Happy New Year everyone. Thanks to everyone for all the support throughout 2016, I really appreciate how you've all stuck by me in a time where I had other things on my mind. 2016 has been a tough year for our little family, and one that has been dominated with hospital visits for our little boy, and stressing about how he would recover. While our boy is a tough little cooking, and is doing really well, the battle isn't over yet, and the next year will also be dominated by speaking to lots of doctors, I am so looking forward to the start a new year and what can only be better and happier year for our little family.
With two little toddlers, there are no huge New Year's party in sight for me, but regardless, here are a couple of my ultimate party essentials, some of which are also some of my fave products from 2016…
This Cool Clutch is simply so beautiful that it has to be the clutch of choice for the last and first party of the year. It is hand sown with hundreds of pearls and diamantes, and is sure to dress up any outfit and be the statement of the party. It also has an insulated so your makeup won't melt in the heat of the night.
On my eyes, I just can't get enough of the Lancome Grandiose Mascara. Applying it takes a little getting used to, but once you've mastered the different comb angles, it gives the best fluttering lashes, as close to fakes as you can possibly come.
On my lips, I just cannot get enough of the Sisley Paris Phyto Lip Gloss in the shade Rouge as it simply has the most beautiful intense red shade with a nice glossy look and it stay put for hours. Perfect for a night out.
And of course, what's a party without a bit of glow, and for that, I have to reach for the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, which just gives the most yet natural glow.
Then on to a spritz of perfume, and just cannot go past one of this years great releases, the CK ONE GOLD from Calvin Klein. It has the most beautiful fresh fruity scent that makes it great for a hot summer night, and just cannot get enough of that beautiful golden bottle.
Finally, cannot neglect the nails, so a couple of coats of the Attitude Attitude, a beautiful red shade from Essie, and all is set.
The drink of choice would have to be the Prosecco Ice, as it has such a refreshing fruity taste. It is a very fragrant Spumante that is great with ice and a slice or lime or a couple of mint leaves, or go the classic way and add a strawberry of two.
Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and safe New Year.
Karina x
Lancome Grandiose Mascara - RRP: $54
Available from Lancome Counters
Sisley Paris Phyto Lip Gloss in Rouge - $65
Available from Sisley Paris
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick - RRP: $75
Available from Bobbi Brown
Calvin Klein CK ONE GOLD Edt - RRP: $69 / 100ml
Available from select pharmacies and department stores.
Essie Nail Polish - RRP: $16.95
Available from Priceline and department stores
Cool Clutch Pearl Cool Clutch - RRP: $129.99, but currently on sale for $100
Available from Cool Clutch
Prosecco Ice - RRP: $14.99/ 750ml
Available from Dan Murphy's and BWS
* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
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Wishing you all a happy New Year. I hope that 2016 will bring you happiness and good health.
2015 has been a huge year for our family, and the highlight was definitely the arrival of our little baby boy in May. The last couple of months before giving birth were tough as I had extreme pregnancy rash that saw me induced a week early. And just 10 days after giving birth I was rushed to hospital in an ambulance with severe mastitis. After 4 days in hospital I finally came home to my newborn, only to have contracted bronchitis at the hospital, which of course my husband and 2 year old also picked up. Needless to say that recovering from the mastitis, having bronchitis AND looking after a newborn as well as a sick toddler (and husband!!) with bronchitis was pretty exhausting.
But worse was to come, we were hardly all well again, before our baby ended up in hospital with a life-threatening auto-immune disorder that consequently meant a course of intense chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant during a 4.5 month hospital stay. And it of course meant that I had to stay at the hospital too to care for our boy - and as a result only see our two year old a few times a week, which was tough on everyone to say the least.
And while all this was happening, we were also building a house at the final stages, trying to finalise the interiors. Not exactly the greatest timing!
But luckily our boy was discharged from hospital mid-November, and while he still has a very long journey ahead for full recovery and still has to go for checkups and treatments several times a week, at least our family can now finally be together. And in our brand new house!
So as you can probably imagine, my family and I are personally happy to be putting 2015 behind us and look forward to am amazing 2016.
We still know 2016 won't be easy as our little baby still has no immune system, and as he is hence extremely prone to picking up even the slightest bug that can be very serious for him, we are unable to take him out, or even catch up with friends, as the risk of infection is simply too high - and this is naturally frustrating that we cannot go out as a family to the shopping centre, have lunch at a café or have a social life for quite some time still, or even the fact that our now 2.5 year old cannot go to day care or have play dates with his little friends, but it's simply vital that we do whatever is best to keep our little baby boy healthy!
So 2016 will a year of quality time at home with the family, and to make up for being unable to go out, (and living off hospital food for 4.5 months (blah!!), I'm hoping to eventually find time to start being creative in the kitchen again.
And of course get back to blogging on a regular basis again - this whole ordeal has, as you've no doubt seen, meant that I had to put my blog on the back-burner for a while to focus on caring for our baby - but now I'm back! with lots of plans and ideas.
And on that note, I'd like each and every one of you, my dear readers and followers for sticking around, and for all your lovely messages with support and well wishes. And naturally, also a huge thank you to all the PRs and brands for your continued support and of course also all the beautiful care packages that I received during the toughest hours! Thank you everyone!
Happy 2016!!
