Art break - Birthday Gift for S

S appreciates money for her birthday, so I went with another creative spin. S also loves dragons.

Dragon + gold (money) = Smaug!

I started with a black box in which I put tissue paper to build up the mountains of gold. Modelling paste was then used to make it solid, provide a paint-able surface, and fill in any gaps.

The backdrop was the next to be painted with gold, grey, bronze and gold glitter.

Then it was time to paint the mountains of gold! I used rose gold paint, gold paint, gold glitter paint, and bronze glitter paint. I then topped it of with tiny gold stars for extra sparkle.

I also drew some cobblestones on the base to extend out the theme and make a nice area for the money to go.

We needed an Atkenstone, so I went to Lovisa and picked up a Swarovski necklace.

Unfortunately it blends in really well and is a bit hard to see, but I'm not changing it now! It is a really pretty necklace! I hid the chain in the paper by way of poking a hole in it and using blu-tack to hold it in place.

Where did it go?!

Then I popped in Smaug (a dragon figurine I've been waiting to give to S).

Finally, the money!

For the outside, I spruced up the outside with instructions on how to get into the mountain castle (in Moon Runes of course) and the key.

Verdict: She loved it! :D

Lacura - Renovage - Rejuvenating Night Cream

This is a really thick night cream that works well in colder weather, especially thanks to the shea butter.
This may be too heavy to use in summer.

The scent is quite clinical, but not overpowering.

It claims to contain apple stem cells, but I don't think this has any effect, I wasn't wowed by this product.

A little of this goes a long way.
This was a good buy from Aldi :)

Price: 3/5 ($19.99 for 50mL)
Scent: 2/5
Effectiveness: 4/5

Woodwick Candle - Sand & Driftwood

I LOVE this candle! 
The scent is divine, and I think 'Sand & Driftwood' is a fair assessment of it.

You know how it will appeal to me.

The container is super cute as well, grey glass and a wooden lid. 
It has an old school vibe which is very cool.

The wick is made of wood as well, and makes a continuous crackling noise that is so soothing.

This is the type of candle you WANT to get to Christmas!

Price: 2/5 ($39.95 for 600g)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

 L'Oréal Paris - Color Riche L'Extraordinaire- 401 Fuschia Drama

This is a gloss with a moderate colour pay off (more than what you would expect from a gloss).
The colour does end up staining a little, which could be good or bad depending on what you want.

To show you how colour intense it is.

Swatch!

Stain left by swatch!

Full lip application!

It is very shiny, but will catch your hair. (just like glosses are known to do!)

It has a faint chemically-cake smell and has a large, flocked doe-foot applicator.

For the full price of the product, I don't think it is worth it.
(I got mine on sale for $2, so I can live with this.)

Price: 2/5 ($21.95)
Scent: 2/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

Colgate - NeutraFluor 900

I have annoying teeth. It didn't matter how much I brushed/flossed, I would need fillings every time I went to the dentist.
My periodontist suggested this mouthwash, to be used every night (as opposed to once a week like the bottle suggests).

Since using it, my teeth have not needed fillings! 

The mint flavour is pleasant enough, considering you have to keep it in your mouth for 3 minutes.

I don't think fluoride makes people dumb/docile like some conspirators believe.
(I drink fluoridated water and am perfectly intelligent/volatile! Lol!)

Price: 3.5/5 ($13.99 for 473mL)
Scent: 3/5
Effectiveness: 5/5  

Palermo - Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior

Palermo is a fragrance company that makes perfumes from essential oils.
They match fragrances from designers perfectly, I did a comparison and the scent match is great.

Of course, because you aren't paying for a label, it is a lot cheaper.
But it isn't made of cheap components, it is a good quality perfume!

I LOVE this company! Check them out here.

No, this is not a sponsored post, just a great shop!

Price: 4/5 ($35 for 50mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Method - Foaming Body Wash - Ruby Orange

I wanted this primarily for the bottle, to use for foaming shampoo,

I did this and it did not achieve the desired effect, my scalp was just as angry. 

(I now wash my hair less.)

The soap itself smells lovely! 

There was a "marine" version, but that one smelled like men's deodorant :(

As far as soap being pre-lathered, I didn't really like it.

I usually use a sponge which can lather normal body wash, using less product.

I also felt it did a worse job at cleaning me.

It is a novel idea but ultimately less efficient and didn't protect my skin any more than normal body wash.

It isn't worth trying.

Price: 4/5 ($9.99 for 532mL)

Scent: 4/5

Effectiveness: 0/5

Same Product, Different Scent - The Body Shop - Raspberry Body Butter

This smells delicious! <3
I love this one so much, I purchased more last time I was in Germany.
(It is dangerous that Germany should also have 'The Body Shop', they will have all my money)

The Body Shop - Body Cream - Fijian Water Lotus

I wasn't sure I would like this scent, but I was so wrong! 
It's marine, aquatic, floral and playful!
It is also delicate and quite a fresh scent.

Appealing to me on a 'water nymph' level.

It is less thick than the body butter but thicker than a lotion.

It absorbs well and leaves the skin feeling amazing.

I am SO tempted to buy the perfume of this scent!

Price: 3/5 ($26.95 for 200mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 4.5/5

Gaviscon - Dual Action

I have been using a fair bit of Gaviscon of late (reason for this will be covered in a future post).
For heartburn, I have only ever found liquid Gaviscon to be effective.
Tablets, chewables, other brand liquid antacids, they don't last anywhere near as long as this does.

This isn't a sponsored post, by the way, just credit where credit is due.

I like the peppermint flavour, as I find the aniseed flavour awful.

There is nothing I have found that works as good as this.

Price: 4/5 ($11.99 for 600mL)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Eye of Horus - Goddess Pencil - Selenite White

I purchased this to be a waterline pencil, but it is too hard :(
It would damage my eyelid to use it like this.

So I have resigned to using it as a highlighter (yes, I'm that pale that only pure white can actually be a highlight on me).
It does give a good colour payoff, but I just can't use it.
I have heard of softening eyeliner pencils with a lighter, but I'm not putting something that is heated with a lighter near my eye.

I'm certain that the onyx version of this pencil was softer.
I think it is just the formula of this shade.
For the price though, I am disappointed.

Price: 2/5 ($30 for one pencil)
Effectiveness: 1/5

NYX - Baked Eyeshadow - Supernova

I love gold eyeshadow, so this was a great thing to get in a Bellabox.

This has THE CUTEST packaging! A little clear topped box, lined with black, and a black bow!
It is also well made and wont break up in a makeup bag.

For a light colour, the colour intensity is really good. I love the shimmer in it!

There is also a lot of product in this, so you definitely get your money's worth.

I am so impressed with this product! This is a great choice for a go-to shade to be kept in your bag if you want to add to your look.

Price: 4/5 ($9.95 for 3g)
Effectiveness: 5/5

Weaning of Lyrica

So on the 7th of this month, I went down from 75mg of Lyrica to 50mg.
I am slowly weaning myself off it.
I can't just stop taking it all together because I may get severely depressed/have a seizure.

8th-11th I just felt stoned. I was super tired, slept a lot, lost my appetite and felt lethargic.
12th-13th I realised I was depressed, irritable and apathetic.
Ended up going to my friend's place to have a laugh and watch a terrible movie, this helped a lot.

Later I will have to go from 50mg to 25mg, then 25mg to 0mg.
I might wait for the 'stoned' phase of the first decrease ends and then come of it completely. Hopefully this will only give me one depressed phase to deal with.

This decrease and the next two decreases projected,
Green = 'stoned' phase
Blue = depressed phase

I'm a goose!

*Actual photo of me.

My final exam isn't when I thought it was... it's just over a week away!

I realized this after leaving home at 5am to get to the exam venue for my (at the time believed to be) 8:30am exam.

I honestly didn't know how to process this information.

So, I shall be back on the 17th!

After my REAL exam, unlike that stupid FAKE exam time that made me get up early!