Christmas, Uncategorized

Festive Christmas Lights

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Every year I love to decorate my home with all kinds of festive cheer, which includes decorations, lights and tinsel. I have been stocking up with lights over the years and have fairly decent stock, I did however leave a box of decorations home in Melbourne but I’ve been able to work with what I have here in Canberra.

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Our rental luckily has a balcony, fake grass and is quite open and spacious at the front so I’ve been able to cover and decorate the balcony, columns, fence and shrubs.

I bought some projector lights from Kmart, and I’m sorry to say but these do not project, so don’t buy them! I have an inflatable Rudolph and Santa for our balcony and string lights that cascade from the balcony down to the fence-line. I also have the standard candy canes, Santa Stop Here sign and some Santa cut-out lanterns.

I’m really excited to add a few more items too, I have the need for it to be the best house on the street, but even though it’s early November there is only one other home, which happens to be opposite us that has begun the decorating.

Everything is solar powered apart from the inflatable Santa and Rudolph that adorn our balcony, so it at least isn’t costing anything but time for the initial set up, and then the sunset does the rest.

 

For inside décor I love the Kmart Woodland Characters which we have had for a couple of years now are easy to put together and look lovely on a bench or table centrepiece. Our Light Up Reindeer we have had for the last two years also and it looks super sweet in the with it’s light up antlers. Another bit of festive fun are the Glittered Reindeer.

 

Most of my string lights I’ve bought from Kmart over the years and they still going strong, give or take a few of them plus some are just so old now they’re just worn out.

I bought a handful of new items to add to my collection which included some bulb solar lights for the garden path which look fantastic.

 

Are you decorating your home for Christmas?

Do you go and visit decorated homes during Christmas?

Happy Festive Season everyone!

Have a wonderful end to 2018.

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beauty, Uncategorized

Happy Hair Brush-ing

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There is nothing like untamed, wild, frizzy, tangled hard to brush hair.

You know what I’m talking about, we have all been there, whether it be ourselves, friends or our kids, even beards and pets!

 

So to go from unruly hard-to-tame hair to shiny, manageable and brushable hair would be great, right? Well hold on to them curls and toss out your current hairbrush coz now you can brush 2 day to 2 week unwashed hair with ease, thanks to Happy Hair Brush.

The unique design of the hairbrush is a combination of nylon pins and boar bristles on a massive, vented paddle allowing tangles to be loosened, untangled and smoothed. It’s easy to knot (hehehe) only brush tangled unwashed or dry hair but also matted and frizzy hair. The brush works on all kinds of hair, and makes those dreaded hair brushing times no longer existent as there is no more need to be concerned or worry about painful hair-brushing.

 

The other awesome thing to note about this product is that two Aussie Mum’s designed and created this product! Yay! Click here to see some of their videos using the hairbrush.

Happy Hairbrush even offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee so if you’re not entirely happy within the first 14 days they’ll not only refund you the purchase price but the postage for you to end it back! Now that is a bloody good returns policy!

I have always had thick, wavy hair and the majority of the time I’m honestly too lazy to brush it, mainly as it takes effort, it’s time consuming, painful and downright annoying. The Happy Hair Brush has just enabled my laziness even more as I don’t have to worry about the process of brushing my hair weekly now because I don’t have to suffer the battles with knots and tangles as the brush just glides right through with ease. Thank you Happy Hair Brush for encouraging this laziness with a product that actually works.

As it’s close to Christmas, Happy Hair Brush have given me a discount code for your very own happy Hairbrush purchase for yourself or for use as stocking fillers for the festive season. The team at Happy Hair Brush have also kindly give me a discount code so you can grab your own brush for some happy hair-brushing, just type in SIMPLY-NL for a discount on your purchase.

Happy Brushing!

beauty, Uncategorized

Oribe

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I was so excited when I found out I was getting my hands on some Oribe hair care products. I have been wanting to try them for so long but unfortunately time had just got in the way and it had actually slipped my mind. I was so excited when I received my package of goodies and can I say, Oribe definitely deserves its Award Winning title for hair care.

If you’re not familiar with Oribe, here is a quick rundown.

Oribe began in 2008 and basically blends the performance, craftsmanship and decades of styles together to create a high quality haircare in a league of it’s own.
The team at Oribe wanted a hair care product that outshines and outsmarts anything else on the market. The result is a line of luxurious products that condition, oils that hold, skincare-grade shampoos that prep hair for styling and gently balance the scalp, masques that have the richness and body of a lavish moisturizing cream and sprays that don’t flake.

And that’s just the beginning.                                                                                                       Each product is tested extensively to ensure that it outperforms everything else.
As high tech as these products are they surprisingly don’t contains any nasties like parabens, they are gluten free, cruelty free yet have protectants like a UV protection for the hair.

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Matte Waves Texture Lotion – Get salt-spray waves, sans dryness. This medium-hold lotion coaxes matte-texture out of even the finest hair, adding grip to styles and a beachy allure.

Oribe on their products fragrance –

‘While most companies select a scent from a stock fragrance library, Oribe Hair Care was the first to use a fine fragrance in its hair products. The brand collaborated with a legendary 19th-century perfume house to blend its signature fragrance, Côte d’Azur. Embodying the glamour and warmth of the French Riviera, the bright, seductive, shared scent awakens with hints of sun-drenched Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian orange, Aomori apples and leafy greens. Sandalwood, vetiver and crisp amber lend their soft, woody notes, while tuberose and white butterfly jasmine, from Oribe’s native Cuba, create a sensuous and invigorating experience. The fragrance runs through the line to compose a beautiful experience for the hair — and spirit.’

Isn’t it just perfection?

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Maximista Thickening Spray – Bigger is better. This thermal-protective body-builder helps you expand to your absolute fullest with enduring lift and hold.
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Power Drops – Damage Repair Booster Supercharge your hair care. This highly concentrated treatment serum provides an intense dose of essential nutrients to rebuild and restore dry, damaged, time-weakened hair. Formulated with linoleic acid, biotin and sea kelp extract, just a few drops of this powerful elixir repairs and fortifies strands.

These are my favourite products and I absolutely adore them, and so happy to have beautifully lovely and healthy hair using a product that has so much technology included within it.
Oribe hair care is perfect for the beauty-product addict and you can shop the latest festive deals here, ideal for the coming Christmas season.

If it’s beauty products you’re after then head here for Oribe’s full range of beauty items which includes make up and skincare.

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What is your favourite hair product to use?

Do you have fine or thick hair?

Uncategorized

Weekly Recap

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I’ve had yet another tiring week but it’s also been a fun. Work was pretty steady and I have been starting to feel more comfortable with my team mates and also with the differences between working in Rowville to working in Queanbeyan. I did actually take drive into the town of Queanbeyan on Thursday, which is a typical little town with everything you would need. I will make the opportunity to check it out a bit more though and have a better look around.

I did some baking this week, determined to make a gluten free vegan chocolate chip cookie as we have been buying them from the supermarket but they’re just that little bit too hard or too dry.

Surprisingly I had some success with a cookie, it is only gluten free and dairy free, it does contain egg so it’s not vegan but I do plan on trying it with egg replacer to see if I can get the same result.

If you’re gluten and dairy free definitely give this recipe a go and please let me know if you try it because I’ve made them about three times now and have had success each time.

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Soft Gluten & Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat your oven to 190 degrees, fan forced

You will need:

2 cups gluten free self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 tea spoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together.

In another bowl cream together:

2/3 cup dairy free butter ( I use Nuttelex)

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup dairy free chocolate chips

Add the flour mixture to the creamed ingredients and mix well. Chill the dough for an hour and then roll into balls and place on baking paper on a baking tray and bake for 8 minutes. Once edges of the cookies are a brownish colour remove from the oven, cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to completely cool down. They will be a little fudgy but will firm up.

Enjoy!

 

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Saturday was a beautiful sunny day and I was pleased as I wanted to be outside as much as possible setting up Christmas lights for the front of the house so that I could change or fix anything on the Sunday.

I’m kicking myself for giving one box of lights to my sister but I do have enough for what I want and I have some projection lights for this year’s display which I’m excited for, as I’ve not used them or seen them used before. I love the Christmas season, it gets me so excited for all the festivities and the happiness that surrounds people and the pure joy that’s around in stores, supermarkets, online and even people’s choice of fun clothing.

I’ll share more photos of my home and decorations in my next post, but right now fingers crossed everything looks great tonight!

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Simply,

Natalie Laura

beauty, Uncategorized

Andalou Naturals – Pumpkin Honey Mask

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I’ve been lucky enough to try the new Andalou Naturals Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask.
This gorgeous rich mask is perfect to gently resurface your complexion. The mix of organic pumpkin and Manuka honey and fruit acids will give you a gentle, luminous and smooth complexion.

 

 

 

 

You will feel the tingle of the ingredients as they work on removing those dry, unwanted cells from your face. Not only will you love love love the purpose of this face mask, but it smells so delicious, anyone who loves the pumpkin spice, chai flavours and scents will adore this product lavishing their face.

 

If you’re not aware of what glycolic acid is, which features in this mask it is basically the Holy Grail for skincare and exfoliation. It effectively removes the out most layer of dead skin cells from the skin leaving a brighter, smoother, fresher complexion. Products containing this acid are often used in healing scarring and the signs of ageing. So it’s perfect for keeping your skin looking new and clear.

 

 

You can pick up your own Andalou Mask from Priceline this week and guess what, it’s also gluten and cruelty free!

What do you love best about face masks?

How often do you use a face treatment or mask?

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Thank you to Priceline for gifting me this product from Andalou Naturals.

weekly recap

Weekly Recap

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I don’t have much to share with you this week except that I had a pretty good second week of work.

The weather has been amazing too with lots of sunshine and weather breezes although Friday was pretty storm and dark and that was no fun to drive in!

I took Wee Man Trick or Treating on Wednesday and unfortunately I had left his Ghostbusters costume back in Melbourne but we luckily had an Australia Zoo Steve Irwin khaki shirt so that was our only choice.

Surprisingly there were many places for us to door knock and Wee Man walked away with plenty of lollies and chocolates. A few people even answered their doors wearing masks, so it was a super fun evening.

If you celebrated Samhain here is my favourite Soul Cake recipe by Fuss Free Flavours

Ingredients

100 g butter

100 g golden caster sugar

2 egg yolks free range please!

250 g plain flour

1 pinch saffron I had run out so used turmeric for the colour

1 tsp all spice

1/2 tsp mixed spice

2 tbs milk

50 g raisins

Cut up the butter into small chunks to allow it to soften.

Turn the oven on 180C

Using an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar together in a medium sized mixing bowl until light and fluffy.

Whisk in the egg yolks.

Add the flour adding enough milk until you have a dough that holds together.

Stir in the raisins.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll out to about 1cm thick

Bake at 180C for about 25 mins until golden and firm.

My weekend was pretty chilled and I just make some food for the week, went grocery shopping and then finished Heathers on Saturday night.

Anyone else watched it? It’s so amazing, I thought it was fantastic.

Well thanks for reading, sorry it’s such a basic post, I realised about 15 minutes ago that I haven’t written up my recap. But it seems that my week has been pretty basic anyway. Plus my laptop won’t connect to the wifi any more so this has not been fun to type up on my phone! If anyone has any advice, that would be great.

Happy Sunday!

Uncategorized

Questacon

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During the last week of the school holidays Wee Man and I visited Questacon which was so much fun. Wee Man had so much to explore over the many different levels, each full of interactive displays. He also got to experience a few earthquake tremors in the earthquake simulator and see a man-made lightening strike and mini tornado.

Questacon is Australia’s National Science and Techology Centre and is perfect for kids of all ages, there is even a section for toddlers to play in, filled with water games, building activities and plenty of interactive and hands on fun.

 

Much of Questacon is just fun, as seen from the eyes of a child. Wee Man would run up to each activity, reading instructions and pressing relevant buttons or watching the results of his experiments. Each room within each level of the Centre is crammed with activities, displays, televisions and exhibits for the young mind.

 

Wee Man was in awe around every corner and loved relating to the science he had already learned at school and some things that were new to him and yet to be explored.

A day can easily fly within the crazy walls of Questacon with a multitude of activities, games, puzzles and resources.

After a fun few hours adventuring around Questacon take a break in the Mega Bites Café and peruse the Q Shop for a little take home souvenir for your inquisitive scientist.

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