Tuesday, December 24

| The Christmas Tag |

Hi everyone,

Happy Holidays! Only one more sleep until Christmas Day! I hope you are all now enjoying a well earned break over this festive time of year. I was tagged by Melissa from Melissa Bubbles Beauty Fashion & Life to do the Christmas Tag! As we are very near to Christmas day I thought why not give it a go?
Snowflake Wallpapers
What's your favourite holiday movie?
Love Actually. I watched it on Sunday night with a cup of tea in one hand and homemade fruit mince pie in the other. Perfect! 

What's your favourite Christmas colour?
I am a bit traditional when it comes to decorating my Christmas Tree. I love the look of gold, green, red and anything sparkly, of course.

Do you open your presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning with my family. Although, last night Mr W and I exchanged our Christmas gifts as we won't be seeing each other on the day. YES for early presents! :D

What's your favourite winter fragrance?
Lolita Lempicka - my ALL time classic scent. I repurchase this one again, and again!


Favourite Christmas smell?
Warm Christmas Pudding or Cinnamon Cookies fresh out of the oven. To be consumed with copious amounts of cold milk from a tall glass mmmmm.

What's your favourite holiday drink?
I was lucky to try one of the ever-so-popular 'Christmas Holiday Inspired Coffee's' at Gloria Jeans a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed my Maple Latte for a mid afternoon pick-me-up. Have you tried it? On Christmas day, each year my family and I make a different cocktail to enjoy. Last year it was Pina Colada, this year, Pimm's. I can't wait to enjoy it on the day!


Candy cane or gingerbread men?
Both for sure! How can you choose?

Favourite Christmas song?
Dean Martin's "Let it snow"

Have you ever made a snowman?
No I haven't. I would love too!

What is most important to you about the holidays?
Definitely the spirit of giving and love. Spending quality time with family and loved ones is most important to me! 

I Tag


ALL OF YOU!!! 
Merry Christmas!

I would love to hear from you! Comment in the comments section below and tell me 

What you will be doing on Christmas Day?


Christmas wishes to you all,

.k

Monday, December 16

| Christmas Gift Guide | For Her | 2013 |


Pretty-glass-christmas-baubles_article_new

The countdown till Christmas is officially on! Only 9 days and counting..... so here is hoping you're on the home straight with your Christmas list, and "checking it twice"

If you are struggling to find that special something for a girlfriend, sister, mother-in-law, or are errrrrr just wanting to treat yourself! I have put together a list of beauty and home lust haves to add to your Christmas shopping list. Just for you! 

Happy shopping!

Philosophy the Cookbook

Deliciously festive scents reminiscent of a traditional Christmas! Cinnamon buns, gingerbread cookies & wait for it ......red velvet cake. The pack features four of the most scrumptious shower gels you’ve ever seen or smelled. These multi-tasking 3-in-1 shower gels will save you time in the morning rush and can be used to cleanse and condition your skin AND HAIR! Or why not create a fragrant bubble bath and emerge smelling like a sugar coated treat yourself!  

RRP AUD $60

For the crazy Christmas candle lovers like me.........



Rituelle Shine So Bright Soy Wax Candle

Adorn your home in warm, shimmering light & fruity festive scents with this highly fragrant, premium soy wax candle from Rituelle. Shine So Bright is inspired by the magical aromas of the festive season, fresh fig delicately sweetened with sun-ripened plum. Savour the joy every day of the year & fall under the spell of this truly irresistible fragrant candle. Burn time is up to 40 hours.  

RRP AUD $25.95

  

Glasshouse Night Before Christmas Candle

Glasshouse candles are known for rich fragrance, and a glorious luxury look. Their Christmas scented, Night Before Christmas candle smells of Dancing Sugar Plums. If sugar plums could dance I think they would smell just as heavenly as this product! You cannot go past a candle that’s scented with all the juicy, delicious notes that go hand in hand with the festive season. Luxuriously packaged to fill your home with the warming scent of blackcurrant, plum, lemon and lavender. 
RRP AUD $42.95
                      

Ecoya - Madison Fresh Pine Needles Jar Candle

Ecoya is a proudly-Australian company, who make beautiful scented home furnishing products using the finest fragrances and essential oils. Each Ecoya product is made in Australia with care.

If you adore the lush, earthy scent of a bed of pine needles within a forest, then you’ll in turn adore the Fresh Pine Needles candle. A sultry woods aroma, with citrus and a hint of rosewood, this candle will fill your home with an irresistible fragrance. 
 RRP AUD $39.95
Madison Jar Candle features:

  • Handmade in Australia by Ecoya’s team of master candlemakers.
  • Made from hand-poured soy wax – a natural alternative to paraffin (petroleum) candles.
  • Wick made from pure lead-free cotton.
  • Candle is poured into an opaque glass jar, with a shiny chrome rim and matching lid.
  • Up to 80 hours of burn time.
                     

Ecoya - Madison Caramelised Plum Pudding Jar Candle

If you can’t get enough of decadent, sweet scents, then you’ll fall in love with Caramelised Plum Pudding Candle from Ecoya. It’s rich and warm, with the sweetness you’d expect from caramelised sugar, with spicy hints of dried fruits.  
RRP AUD $39.95

            

Clinique Party Favours Set

Question – who doesn’t like receiving make-up on Christmas? 
Must be a trick question, right? Yep, because the answer is no one!

The Clinique Party Favours makeup and polish set is full to the brim with beautiful beauty products. First, you’ve got the All About Eyes mini, which will help prepare the skin around the eyes by reducing dark circles and puffiness. Then, a NEW limited edition All About Shadow Quad, a High Impact Mascara in Black, and a Quickliner for Eyes Intense in the new shade of Intense Black Honey. The cherry on top of the pudding is a Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Roundest Raspberry, and Nail Enamel Mini in the limited edition shade, Cosmo Chic.  

RRP AUD $95
     Ted Baker Jenika printed vinyl washbag with bow (large), $69.95. An oversized wash bag from Ted Baker with a large bow detail feature and zip closure. <a href="http://shop.davidjones.com.au/djs/en/davidjones/sale/women-104551--1/large-washbag">Click through to shop.</a>

Ted Baker Jenika Printed Wash Bag with Bow

Ted Baker Jenika printed vinyl wash bag with bow (large). An oversized wash bag from Ted Baker with a large bow detail and secure zip closure. Perfect for a fun & bold makeup bag.  

RRP AUD $ 69.95

                              Body Preparation

Sukin Body Preparation Pack

Prepare the skin for your summer glow with this collection of body products from SukinEmbrace the body beautiful with this simple step-by-step trio from Sukin. Start with a gentle, sulphate free body wash and follow with a purifying all over body scrub for a deep cleanse. Finish with a luxurious wellbeing body oil to lock away moisture leaving radiant, health looking skin. 
Inclusions: Botanical Body Wash 250ml / Wellbeing Body Oil 100ml / Purifying Body Scrub 200ml.  
RRP AUD $32.95
  Volume Senses - Christmas PackSmooth Senses - Christmas PackBlonde Senses - Christmas Pack
Xmas Packs!

Davroe Hair Wellness Christmas Packs
Give the gift of hair wellness with Davroe to someone or pamper yourself with this indulgent hair care pack! I am currently using the Blonde Senses Pack and it is divine. I especially love using the Ends Repair leave-in treatment in the lower sections of my hair before heat styling. It works to keep my hair nourished & tangle-free.


Contains:

350ml Shampoo & Conditioner / 200ml Replenish / 125m Ends Repair Special 

RRP  AUD $49.95 Available only for a limited time.


Batiste Cherry Gift Pack

Cherry is for anyone that loves their look sweet, smooth and full of luscious retro flavour! This fun NEW fragrance from Batiste delivers a rich cherry scent as it livens up your locks, and looks just as great on your dressing table. The Batiste Cherry set is a gift pack containing Batiste Cherry Dry Shampoo (200ml) and a cherry shower cap. It makes for a fantastic and functional stocking stuffer this Christmas!  

RRP AUD $9.95

I hope this gift guide has given some inspiration for your last minute Christmas shopping adventures. All the best of luck! 

Gifts-keep-on-giving_article_new

BUT do remember that amongst ALL the Christmas 'fear-mongering' by media, Christmas is about connections with people and sharing special time with your loved ones. So please take a deep breath, get that turkey in the oven and sit down and relax with a cool cocktail or two or three ;)



Which gift would you most like to receive for Christmas and why?




I hope you have had a fantastic year in 2013 and can look back on it with a smile! :)

Christmas love,

x.k




*This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own, and are always 100% honest & unbiased. Thank you!

Friday, December 13

| Adelaide Beauty Con 2013 | Beauty with a Conscience |


Hi everyone! How has your week been? 

I am finally on holidays after a busy end to the study year. It was a hectic run for the finish line but major assignments are in and now I feel I can breathe againI apologise I have been MIA the past weeks :( It makes me sad when weeks go by and I am not able to blog. I miss you all. BUT don't worry, now I am all yours!

TODAY I am bringing you my wrap-up of the Adelaide Beauty Conference 2013 (ABC2013) which was held on October 26th in my hometown, Adelaide, South Australia. This year's conference theme was "Beauty with a Conscience", with the focus on brands that are cruelty free and/or organic!

I cannot believe it has been more than a month since ABC2013! BUT, I guess that means it is only 11 months until ABC2014 :)


The Adelaide Beauty Conference is the highlight of the beauty blogging calendar! I could not wait for a HUGE day of chatting with fellow bloggers, networking, learning about new / well loved products, and just having fun! 

A few weeks before ABC2013 attendees were able to nominate up-and-coming bloggers to attend as "Buddy Bloggers" for FREE! I nominated my best friend Nicole who has previously written a lifestyle blog and was interested in seeing what ABC was all about. Here is the beautiful Nicole. "Hi Nicole!"

                   

As the conference was an early start (for a weekend) at 9am Nicole and I decided to have a sleep over the night before. After watching too many episodes of Ghost Adventures we still managed to paint our nails and arrive ON TIME! :) I even managed to curl my hair with the MUK Style Stick I was kindly gifted at a MUK Haircare event in August. A true lifesaver! Here I am in front of the ABC2013 media wall :)

                       

First off, we were greeted with an excited welcome by Celeste (Becoming Beautiful), the founder of ABC. I really do admire Celeste's passion for all things beauty and her ability to get things done! Celeste, you are a keeper :)

Attendees were then graced with a presentation from French Skincare company Guinot pronounced "gheee-no". Guinot is the #1 skincare company in France and are celebrating their 50th Birthday this year. I think we can learn a thing or two here :)


Laura from Guinot taught us about the scientific focus around Guinot's skincare and a little history about how it all started. Attendee Christine was the lucky winner of the Guinot door prize, where she was treated to a luxurious Aromatics Facial treatment from Laura.  


It looks a bit scary at first, I know! The mask was painted on and hardened to what felt and looked like plastic consistency. When I heard they were covering her eyes and mouth my mind wandered to thoughts of horror movies. Think Jason from Halloween. 

The beauty bloggers descend. Doing what they do best!


The Guinot Aromatics Facial did take a little time, BUT I was so envious of Christine who looked ever-so relaxed on the massage table. Bliss and relaxation. The delicate essential oils that were used smelt heavenly. Christine stated that her skin felt "fantastic" and that is was "very relaxing".


After the final touches Christine's skin was absolutely glowing after her Guinot Aromatics Facial.

NEXT we were introduced to the beautifully vibrant Jaala Dyer from Love Organic Beauty who introduced us to the mindful concept of 'Conscious Consumerism'. This being, how one's purchasing practices can influence the environment around them, be it positive or negative.

Love Organic Beauty's aim is to "inspire Australian women to try ethically produced and environmentally sustainable natural beauty products".

Jaala introduced us to the range of French cosmetics from Couleur Caramel.
Couleur Caramel cosmetics are:
 ♡ fair trade
♡ innovative
♡ developed to minimise environmental impact
♡ NOT tested on animals
♡ 100% cruelty FREE

I AM IN LOVE!

Jaala Dyer from Love Organics

NEXT for the day - Makeup Challenge time!

I have to say that after using the a wide range of Couleur Caramel products in our Makeup Challenge such as concealer/ powder / bronzer / blush / eyeshadow / and lipstick I am flawed with the product quality & functional packaging. It was lovely to see all the Couleur Caramel products laid out before us and the ability to have a play around and explore the brand up close :)

I also love the philosophy behind the brand and look forward in trying out many on their products in the future!


The judging lineup and panel. There were many different categories and lots of happy faces after the fun-stress of the challenge. The lucky winners took home a goodie bag of beautiful Couleur Caramel products to play with.

I didn't get a close up of my makeup challenge look, but basically I changed my bold pink 'Revlon Balm Stain in Lovesick' to a blushing pink from the Couleur Caramel collection. I also added touches of blush / bronzer /face powder and deepened up my eyeshadow crease with a warm neutral.


Laughs & smiles all around! :) Not sure what I'm laughing at, but it must have been good!

It was then time to LUNCH! After the busy mornings antics most were ravenous for the sumptuous display of vegan burgers and handmade soda's from local food vendors Two Bit Villans 


Someone is excited for treats! This picture kind of highlights my makeup challenge look.


I was overjoyed when I heard South Australian haircare brand Davroe Haircare would be joining us at ABC2013. I first discovered their brand with a sample in my Lust Have It box wayyyy back in December 2010. It was the Tame Lemongrass Hair Detangler (pictured below) and I loved it!
                                                            TAME - Lemongrass Detangler

Davroe Haircare's mission is to provide 'environmentally sustainable, innovative solutions that support, educate and enable people everywhere to achieve hair wellness'.


Davroe Haircare have developed Salon quality haircare products that are all natural & gentle on your hair. Their products DO NOT TEST ON ANIMALS and are 100% vegan friendly, using NO animal derived ingredients. 

Davroe have an array of haircare products for what ever your hair needs are.


It was fantastic to hear from a local South Australian brand that is passionate about making sustainable and ethical haircare a reality.


Below, Anthony from The Urban Silhouette  (our sole male blogger for the day) was the lucky winner of the Davroe Haircare door prize. Sharon from Davroe showed us an array of amazing Davroe styling products and how to use them. 

Let me just say, they smelt heeeeavenly! One product smelt like freshly cut pineapple *drools* it was enough to make me peckish again.


On the day we were lucky to be gifted a Davroe product pack specific to our hair type. After a individual consultation we were guided to the range that best suited us. I have chemically treated blonde hair, so I opted for the Blonde range, but was also kindly given the Volume Shampoo & Conditioner as I struggle with fine, limp hair. I started using them right away and the Blonde range is honestly the best I have used. AND let it be known I have tried so many on the market. Let me know if you would like to read a more in-depth review of the Davroe products I received on the day.
Afternoon tea was generously provided by Adelaide's very own The CupcakeTable & they did not disappoint! 
The hardest decision of the day was which cupcake flavour to choose?


Choc-Guinness Cupcakes. My pick for the day! Delicious!


Bananna Caramel Cupcakes.


Caramel Popcorn Cupcakes.


Next up we learnt a thing or two from food blogger Christina from The Hungry Australian  Christina is a true inspiration in what one can accomplish behind the lens. Please do yourself a 'flavour' and check out her blog. Beware you will be ravenous after seeing the foodie pictures :) remember I did warn you......

We all gained a wealth of information and tips from Christina on how to improve our photography skills. 
So here is hoping I can share updated skills with you in the future.

We then experienced a thought (and question) provoking session about 'the legalities of blogging' presented by a Media Lawyer / Barrister. A very interesting look into the legal aspects of the internet and what to be mindful of when blogging. 



Adelaide Beauty Conference 2013

A BIG THANK YOU to ALL that made the day special and FUN to boot! 

Courtesy: Adelaide Beauty Conference


I tip my metaphorical hat to Celeste for being the driving force behind ABC 2013. Also, much appreciation goes to the ABC2013 Organising Committee

StephJeneara
SherrySherry Woo
MonnieVanilla Silence

A special THANK YOU goes to the guest speakers for the day and ALL the beautiful sponsors of ABC2013! 
Without you the day could not have happened:



I cannot wait to see what ABC2014 has install for us! :)

If you would like more information about the Adelaide Beauty Conference itself click here, and for more information about ABBM, Adelaide Beauty Blogger Meetups, head here. They are ALOT of fun and the more the merrier right? ;)


Have you ever attended a blogging event or conference? 

Which ABC2013 brand are you most interested to hear more about on the blog? 

Do you think 'Beauty with a Conscience' is important?



Lots of love & Christmas cheer,

x.k

Wednesday, October 30

| All that Glitters |



Chi Chi 'Glitteratti'
♡ O.P.I 'Rainbow Connection'
♡ Sally Hansen Gem Crush '03 Big Money'
♡ Revlon '430 Whimsical'
♡ Revlon Top Speed '902 Celestial FX'
Flor Mar True Color '003'

♡ Chi Chi 'Glitteratti' is flat-hexagonal multi-coloured glitter polish with a subtle pink gloss.


♡ O.P.I 'Rainbow Connection' multi coloured small glitter and multicoloured hex glitter in a clear base.


♡ Sally Hansen Gem Crush '03 Big Money' is a gorgeous rose-gold hue. Created by combining very fine particles of gold with medium flecks of pink. It totally lives up to its name, too. After three coats my fingertips looked coated in crushed jewels.


♡ Revlon '430 Whimsical' A dupe of the popular Deborah Lippmann shade Glitter in the Air. A pale blue, pink and silver sparkles suspended in sheer baby-blue grey base. Sounds like the fabric of a figure skater's costume, right?. While it does have a certain winter-wonderland feel about it, the mix of very small and medium platinum glitter particles makes it sophisticated—and surprisingly unassuming on the nail.



♡ Revlon Top Speed '902 Celestial FX' a mix of holographic & silver stars, moons, and diamonds in a micro holo glitter base gel. 


Flor Mar True Color '003' although it appears the glitter is holo, it is actually a mix of blue and green with some red and yellow tiny square glitters. There isn't a lot of glitter in the clear base, so it is perfect for a more understated glitter nail look.


I have previously featured the Chi Chi 'Glitteratti' nail polish in a St. Valentine's Day nail tutorial that can be seen here.


Do you like wearing glitter nail polish? 

What are your ALL TIME favourites?



Have a beautiful week!

x.k


* These products were purchased with my own money, except O.P.I's 'Rainbow Connection' & Flor Mar True Color '003' which were received in a beauty swap. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own, and are always 100% honest & unbiased. Thank you!

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