Same makeup blog, change of review method

I think we all know, or at least I hope you know, I love makeup and fashion.  Although, I have a tendency to be a bit too wordy - I can thank my education for that.  In order to grasp your attention, while still trying to convey my point(s) of view, I'm going to write shorter reviews packed with as much pertinent information as possible.  My photos will also help to do some of the talking.  Also, I'll be maintaining the "Bagful Breakdown" rating system; I think it helps to tie my reviews up with a pretty bow. Without further ado, let the cheesiness commence with my new blogging topics:

• Eyes to Mesmerise - reviews about eye looks, products and everything in between
• A peek at the cheeks - write ups about blush, bronzer and highlighter
• A glimpse at the lips - well, we all have them and I think I have a pretty pout, so why not?

Every now and then I'll write a lengthy review about new launches featuring several products I've purchased and tried out.

The weekly nail review will remain as is.  I heart French Pink in Melbourne's CBD - it helps that Mira and Janice are so sweet and fun to sit down with for a few minutes every Saturday.  And their skills are out of this world (the perfectionist in me treasures their ability to paint nails really well).

I might talk about my brow gal, Romina, from time to time.  Romina can be found in South Yarra, just a few stops away from Chapel Street.  Make sure you book in before going to see her, because her schedule can fill up pretty quickly.

Last, I will try to be as fair and balanced with all of my reviews.  I am not paid or sponsored for most of what you see on my blog.  Recently, Beauty Directory sent me a few things to try and review - however, just because it's free, doesn't make it good or bad for that matter.  I will always disclose if/when something has been gifted in exchange for my opinions.

And, what about fashion?

For me Makeup is primary and fashion is secondary.  I think it's much cheaper to buy a tube of lipstick over an expensive pair of shoes or purse any day of the week.  With that said, I don't think there's any harm in showcasing something I'm in love with, like this Marc Jacobs jewellery set for example. My fashion entries will be sprinkled throughout this blog too.

That's about it for now.  I hope you continue to visit Bagful of Notions; I'm having a lot of fun and I hope you are too.

I have an open door policy, always feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Spammers beware, I am not interested in what you have to say.

Crack by Chanel

Allure

Well, if that article title doesn't get the Search Engines all abuzz, I don't know what will.  Take heed: You will not discover any great recipes on how to make your own crack in this article.  It's all about scents and addiction and the positive (not negative) impact such things can have.

Hi.  This is Scott.  Nicole's husband.  You may remember me from such hits as .

You're probably wondering why on Earth I'm writing an article on Bagful of Notions -- and you'd be right to do so.   It all comes down to crack.  No, not cocaine, but, Allure from Chanel, a scent for men which Nicole bought for me for Christmas 2011.  I'm not much into scents, other than trying to ensure I don't smell bad, so like any good husband, when Nicole supplied something as a gift that she thought would "fit" me as a scent, I was more than happy to give it a go.

Those of you who are into these things know that an individual's body chemistry can dramatically effect perfumes and colognes.  What smells great on a piece of paper in the shop can smell dreadful when on certain people.  So buying a scent for someone else to wear can be quite a challenge (thankfully, Nicole has been quite happy with the ones she has got from me).

When Nicole had a whiff of Alure in the shop, she knew she liked it, but would it work when added to Scott?

The answer is a resounding: YES.

Indeed, Nicole likes it so much that we've begun calling it "crack" as a bit of a joke.

Here's what the bottle looks like:

Bottle

Simple, to the point, and doesn't look like a fist, or a torso, or anything else -- it looks like a simple, clean-lined bottle.  No Comic-Sans font, no graphic of a man atop a horse.  It speaks what it speaks through the nose, and that's really what a scent should be about.

Sadly, technology which allows you to transmit scent over the Internet hasn't made it into the public's hands yet (and that really is for the best, if you stop and think about it); so you'll have to suffice with a few words to describe my interpretation of Allure:

• Vibrant spice
• Not overtly "musky" as many male scents strive to be
• Dried summer weeds

Finding the right words here isn't easy.  Allure is not like a lot of other male scents that I've encountered wandering through the department stores with Nicole.  It's doesn't shout "douchebag banker" as so many do.  It doesn't shout "I'm trying to cover up some other, atrocious, smell" either - it is sharp, crisp, vibrant, but not floral.  It reminds me of walking through a spice market in North Africa, and every now and then catching a whiff of some dried weeds or grasses.

I'm much better at describing wine or a woman's perfume - after the initial spritz that I may use in the morning, the smell quickly fades to my nose.  It blends well with "me" and that's part of what Nicole likes so much.

Do I like it?  Yes, absolutely.  The fact that Nicole likes it is even better.

I won't give this a Bagful Breakdown, that's up to Nicole to do, but I will say this:  Once this bottle is used up, I guarantee we'll be buying it again.  Well done, Chanel!

Fuzzy Memories

My aunt dug out a few old photos recently as she prepared to sell my grandmother's house back in Massachusetts. It's amazing what you can find in a house that's been a part of our family for approximately 60 years! This is our version of the Diamond Jubilee. My grandfather, 'Grampy', who passed away 18 years ago once served in the Royal Canadian Army. His love for the British monarchy was undying; when saying good bye he even made sure to say "Cheerio." As superficial as that sounds, I will honesty never be able to understand just how deep that love went since I never got the chance to ask - I was only 10 when he passed.

Here's a picture of my Grampy from when he was a youth living in Prince Edward Island.

Some say my cousin Scott looks like him, but I'd like to think my Dad and I also have his smile.

And this, my friends, marks entry #100.  It might not be makeup-related and quite honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Dine with Bagful and husband..

Tucked to the side and out of the way, I often wonder if we're looking into the fish bowl or looking out. People watching has become our "thing"; I mean, everyone does it from time to time, but we go out of our way to see what will happen next.  The Waiting Room inside of Crown Casino provides us with box seats, excellent drinks, a superb staff and even a one-off chance encounter with Neil Perry (he owns the joint). You can find us there watching the world go by while theorising what these strangers are setting out to accomplish that same evening.  Getting drunk, gambling, shopping, partying, dining or picking up a few chicks at a club.  The casino is their oyster.  For us, it's entertainment.

A few weeks ago, Scott and I cozied up in a corner and opted to dine inside instead.  It was a quiet Monday afternoon and the patrons were few and far between.

Here's a sample of what we nibbled on during this particular visit.

High Tea for two

Dessert

Slider

Fini

A cappuccino will do

If you're in the area, drop in and have a drink or two. I highly recommend the Chipotle Margarita or the Corn and Oil. Oh yeah, they whipped up a special batch just for me, at least that's what they told me;)

Liquor infused with popcorn oil (me thinks)