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Sunday, 9 March 2014

Study Ready with Officeworks

'Officeworks encourage you to create a comfortable workspace that inspires great work and sets you up for your what will hopefully be your best year yet at Uni!
Officeworks offers stylish stationery perfect for students wanting products that look good and do the job.'

Officeworks has always been a place I like to shop at for any of my stationery needs and it also was the place I used to do all my coping and printing before I purchased my own printer for study purposes.
Being a full time mummy now all my studying is done through correspondence as I want to be with my little miss Niah as much as I can. Studying from home would have to be the hardest way to learn for me - I really need someone there to kick my butt and tell me to do work otherwise I get side tracked.

Something that encourages me to study is having organisation and a nice enticing setup for where I will spend endless hours busting my head with information so Officeworks sent me a little gift voucher to help get me study ready for 2014.

I was sent out a $50 voucher to help my desk space - I was tested to be able to spend just a $50 voucher and with me in a stationery store was like a kid in a candy store. I want everything and unfortunately couldn't stick to the $50 task and went a little... well a lot into my own pocket but I'm hoping this post will help you all in finding some good products to help you with your study space like they have for me.

I got:
  • 3M Neon Post-It Sticky notes pk.3 for $5.67
  • B2P Pens $3.19 each
  • Mesh pencil cup $5.46
  • Vertical file holder $13.50
  • Purple frames pk.3 for $4.99
  • Mixed tub all-sorts stationery favours $4.99
  • Clear case holder $5.14
  • Scotch 3M magic tape Stiletto Shoe dispenser $19.96
    • TOTAL = $62.90 for desk items.
(I also got a storage hard drive which was 2TB for $95 - so thats why I said 'a lot into my own pocket' above)
Photo feature products: 
vertical file holder, mixed stationery tub, neon post-its, mesh pencil cup, B2P pens and shoe magic tap dispenser. 

Everyone needs post-it notes and if you don't have them then I honestly ask you - where is your head at? Post-it notes are my saviour in the stationery world. Important notes not just for studying but for my every day life will get jotted down on them to remind me to do things as I am the worst at remembering things!

I love shoes and anyone who knows me on a good personal level will know that I have too many shoes for my own good. Sometimes I am that guilty person who buys shoes because they look nice and never wear them because 'they're too nice'.
I couldn't help myself when I saw this... $19.96 for it was expensive but I just had to have it! It suited me to a T.

Getting to mix and match a tub of 'all-sorts' stationery favours was a great little idea! I got quite a few things within my tub that will come in very good use (as pictured above).
You can get cute, bright and different pieces of erasers, clips, magnets etc to fill these tubs.

These photo frames I just couldn't go past! They are bright, bold and different! They are like a little box frame. 3 frames for $4.99 is a fantastic price although the pack I picked up had a chip in the glass and cracked frame.


Now this is something that I really loved finding in Officeworks and something that I am very supportive of! B2P pens (Bottle 2 Pen pens). Yes, they're recycled and made from plastic bottles!! Can you believe it? When I saw these I actually brought quite a few because I loved the concept of them and how they are helping the recycle and are refillable with ink!

Upon my shop through Officeworks they had walls dedicated to a colour coded assistance of supplies!
They are always so well stocked, easy to access products and clean. The only floor I could spot in my local store was that they aren't so pram friendly when they put their middle attraction products out for display.

At such affordable prices - why would you need to shop anywhere else?

www.officeworks.com.au

Officeworks have even hooked me up with another $50 giftcard to giveaway to a lucky reader/follower - 
All you need to is fill in entry form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends 24th March at midnight!


**$50 voucher supplied by Officeworks. All opinions are my own and I was not advised what to write within this feature.

Saturday, 8 March 2014

REVIEW: Schick Quattro Exotic Pearl & Papaya Razor


Quattro For Women is now available with a limited edition peach handle and conditioning strips infused with exotic Papaya and Pearl extract to soothe and hydrate. Its mix of unique natural ingredients have been carefully selected because of their amazing beauty benefits. 


Papaya (also known as Paw Paw) is a rich source of Vitamin A and papain, a protein dissolving enzyme found only in papaya, that breaks down layers of dead skin helping to exfoliate. The powerful fruit enzyme readily dissolves the dead and damaged cells, leaving healthy new skin, and leaves you feeling silky smooth.


Pearl extract (yes, the same that is found in an oyster) contains essential amino acids which heal and help maintain healthy skin.

Features of Quattro For Women:
·         Four ultra-thin blades with pivoting head that follow the contours of the body
·         Features Conditioning strips enriched with Papaya and Pearl extract to help soothe and condition skin
·         Wire wrapped blades to ensure a nick-free shave
·         Provides long lasting smoothness so you can skip a day or two
·         Peach rubber handle with multiple finger rests and a rounded base for better grip

I'm always a waxed hair person as I don't like the results I get from a razor as the hair grows back too quickly and the shave is never close enough to the skin and end up stubble regardless. 
Schick Quattro is very different - this was the closest shave I have ever had from a razor! 


Schick Quattro Pearl & Papaya didn't give me any scent at all when shaving - I don't know if it was meant to or not though. When using the razor it almost felt like it was an exfoliator on your skin - it was weird, it was like a very light scratchy feel when shaving that honestly felt like it was exfoliating whilst shaving at the same time!
A two in one - exfoliate and shave is a win, I say.

I tested out the disposables and for a disposable to be as good as if you were purchasing a normal high end razor - flexible head which contours around your body if just perfect! 
When I shave I usually give it a good push down onto my skin to ensure it gets a close shave - nick free I am which is rare from a razor also.

It certainly showed that it was a disposable razor though as it felt almost blunt after shaving my legs but good thing is the disposables come in a 3 pack!

Everything about this razor is right - this would definitely have to be my favourite razor of all time and something I will rave on about and recommend to any that ask for razor recommendations!
Added bonus is the colour choice for this one - the coral glitter colour is gorgeous!!


Available in stores in March 2014   

Disposables - RRP $7.99 for a 3 pack.
Also available in non-disposable for RRP $11.99 - 4 pack head refill RRP $14.49

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

An egg-ceptional Easter at LUSH + giveaway




Instead of giving family and friends over-packaged, calorific chocolate eggs this year, treat them to a tasty selection of Lush’s new bath products especially for Easter ... much kinder to the waistline and the environment, as Lush bath bombs, bubble bars and soaps are solid which means they are preservative free and packaging free. And to top it all off, Lush don’t test on animals either, preferring instead to dedicate products to bunnies as opposed to testing on them.

This year’s offerings include brand new inventions as well as returning favourites, with a focus on offering value for money. We like to think of it as ‘values for money’.

NEW! Golden Egg bath melt ballistic ($6.50) 
A brand new invention, this egg is a bath bomb coated in bath melt mixture. It will unexpectedly sink to the bottom of the bathtub while the outer layer dissolves, popping to the surface as the fizzing centre is revealed. The outer bath melt mix is made using our beautiful fair trade, organic, Colombian Peace Village cocoa butter and olive oil from a brand new permaculture project we’re working with in Palestine. Scented with the best selling Honey I Washed the Kids fragrance, it’s coated with PET free golden lustre. Inspired by chocolate cream eggs, we reverse it and coated the hard bath bomb centre with a creamy bath melt shell.


NEW! Bunny bubble bar ($5.95) 
A cute little bubble bar shaped like a white rabbit, made with a brand new formula. This one has a similar mix to a bubbleroon, with shea butter and coconut oil. This means you get a more condensed bar that can be broken in half and used over two baths. Or you can use the whole things for masses of softening Creamy Candy scented bubbles. Inspired by the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, this sweet little fellow has a pink tummy containing little cornstarch flowers to float in your bath water.

NEW! Carrot soap ($6.95 for 100g) 
A spectacular carrot-shaped soap with a bunny hiding in every slice! The orange part is made with carrot oil to moisturise; while the white bunny inside is made with cocoa butter to soften. The fragrance smells nothing like carrots however, as we’ve used fruity essential oils such as buchu, lemon and bergamot to really make your mouth water.

Bunch of Carrots re-usable bubble bars ($9.95) 
Back from last year, this time as a bunch of three smaller carrots, so each one can be used quicker when it’s at its freshest. As a re-usable bubble bar, place under the running taps to create lots of bubbles, then pop it on the side for another time. Fragranced with the same fruity oils as the Carrot soap, there’s also a little bit of nutritious carrot oil in each one, which is rich in vitamins and an extraordinary skin soother and rejuvenator.

Brightside bubble bar ($10.50) 
Back this year and this time to stay, as it joins our all year round range after Easter! A bright and cheerful swirl of a bubble bar to give you a fresh and cheerful perspective. Scented with a trio of uplifting and invigorating oils, there’s: Sicilian mandarin, tangerine and bergamot oil and just a squeeze of lemon. All are energising and also incredibly toning oils that will lift the spirits and clear the mind. Crumble under the running taps and watch as the water turns into a hazy red and orange sunset with frothy white clouds of bubbles. Vegan



Fluffy Egg bath ballistic ($5.50)
A best seller every year, this sweetie scented pink egg is adorned with a candy flower. It’s like bathing in a bubbling mass of marshmallow, candy floss and jelly bean scented water ... you’ll get your sugar fix without anything passing your lips! Available in spots or zig- zag patterns. Vegan


The Immaculate Eggception bath bomb ($11.95) 
One of Lush’s innovative double-layered bath ballistics, these are hollow eggs with a surprise inside ... crack the outer layer bubble bar and ballistic mix to reveal either a mini chick or bunny ballistic inside! You can then throw the outer eggshell and its inhabitant into the bathtub and enjoy a vanilla absolute, lemon and grapefruit scented soak. There are two colours to choose from, the yellow egg with green decoration contains the bunny; while the pink egg with yellow or blue decoration contains the chick. They both make for a cracking great bath! Vegan This one can be used all at once, or each bit used for separate baths – so one could last you three baths!

GIFT-

Carrot Cone ($19.95) ... inside this carrot-shaped cone you’ll find a rabbit hidden within a slice of Carrot soap; a Bunch of Carrots for the rabbit to enjoy; and an Avobath bath ballistic, a reward for the bunny for eating all of his carrots! You’ll discover the contents as a story, along with a maze game for the lucky recipient to play as they search for the Golden Egg! 
Contains: Carrot soap (100g), A Bunch of Carrots reusable bubble bars, Avobath bath ballistic

Fab Wrap knot wrap ($5.95) ... Inspired by Fabergé eggs this fab wrap made from Greenspun is a special addition to our luxury gift wrapping service. Use to wrap your choice of Lush goodies for an extra thoughtful gift. Greenspun is a fabric made entirely from recycle PET (plastic bottles), which could otherwise end up in landfill.

Funny Bunny ($29.95) ... Tied up inside this organic cotton Knot-Wrap is a selection of limited edition Easter treats. The organic cotton Knot-Wrap is from re-wrap, a women’s co-operative in India. By choosing the Lush Knot Wrap gift options, instead of traditional paper wrap, you are helping reduce landfill. Especially relevant at times like Easter when excess packaging is so prevalent.
Contains: 100g Carrot Soap, Grass shower gel (100g), Green FUN and Olive Branch shower gel (100g)
Hop along to Lush shops nationwide to stock up on these Easter goodies, along with many more ethical, cruelty-free cosmetics.

LUSH have estimated that the Easter bunny will drop all the handmade goodies to the stores as of April 3rd! Be sure to keep your eye out for him!



Easter celebrations have started already at NJT Blogger and we have a very special little giveaway from LUSH & NJT Blogger who have teamed up to give 1 lucky reader/follower without those chocolate calories!

1 lucky reader or instagrammer will receive this gorgeous little Bunty Gift Pack valued at $23.95, what an easter present to receive! I couldn't think of anything better then a huge box of LUSH goodies!
Bunty Gift Pack contains: Think Pink and Space Girl bath ballistics, Mini Comforter bubble bar and Creamy Candy bubble bar.


Entry options:
Easy entry with Rafflecopter form below
OR 
Easy entry with repost of image through instagram.


Instagram entry terms & conditions (also see Rafflecopter):
  • Enter as many times as you like. 
  • Must follow @njtblogger & @lush_ausnz
  • Hashtag #NJTLUSH
Rafflecopter entry terms & conditions: as specified within form at bottom.

REVIEW: Colour Theory Lipstick, Eyeshadow, Brow Liner, Mascara, Eye Pencil & Nail Polish

Razzle Dazzle (Red) lipstick - **RRP $6**
Colour Theory offers a range of moisturising lipsticks that hydrate lips making them feel silky soft. The formula features a creamy, comfortable texture with just the right amount of colour and moisture!

I really loved the gorgeous clear packaging on the lipstick - I really like that you can see the shade of colour without having to open the lipstick up. 
There was a couple of stickers on the actual tub after peeling off the plastic but they peeled off so easily without leaving marks which I was quite impressed with because usually stickers on products are a pain to remove without struggle!


I did notice there was a lot of lipstick that you wouldn't be able to spread on easily to your lips from where they cut off the stick into the bottom tube which was a little disappointing. I think all lipsticks might be like this but you obviously just can't see them as you do with Colour Theory's packaging.

We all know that I am not much of a lipstick person and as much as I would love to rock out those red lips that are ever so fashionable and to die for I just can't find a red that matches me and doesn't make me feel like Ronald McDonald with his big red clown lips but I think I may have found it with Colour Theory! What do you guys think? A good match to my skin tone? I think so! 

 I was very surprised when I application this lipstick onto my lips as it was so moisturising and felt like I was applying lip gloss. After application it left a lipgloss feeling as well and really didn't feel like I had a lippy on!

 Also surprisingly for a red lippy this lipstick come off without huge stains which is most common for these strong bold colours!
Eye Shadow Duo - Ying and Yang - **RRP $6**
White Shimmer - 2.7g & Black - 1.5g
Define and brighten your eyes with Colour Theory eye shadows and create a professional eye catching look. The silky formula is easy to apply so you can build colour as desired.
A little goes a long way due to the high colour pigmentation.
 I love using light shimmers in the inner corners of my eyes to make them stand out
Black isn't too much of my color but I used for the outter corners and blended into about mid crease area which gave off the nice smoky eye look which is always craved!

I recommend the use of a padded eyeshadow applicator instead of an eyeshadow brush as it doesn't give off much effect and I find that it doesn't really stick much to the brush and give the look you are wanting. 

 Something I would have liked to have in this duo would definitely be the padded eyeshadow applicators to make this product very compact. 
Brow Liner 'Take a Brow' - **RRP $6**
Shape and define uneven or fine eyebrows with this fine tip Brow Liner in brown. This perfect colour suits most hair colours.
‘Take a Brow’ brow liner goes on smooth to achieve a natural, filled in brow that makes all the difference when it comes to completing your look. The precise fine tip applicator makes it really easy to use too!

You may know that brows for me have just become added to my list of daily make-up routine and I've only used powder and a pencil so far so using the Colour Theory Brow Liner was something completely different and I don't actually see to much of these types out on the market (unless it's just me not looking properly). Colour Theory's Brow Liner was this wet liquid type liner, it was almost like a felt like tip. The tip doesn't separate at all into bristles, it is a solid and stays together with no messy streaky lines everywhere. 

This colour was a little lighter then my eyebrows so on the ends of my eyebrows it stood out a bit so I only put this liner in the top part to my arch in my brows. It is a good filler to do your brows and certainly made my brows look fuller with no hair strands here and their. 

I really liked how easily it came out as well compared to using powder when it was time to head to bed and wipe off my face. 
Mascara Plump - **RRP $8**
Each of our Colour Theory mascaras are the perfect balance between the ideal brush shape and the texture of the formula.
Fatten your flutter with this lash-plumping formula for bat-worth volume and glamour!

This mascara I was most impressed with, it does a fantastic job like the high end brands but without the price tag! $8 for a mascara is amazing but for an $8 mascara to do a good job is just phenomenal.
There was no clumps or spider webbed eyes. It was more of an individual lash defier and more lashes effect.

When pulling out the wand from the mascara tube it was completely perfect looking - there was no huge clumps of mascara stuck onto the brush. It was just an even spread amount around the whole wand brush which I really liked. 
It has a thick 'plump' tube which makes it easy to grab onto for application.

 Colour Theory's mascara has definitely won me over and I would very much like to try out there other designed mascaras.
Eye Pencil (Emerald & Charcoal) - **RRP $4 each**
Colour Theory eye pencils have been made to be not too hard, not too soft, with just enough colour pigment. Formulated with moisturising ingredients for a super smooth application.
Very versatile – so you can have a precise and defined line or smudged for a smokey look.

(Emerald) I never use coloured eye pencils it has always been just black for this girl and Colour Theory has really opened my eyes to the coloured eyeliner world - I adored this emerald colour, it was a velvety rich colour! It was still more of the dark colour so this is the perfect shade for me to use that will ease me into colours.

(Charcoal) I'll always put a bit of a dark bold colour eyeliner underneath my eyes to about mid way and then smudge it a little. This charcoal shade worked as a good colour to be able to not really need to much of a smudge and was fine on first application for the look I like.

 The pencils are a nice and soft texture make so it's very delicate on your eyes and not scratchy like others.
 Nail polish - **RRP $4 each**
The perfect nail shade is your best accessory this season. But who has $20 to spend on each trend setting shade? That’s why Colour Theory’s nail polish is a dream come true at $4 each!
Fast drying and long lasting, your manicure will outlast even the toughest chores and come out vibrant and shiny with our premium, two coat polish leaving you with super glossy nails.
Your nails have never looked so good!



FLAMINGO ( light fluro pink)




COBALT STRIKE (shimmery blue)





PURPLE RAIN (pascal light purple)

I was amazed at how fast drying these nail polishes were! It was nothing like I have experienced, seen or heard of before. It was like a minute of wait time before bam, dry nails!
This would be the perfect nail polish for those mummies like myself out there that just don't have the time to wait 10 minutes or so with a baby to wait for them nails to dry.

The colours were pretty solid and you only needed a second application coat to ensure you didn't miss spots within your nail. 

**This product was sent out for my consideration. All opinions are my own. I was not paid to review this product. 

Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Australian Fitness & Health Expo + GIVEAWAY


Many of you may not know this but before I fell pregnant I was on a huge fitness journey - loosing 22kgs and then I just was lapping it up as an excuse that I was pregnant so I completely dropped my training - this was the worst thing I ever did because I am struggling to find my mojo back into my fitness again, it needs to come back ASAP as I'm also studying to be a personal trainer! 
I love going to Fitness & Health Expos because it gives me that motivation boost again to do better in my home life training. I'm very excited for this first time round in my hometown state Melbourne expo. 

For the first time, the Australian Fitness & Health Expo, the largest fitness & health event in the southern hemisphere, is coming to Melbourne and it will be one of the biggest Expos staged in its twenty-year history – in other words, this is a not-to-be-missed event on the 2014 calendar for those who love fitness.

In addition to the launch of the latest fitness equipment, fashion and classes, this year will see the addition of a number of fitness challenges and opportunities to participate along with new, high profile national and international sporting competitions that will run live at the Expo.

Whether you’re training for the next Spartan Race, thinking about a Paleo Diet, looking for a new fitness class or training for a triathlon, marathon or major sporting event, here are some of features at the 2014 Australian Fitness & Health Expo that are sure to raise your heart rate:

See it.
All of the major fitness and health brands attend the Expo to unveil their latest equipment and products. This is where fitness lovers get to see new gear and classes before they hit the shelves and the gym timetable. All the well-known and respected brands will be on show, including Lorna Jane, Reebok, Skins, Musashi, Garmin and Asics. Head to the Team Up Healthy Living & Endurance stage to hear training tips and advice from top coaches and athletes or watch a cooking demonstration from the Healthy Chef, Teresa Cutter. Wander the show floor to meet some of Australia’s top fitness celebrities.

Try it.
If there was ever a year to wear your runners and workout gear to the Expo, this is it. There will be plenty of opportunities to work up a sweat and even compete, if you wish. For the first time, Les Mills will be running free 45-minute group fitness classes at the Les Mills Stage. Participate in Body Pump, Spin, Combat and Attack classes plus their newest class led by celebrity instructors. If you’re feeling like a little competition, you can try qualifying for the Fit Bloke or Fit Chick challenge held in The Arena, a purpose-built Crossfit competition zone complete with stadium seating. There will also be a series of endurance tests taking place around the Expo, including the Versa Climber Challenge, if you want to test your fitness level and compete for great prizes.


 Live it.
The vibe at this year’s Expo will be electric with a number of high profile sporting competitions taking place live on the Expo floor across the three days. These will include:

·       The Victorian Jiu-Jitsu Championships run by Australian Federation of Brasilian Jiu Jitsu in the MMA Arena. Over 1000 athletes are expected to compete.
·       Australian Boxing Championships run by Boxing Australia.
·       Natural bodybuilding competitions run by the International Natural Bodybuilding Association. Over 500 bodybuilders will compete.
·       International Pacific Powerlifting Invitational, reserved for the strongest men and women in the world, including current Superheavyweight World Champions, to tackle all-time records.
·       Australian Raw Powerlifting Championships.

The Australian Fitness & Health Expo will be held April 4-6 at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. The expo is open from 9.30am – 5.30pm daily with Friday open to only those who work within the fitness and health industry. For more information visit www.fitnessexpo.com.au and follow Facebook and Twitter for updates on features and celebrities.

General visitors can pre-book tickets online to avoid the queues – cost is $30 for a one-day ticket. If you work in the industry, it’s free to enter on Friday if you pre-register online, or pre-purchase a weekend pass for $20.


NJT Blogger is running a giveaway for 1 lucky reader to win a double pass for the expo.
When: Valid for either Saturday, April 5th or Sunday, April 6th (your choice).
Enter form below to win this double pass valued at $60:



Giveaway closes - Monday, 24th March at midnight!
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