Giveaway 101: THE GOODIE BAG!

Hiya Guys!

Thanks for the support over my last post.

To say I’ve been through a trying time is an understatement. I have been really emotionally drained and truly thought my relationship was over. Thankfully, after the initial shock wore off, my BF ended up being really understanding. Things are still a little rocky, but I think we will be okay.  All I can hope is that we will end up with a stronger relationship at the end of this.

What was kind of ironic is that it was only recently that I was making a bit of a song and dance about him trusting me... And even made the lighthearted comment that something was a 'trust exercise'... I'm really lucky he has forgiven me and that we can move on. I do feel like a dodged a bit of a bullet. I want to try and make it up to him, but not as though I am compensating for something I did. Does that make sense? I just want him to know I appreciate him and that I'm sorry- even though after all the apologising I've been doing, I think he gets that. We have had little tiffs in the past, but nothing like this. This was like betrayal, serious hurt feelings, a real grown-up situation, something I've never experienced. I was also blind sighted and it just came up out of nowhere. Any advice on how to make it up to him?

Enough of that, and onto the fun stuff. My Giveaway!!!!

It’s funny, I feel like I have been collecting these treats for ages, but now when I actually group them all together it doesn’t seem like much. Eeep. Hope this isn’t the lamest giveaway in the history of giveaways!

Quick Rules:

Giveaway is open to Australian Residents only (and only because this shiz is quite heavy and would cost an arm and a leg to post OS. Sorry).

You must be a GFC follower of course… This is celebratory 50 Followers Giveaway after all.

Entrant must make a comment on this post.

Entries must be in by Midnight on Tuesday 5^th of June.

Winner will be picked at random on Wednesday 6^th June and announced in a separate blog post. We can then arrange delivery.

Hoorah!

Goodie Bag!

Revlon Lip Butter (Peach Parfait)

Innoxa lipstick (Marigold)

Max Factor  Xperience Volumising Mascara (Black)

Models Prefer Ultra Lipgloss Pencil (Kiss & Make Up)

Ulta3 Nail Polish (Spring Break)

Ulta3 Nail Polish ( Mulberry)

Sally Hanson HD Nail Colour (Digital)

Schwarzkoph Volume Powder

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Nuti-oil Serum

My Melody iPhone case (pretty sure it fits both iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s)

Cute Japanese Bath fizzes (4 different types)

Nail Polish Remover wipes (Lemon)

Goodie Bag!

 A few little points about the goodies: I personally own a few of these items... Which is why I included them. The Schwarzkoph Volume Powder is really fun to use and a great dupe for the more expensive Keven Murphy Powder Puff and does give your hair a nice boost without making it feel heavy or causing any build-up. The Dove Nutri-oil is also great and I can feel it nourishes my hair and is lighter than the Moroccan Oil I usually use. The Revlon Lip Butter... Um, what needs to be said? And Peach Parfait is one of the most sought after colours. Oh and the little nail polish removers are AWESOME! I don't think I will ever use traditional nail polish remover again. Yes, really. I usually only need one pad to remove polish on all 10 fingers. The other day I had on OPI Rainbow Connection (glitter to the max) and I only needed one extra pad... Granted I had to work at it for awhile, but I feel as though the pads are more nourishing than traditional removers. They are quite oily, but I like it. Also, the smell is yum- well I haven't tried the Lemon scent but I have tried Mint and Apple and they very non-offensive and no yucky remover smell.

May the odds be ever in your favour!

♡Missy

Just Quietly...

Happy 100th Blog Post to me...

Not so happy situation I am finding myself in at the present.

I really wanted to have my 100th blog post also be my Giveaway post (for reaching 50, ooh make that 51, followers, *waves), but I am really not in the mood to collate all the goodies for the giveaway.

You see, I did something...

I am almost approaching my 4 year anniversary with my BF (early July)... but I don't know now, if we're going to make it.

I did something early on in the relationship and didn't tell him, and he found out. So, now I am clinging on to what's left by a thread. It's hard. I feel like I am in a blur.

I've broken his trust and I don't know if I can repair it.


♡Missy

Update & Fiddy Followers= Huzzah!!

Hey Dolls!

Ooh, I reached 50 followers! Woo to the Hoo… You know what that means? Giveaway time! Yay!

I have been accumulating gifts for ages. Yay! I will gather it all together and host the giveaway very soon!

iPhone Update

Well, last Thursday, I got all dolled up in the hope of scoring myself a nice geek genius that I could seduce charm to fix my phone for free. Imagine my surprise when I was introduced to my female genius. Craps. My plan was foiled. Damn you Apple.

Just prior to my genius appointment, I tried to back up to iCloud again, and it just wasn’t working… Someone on a forum said I should delete some videos, as they use up a lot of space… I did what was advised because at this stage my most important stuff was backed up on my computer, I just wanted a quick fix in the meantime… delete, delete, delete. Yes, I did have some minor heart palpitations, but I hushed myself because it was all on my computer. I was then able to back up to iCloud in all of 5 minutes (versus hours upon hours, only for the backup to eventually fail anyway). Things were finally looking up, I thought.

My Lady-Genius was very sympathetic  and I got a lot of understanding ‘aww’s and even a ‘how annoying’ at how close to being under warranty I was, but needless to say, no free fix for me. I was told I would have to pay $179 for a refurbished phone… and also lose a majority of my stuff due to my phone being unable to be properly backed up. Thanks iCloud, thanks broken computer… Thanks BFF who asked ‘did you back up?’ OBVIOUSLY NOT. And I kind of thought having my iPhone backed up onto my computer and then technically vice versa (computer back up on phone) was enough. What were the chances of them both failing on me at the same time? Grrrr.

I told the Lady-Genius I didn’t want to go ahead with the $179 refurbished phone yet as I might as well try backing up my phone properly, instead of losing it all- Well, mainly my music which couldn’t be backed up on iCloud or my deleted videos- Especially considering the $179 price doesn’t change the further out of warranty I become, so no rush…  The Lady-Genius somehow magically put this circle thing on my screen (pic below) that I can move around to where it suits me, and when I click it up comes a shortcut to lock my phone, so I wouldn’t have to worry about pocket dialling anyone. At least my trip to Chaddy wasn’t in vain.

See the circle thing in the top right corner? Magic. 

But then I decided the top corner wasn't so handy, as it interfered with some buttons.. So I moved it a little lower. 

This are the optios that come up when you click on this magical dot.

And when you select "devices" VOILA you can lock the screen. 

I have no idea how to get rid of the Magical little Dot, nor do I know what any of the other things do, but that's okay. I like it.

Next up, in the Great Tech Failure of May 2012, we jump to to me calling the unbelievably incompetent computer techs who I have engaged to give me a quote for insurance purposes on my pretty little laptop, who told me my hard drive was damaged. &%%#$! Nooooooo!! That was my back up!!!

Turns out they may (hopefully) have been trying to sucker me in for a data recovery job ($99 charge)… which I am NOT falling for. I have told them at least 15 times that this quote is for insurance purposes… As in to prove that the cost of repair is more than the cost to replace, which is massive derrr factor, really, in this throw away society we live in. That’s all I want. A report.

I have been getting the run-around from them.

Firstly, my laptop has been with them for a week. How long does it take to give me a quote?! I finally I spoke to a half decent tech, who divulged to me that they were short staffed and as a result had double the workload at the moment… Okay, but how about you just tell the customer that?! I was getting worried over nothing. Then he told me someone would call me the next morning. Nothing.

So I call them at 1pm to get told someone was ‘just about to’ call me. My Aunt Fanny they were! He gives me a verbal quote and takes my email address to send me a PDF of the report (“right away”) and I ask when I get pick up my laptop… “Oh you want that back? I’ll have to put it back together then… It’s in pieces’ Urgh, of course I want it back, it has my hard drive- aka my personal info! Grrr. He said he would call when it was ready.

Guess what never came? The report. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and restrained myself from calling until 4:45pm (3+ hours later)… Only to be told by another tech that the first tech had gotten the email wrong. Not the hard bit, like my name, which has double O’s, a set of double T’s and even double U’s (as in “w” haha) … but the yahoo.com.au part. WTF?! That’s incompetence, if you ask me! A computer tech that has never heard of yahoo.com.au or at least yahoo.com?! Hmm.

Anyway… I get the report about 5 mins after I corrected the email. The repairs come to $1,151.04… As if anyone would be getting the laptop repaired when you can buy one for less. Ha. The tech that sent that report knew that it was for insurance purposes, even though I had already told the person I had originally given it to and every other tech I had spoken to since then.

Fast forward to another email I received this morning, containing yet another report, but this time for $1,332.46. Huh? Whatever. I didn’t bother emailing to say I had already received a quote that would just confuse them more; I just asked if my laptop was ready to be collected. His response? “So, I take it you’re not going ahead with the repair then?”… Ummm, who in their right mind would?? And for the hundredth time it is a quote for insurance purposes!!!!!!! Even if there was no insurance involved I wouldn't be spending that much on repairs when I could get 2.5 laptops for the same price… Only newer. Eugh!

Anyway, I finally got an email just now saying she has been Humpty Dumpty’d- aka- put back together again- and I can collect her. Why do I want to collect a broken laptop so badly? Well, as I said it has my stuff on it. I want my stuff. It may also still contain my iPhone back up and all my music, my photos and my videos. My BF can take my hard drive out and put it in this nifty enclosure I got off eBay and I can use it in the future as an external hard drive- cos you can believe I will triple backing everything up in the future.

A massive $8!

In short, this computer repair place has a case of the old ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’ syndrome… That must be why I couldn’t get a straight answer out of anyone and also why I received 2 different quotes and also why I had to repeat everything 8,000 times. Short staffed or not, if there is no communication between techs y’all are going to end up doubling up, that’s why there’s twice the workload, not due to lack of staff. I spoke to 4 different techs… and got about 10 different answers.  *raises eyebrow*

Anyway, wish me luck that the insurance company pays me some serious moolah so I can get a new lappy. I have never wanted/needed to use a computer at home so badly. Haha.

Oh yeh and re: my iPhone. Adios $179 refurbished offer. I went in search of one of those predominately Asian run kiosk repair things in the city last Friday after workies… First place said they wouldn’t do it, because they give out warranties on their repairs and the iPhone 4 is notorious for having the power/sleep button go bust again and again. Great, I thought. I’m doomed!

So, I go to another one and was quoted $99 and I would have to wait 2 hours… Hmm $99 is kind of steep and considering the other place told me it would properly happen again, I was little unsure. My BF suggested I get one more quote so off I went. I had already exhausted the 2 places I actually knew of, but I figured I’d find somewhere in China Town to do it. I finally did and was told it could be fixed for $65 and within the hour. Done, my friend, done.

 It was so weird leaving my phone with a complete stranger in the city… Like I literally handed him the phone, got nothing in return (no receipt or whatever) and he told me I had to be back before he closed at 7pm. It was 6:15 at the time. Eeek, pressure. It wasn’t until I walked away that I realised how nakie I felt and that I didn’t have a watch and no way to tell the time. I was really worried I was going to miss my deadline. I kept asking strangers what time it was to keep abreast of my situation. Haha. Anyway, I handed over the $65 and was told he did [insert tech mumbo jumbo] and that it wouldn’t break again. Yay. I saved myself $114. I wish I hadn’t deleted all of my videos and whatnot, as there was really no need in the end. Thank you, random kiosk man! I had kind of given up hope on Apple and was really dismayed that I was going to lose my music, that iCloud only backs up *some* stuff and that I didn’t get my phone fixed a mere 20 days out of warranty. I even had a look a the new HTC one x (hate the name)

Truth be told, I am still kind of interested in it. You have so much more control over non-apple phones… But I have nearly 300 apps on my iPhone, what would happen to them? I can’t just abandon them *sad face*

♡Missy

iPhone troubles…

Hmm, not sure what happened to that good karma I was expecting from my good deed last Friday, but it seems to have gone missing in the mail. Damn you, Australia Post! And my Japanese Lucky Cat, Maneki Neko, isn’t doing a very good job either!

On Tuesday night, on my bus commute home, I was happily bopping along to The Beatles when suddenly/randomly/completely out of nowhere, the power (/sleep) button on my iPhone went kaput-skies. I pressed it like a gazillion times. Took my case off and pressed it another gazillion times. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

After examining it more at home, I noticed it did look a little… odd. Something is not quite right. It feels different to press to… So, in short, it’s broken. My iPhone is BROKEN.     

I figured I would just make an appointment at an Apple store and get it replaced. I hopped on to My3 (I’m with Three, derr) to check my warranty... 20 days out of Warranty! Grrrrrrr. That BLOWS.

Then I thought maybe I could just deal with it... Until I realised if my phone ever ran out of battery I wouldn't be able to turn it back on!

Then it dawned on me... I stopped using iCloud early in the year cos I had used up all the free space... And although I had backed up my iPhone on my computer the night before it got damaged, what good would that do when a) my computer is DEAD, remember and b) a few days have passed since then anyway, and I have taken more photos! (of myself, mainly… cheese)

So... I immediately paid to have extra space on iCloud. Tried backing up... 24 hours remaining. WTF. Obviously it went faster than that, and by the time I went to bed it said 14 hours remaining... Wake up this morning... Backup failed. GREAT. Thanks a lot… iCloud.

*Edited to add: I have just learnt that the iCloud doesn’t even back up your music... what’s the point?! None of my music is bought on iTunes. GRRR!

I have my Apple store appointment tonight, and I am going to lose everything. My 2,000 songs, my photos (itching towards 2,500), videos… EVERYTHING! Life equals ruined! Haha, okay, well no… I am taking it remarkably well, but it is damn annoying… and my brows are officially furrowed- and perfectly groomed just quietly, thank you, Benefit Brow Bar.

I thought I'd try backing up my phone to my work computer- I had done it before yonks ago so it’s been authorised... but I think this computer has had some changes and long story short... I don't know how to back it up. In fact, I don't think I can. When I sync it says it's done... but none of my stuff is on the computer. So… My brows furrow more. *le sigh, bring on the wrinkles

After a lot of uhmming and ahhing, I have come to the conclusion that this sucks donkey balls. And have also reached the EFF this stage… Which, incidentally, is also the stage that makes me dislike Apple and all their ‘our way or the highway’ jazz- and, for the record,  being on a highway, presumably driving but with no music to listen to cos you didn't buy it from iTunes equals Most Boring Road Trip EVER.

So… yeh. GREAT!

And to think I had just bought my iPhone a present!

Wish me luck at the Apple Store… I have never set foot in there and to be honest I am scared of these alleged ‘geniuses’ I have to bow down to. Fingers crossed they show some mercy. Ever been to the Apple Store? Is it scaryyyyyyy?

I have just copied 2,000 photos using Windows Explorer to my work computer… So, then I can hopefully somehow get my BF to use his computer to pretend to be mine and restore my, hopefully new iPhone, to my last back up… Then all won’t be lost.

P.S- 49 Followers! Woop Woo… Thanks a bunch! I have a 50 follower giveaway I have been dying to throw (do you actually throw giveaways? I don’t know, but I will be throwing mine.) Some of the prizes will be a Revlon LipButter (peach parfait) and a pack of Schwarzkopf Extra Care Instant Volume Powder a la Heidi Klum! (I had bought both of the products for myself and picked up and extra to throw at a lucky winner).

♡Missy

Feel Good Friday

You know that saying… ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you…’?

Well, I played Good Samaritan this morning.

I noticed an abandoned bag on the bus. I thought I’d seen the girl get off about 2 or so stops before I had noticed it, and I was about to get off myself.

I thought for a moment ‘just give it to the bus driver?’ then I thought it’d probably just end up with him all morning and eventually end up wherever the depot is. In woopty woo, no doubt. Anyway, as a last moment decision, I took it with me. Figuring I would get in touch with her and she hopefully wouldn’t have to travel too far to get it.

When I got to work, I searched through the bag, and found the wallet (with moneyyyy. Yay*). There was no phone or any contact details- aside from her license with her address. The bag also contained her iPod, reading glasses, house keys, car keys and some sort of fancy swipey thing- probably to get into her work building and her water bottle… her water bottle?! Poor thing was probably dying of thirst! I was rushing to try and find a way to call her, as I could imagine how she must be feeling. I would be beside myself. Crying no doubt and getting even more thirsty.

I had no way of getting in contact with her… well aside from writing her a letter, which would take a while to get to her, being a Friday and all, and I wanted something quick. When I originally saw the bag, I thought I’d just get her phone out and call the contact named ‘work,’ ‘loving boyfriend’ or ‘mum’ or something similar but… no phone. No dice. I had her name but there were no business cards with her work number on it or anything like that.

I did what any savvy lady would do and googled her. Found her on facey and messaged her. She had a super private account, I am surprised I was even allowed to message her… But then I thought, maybe she’s running around like a headless chicken, would she really take the time to check her facebook messages?!

I then found a linkedin profile. I have no idea about that whole Linkedin buissnack, but it said someone with the same name as my mystery bag owner worked at a certain large company in the vicinity of where the mystery bag owner got off the bus. I googled the company and called the number but got the head office (God knows where)... I gave them my spiel (you know it? I typed it above, geez!). The receptionist was apprehensive but she put me through the mystery bag owners line. Bingo! I had to leave her a voice mail but I was secretly excited for how happy she’d be and how her faith in human kindness would be restored. Within 2 minutes I got a call back.

She was sooo happy, so thankful and then asked how I got her work number. I said I’d been sleuthing. Sleuthing?! I have never used that word in my life! Haha.

I told her why I didn’t just give the bag to the bus driver and that I saw her house and car keys were in there and thought of how big a hassle it would be for her. Seriously though?! Let's think about that for a minute, no house keys, no car keys, no wallet- so no money, no credit cards, bank cards… not even ID?! How would you get into your house or pay someone to change the locks?! Eeek. Someone out there has your license with your address, your house and car keys! I’d be freaking out!

When she came to pick the bag up, she tried to offer me a reward, ‘to buy yourself something’ she said, how sweet! I said I was happy with the good Karma and hoped if I ever lost my bag someone out there would do the same for me.

Would you do everything you could to get the bag back to its’ rightful owner?

*I kept the money, obviously. Gotta get something for a good deed done, amIrightoramIright?**.

** I kid, I kid! 

FYI:  no reply yet to my facebook message.

♡Missy

P.S- Thank you Tumblr, for the pictures.

Wednesday Whinge Fest

Boo and then hiss!

My Mum called my office this morning to let me know that the back room at home had a leaky roof situation last night/this morning… And of all the spots in the back room and of all the things in the back room, my laptop got wet! Saturated … Soaked to the Intel® Core even (ooh, good play on words there but just too soon, too soon).

My Mum already tried to turn it on, which is apparently a no-no, and it didn’t power up... I’m guessing that’s a bad sign- water and power not mixing so well, I suppose... Who knew?!…. I love my pink laptop. I really do. I’ll miss her…

I totally can’t even nearly afford a new laptop right now. Apparently May is Mayhem for me in the billing department… I have my car rego due, a seriously juicy electricity bill due and smaller but still ouchie gas bill also due. And then add on top of them, the usual monthly culprits such as my phone bill, Foxtel, my Myki pass, and my need to eat and nourish my body and feed my precious pets… Not to mention my usual impulse purchases! Dammit.

Also, my diet is totally out of control! I’ve gone mad. But that’s okay, I can undo damage done… but it won’t be fun. Detox off sugar starts tomorrow. Yay.

My Bindo Tattoo is going well… It’s a wee bit itchy but really not too bad at all. I think the healing process is almost complete. The colours are settling nicely.

It has been hard to keep it uncovered and I only had 3 pairs of shoes I could wear and 2 of them gave me bad blisters! I purchased 2 pairs of Rubi Loafers (black and also Leopard) and they’ve been not-so-fun to break in. I wore my Leopard print pair today and they did not stand up too well against the Melbourne rain. First my laptop and now my shoes!!! Damn you rain!! Grrrrr!

In other news... 

I built Dino a new home...

Home sweet Home

It was $99 from Aldi... and it was fun to put together... Look how cute it is!!! Dino doesn't like it though. He has a dog house phobia. He hates being enclosed. But when my mum renovates he wont have any shelter, so he needs to start getting used to it... I have been throwing tasty treats in there (beef liver to be precise) in the hope that he will feel comfy with it eventually. He refuses to set his back feet in there. Flat out refuses... He strains his neck so much to get the treats. It's hilarious and frustrating. I helped him in there (read: pushed, but gently, I swear) and he did a quick 3-point turn and hopped straight back out again. Come on Dino!!!! Look at it! I even put one of his beds in there and all of his toys. And wrote his name on there too!! Even a welcome mat?! What more could you want?! Really.

I also got him a new jumper, lookee;

Look at that face!

That is his stuffed bunny to the left and his bed to the right... It took months for him to sleep in that bed. He did everything to it but sleep in it. He used to move it all around the place, even flip it upside down and use it as a wind block but just refused to get on it. Again, frustrating. But he eventually gave in! 

Whenever I brush him, he runs and gets his black bunny and he grooms the bunny while I groom him. Too cute!!

I got myself this Chinese Japanese Lucky Cat... Hopefully to bring me some luck, obviously. 

Oops, Wikipedia tells me this is actually Maneki Neko, a Japanese tradition. 

Oh and P.S:

Unfortunately the Chemist warehouse near my work actually didn't stock Katy Perry Meow! Grrrr!! And the sales assistant directed me to go to MyChemist... I didn't know that Chemist Warehouse and MyChemist were related... but they are. You learn something new everyday! So, I haven't been able to add Meow! to my Perfumery Collection just yet... My want has not waned though. No Sir.

♡Missy