MAC Duo Image Compact Mirror review

I had been using a really old compact mirror to apply my make up for about... let's see... probably almost 10 years. I used to have a big mirror in my room but I never really used it much. You can never apply make up as well as when you look in a mirror closely, preferably sitting down. Now I was relatively happy with my old compact mirror, despite the fact that it was heartshaped, had a mouse on it and that it had nail polish all over it (I took it with me in a wash bag on vacation and it spilled).

I had been trying to find a new compact mirror for a while but I wasn't really sure what to look for. I love MAC even though I do not own that many of their products. I really liked the simple design of the mirror but I could not find any straightforward (or any for that matter!) reviews on it. Since it wasn't that expensive I decided to just take the leap - go to a MAC store and just get it. It couldn't suck more than my old mirror.

The verdict? The mirror definitely does not disappoint. The size is perfect, it fits in my hand palm but the mirrors itself are bigger than my older compact mirror. The top mirror shows your face in real life size, I guess you could say. The bottom mirror magnifies x2. Which I think is definitely more than enough to just apply make up with. Who wants to see their blemishes magnified 8 times anyway? The mirror does not come with a big if that's a problem for you - but I think it's sturdy enough to survive in most handbags. Overall, if you look for a nice and simple compact mirror, this is a good option.

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Essie first timer nailpolish - resort 2013 review

Essie First Timer nailpolish is part of the resort 2013 line. I really love green nailpolish and I got a bit sick of all the minty colours out there and fell in love with this one.

This nailpolish performed well, as I'm used to from Essie. It was pretty much 99% opaque after one coat but I like applying at least two coats to make everything look more even. I must say the nailpolish did not last too long on me, but I cooked and cleaned around the house a lot which contributes to the wear time of nailpolish.

Overall, I would recommend this nailpolish if you're looking for a minty green that's a bit more unusual.

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Banana pancakes with fruit

My ideal start of the day goes with a good and not so quick breakfast. On days when I have time to relax, I love taking the time to cook three really good meals. This is one of my favourite breakfasts and it's quite healthy too. The only ingredients you need are some bananas, eggs and olive oil. The rest is completely optional!

Now I can't take complete credit of this recipe since it's been a huge hit on health food blogs. Most recipes say to use about 2 eggs and one banana. I like to switch it up a little since I wanted my pancakes to taste more like banana and less like egg. You can play around with that ratio of course. There is no wrong way of making this, I guarantee this recipe is completely foolproof!

First, grab a small bowl and put your diced banana in it. Grab a fork and turn the bananas into a mash. Then crack one egg into the bowl and stir it through your banana mixture. Now I like the pancakes just as they are but you can also add a bit of sugar, sweetener and cinnamon.

Heat some olive oil in a pan for about a minute. Then cook the pancakes for about 3 minutes on each side or until they look golden. While the pancakes are cooking you have time to dice up some extra fruit to serve with the pancakes. I guarantee that these make a perfect summer breakfast!

Ingredient list (serves 1):

For the pancakes:

- 2 bananas

- 1 egg

- 1 tablespoon of olive oil

(makes about three pancakes)

To serve with the pancakes:

- 1 passionfruit

- handful of strawberries

- half a mango

- half a banana

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First post

About this blog

I've wanted to start my own blog for a long time after having followed so many myself. I love reading posts of other bloggers on numerous subjects such as fashion, beauty, skincare and food. I start my day reading blogs and I end my day with it as well. To be able to reach so many people (or maybe even a handful), sounds very rewarding to me.

I have put starting a blog off for a long time now. One of the reasons was that I wanted to commit to one subject (that I couldn't pick!) and one language (that I also couldn't pick!). Being Dutch myself, blogging in Dutch would be quite easy. For now I want at least the majority of my blog posts to be in English. Most products that I buy and test and clothes are available in multiple countries. Some products might not be, but in order to reach more people, blogging in English is kind of necessary.

On this blog I want to focus on multiple things such as make up, beauty, skincare, food and other lifestyle subjects. Please do not expect me to be some major fashionista or a beauty blogger with a huge beauty stash. I am also not the best chef you will ever encounter, but I do enjoy cooking and I do it every day.

I am not completely sure yet how I want the balance between these different subjects to be. It is something I will have to figure out along the way. Feedback is always welcome and if you have any questions or suggestions you can contact me at: closetandpantry [at] gmail [dot] com.

A little bit more about me

I'm Sarah, 22 years old and living in the Netherlands (alternating it with Sydney, Australia). I am currently finishing up my master's degree which basically is a social science degree directed towards the arts and culture sector. Other than that, I really enjoy travelling and the subjects I write about on my blog.

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