Happy 3rd Birthday, Bagful of Notions! Plus, there's a giveaway!

Dick Casablancas, an aptly named guy.

All joking aside, blogging is tough. I often spend hours daydreaming only to be halted by writer's block and doubt. Yet, I persevere thanks to my love for writing, passion for makeup and the desire to share my thoughts and ramblings with the readers who stop by when the mood strikes or whenever I decide to hit post.

To thank you for coming back every day I've put together a few things for your personal enjoyment.

Yes, it's time for a massive International giveaway! There are four goodie bags up for grabs, which I hope will travel far and wide.

Prize 1 - body and skin care

This is for the guy or gal in need of some serious TLC.

• The Body Shop's Coconut Body Butter
• The Body Shop's Long Handed Cactus Body Brush
• EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruit
• Bobbi Brown Travel Kit featuring her Soothing Cleansing Oil, Hydrating Eye Cream and Hydrating Face Cream

Prize 2 - lips and tips

Just for kicks to get your lips and digits in order.

• Essie's Sleek Stick Nail Appliques in Stickers and Stones and Oh My Gold!
• The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick in Red Siren and Coral Cutie
• Maybelline Lip Polish in Pop 6 and Glam 9
• Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Flirtatious Charmeuse 

Prize 3 - the makeup addict

You're a makeup junkie, I'm a makeup junkie. Enough said.

• Wet n Wild's eye palette in Comfort Zone
• L'oreal's Blush of Light Glow Palette
• Illamasqua's Velvet Blusher in Peaked
• Illamasqua's Eye Brow Cake in Motto
• The Body Shop's All-in-One BB Cream in shade 01
• Maybelline Color Tattoo Pure Pigment Eyeshadow in Breaking Bronze
• Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in shade 320
• OCC's Lip Tar Stained Gloss in New Wave

Prize 4 - scents and sights

A major prize, that can only be sent to one lucky winner here in Australia.

• Chloe's Parfum De Roses 
• Travalo's Refillable Perfume Atomizer
• The Balm's Nude'tude Eyeshadow Palette 

Are you feeling lucky? 

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The Sunday Sample no. 1

Starting something new around these parts, consider this an edit of some of my favourite finds.

The topics, lists, lemmings and thoughts will most definitely change as the weeks progress.

So kick back and relax, here's your weekly dose of the Sunday Sample. 

This week's beauty rotation

Nailed it: NCLA's Laurel Canyon Lolita on my nails. Berry sweet.

Purchased: NARS Audacious Lipstick in Fanny. Thought I could wait for it until I reached the States, but I crumbled under pressure. Typical Nicole. Also, it would appear as though I am on a bit of a berry kick.

Testing: Kerastase's Discipline Keratin Thermique. It protects my hair as I heat style and leaves my strands polished.

Tried: Eve Lom's Cleanser. Cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate all at once. Might have to scoop this up when I visit Sephora with P-Cakes.

The Lemming: The MAC Brooke Shields Gravitas Palette Is a Dignified Diva Strengthened by Neutrals. After weighing the pros and the cons with Scott, I've opted to skip something pretty awesome. #whyyousoexpensive

Eats: The Best Cookie Recipe EVER. Baked, eaten, approved.

Rides: What It's like to Fly the $23,000 Singapore Airlines Suites Class. I've been fortunate enough to have flown business class with Singapore Airlines to Italy, Melbourne, Singapore and Hong Kong. However, Derek's trip to New York takes the cake!

Olivia's no longer standing in the sun

Fall TV is back! If you're not up to date with this weeks' episodes, you should probably stop reading now. Spoilers abound.

Castle's been located, but he doesn't know where he's been for two months. Was his father involved with his disappearance? Time will only tell.

Sons of Anarchy has been a bit too bloody for my liking. However, last I knew a few weeks back, Jax could potentially be in a bit of trouble for staging the death of a fellow motorcycle club leader's son. Eye for an eye? And when and how will Kurt Sutter address Gemma's hopeful demise?

Quinn found Olivia and Jake. The First Lady officially lost the plot, in part because of the death of her eldest son. Fitz is running the country with aplomb. Pope & Associates disbanded, yet miraculously came together for Harrison's funeral. I wonder what's in store for Olivia on this season of Scandal.

Fell in love with A to Z (plus, we get to see Ted Mosby's wife in action). How to Get Away with Murder is a tad treacherous and is it just me or did you also grow tired of Wes Gibbins' incessant deer in the headlights expression? Madam Secretary isn't as fast paced as The West Wing, nor as frenetic as Homeland, but I do enjoy the push and pull of Elizabeth McCord's storyline. Two Broke Girls, House of Cards and Homeland all have yet to make their return and I can't wait to get to New York Fashion week on Project Runway. Go, Kini and Amanda!

Other bits and bobs..

Bagful of Notions turns three on the 16th of October (mark it down in your calendar). Also, keep your eyes peeled for a massive giveaway later this month!

I've compiled a huge list of things I want to buy during my visit to the States. If you have any recommendations, please send them my way.

In the process of jushing up Bagful HQ and I've got my eye on these temporary wall decals.

That's it for this week! Don't forget to Spring ahead if you're in Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania.

//Image Credit: The Daily Beast - Kerry Washington's Hair Evolution as Olivia Pope on Scandal.

I am a very lucky girl..

Us.

Today marks our fourth wedding anniversary and my 31st birthday and I am thankful for the loves in my life - my husband, my parents and brothers and my friends, especially Diana. I think she sums up our friendship rather well..

"Twelve years ago, I found myself the truest version of a "forever" friend. Somewhere in the space between the two continents we live on, the term "best" friend lost its meaning and seemed just a little bit too small to describe the magnitude that is us. It's 4pm in Melbourne and I'm about to fall asleep here at 2am. Either way, in either country, it's your birthday. I love you. And I miss you always."

Scott has all of my heart, but there are smaller bits sprinkled in Las Vegas, Boston, Plymouth and Springfield.

My sister from another mister, Diana and I prior to the biggest move of my life 

On a completely unrelated note, Bagful and Co. is moving on up to the east side of Melbourne's CBD, which means most of our personal worldly possessions, makeup included, are packed and ready to embark on another amazing chapter. So I do apologise if things are quieter than usual around these parts. My hope is to pop in to share bits of makeup goodness over the next few weeks, so please bare with me if I suddenly become Radio Silent. 

And if you're in the mood for a therapeutic, happy cry - definitely check this out! You can thank my Dad for sharing this gem.

Confession: I use hand soap to wash my makeup brushes

Subtle Energies Revive Body & Hand Wash

And my brushes repeatedly live to tell a tale.

It was a recommendation made by Karen, you know, of Makeup and Beauty Blog. Like Oprah, if Karen said "bees are coming!" I too would be crazy excited.

Dr. Bonner's Bar Soap was fairly ace at the start until I became grossed out by the used bar stowed away in a Ziploc baggie - a potential breeding ground for who knows what? For kicks, I replaced the bar with the mint scented, pump version, but the syrupy consistency of the gel proved to be too heavy for both the natural and synthetic bristles. Plus, it took forever and a day for me to properly rinse out the brushes.

Switched I did to dare I say an Aesop equivalent, Subtle Energies Revive Body & Hand Wash. It's clear, lathers quite nicely, leaves behind a fresh lemon-y/clean scent and washes my handle holding, tram riding hands.

Save money you won't and perhaps I'm a tad blasé about its function as this was a surprise goodie from the very generous people over at Subtle Energies.

It's a right good soap, albeit an expensive one, but my brushes (and hands) are cleaned in no time and that's the most important thing.

*Subtle Energies kindly provided a PR sample  –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.