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Archives for December 2013

Botox or a natural alternative? + GIVEAWAY!

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Most of us know of at least  one woman who dabbles in the occasional or regular Botox, it could even be you. I love the results that Botox gives when done properly and not excessively; however on the other hand I do not like the idea of needles anywhere near my face. Actually I hate the idea of needles full stop! I am 26 and it has really only been in the last 12 months that I have taken skin products seriously and tried/tested to find what works best for me and what I want to get out of using particular products. I have recently been asked if I was interested in trying a very exciting product that promised results!

When the Cosima Flawless Eye Cream arrived at my door I couldn’t wait to try it. It claims to be a natural Botox alternative and it doesn’t lie. Within 5 minutes of using the cream for the first time I felt the skin around my eyes pull tighter and after a week it was firmer and more radiant. I have also been using it on my forehead to target those lines and like the bags/tired eyes that were previously found on my face they are no where to be seen. I really wish I would have taken a before photo so I could show you the comparison but I got a little caught up in trying the cream. The effects have been amazing on my skin; I look fresher, younger and not tired. I love that Cosima Flawless Eye Cream is luxurious and made with 100% natural certified organic ingredients because I am not using nasty products on my skin and still getting incredible results. I love finding alternatives to target the concerns for women (of all ages) like fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, firmness, dark circles and vein imperfections and this cream does it all. Being an Australian made and owned product that isn’t tested on animals it is a clear winner for me especially because it gives instant results. If you are considering Botox try this eye cream first!!

You also have the chance to win a bottle of Cosima Flawless Eye Cream 15ml. RRP $69.00 (as reviewed above) – LUCKY YOU!

To enter all you have to do is follow the instructions on the rafflecopter below. Winner is decided based on skill and chance plays no part. Australian residents only! Sorry everyone else. **The mandatory instructions MUST be completed or your entry will be void!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!!

Ella’s Kitchen is a healthy winner + GIVEAWAY

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I have said this time and time again; everything has changed so much in the baby department in terms of selections and availability. While it has only been 4 years since my previous baby it seems that so much has evolved and changed directions. Baby food for example has expanded and the options that are now available are incredible.

Gone are the days of having preservative filled jars or having to make meals from scratch to give your baby the best quality food. You can now purchase readily made organic meals! Ella’s Kitchen is one of the wonderful brands that cater to parents who only want the best for their children. Ella’s Kitchen was actually created by Ella’s dad, Paul Lindley who was so passionate in his belief that his daughter along with every other child should have the opportunity to eat healthy; and so Ella’s Kitchen was born. I love that I can walk into my pantry and choose from a large selection of meals and textures in conveniently portioned squeeze tubes and know that my 6 month old is getting nothing but the best. Nothing but 100% organic, nothing but real food and most importantly nothing but great flavours! Ella’s Kitchen pride themselves on the fact that there is no added sugar, salt or water, no additives or thickeners, no GM, no gluten, wheat, dairy or lactose, no lumps or bits and nothing artificial in their products.

 I will be honest and say that some of the meals I was a little unsure of flavour wise like the spinach, apple and swedes for example however Ella’s dad knows what little ones like because Hadley absolutely loved it!! She loved it so much that the spoon wasn’t fast enough for her and she ended up eating straight from the squeeze pouch. There are 7 flavours available in stage 1 (from 4 months) and 2 breakfast pouches for 6 months. Each and every flavour is unique, tasty and full of absolute goodness!! Ella’s kitchen (stage 1) is available at Coles for only $1.99 and in my eyes this is incredible value for money. We get approx. 3 feeds per pouch of this healthy natural baby food.

For your chance to try these for the first time or stock up on your babies’ favourite food enter the giveaway below. Prize contains: 1x upcycled lunch bag, Ella’s Kitchen bib and a selection of Ella’s Kitchen pouches (total value approx. $50).

To enter all you have to do is follow the instructions on the rafflecopter below. Winner is decided based on skill and chance plays no part. Australian residents only! Sorry everyone else. **The mandatory instructions MUST be completed or your entry will be void!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer: I was sent some of Ella’s Kitchen products to try for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own as always. 

Spencil has you covered!

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I know school hasn’t quite finished yet but with book-lists for next year being handed out in the next week the idea of having to organise ‘back to school’ gear is quite horrible. So many books to be wrapped, pencil cases, folders, writing things to be found and then there are the lunch boxes and school bags. The list NEVER ends!

There are some great alternatives now available to make organising school items so much more convenient. Spencil is one of them; a Brisbane based family business. They have a wide of products that would not only make your life easier but would also get your child excited about school if they aren’t already. You could even kill two birds with one stone and get them some of Spencils awesome products for Christmas. There are some fabulously bright and colour pieces that would make great stocking stuffers, give the kids something to do over the school holidays or get them ready for the new year. Check out the range of letter sets, gift sets and stationary and exciting erasers!!

There are 71 different pencil cases to choose from starting at only $3.95; the A4 Robots is pretty cute if you have a robot lover at home. A gorgeous selection of library bags for $12.95 that are made with PVC coated nylon and have a velcro fastening, name pocket and handle. With 125 different book covers means that there is something for absolutely everyone and every size book. Exercise – $2.25, A4 – $2.50 and Scrapbooks – $2.75. Not only are the Spencil products great quality but they are also affordable for families.

Besides the obvious requirements that are a must for me to purchase products (ie, good quality, safe & affordable), I love that Spencil donates money back to schools. For every book cover purchased between now and the end of February 2014 they will be giving back 10 cents to the school of customers’ choice; simply log onto the website and enter the unique code on the inside of your book cover. For more information check out the website or their facebook page.

Disclosure: I was not paid but I did receive product in exchange for review. As always my opinions are my own.

4 Awesome Kids Bed Designs

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Kids spend an average eight hours a night in bed, which is a fairly long time laying on a piece of furniture. Many parents buy ordinary beds for their children, disregarding a style that represents their kid’s gender or their personality. Because kids are wide-eyed and imaginative, they don’t want plain steal bunk. They want a crazy and cool pirate ship bed that will make them the envy of all their friends. For inspiration to find the perfect awesome child’s bed, superamart.com.au/ have created a list of four awesome kids bed designs that your children will love, even after they’ve grown out of it!

Cinderella’s Pumpkin Carriage Bed

Every young girl who knows of Cinderella wants a pumpkin carriage to take them off to a fancy ball to meet their handsome prince. Unfortunately, that will only happen in their imagination…unless they have an amazing pumpkin carriage bed. Imagine a fairy tale parked right inside your room! Of course, this bed will only suit a room with adequate space, but it will turn your daughter into the belle of the ball every night when she goes to sleep.

The Birds Nest Bed

The birds nest bed is one of the more it’s-so-crazy-it’s-awesome children’s beds. Perfect for large rooms, this circular giant with a layering of comfy cushions is great for children who feel confined in average size beds, or who tend to sleep sideways and need more room to spread out. Its round shape allows so much room for tossing and turning, sprawled arms and legs, and even a little bit extra when the friend’s stay over, that it’s one of the most creative and useful children’s beds.

Hammock Bed

A hammock bed is great for children who prefer to sleep in smaller, enclosed spaces. They are generally used for younger children who sleep easier with a gentle rocking motion. Because hammock beds are designed to keep children on their back with their head elevated, it can help relieve any tossing and turning problems, and get the child into an easier sleeping routine. Hammock beds are great because they are completely portable and take less than five minutes to assemble. Of course, you will need to install a proper support mattress that is moulded to shape the hammock bed, and replace it as the child grows older.

Hanging Bed

A hanging bed is similar to a hammock bed, as it hangs suspended from the roof supported by chains. It is perfect for kids with small rooms, as it is does not take up any floor space, and makes the room seem much larger than it actually is. Because of the space it creates, you are able to build storage spaces of cubby houses underneath, or to store away toys.

Children’s beds should reflect their vivacious personality. These four awesome kids are creative and fun, and are sure to get your kids into bed without any nagging! Install a creative bed today, Your children will love it!

Travel Safe with Platinum SICT

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With the festive season well and truly upon us many families have to travel to get to their Christmas or holiday destinations. With extra traffic on the roads also comes an increased risk of accidents and when you have children in the car you want to make sure they are in the safest possible car seat. You may have seen the new Safe-n-Sound Platinum SICT convertible car seat in stores and online; they are suitable for newborn – 4 years and are Britax Safe-n-Sounds safest seat yet. I have been reviewing this specific car seat for the past few weeks with my almost 6 month old daughter and when it’s said how great this seat is they are not exaggerating!

 There are so many things to tell you about this car seat that I don’t even know where to begin! So I’ll start at my favourite features and then move to the safety side of things. The car seat is padded enough that it is soft and comfortable for babies/kids to sit in for long periods of time and remain extremely supportive on their little backs. I love the thick fabric behind the buckle (also known as the EZ-Buckle System) because Hadley is at the ‘big chubby thighs’ stage and this prevents any digging in of the buckle and straps or accidental clipping of the leg and it also retains the buckle in a forward position for easy access.

The fabric used in this car seat is also breathable unlike a lot of others on the market. While it is wonderfully padded and soft they have managed to do so while using a material that breathes which is great especially now that we have hit summer. Hadley hasn’t come out of the seat sweaty or hot once which is the complete opposite to what happens when she gets out of her other car seat in Mr Dads car.

The Platinum SICT has deep side wings that provide side impact protection and when it’s accompanied by SICT (side impact cushion technology) and AHR (active head restraint) which provides head protection and grows with your child you will not have to be concerned if this provides enough impact safety for your child. The SICT is positioned in Torso and Headrest region to minimise the energy generated in a side impact crash.

There are two other little features that they have been added to make parents lives just that little bit easier. One being they have included harness holders to help keep the harness out of the way while placing your child in the seat and the other is the easy adjust which automatically re-positions the shoulder straps. They have truly thought of everything!

The Platinum SICT comes in 3 colours (silver is my favourite), has 4 reclines options for forward facing use and shoulder pads for extra comfort. While it is a little dearer than many other car seats on the market it is worthy of the price tag that comes along with it. The peace of mind knowing my child is safe is worth it. The RRP is $659. For more information and to see stockists please visit http://britax.com.au.

Disclaimer: I received a Safe ‘n’ Sound Platinum SICT as shown above for the purpose of this review. As always opinions are my own.

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