Glossi - online beauty website, great brands and great prices!

I love online shopping and have found another fantastic online website that sells great brands at great prices. I discovered Glossi about a year ago and it is the one website I will visit regularly.

Glossi is 100% Australian owned and operated.

With Glossi they sell well known beauty brands that we buy from department stores such as Revlon, Maybelline, Covergirl, Neutrogena, Loreal, Almay, Max Factor and more.

The prices on the products are excellent and you can save up to 70% off retail prices.

The website itself is so easy to use and you can browse through the products by brand or categories.

The Revlon quad shown above retails for $25.95, at Glossi it is $9.95 (saving of 62%) The Almay bright eyes as shown above retails for $19.95, at Glossi is is $9.95 (saving of 50%).

They often have special deals or clearances on items, you will definitely pick up great bargains.

Their customer service has been fantastic for me and they deliver to Australia within a few days and have international shipping.

I would highly recommend Glossi for great products and great prices, check them out at the Glossi website!

What products do you like buying online?

Get the 1920’s inspired celebrity and catwalk style with GHD - Guest post by GHD

In recent years it seems that every decade has had a fashion makeover from the 1940s to 1980s, but if there is a decade that is having a fashion moment now, it is the 1920s.

Baz Luhrmann is currently filming a remake of the 1920s set, The Great Gatsby -  and with programmes such as Broadwalk Empire taking television by storm, the 1920s is incredibly popular right now.

Plus if you need proof that the era is 'oh so chic' you only need to look at the weddings of Kate Moss and Lily Allen.

Both women had more than a nod to the 20s for the look on their big days.

Lily opted for a lace Karl Largerfeld dress with a very 20s style lace cap, and if there is one fashion house that screams 20s style it has to be Chanel.

Super model Kate had an all out Great Gatsby look for her big day: like Lily she had a lace 20s style veil while her John Galliano designed dress wouldn't look out of place on the set of the new Baz Luhrmann film.

What's more, it is not just the small and big screen that is taking inspiration from the roaring 20s, the autumn/winter 2011-12 and spring/summer 2012 catwalks were also full of the 20s looks.

Designers like Ralph Lauren and Holly Fulton showcased looks with more than a little nod to the 20s in their autumn/winter collections. In spring/summer there were a number of looks that could have come straight from the jazz age.

At Gucci the models were sent down wearing beaded black and gold flapper dresses, while Ralph Lauren the models were seen sporting wearing cloche hats and at Sonia Rykiel there were a number of preppy sportswear looks.

However, it is not just clothes that are getting all 1920s, hair and beauty is also taking on the trend, and one easy way to get a chic 20s look is with the GHD limited edition Scarlet styler.

The gorgeous styler was used to create a number of 1920s style looks for GHD babe Katy Perry and its sexy red plates even look the part for the era.

You can check out the styler on the official ghd website at http://www.ghdhair.com/au/ or in your local ghd approved salon.

What is your decade of inspiration for hair or beauty?  Have you tried ghd products?

My online shopping directory for beauty and fashion!

I love to do online shopping, it's convenient, easy and packages are delivered to my doorstep (I am home most days, as I work from home). I have my groceries delivered to me weekly from either Safeway or Coles, I shop for clothes, shoes, makeup, gifts and anything else I can think of really. I also love that you can find really good bargains online.

I also sign up for email alerts for a lot of sites I find, to keep up with sales, discounts and offers. I usually wait for sales or free postage offers, for things like clothes, shoes and makeup.

So I thought I might put together a list of some of the sites that I have used, over the last few years.

Makeup/Beauty

Glossi - for affordable well known brands makeup

Makeup and Glow - makeup artists brands makeup

Tanty cosmetics - for international brands makeup we can't easily get in Australia

Sleek - for all sleek products

Sigma Beauty - excellent quality and affordable makeup brushes

Fresh fragrances and cosmetics - lots of different brands at discounted prices

Crush cosmetics - for international brands makeup we can't easily get in Australia

The Nail Shop - for professional nail products, salon quality

Fashion Addict - for all makeup, fashion and accessories at affordable prices, shipped worldwide

Fashion

Westfield online  - a great site with access to 100's of stores

ASOS - the Australian site opened up a few months ago, and I really like the great products and prices

Pumpkin patch - gorgeous kids clothing, they have excellent sales and great savings

Autograph - fashionable, great styles and great prices

Stringers Sports - great runners for women and men at great prices

Invite only/Sales events

buyinvite - Really good bargains on designer brands up to 80% off retail prices.

Brandsexclusive - Fashion and designer brands, at discounted prices up to 70% off retail prices.

ozsale - Designer fashion, accessories, cosmetics and homeware at up to 80% off retail prices.

General stuff

Deals Direct - Big brand names from department stores at discounted prices

Supermarkets Deals - Grocery brands discounted

OO - products that you can buy from department stores now online too

These are just a few that I have personally purchased from, of course there are hundreds of other great online sites as well. I do also enjoy the experience of shopping in stores and sometimes prefer that to online shopping.

Do you  use online shopping? Are there any sites you particularly like, leave a comment and let me know!

Lust Have It - premium samples delivered to your door!

The first of it's kind in Australia is Lust Have It - premium delivered samples from professional, high-end and boutique brands. Sounds great, right? It really is!

I joined up at $14.95 per month and received the first box in August. So I wanted to tell you all about it.

Lust have It is a monthly subscription service which delivers five to six haircare, skincare and makeup samples right to your doorstep. I love receiving parcels- what a great treat!

There are lots of prestige and boutique brands that are a part of Lust Have It. It is a great opportunity to try samples of prestige and professional products.

The first box that Lust Have It released was the August box, it contained:

1. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ( which I have tried and love, read my review here)
2. BioEffect EGF Serum
3. Giorgio Armani Sport Code sample for men
4. Mirenesse Velvet Lip Lift Moisture Shine
5. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme ( really interested in trying this out!)
6. Naked Tan Self Tanner

I was very impressed with the quality of products in this box. A great variety and some great products that I have never tried before. The concept of this service has been around  in the USA for a while (Birchbox) and highly popular so it's great that Lust Have It have started this great service here in Australia.

I think it's a great way to try products through Lust Have It - check out their website.

Have you heard of Lust Have It? What sample brands would you like to try if you could choose?

Garnier Body Intensive 7 days Honey Soothing body lotion review

Looking for the right body lotion for your body? Need hydration for your skin? I have found that answer with the Garnier Intensive 7 days body lotion range. I received a few of these at the recent bloggers brunch I attended and I absolutely love them!

I have been trialling the Soothing Lotion with Honey for dry, sensitive skin and it really has made a difference to my skin. It is so much more smoother and moisturised.

Garnier says: Garnier Intensive 7 days Soothing is powered by L-Bifidus (Lysate of Bifidus) and naturally-derived honey, specifically chosen for the moisture needs of dry, sensitive skin. Its moisture-binding formulation provides hydration so intense you will still feel it for up to 7 days after the last application. (Consumer test, 82 people, 5 weeks)
- Creamy, nourishing texture is non-greasy & fast-absorbing

- Dermatologically tested

- Suitable for sensitive skin - Colourant-free - Not for use on face.

The Garnier Body Intensive 7 days body lotions come in 400ml bottle, which will last a good few months. The packaging is convenient slim bottle, great for travelling as well. The texture of the cream is really beautiful, when you rub it into your skin it feels smooth and silky and does not leave my hands greasy. It also absorbs really quickly which is excellent, literally after about a minute or so I can put my clothes on. I have never found another body product that is absorbed that quickly. Love it!

The lotion has a minor fragrance to it which is beautiful, the one I have been using is the honey one. The result it gave me was very well moisturised, smooth and strong skin. Even if I didn't use this for a few days, my skin felt hydrated which is fantastic. The range suits all skin types - normal skin, dry skin ( dull,rough, sensitive), extra dry skin (flaky, cracked).

I would definitely recommend this to anyone that is looking for a great body lotion that doesn't take long to absorb into the skin and that you can rely on to provide hydration to your skin even if you miss a few days of using it. The Garnier Body Intensive 7 days body lotions retail for $6.95aud and available in department stores and supermarkets.

Do you use a body lotion?

Video: Products most reached for in the month of July!

Today I wanted to show you my July favourite beauty products video I did for my You tube channel. In this video I show you the products I have been reaching for the most -  for the month of July.

Hope you enjoy!

What is your favourite product at the moment?

Bloggers Brunch - Where bloggers and brands get together!

I was really lucky to have been invited to the Bloggers Brunch that was held last week organised by the lovely Christie from Kids Business and was sponsored by Weight Watchers. Christie has a real passion for organising these events and does a fantastic job. Fifty parent bloggers were invited to hear some very inspiring guest speakers talk about their personal experiences and motivated us to keep pursuing our goals.

(Pictured above: Speakers from left to right top row- Christie Nicholas, Melinda Gainsford Taylor, Bernadette Black, Heather James, bottom row Nicole Avery, Susan Jackson.)

I love having goals and knowing what I am working towards. Blogging has certainly opened up great opportunities for me and I definitely walked away inspired to keep on seeking my goals, because they can be achieved.  I have been able to discover what my passion is and my goals and I am on the way to acheiving them thanks to blogging which is where it has all started. I still have a long way to go but I know that I will get there.

Once we were all motivated and inspired it was time to connect with some fantastic brands. Bloggers are very influential as we all know and being able to work with brands is definitely a smart move. Bloggers can give you, the reader - their honest opinion on what works for them and what doesn't. It is a way of being able to read first hand what a blogger's experience is with a product which will help you make a decision on whether the product is for you.

As you all know I love reviewing products on my blog and youtube channel so I was excited to see which brands were on board with the bloggers at this event.

As pictured above Homedics, Garnier, Aunty Rozzy

As pictured above Protect-a-bed, Million dollar woman, Blackmores

Homedics - great massage equipment to use in the comfort of your own home.

Garnier - a great brand with many great beauty products.

Aunty Rozzy - books for children, colourful and easy to read. Encouraging children to eat fruit/vegetables.

Protect a bed - great bedding merchandise to protect the family from

Million dollar woman - Insurance for mothers who may become ill or unable to look after their children.

Blackmores - great multivitamins and other products to help maintain a healthy wellbeing

Weightwatchers - the sponsors of the event, great for those looking at improving their lifestyle eating habits.

I was also part of a filming panel along with four other bloggers and we were able to have a live discussion on the products that were there, which was filmed by the TV show 'Room to Grow' on Channel 31.

It was fantastic to be able to meet so many great bloggers that I have interacted with online for many months now. (You all know who you are!)

Here is the official summary of the event  - Yes that is me talking about how much I loved it!

Have you been to a blogging event recently? Do you have any goals?

Priti NYC nailpolish review

Ever think to yourself, what do they put in nailpolishes? Why are they toxic?

Priti NYC nailpolishes were created by Australian born, NYC based Kim D’Amato. The idea behind Priti NYC  started during her pregnancy. Kim made a conscious effort to switch to organic foods and health products, but couldn’t seem to find a way to beautify herself in the same natural manner.

In 2005, Kim D'Amato launched Priti NYC with one simple mission: to support organic farmers and to decrease the amount of chemicals poisoning the earth, and it’s inhabitants, one manicure at a time.

What an excellent and inspirational business. I was sent a Priti nailpolish in the colour Priti Royale Robe creme 375 -a beautiful deep purple colour. Priti NYC nailpolishes are all completely non-toxic and made without toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DHB) and formaldehyde all known carcinogenic ingredients.

The first thing I like about these nailpolish are the sturdy bottles 12.6ml. The brush is a good length and width and dense, but soft enough for easy application. The formula of this nailpolish is slightly thick and very well pigmented so one to two coats is enough. This is best applied in brush strokes.

The nailpolish is fast drying and durable with a gloss finish. The nailpolish lasted at least four days before it slightly starts to come off.

Priti nailpolishes are safe for use on children and expectant mothers. I love that these are non toxic and a lot safer to use with great results.

They have a huge range, over 100 different shades including metallics, mattes, bright neons, rich darks, classic nudes and many more. There are also three sizes, standard 12.6ml for $17.95aud, Mini 9ml for $15.95aud and 8ml for $14.95aud.

Check out the Priti NYC website for more information - you can purchase them in some Australian stores or online sites and if your overseas from the Priti website.

Priti NYC is very active in working with various charities and events in the community that support both environmental and women's issues, which is fantastic.

Have you heard of Priti NYC? Do you have a favourite nailpolish at the moment?

Shopping for children

As I mentioned a few days ago, I attended a bloggers brunch. There were fantastic brands there showcasing their products and a few that I wanted to share with you that my children have enjoyed.

BRUDER products -  their company slogan is "just like the real thing" and they really are, model-sized toys to encourage children to imitate real life in the form of role play. The DHL truck ( as pictured above) is just like a real one. The quality of the this toy is fantastic, very sturdy, reliable and the detail on the vehicle is just like a real one. My son and daughter both love this toy and has so much fun playing with it. The Bruder products are really unique and special for any child. There is a great variety of products to choose for children such as fire trucks, construction vehicles, horse carriages and many more.

Little Tikes - A fantastic brand that has hundreds of colourful, educational and practical toys for children. The Handle Hauler Anchor and Speedy vehicle (as pictured above) is great with real moving parts, rolling wheels and soft grip parts making it easy for small children to play with it. My twenty month old daughter is happy rolling this up and down and loves that she can hold the little speedy vehicle in her hands.

Hasbro - Playskool Alphie (pictured above) is a cute little robot figure that has all kinds of counting fun. Alphie has lots of great counting games where he asks you questions about numbers and you answer by pressing the keys. His fingers light up which makes it all more fun. Both my children love Alphie he is fun to listen to and great for learning about numbers. I also spent quite some time going through all the games with Alphie and I did pretty good! I think this is great for any child as it makes learning fun and enjoyable.

Pink Poppy - Absolutely gorgeous accessories for little girls. I am sooo in love with Pink Poppy and so glad that I got to find out more about them. They have lots of different products like bags, jewellery boxes hairclips, necklaces, rings, bracelets and so much more. My twenty month old daughter loves wearing headbands, necklaces and bracelets at the moment and Pink Poppy have a huge range to choose from. The quality of the accessories is very durable and easy for children to handle. I actually found a stockist in my local shopping centre and I have bought some gorgeous necklaces and bracelets.

All of these products would make great presents for any child, they will love them!

Are there any great toys you've purchased for your children or as presents for children?

Fun, blogging, brands

Last week I attended a blogger brunch thanks to Connect2mums  - a great online community  - who sent me as their ambassador. It was a very well organised event thanks to Kids Business, Room to grow and Kleenex mums. It took place in the morning at a play centre, which was great for those of us who have little children to look after during the day. There was also a babysitting service Speed Babysitting to look after the children.

The morning started with six very inspiring, talented women that spoke about their stories, passion, challenges and successes they have had. They are business women, bloggers, book writers and inspirational speakers. (Nicole Avery,  Bronny Fallens, Catherine Cervasio, Alli Price, Amanda Cox and Renee Mayne) It was so motivating and inspiring listening to people you don't know, but have so much in common with and see their work online all the time.

It was fantastic to meet so many great bloggers, that I follow and read their blogs - and now to see them in person was absolutely inspiring.

Then we had brands that came along and set up stalls so that we bloggers could walk around and learn a bit more about the brands and what they have to offer. The brands that were there: Playskool,  Alphie,  Megabrands, Little tikes, Zapfcreation, Zimbler, Bruder, Disney live, Pink Poppy, Angus&Coote.

All brands had fantastic products that they showcased and its great that brands are getting on board with bloggers and events. I am a huge fan of working with brands, as you can tell I love reviewing and sharing my thoughts on products. I cannot afford to buy everything out there in the shopping world ( I wish I could!) so its great that brands want to work with bloggers who can give an honest opinion on what they thought. There were some great products that I got to take home and share with my children that I will review in the next few weeks.

Do you attend blog meetups? What do you like about them?