tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35740377088185909632024-03-13T09:40:27.771+10:30Chic StreetCynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-33989976974798342632013-02-15T10:52:00.001+10:302013-02-15T10:52:18.810+10:30Australian Subscription BoxesI have a new blog, dedicated to all the <a href="http://www.australiansubscriptionboxes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">subscription boxes</a> that are available to Australians. Just head on over and check it out - I have box profiles, news and reviews. There's even a cheese box out there. Who knew!Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-29373105734968880232013-02-09T19:18:00.000+10:302013-02-09T19:18:54.124+10:30Four Beautiful Vintage Valentine Gift IdeasDo you need some ideas for Valentine's day gifts for your vintage loving significant other? Ladies, I'm not too sure I have very many male readers so you might want to forward this post "accidentally" to your valentine if he needs a hint or two!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRUdQfyJ6Wnfygr-VQjhv1qV5hb7EtqFCLPKvvuWZHaid6GOhHUBGscdty7NRpMlKMCCmaMqv6RlM6EkQJ4bHh1BnGIOLQdwpbcbIba39DDNd9z3UBh5UhVOoJ_-mFpypvTEf_5gyIGQ5/s1600/MaeJeanVintage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRUdQfyJ6Wnfygr-VQjhv1qV5hb7EtqFCLPKvvuWZHaid6GOhHUBGscdty7NRpMlKMCCmaMqv6RlM6EkQJ4bHh1BnGIOLQdwpbcbIba39DDNd9z3UBh5UhVOoJ_-mFpypvTEf_5gyIGQ5/s400/MaeJeanVintage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Huge bulk pack of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/117298195/lot-of-vintage-costume-jewelry-pins?" target="_blank">vintage costume jewellery</a>. I've purchased a bulk pack myself from this seller and it was amazing value.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmPYT6F6Jx8L1VpLQTn1ZfXMHoChV9IwrZAYeEuj_QvCQEnz_qFnfwPVLQDe-MQ9ma1C-dRMkMWMwKLoxUZZD8MkN1Ko59q_U2kIlrE2v9Vo4PPc37ZhcEsM_AQhTFc_NYQSWKWyj41at/s1600/2ndSisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmPYT6F6Jx8L1VpLQTn1ZfXMHoChV9IwrZAYeEuj_QvCQEnz_qFnfwPVLQDe-MQ9ma1C-dRMkMWMwKLoxUZZD8MkN1Ko59q_U2kIlrE2v9Vo4PPc37ZhcEsM_AQhTFc_NYQSWKWyj41at/s320/2ndSisters.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Vintage <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/116048763/bedazzled-to-the-top-jb5222-we-offer?ref=sr_gallery_25&ga_search_query=shoe+clips&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=AU&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=vintageshoe+clips" target="_blank">rhinestone shoe clips</a>. Beautiful sparklers for your feet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLkMJg2Xpet_D8sz-sYnIgovsycxhsr2MNij3vKX9jSMcwZkjBM3GLbRxtZBa3jSwxNd7AIhYpFmX9X7AwFg_7iw5EI6PLGfNnlcrwlbsHv-c3c8hXl6pDerlt_D07MJb7N2BJIncqc1u/s1600/4birdsvintage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLkMJg2Xpet_D8sz-sYnIgovsycxhsr2MNij3vKX9jSMcwZkjBM3GLbRxtZBa3jSwxNd7AIhYpFmX9X7AwFg_7iw5EI6PLGfNnlcrwlbsHv-c3c8hXl6pDerlt_D07MJb7N2BJIncqc1u/s400/4birdsvintage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Vintage <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90654462/1950s-red-slip-sheer-pleat-gown-charmode?ref=sr_gallery_14&ga_search_query=red+slip&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=AU&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=vintagered+slip" target="_blank">red slip</a> with lace and mini pleating. The only thing to wear in bed. Throw those big t-shirts in the bin ladies. Vintage slips are THE way to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtG2mouD2wHvDOOBR4lUuF4f1Kfhj-8_DANn1wnW9jJp0bTSzb1zSiz2edlEmIMMPibo8_Qk8alWLuH_FvvcUjRgzE5xEu6wxmdfn9Z1uN3VVoCckwxEog5dXMk5pjUEHF2WvTkuHPI_Y/s1600/Modcloth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtG2mouD2wHvDOOBR4lUuF4f1Kfhj-8_DANn1wnW9jJp0bTSzb1zSiz2edlEmIMMPibo8_Qk8alWLuH_FvvcUjRgzE5xEu6wxmdfn9Z1uN3VVoCckwxEog5dXMk5pjUEHF2WvTkuHPI_Y/s1600/Modcloth.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/garden-date-dress" target="_blank">Garden Date Dress</a> by Modcloth. I have so many pieces in my wardrobe by Modcloth and they're always the ones I get complimented on.Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-45803557407333921372013-02-08T22:03:00.001+10:302013-02-08T22:03:56.108+10:30A Treasure from the RubbishI spotted a treasure in my mother's hard rubbish pile. It had three broken wheels, dirt, spider-webs and was rusted all over. I do regret not taking a photograph before just to show how bad it really looked. It was so bad that I wasn't even sure that it was fixable. I suspected I was making a mistake and actually left it on the rubbish pile for a week until I changed my mind and went back for it.<br />
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The trolley had belonged to my grandmother and had spent years and years (decades I believe) outside in the rain and heat in my mother's garden. It had suffered but the design was just so beautiful I really felt it was worth saving.<br />
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My darling husband fixed it up for me and it looks amazing. He pulled off all the wheels, scrubbed it all over with a metal brush, wore out the brush completely, and scrubbed it all over again with a metal sanding disk on his circular saw. He said it was much easier the second time. Then he spray painted two coats of white rust-proof primer. We finished with a couple of coats of metal gloss spray paint and it's ready to rock!<br />
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I have plans for a tray on the bottom for my son's outside cars and trains and some pretty pot plants on the top. We're in the process of building a pergola outside the laundry and this is where it will live when it's finished. It will be undercover so it will hopefully last for many years to come.<br />
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PS I'm going op (thrift) shopping tomorrow to a store that's new to me that I've been told has lots of deceased estate vintage stock. Cross your fingers for me!Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-12632751285723996932013-01-30T17:13:00.003+10:302013-01-30T17:31:33.607+10:30Lust Have It - January 2013This is the best beauty box I've received in a long time. <br />
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The new packaging is lovely, the only thing that would improve it would be the removal of the company's logo on the spine. I'm not likely to keep and re-use the box with advertising showing on it. Looking around the web, I think I got the best version of this months's box. I received:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Lush Emotional Brilliance in "Sophisticated" (full size). Described by Lush as <strong>shimmering taupe </strong>I found the shade to be very wearable for a less dramatic everyday eye look. It was extremely easy and mess free to apply and lasted and lasted. I think I'm going to buy some of the other products in this range.</li>
<li>Nude by Nature BB Cream in "Medium" (full size). I would have chosen "Light" but at least I can have a go with medium. I wish Lust Have It would send out foundations tailored to people's skin tone. I got luckier than some bloggers (some pale skinned girls received "Dark") and I'm pretty excited to try this.</li>
<li>Lust Have It Kabuki brush (full size). This is actually the third kabuki brush in my collection so it will be perfect to put in my travel bag as it's a short handled version. I use a kabuki brush every day and find them perfect for foundation application. This brush is lovely and soft and dense. I tried it out straight away and it works very well.</li>
<li>Klorane Shampoo and Conditioner (sachets). I'd prefer a slightly larger sample size as it's difficult to assess a product on one application and I have long hair so there's never enough conditioner in a sachet. Having said that, there were three full sized products in this month's box so I'm not too annoyed at the small size.</li>
<li>Avene Cleanance Skin Range (large sample size). I've already received this range in Bella Box but I've just finished the gel cleanser and loved it so I've happy to have another to go on with. I don't try the exfoliant or anti-shine moisturiser as they're not suitable for my skin type. The gel cleanser is, however, very good indeed and worth a purchase when I run out.</li>
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Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-3177867654015109242013-01-25T13:47:00.003+10:302013-01-25T13:56:50.442+10:30Packing List - Just One Carry On BagI promised to post a copy of my packing list that I use when preparing for an overseas holiday and here it is! <br />
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I like to take one carry on bag (slightly smaller than the full size allowed) and one small day-pack for myself and one of my sons (my husband carries the other). This list includes items I will be wearing, as well as what is in the bag.<br />
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I can go for an indefinite amount of time with these items as they can be washed in the room's sink or bathtub and left hung out to dry overnight.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGMBg2J5XpIh63cjC1LyjRR2v28zM2w48R9S0h3a8w_bKukT2PNicAFGrXrlSODVVPVYgxb90Ko5LRgoG14XH6COsXItX-YQN0zxlLVaTDfL-9ahy5ZtfrG5PlNhxTVWD7Q5FxkiNsiUD/s1600/New+Zealand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGMBg2J5XpIh63cjC1LyjRR2v28zM2w48R9S0h3a8w_bKukT2PNicAFGrXrlSODVVPVYgxb90Ko5LRgoG14XH6COsXItX-YQN0zxlLVaTDfL-9ahy5ZtfrG5PlNhxTVWD7Q5FxkiNsiUD/s640/New+Zealand.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My oldest son when he was one year old hiking in New Zealand.</td></tr>
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And now the list:<br />
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2 blouses (I take the long sleeved travel shirts by Gondwanda that can be buttoned up to be short sleeved as well).</div>
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2 tshirts (I have one bamboo travel shirt by Gondwanda and one wool t-shirt by Kathmandu that is meant to be a base layer but I find it useful as a tight but breathable t-shirt).</div>
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rollup ballet
flats/dress/cardigan/black stockings (This is my solution to a "dressy" outfit. It's not anywhere near as dressy as what I wear on a regular basis at home, but I just don't feel comfortable turning up to high tea at a fancy hotel in hiking boots and trousers. My dress is a black ankle-length maxi dress by Capture which doesn't show packing creases. The cardigan is a black cardigan by Modcloth to add a bit of warmth. My ballet flats are Rollasole. They do the job of being light weight and pack small but they are not very durable.)</div>
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skirt (A Macabi ankle length travel skirt. This allows me to be culturally appropriate when visiting religious places of worship and countries where it is not appropriate for a woman to wear trousers. It washes and dries overnight without creasing too badly. It does have the option to convert to shorts but they look pretty bad so I stick to the skirt configuration.)</div>
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pants (Gondwanda travel pants with zip off legs that convert to shorts.)</div>
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2 socks (Tilley endurables travel socks. Wash and dry overnight!)</div>
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2 underwear (Tilley endurables travel underwear. These don't look particularly sexy but they are full coverage (i.e. come up to my belly button) and wash and dry overnight.)</div>
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bra (You don't need details on this do you? OK, in the interest of over-sharing I take a black t-shirt bra that will work with everything. I made sure that this won't show through my lighter coloured blouses before selecting it.)</div>
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bathers (My usual black polka-dot retro style one piece. This is actually one of my only piece of "normal" clothing I take.)</div>
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warm jacket (Kathmandu thermal zipped up jacket. It's cozy and warm.)</div>
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raincoat (Rainbird black zip up jacket style coat with hood. The hood can be zipped away if I'm just wearing the jacket against wind rather than rain.)</div>
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sun hat (Kathmandu travel hat. It packs without showing crush marks.)</div>
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hiking boots (I love my Gondwanda hiking boots. They're very comfortable and provide good ankle support.)</div>
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thongs for shower (Just a cheapie pair from Kmart do the job here. I did pick a black pair with sparkles because let's be honest, a pretty pair packs just as small as a plain pair.)</div>
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night gown (Black silky nylon vintage slip. I wear these all the time to bed, and it packs so small and light and is easy to replace, unlike my more precious vintage dresses.)</div>
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silky scarf (Big enough to wear as head
scarf. At home I wear these in a 40's style turban for housekeeping or bad hair days and when travelling I like to have one on hand for locations where it's appropriate for woman to cover their heads. If it's just to enter some religious buildings I keep my scarf folded up in my pocket to put on as needed, otherwise it's worn all the time. This scarf does show packing marks, so I keep it folded neatly in a zip lock bag so at least the marks are regular rather than just looking crumpled.)</div>
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warm hat (A thermal grey beanie that I got at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. Excellent for keeping warm in the snow.)</div>
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warm gloves (Matching grey thermal gloves from the same place. These are pretty thick so if I was going to Antarctica or anywhere where I would want to be wearing gloves while taking photographs I would also take a thin pair to wear underneath.)</div>
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long johns x 2 thermal top x 2 (If visiting countries where thermals are necessary. The Kathmandu woolen thermals are pretty good and come in nice colours that look like clothes rather than underwear.)</div>
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carry on travel bag (Mine is slightly smaller than the full size allowed as I find that a bit too much to carry - I need to keep my hands free to hold my children's hands when necessary and a big bag gets in the way.)</div>
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day pack (I have a little triangular day pack that is designated as my son's "carry on" bag for the flight and thereafter is carried as a day pack. For the flight this contains children's entertainment and my Kindle and while on holiday it contains water, first aid kit, torch, travel guide, camera, and children's toileting supplies.)</div>
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laundry bag (A super big one with a draw string but it's actually too big now that I wash every day. I might re-think the need to bring this, though it does corral all my laundry supplies together.)</div>
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watch (I don't bring a mobile phone so I need this to get to things like the dawn flag-raising at Tiananmen Square, which was great by the way, well worth getting up early.)</div>
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travel clock (One with a good loud alarm so we don't miss flights or trains. I'm a heavy sleeper.)</div>
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torch (One of my emergency supplies. Is also good for looking inside tombs/ruins/caves without electricity.)</div>
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Toothbrush, cap, tooth powder (I take tooth powder tablets that Lush make so I don't have to show them at airport security. Normal toothpaste gel has additional security requirements. The cap is to stop my wet toothbrush smearing all over the inside of my toiletry bag.)</div>
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glasses cleaning cloth (Nothing worse than dirty glasses.)</div>
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camera (We have a digital SLR that's pretty big and heavy but it does take very nice pictures.)</div>
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guidebook (Lonely Planet is my favourite. We did try out switching to the digital version but found the maps and index to be cumbersome so have reversed to the heavy printed one.)</div>
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first aid kit (I carry this in my day pack and have had cause to use it twice so far. An essential.)</div>
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paper nail file (I hate having a broken nail, it really bothers me. I do remove all my nail polish and cut my nails short before travelling to decrease up-keep. I leave my toe-nails painted though, they usually last better without chipping.)</div>
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hair comb/brush (A cheapie one from the supermarket that also has a mirror and folds up into itself for storage.)</div>
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foundation/brush (A short handled kabuki brush with my Chanel Pro-Lumiere works just fine.)</div>
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hair band/tie, two bobby pins (I made the mistake of travelling without these once and had to put up my hair in a very strong wind with just one old bobby pin I found in my pocket. I have very thick wavy hair and it was a challenge.)</div>
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laundry rope, sink plug, hard soap (For all that daily washing.)</div>
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razor (Ladies you know what this is for!)</div>
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bar shampoo, soap container (I have a Lush bar shampoo that doesn't need pulling out at airport security.)</div>
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concealer (Whatever one I am wearing at the time. At the moment it's Mirenesse Icon Sealer.)</div>
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bar soap, soap container (Better than liquid body wash as I don't need to pull it out at security.)</div>
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solid deodorant (As above.)</div>
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tweezers (Ladies, you also know what this is for!)</div>
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viscose travel towel (Dries quickly and does a suprisingly good job of exfoliation if used a little damp.)</div>
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air sickness tablets (I get motion sickness just driving to my in-laws house so a good strong tablet is essential. At the moment I'm using Quell. I did try Sea Bands which did nothing for me.)</div>
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passport, air tickets/boarding passes, visas, cash,
credit/debit card, drivers licence, vaccination certificates, spare passport photos. (I carry these for myself and my children. My husband looks after his own.)</div>
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kindle, charging cord, power adaptor (I read so quicky that taking paper copies of books is a nightmere. Hooray for the Kindle!)</div>
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inflatable travel pillow (Economy long haul is quite an endurance test, anything to make it easier.)</div>
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aspirin (I get migranes.)</div>
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pads (One for the ladies.)</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
sunscreen</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
lip balm</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
eye mask</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
mini moisturiser</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
condoms (And one for the gents.)</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
copy of eye prescription</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
guidebook (Cover with paper so you don't look quite so much like a tourist when consulting.)</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
pen</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
notebook (For diary writing. I carry one for each of my children as well.)</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
two packs cards (I have a book of card games on my Kindle.)</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
security pouch</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
black stockings/thermals (Depending on the temperatures you're expecting.)</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
face wash cloth</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
door lock</div>
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earplugs</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
medicare card</div>
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For the kids I also include clothing, bathers,
entertainment (readers, bedtime stories on kindle) mini crayons,
activity books, mini activities, diaries, glue stick, little car),
pullups, nappy sacks, undies, wipes, toothbrush (I purchase children's toothpaste on arrival), socks, rain coats,
beanies and a swimming nappy. I haven't forked out for children's quick drying travel clothing as it's very expensive and they grow out of it so quickly. We just make do and they will wear a pair of jeans until they really REALLY needs a wash and then we go to a laundromat and do all their clothes at once if it's a country where that's possible. They have each got a child's size Rainbird rain jacket as they use these at home as well so we get our money's worth out of the purchase.<br />
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That was long! Has anyone got any questions or suggestions? Do you do something different that works even better? Would you like links to specific products? Let me know :-)</div>
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Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-64192711474275937072013-01-08T13:40:00.000+10:302013-01-08T13:40:11.107+10:30Our next tripHere's the next big announcement: our next trip will be the big one to England! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.singaporeair.com/images/Flying-with-Us/Aircraft/a380featured.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://img.singaporeair.com/images/Flying-with-Us/Aircraft/a380featured.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph from <a href="http://img.singaporeair.com/images/Flying-with-Us/Aircraft/" target="_blank">Singapore Airlines</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Travelling this time will be myself, my dear husband and two sons (5 and 7), my parents and my brother. My ancestors come from England (my husband's come from Ireland) and I was raised with British children's books. Enid Blyton, Edith Nesbit and Arthur Ransome were some of my most read authors growing up and I still revisit them today. I also prefer English weather. I don't cope well with Australia's heat - I get a headache after only 20 minutes in the sun wearing a hat and sunglasses and I've had heat-stroke twice. So it feels a little like we will be going home, even though I've never been there before.<br />
<br />
We'll be going for a whole month in October 2013 and will be flying Singapore Airlines with a stopover in Singapore each each way for a 6 hour sleep in a real bed.<br />
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I'm especially excited about:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>My youngest son's first overseas trip.</li>
<li>My oldest son's first overseas trip that he will remember. He has recently learned how to use a camera and is able to tell me a short sentence about what happened in the day so I'm excited for him to start his first travel diary.</li>
<li>Seeing the country I've been reading about my whole life.</li>
<li>Castles and stately homes.</li>
<li>Stonehenge.</li>
<li>The children being old enough to manage two activities in a day with a break for lunch and a playground or garden in the middle. Previously one activity in a day has been all they could manage.</li>
<li>Having extra family travelling with us to help occupy the children, particularly on the VERY long flights.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Some challenges this trip will be:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>My youngest son's disability includes difficulty walking quickly or for a long time. He gets pretty tired and often wants to be carried. He'll be too heavy to be carried around much by the time we travel so I'm planning lots of opportunities for him to rest and will look out for a cheap umbrella stroller to purchase when we get there if we can cram him in it. I suspect our next trip after this one will involve a wheelchair, but we haven't got one yet and are putting it off as long as possible. My father also has a dodgy knee and back so a slow pace will be good for him too. We will split into a couple of groups when the more fit and active people want to do the more physically demanding activities.</li>
<li>My youngest son is also having difficulty toilet training, again related to his disability. We will be using pull-ups (unless he manages to toilet train in the mean-time) and having a messy change once a day, which will be interesting when change-rooms are only designed for babies and tables can't take his weight.</li>
</ul>
I'm also planning to take only one carry on bag for myself and one of my son's. My husband will carry the other so our family will have two bags total. More on this and a copy of my packing list later. This plan is so we have one bag to carry and one hand free to hold a child's hand. My boys both have an intellectual disability so being able to hold their hand is essential to keep them safe. <br />
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As you can tell, I'm a little bit excited! We're going to be saving madly until then so don't expect any posts about big purchases between now and October :)Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-34455454657316802902012-12-24T14:44:00.000+10:302012-12-24T14:44:00.039+10:30Super Easy Last Minute Christmas NailsIt's Christmas Eve and I suddenly really wanted to have red and gold glittery Christmas themed nails. Sadly my nail polish bowl (I use a vintage Pyrex bowl which is just gorgeous for nail polish storage) had absolutely no glitter at all. I did find the perfect Christmas red polish in my collection - Red Hot Ayers Rock by <a href="http://www.opi.com/" target="_blank">OPI</a>. It's a really bright red that isn't brown or orange at all. If you imagine the classic Christmas red colour it's exactly that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGgHvjuC2mT1KqxGL7moRUiDIDkgxzOJzp7vNevX8LX_sC-4Ycqdr8OhUPDIjTuTul086M6Mwhw-dS_fOEGM8ASUbgMInqef3cIHW1t3HtDi08OZK4VADOKPML8TKi71OGp59Nr5NTy7P/s1600/nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGgHvjuC2mT1KqxGL7moRUiDIDkgxzOJzp7vNevX8LX_sC-4Ycqdr8OhUPDIjTuTul086M6Mwhw-dS_fOEGM8ASUbgMInqef3cIHW1t3HtDi08OZK4VADOKPML8TKi71OGp59Nr5NTy7P/s640/nails.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
So a couple of coats later and I had my red Christmas nails, still lacking glitter. Now there's lots and lots of glitter nail polish options. I had in mind a clear polish with gold glitter in it to go over the red nails. But in a small town on Christmas Eve there's not a lot of options to purchase nail polish (OK actually none at all). If I'd been a bit more organized I could of course get anything I wanted in the world online.<br />
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Then I had a brainwave and raided my husband's top drawer where he had secreted some <a href="http://www.lincraft.com.au/glitter-shaker-gold" target="_blank">gold glitter dust</a> he'd used to help the kids make birthday cards for me a month ago. A nice thick wet coat of clear top coat, a thin dusting of glitter and another thick clear top coat and I'm good to go. The gold glitter stands out really well over the red and it turned out just as I'd imagined.<br />
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If you need some last minute Christmas nail art that's super easy give it a try, and just for fun check out the <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?q=gold+red+glitter+nails&hl=en&tbo=d&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=htTXUImsKY6aiQfgtoDYAw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAA&biw=1486&bih=739#hl=en&tbo=d&rls=com.microsoft:en-au%3AIE-Address&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=christmas+nail+art&oq=christmas+nail+art&gs_l=img.3..0l10.4658.7659.0.7722.22.20.0.0.0.0.351.2169.7j7j2j1.17.0...0.0...1c.1.hBGGj0YbXgU&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.aGc&fp=8976e74a9104c2e6&bpcl=40096503&biw=1486&bih=739" target="_blank">Christmas nail art</a> that's going on around the web at the moment. There's some very talented people out there.Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-46448155826603517112012-11-10T19:16:00.001+10:302012-11-10T19:19:32.820+10:30On feeling hungry while losing weightAs an update: I've just hit the 5 kilos lost mark. Weight Watchers gave me a little star on my online chart. It wasn't very exciting really... Because photographs for weight loss posts are hard to take, here's a photograph I took in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens instead:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD1Qv53AXlN0BFRKCTxQW7UG8JLMIslvFM9QP6HfLKxPw_DyvFXKet8b8pZchTN1Uj1O36TKu58MJhdKruBeeBRgjrTBzSO5AUGaSfp4l25zsG9wRFIABqMylRu_sLwBFbAqfU6UXvu2q/s1600/flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD1Qv53AXlN0BFRKCTxQW7UG8JLMIslvFM9QP6HfLKxPw_DyvFXKet8b8pZchTN1Uj1O36TKu58MJhdKruBeeBRgjrTBzSO5AUGaSfp4l25zsG9wRFIABqMylRu_sLwBFbAqfU6UXvu2q/s640/flower.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
<br />
I've realised something that I think is not commonly understood about dieting and losing weight. Namely - you are going to feel hungry. <br />
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Here's how I see it working: If I have eaten "more than enough" food my body will store the extra calories as fat. If I have eaten "enough" food my body won't store any fat, but it won't use any existing fat either. To lose existing fat I need to eat "less than enough" so my body needs to use up some of the stored fat, thereby losing weight. So feeling hungry is actually a good thing. <br />
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I've also found that a meal needs to include some fat (and I don't do "fake" fat like margarine or other butter replacements) or I will feel hungry no matter how much I ate. A little fat in a meal is essential or my body wants to keep eating until it gets that little bit of fat.<br />
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It's a reminder that I haven't eaten too much and will therefore continue to lose weight, my body using the energy from the stored fat.<br />
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I've tried diets where what you eat is exactly dictated and they really didn't work for me. The kind of diets where they advertise "eat as much as you want and still lose weight, never feel hungry again!".The portions were always huge (and very expensive to cook) yet I was hungry all the time because of the low calories. I could never finish those huge portions but it felt wrong to not eat them because I was feeling so hungry. Now I've made peace with feeling hungry it seems a lot easier to continue. If I expect to feel hungry at some points during the day it's not a huge problem any more.<br />
<br />Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-85983785845025047862012-11-07T10:01:00.002+10:302012-11-10T20:07:42.067+10:30Lust Have It October 2012 Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrd7fFB-JXywX81mx4rP77r7w6swdKekvAMG0ZQkutrnbmyOBvW0i5s52UJeysG-XnnEKeu50Kt_rXvOJXoIkU2KyntdVWTq_UN-xQzfLK09UyIw-9VQXN2OZjlgI1rwCviL-dikBEbwW/s1600/LHI1012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrd7fFB-JXywX81mx4rP77r7w6swdKekvAMG0ZQkutrnbmyOBvW0i5s52UJeysG-XnnEKeu50Kt_rXvOJXoIkU2KyntdVWTq_UN-xQzfLK09UyIw-9VQXN2OZjlgI1rwCviL-dikBEbwW/s640/LHI1012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
The <a href="http://www.lusthaveit.com.au/" target="_blank">Lust Have It </a>box for October has arrived packed full of goodies. I got the fun and flirty box.<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Mask in a Cup Facial Mask (full size)</em></strong><br />
<br />
I'm trying this tonight so I'll update with how it went.<br />
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<strong><em>NYX Cosmetics Girls Nail Polish (full size)</em></strong><br />
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I got Milano. I thought from looking at the bottle that it was going to be a rather unattractive brown, though my husband disagreed and voted for silver. After a couple of coats it turned out to be a slightly sparkly silver with a hint of brown. I quite like it. I'm tying to move away from just pinks and reds and this made a nice change.<br />
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<strong><em>Avene Cleanance Skin (sample sizes, enough for three or so applications)</em></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=493&id=3282779042925&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser, 200ml/6.76oz</a>" target="_blank">Gel Cleanser</a> - This was nothing special when I used it, but after I finished cleansing and followed it up with the accompanying moisturiser I've noticed that my skin feels smoother than usual. There was enough in the bottle for quite a few goes (though not enough of the moisturiser to accompany it) so I'll finish using this. I'm not sure it was special enough to purchase a full sized bottle though.<br />
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Cream Exfoliant - I didn't try this. I squinted at the tiny writing on the bottle and discovered that it was going to have a skin peeling effect. I've done that a couple of times by accident when I've had a bad reaction to a cleanser and I can't imagine doing that to myself on purpose. This one went in the bin! I did really appreciate that it was written clearly on the bottle though so I could avoid damaging my skin by accident.<br />
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Anti-Shine Moisturiser - This little product did exactly what it said. It was totally no-shine. I got a bit worried when my skin tingled when I first applied it. I almost quickly wiped it off again. Luckily the reaction didn't go any further and my face is fine.<br />
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<strong><em>Caron Waxaway Ready To Use Sensitive Wax Strips (two strips, not enough to do a full wax)</em></strong><br />
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I don't wax. And now I know why. Ouch! Every follicle on the strip I waxed is now red and angry with me. The strip worked just fine, and the accompanying after-wax wipe was soothing, but my leg looks so angry there's no way I would want my whole leg to look like that. Three hours later every follicle is still red and angry looking. Not a good look.<br />
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<strong><em>Star & Rose White Bath Fizzer (full size)</em></strong><br />
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I thought this was doing nothing. It melted nice and quickly into my bath and completely dissapeared. I usually like my bath to have a pretty colour or some bubbles or something. I couldn't tell there was anything in there at all. I was all set to blog that the fizzer had done absolutely nothing, until I dried myself off after my bath. Then I noticed that I didn't need to moisturise my legs. I had shaved the bits I couldn't cover with the wax sample which usually dries out my skin. So I guess the fizzer did do something after all. It's not a product I would choose though, for a luxury relaxing bath product I like to see it (the aforementioned colour or bubbles do the trick).Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-21759639680957542542012-11-06T18:03:00.002+10:302012-11-06T18:03:27.218+10:30Eve Cosmetics Primers and Foundations - Tested On Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75eNxDAnblUNzLWLEDHZN-S1HzH3e8GYEHIApJGclQXNRzMzKBplZpyO6D94pWu5Aa1o8CWIdv6LjMNgt-G126atS73KXToiQcPlOXwfURzEkDzz4iDS32Q81qjB-MVO4CliEK1d1eT8U/s1600/Eve+Cosmetics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75eNxDAnblUNzLWLEDHZN-S1HzH3e8GYEHIApJGclQXNRzMzKBplZpyO6D94pWu5Aa1o8CWIdv6LjMNgt-G126atS73KXToiQcPlOXwfURzEkDzz4iDS32Q81qjB-MVO4CliEK1d1eT8U/s640/Eve+Cosmetics.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Eve Cosmetics is a new brand to me, and they were nice enough to send me a selection of their primers and foundations to trial. Here's how I went:<br />
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First I tried the <a href="http://evecosmetics.com.au/tinted-primer-spf-20.html" target="_blank">Tinted Primer</a> in Light. I used a mini Kabuki brush to apply it and it was lovely and thin and easy to apply. Unexpected was that this gave a much more opaque coverage than a tinted moisturiser. There was enough colour that it could be worn as a stand-alone foundation, though I did put a little powder on the top to tone down the shine. It lasted rather well. I usually have to powder my nose a couple of times a day but this one lasted all day without budging. A shame that the colour didn't work for me or I probably would have purchased it. This one isn't for girls with light skin, the "light" shade was much too dark for me. If one of the colours suit you, I'd recommend giving it a try.<br />
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Next up was the <a href="http://evecosmetics.com.au/pore-perfecting-face-primer.html" target="_blank">Pore Perfecting Face Primer</a>. I just dotted it around my face and blended with fingertips. It was lovely and smooth to apply and sunk in quickly, I could start putting foundation on almost immediately. I used my usual foundation rather than one of the Eve Cosmetics samples because I wanted to test the primer with a foundation I knew worked for me. And it did! This primer made my usual foundation even better, it looked much more smooth and long lasting (I usually have to touch up my nose a couple of times a day and I didn't need to when I wore this primer). I'm pretty tempted to purchase this one.<br />
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And that's all for the primers. Here come the foundations:<br />
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First up was the <a href="http://evecosmetics.com.au/mineral-liquid-powder-foundation-spf-15.html" target="_blank">Mineral Liquid Powder Foundation</a> in Tender Beige. I almost wasn't going to bother applying this one when I saw what colour it was, it looked so dark. But when I applied it the colour was much lighter than it appeared. It was still too dark for me, but not as much as I thought it was going to be. This was a very matte full coverage foundation (which I like) and it had pretty good staying power. My nose looked a tiny bit shiny at the end of the day but it was 34 degrees out and I'd been working in the garden, so I'd say it held up pretty well. If I could get the right shade I might give this one a whirl.<br />
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Second I tried the <a href="http://evecosmetics.com.au/mineral-sheer-tint-spf-20.html" target="_blank">Mineral Sheer Tint</a> in Light. The colour was the best match so far. Ever so slightly too dark to be perfect but not bad at all. As its name suggests, I found this foundation to be a medium coverage foundation. My red cheeks showed through a reasonably heavy application and it wore off my nose by the end of the day (today was another humid hot day though which is pretty bad for foundation durability). I would chose the Mineral Liquid Powder Foundation over this one as it really stayed put and covered my cheeks better.<br />
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Righto! We're on to the last one. The <a href="http://evecosmetics.com.au/mineral-photo-touch-foundation.html" target="_blank">Mineral Photo Touch Foundation</a> in Linen. Again, I had an almost but not quite colour match. It was very very close though. It didn't manage to completely cover my red cheeks but it did have good staying power and the colour was oh so close to perfection.<br />
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So which of all of these will I purchase? It's an easy choice: The Pore Perfecting Face Primer has earned a place on my wishlist.<br />
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You can get your own free <a href="http://evecosmetics.com.au/request-free-samples.html" target="_blank">primer and foundation samples</a> from their website. I want to give a big cheer to Eve Cosmetics for providing samples so we can all try them out and pick the product that works best without having to waste money getting the wrong shade or type.Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-24930347681297320782012-10-31T20:01:00.004+10:302012-10-31T20:01:35.511+10:30Three Little Christmas Gifts For Under $15It's that time of year again, time to put in the online shopping orders so they get here in plenty of time for Christmas. I absolutely hate the hot and dusty search through the shops to find Christmas presents, dragging a reluctant husband and two tired children in tow. For years now I've been doing all my Christmas shopping online.<br />
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Here's my pick for those little gifts for the women in your life, friends, work-mates, secret santas or perhaps a treat for yourself:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvdepn4R2GjhmFA3Apzg133xM8FbjIDpiRKh8znJw89ImMmIfb6fVYDDnA0JoR2QWjy77NFZ_y04lp1_nQbE6uTIcYIgbtvEtWzxd8SHf9wqXeZhqouUbVIR1p0N4bXXFawUrThIXHzQM/s1600/mor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvdepn4R2GjhmFA3Apzg133xM8FbjIDpiRKh8znJw89ImMmIfb6fVYDDnA0JoR2QWjy77NFZ_y04lp1_nQbE6uTIcYIgbtvEtWzxd8SHf9wqXeZhqouUbVIR1p0N4bXXFawUrThIXHzQM/s400/mor.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.morcosmetics.com/product/13/mor-gifting/view/312/sealed-with-a-kiss-bauble/" target="_blank">Mor Sealed With A Kiss Bauble</a><br />
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Mor products are always packed so beautifully they're great for gifts and when she's taken out the product there's a pretty tree decoration left behind. $12.95.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a72OCOvBTXFOgHiu3WWg-ugLvfnkhCsm32zTIhbClSrlTt9vGv2i21G2RXfajVVX5mAElK3-hWKJQT_U8X40FBwL-dWHbdGWuIoAfD4CU_JrZXYKyP7X9wOBoy-POTTs9oHG9DFRDGCf/s1600/lush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a72OCOvBTXFOgHiu3WWg-ugLvfnkhCsm32zTIhbClSrlTt9vGv2i21G2RXfajVVX5mAElK3-hWKJQT_U8X40FBwL-dWHbdGWuIoAfD4CU_JrZXYKyP7X9wOBoy-POTTs9oHG9DFRDGCf/s400/lush.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lush.com.au/shop/product/product/path/215_211/id/1254/christmas-christmas-gifts-secret-santa" target="_blank">Lush Secret Santa</a><br />
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A cute little package, my favourite soap (Honey I Washed the Kids), and a good price point too. I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't love Lush. $9.95.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV7HX-1M_oPfJ0yH-5F4JWJNbH8GNpDHXFCiyp-i3e-0gX0GsCJZrzVhsx3lOtLKku0EPdZ9dsgmUndRxdlCRKqOOvdF-XLxiVvakI-2Tdzmil3jQvwPBfJyvrFeQ4YjtgieifD8vfgIg/s1600/lusthaveit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV7HX-1M_oPfJ0yH-5F4JWJNbH8GNpDHXFCiyp-i3e-0gX0GsCJZrzVhsx3lOtLKku0EPdZ9dsgmUndRxdlCRKqOOvdF-XLxiVvakI-2Tdzmil3jQvwPBfJyvrFeQ4YjtgieifD8vfgIg/s640/lusthaveit.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lusthaveit.com.au/store/luxury-lust-pack-monthly-subscription.html" target="_blank">Lust Have It</a><br />
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This one's good if you need to send a gift through the mail. If you haven't heard about this program yet you're missing out. For $14.95 you (or your giftee) gets a sample box of beauty products to try. I'm a subscriber myself and I enjoy getting a box of goodies in the mail. You can purchase just one month for your friend, or a whole year's worth! The photograph is of my very first Lust Have It box, ahhh nostalgia.<br />
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-62830653335625475122012-10-30T20:09:00.000+10:302012-10-31T07:18:18.808+10:30Maintaining bright nail polish in normal life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGgHvjuC2mT1KqxGL7moRUiDIDkgxzOJzp7vNevX8LX_sC-4Ycqdr8OhUPDIjTuTul086M6Mwhw-dS_fOEGM8ASUbgMInqef3cIHW1t3HtDi08OZK4VADOKPML8TKi71OGp59Nr5NTy7P/s1600/nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGgHvjuC2mT1KqxGL7moRUiDIDkgxzOJzp7vNevX8LX_sC-4Ycqdr8OhUPDIjTuTul086M6Mwhw-dS_fOEGM8ASUbgMInqef3cIHW1t3HtDi08OZK4VADOKPML8TKi71OGp59Nr5NTy7P/s640/nails.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I like bright nail polish. I also do a lot of gardening. I'm talking pretty intensive gardening - pick-axe and shovel type gardening. Bright nail polish shows chips easily. What's a girl to do? I've come up with a system that keeps my nails presentable all the time, even wearing bright polish. The down-side? Well, there's no such thing as a free lunch - my system requires daily attention. Here's what I do:<br />
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Every evening when I'm on the computer after the kids have gone to sleep I fix up one hand. I just look for chips and remove and re-polish any fingers that need it. The next night I move on to the next hand. Then it's on to the feet. You get the picture. It doesn't take that long because I'm only doing one hand at a time and usually there's only a couple of nails that have a chip. Drying isn't a problem because I can type just fine with a wet nail without affecting the polish.<br />
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To try and avoid getting the chips in the first place I use a base coat (<a href="http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=493&id=619828378361&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">OPI Start to Finish Original Regular Formula .5 oz.</a>" target="_blank">OPI Start to Finish</a>), two coats of polish (currently Revlon Touch of Mauve) and a top coat (<a href="http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=493&id=809217905012&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat .5 oz.</a>" target="_blank">Seche Vite</a>). So I can usually keep my nails looking pretty without huge amounts of effort.Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-38059283964912394272012-10-29T13:09:00.002+10:302012-10-29T13:09:58.132+10:30Weight Watchers Day 3 - I Feel Hungry and That's OKIt's really quite strange. I've had a massive lunch - roast beef, avocado, lettuce and carrot with an apple as well, and yet straight afterwards I feel really hungry. Probably more hungry than I was before I ate. I'm not tempted to cheat and have anything extra, but it's a bizarre feeling. I know I've eaten a huge plateful of food but because it wasn't a pastry or pasty somehow it wasn't "enough". I think my brain is playing tricks with me.<br />
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I've just been out to a group that serves morning tea and successfully resisted the quite nice looking blueberry and chocolate chip muffins and cheese sticks. I did eat three huge strawberries, safe in the knowledge that they are 0 point foods. I also had a hot chocolate instead of my planned latte as I'd forgotten that the coffee machine at the group isn't the best at making a decent cup of coffee. To be honest, the hot chocolate wasn't great either, I think I'll just have water next time and make my usual latte at home.<br />
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I am still feeling quite tired, just like these guys we saw on Kangaroo Island:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7X0wR8YC-TP5iFgVGmE-jWReFiEbD8iCmM62KYJFkrh5WBMI4M2ZQd6g9J_rmBPDADTgSnfgkI-qGEC_f-ISP5g17tAMX3un2p0L3tQRV9HynAPgcy01MP8pQTE8OJJhed2bw6kF56uJ/s1600/sealions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7X0wR8YC-TP5iFgVGmE-jWReFiEbD8iCmM62KYJFkrh5WBMI4M2ZQd6g9J_rmBPDADTgSnfgkI-qGEC_f-ISP5g17tAMX3un2p0L3tQRV9HynAPgcy01MP8pQTE8OJJhed2bw6kF56uJ/s640/sealions.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-86850414702211966192012-10-28T21:56:00.001+10:302012-10-28T22:06:37.841+10:30Weight Watchers Day 2 - Cheating Already!Today (and all Sundays) are always planned as a cheat day in terms of weight loss as I have dinner at my in-laws house. So I specifically saved all my extra points to use for that meal. Today was actually a 44 point day which is way over the rest of the week where I use 26 points a day. It was all allowed for in the plan though, and I still end up with 29 points remaining for extras for the rest of the week. The plan is not to use them, though I may use some at afternoon tea with my parents on Thursday depending on what food options they have. Often they will have fresh fruit which I can have for 0 points which is the best option.<br />
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I'm actually really looking forward to next weight-in day next Saturday when I will start seeing some results. I'm feeling quite sure that I can stick to the plan between now and then. I do have a group tomorrow which includes morning tea, but there's always fresh fruit on offer so that will be easy.<br />
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I'm really quite tired now after a huge day catching up on all the housework and I'm feeling like this (from our recent trip to Melbourne Zoo):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hL6VgfLokgMP0ii8wqSbdo22jJR4g3hNNwB1pSv4FGxHs6bCNvDd5V0tK7yomYnPYQmQUI6d3vgBcv6Aexm9PccsMVe80evj_1gNgotIOAadsRhQ-mXh8fhjkRXnzjUq38iwmYbjrpjn/s1600/Lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hL6VgfLokgMP0ii8wqSbdo22jJR4g3hNNwB1pSv4FGxHs6bCNvDd5V0tK7yomYnPYQmQUI6d3vgBcv6Aexm9PccsMVe80evj_1gNgotIOAadsRhQ-mXh8fhjkRXnzjUq38iwmYbjrpjn/s640/Lion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do you ever feel like that? Some days I feel so tired I could just lie down on our hardwood floor and have a nap.Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-8954711890991043792012-10-27T18:29:00.000+10:302012-10-27T18:29:35.254+10:30Weight Watchers Day 1 - Did I Survive?I really tempted fate today by going on a 6 hour op-shop tour and not taking my lunch with me. I swapped meals and took my afternoon tea on the bus with me, but with all the walking around it wasn't nearly enough. By the time I got home at 3.30 I was very very ready for my lunch. Using the Weight Watchers lunch recipe actually made a much nicer sandwich than I would normally have made for myself. Usually I wouldn't bother with things like grated carrot, lettuce and other vegetables but they actually made a big difference in how it tasted.<br />
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I survived the day, but I am feeling very hungry. The only thing I had that I hadn't planned for was a small glass of orange juice on the op-shop tour as the girls were passing around champagne and orange (I just had the orange) for the Melbourne Cup theme. Feeling hungry isn't really a problem as I know that I've actually had enough to eat and I'm just adjusting to not over-eating. Anyway, if my body needs any more energy it has some stored to use, that's the point of the excercise after all!<br />
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One of my objectives to find on this tour was a garment that I really liked that is in my goal size. And I have found a beauty. A thick houndstooth black and white pencil skirt is now waiting in my wardrobe for the day when I can slip into it easily. It actually fits me now, but is a little too tight for comfortable walking. It's now my inspiration piece and will serve as a reward for my hard work.Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-66487977460122120702012-10-26T12:25:00.002+10:302012-10-26T12:25:10.628+10:30How I got Weight Watchers recipes for freeA bit more information about my weight loss plan which I am starting on Saturday:<br />
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The boys and I visited the library to borrow all the books we could find by Mem Fox for a school project my older son is doing. He needs to do a talk about his favourite Mem Fox book. Though we have a house full of children's books we don't have any by Mem Fox as I really don't care for Possum Magic which is her famous book. He managed to track down four lesser known titles and is reading through them to pick his favourite.<br />
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While we were there I picked up all the Weight Watchers magazines they had in stock. This was less than it sounds because they only had four in stock. It ended up being only three as when I got them home I discovered that one of them was so old it had the old points system.<br />
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The purpose of borrowing the magazines was to grab the recipes and menu ideas without having to spend any extra money. This worked great. I was able to work out a week of breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner meals from those three magazines and a couple of recipes I downloaded from <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com.au/" target="_blank">their website</a>.<br />
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I have dinner out with family on Sunday nights so my plan is to stick strictly to the daily points allowance for 6 days and save all the 'extra' points for Sunday night so I can have anything I want (and not offend the cooks). Of course the real test will be when I try it and see if I'm starving hungry on the bare minimum of points each day. Look for an update on Saturday night and we'll see.<br />
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And because photographs of magazines aren't that interesting, here's a picture of my younger son looking cute:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozBoywR7XYb3HNlu3UC9x9aFNl6a2A4VsHZn2yp9teUAbbMSe_ZCddOnRwV0cFZHQ0NiFpMnOe3fH5PDEpi-Z9eoal4eCg856V5_UnmIsfCB5TPGhudLJ7axtS7TO2SLKGRzcuQFBqJEs/s1600/Sweet_Boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozBoywR7XYb3HNlu3UC9x9aFNl6a2A4VsHZn2yp9teUAbbMSe_ZCddOnRwV0cFZHQ0NiFpMnOe3fH5PDEpi-Z9eoal4eCg856V5_UnmIsfCB5TPGhudLJ7axtS7TO2SLKGRzcuQFBqJEs/s640/Sweet_Boy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-56281710602067596182012-10-25T10:39:00.001+10:302013-02-08T22:23:45.044+10:30Modcloth's stylish surprise<a href="http://www.modcloth.com/" target="_blank">Modcloth's</a> sales are legendary and most of my wardrobe that isn't vintage comes from there, especially since they reduced their shipping costs to Australia.<br />
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This is the first time I've heard of the "Stylish Surprise" sale, but I've since found out that it's been on before and sold out very quickly. The deal was that I pay $15 for a mystery garment in my size. Shipping to Australia was only $6 for two "surprises" which was a great deal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-nWkHpcNvyg_akTZL97FS8cgWlXq1OHGytRFfBlxajCf74wzQ0uDhjXBS3G8sVT_yShxpJxQTCD9kcYOeDKjPTFjOPomn8ZBlXaXgWUIGDNCr12LhXwLyjw_JxANMIT78Sdc1RNzKd8n/s1600/modcloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-nWkHpcNvyg_akTZL97FS8cgWlXq1OHGytRFfBlxajCf74wzQ0uDhjXBS3G8sVT_yShxpJxQTCD9kcYOeDKjPTFjOPomn8ZBlXaXgWUIGDNCr12LhXwLyjw_JxANMIT78Sdc1RNzKd8n/s400/modcloth.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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What I'm hoping for:<br />
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Dresses, knee length or longer in retro styles.<br />
Lacy tops.<br />
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What I'm really hoping I don't get:<br />
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Mini-skirts of any kind.<br />
Big baggy shapeless tops.<br />
Rompers.<br />
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Modcloth have a fabulous "longer lengths" selection (by longer lengths they actually mean up to a couple of inches above the knee which is the absolutely shortest I'm comfortable wearing).Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-32589753174038782462012-10-24T11:30:00.001+10:302012-10-24T13:08:34.228+10:30A weightly matterSo I have a few kilos left over (well 10 if you're counting) from having children. The thing is, my youngest has just turned 5! It looks like they're not going away on their own then. <br />
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Before I had children I was always able to eat whatever I wanted, packets of chips, bars of chocolate, bakery goodies and I never changed weight. I was 57kg every time I weighed myself. The only time I put on weight was when I spent two months in China. It was winter and my body just wanted to eat lots and lots of rice. I came home 63kg and promptly lost all the weight back to 57kg without making any effort at all. <br />
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My body image is still of myself as that slender teenager and I get suprised when I look down and see a round tummy instead of a flat one. I do wear a lot of dresses which are fitted at the waist and then have a full skirt, often with a petticoat, which disguises things pretty well. But I'm not really wanting to have to disguise certain areas for the rest of my life. So I've decided it's time.<br />
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I'm also going to share a personal photograph, which I haven't done before online, in the anticipation of sharing an "after" photograph in a year or so. Should keep me honest. The whole internet will be able to see if I don't keep it up! You can see what I mean about the full skirts:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo3L2IAtDQH6btU6uv8zJZMnxaZBadaKAAQQEXm6ir6AmWHSgV-3z0lYO5Lb5tZQV9Z318imu_LjH2AEFund33vi-bBdJ2U_6kjdzboc1KRUV8sOwGnCwOMicQzCdcnCiXBcog-VxgY_c/s1600/Cynthaz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo3L2IAtDQH6btU6uv8zJZMnxaZBadaKAAQQEXm6ir6AmWHSgV-3z0lYO5Lb5tZQV9Z318imu_LjH2AEFund33vi-bBdJ2U_6kjdzboc1KRUV8sOwGnCwOMicQzCdcnCiXBcog-VxgY_c/s640/Cynthaz.JPG" width="328" /></a></div>
Last night I spent way too long (I think it was 2 hours!) working out a menu plan that I'll start on Saturday. It involves spending quite a bit more at the supermarket than I'm used to, even though I did still pick recipes that use what we have growing in the vegetable garden at the moment. My main problem time is lunch and snacks when I'm using the computer. So I planned what I was going to eat for lunch and snacks to avoid making last minute trips to the bakery when hungry. The plan is to have everything I need all ready at home.<br />
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There's also a new rule - no eating at the computer. At all. I may need to put up a little sign to remind myself. We have a house rule anyway about not eating anywhere but the kitchen table, but I've been habitually naughty in snacking when I'm along in front of the computer. This has now stopped. I have no snacks anywhere in sight as I type this!<br />
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Oh, I'm using the <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com.au/" target="_blank">Weight Watchers</a> online program to keep me on track. But they haven't paid me to say that or anything :)</div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-51277338961048009362012-10-23T11:24:00.004+10:302012-10-23T11:24:50.609+10:30Would you let your son choose your nail polish?Last night I lived dangerously and let my 6 year old son loose in my nail polish bowl. It's usually kept high up and out of reach so he was quite interested to have a poke around. I asked him to pick what colour polish I should wear. Now you'd think he wouldn't be interested right? I was quite impressed. <br />
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He took the time to consider all the options and eventually selected Revlon's Touch of Mauve.
This polish is actually quite different from most of my collection. I tend to favour bright pinks and Touch of Mauve is a soft pinky brown polish. I do quite like it though, and while I don't reach for it often I'm always pleasantly suprised by how much I do like it when I wear it.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDLv90lgk9i1vBzpbcYbwv2F7-z8oYCN1mLf-fuNHjWVSBpRpQyXAE-vvpKng2PgRARQM3TUnaY3T7bcaF7lhy0A1YHx7poBG7gPGz3xiPAeUkokThJFR9F7VWR14Vuf8lml2XpD-37uF/s1600/revlon+touch+of+mauve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDLv90lgk9i1vBzpbcYbwv2F7-z8oYCN1mLf-fuNHjWVSBpRpQyXAE-vvpKng2PgRARQM3TUnaY3T7bcaF7lhy0A1YHx7poBG7gPGz3xiPAeUkokThJFR9F7VWR14Vuf8lml2XpD-37uF/s400/revlon+touch+of+mauve.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've found that many of the polishes that fall into the "nude" category of colour apply much too sheer. If I want a completely nude nail I'll just leave it bare and not go to the trouble of applying polish. Touch of Mauve doesn't have this problem. It applies completely opaque with two coats and is just as chip resistant as my OPI polishes (with a top coat of Seche Vite of course).
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You can see other's reviews of this shade at <a href="http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemID=100965">Makeup Alley</a>, a great go-to site for makeup reviews which has an amazingly extensive database of current and past products and shades. I do quite a bit of pre-purchase research there.
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-58459369718972820312012-10-22T21:55:00.002+10:302012-10-23T11:26:33.083+10:30Slip into something vintage tonight
Vintage slips - if there’s a more flattering sleepwear option around I haven’t found it! They’re simple to wear too, just “slip” on your slip and you’re done. If it’s cool then a lovely quilted dressing gown goes nicely on top for warmth.<br />
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My favourite period for slips is the 1950’s. The silhouette is shapely, body skimming and just above the knees with lovely trims and ribbons. Very feminine.</div>
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Things to watch for when you’re shopping for vintage slips are:</div>
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<li>Will it fit? Try it on or get accurate measurements from the seller. Vintage sizing is smaller than what you’re used to.</li>
<li>Is the lace or fabric discoloured anywhere? Marks like rust spots are particularly common in Victorian era nightgowns, with yellowed lace a common problem with the 1950’s slips.</li>
<li>Are there any runs or pulls in the thread? You’re looking for an immaculate garment. Amazingly I’ve come across some still with the tags on. The original owner purchased and then never wore the garment. That’s one to snap up if it’s in your size.</li>
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And best of all this little indulgence doesn’t cost the earth. My Ebay purchases have all come in at less than $20, and that’s been for immaculate condition garments too.Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-44029973698279723422012-10-22T21:54:00.002+10:302012-10-22T21:58:20.486+10:30The perfect red lipstick<h2>
The perfect red lipstick</h2>
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We’ve all done it, myself included, spending 20 minutes in the store painstakingly testing each lipstick on our hands to find the perfect shade of red only to find when it comes home it doesn’t look good when you actually wear it. Red lipstick is the ultimate classic makeup, but finding the right shade can be trickier than you might think. Luckily there are a few shades that are universally flattering.<br />
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If you want to find the right shade of red lipstick for you, you really need to try it on your face, not the back of your hand. But don’t do this in the store, those testers are not clean (just imagine how many people have used them before you) so you don’t want them going on your lips. Instead, take advantage of the department store makeup ladies, who can apply their products to you but use proper hygiene practices so you can be sure it’s safe.<br />
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Any of the reds that don’t have an undertone are a good bet for a universal lipstick. My vote for a red lipstick that flatters any skin tone is <a href="http://au.strawberrynet.com/productDetail.aspx?ProdId=78920" target="_blank" title="Passion">Chanel Allure Passion</a>. This is a very classic bright movie star red (and the luxury packaging looks rather fetching in my makeup bag too).<br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.makeupalley.com/" target="_blank" title="Makeup Alley">Makeup Alley</a> for the following guide to the perfect red lipstick:<br />
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<em>Picks for Pink:<br />Chanel Hydrabase Lipstick in No. 95, Red Dream )<br />NARS Lip Stain Gloss Indian Red )<br />Christian Dior Rouge Dior in Red Premiere 752 )</em><br />
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<em>Picks for Yellow:<br />MAC Lipstick in Spice It Up! )<br />Shiseido The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick in P23 Real Red )<br />Dior Addict Lipstick in Positive Red 857 )</em><br />
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<em>All-Purpose Reds:<br />NARS Lipstick in Jungle Red )<br />Chanel Allure Lipstick in No. 10, Passion )<br />Scott Barnes LipSuede in Sabrina ) </em><br />
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Red lipstick, like red nails, does require a bit more upkeep than a nude, but the results are worth it. </div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-67698517678579395902012-10-22T21:53:00.002+10:302012-10-22T21:59:42.423+10:30Pssst, wanna buy a cheap Hermes scarf?<h2>
Pssst, wanna buy a cheap Hermes scarf?</h2>
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Don’t support crime. If you can’t afford the real thing, either start saving, or find a cheaper brand you love.In designer fake news, Harper’s Bazaar have launched their new campaign “Fakes are Never in Fashion” in a bid to stem the tide of counterfeit luxury goods. They’ve also made four of their articles about fakes available to read for free in PDF format. They make for interesting reading:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bazaarelite.com/content/pdf/2005.pdf" target="_blank">Why luxury is worth it</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bazaarelite.com/content/pdf/2006.pdf" target="_blank">The human cost of fakes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bazaarelite.com/content/pdf/pdf_0031_cc4_ccd.pdf" target="_blank">The fake trade, wanted for stealing childhoods</a></div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-20626851286855295952012-10-22T21:51:00.002+10:302012-10-22T22:00:29.409+10:30National Costume Museum<h2>
National Costume Museum</h2>
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Tucked away in the Adelaide Hills is a real gem of a museum for the fashionably inclined: the National Costume Museum (incorporating the Helen Hughes Collection). They have fashion (men and women) ranging through the ages from the first settlement of South Australia, through to designer gems of the 1970’s (including a Pucci original just hanging casually on a hanger in the aisle as you walk through the displays) and gowns worn by celebrities. They’re not far in the distance behind glass either. This is one of those wonderful museums that trusts the patrons to keep their hands to themselves, and allow you to get right up close to the garments so you can see the details. This is especially interesting if you’re interested in sewing or costume making, and wardrobe designers for films drop in from time to time to research period details for their next project.<br />
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The very oldest pieces came from the collection of Helen Hughes who, in a sea chest inherited from her mother who came to Australia in 1937, found her great-grandmother’s wedding dress and her great-great-grandmother’s printed cotton afternoon dress.<br />
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The necessary details:<br />
Cost: $3<br />
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.<br />
Location: Adelaide Hills Business and Tourism Centre, 1 Adelaide-Lobethal Road, Lobethal, SA.<br />
If you want to arrange a tour, their number is 0438-879-017. <br />
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We were lucky enough to get our own personal mini-tour when we arrived, with plenty of time afterwards to wander around and inspect the more interesting articles at our leisure. I was even shown (and allowed to touch) many of the garments that were being mended in preparation for display, and the personal attention and wealth of knowledge of the ladies who work here was astounding and fascinating.</div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-33147844023001989442012-10-22T21:50:00.003+10:302012-10-22T22:01:06.545+10:30Who REALLY does Haute Couture?<h2>
Who REALLY does Haute Couture?</h2>
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The term haute couture is bandied around these days left right and center. But did you know that there is an actual list of haute couture designers that are sanctioned as such by France, and these are the only designers who are the true creators of haute couture. A bit like Champagne (any sparkling wines that don’t come from the Champagne region of France may not be labelled as Champagne but must be sold as “Sparkling White”.<br />
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So here’s the list (note that some of these names are great designers of haute couture from the past and are not currently in production). The list changes too, as those responsible sometimes give “guest” status to designers also:<br />
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Adeline Andre<br />
Balmain<br />
Chanel<br />
Christian Lacroix<br />
Dior<br />
Dominique Sirop<br />
Elie Saab<br />
Emanuel Ungaro<br />
Franck Sorbier<br />
Givenchy<br />
Hanae Mori<br />
Jean-Louis Scherrer<br />
Jean Paul Gaultier<br />
Josephus Thimister<br />
Lecoanet Hemant<br />
Louis Feraud<br />
Nina Ricci<br />
Olcimar Versolato<br />
Paco Rabanne<br />
Pascal Humbert<br />
Per Spook<br />
Rochas<br />
Ted Lapidus<br />
Thierry Mugler<br />
Valentino<br />
Versace<br />
Yves Saint Laurent<br />
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Did you know all those names? Any suprises on which designers are NOT considered haute couture?</div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574037708818590963.post-67653726761641487022012-10-22T21:50:00.000+10:302012-10-24T21:12:17.178+10:30The secret for looking up to the minute fashionable without buying a new wardrobe every season<h2>
The secret for looking up to the minute fashionable without buying a new wardrobe every season</h2>
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It’s the old question: how to build a wardrobe of classic timeless looks that will last forever yet still look up to the minute? <br />
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All the foundation pieces need to be well tailored in a classic flattering cut of good quality material. <br />
You’ll need to be disciplined in the store when shopping for foundation garments as they have less hanger appeal than brightly coloured trend based clothing. <br />
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These are your investment pieces so it’s worth spending extra to get good fabrics and even a post-shop visit to your tailor to get the fit perfect.<br />
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In terms of colour, choose black or neutrals (bone, cream or white work best here). You can add your pops of colour in your shorter term trend based pieces I’ll talk about further on.<br />
For fabric look for wool, cashmere and good quality cotton. Shoes should always be leather and the best quality you can afford.<br />
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Tim Gunn from Project Runway has his <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080412012504/http://womensfashion.suite101.com/article.cfm/tim_gunns_10_essential_elements" target="_blank" title="Tim Gunn's Style">wardrobe basics</a> too. His list is a good starting point, but it was a little too basic for me. I want to look amazing too, not just basic. Each outfit you put together really needs to include one WOW item. You know, that piece that someone always compliments you on.<br />
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Remember your lifestyle and make changes to the list to what you know will suit you. There’s no point having a wardrobe full of tailored business suits if you spend your time surfing and bushwalking!<br />
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So what does every chic wardrobe need?<br />
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Jackets:<br />
<ul>
<li>Long (below the knees) wool coat. This should be well tailored and fitted around the torso, possibly with a matching belt.</li>
<li>Classic trench coat.</li>
<li>Trans-seasonal short sleeved cropped trench coat.</li>
<li>Leather suit style jacket, again this should be very well fitted.</li>
</ul>
Knits:<br />
<ul>
<li>Slim fitting cardigan.</li>
<li>Slim fitting jumper that skims your body and lands below the hips.</li>
<li>Slim fitting turtleneck jumper.</li>
</ul>
Tops:<br />
<ul>
<li>Basic well fitted t-shirt that’s long in the torso.</li>
<li>Crisp tailored white shirt.</li>
</ul>
Accessories:<br />
<ul>
<li>Winter scarfs in wool or cashmere, one in black, cream and one print or colour.</li>
<li>Big gold hoop earings.</li>
<li>Diamond stud earings.</li>
<li>Stockings: black fishnets (never coloured), sheer black stockings and thick opaque tights.</li>
<li>Black and brown leather gloves.</li>
</ul>
Skirts:<br />
<ul>
<li>Black knee length pencil skirt.</li>
</ul>
Pants:<br />
<ul>
<li>Black slim fitting well tailored pants.</li>
</ul>
Dresses:<br />
<ul>
<li>The ultimate classic tailored little black dress: knee length with a fitted pencil style skirt.</li>
</ul>
Shoes:<br />
<ul>
<li>Black stilettoes with a pointed toe.</li>
<li>Black ballet flats with a rounded toe.</li>
<li>Knee length heeled black boots with a square toe.</li>
</ul>
Then each season, just add one trend based item and any of these looks are instantly new. <br />
For this Autumn you could choose one of:<br />
<ul>
<li>Wide leather waist belt in black, beige or red.</li>
<li>A brightly patterned Pucci print scarf tied around the head, neck or waist.</li>
<li>Amazing up to the minute equestrian style boots.</li>
<li>A pinnafore belted over your tights.</li>
<li>Bright coloured leather motorcycle gloves (fingerless with buckles), think pillarbox red or tiffany blue.</li>
</ul>
And there it is. Whether you share your wardrobe secret with your friends or keep it to yourself is up to you! But be sure you’ll always look amazing without spending a fortune.</div>
Cynthazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891535067585854229noreply@blogger.com0