everyday shade for me, and it’s quite dark on my fair skin, so it’s mostly pulled out of the drawer during winter.

This shade Baci, is the most gorgeous pinky-nude!  The swatch above is still wet, and it does dry down a little darker like most other liquid lippies.  I really do plan on getting my hands on it, and SOON.  Bring on pay day!

Also — Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighter in Kitten (also on The Beautiful Store HERE and cheaper than I saw it elsewhere!)

When I was swatching the liquid lipsticks from Stila, I found their Heaven’s Hue Highlighters too.  I’d seen them spoken about on YouTube, with good and bad reviews, but I’d never actually seen them in real life.  I swatched Kitten on my hand and it was love at first sight.

Now, this seems very very glowy.  It doesn’t seem like a subtle highlight at all.  But I swatched and blended, and if you’re light-handed and blend it out well, you can get a more natural look out of it.  I just love how you can have the most wet-look, glowy sheen for night time, if you apply this with a finger or a beauty sponge.  It’s mesmerising!

SNACK/DRINK

Woolworths Flavoured Sparkling Water

I love sparkling water.  It always makes me feel like I’m having a sweet soda rather than water.  However, a lot of the flavoured sparkling waters you get in stores are packed with sugar, so you may as well just grab a Coke from the fridge instead!

I love these options from Woolworths, as they’re sugar free.  The flavour also isn’t super intense at all – it’s more of a subtle infusion than a full on flavour.  You’re left with a gentle kiss of flavour on your tongue, and no aftertaste of sweetener at all.

My favourites are definitely the Rose and the Ginger & Lime.

OBSESSION

Our trip to the UK and Republic of Ireland

When hubby and I got married, we’d planned on doing a trip to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland as our honeymoon.  Problem is, with the state of the Rand, we couldn’t afford to do this straight after our wedding.

Fast forward to now (almost 7 months later) and we have been on a mini-moon to Hluhluwe, and are planning our overseas trip for the end of this year!

A lot of people thought it was odd for us to do this trip 18 months after our wedding, but to be honest it was what we wanted.  We thought by planning it with that much time ahead of us, we’d be able to save up enough to be able to go and enjoy our holiday and not worry about being able to afford to do all the things we wanted.

We’re now starting to look at booking flights and accommodation, and making notes of the things we’d like to see and do!

YOUTUBE CRUSH

Lydia Elise Millen

I only recently found Lydia’s channel on YouTube, and since then I’ve pretty much been binge-watching her videos.  She’s so gorgeous and just seems really down to earth and sweet as well!

Granted, her large amount of luxe items of clothing and makeup aren’t that relatable for me, but I enjoy her videos in a guilty pleasure kind of way – something I can enjoy and appreciate, yet not yearn for myself.

What are you currently loving?