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Monday, 2 September 2013

Gok Loves Target

Today I attended my first Target blogging event and wow! It was just amazing, everything is just so beautifully done! Being pregnant and in my hungry stages now I could not take my eyes away from the buffet table they had for us afterwards.
Presentation on the buffet tables

Afternoon Tea treaties for us lucky bloggers
The event was held at The Point right along the gorgeous waterside of Albert Park (divine place). The canapés were delicious and so yummy!  The Point is this gorgeous place that would be amazing to get married in. (Check it out if your hunting wedding spots in Melbourne)

 I've always been a Target girl - I've never really shopped in all those other fashion stores as I always struggled with my weight and couldn't fit nicely into those fashion stores that all my friends would shop at which is really hard on you when you go have a day with the girls. It really ate at my self esteem.
Target was where my Mum would get the whole family clothed in ever since young days! 
The greatness of a huge department store is you can put clothes on the backside of everyone in the one shop! 
To this day I still shop at Target - my maternity clothes have all mostly been from Target as I believe they make the best fit to a pregnant lady. I have tried other department stores maternity wear and it just isn't the same.. not as good quality and not to a proper fit either!
Dan & I also shop there not only for him but for our little darling whose soon to arrive also. I think each time I go into Target with Dan he has to steer me away from the clothes not only the cute baby ones but for myself.  At the moment their isn't much of a variety for maternity wear so I like to admire the trends and fashion by browsing through the racks when I go into Target.

At the blogging event today with Target we had a special guest Gok who has teamed up with Target and has become a style and quality ambassador.
Gok Wan who I first saw on TV as the stylist for How To Look Good Naked - my gosh! Dedication out to those ladies as I have those lumps and bumps and couldn't do a nude photo shot.

This collaboration with Gok is very exciting! As you will have seen on TV, in store and through other advertising Gok is having 'Gok Loves'. This has started with the ladies wear but will also be going into Menswear, Childrenswear, Footwear, Accessories and Homewares. 
I read that each month Gok will be doing a new 'Gok Loves' pieces, can't wait to see what Gok Loves! 

Target really is a full shopping experience in the one store which you can go to at a affordable price with quality for your money. Target is really stepping up and are trying to get more and more different buyers in and not just the boys who want something for a BBQ. 
It was stated by Gok that in the next 12-24 months you will see a real difference in stores. 
Gok presenting and chatting to us
Today was a really good insight for me to see what Gok thinks of fashion and what he has an eye for. 
I loved that Gok said Maternity wear and Plus Size wear will come more into the fashion sector and will be looked after. When I was in a bigger size I hated having to look into the plus size section and would always try to squeeze myself into the 'normal' sized clothing just because there wasn't a nice range for the plus size. 
Maternity Wear I think Target already do well but I would love to see more designs, patterns, colours and more choice from them as I know the next few years as my Dan has advised me I will be a baby making machine whilst we get all our kids out of the way now haha!!
Target models
Gok was asked 'What things do women get wrong in fashion?' and his response was that what women get wrong is they dress for someone else instead of themselves. You might dress to the trend, to what your friends are wearing or what you think your boyfriend will like but ultimately you need to dress for you! You have got to embrace and understand what you are picking as the clothes you wear are telling who you. 
Gok was also asked 'What things do Australian women get right over the rest of the world in fashion?' and his response was that there is such a huge divide between casual wear women to the women who really take care and really want to present themselves. Gok said it was such a positive thing that Australian women are honest on what they are comfortable about in their fashion. 

Gok's 5 things we can't live without this season:

  1. Collared shirts
  2. Straight jeans
  3. Flats
  4. Disconnected and unusual clothing pieces that you can dress up or down. 
  5. 7/8s trousers - the pants that are in-between the capres and cigarette cuts. 
Gok's unliked trends:
  1. 70s look - ditsy prints and clashing colors as its not a style for everyone. 
  2. Futuristic type clothing. 
Gok stated that by being a stylist you have to appreciate every style their is and what people maybe into even if you don't like it. 

Goks recommendation for colors this season:
Gok advised that their isn't really colors anymore. Which is partly to do with the high end fashion - the retailers as there is all different designers and so much space to fill on the shelves now. 
Before colors for seasons used to be decided on piecing together their range of collections and then noticing the trend throughout the collections and for example say every collection had a blue in it - they would say okay well Blue is the color for this season. 
But if Gok had to choose he said Black and the Musky Yellow for this season. 

A gorgeous dress that was on a mannequin at todays event

Goks want in the direction of fashion:
Gok wanted their to be de-sexulisation  and for there to be quality for kids.
Gok believes that kids aren't getting quality and aren't being thought about. (I didn't realise it until Gok mentioned it but he is right. There isn't much out their for the kids that you can say yup that's the best brand and was such of quality.) 
Gok wants there to be more fun and for fashion to be steered away from sex (as we can all see in the celebrities on TV at the moment). 

Loved this setup with Gok's poster!

Target... Uhh Uhhh Targ'et

To view the current 'Gok Loves' click below:

BIRTHDAY BOY!!


A quick little share on my blog for my main man DANIEL! 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!! 


You have been a blessing to have come into my life. I seriously did not imagine my life to be where I am at today, but I am super happy with where it is! 
Cannot wait until our baby girl comes out and the family has really started. 
I love you to the stars and back x infinity!!


Birthday Boy Daddy Dan giving his baby girl kisses & cuddles on his birthday this morning. 

38/39 weeks

I'm in the stages where I could only describe it as my worst stages of pregnancy. 
I am moaning and groaning day in, day out to Dan, to my friends, to sookbook facebook hehe! 
Everyone always says wait until your in the last stages... well I know what they mean. I am constantly begging baby to come out and telling Dan I want her out, I'm over being pregnant. 
My stomach is so stretched, my feet are sore in a short period of time of being on them, my bladder seems to constantly need emptying, I get sharp pains down there with bubs pushing on the cervix that make me do these crazy little dances in the middle of shopping centres trying to not squeal in pain as I cross my legs, my back hurts, my bodys weak, I can barely get up, I don't sleep well at night, I get uncomfortable lots, my boobs are getting bigger & bigger... 
It's never ending! I am so sulky over it and I know.. some Mums have had several kids but I've got to be cut some slack as this is my first and I have no idea what to expect and as much as people tell you their experiences and what it felt like for them - it will always be different for each person. 

 Right now I am what seems like constantly eating... Dan says its because now baby has fully developed she is just bulking in there. As long as this extra carbs and food are going to babys weight and not mine then hey I'm fine with that... haha! But fat chance it is!!

 My original given due date was the 7th of September - this Saturday!! But as I got pushed back awhile ago with a second due date of 12th September - that means next Thursday... 
How does this all work? How can doctors or ultrasound people confirm when your baby is suppose to be due? To me it just doesn't make sense, If I was due originally the 7th of September how can they push me out almost another week and then say you are 40 weeks as of the 12th September and then we give you another 10 days on top of that and will plan to get baby out after due date??? What if I really am 40 weeks this Saturday? Then I will be going into week 42 with a baby still inside me??

 My hips as I have blogged about before are both pinned from a sporting injury back when I was in primary school, they have been hurting for awhile now and send sharp pains up my sides and back at times. When I discussed this with my doctor when we first found out about bubs she was really good about it and said we will just have to see how you go further down the track and then look at what to do.
Now when I had my appointment with the midwife last Thursday even after explaining I have my hips pinned and this could be causing me more bad then good with the pregnancy he started talking about its normal as your hips are preparing for pregnancy blah blah blah... you can take pain killers if it gets really bad and yadah yadah but I don't think he was really understanding what I was trying to tell him! 
Sometimes I can barely sit on the toilet because I'll start to get pains in my hip! 
It scares me with the unknown for if I will be able to deliver naturally or if I will have to get a c-section. I really hope a c-section doesn't need to come about as I really don't want to get a epidural not only because I hate needles but because I want to try all natural and I have always been against medicines, injections etc etc. I'm a bit of a hippie. Although in saying I am against those sorts of things doesn't mean I won't vaccinate my kids - they will be vaccinated right up until they are able to make their own grown up decisions at the legal action. 

 I also hate the unknown of when baby will come... I don't like this waiting game... 
Hopefully she arrives soon though as Dan & I can't wait to hold our little creation and I am sure there is lots of you waiting to meet her wither it be in real life or via the photos on my blog :)


Pizza Masterclass

I am so late on posting this little blog but I thought enough is enough this Pizza Masterclass must go up as I have taken so much knowledge back from the class that needs to be shared!

About a 4 weeks ago on a Tuesday night I was taken along to a Pizza Masterclass to learn more about Woolworths, Perfect Italiano, Leggos, Dan Murphys, Bakers Delight and Bertocchi. 

Blogger Erin and myself in our aprons ready to cook!

For Dan & I we started off as pizza buyers on a weekly basis usually Friday nights when we didn't have our own house and then it turned into a Sunday night we would buy pre-made frozen or deli pizzas from the shop and heat them up... These 2 methods for pizza are no more! Dan & I are fresh little homemade pizza eaters ever since Pizza Masterclass and have now converted our pizza night to a Tuesday (same day in which I attended Pizza Masterclass).

I got to meet and chat with if not one but a few representatives from each of the following:
Woolworths, Perfect Italiano, Leggos, Dan Murphys, Bakers Delight and Bertocchi. 


Under Woolworths I got to meet Jim a Mushroom Farmer who had so much to tell us about Mushrooms, if you ever had any question about mushrooms - Jim would be your man! 
He advised us and you all must take this information on board and please do this in your own kitchen - DO NOT PEEL YOUR MUSHIES! Why? Because all the nutrients and vitamin D are found in the skin in-fact they help prevent breast cancer in ladies and prostate cancer in gentlemen. 

All you need to do is give them a wash over under water and off you go, no peeling necessary. 
I've always wondered how they got away with packaging the mushrooms in cut up slices with skin on and now the answer has been given!
Most of you are probably thinking but we need to get that skin off because mushrooms sit in shit... To clarify Woolworths mushrooms 'do not sit in shit', Woolworths get there mushrooms from farmers who grow them in straw. 
http://www.woolworths.com.au/



Also the supplier of all the delicious salamis, hams, bacon etcs are Bertocchi who had quite a huge range for us bloggers to dig into and discuss with us.  The representative discussed how they cured the meat and gave us more insight into those meats. 
I haven't seemed to have been a fan of those kinds of deli meats since I got pregnant but I braved out on trying something different and had a chilli salami - WOW! What that something, it had a little kick to it but wasn't very over powering that it would make you run for the milk. 

If you're a bit of the chilli lover then definitely recommend you sink your teeth into some Bertocchi Chilli Salami!
http://www.bertocchi.com.au/


I learnt that there is a company who have made it simple for you - simple to be able to just throw the right blends of cheese already grated for you onto those pizzas! 
I have never used Perfect Italiano and they are always on our shopping list now - they just make it so much more simpler when it comes to pizza nights for us and have fallen in love with their brand purely for convenience!
Perfect Italiano have a made the perfect blend of Mozzarella, Cheddar & Parmesan cheeses in one handy grated packet. This cheese melts to perfect without going oily and gives you those gorgeous cheese strings you want to see from a well done pizza! 
If you havent already seen there massive range of pre-prepared cheeses for you then check them out next time you're in the store!
http://perfectitaliano.com.au/


I'm sure you have all heard of Leggos and seen them develop hugely as of recently or maybe that is just me and I have taken more notice of them lately. 
Leggos have a huge range of sauces and even went into having a one pan sachet dinner which my Dan loves might I add. 
Leggos Squeeze pizza sauce makes it so much easier in the kitchen when you have your own pizza masterclass with those little muchkins - allowing them to easily squeeze out sauce instead of having to spoon out the sauce from a jar.
http://leggos.com.au/



Did you know that Bakers Delight can make fresh pizza bases for you? I didn't until I had this Pizza Masterclass. Bakers Delight freshly make pizza bases that you can order for any day that suits you! 
Nothing can compare to how good the pizza bases are freshly done from Bakers Delight - I now order mine every week  for our pizza night. 

They are available in full size or mini size - white or wholemeal. I only just tried the wholemeal this week and although it does brown darker then the white it was just as tasty, but I did find I was fuller quicker - which was a good thing though as it catered me for lunch the next day too hehe.
http://www.bakersdelight.com.au/


Although I wasn't able to taste any of the special catering that Dan Murphy's brought along for the night they need a mention as this is always where you get the lowest prices for your special shall we say... soothers ;P

The setup on the Pizza Masterclass preparation tables.
Our chefs for the night showing us how best to make pizzas.
My freshly made pizza!

'A Nikita Special Pizza'

Ingredients: 
Leggos Pizza Squeeze Sauce
Woolworths Spinach Leaves
Woolworths Mushrooms (skin on)
Anchovies 
Woolworths Cherry Tomatoes
Perfect Italiano Pizza Plus Cheese
Perfect Italiano Ricotta

Blogger Erin and I with one of the chefs (and of course that baby bump of mine)

And I'll leave you with some shots of Dan & my creations:
Our little set up for making homemade pizzas
Dan at work with Leggos Squeeze Pizza Sauce on his Bakers Delight Pizza Bases
Dan's shredded ham & bacon pieces topped and based with Perfect Italiano Pizza Plus Cheese
My spinach, mushroom, tomato, anchovies pizza! Yes I'm the anchovies girl!
Dan's pizza afterwards on our new Leggos Pizza Pan
My after pizza 
Giving the Perfect Italiano Perfect Bakes Cheese a whirl.


Sunday, 1 September 2013

Eczema Awareness Week


Eczema Awareness Week – 2 to 8 September 2013

As we all know I am a long time sufferer of eczema and it never has gone away for me. I continuously get it returning unfortunately but I will take whatever measures I need to try and avoid the bad flare ups that get me scratching and scratching until I am bleeding. 
For as long as I can remember I used to wish on my birthday candles, those dandelions in the garden, my chicken wish bones and any other thing that allowed you a wish - that I would get rid of eczema and it would never come back again. 
In this post I will pass on some helpful tips that are given by Dermatologist - Dr Ann-Maree Kurzydlo in best management ways to deal with your eczema and there is not one that I do not agree with.


Managing Eczema Flare-Ups This Spring

The onset of spring means breaking out the skirts and putting away winter woollies. But for some this seasonal change can also cause hay fever and eczema-flare-ups. Many people therefore find it necessary to take proactive steps with their skin care routines in this period to minimise the occurrence of flare-ups.

In most cases eczema first develops in children under 5 years of age and approximately 1 in 5 children have some form of eczema. Though the majority of kids with eczema no longer have outbreaks by the time they reach their mid teens, it may linger into adulthood.

“A key part of managing eczema is to establish a daily skin care routine that preserves the skin barrier and reduces inflammation,” says Dermatologist Dr Ann-Maree Kurzydlo. “Ideally, this should be adopted all year round but is particularly important in September when seasonal environmental changes occur and we see a rise in the incidences of eczema flare-ups among adults.”

For those prone to eczema, take proactive steps this season with the following tips from Dermatologist, Dr Ann-Maree Kurzydlo:

1.       Take short, warm baths or showers, not long and hot, as hot water dries the skin.
2.       Use soap free and fragrance free products. Soap strips oil from the skin and fragrance irritates eczema prone skin.
3.       Avoid shampoo running over the body as much as possible when washing hair. Shampoo is full of detergents and other irritants which may worsen an eczema outbreak.
4.       Apply a good moisturiser regularly and liberally after a bath or shower to help maintain skin barrier. Use moisturisers meant for sensitive skin or those made for eczema prone skin such as Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Moisturiser.
5.       Wear cotton clothing as much as possible rather than synthetics or wool.
6.       Choose beauty products and sunscreens carefully. Look for products labelled “low irritancy” or “hypoallergenic” as hypoallergenic means the ingredients in the product are less likely to activate allergies.
7.       When experiencing an eczema breakout avoid scrubs, exfoliating washes and toners, which are irritating. Do not use loofahs.
8.       Eczema sufferers and those with sensitive skin should avoid products containing triclosan (an antibacterial agent), preservatives, and stronger concentrations of glycolic acids.

And when choosing cosmetics:

1.       Avoid waterproof cosmetics as these require heavy duty cleansers that contain solvents to remove them. These cleansers also remove oil, dry the skin and cause more irritation.
2.       In general, choose cosmetics which contain as few ingredients as possible. The fewer ingredients, the less likely you are to have a problem with the product.
3.       For lipsticks, avoid long lasting lip colour. Ingredients in long wearing lip products are more likely to cause an allergic reaction.
4.       Use pencil eyeliner rather than liquid. Pencil is usually wax based and liquid eyeliner may contain latex which irritates allergies.
5.       In general, black eyeliner and mascara are the least allergenic.
6.       Earth toned eye shadows (tan, cream, white and beige) are less irritating than darker colours because they have less colour pigment. Avoid glitter.
7.       In general, face powders have fewer ingredients and fewer preservatives because they don’t normally contain water, so they are a better choice for those with sensitive or eczema prone skin.

In conjunction with the Eczema Association of Australasia Inc, Cetaphil® RESTORADERM™ is a proud sponsor of Eczema Awareness Week which will be taking place Australia-wide on 2-8 September 2013.

About Cetaphil® RESTORADERM™
Developed by dermatologists for eczema sufferers, the advanced formulations and patented technology of Cetaphil® RESTORADERM™ work to help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier and protect it against dryness.



STEP 1 – Cleanse: Cetaphil® RESTORADERM™ Skin Restoring Body Wash ($19.99 RRP) is formulated to help soothe itchy, dry, sensitive skin, while restoring moisture as it gently cleanses. This creamy, emollient rich, soap-free body wash contains skin-nourishing oils which nurture dry skin and help replenish skin barrier function. The innovative Skin Restoring Body Wash & Moisturiser formulas include filaggrin breakdown products – proteins which have both been shown to be depleted in eczema  sufferers.

Cetaphil as we all know is a well known brand for those with eczema, dermatitis or seek that help with dry skin. Something I have always struggled with Cetaphil is the smell of their products... Cetaphil RESTORADERM Skin Restoring Body Wash I found to be an off putting smell, as soon as I put this onto my hands and rubbed it into my body I was hit with this smell that was really pungent on my nose and had to put my normal body wash over the top of it unfortunately just to mask the smell, but the benefits of the product make the smell well worth it. 
It comes out looking like milk thats very silky and shiny. 
It doesn't really lather up it more so just coats your skin in the milk like body wash. 

Step 2 – Moisturise: Cetaphil® RESTORADERM™ Skin Restoring Body Moisturiser ($25.99 RRP) is a rapid and long lasting moisturiser to help relieve itchy, dry, sensitive skin. This light, creamy, non-greasy moisturiser provides intensive hydration to help restore skin barrier function. The ceramide technology in Cetaphil® RESTORADERM™ Moisturiser works to put moisture back into skin, deeply moisturising layers of the epidermis – an essential factor in reducing the itchy and painful effects of eczema.

Cetaphil RESTORADERM Skin Restoring Body Moisturiser was a gem. I always apply moisturiser to my skin as it dries out so quickly with my eczema. 
I really like that this product has a handy little pump lid to easily get some of the much needed cream out onto your skin. You can just get straight to applying the cream onto your skin instead of having to fit to put a lid back on with one hand like other products. 
Cetaphil is a highly recommended product and can be a quick fix for you if you suffer eczema as you don't need a prescription and can buy over the counter. 
There is no maximum amount of times you can use this product so as soon as you need it - pump away!
Cetaphil is a very gentle brand that looks after and cares for your skin and I would recommend this to anyone who suffers these sorts of skin conditions. 

www.cetaphil.com.au
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