Ritual

Ritual

Our rituals are a part of what defines us.

The little rituals we make as families shape our memories and help us to identify ourselves as a family. From Saturday night pizza and movies, to the order our Christmas follows, from the way we celebrate family birthdays to the way we take our annual vacation, it's the little rituals that form our little memories, that go on to become the big memories once we are grown.

Sometimes our rituals are what keep us sane in a helter skelter busy world, where the demands of a career, family needs, endless commuting and a fast paced life can leave your head spinning.

Do you have any little rituals that you look forward to? For me it's the little things. 

clearly this is not me :))

Like my Sunday night ritual. If I'm home, and not on a shoot I like to put on a sheet mask, kick back, put my feet up and read for a while.

some of the sheet masks I ordered last week

I buy sheet masks on Memebox. And I buy tons of them. 

Sometimes  I want a skin brightening mask if I think my complexion is looking dull. Or a deep hydrating mask, or maybe a firming and lifting mask - whenever I'm freestyling around on the Memebox website I always wind up buying more. At anywhere from $1 to $8 each they are totally affordable, and always feel so luxurious.

I buy serums and essences, facial mists and ampoules, every kind of skin care product you can think of on the Memebox site, but always add in sheet masks.

And on Sunday nights I take a little time for myself (and my complexion!) and have a little sheet mask love. This weekend I'm doing a pearl brightening mask. I have a bunch to choose from....

Memebox New Boxes For Spring

I am addicted to Memebox.
Totally.
I am always cruising their site, ordering the most brilliant Korean skincare products. I obsess over the serums and the sheet masks - everything I have ever bought on there has been phenomenal.

Memebox is however, famous worldwide for it's boxes. Fabulous combo's of full sized makeup and skincare products, they make great gifts for others and are a fun way to build your own skincare and makeup wardrobe.



The Memebox boxes sell out quickly, and I have personally missed out on a few by not ordering them quickly enough.
They just released these 5 new boxes for spring, each is color coded and has it's own list of products inside.

Click on the Memebox banner below to link into their website

2 Things Successful People Have In Common ~ via Zanita

I follow ZanitaZanita on Instagram, and recently started reading her fabulous blog (Zanita.com.au)

Sometimes I think my own life is just a combination of passion, resilience and tenacity. People always tell me I'm lucky (in spite of the endless hours of hard work, the long nights staying up making deadlines, the endless sacrifices it takes to achieve a worthy goal...)
Suffice to say I really identified with this post and I hope you do too!

I loved this post about the 2 Things Successful People Have In Common

In a world where we’re hyperaware of everyone’s accomplishments, it’s easy to look around you and immediately think success came easily for some and that money and connections are the two contributing factors to success.

I see this all the time as I read comments about successful fashion bloggers on WhoWhatWear and Fashionista, but if you look deeper, you’ll quickly realize that there are two key things that actually propelled those individuals to where they are today. With these things in mind, you too, can cultivate yourself, build good habits, and some day get there.

1. Passion.

Everything starts with Passion for it is the primary driver of initiative and energy. It’s important because successful people must have the energy to work relentlessly. You may not be smarter or more experienced than those around you, but surely, you can outwork them if you have the passion and drive. Plus, when all else fails, your passion will be the only thing that remains – is it enough to keep you going?

2. Resilience & Tenacity.

These two go hand in hand and you need them to succeed simply because they triumph when talent and skill do not. With failure being inevitable along the way, Resilience lets you bounce back and try again. Tenacity is what forces you try every option and analyze every outcome – it’s ultimately what makes “success” happen. Both are what will keep you from throwing up the white flag.

Success comes in both big and small waves, but before you make big things happen, you need to overcome the small. Recognizing your small wins and understanding the steps and setbacks you went through to get there allows you to visualize that it is the exact thing you need to do to be successful – just on a different scale. 

It drives me insane when people call me lucky because luck 

sounds like I sat on my bums while opportunity came knocking on the door. However, I can’t even count the number of hours I’ve spent learning something new or perfecting a skill, which all stemmed from a passion for wanting to do better and go further in life.

So the next time you’re questioning your ability and capacity, ask yourself, “Why did I start?” Then remind yourself of all the obstacles you had to overcome to get to where you are and just keep going. After all, I truly believe,

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Find more posts like this on Zanita.com.au

The Bucket List ~ 8 Places I Have To Visit Before I Die

Last week's travel post ( re-posted from The Daily Eight) got me thinking about making a bucket list of places I have to visit.
Where would you love to go? Tell me in the comments section below!

Banana Island, Doha Qatar

Anantara Banana Island, Doha

My Bahrani makeup artista friend has been telling me all about this magical man-made island 20 minutes from the heart of downtown Doha.

From the moment you get there, by luxury yacht or by helicopter, you immerse yourself in splendor. The accommodations are divine, with every room overlooking crystal clear, pristine waters (check the out here). 

Banana Island, Doha Qatar

There is no alcohol here, but there is everything else you can imagine, in abundance. It's exclusive, it's opulent, it's beautiful.
Check out the resort here

Petra Jordan

My Jordanian princesses have me desperate to visit the Rose City, so named for the color of the stone it is carved from. 
Thought to have been established in 312 BC, this UNESCO Heritage Site has been named one of the Seven Wonders Of The World, and is on Smithsonian Magazine's "28 Places To See Before You Die"

colbybrownphotography.com spectacular image of thousands of candles leading to the Treasury in Petra

"Only 5% of Petra has been excavated, but that 5% could take days to explore" You can read more about Petra in this blogpost by Ginger and Scotch

image of Petra via Ginger and Scotch blog

Petra, Jordan

Petra, Jordan

Tokyo

Tokyo

I have wanted to visit Japan for as long as I can remember.

Tokyo

If you are going to immerse yourself in a major city, why not check out this dynamic, mega city?

Tokyo

Tokyo

From shopping to night life to cherry blossoms there is so much culture and excitement to see and absorb here.

Also noteworthy is that Tokyo is extremely clean, functional, well organized and incredibly safe.

Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Rio de Janiero

Ipanema Beach

Ipanema Beach, Copacabana Beach, bikini shopping, looking up at Christ the Redeemer up on Corcovado mountain,

Christ the Redeemer, Rio

Carnival, samba, bossa nova,

Carnival in Rio

drinking caipirinhas - Rio is one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere, home to the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a city I am dying to visit.

Caipirinha, Rio

Hamilton Island.

Hamilton Island

Beautiful Hamilton Island is the largest of the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of Queensland Australia.

Pristine and pure, the only motor vehicles on the island are those of tradesmen and public transport, all other commuting happens via golf cart.
Owned by Australian winemaker Bob Oatley and on long term lease to the Commonwealth Government, Hamilton Island is luxurious and beautiful and 

San Miguel de Allende

I once saw a program on the Travel Channel all about San Miguel de Allende. It has always stuck in my mind, this gorgeous little artsy town in the heart of Guanajuato in central Mexico.

The historic center of town has buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries and is full of light and color, expats and artists.

streets in San Miguel de Allende

doors in San Miguel de Allende

Great Wall Of China

I don't know exactly where along the Great Wall I would like to go.
I just want to go.

Playa Paraiso Cuba

Playa Paraiso, Cuba

Thought to be one of the most spectacular in the world, Playa Paraiso in Cuba is a secluded beach, gorgeous with turquoise waters and flour-like white sand.

Playa Paraiso, Cuba

I'm fascinated with all of Cuba actually. Everyone I know who has been there loves it, so not only Playa Paraiso is on my list, but Havana is too.

Playa Paraiso, Cuba

Zoe Kravitz On The Edge ~ Bondage Style For Complex Magazine

Zoe Kravitz breaks out the bondage vinyl for photographer Christian Anwander in the May 2015 issue of Complex magazine.

The 5'2" musician talks about living a 'normal' life and her lifelong desire to fit in, in the article linked here
Check out Complex Magazine at Complex.com

all images via FGR and Complex.com