Top Five Podcasts

In no particular order, here are my top five current favourite podcasts.

Psychobabble

YouTube superstar Tyler Oakley and his BFF Korey make a half hour show about whatever they like! Mostly pop culture, but they spin yarns that get them so far off the trail sometimes you forget where they’d even begun (in the best and funniest way).

TED Radio Hour

Based off of TED talks, the podcast spends each episode on one topic with many different speakers giving all their knowledge on that thread. I feel like I’m in the most interesting classroom ever. And I actually enjoy learning about topics I’ve never put much thought into before.

Serial

If you haven’t heard about this yet, you should look into getting wifi under your rock. I’ve listened to it multiple times and I’m still riveted each time. Can’t wait for this years story!

ZM’s Fletch, Vaughan and Megan

My favourite radio hosts, plus all the best bits of the show, minus all the average music. It means I can catch up on their four hour morning show in an hour or less! They also do international podcast shoutouts, which are recorded exclusively for the podcast so the banter is fairly unfiltered.

Criminal

Normally between 15 to 25 minutes, these episodes are like listening to a compacted version of a show on CI. Still just as interesting and full of twists and turns, without the visuals.

If you have any suggestions for podcasts I should be listening to, let me know in the comments.

Love times infinity,

Justine x

Current Hair Products

I can be a bit slack with beauty stuff sometimes (using moisturiser/body lotion is probably my number one fail) but I really do my best to take care of my hair. Since I colour it often (it hasn’t been close to natural since I donated ten inches to Locks of Love in ’05) if I don’t pay attention to keeping it healthy it can all go South in a hurry. So today I thought I’d show you what products I’m using in it at the moment to keep it as healthy as possible.

Shampoo

1) Garner Fructis Damage Control - I don’t tend to panic too much over shampoo as I used to, I tend to just buy whatever is on sale for coloured hair or dry hair. My scalp can tend to err on the dry side so I prefer to change brands/types from bottle to bottle. This stuff smells yummy so that's a bonus. (Down to $3 at The Warehouse until 10/06!)

2) Neutrogena T/Gel - I also have a bottle of this in the shower which I try to use once a month or every six weeks (normally just when it dawns on me) as a clarifying shampoo. It does the job without irritating my scalp. The downside is that it smells like the soap mechanics used to get in massive drums that they would wipe onto their hands with a dipstick (my family will definitely get this reference! If you don’t, it’s kind of citrusey, but not in the best way!).

Conditioner

3) Microfibre Hair Towel - I’ve been trying my best in the last few months to dry my hair like the hairdresser does. Being that my hair is wavy at best and frizzy on normal days, this seems to be the best way to tame it. I rub my scalp and the roots first, and then work my way down my hair squeezing the water out rather than scrubbing at it. Doing it this way also makes blowdrying way faster. Bargain options here and here.

4) Wide Tooth Comb - This is one of those issues that can divide friends in a snap. Some say it’s terrible for your hair and others fight for it. I’m of the latter opinion. I have a really wide tooth comb that I keep in the shower and I use it to disperse conditioner through my ends (gently!).

5) Dove Intensive Repair - Up until recently all I ever used anytime I conditioned my hair was my Moroccan Oil (because I’m a diva that could once afford to drop $60 bucks on a tub of that stuff, which was like crack for my hair). Recently when I was at the supermarket I saw they were having a special on Dove, so I got a conditioner from them which I actually really love. The only thing that isn’t as good as Moroccan Oil is the scent, but when the price difference is $50, I can get past that. I think I’ll grab the matching shampoo next.

Pre-Drying Protection

6) Tangle Teezer - Giving my hair a quick brush before drying makes it so much easier to manage. This brush helps remove the tangles gently without ripping your hair out from the root.

7) Moroccan Oil Treatment - Before I blow dry my hair I use one pump of my Moroccan Oil and work it through my hair, focussing more on the ends and avoiding my roots so they don’t go greasy sooner than necessary!

8) Schwarzkopf BC Repair Rescue Sealed Ends - Such a mouthful, but a teeny tiny bit of this goes a looong way. This stuff is like gold, and has definitely decreased the amount of split ends I’ve got.

Drying

9) Tresemme Heat Tamer Protectant Spray - After I’ve dried my hair I spray this on the midlengths to the ends and leave it to sit while I put my face on, just enough time to dry out before I straighten or curl.

10) VS Sassoon Expert Turbo Hairdryer - Copied my sister on this one. It’s awesome because it has both an extra hot and a cool button.  I use the extra hot even though you’re probably not supposed to, but hey, I consider it a test to all the product I’ve just put in. Plus it's always on special at Briscoes!

Are there any products I missed that I should be trying? Let me know in the comments!

Love times infinity,

Justine x

Travel Tuesday: Sightseeing

It started back in my Disney days. Every time I visit somewhere I like to have my photo taken in front of those coin-operated binoculars. I look through them, but don’t pay for them (cheeky!)… now it’s become something that I can’t pass up! Want to see?

{Clearwater Beach, Florida} 

{Chattanooga, Tennessee}

{Stratosphere, Las Vegas}

{Crazy Horse, South Dakota}

{Folly Beach, South Carolina}

{Sears Tower, Chicago}

{Mount Rushmore, South Dakota}

Love times infinity,

Justine x

Pink Ribbon Breakfast

{I didn't...}

On Sunday my sister Abby hosted a Pink Ribbon Breakfast. The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation runs a campaign in May where NZ women can come together, have a fun breakfast and raise money that goes towards breast cancer research. It was such a fun morning catching up with the girls there, and together we are aiming to help Abby raise $500 toward the cause. Our Nana passed away from the disease almost 18 years ago, so prevention, early detection and research are important to us.

If you would like to donate to the cause, follow this link (Only $85 until our goal is reached!). You can also find out where the money goes, down to dollar breakdowns.

Love times infinity,

Justine x

FBF: On This Day

I see people posting via TimeHop on my newsfeed almost daily. While I don’t use that, I’ve recently gotten into checking the “On This Day” tab to see what was going on in my Facebook life way back when. Sometimes it’s boring statuses, sometimes new friends and then there’s the funny and embarrassing photos.

Here’s what I posted 15 May 2009:

A cat video. I rewatched it before posting this and had a wee chuckle, so I must’ve absolutely wet myself while watching it six years ago! Good to know that I was one of those people that wasted loads of my time watching cat videos on YouTube.

Have an awesome weekend, and I promise I’ll be back to regular postings next week!

Love times infinity,

Justine x

April Favourites

Ok, so I know today's date, and I know I've failed on this one! But I still wanted to show you what I was loving last month.

1) Delicious candle – Yankee Candle in Vanilla Lime

2) Body Shop Shower Gel - Frosted Cranberry (limited edition)

3) My most worn comfy sweatshirt – JayJays

4) Tea Tree Oil (the best for healing breakouts overnight!)

5) Simple Face Wipes

6) Berocca (for my early morning starts instead of coffee)

7) Kmart PJ Pants ($10! Mostly worn with that sweatshirt)

8) Moisturising Gloves

9) TV – Chicago PD (gritty drama, airs in NZ Saturday, 9pm TV3)

10) Movie - Pitch Perfect 2 (a laugh a minute, and awesome for your abs!)

What were you loving last month?


Love times infinity,

Justine x

FBF: Facebook Trawling

So I was on the hunt for one particular picture on Facebook the other day, but I had no idea which album it would be in. This lead me on a wild goose chase of sorts. Along the way I stumbled across many (so many) horrendous and hilarious photos of myself. I considered deleting them but then decided against it. I’m sure over the past nine years of my Facebook life if anyone found anything too horrible and/or offensive they’d have deleted me by now (later haters!).

I figured leading into the weekend, why not show you some? A couple from each year (probably the best of the worst, let’s be honest!). All others have been cropped out of most of these for their protection from this embarrassment.

2006:

{Before my formal | With a fresh haircut}

2007:

{Posing on my own | The signature pose with my family}

2008:

{On holiday | Easter happiness}

2009:

{That cool non-straightened piece of hair | Dress ups for a concert}

2010:

{Bad foundation match | Ginga hair}

2011:

{Work costume including crocs | Balloon Party at Vista Way}

2012:

{Paint party at uni | Bad hair at an engagement party}

2013:

{Abby's 21st | My sweet bun pre bungy}

2014:

{Being cool at work | Being cool at work}

2015:

{Giant sand dunes | Pranking Abby}

Hope you enjoyed the cringe!

Love times infinity,

Justine x

Video Inspiration (in under 30 seconds)

Today I want to share an awesome short by an amazing movie creator, Casey Neistat. He’s one of my favourites. He always stays true to his vision and is honest in all of his movies and vlogs.

{"Life Explained in 27 Seconds"}

Love times infinity,

Justine x

Travel Tuesday: My Backyard

My friend Gabby and I go on walks together quite often. Sometimes we decide on a whim to go a little bit further flung than our closest park, forest or beach (we’re pretty lucky to have all options so close by!).

{Can you see me?!}

{There I am!} 

{This landscape made it worth the trip}

{Posing with the rocks}

One weekend we just decided to drive out to Castle Hill, about an hour and a half outside of Christchurch to go walk and explore round the limestone rocks.

{Giant pink sprinkle donut}

{Taste test. The ones at the bakery were better}

On the way home from Castle Hill we stopped in Springfield. Did you know that every town of Springfield in the world received a doughnut when The Simpsons movie came out? So of course we had to try the local café’s doughnuts and take photos next to the giant sprinkled doughnut on the way past!

Love times infinity,

Justine x

Met Gala Favourites

As soon as I got home from work today I jumped online to see all the looks from the Met Gala red carpet in New York City. This years theme was China: Through the Looking Glass. Some people followed the brief, and some just did what they wanted! These are some of my favourites.

Lorde in Calvin Klein Collection, Diane von Furstenberg in DVF, Elizabeth Banks in Michael Kors, Miranda Kerr in Louis Vuitton 

Amal Clooney in John Galliano, Hannah Davis in J. Mendel, Jaime King in Boss

Kate Beckinsale in DVF, Kristen Wiig in Prabal Gurung, Kate Hudson in Michael Kors

There were a few other interesting looks, SJP had a serious head piece going on and Solange… And Kim and Beyonce looked pretty similar, awkward! Oh and Ansel Elgort totally looked like a Ken Doll.

Did you have any particular favourites/dislikes? Let me know below!

Love times infinity,

Justine x

FBF: Grand Canyon

{Panoramas for days}

{Trip one - much more tan than the second time!}

Being a tourist (or a general world-wonder hunter) in America means cruising through Arizona to the Grand Canyon. I’ve been lucky enough to see it twice and both times the enormity of it blew my mind.

{Through the window} 

{And the river runs through it...}

{Times a million in real life}

{Mum & Abby being cute}

{Us girls did this and then all the people around us started lining up to do it too!}

It might take you a day to just wander around and take it all in, but take my advice, a half day is enough. It’s magnitude is pretty intense but starts to make you a little blind to it and jaded after a while. Do the walks, hit the educational stuff, take your fifty million pictures then bail. It’s true that your photos will never match what you saw in real life, but you’re bound to get some pretty picturesque and borderline hilarious photos, as seen throughout this post.

{Trying to take it in}

{Rules plainly stated...}

{What rules?!}

{#BradfordsTakeAmerica}

Double cross that one off the list, time for a new adventure!

Love times infinity,

Justine x