A weekend on Maggie + New Firmoo Sunglasses!
This past weekend B and I ventured back to Maggie for a (very) belated overnight stay for my birthday. As soon as I finished work on Saturday afternoon we caught the 3.45pm ferry over to the Island where our gorgeous beach front hotel was waiting for us. Whilst I settled in and got ready for the night ahead, B headed over to the local bottle shop to pick us up a bottle (or two, shh!) of my favourite wine.
After polishing off both bottles in record time, we headed downstairs for dinner in the hotels restaurant. As the room was quite dark (and I was a fair bit tipsy) I didn't bother taking any photos of our meals, but you can take my word for it that they were delicious. The parmesan mashed potato was particularly spectacular. For once in our lives we were actually too full for dessert so after dinner we headed back to our room where I had the most magnificent hot bath before falling asleep in the comfiest bed ever.
Come Sunday morning I felt surprisingly refreshed despite the wine from the night before. I'm putting this down to the amazing bed and taking it as a sign that B and I need to spring for a new mattress. So anyway, we headed downstairs for a scrummy buffet breakfast before packing up our bags and heading off to hire some scooters for the day. I'd never been on a scooter before, but after I got the hang of it I had an absolute blast. :)
Once we picked up our scooters our first stop was the top of this hill so that I could get a photo taken on my pink scooter wearing my awesome matching helmet. We then headed down to Picnic Bay to take some photos of me in my new prescription sunglasses that I was kindly sent by Firmoo to review a few days earlier.
If you're a loyal reader of my blog you will know that I have been working with Firmoo for many years now, and they are still my all time favourite online optical retailer. The prescription sunglasses they sent me were absolutely perfect for the beach, and unlike most sunglasses this pair actually fit me perfectly. I went for a simple black frame and lenses with a slight purple tint and I think they look awesome.
If you are interested in purchasing some high quality, affordable glasses of your own, you can check out Firmoo's new arrivals here and their 15% off deal for new customers here.
Next we headed over to the other side of the Island to check out the markets at Horseshoe Bay. I never usually buy anything at markets but this time I picked up a birthday present for my step sister, some yummy gelato, as well as purchasing an incredible 15 minute massage while B went for a quick dip in the ocean (pretty sure I had the better end of that deal).
Afterwards we decided to hire a kayak for half an hour, then we drove over to some walking tracks and went on a hot, sweaty, exhausting hike to Arthur Bay and back. Totally worth it though as the views were just incredible.
After our hike we headed back to Horseshoe Bay for a much needed late lunch. B went for fish and chips and I went for a delicious serve of vegetarian nachos which I had absolutely no hope of finishing (death by sour cream anyone?).
As I'm sure you can imagine, our day was pretty much over by this point, so we headed back to Nelly Bay to return our scooters and hopped on the next ferry home.
We had such an amazing weekend together and I seriously can't wait to head back over again. If you're ever up in Townsville, the twenty minute ferry ride to Magnetic Island is 100% worth it. Next time we head over we're going to hire some jet ski's and go on another (even longer) hike. Our next visit couldn't come fast enough!
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Born Pretty Store Review.
Hey guys! I hope you're all having a great start to the week. Today I am here to share with you all a few little items that I was recently sent for review from Born Pretty Store. Born Pretty Store is an awesome little online shop that sells a wide variety things from beauty items, phone cases, clothing and dog toys. From what I saw from their website when selecting my items for review, their items are all very reasonably priced, and appear to be of good quality.
The items I was sent to review for you guys were two phone cases for the Samsung Galaxy S4, a portable dog water bottle/bowl, and a puppy rope chew toy in the shape of a duck. :)
Probably my favourite item that I was sent was the patterned clip on phone case pictured above left. It's a very vibrant, matte finish case, and it's also got a slightly raised texture which I actually found helps to keep the phone from slipping out of my hand.
The owl phone case pictured above right is one of those flip cases that protects the screen of your phone when it's in your handbag, etc. The colours are equally as vibrant on this one, and the case seems to be of very good quality. I personally prefer the clip on style of phone case, so I'm going to be giving this owl phone case to my Mum which I know she will love!
My second favourite item that I was sent to review was the duck shaped rope chew toy. It's absolutely adorable, and it doesn't contain a squeaker, making it perfectly safe for my puppies and great for our ears (haha!). As you can see from the photos below, Ellie absolutely loves her new duck! :)
The last item I was sent for review was this hot pink portable dog water bottle that converts to a dog bowl. I've been looking for one of these for ages, so I was delighted to see that the Born Pretty Store was stocking them. Given how hot it is in Townsville this new water bottle will definitely come in handy. It will also be great for us to use on our upcoming road trip back to Brisbane in a couple of weeks time.
All in all I was very happy with the items that I was sent for review.
If you're interested in getting 10% off your order, simply enter the code SENG10 at checkout. :)
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Snap Happy Sunday // Farewell Summer.
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| Me and my furbabies, Ellie and Nala. |
Happy Sunday guys! I hope you're all enjoying a stress free and relaxing weekend. Today is the first day of Autumn here in Australia, and as you can see from the photos in this post I am still dressing for Spring/Summer. I'm really looking forward to Winter here in Townsville because apparently it gets cold enough to wear a light jacket (ha!).
Although the weather has stayed the same, one thing that has changed recently is my prescription glasses. I was kindly sent another free pair from Firmoo (I know, how lucky am I?) to try out, and I have to say that I am so much happier with these new frames compared to my last. Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with the last pair at all, I just feel that this new pair suits my face shape more and is slightly more feminine (whilst still being a little nerdy, which I love!). This pair is much slimmer and incredibly light weight as well. It's such a shame this pair is now being discontinued.
If you'd like to pick up a pair for yourself, all new customers can get a 50% off coupon here. :)
If you'd like to pick up a pair for yourself, all new customers can get a 50% off coupon here. :)
In other news, Nala and Ellie have been getting along like a house on fire. I can't leave them outside alone for five seconds now without them terrorising the garden and/or each other. The bond between them already is just incredible and very heartwarming. :)
*Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this post, however I was kindly gifted the frames. All opinions are my own.
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Six Awesome Christmas Gift Ideas!
Okay, so I'd be lying if I said that this blog post didn't also double as a Christmas wishlist for myself, but who wouldn't be interested in at least one of the below items? There's something for everybody really, guys included - I've already purchased my brother 'Gone Girl' for Christmas after my partner enjoyed the movie so much. :)
1. I don't know about you guys, but books have always been my number one gift to give and receive at Christmas. I personally love receiving cookbooks, like this awesome new cookbook titled 'The New Easy' by Donna Hay. Bookworld has an amazing special on at the moment where you can purchase this book (along with tonnes of others) for almost 50% off with free delivery in case you are interested.
2. Even if you don't own a dachshund like I do (seriously though, why not? maybe you should look into that! :P) who wouldn't be delighted to receive a set of dachshund bookends under the tree? Thisparticular set is very affordable and stylish. Kmart also sells a cheaper version (in price and quality) in white if you have a smaller budget though.
3. Oh my gosh! If anyone wants to buy me these canvas dachshund ballet flats for Christmas I will love you forever (I'm a size 9/40!). Such a cute and amazing quality gift for any female in your life!
4. Okay, let's talk throw pillows. They're hard to wrap without giving the surprise away, but who really cares when you know you're getting a throw pillow? Throw pillows are awesome! Particularly if you're getting one of two I have given links for above.
5. Another present that is a little hard to wrap but is 100% awesome is this mint green bicycle that I found on Amazon. I'm not sure what the deal is with shipping, all I know is that I need this bicycle in my life.
6. Last but not least, what better gift to give someone who loves having fresh flowers in the house (or fake, whatever you prefer) than this adorable jug flower vase from Kmart. It is just too cute for words, not to mention super affordable, so it's absolutely perfect!
I hope you guys enjoyed this Christmaswish list gift guide and hopefully I've given you some ideas for your Christmas shopping.
Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? If so, what is your favourite item that you have purchased/made for someone so far? :)
*This post was supported by Bookworld.
1. I don't know about you guys, but books have always been my number one gift to give and receive at Christmas. I personally love receiving cookbooks, like this awesome new cookbook titled 'The New Easy' by Donna Hay. Bookworld has an amazing special on at the moment where you can purchase this book (along with tonnes of others) for almost 50% off with free delivery in case you are interested.
2. Even if you don't own a dachshund like I do (seriously though, why not? maybe you should look into that! :P) who wouldn't be delighted to receive a set of dachshund bookends under the tree? Thisparticular set is very affordable and stylish. Kmart also sells a cheaper version (in price and quality) in white if you have a smaller budget though.
3. Oh my gosh! If anyone wants to buy me these canvas dachshund ballet flats for Christmas I will love you forever (I'm a size 9/40!). Such a cute and amazing quality gift for any female in your life!
4. Okay, let's talk throw pillows. They're hard to wrap without giving the surprise away, but who really cares when you know you're getting a throw pillow? Throw pillows are awesome! Particularly if you're getting one of two I have given links for above.
5. Another present that is a little hard to wrap but is 100% awesome is this mint green bicycle that I found on Amazon. I'm not sure what the deal is with shipping, all I know is that I need this bicycle in my life.
6. Last but not least, what better gift to give someone who loves having fresh flowers in the house (or fake, whatever you prefer) than this adorable jug flower vase from Kmart. It is just too cute for words, not to mention super affordable, so it's absolutely perfect!
I hope you guys enjoyed this Christmas
Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? If so, what is your favourite item that you have purchased/made for someone so far? :)
*This post was supported by Bookworld.
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Keeping in touch with loved ones this Christmas.
As an adult, I'm pretty sure you'll all agree that the real beauty of Christmas is spending time with friends and family and letting them know you love them. Sure it's nice to give and receive presents, and obviously the food is great, but it's the feeling you get from being close to your loved ones that really makes the holiday season special. :)
Unfortunately we don't always have the time or the opportunity to see everyone we want to over Christmas. Usually there are different sides of the family you need to visit, and more often than not they all live in totally different directions and plan their celebrations on the same day at the same time. Up until recently B and I have been able to avoid this, but this year things are different and we are having to look for other ways to connect with our friends and family for the holidays - especially since we are moving away for 2+ years at the beginning of January.
Something I've been meaning to do ever since B and I first started living together was to send out personalised holiday cards to our mutual friends and family. The only thing holding me back was the fact that this seems to be more of an American tradition and not something that is generally done here in Australia. But you know what? Who cares! Why should I let that stop us from making our own traditions? I'll tell you why, because designing your own holiday card can be bloody daunting if you don't know what you're doing!
That was until I discovered the TinyPrints website where I could design my own personalised holiday cards right there on their website using their premade templates with adjustable fonts, colours and design options. In the end it took me all of 20 minutes to design my own personalised card, and within 5 days (including a weekend!) my order had arrived safely to my front door. :D
The cards I chose are more of a post card style in that they are a single piece of card that does not open up, but I chose this style specifically so that my cards could double up as gift tags to place on the presents for those who I am going to be visiting personally. Depending on what you decide to add to the back of your cards, you should have plenty of space to write your message as well. As you can see I decided to put an additional three photos of Ellie on the back of our cards (because we can't get enough of her) and there is still plenty of space underneath for us to write a brief message to our loved ones.
The quality of the cards are fantastic, and there's a bunch of add on's that you can purchase to make your cards even more unique if you wish to. The cards I selected have a pearlescent finish which is absolutely gorgeous. I also selected matching envelopes and envelope liners for our cards to make them feel that little bit more luxurious.
What are your thoughts on custom holiday cards? Would you ever consider sending one if you haven't already?
Monday, 17 November 2014
Job Interview OOTD + New Glasses.
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| Glasses c/o Firmoo. |
I was recently contacted by Firmoo asking if I would like to review another pair of their prescription glasses. I didn't really need a new pair, but I wasn't about to say no to a second pair for free, and I'm glad I didn't as they've come in handy for spicing up my outfits for the job interviews that I have been attending as of late.
As you can see these glasses are much bigger than the last pair that Firmoo sent me, which I find seems to open up my eyes a bit more and makes my face look a little bit smaller over all. I opted for a tortoise shell design this time rather than my usual standard black frames, and although I do like the design I feel like it would look better on someone with light blonde hair. What do you think? Perhaps it's just me who thinks that? Either way, I like these glasses better than my last pair - they're just that bit more interesting.
The photos above were taken one afternoon a couple of weeks ago before attending my first job interview in almost four years. I didn't manage to get a full body shot because I packed the wrong lense for my DSLR camera (and Mum kept walking into things trying to get my whole body in the shot), but I was basically just wearing a black knee length pencil skirt with some black ballerina flats, and a new blouse that I picked up from Big W for $10 - bargain! :)
As for the job interview, it must have gone pretty well because I was offered the job last week! :D It's only a casual position that I can work alongside my design business, but I'm super excited to get out of the house and work with people face to face again. Wish me luck!
P.s. If you've never ordered with Firmoo before you can order your first pair of glasses from them for free here, you just need to pay for the lenses and shipping (which costs next to nothing and usually arrives within a week!).
*Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this post, however I was kindly gifted the frames. All opinions are my own.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
New Hair + Glasses.
A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Firmoo and asked if I would like to receive a free pair of prescription glasses in exchange for sharing their services with my readers. Having already received glasses from Firmoo in the past and knowing what great quality they were (I'd been wearing myprevious pair of glasses from them for the past two years and they were still as good as new!) I was more than delighted to take them up on their kind and generous offer.
After playing around with their virtual try-on system I decided to go with a pair of glasses as similar as possible to the pair I already had. They're not the cutest pair of glasses by any means, but they're fun and quirky and the lenses are really big, which is perfect for when I'm working at the computer. You can find the exact pair I picked out here. Once I placed my order they arrived within the week which was really fast considering that they came from overseas. Even if Firmoo hadn't gotten back in contact with me I was actually going to order my next pair of glasses from them anyway as their service is just amazing and their prices are incredibly affordable. Win-win in my opinion!
Something else I've changed about my appearance recently is my hair length and colour. Just like with my glasses it is only a very slight change, but it's funny how much of a difference a small change can make to the overall way you feel. My best friend Katie who manages her own salon was my hairdresser this time around (I only ever go to Katie or my cousin Danielle because frankly they're the best) and she was very supportive of my wanting to brighten up my hair without damaging it too much.
I'm not sure what colour or process she was using exactly, but I do know that she put twelve "weak strength" blonde foils throughout my hair and left them on for about 45 minutes before rinsing them out and toning them for a further 15 minutes. She also cut a good couple of inches off my hair to get rid of all the split ends and now it feels soft and voluminous. As you can see from the photos above it looks much shorter than it had been previously, but it also looks a million times healthier. Healthy hair trumps long scraggly hair any day!
So what do you think of my new hair and glasses? Can I pull off this style of frame?
Thursday, 17 July 2014
My New Blog Design Reveal + Blog Changes.
Sorry I haven't written a blog post in while. I have been busy as all hell with blog designs at the moment following on from my EOFY sale. I have also been in the midst of a bit of re-brand for my blog, which is what this post is all about. :) I'm actually in the process of re-branding my blog design business website as well but that is taking a bit longer than expected due to all of the designs that I am currently working on (and my clients always come first!).
Anyway, back to the blog.. as you can see I haven't completely changed my blog design, I've simply altered it to a point where I feel more excited to write on it. Most of the fonts I am using are still the same except that I am now using 'georgia' for my blog posts and I have slightly switched up my header title to incorporate two of my favourite premium hand drawn fonts. The colour scheme is much the same as well as I just couldn't bare to part with my beloved shades of lilac and peachy pinks. The biggest difference you will notice is that my background is now all white, making it easier for you guys to focus on the content of my blog posts.
The sidebar area has also been altered a little, starting with my welcome portrait. A few weeks ago B and I had an impromptu family photo shoot with Ellie outside my Mums house and we managed to snap what would have to be my favourite photo of us of all time. So I sent this photo to my lovely friend Maria who worked her magic on it and made it blog design worthy for me. I know some people hate when Bloggers use photos of their spouses/families on their personal blogs (I don't understand why though) but for me my blog has always been about my family (present and future) despite what my blog name might imply. You can see an example of Maria's photoshop magic below to give you guys an idea of just how talented she is.
Maria blogs over at Mummy Goes Mad and has been thinking about setting up an Etsy store to offer her skills to fellow bloggers. If you like her work, feel free to get in touch with her as I know she'd love to work with you guys to bring your photographs to life. :)
Other changes I made to my sidebar included adding a large instagram slideshow to break up the important links at the top and the slightly less, though still important, widgets at the bottom. I've also added a few Google AdSense adverts throughout the sidebar and at the bottom of my blog, so we'll just see how they go. I'll obviously need to start posting more if I have any chance of earning any income through this blog though. :P
As for blog content, I have decided I need to start making a few changes. From this point on there will be no more 'Thankful Tuesdays' posts. To be honest, it just got too challenging for me to come up with 3-4 different things that I was thankful for each week without being too repetitive. Let's face it.. I am constantly thankful for B, Ellie, family and friends, food and TV shows. I don't think anyone needs to hear about this week in, week out. I've also decided to get a bit more personal and just sit down and pour my heart out from time to time. Not only is this therapeutic for me, but the blog posts I produce when I sit down and do this are some of the very best that I have ever written. I want this blog to be more about quality vs quanity and I think making these few simple changes will help to do just that. :)
So what do you think of the new blog design? Are you ready for some more heart felt posts?
Friday, 23 May 2014
Buttercream & Fondant Cupcake Decorating Class.
Last night I went with my best friend, Katie, and her Mum, Deb, to a cupcake decorating class held atButtercream & Fondant in Jindalee, Brisbane. The two hour class cost us $39 each (usually $90 each) as we purchased our tickets through the Groupon website here and it was well worth the money (and on my part, the travel). Included in our booking price were light refreshments, a glass of sparkling wine, 6 cupcakes for us to decorate and take home, a takeaway container filled with pre-prepared buttercream frosting, and two reasonably sized rectangles of fondant icing for us to play with. :)
Not only did we learn how to make the perfect buttercream frosting, but we also learned how to position the piping bags properly and which tips to use to get the best dispersion of a particular style of frosting. As you can see from the photos below I was a pretty slow learner when it came to the buttercream frosting.. but the important thing to remember is that they tasted great! :P
We were also given a pretty detailed lesson on different ways to play around with fondant such as using moulds, cutters, imprints etc. which I found very interesting, although I don't personally enjoy eating fondant myself.
Overall we had a really good night and I would definitely recommend this class to a friend. :)
Sunday, 23 December 2012
The Perfect Christmas + New Years Foundation.
Hey lovelies,
I've been meaning to do a review on this foundation for months and months now, but for some reason I just never got around to it. However when I was packing my make up bag for our Christmas trip this morning (more on that in a few days) I was reminded of just how incredible this foundation really is and forced myself to stop packing in order to write this review. :)
You see, not only have I found the Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' foundation to be wearable for both day and night, throughout every season of the year, but I've also found that it's warm glow and slight shimmer finish make this the perfect liquid foundation for flash photography. With all the parties we are invited to attend over the holidays (or any time throughout the year really) the last thing we want is to look overly shiny or too drab/dull in the photographs that are bound to be taken. What I have found from wearing this foundation is that it provides me with a happy medium - a not too dull, not too shiny, fresh and awake complexion.
Other things I like about this foundation:
- It contains SPF 15, yet it doesn't feel greasy on your skin.
- It comes in a sturdy glass bottle with a cute orange pump and lid (there's something about the colour orange that just makes me feel happy).
- It smells amazing! like a pleasant smelling fruit.. I just can't quite put my finger on which one.
- It comes in a sturdy glass bottle with a cute orange pump and lid (there's something about the colour orange that just makes me feel happy).
- It smells amazing! like a pleasant smelling fruit.. I just can't quite put my finger on which one.
- Although it is only a medium coverage foundation, it is actually very buildable.
- A little goes a long way (In the past when my skin has broken out right before a big night out, just three pumps from this baby gave me an absolutely flawless complexion).
- Despite the limited choice of shades in this range, I've found that the shades they do have are really good at adapting to different skin tones (for example, 'true ivory' looks flawless on my skin regardless of whether I'm pasty white or completely tan).
- It can be very long lasting when teamed with a mattifying powder, and in winter I found that I didn't need a powder at all.
- It can be very long lasting when teamed with a mattifying powder, and in winter I found that I didn't need a powder at all.
- It can be applied with ease using just your fingertips, making it a great foundation to keep in your bag for reapplication throughout the day.
The last time I checked the Australian regular retail price for this foundation was $19.99, and I have seen this product available in virtually any chemist, Big W, Target, Kmart and Priceline store. If you're interested in trying this foundation but don't want to spend that much money (who wants to pay more when they could be paying less) you can order yourself a bottle here from the feel unique website for roughly $12.50 Australian with free international delivery. :)
Have any of you tried the Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' foundation before?
What were your thoughts?
What were your thoughts?
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Real Techniques Brushes Review.
Hey guys,
Today I thought I would do another beauty product review, this time on some of the make-up brushes I have been using from the Real Techniques range by Samantha Chapman. I purchased six of these brushes (pictured below) about 3 months ago, and since then I have used these brushes 2-3 times a week.
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| L-R: Stippling brush, Buffing brush, Shading brush, Pointed foundation brush, Detailer brush and Contour brush. |
These brushes have been out for a while now and have received so much praise from beauty guru's, however being someone who is only just getting into make-up I thought it would be fun to share my "not so experienced" opinion. :) So, without further ado, here are my thoughts..
Stippling brush - This brush is great for applying liquid foundation but terrible for applying mineral foundation. I agree that this brush can be used to achieve an "airbrushed" look, although you may need to apply several layers of foundation in order for this to happen. I would personally only ever use this brush before a big night out as I believe saving my foundation is more important than looking like a magazine model.
Buffing brush - This brush is without a doubt my favourite brush out of all six. Not only does this brush apply flawless liquid foundation, but it is also great at applying mineral foundation, pressed powders, blush.. the list goes on! The bristles on this brush are so soft that you won't want to put the brush down. I honestly look forward to putting on my foundation of a morning as I know I'll be using this brush. :)
Shading brush - This brush, whilst not one of my favourites, is good for applying eye shadow to the outer lid and crease. It isn't the best at picking up colour, at least in my experience, but it is definitely suitable for blending out eye shadow that has already been applied.
Pointed foundation brush - I tried using this brush to apply my foundation as is its purpose, but all it did was soak up my foundation and make the whole application process ten times longer. I decided to take to YouTube to find out if anyone had found an alternative use for this brush, and most users suggested that the brush was good for applying concealer underneath the eyes. Well I tried that, and no, it didn't work for me at all. Oh well.. you win some, you lose some!
Detailer brush - I don't use this brush very often, however it is a great brush for precision application of eye shadow on the tear ducts as well as for applying darker lipsticks that you don't want to smudge around the outside of your lips. A great little brush to pull out for special make-up occasions.
Contour brush - This is my second favourite brush after the buffing brush as it can be used for applying highlighter, bronzer and blusher without having to clean the brush in between. It is the perfect size, and is very soft. A great little brush to have in your collection. :)
If you're interested in picking these brushes up for yourself, you can head on over to iherb.com and use the discount code KZV812 to receive $5 off any order under $40, or $10 off any order over $40 if you're a first time customer! (Please note, I was given this discount code to share with you all after purchasing these brushes with my own money. I was not asked to write this post or to promote this website at all).
I hope this review has been helpful to some of you, and if you have any questions about the brushes please feel free to ask me in a comment below. :)
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