I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to abandon or forget about something that I enjoy so much - but I did.

The last time that I posted on this website was back in April, and it's now June. The fact that those two months slipped by kind of scares me really, because I don't really have an excuse as to why. I mean, I wanted to be active online and keep pushing through, making posts and videos. I really did. I just couldn't get there for some reason - motivation slipped through my fingers.

So what has happened since I last posted here? Well, a few things really, but when I look back at it, it doesn't really seem that much. It's a weird way to see things. I know there has been big, important things happening, but inside my head I just think "Meh...". Anyways, I'll get to it.

• I finished my Certificate III in Business Administration. I wish I was more excited about this, because it's another thing I can add to my resume to make me more employable, but the experience of it was so degrading. Now, I want to be careful when I explain this, and I don't want to offend anyone - but I could have finished that certificate in a week. The assignments were so simple and obvious that I was able to finish most of them within an hour or two. It honestly doesn't even feel like a qualification to me now - and again, I don't want to be offensive or degrading to those who have the certificate or who have had to work hard at it. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have it and I'm sure it'll help me get a job (more on that later), but I definitely have this feeling of "Oh, that was it?".
• I left my retail job of 5 years. This one was a biggie for me. I got this job at the end of high school, literally a week or so after I finished my year 12 exams. At the time, I just really needed money, and I didn't even know much about the business or what they sold. I still remember my first shift, feeling completely lost and out of my element. I didn't hate the job, but I certainly wasn't comfortable or enjoying it. I remember barely talking during my shift, and feeling like I was in the way of everyone. As time went by, though, I started making friendships with the people working there. I started talking to people more, and I really came out of my shell and became comfortable with not only the job, but myself. The more I learned from that job, the better I became as a person - as a friend, partner, employee... everything. When I finished my degree last year, though, I felt this strong urge to move on - to take on more responsibility, and make my mark elsewhere. This was an internal struggle that I had for quite some time. "I'm bored of this job, but I love the people and I know what I'm doing". Eventually, as you already know, I left this job, and I cried the whole way through it. I couldn't even fathom a goodbye speech, because I didn't feel like it would ever be enough. While I reached the end of my journey with this job, I am extremely grateful for the things that it has done for me, and a lot of it has to do with the people I worked with. There hasn't been a day since where I think "Screw it, I'll just go back". But I can't. I needed to move on, and I am - sort of.
• I started my first full-time job. I'm not super proud to admit that, at 23 years of age, I've only just gotten a full-time job. However, I always have to remind myself that I focused my life on my degree. I worked hard at it, and I finished, so now it's my turn for a real job. Notice I said job, though - not career. Without going into it too much, for the past three weeks I have been working at a call centre in customer service. It is not something I wanted, but here I am now. A lot of people have said to me "Oh, wow, why are you doing that?", and honestly, it comes down to money. This was the best paying job at the time that I could get, and I figured it was worth a shot. This is my new internal struggle. You see, the reason I took this job was to make some money, and finally look into buying a house with my partner. That's the only reason. I don't believe people should work for money - they should work for something they love, and right now, this isn't me. I'm not comfortable, I'm not happy, and I barely talk (other than when I'm on the phone, of course). But I need to remind myself of that girl who first started her retail job - she was uncomfortable and unhappy too, and in the end it became such an amazing part of my life, so why won't this job too?

The Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Mask has been the latest buzz on social media, and after seeing so many shots of people with grey, bubbly faces, I decided I wanted in on this too! I purchased mine from eBay for around $12, which I was very comfortable in paying. I hate when companies put on supreme prices for new products, but for $12, you definitely get your money's worth.

So what exactly is this product? Well, it's a carbonated clay mask, which means that it foams or 'bubbles' when it exposed to air. The consistency from the jar originally feels quite thick, and it's very cool to the touch, which is really nice on the face. They give you a small spatula to apply it, which I'd recommend, as it takes a fair amount of effort to wash it off while it's still in it's thick form. The smell is quite nice too - it almost smells like perfume, despite it's not-so-attractive colour.
Once it's applied to the face, you'll start to hear a bubbling noise, which is the carbonation process. The following picture is after about 3 minutes.
After around 10 minutes, the foam had grown to about 1cm deep, which is a very weird sight to see. You seriously start to look like a green marshmallow. Aside from this, the mask doesn't feel stiff or dry at all, which was a nice surprise from my other masks. While I do like my tightening masks, the Carbonated Bubble Mask was a nice change of pace, because it felt very soft on the skin. Washing it off was a bit of a task - the bubbles were easy to remove, but the under-layer of thick product took a little more work to remove. Once it's all gone, my skin feels very smooth and moisturised, but it doesn't feel clogged with product. My pores even appear smaller, which was a pleasant bonus!

Overall, I've really enjoyed this mask. I've used it three times over the past few weeks, and I've even had my boyfriend Jake into it - though, I think he just enjoys sticking his finger into the bubbles to see how deep it is.

If you're in the market for a cheap, gentle and innovative product to try - give this one a go! If you're not a fan of the product itself, you'll at least be amused by your bubble face, haha.

Oh - and it's also worth noting that there is no English on the jar except for the product name, so the ingredients are a mystery to me.

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick - 'Cher'

You may have already seen this on my website, as I just did a post all about the Hydra Mattes. You can see it here.
This particular shade is why it has made it to my favourites. As mentioned in my first impression, 'Cher' had my attention from the start. It is a deep mauve shade with brown undertones, and it's the perfect shade that I've been hunting down for months. Typically, for this shade, I'd use my Essence Lip Liner in 'Soft Berry', which is almost identical to this. However, I'm not a fan of wearing pencil all the time, as it dries out your lips. So, when this product came along, it was love at first sight. Definitely a new staple!

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Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder - 'Sophia'

This product was actually a bonus with my order of the Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - and it's a bonus that I actually loved! The colour of this highlighter is a sheer yellowy-champagne, which is a nice change from my usual frosty colours. The formula is my favourite part though. The powder in this is so finely milled, that it sits on the skin smoothly and evenly, without looking like a streak of glitter on your face. I've been loving this for every day!

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Eye of Horus Dynasty Dual Brow Perfect - 'Brown'

I'll be honest - I did not like this product at all when I first received it. I found the pencil end to be too chunky, and I felt like I had to work with it a lot to get the shape that I want. However, throughout March I figured I'd put more effort into learning how to use it, and now I love it! One side has a flat, broad pencil that is nicely pigmented, but stiff enough to hold its shape. The other side has a brow gel, which is very, very good! It holds everything in place, and has the perfect sized spoolie. Definitely a major comeback this month!

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Sleek Contour Kit

I particularly loved the contour shade in this palette - the highlighter, I'm not a fan of. The contour is a nice, deep chocolate brown, that does well to warm up the skin. I hate contours that are too ashy or grey, so this has been a nice discovery - even though it's sat in my collection for a few years!

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Maybelline SuperStay Waterproof Powder

I started using this powder during March, mainly because I'd ran out of my other powders. I have enjoyed using it with liquid foundations and BB creams, as it doesn't set too cakey, and doesn't oxidise, which is a huge plus in my books. The product claims to be waterproof, which I haven't tested too much, but it definitely does last on the skin until you remove it. It would be great for those of you who are out for most of the day, and need your makeup to stay put.

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Juicy Couture 'I Am Juicy Couture' Eau De Parfum

This perfume has been a regular in my daily routine for quite some time now. I love the sweet floral scent, which lingers on throughout the day. It is a very young perfume, and it's not too overpowering which is a nice surprise. If you're out and about and you see this perfume, give it a test - I think it's a fragrance that a lot of people will love!


So there we have it - my March favourites! If you'd like to see the video version of my favourites, you can check it out on my channel.

Graduation is just around the corner, and what's more daunting than standing on stage in front of academics, leaders, and hundreds upon hundreds of family members, all with their eyes on you? Deciding what to wear!

When I attended my graduation last year, I found myself immensely stressed out as to what to wear. Being the first person in my family to graduate with a degree, I had absolutely no idea what was appropriate. Long dress? Short dress? Skirt? Pants? Colour? Monochrome? All of the above?! So, I decided to make this post for those of you who are feeling this same stress.

For a point of reference, the following picture is what I wore to my graduation. It was a watercolour, fitted dress that had a really cool cross-over hem in the front. I wanted something that was young, because - well, I am young, but I wanted something that was put-together and mature... all without being too boring. I think I succeeded, and I was very happy with my decision.

Remember - you'll be photographed this day, and it's a moment you'll cherish and look back on in the future. Be 100% happy with your choice!

All of these outfits are from Showpo, and come with FREE express delivery, which means you'll have your clothes the next day. Perfect for last minute choices! Click here: Showpo.com

(and enter the code 'KATRINA' for 10% off - you're welcome!)

Simply White

Basic Blacks

 

Pretty in Patterns

 

Sultry Skirts

These are just a few of my recommendations. Remember - go with something you are comfortable with. Here are some classic DO's and DON'T's...

DO'S:

• Pick something that is YOUR style! Make a statement about who you are as a person.
• Feel comfortable and confident. There's no use in wearing a short dress if you hate your legs, or a style or cut that makes you feel uncomfortable. You should be able to walk around feeling great about how you look.
• Loosen the purse strings - be prepared to invest in this outfit. You don't want to buy something that's cheap in quality, such as being see-through, loose, crooked or uncomfortable. Around $50 is a good target, but it's all dependant on your budget.
• Wear your outfit before the day - as soon as you've bought your outfit, wear it around the house. This may seem like silly advice, but you'll thank me. Wear your shoes too! Why? This is where you'll be able to tell if there are any issues. Walk around, sit down, and climb some stairs if possible - these are all the things you'll be doing on the day. If the waist is too tight, or your shoes are killing you, do something about it now! Ceremonies can go for hours, so you don't want to be counting down the seconds to get out of your dress because it's suffocating you.
• Take some photos wearing it - things can look different to how you see them in a mirror. Perhaps the mirror isn't showing off the back cleavage your dress is giving you, or the crooked hem in the front.
• Enjoy your time! It's not all about what you wear - be proud of this massive achievement, and celebrate your success.

DON'T'S:

• Midriffs/Two pieces - showing your stomach is far too casual for this type of event. You don't want to be that girl that everyone remembers for the wrong reason.
• Plunging necklines - place your hand at the bottom of your collarbones. The top of your dress should not start below your hand. Keep those puppies covered, and show respect to the academics and family members who have come to see you.
• Strapless tops or dresses - I mean, you can if you want, but take my advice. The academic gown is super heavy, and heavy things tend to pull things down - if you catch my drift. You don't want to spend all ceremony pulling your top up, and adjusting yourself.
• Super high, unstable or slippery heels - odds are, there's a set of stairs that you'll need to walk on to receive your award. You want to be in shoes that are stable, and that are comfortable to walk in. I remember at least three girls almost falling off the stairs/stage because their heels weren't stable enough.
• Spend too much on a clutch or bag - you won't have much time to be holding it, so save your money here.
• Forget to smile when on stage!

CONGRATULATIONS!

• Ecstasy - A medium-toned, cool purple. It has grey undertone, which really makes your skin look pale (I don't mind that, though). The formula was nice and velvet-y, which applied on the lips nice and smoothly. The pigmentation was great, and it didn't sheer out in any areas. It takes a couple of minutes to dry, and once it is dry, it has a velvet feeling on the lips.
• Cher - A medium-toned, warm mauve. It is the perfect mixture between brown and purple, and it is by far my favourite shade. Again, it has the velvet texture, and went on very nicely. This colour is actually the perfect dupe for my favourite lip liner, the Essence 'Soft Berry' liner. It has a really rich colour, but it isn't too dark and off-putting for day wear. Love this!
• Serenity - A pure, peachy-toned lipstick. It has all of the same qualities as the other shades, and I think it would look great with a tan. This one is the most wearable shade out of all of them, but Cher is still my favourite!

YouTube networks are a relatively new concept within the digital media world - and when I say "relatively new", I mean within the past 10 years. A YouTube network is:

"...an organization that works with video platforms such as YouTube, to offer assistance in areas such as "product, programming, funding, cross-promotion, partner management, digital rights management, monetization/sales, and/or audience development" in exchange for a percentage of the ad revenue from the channel."

As it stands today, there are well over 100 YouTube networks out there for people to sign up to. The reason that there are so many, is because anyone can start one up. All it takes is a simple email to potential YouTubers, and they've got their business running. However, there definitely are a number of king-pins in this industry who dominate the market, and have a lot of YouTubers signed to their networks. For example, the following is a list of the top networks and their current member count (as of 21st March, 2016).



This list could go on for another 100+ entries, but you get the point. These guys are BIG! Now, with member counts so large, how on earth do they manage all of these people's careers? Answer - they don't, but more on that a little later.

First, let's cut to the good part: money. When a YouTuber first monetises their videos, they are enabling a thing called 'adsense'. Adsense is owned by Google (so is YouTube, by the way), and it's their way of paying people as per the views and clicks they receive on a video. The way this works is Google will place an ad next to your video once you have monetised it. These ads are paid to be put there by the advertiser (so for example, if it's a Coca Cola ad, then Coca Cola have paid Google to put it there). These ads can appear in all sorts of forms, as shown below. 

March certainly did creep up on me, and so too this month's Bellabox! When I received it this week, I genuinely had to think to myself, "Gee, is it that time already?!". I'm sure some of you can relate to this - even though we're only three months in to the year. Anyhow, this is what was in my March Bellabox...

• Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter - 200ml for $34.99

I love trying new body butters, and I feel like they are kind of a 'fail-safe' product for everyone. The Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter came in a cute little travel size, and apparently is good for one-full body use - I disagree, I'd say there's more than one use (which isn't a bad thing, of course!). The formula was very smooth and creamy, and absorbed into my skin without a greasy feeling at all. I wasn't a fan of the smell though - but I guess that comes down to personal taste. I much prefer a more floral 'perfume-y' scent, so this obviously wasn't my cup of tea. Regardless, I'll still use this little sample up, and I'm interested to see if there are other scents.

• Neon & Co. Treatment Oil - 125ml for $24.95

Now this scent, I DID love! The Neon & Co. Treatment Oil is, essentially, an oil for your hair. It's geared towards dry, damaged and brittle hair, which I'm quite lucky not to have. However, I still love trying oils as they can be a real nice addition to your routine. The oil in this product is quite thin, which is a plus in my books because it stops from weighing your hair down. The scent is the best part though - it has a luxurious, 'salon' scent that lingers throughout the day. This product got a nice thumbs up from me for that aspect!

• Benefit Porefessional Pro Balm - 22ml for $53.00

I'll be honest here - I already own this product. However, I was still greatly impressed by seeing this in my box. Bellabox have actually included one of these in everyone's box, so I'm sure most of you are loving this month's box. In short, the Benefit Porefessional Pro Balm is a makeup primer. It has a skin tone tint, and absorbs into the skin like butter. I find it really does help with pores, and gives the skin a satin feeling. While it is quite pricey, I do think it will make a nice birthday gift for those who want to try it, so if you see your friend eyeing this product, take note!

• Laqa & Co. Cheeky Lip in 'Humble Brag' - $35.00

This is a product we've already seen in a past Bellabox, so I'm not going to discuss it much. The Laqa & Co. Cheeky Lip is a tinted balm that can be used as a blush or a lip tint. I do love the colour of this on my lips, but I don't find myself reaching for it very often.

• Harvest Box Health Bombs - 40g for $2.50

Hated these. Hate. Hate. Hate. That seems rash to start with, but it's true. I didn't like anything about these, but with all due respect, I also truly dislike dates (which is what they are made of). If you do like dates, however, these little snacks might be up your alley. They do have a subtle cocoa taste, but I just could not get past the dates. Sorry Health Bombs! You're dumped!

• Monoderma Skin Vitamins 'Soothing Hydrating' - 28 capsules for $49.95

This product really had me puzzled. I opened my box, saw what appeared to be a pill tray, and then stared at them thinking, "Did a Bellabox employee accidently drop in their medication?". It's funny, too, that Bellabox actually had to write on the info card 'DO NOT SWALLOW' - so it mustn't have been just me. These are actually little 'pods' which have an oil inside. When you break them open, the oil seeps out, and then you apply this oil to your face. While it was cool to try, I wasn't amazed by any results.

So that's everything that I received in the March Bellabox. If you'd like to try Bellabox, click here.