Blog Lovin' - My Most Influential Bloggers

Hello fellow bloggers,

being a true gypsy means to be a bit unconventional at times. I knew it would be like this when I started my blog cause there is an unpredictable side to my life. Events evolve right in front of my eyes and I need to go with them as they come, that's just the road a gypsy's gotta go...
I deeply apologize for my relatively absence all this while. I know that I am still new to the blogging world and I should've been able to speak to you more frequently but my life turned out to be more than hectic and this won't change too soon. Many of you lovelies make up the reasons why I still try to write as often as possible, so I'd like to dedicate this post to you guys.

Tali was the first blogger that I got to know through the world wide web. Her ongoing love for make-up and all things beautiful made me get in touch with this community. When I first started out she recommended my blog to her followers which made my heart melt!

Supergirl is a true super girl! Her comments brighten up my days and on her blog she has very innovative ideas. She always takes the time to write her posts bilingual, that is so great!

Roshas is a very beautiful and cute person! I love her personality and her weight loss tips helped me out big time. I'm gonna write a post on my eating regime and how important optimism is in order to change bad habits. That is totally inspired by her suggestions!








Marisa is such a doll! She has an absolutely adorable style and works out every day by herself to keep fit and healthy. I think she's gonna be a total role model for a lot of young women. Keep on going, hon!







Miranda is a supermodel with a twist: she is very modest and believes that everybody is beautiful and precious. She knows no exception from this rule and speaks openly to anyone. Her health blog is an example of how many great people share their wisdoms with others.











Replica is a wonderful blogger! I love her preference for brands that are not commonly known but of very high-quality such as RBR or Snowberry. She always takes pictures of the ingredients list, I could hug her for doing that :) She is the first person I ever talked to on a blog and asked for advice (just before Tali)!

Tina is a very mature young woman from Greece. I adore her for always finding the right words and I can tell that she is a 100% honest in every word she says. She deserves all the attention that she is getting!

Mushine has a wonderful innovative blog. She crafts so many things that it is delightful to see what she comes up with. She is beautiful inside and out and this shows in everything she does!

Modesty Brown is a chemist and along with her scientific background she is very kind to everyone who comments or poses questions to her. You can really rely on her which is great!

Grace has a lovely blog and her flawless skin has been praised by famous people like Edward Bess! I like to read through her posts, old and new!

"Fantastic" :) I hardly ever seen a beautiful woman such as this one and her blog is a retreat! She is a model and knows to have little time on her hands but when she does post it's delightful!

.... the list goes on!

These wonderful girls are just a few!! I met many more since I started 6 months ago and I only made the most positive experiences! I thank you all for the warm words and attention that I have received!

I have new ideas for upcoming posts, mostly on health and exercise rather than make-up as my life is changing substantially at the moment. I am also gonna have a blog sale coming up, too.
So, please bear with me to make this a fun place to hang out! Without you, guys, this is just another page in the endless www. universe. Let's fill this place with light and laughter :-)

So long,
ur gypsy Sam xx

Benefit - Bathina Gettin' Steamy Shower Gel & Touch Me Then Try To Leave... Cream

Happy New Year 2011 to all of you!!

I wish you the best for the new year and I am looking forward to getting to know you further! I am so sorry for not writing posts as often as I would like but I am in an extremely busy and challenging phase of my life. I have a couple of exams to go before I'm fully finished with university. What AM I gonna be once I'm not a student anymore?! This thought makes me go nuts...

I was with my family on Christmas and I cooked and baked a lot in my family's kitchen and I was staying in my old rooms (I had 2). Gee, it's been so long since I have moved out - 7 years!! This year's gonna be a new turning point in my life!

When I opened some shelves of my old cupboards I found wonderful long forgotten Benefit items - the Bathina Gettin' Steamy shower gel and the Touch Me Then Try To Leave... body cream. Both smell divine, they're a very sensual experience, wow!! I must've placed them there at some point when I paid my family a visit. What a great gift to myself this turned out to be :)
My skin felt very soft and had an awesome scent both after the shower and after applying the lotion. Putting on either one of them is enough, actually. No other fragrance needed! I love the retro pin-up design, too! The shower gel is also ideal to wash your lingerie with :-) Your delicate clothes will soak in the soft scent... I highly recommed the entire Bathina collection! I have more, take a look at my previous post here.



I also show you the bread I was baking at home... yumm*

How do you like the Bathina collection by Benefit? What are your plans for the new year? Are you hitting a milestone, too?!

All my love,
ur Sam xx

Self-Made X-Mas Gifts

Hello lovelies,

this year I made a lot of Christmas gifts myself and matched them with various presents that I bought for my family and friends.
I'd like to share 2 ideas with you.

1. Lip Balm:

I created my own lip balm and put them into little containers that I picked for each person individually. I found an Asian box, some retro boxes from the 50's & 60's, and an oriental container.
The ingredients for the lip balm:
- 40 ml beeswax
- 60 ml Almoond oil
- some splashes of rose water
- 4 drops eucalyptus oil
you heat it up in a stove until it's fully blended and then spill it into the little balm boxes. Let the substance cool off before you use it. Done!

2. Chocolate Plate:

I melted white chocoloate in a bowl that was placed in stove filled with water. I added poppy seeds to the melted white chocolate and spreaded the mix evenly on a tall plate. Next I prepared the same mix with dark chocolate and added cinnamon, clove, and pepper to the liquid chocolate. Then I created some stars and a semi circle with the dark mixture. I let it cool off and it is ready for transport in a cardboard box.

Did you create some self-made goodies for your folks? Do you like this better or do you prefer presents bought in a store?

I wish you'all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011!! I am so happy I created this blog because it is just so delightful to meet you here! Thank you for bringing so much happiness into my life!!

Love, Sam xx

Snowberry - Instant Deep Cleanser

Little Snowferries*
It is definitely winter where I live and the Christmas markets are the place to be :) The best past-time activity for dark and freezing evenings in December!

When I come home at night my skin's usually dry from the cold outside and the heaters indoors. Washing my face could make this condition worse. Not so since I am using my Snowberry Instant Deep Cleanser. My skin feels really smooth and silky even before I apply my night cream! In my opinion this product is the perfect winter treat and makes a perfect gift.
The packaging is very cute and the formula contains an advanced combination of natural ingredients and the latest findings in skin care science. The company is based in New Zealand and many of the ingredients are harvested from the local rainforests.
I spent 3 weeks on this amazing island and I can safely say that I am still day-dreaming of seeing these strong and pristine landscapes again! (If you like I put up some pictures of my travels)

Sorry the pic above looks so useless... the cleanser in my hand is lightly red and with one pulp you can cover your entire face. The product comes in two sizes, 15ml and 50ml. I got and recommend the big-sized version as it's better value for money)

The Instant Deep Cleanser is made using the following substances:

Melia azadirachta linn (Neem) seed oil An exotic natural emollient from Neem seeds with moisturising, hydrating, and skin softening properties. This oil stimulates cell regeneration, a mild antiseptic and gives skin a smooth and healthy appearance.

Plantservative WM A naturally derived ingredient from the Japanese Honeysuckle with strong anti-microbial and preserving properties.

Inca Inchi Oil
An exotic natural plant ingredient with moisturising, hydrating, skin softening and sun protection properties.

Passion Fruit Oil (WS) A natural active emollient from Passion flower with a high level of linoleic acid, providing deep nourishment and moisturization for the skin.

Dracorin GOC
A naturally derived plant/synthetic ingredient with emulsifying properties and provides a rich texture and feel to the skin.

Dermofeel G6CY (Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate)
A naturally derived plant ingredient with skin conditioning agent, emollient, solubiliser and secondary emulsifier.

Orchard Complex OS
A natural plant ingredient with emmoliency and anti-aging properties. It also enhances product spreadability delivering a smooth feel to the skin.

Sopholiance
An active, naturally derived anti-bacterial & anti-lipase agent, which prevents growth of certain noxious gram positive bacteria yet respects the natural flora of the skin.

Sun Essence (Cloudberry Seed Oil) An exotic natural plant ingredient with moisturising, hydrating, and skin softening properties.

Pufabe Echium Oil
A natural ingredient from an Arctic plant with moisturising and hydrating properties.

Wheat Soramides
An ingredient of essential lipids for the skin with moisturising, revitalising and restructuring properties. Rich in Phospholipids, Ceramides, Phytoserols, fatty acids and retinol with functions including skin-identical lipid composition and reconstruction effects.

Lyconat CI 75125 (Lycopene)
A natural biotech ingredient derived from a natural fermentative process which involves a fungus, the Blakeslea Trispora, which has active anti-aging properties.

Nikkol VC-IP
A naturally derived ingredient from Vitamin C with anti-aging properties. Primary function is to promote collagen synthesis and inhibit lipid peroxidation.

Macpaste
A naturally derived gelling agent from nuts of the macadamia tree with moisturising and emolliency properties.

Coleus Oil
A natural extract from the roots of Coleus forskohlii with excellent cleansing and moisturising properties while giving a pleasant aroma.

It contains NO:

Lauryl Sulfates

Petrochemicals

Propylene or Butylene Glycols

Volatile Alcohols

Artificial Colours

Silicones

DEA or MEA

not tested on Animals

...And this is only the cleanser! Check out the other products at the well-designed webside http://www.snowberrybeauty.com/

I am very confident that is the kind of brand that'll eventually knock out L'Oreal and all those other companies that only look at their own profits rather than the sustainability of our planet and the health of their costumers. My skin never felt this good during the winter months and it makes me a bit angry realizing that I wasted many years wondering how to 'cure' my skin. Since I've changed my cleansing routine my skin has improved tremendously! Snowberry even claims to be certified 'carbon neutral', meaning that "the carbon the company produces at any given time is neutralised by mechanisms such as registered forest regeneration, which extracts the same quantity of carbon dioxide from the air." Taken together, I can safely say that all these great properties make up for the steep price of 38 Euros.

What do you think of this brand? Do you know Christmas markets and hot wine punch?!

Season's Greetings,
Sam xx

Miranda Kerr - Treasure Yourself

Hello dear bloggers,

I hope you had a great week-end! I just came back from a great sushi dinner with my lovely friend who moved house recently to another city. We used to meet up pretty much each day and now that she's in town only on certain occasions I treasure each moment we get to see each other even more!

So, to me it's time to write about the book "Treasure Yourself" written by the Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr. I certainly feel intimated by all the VS models, knowing in the back of my mind that each guy on this planet would immediately go for any of the girls if they could only get their hands on them! However, Miranda seems to be a kind-hearted and healthily living person and for that I really appreciate her. She studied nutrition and psychology when she wasn't sure if modeling was her thing. I did not know about her at all but, by chance, I found out about her skin care line Kora Organics. Her products can be purchased online by visiting her side http://www.koraorganics.com/ and by doing so I got hooked on her blog that is presented alongside the product page. I started reading it when it just came out and it was very spare at first but by now there are many nutritionists, family members, and Miranda's personal trainer etc. blogging about health care and well-being. I highly recommend checking out her blog!!
I couldn't resist buying her book and I must admit I did not regret the purchase at all. At first I thought it might be a bit cheesy reading "happy notes" by a super model who's "got it all" but it is really very interesting to read what she thinks. It is surely made for teenagers, though, as the chapters are very compact and I got the impression I'm reading one introduction after another when these few pages are actually the whole chapters (approximately 10 pages per chapter!). Only half the book is about Miranda's life and experiences, the other part contains short affirmations to help aquiring a more positive outlook.
Nevertheless, her words reminded me of my state of mind when I am on travels. I seem to have this 'broader perspective' on things and see my possibilities and the goodness of my future very clearly. Once I have settled back down, though, I seem to lose track of this inner sense and I feel taken in by every-day hassles and inconveniences. Reading her book really established a connection to that self-awareness I seem to have merely on my journeys - even though I'm still in my living room right this moment.

(Miranda has a great poem in her book that Audrey Hepburn used to love / I arranged that my garden fairy can watch the flowers on the book, lol. In the background you see the snow on the grass!)

I must admit that I like the fact that the shape of Miranda's face is a tiny bit round - this is a big issue I have with myself! It calms me down, somehow, knowing that this beautiful woman has a heart-shaped face, too... I feel very conscious of my looks at times, especially since I am 'tied to the chair' cause I literally have to study for my exams for months and months and months... it is very draining and it shows in my appearance, posture, and strength. I really can't wait to get out into this world again - but as Miranda says in her book - you can't push through tough times too hard otherwise your abilities won't develop fully leaving you poorly prepared for what's still to come. My biggest weakness is my impatience!

I would like to contribute a pic on her page but I can't decide which one of the three I should pick?! Help me, please :)

Have a great night, I hope that I didn't bug you with my spiritual talk - but once in a while it's time to do so, what do you think?!

Lots of love,
your Sam xxx

Alima Pure - Mineral Foundation & Brush

hello my pretty darls,

I am very eager to write about the Satin Matte Foundation by Alima Pure and the matching Foundation Brush. I've been using the foundation combo for well over two months now almost every day and I must say I am delighted about the way my skin improved! The brand is certified organic and there are no ingredients other than minerals. Normally, when I use foundation my skin gets itchy or greasy after a couple of hours and that would make me go insane. Since I got to know the Rouge Bunny Rouge line these incidents have decreased but RBR is too expensive to wear each day exclusively. So, the compromise I came up with is that I use Alima Pure to university & work and RBR for getting ready to going out :) The Alima Pure powder foundation blends in seamlessly and I forget I'm wearing it 10 minutes after application. My shade is neutral 3 - there is a wide variety of colours to choose from, which I love cause my skin tone keeps changing depending on the season and the country I am living in that year. As the Satin Matte Foundation contains minerals only it doesn't go off for years unless nothing touches the inside of the dose. So it's advisable to dust some powder onto the inside of the lid or onto a tissue and dip'n swirl the contents on the brush from there.
I strongly recommend getting the Foundation Brush, too, because it is an exceptionally high quality beauty tool. The hair is really dense and soft - it feels great and is very pretty looking! I washed it several times and it's still in its fine condition. The web-page gives information on how to take care of the brushes properly here.
The only downside that comes to my mind is that the lid of the powder broke after the first couple of times I've opened it. Since then the lid is gradually cracking further, which means that I can't take it with me on travels :(    

I'm so glad I found out about this brand! Do you know Alima Pure?! I would like to know how the other products are working. 

All the best you guys!
Talk to you soon - ur Sam xx

                                                                                     -  +  - 
I just read on allure.com that Alicia Silverstone is recommending Alima Pure, too! She is a gorgeous woman who took the time to explain to my uncle's godchild (11yrs old) at a charity event that, even though being vegetarian is important and animal-friendly, eating fish is substantial for maintaining a healthy body, especially for a person growing up. Since then my uncle's godchild eats fish cause "Alicia said so"!! I think that is great, thank you Alicia :)
 

New Guest Post on Zuneta

Hello my dears,

how are you doing?! I have written a guest post talking about three beautiful products on Zuneta.

Please follow the link above to read the full review on:

• Specialist Fly-Away Control Stick by Cutler
• Blitz Gold Leaf eye shadow by Belmacz
• Hues of Enchantment- Colour Burst Lipstick by Rouge Bunny Rouge

Hope to hear/read/see from you soon! You're great :)
Best, Sam xx