Life. The Insta Eight

Life. Ten things about me.

1. My initials spell my name; S.A.M. My sister is the same, her name is Jamee Alexandra Murdoch or J.A.M. My Mum swears this wasn't on purpose.
2. My favourite book is probably a tie between Jack Kerouac's On The Road  and Jeffrey Eugenides' Middlesex. 
3. The first CD I ever bought was Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt. I loved he Spice Girls at the same time. 
4. I have always wanted to be famous, like always,  as in I still do. Not sure what I want to be famous for though. 
5. I went to five different Primary Schools, three different High Schools and three different Universities. I have moved a lot. 
6. I was once in a Foxtel TV ad (Foxtel is a pay TV company); I still vaguely remember my line and remember exactly what I wore. It was a bright yellow cotton top and a pink and green floral skirt. I felt like a movie star. 
7. I worked at a massive cinema in Sydney for ages and whilst there I met loads of celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy and Chris Brown (EWWW). It was the most fun job ever. 
8. Before becoming a teacher, all I wanted to do was work in an art gallery.
9. I have been so broke at times in my life that instant noodles were my sustenance. This has taught me the value of money; it doesn't mean much and you can still have an excellently amazing life without it but stressing about cash is not something I want to do in my life ever again. 
10. I believe with all my being that all the riches of the universe are just waiting for me to get over myself. I forget this sometimes, but something usually happens to remind me of the goodness of this world. 

xx Samantha Alice

P.s Sorry my posting has been erratic and completely free of outfit posts, but I have been extremely busy with uni work and a few other things. I don't want the blog to suffer but sometimes I really don't have the time! I hope you all still keep coming back.

Life. The Insta Eight.

Pretty.Kristina Miltiadou + Covers

These are just a few of the videos from Melbourne singer Kristina Miltiadou's project entitled 'Covers'. She gets together with music friends from some very cool bands and jams with amazing results. My favourite would have to be the Brandy and Monica cover or maybe the video on the stairs.

Check out more tunes from this amazing young Australian singer at the Covers blog and her Youtube channel.

xx Samantha Alice

Pretty. E.L.F Review.

This has been on my blogging to do list for sooo very long. I got these products back in January in an amazing Australia Day sale (40% off) and even though I left it so long before reviewing them, it has given me a good chance to think about the products. So have a peak at the pics and a read of my thoughts.

Life + Style. Memories

This is one of my favourite photos from my childhood. Me and my sister sitting on the front steps of our house after raiding the dress up box big time. We always had the most amazing clothes to choose from, most of which my Mum had made. I can't remember my Mum ever wearing heels, but these were hers so I guess she must have at some point; I'd kill for these diamond cutout nude ankle strap shoes now. I especially love the look  on my sisters face, it is feigned arrogance, we must have been pretending to be posh ladies. Posh ladies who wear hot pink socks with open toed shoes and garish 80s looking animal print purses that is.

xx Samantha Alice

Style. Mint Julep and Primrose Peach

{Tutorial} Roast Pumpkin and Chicken Spaghetti

It feels strange calling these recipes tutorials but for now thats how I categorise them. I want to do a massive blog overhaul next week but we'll see. Lately life has been getting in the way of blogging but I hope I can stay committed over the next few weeks.
So in light of a fairly crap week I wanted to make a yum friday night dinner. I have  made this loads but not for ages so I decided to bust it out again.

Roast Pumpkin and Chicken Spaghetti 
You will need:

• 2 Chicken breasts sliced
• Olive oil for cooking
• Half a medium pumpkin cut into 3cm cubes
• 1/2 cup pinenuts
• 2 smallish blocks of soft feta cheese like Danish Feta
• A handful of sweet basil leaves
• 1 packet spagetti 

Cook spaghetti as per packet instructions.

Roast pumpkin in some olive oil and salt on a moderate oven until browned and tender.

Pan fry chicken in olive oil until browned and cooked through, set aside. In the same pan, fry pine nuts until just brown. In a big bowl combine pasta, roast pumpkin, chicken and pine nuts. I like to use the oil from the chicken/pine nuts to dress the pasta. Crumble over the feta and roughly tear the basil. 

I promise this is so yummy. The sweetness from the pumpkin works so well with the salty creamy feta and the pine nuts are little gems of goodness.

Enjoy!
xx Samantha Alice
P.S Sorry for the bad quality photos! I can't find my memory card for my camera anywhere and it is really bugging me! All I had was my iPhone.

{Review} Bourjois Healthy Mix Vs Healthy Mix Serum Foundations

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation is all the rage isn't it? Beauty bloggers love the stuff. So I was keen to try it and see how it worked with my oily skin. I went through a bottle and liked it enough to replace it, but when my mum went to get it from Priceline for me because she was near the store, they only had the more expensive serum version so I have ended up being able to try both. So here are my thoughts...

Regular Healthy Mix:

• Very light weight 
• Light to medium coverage
• Very blendable but can be blended too far out to nothing
• Good shade match for my lightish olive skin- number 53
• Doesn't last long- a few hours at most even with my Mattify Cosmetics Ultra powder
• Has a slight dewy finish which isn't great for oily skin 
• Doesn't really set that well on the skin
• Great price for what it is
• Smells ok- I have read about the fruity scent but really couldn't smell it
• Did not make me break out
• The packaging is annoying- the pump leaks and after a certain point no more product will come through even though there is loads left. Because it is a crazy plastic contraption, there is no way of getting to the dregs which is a waste.

Healthy Mix Serum:

• Great texture
• Light to medium coverage though more buildable than the regular version
• Blendable but doesn't go as sheer as regular
• Same shade as regular
• Sets on the face better providing longer wear
• I don't seem to need as much powder to get it to set/last longer
• Has a very slight dewy finish but is much more suited to my skin 
• Around double the price of regular Healthy Mix
• No breakouts so far
• The Packaging is a winner for me- it is glass and the top can come off providing access to the product directly, not just through the pump. The pump leaks a little but so far it isn't an issue.

Over all I like them both, but the serum formula seems to sit better on my oily open pored skin so for now I am happy with it. However, the price of the regular foundation may entice me back as I did like how it looked whilst it lasted.

xx Samantha Alice

{Blogging Life} Ten Things They Don't Tell You About Blogging

1. It can feel very narcissistic putting photos of yourself out into the internet
2. It can be lonely tapping away on your computer at 2am
3. It can be so frustrating when things don't go right
4. Getting traffic takes loads of work and time and knowledge
5. Taking photos of yourself can feel like an incredibly stupid thing to do
6. Making enough money from blogging to live is probably not going to happen to any but a few
7. Content doesn't magically appear out of thin air-it takes imagination
8. Bloggers are the nicest people ever, but there are haters out there that can't be avoided
9. No matter how many posts you read saying that you don't need a DSLR to have quality images, it isn't true. My posts taken with a friends DSLR have the highest traffic by far. 
10. All those advertisements on blogs probably don't make a lot of money for bloggers

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} The Insta Eight (with some draw something gems thrown in)

1. Ooh!
2. Ceramic Cow with kisses on it's butt.
3. Quite obsessed with Draw Something. Can you guess it?
4. The best chips I have ever had
5. Where's Luigi?
6. My new pink drink bottle
7. Have I mentioned I love my cat?
8. Pride and Prejudice

xx Samantha Alice

{Review} Mirenesse Superlong Wear Gel Mineral Face Colour

{Life} One Hundred Thank You's + A le'LOVE Blogging Event

ONE HUNDRED POSTS. I can't believe it!
I have had a tendency to start things and not finish them or push them to their highest potential. I am determined that this blog is going to be the end of that. I am motivated to push le'LOVE to be the best it can be, and for me that means quality content posted often and amazing readers and followers. So far I feel pretty good about my content, but you know my favourite part of my blogging experience so far? You. If you are here reading this, you are one of my favourite and most cherished people in the world.

Why? Because I am someone who has struggled with confidence for a long time, and in the three or so months since starting this little blog, my self belief and self confidence has grown immeasurably. When someone comments on my blog I feel so very thrilled and that little bit of happiness stays with me all day. I am serious; ALL DAY.

So I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for taking a little piece of your time to visit my little piece of the web. I hope you genuinely like what you see when you visit le'LOVE and I hope that it only gets better from here.

Specifically I'd like to say thanks to my Mum (hey Mum!), Kaelah Bee and her wonderfully helpful e-book, Melon Heart for her excellent guest post and responding to my random tweets, Kate Gabrielle for being awesome and having such great sponsorship options (seriously, go and sponsor her, she is brilliant), Becky, Jen, and Dayle for leaving such amazing comments so often.



Please share your 'One Hundred Thank You's' post below! I can't wait to read what you have come up with.

{Fashion} Snake Leggings and New Trends

{Life} The Insta Eight

{Fashion} Black and Bright

{Fashion} Texican Mexican

{Tutorial} ONLY THE BEST THING TO EAT EVER

{Fashion} Graphically Inclined

{Life} The Insta Eight

1. The bug that tried to kill me 
2. My Frankie cat
3. A view of a room
4. New glasses (Finally!)
5. Waiting to do my driving test 
6. Only the best bruschetta in the world
7. My favourite new ASOS necklace
8. My friend's study bunny 

Sorry my posts have been erratic and not that interesting this week! It has been a draining and exciting week and I found myself needing lots of time to relax away from the computer. I promise to up my game in the next week and post loads to get to my 100th post deadline next friday. I am excited for my first blogging event, are you? So far I have some very lovely people wanting to be involved the more the merrier! Remember, come back here on March 9 for some super link up party fun.

Have I mentioned I am addicted to twitter? Well I am and I'd love for you to join me.

xx Samantha Alice

{Art} LitClouds

A le'LOVE Bloggers Event

Have I mentioned that I think blogging is the most fun a girl can have? Well I do.
My hundredth post is coming up and I wanted a way to mark the occasion; my first blogging event.
Now it would be really sad for me if I ended up being the only participant so I am asking for your time and your help. Join in and spread the word to your blogging pals please. Details of the event are below.

{WHAT} A link party! The theme is 'One Hundred Thank-you's' so you can write about anything you like. If you think it fits the theme, then that's fine by me.

{WHERE} Right here on le'LOVE. I'll have a special post up on the day with a Linky thumbnail widget. Just post your link and if you like you will be able to post the Linky list to your blog.

{WHEN} I will publish the link up post on Friday March 9 at Midnight Australian Eastern Standard time- the list will then be open for the week following. I will endeavour to share all the entries via Facebook and Twitter so make sure you follow me!

I am super duper excited about this and I hope you can all join in!

xx Samantha Alice

NOTE: I have had a few questions about the specifics of this event/for clarification so I just wanted to clear it up! The theme is very open ended but if you are stuck for ideas here are a few; you could write about some great ways to say thank you to people, people you are thankful of or to, a thank you to your readers or the things that you are grateful for. It doesn't have to be one hundred things, it might only be one, but I wanted to do a thankful theme and it is my hundredth post so I just merged the two! Just write your post around the 9th, come share your link in the special post I will have up, and bombs away.