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Wednesday 30 April 2014

Here's to a fitter and healthier life!

Just before I fell pregnant with Niahbella, my life had changed around and I was starting to feel good about myself. 
I would go to the gym 5 times a week - these wouldn't be your 45mins to an hour workouts. I would spend 2-2.5hrs at the gym doing my own workout and then going into a class or doing a double class. 
I was eating so much more food then what I would have had when I was eating junk food and I was loosing weight! 

Balancing a proper good choice diet with the addition of supplements and having a good fitness exercise plan worked out I dropped 21kgs! 


At current I have gone back to the way I was feeling when I first went on a weight loss journey before being pregnant. 
I have no self confidence, I tend to walk fast when I go out to the shops or anywhere because I think that people won't have the time to see enough to make judgement on me, I feel that if I'm out in public all these eyes are stareing at me because of my weight, going past shop windows and seeing my reflection is horrible! 

I fell into the habit of saying I don't have time and that's the mistake and error that has got me into this mess. I do have the time, I can make time! 
I can put Niah into the pram for her morning nap and go for a walk. 
I could put on a fitness DVD and pop Niahbella in the jumperoo to laugh and clap on her mummy getting fit. 
I could do mummy & bubby fitness exercises where I use Niah as my weight for lunges, squats etc. or I could find a mum & bubs type fitness class.

Originally I had said give me 6-12 months and then we'll go for no.2, it's been 8 months since I've had Niahbella and I'm still doing nothing about my body so here is where I'm saying enough is enough; no more fatty bomba that has no self confidence! 

My diet is what is getting me here in the first place. 
I need to make better food choices and stop being a lazy fast food eater and picking the junky food snacks instead of picking up a piece of fruit or veg instead. 
Not only do I need to do this for myself but I need to be setting an example for Niahbella as she is watching what I have and being at the age where she is now eating solids and having proper food like mummy I need to be role modeling instead of giving her the good food whilst I sit their shoving my face with the junk. 
I'm not saying that I'm going to give up my beloved chocolate and fat foods altogether as I believe in moderation is fine and a treat now and the can't hurt. 

I'm going to find that willpower within me again and say goodbye self conscious mummy, goodbye to the shop runner who doesn't like going out in public mummy, goodbye to the junky unhealthy eater mummy! 

What I plan to bring to my blog is:
- progession shots 
- healthy reciepes
- product reviews 
- clothing wear recommendations/ reviews
- supplement recommendations/ reviews 
- online journal entries with how I'm feeling and progressing along
- budget meals
- healthier food choice comparisons 

I look forward to sharing my journey with you all. 

I'll leave you with some transformation shots of what I did on my last journey. 





Leave me a comment with things you might want me to try out, things that you think would work for me or if you just want to show some encouragement - all your comments help! 

Friday 25 April 2014

MOTHERS DAY GIVEAWAYS!!

MASSIVE MULTIPLE GIVEAWAYS

NJT Blogger has teamed up with some very special brands to give you the chance to win Mum something for Mother's Day or maybe you want to win it for yourself as you're a Mummy - either way we have some fabulous things for you to get your hands on!

Up for grabs are some exciting packs!!


A Facial Voucher from Beautician Chelsea in Mentone, Victoria.

A Gaia Skincare Hamper

Carmex pack

Natural Instincts Skincare pack

2 x The Cheesecake Shop vouchers

100ml Beyonce Rise Perfume

All you need to do is enter via the form below and winners will be randomly selected via Gleam. 
** Facial voucher is only valid in Mentone, Victoria. Winner of this prize only will need to be a resident of Victoria who can attend the salon. 
**Australia residents only sorry. 

Mothers Day Giveaways


Giveaway close on 5th May at midnight!


Don't forget to check out my other giveaways happening:


Wednesday 23 April 2014

Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music Giveaway


Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music
HOSTED BY CHELSEA PLUMLEY
Hamer Hall, Melbourne
Saturday, May 24

A fun event that is a worldwide phenomenon
Celebrating the most successful movie ever produced

Melbourne will again be alive to the Sound Of Music when everyone’s favourite Sing-A-Long performs at Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall on Saturday May 24 for 2 shows only

See the classic movie on the big screen, re-mastered to its original cinematic glory. Admit it, you know the words – and if you don’t there are song-sub-titles so EVERYONE can sing a-long! Sing-A-Long –A Sound of Music is an audience participation event where the host leads a vocal warm-up, gives a guide to the use of the interactive fun pack and accompanying actions and (with a little help from the audience) judges the Costume Parade - a highlight of the night that separates the die-hards from the dabblers!

Once again the very talented and charming Chelsea Plumley returns to hosting duties to guide the audience through what is an unforgettable interactive experience.

The Sound of Music features the most irresistible score in movie musical history, a cast of characters known to virtually everyone and includes a fan base that would be the envy of every movie producer. The result is  Sing-A-Long Sound of Music attracts an incredibly diverse audience ranging from young children to adults of all ages with hundreds of them dressing up to represent one of the many characters or song lyrics from the movie.

The costumes worn by the audience are truly inspiring. A sea of black and white will again flood the theatre foyer as fans eagerly dressed as nuns gather for the show and sing a few of their favourite songs. Audience members have dressed as anything and everything from the movie.... Maria, girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, Plumbers (Christopher Plummers!) the Alps, brown paper packages tied up with string, goats (with or without lonely goatherds), larks that are learning to pray – the possibilities are endless..... limited only by your imagination.

This is the epitome of an audience participation event.  As well as dressing the part, fans cheer on Julie Andrews, wolf-whistle Christopher Plummer, hiss the Baroness and boo the Nazis! And who could forget the glorious moment when Maria and the Captain finally kiss? Not to mention the experience of 2000 party poppers going off simultaneously as their lips touch!


So what are you waiting for? This is an hilarious night out where you are surrounded by like-minded fans of a truly memorable movie all looking for some good old fashioned fun.

VENUE: Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall
DATES: Saturday 24 May
START: 1.00pm and 7.30pm -  runs 4 hours approx. (including 20 Minute Interval)
PRICES: Adults $55 / Group (8 or over) $49 / Concession $45 / Family (2 Adults 2 Children) $155 /
Child (under 15) $35 transaction and booking fees may apply


NJT Blogger has 2x double passes to the Saturday 24th of May show at 1pm to giveaway - this would come at perfect timing for you to take Mum along for a Mother's Day prezzie!
**Melbourne show tickets only sorry.

Simple rafflecopter entry form as per below:

A Mothers Day Look with Benefit Cosmetics + Review

Benefit Cosmetics has been a long time cosmetic favourites that I have wanted to collect every single product piece they have out to add to my cosmetics collection.
The reason why I love Benefit Cosmetics is because they make using cosmetics so much more easier - they have a product piece for every little thing you need to create your look.

Although Benefit Cosmetics have a bit of a price tag to them you can tell that you are putting your hard earned money into quality makeup. Prior to doing this Mother's Day look I only had a few little samples of some of the range, a little kit and a high brow pencil (which is something I truly cherish because I would love to get a brow lift one day and this is helping me achieve that until I can afford to get one ahah!).

 

Lollitint - RRP *$55 for 12.5mL*
Candy-orchid tint treats lips & cheeks to a “pop” of dreamy sweetness. It’s the flirtiest flush you can get from a bottle…and its smudge-proof, smooch-proof color lasting from am to pm. Talk about stain power!
Lollitint is the newest cheek & lip stain addition to the Benefit Cosmetics family with it's light pale pink colouring, this is a perfect shade for all ladies! It's definitely something different for me using liquid as a blush/highlighter on my cheeks, I have used a liquid bronzer before but that was many years ago when I wasn't aware of what I was doing.

The lollitint does come out look purple to start with when you apply onto your cheeks or lips but don't be alarmed or fooled, as it settles into your skin as more of a light pale pink.
I like having a bronzer on so for me using lollitint on my cheeks was more for at the top of my bronzer, where the eye socket bone kind of is. As you can see in my picture above on the left where I would apply this - it's a very soft delicate colour and just the perfect blend in.

Then being this amazing multi-use product you can apply it to your lips as well. Featured in my picture above on the right is a picture with the lollitint and without for comparison. Lollitint not only gave my lips a stained pink shade it made them look more plump as well, I don't know if that's what it's also meant to do but that's what happened with me. Although the full stain colour didn't stay for the whole day for me as it said it should I really do think I have fallen in lip with lip stains now - I'm not much of a lipstick wearing person because of how easily it comes off and because I hate leaving marks on my daughter who gets smooched all the time from me! Lollitint is also great for being a lip product that doesn't mark and come out during those make out sessions haha!





They're Real! Mascara - *RRP $38*
They're real! lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!

To be honest when I first used They're Real! I didn't see the hype about what everyone was on about because... I wasn't applying it properly! Now that I have gotten some expert tips from the Benefit Cosmetics team I have that false lash look going on with my own lashes! 
The key things to remember when applying They're Real! is - Position wand horizontally - wiggle from side to side, base to tip. Position wand vertically now - stroke up and down which helps to separate the lashes and give them a little bit of a curl. Always have the wand vertically to get into those little corner lashes to give real definition to your lashes!

As you can see above in the pictures when my eyes are closed they are a very dramatic black that give the look of false lashes. Now that I know how to best do my lashes with They're Real! mascara I don't think I could purchase anything other then Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara for my lashes. 









Big Beautiful Eyes - *RRP $59*
This portable kit is all you need to conceal, contour and line your eyes like a pro. Included brushes and illustrated makeup lesson shows you how in just 4 steps!

I love any easy kits which compact everything into one piece for easy carting around and to give you that model look where ever you go. I have another kit which is the Finding Mr. Bright, more of a face brightening kit but I just adore it. 

Big Beautiful Eyes in as eye contouring kit - it has your concealer, base shadow, contour shadow and liner shadow. To me this is like a light smokey eye look. The colours of the shadows are very pigmented and only need to be swiped on once for the beautiful shades to be left beaming from your eyelids.  I like that they are light shades because I'm not much of a bright eye shadow person, I don't think I can pull off the bright colours - or maybe it's that I don't know how to wear them properly haha. 
The liner that you use from this Big Beautiful Eyes kit is a dark brown eyeshadow and is applied to the upper lids and lower lids. I really enjoy using eyeshadow as a liner because it's way easier to remove and fix up when you have done a mistake. 

(Excuse the photos above of the kit - I couldn't wait to have a play around with it before taking a photo when it arrived.)





















Total Moisture Facial Cream - *RRP - $57*
Say good-bye to dry skin and hello to "total moisture." This facial cream provides concentrated immediate & long-term hydration for a radiantly refreshed complexion. Our exclusive tri-radiance complex helps develop the skin's reserves of water & reinforce skin's moisture barrier. Contains mango butter, a natural plant-based emollient known to provide moisture. For normal to dry skin.

Can I just say - Best moisturiser I have used... EVER! This moisturiser spreads and applies onto the skin like a good primer would, it has a matte feel to it on application and it really does immediately 'feed' your skin of that hydration that it needs. It has got a nice refreshing light scent but I can't seem to pin my finger on exactly what the scent is or smells similar too. 

I am very pedantic on my face care regime and moisturising is always done daily - twice daily in-fact! Upon waking and before going to sleep. It is imperative to look after your skin if you want clear good looking skin and by adding in something so simple to use like the Total Moisture Facial Cream really shows great benefit to your skin and will be thanking you later. 

My skin is normally a very dry sensitive combination and by having such a caring product like Total Moisture Facial Cream it leaves me nothing to worry about during the whole day - my face stays moisturised and well looked after without having that dryness sneak through half way through the day. 



And this is the finished look for A Mother's Day look with Benefit Cosmetics.

  • Apply Total Moisture Facial Cream liberally over your face and allow to dry. 
  • Apply Big Beautiful Eyes - take the concealer and put under your eyes with the supplied brush, use your finger to blend into skin, take the light shimmer shade and apply as the base coat to your lids, take the medium shimmer shade and apply a little at the end of your eyelid and then work into the crease going up to your brow bone, then take the darkest brown shade and use as a liner on the top lid and about half way into your lower eyelid. 
  • Apply They're Real! Mascara to both eyelash sets - horizontally and vertically with the wand.
  • Apply Lollitint to your lips by brushing over both the upper and lower lip with the brush applicator and then rub both lips together to spread itself out - if needed use your finger to move around where needed.
  • Apply Lollitint to your cheeks - either spread across or do three little blobs and then work into your skin with your finger.

This look is my going out look - if I am heading out to an event or to see friends. 

I look forward to trying out more of the range and creating more looks for you all. 
Benefit Cosmetics are definitely a brand that I have high up on my list and I recommend you take a look into. 

Purchase your Benefit Cosmetics in Australia from Myer - http://www.myer.com.au/benefit/

**RRP have been taken from Myer website as of 23/4/2014**

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Pamper Mum with The Body Shop


Home Pampering is always something we love getting done even if you're not a Mum - take home some gorgeous products this Mother's Day for Mum so she can enjoy again and again.
The Body Shop have all sorts of luxury products that make up a salon in your own home!

Instead of buying Mum a voucher to a salon - bring the salon to Mum and give your hands a treatment whilst you give Mum a foot scrub, facial or massage. The Body Shop doesn't just end with 1 treatment that will last the 45 minutes, the products to have at home will come in handy for multiple uses and keeps giving.


Nutriganics Drops Of Youth - *RRP $59.95 for 30mL* 
Certified organic range and has been created for the first signs of ageing. This innovative concentrate helps to enhance surface skin condition, leaving it looking smoother, fresher and healthier.
  • Helps enhance surface skin condition 
  • Smoothes 
  • Instantly moisturising 
  • 99% of ingredients are of natural origin 
The Body Shop products all have unique scents that just blow your senses. Nutriganics is a fresh scented product that comes in a glass dropper bottle. Upon application this will leave your skin wet, it will need a few moments to soak into your skin and dry up itself. 
Although this product will take quite some time to be able to see the benefits of helping with the ageing process, Nutriganics Drops Of Youth moisturised my skin within minutes if not seconds and definitely did make it feel smoother. 

Honeymania Body Butter - *RRP $27.95 for 200mL*
Is a luxurious Body Butter has a rich, floral scent. Each pot contains Community Fair Trade honey made from the nectar of thousands of wildflowers. Dip in for skin that feels silky soft.
  • 24-hour hydration 
  • Leaves skin feeling softer and smoother 
  • Buttery texture 
  • Rich, floral scent
Honeymania Body Butter is like the best kind of butter - It's the Western Star butter, the best and my favourite butter! Honeymania Body Butter is very silky and smooth, it comes out like pure butter as well. This would have to be the thinnest body butter I have ever had come onto my skin. Immediately it made my skin feel like newborn baby skin - it was soooo soft and was a nice soft floral scent left behind. I do think that the floral scent overpowers the honey scent though because I can't really smell any kind of honey scent from it.  


Colour Crush Lipsticks - *RRP $23.95 for 3.5g*
Fall in love with lip smacking colour with our new Colour Crush™ Lipstick, this super nourishing lipstick collection is made from the finest quality crushed pigments and each colour is 100% cruelty free, 100% vegetarian and 100% high impact! 

  • High-impact colour 
  • Rich moisture 
  • Infused with a subtle rose scent
Out of the many (22 shades to be exact) of lipsticks that The Body Shop have I tried out shades: 230 - Rush of Pink and 101 - Red Siren. The Body Shop's lipsticks are very bold in colour making those lips pop. Smooth and moisturising on your lips, it almost feels like you've only got lip gloss on as it's that silky on the lips. I can smell a scent on the lipsticks I tried out, but I wouldn't say that I could smell a rose scent, although the scent I am picking up is very hard to describe. 


Vanilla Eau De Toilette - *RRP $23.95 for 30mL*
For all the classic Vanilla lovers, get a fix of your favourite scent in an eau de toilette format.
  • Light and wearable 
  • warm, seductive scent 
  • Contains vanilla extract
I love Vanilla - vanilla in anything just makes you want to pick that over anything. This little eau de toilette is the perfect little size to have in your handbag or small clutch purse. It has a gorgeous pure vanilla scent that really gets your senses going and leaving you smelling like you've spent the afternoon bathing in a million vanilla beans.

Indian Night Jasmine Perfume Oil - *RRP $19.95 for 15mL*
Escape to India with night jasmine. A concentrated perfume oil infused with Indian Night Jasmine. This seductive, feminine blend of floral and oriental accords was inspired by a moonlit night in a Mughal garden.
  • Oriental scent 
  • Alcohol-free 
  • Layer with other Indian Night Jasmine products to build the fragrance
I've never used perfume oils before so this was a first for me. I remember when I was younger that I would see my Mum pop on a little stick thing on her neck from her perfumes so this would be a perfect treat for my Mum as I know she loves oils. 
This Jasmine is just a warm soothing smell that isn't too strong - it's just the right amount to pop a bit on your wrist and neck. This is another small little cute compact bottle that really is handy to be able to take out with you in a small carry bag. 

Monday 21 April 2014

A Mother's Day Look with Arbonne + Review


Arbonne is a massive deal and has been quite the hype within a lot of ladies lives these days - young and older.
This was the first time that I experienced Arbonne and thought I would put together a little piece/look/review on them with Mother's Day coming up.

First of all let me give you some background information on Arbonne.
Arbonne is a vegan cosmetic, skincare and supplement company that have a wide range of products suitable to anyone looking for a more natural and pure approach to their daily uses. 

I was sent out 3 products from the massive cosmetics range of products that Arbonne have to offer to put to the test and give a Mother's Day look, here's my thoughts on the products:

 Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation SPF 15 - Neutral Beige *RRP $56.00 for 30mL*
Multitasking liquid foundation with skin-firming properties helps lift the appearance of facial contours, smooth and even skin tone, while providing sun protection. 

Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation is a lightweight foundation that didn't weigh down my face nor show a 'caked' up look. This foundation for me with something I did like for colouring on my skin. I like to go a little bit darker then my actual skin tone and then blend it into my neck to make it look a little more natural on my skin. 
I did find this foundation to be of a dewy texture though. Although it left a beautiful skin kissed look, it would mark on anything that it touched for example - I was always finding it on my little girls clothes; which was a little disappointing as I tend to steer clear of foundations that do that. I added a little finishing powder on top and it did help get rid of some of the dewy finish. 




Arbonne Triple Action Mascara - *RRP $44 for 7.9g*
Defines, lengthens and volumises lashes to the fullest with a smudge-resistant, long-wearing formula. 

Triple Action Mascara wasn't something I liked to start off with as it wasn't what I was used to with my other current mascara - I like thick volume filled lashes that are big and bold. I kept giving Arbonne's Triple Action Mascara a fair trial go and I actually grew to like the subtle yet long individual lashes the mascara would leave. It is sort of a thick textured mascara when it comes out on application so I would run a lash comb through my lashes after application just to ensure no little clumps would be left on my lashes. 
This mascara is a perfect fit for anyone who likes light make-up looks and doesn't want much make-up on I would say. I loved wearing this mascara when I was just running out to do a few errands - chucking on some light powder foundation and then having this mascara was just enough to make me feel comfortable to head out and be ready in no time. 
























Arbonne Lip Polish in Posh - *$37 for 5.9mL*
Luscious lip polish glides on silky smooth and delivers superior shine without the stickiness. 

Arbonne's Lip Polish was a gorgeous light and an any occasion shade that really is versatile and goes with anything. I did find it to be pretty sticky on first application though and then it kind of settled down after a little time passing. It was the perfect amount of shine and really made them lips pop. 
This lip polish is the perfect small size to carry in any little handbag on a day or night out. 


Here is my Mother's Day look courtesy of Arbonne (picture above). With the picture featured above it will give you a real feel for the colouring and how it will apply to your skin.

  • Apply the Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation with a stippling brush in circular motions to push the foundation onto your skin into a nice even spread. 
  • Apply the Arbonne Triple Action Mascara to both eyelash sets - working up and down, wiggle and brush. 
  • Apply the Arbonne Lip Polish in Chic to those lips. (I first coat my lips with a basic lip care product before I start my makeup routine to ensure I have nicely nourished lips before I apply a lip colour.)

I love this look and is my normal everyday look at current, thanks to Arbonne.

After using these 3 Arbonne products I would really be keen to try out more from their range. They are fabulous products but do come with a little bit of a price tag to them. 

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