The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil | First Impressions

You may remember I received this pack from The Body Shop from my amazing boyfriend for my birthday last year. I have been slowly working my way through the products and there are a few I would definitely purchase again.

One of these products is the Wild Argan Oil for skin and hair. Whilst I haven't tried this product on my skin as yet, I have been using it my hair recently and I am absolutely loving the result! I love trying to leave my hair as naturally curly as possible, however it tends to frizz quite badly throughout the day.

I have been using the Spray Gel for Curls by Toni & Guy on my hair for a few months now. I still love this product, however as much as it makes my curls stand out it doesn't have that all day protection from the frizz!

The pictures below show my third day curls using The Body Shop's Wild Argan Oil. I have never used a product that makes my hair stay this nice for so long! All I do in the morning is get up and go - no styling needed.

One of the things I really love about this product is that although it is an oil, it doesn't make my hair feel or look oily (as long as you keep it away from your roots!)

One spray on each side is enough to keep my hair frizz free for a good couple of days.

Have you every tried the Wild Argan Oil from The Body Shop before? I would love to know which products you use to help keep the frizz away!

What I'm Wearing
Crocheted Dress (Blazae- a few years ago)

xx

Natio Finds | First Impressions

I picked up three products from the Natio range at National Pharmacies a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to give them a try! Here are my first impressions.

Complexion Perfection Foundation Sponge

I had heard a pretty good first impression about these sponges by Amy from Bottled Beauty and couldn't wait to try them out myself. Personally I love makeup brushes as I think they give a more natural look and don't use as much foundation as sponges, however I was pleasantly surprised by how good these sponges are. It does take more time to apply your foundation, so I can see myself using these only for special occasions, however the end result really is flawless. 

Clear Pores Detoxifying Face Scrub with Jojoba Beads

There were a few mixed reviews about this product online so I was interested to see how this scrub worked for me. A few of the reviews mentioned the lack of exfoliating power due to the gentleness of the scrub. After only using it a couple of times (it should only be used 2 - 3 times a week) I quite like the way it has been making my skin feel. Acne wise - I will need to use it for a bit longer to see if it has any impact!

Intensive Moisturising Night Cream

My skin has been feeling quite dry this winter, so I decided to give this night cream a try. I have been using it every night since I purchased it and so far am pretty happy with the results. I wake up with a lovely, smooth hydrated face.

I use the facial scrub and night cream as part of my overall skincare routine. I find that by trying to stick to this routine, my skin looks glowing and healthy. Look out for an updated skincare routine post soon.

A little something to remember when reading skincare product reviews - all skin types are different. Something that might not have worked for someone else may work for you! Most products have a mixed reaction, however if a product has mostly negative reviews, I would usually stay clear.

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin' 

Dining Chair Reupholstery | DIY

We were given our dining setting by my Grandparents when they moved into a retirement village a few years ago. The table brings back so many memories of all the wonderful times we had with them, and all the amazing meals we shared with the family sitting around the table.

I recently got around to re upholstering the chairs to make bring them into a more modern era. I absolutely love the way they turned out! After upholstering one of our couches last year, this project was a dream - so quick and easy. Scroll down to see the process.

- Fabric

- Drill

- Thread

- Scissors

- Chisel

- Pliers

- Staple Gun

The first thing you will need to do is dismantle the chair. Flip the chair so it is upside down and use your drill to remove all screws. Remember to take note of where everything fitted so you are able to put it back together properly. You may like to take pictures to ensure you put it back the same way.

Don't be fooled into thinking your dining chair will only have a few staples. There were at least 100 in each of our dining chairs! You need to ensure you take out all of your staples. I didn't have a special tool, so I used one of my partner's chisels and a pair of heavy duty pliers to pull out each staple. I found it easier to use the chisel first and push up all the staples, then go around and pull out the staples with the pliers. 

Place the old fabric on top of the new fabric and cut it out. Make sure to leave a border when you are cutting. Now is also the time to sew any fabric you need to. I don't have a picture of it sorry, but the backs of our chairs also needed to be reupholstered. I used what they had done as a guide and sewed the new fabric where they had sewn the old fabric.

Pretty much the most exciting step! Using your stale gun, reattach the fabric to the cushion of the chair. This was a lot of trial and error for me especially when it came to the corners. Take your time and ensure there are no puckers before you staple. It is also easier if you have 2 people so you can hold the fabric in place. You can now reassemble the chair.

And you are finished! Super easy - the more you do the quicker you will get.

I chose this gorgeous nude leaf curtain fabric to reupholster the chairs and I think it looks really nice.

We also really want to paint the dining setting but are unsure at this stage what colour. What are your thoughts?

I hope this post has been helpful and might inspire you with your reupholstering projects.

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.
facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin' // etsy

Advice | Colouring Your Hair for the First Time

I finally took the plunge and coloured my hair. Yes - I made it into my 20's with my natural hair colour! I have never been interested in colouring my hair as I really like the colour of it! It is slightly darker in winter which is great and in summer I get slight blond / red streaks in my hair.

For a while now, I have been wanting something different with my hair. I have the thickest hair and I cannot cut it because I will look like a triangle head (picture Grug on my head! And if you have never heard of Grug then shame on you!) I really like the sublte ombre look so I headed to Pinterest to find some inspiration.

image from pinterest

image from pinterest (cannot find the link sorry)

I really liked both of these looks but it is a bit too much blond for what I was after.

Then I found this one and loved it! It is subtle enough not to be too blonde, but gives the hair a little bit of colour and definition.

Image from Pinterest

Here is my hair during and after!

My hairdresser used a "mocha" coloured brown on the ends because it was a much warmer tone than blonde and blended nicely with my original colour. One of the things I really loved was that because I had not coloured my hair previously, she was able to use a toner and not bleach! 

Below are a few of my tips on colouring your hair for the first time.

1. Find a few pictures of colour / looks you like. 

It is better to have a few as one may not be perfect for your hair. Make sure you show them to your hairdresser so that you are both on the same page.

2. Less is more.

My hairdresser agreed that the above colour was a good idea as it is not too much colour for a first timer, and because it is not near the roots I can grow it out easily. It is also more manageable as I will not have to tend to the colour as often.

3. Talk to your hairdresser. 

As step 2 shows, they will know what will look good and what won't on your hair. 

4. Trust your hairdresser.

I think this is one of the most important things when it comes to doing something different with your hair. If you are not sure your hairdresser will do the greatest job, or that they won't be honest with their opinions (see step 3), I suggest you look elsewhere. I fully trust my hairdresser (I have been going to her since the early 2000s) and knew she would do what is best for my hair and make it look great. 

Do you colour your hair or is it still natural? I was so scared to take the step of colouring my hair but I am so glad I did! 

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin' // etsy

2014 Round Up | DIY

If you are a little worried by the title of this post - don't freak out! I am not done with 2014 just yet ;) I saw this great idea on Pinterest (where else!) last year but never got around to creating one. I want to be organised with this project for 2014 hence posting about it in March!

Wine Tour | McLaren Vale

Last week my girlfriends and I went on a wine tour to the beautiful McLaren Vale wine region. If you are ever in South Australia (the wine state!) I suggest you definitely check out McLaren Vale as it is such a pretty town.

I am not really a wine drinker, but I had the best day visiting four of the many wineries in McLaren Vale. We had such a lovely day for it!

I wore a cute floral dress from Jeans West with the hat I purchased from a Newsagent in Coolangatta and flat white sandles.

A few snaps from the day...

Our first stop...d'Arenberg - such a gorgeous view over Willunga

 

Hugo Wines...small but cute - and nice wines!

 

A great place for photos with the beautiful vines at Parri Estate

It was really nice to get out with the girls and do something different. We also stopped off at Woodstock Wine Estate for yummy lunch of regional platters (and more wine tasting!) I would definitely reccommend McLaren Vale if you are in South Australia and you are looking for something to do (even if it is not wine tasting!)

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin' // etsy

 

Product Love | Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

 

I am in love with these lip balm stains from Revlon. I had heard about them from different bloggers around the world but was never really interested in trying them as I wasn't sure they would live up to the hype. However, I was in my local National Pharmacies last week and they had a member special on which meant these babies were only $10 each! I thought I might give them a try and I am so glad I did.

 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in "Precious" 

I picked up two colours to try, "Precious" which is a perfect nude color and the colour I have been wearing everyday to work since I purchased them, and "Cherish" which is a gorgeous hot pink (I could not resist!)

 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in "Cherish"

"Precious" and "Cherish" (Sorry for the not so good quality photo)

There are a few things that I really love about these lip stains. First of all, they last ALL day which I absolutely love, especially when I am at work or out on the weekend. Even if I do need to reapply, they are so easy to put on without needing a mirror which is an added bonus. Secondly, because they are a "Balm Stain" they are very moisturising for your lips, and I have definitely been noticing a difference in the softness of my lips!

If you have not heard of these, or like me, have not rushed out to try them, I suggest you do because I absolutely adore these and would definitely purchase them again.

Have you tried these before? Are you as in love with them as I am?

- J x 

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin' // etsy

 

Favourite Products | October

I have been loving these products this month, so much so that I wanted to share them with you!

 

Nivea in-shower Body Lotion

This stuff is absolutely amazing! And it also means I don't forget to moisturise after I hop out of the shower. Once you have cleansed your body / shaved, apply this while you are still in the shower and then rinse off. Once you have dried yourself, it will leave your skin feeling silky smooth. I am always skeptical of products like this, but safe to say this one actually works!

 

Napoleon Perdis Rainbow Eye Palette

I actually picked up this eyeshadow palette in a promotion Westfield were running, where you received the palette free if you spent $120 or more in selected stores - so I am not sure if you can actually purchase this product or not. I am a massive fan of Napoleon Perdis makeup, and this palette is no exception. The colours are stunning and I know I would wear most of them. They are stunning on the eyelid - a tad shimmery - and last all day.

 

Lee Stafford Argon Oil - from Morocco

This is not the first time I have mentioned this beauty on my blog, but I seriously cannot get enough of it! It makes my hair look amazing, especially if I decide to keep my hair naturally curly. This product also keeps my fly-aways under control no matter how I have styles my hair.

What products are you loving at the moment?

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin'

Garden Update | Flowers!

I have some gorgeous flowers appearing in my garden this month! I adore the colour of my Pertunia's, they really bring some brightness to the backyard.

On another exciting note... My capsicums are here!! Yep those little bulbs will soon be capsicums (I hope!) the next big surprise will be whether they are red or green capsicums.

Another garden post I know, but it's about the most exciting thing happening in my life at the moment! Things have been so busy lately I haven't had much time for anything else! 

Enjoy your week :) 

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin'

Camera Bag | DIY

My parter recently purchased a new lense for his camera and therefore needed a bigger camera bag! I found this tutorial from Creating Happiness on Pinterest and decided to check it out.

It took me a good half a day to piece it all together (I had cut out all the pieces the day before) and I managed to successfully sew a zipper for the first time! I think it looks so cute (although I was trying to go for "manly" haha) the tutorial had lots of pictures and instructions and was really easy to follow. 

If I were to make one again however, I would want to change a few things. 

- I would make the outside material more durable (which would require some research)

- I would want to come up with a better way to reinforce and pad out the bag. I used foam and carboard but feel like there is probably a better way!

In the end it's never going to be as good as a store bought one, but this will do us for now and I had a really fun time making it!

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin'

Tutorial | Knitting / Crochet Needle Holder

I have needed a new knitting needle holder for a while now as my needles have poked holes through the fabric in my old one! The problem with going out and buying a new holder, or buying one online is that it is not customisable for my specific needs. I looked through a few tutorials on Pinterest and decided to make up my own.

This tutorial is fully customisable to your needs - you don't need to do exactly what I did as you may want / need something different!

(NB: This is a bit of a long tutorial, but I wanted to be as detailed as possible!)

You will need...

- 3 x 50x55cm pieces of material (I chose to have 3 different colours, you can do what you like!)

*Fat Quarters would be perfect for this - this is what I used, you may recognise the fabric from this post*

- Matching Thread

- 1 x 50x55 iron on interfacing

- Scissors

- Pins

- Sewing Machine

- Iron & Ironing Board

- The items you want to include in your holder!

Step 1 | Before you start cutting the material and sewing, it is a good idea to draw a rough layout of how you want the inside to look. This means you are spending less time moving the objects around!

Step 2 | Lay all of your objects on the material and play around with the layout as needed. This allows you to see how big to make the holder. Cut off any excess or unwanted material (keep in mind your seam allowance - I used 1/4 inch)

Step 3 | Now its time to iron on the interfacing. You want to make sure that the "dots" on the interfacing are placed on the wrong side of the outside fabric (see photo below). Iron over the fabric to secure the interfacing.

Step 4 | Lay all of the things you want to include in your holder on your fabric again to decide on where you want to place the pockets (leave room if you think you will add more in the future!) The best way to decide on the height of your pockets is to make sure you can see the smallest item you have!

 

Step 6 | You will need to sew only where the RED lines are for now. I made a small mark at the top of the pocket so I knew where to sew. Don't do anything with the large bottom pocket for the moment. 

  

TIP | When you are sewing these lines, make sure you are lining up the mark you have made at the top of the material with the line on your sewing foot (where the arrow is pointing)

Step 7 | I hand sewed this skewer in to place for my place markers.

Step 8 | Sew the inside and outside of the holder together. First of all, line up the bottom pocket where you want it and pin it in place.

Step 9 | Place the outside material face down on the inside (right sides together). A good way to check you have done this right is to make sure the interfacing is showing, and you cannot see any pockets!

Step 10 | Sew only the where the red lines are (right side, top and left side) leave the bottom open for now.

TIP | I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Step 11 | Now you need to sew the bottom of the large pocket. Flip the pocket so that it is turned inside out over the outside fabric (as shown below) and sew along the red line. You can then flip it back and your bottom pocket is nearly complete! 

Step 12 | Repeat Step 6 for the bottom pocket, sewing where the red lines are (where you have decided you would like pockets)

Step 13 | Finally, sew on your velcro. Make sure you do not sew over any existing material.

And you are complete! This has made my life so much easier and I definitely feel more organised.

I decided to make a new knitting bag to go with my holder. I used this pattern/tutorial from Noodlehead and I absolutely love it :) Big thanks to Michelle for buying the pattern and letting me use it!

 

I hope this tutorial has been helpful for you!

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin'