Hair Care Product of the week: Schwarzkopf Extra Care Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin

 

 

Come on be honest every girl out there struggles with their hair even guys struggle with bad hair though they usually would never admit that it bothers them in a million years. We all have bad hair days I don’t know about you but unfortunately I seem to have them practically every day. A girl’s hair is like diamonds are to jewellery; the star attraction of our beauty and style regime, great hair can raise a simple outfit of jeans and a tee to a whole new level of glamour and we all want to look our best no matter the occasion. For me that usually starts with making sure my hair doesn’t look like a shaggy dog or something from the Adams family which of course is easier said than done.

 

The Schwarzkopf Extra Care Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin is a great repair and replenishing treatment for very dry and damaged hair. If you are like me and practically every other girl on the entire planet then you would suffer from occasional dry and frizzy hair as well as annoying split ends. This product from Schwarzkopf Has 3 times liquid keratin to repair damage to the hair and give it a nice healthy shine which is something that every girl loves and desires.

 

It’s a leave in spray. To use just shake the bottle then spray onto towel fried or dry hair to get the best look.

 

Website link:

www.schwarzkopf.com.au

  

 

The Cataract Gorge Restaurant Dinner Menu

 

A la carte - dinner Menu

---- Bread----

Turkish Bread 8.90

With your choice of two of the following

Garlic butter ~ Herb butter ~ Sun dried tomato butter

Olive oil & balsamic~ Chilli oil

Olive oil & Macadamia dukkah

 

---- Entrees ----

Soup of the Moment 12.90

Creamy Seafood Chowder 16.90

Warm Chicken & Potato Salad

Crispy prosciutto & a lemon roasted garlic aioli 18.90

Roasted Beetroot & Chickpea Salad

Feta & a balsamic glaze 17.90

Slow Braised Goat

Polenta & spiced tomato puree 19.90

Tasmanian Bush Pepper Calamari

Sundried tomato & rocket 17.90

Marinated Quail

Sweet corn puree, leek & toasted pine nuts 18.90

Salmon Linguine

Tasmanian smoked salmon, sundried tomatoes,

White wine & cream 19.90

Deep Fried Brie

Peach & tomato relish 18.90

Tasmanian Oyster Selection

Natural ~ Chilli Lime ~ Gorge Kilpatrick

Six Nine Twelve

18.90 24.90 31.90

 

---- Main Courses ----

Today’s Catch

Burnt butter sauce & fried capers 32.90

Crispy Skinned Atlantic Salmon

Smashed peas & a tomato, basil sauce 33.90

Ocean Trout

Prawns & Tasmanian goat chorizo 33.90

Lemon Rubbed Chicken Breast

Creamy mushroom sauce 33.90

Twice cooked Duck

Stir fried Asian vegetables 34.90

Pork Cutlet

Smokey bourbon sauce 34.90

Mushroom & Caramelised leek Parcel

Chilli jam 30.90

Eye Fillet Steak

Red onion marmalade 35.90

Seafood Steak

Eye fillet pocketed with an oyster,

Prawns & scallops sautéed in garlic butter 38.90

≠

All main courses are served with vegetables.

Salad is available on request

 

---- Desserts ----

Citrus Tart

Blue berry, toasted coconut & passionfruit gelato14.90

Chocolate Ripple Vacherin

On kahlua cream 14.90

Flourless Banana Pudding

Rich toffee sauce 14.90

Warm Chocolate & Hazelnut Brownie

White chocolate parfait 15.90

Rhubarb & Apple Pudding

Ice cream & double cream 14.90

Spiced Poached Pear

Vanilla Galliano sago 14.90

Tasmanian Cheese Platter 22.90

 

---- Dessert Wines (375ml) ----

De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon 56.00

d’Arenberg The Noble Botrytinia Fuckeliana (SA) 39.90

Moores Hill CGR Riesling (Tas) (also by the glass) 39.90

Three Wishes Vineyard Botrytis Riesling (Tas) 48.90

Please ask our waiting staff to see the Port, Tokay & Muscat list

 

---- Hot Beverages ----

Cappuccino, Latte, Flat White, Short Black,

Long, Black, Short Macchiato, Long Macchiato,

Hot Chocolate 4.50

Affogato 5.90 (with a liqueur 12.90)

 

---- T2 Teas & Tisanes 4.90----

(Pot of T2 Tea for two $5.90)

Peppermint Chai

Darjeeling Lemongrass & Ginger

Organic Jasmine English Breakfast

Red Fancy Fruit Lemongrass

Lemon Cooler China Jasmine

Earl Grey Ceylon

 

---- Liqueur Coffees 12.90 ----

Irish Coffee Irish Whisky

Irish Coffee Cream Bailey's Irish Cream

Monk's Coffee Benedictine

French Coffee Grand Marnier

Mint Coffee Creme de Menthe

Roman Coffee Galliano

Jamaican Coffee Tia Maria

Jaffa Coffee Cointreau & Creme de Cacao

Highland Coffee Drambuie

Mexican Coffee Kahlua

Working Out

Let’s be real who actually likes going to the gym? I don’t that’s for sure but I do want to stay healthy and fit; also these days who really has the time to go to the gym with the busy lifestyles many people lead today it just isn’t possible. The time it takes to get to the gym, do an hour of 45 minute workout then get back home have a shower and get ready for work you’d have to be up at 5am every day. For me that’s impossible as I need my beauty sleep to make me feel rested and ready for the day ahead and I believe that in order to live a full life everyone needs to get enough sleep to get through the day and enjoy it to the fullest. Also if you tire yourself out then working out and exercising will start to feel like a drag and you will eventually lose the motivation to continue. Which is one of the main reasons why so many people just don’t bother; another reason is because working out at the gym just isn’t fun at all. Being around all those sweaty people, there’s nothing worse for a woman to be working out in a gym surrounded by big sweaty guys, where you feel like everyone is watching your every move. There is just no privacy or enjoyment in working out at gyms for me I just find it to be too stressful. I prefer workouts I can do in the privacy of my own home therefore eliminating the travel time to and from the gym as well as the ridiculous costs involved in maintaining a gym membership.

 

So in my workout column in my blog I’m going to give you hints and tips for fun workouts that I enjoy and ways to remain motivated as well as healthy living and maintaining you work out regime, the best way to find the perfect diet that works for you and many more of my little secrets I will share along the way. I hope you get something from it that may help you make the decision to change your life and start eating and living a more healthy life; while also enjoying a few snacks of course. As a chocolate junky I cannot live without a little snack every once in a while. It’s all about finding the right balance that works best for you.

Product Review

Designer Brands Twist 'n' Go, instant nail polish remover 

 

 

Believe me I know how hard it can be to find a good nail polish remover. I spent years actively avoiding getting a manicure because I didn't want to go through the horrible process of scrubbing my nails with some remover on a cotton ball. I'd be sitting there scratching and scrubbing my nails for over half an hour. It used to drive me mental. Also not very good for the health of you nails to be constantly be scrubbing them with harsh cotton and cloths.

When I went browsing around at my local chemist warehouse store I stumbled upon a different kind of nail polish remover. It was an Instant polish remover that was supposed to be gentle on the nails and remove even the thickest polish with ease in simply a few seconds. All you had to do it said was dip your nails in the padded bottle and twist and the foam would remove all polish instantly. 

Now me being the sceptic that I am almost walked away but some part of me was curious. Curiosity is an annoying trait of mine that more often than not leads to bad things as I'm sure many people can relate to. It's especially unkind for me in trying new products but my curiosity got the best of me this time, or I should probably say once again as this isn't the first time that's happened.

 

 

 

 

So I bit the bullet and made the purchase and let me tell you I am so glad that I did. The second I got home I decided to test it out and gave myself a quick and messy manicure and waited for it to dry. Then to remove it I did as instructed and dipped my finger in and twisted it around on the padded inside of the remover bottle When I lifted my finger out I could not believe it, the polish was completely gone in only a few seconds. Even better the remover actually left my nail and finger feeling soft and moisturised. I discovered that was because the remover is formulated with royal jelly, vitamins C & E, Aloe Vera and Green Tea. So it's a good formulation to keep the nails healthy and it doesn't smell to bad either. Well it's never great to take a big whiff of nail polish remover but if you do it accidentally when removing polish as I have done more than once; at least with this polish the smell doesn't leave you coughing from the toxic chemicals. 

 

So in conclusion I'd definitely recommend this nail polish remover. It has worked wonders for my manicure regime. I now love getting a manicure knowing I won't have to worry about scrubbing and damaging my nails when I try to remove the polish. 

I'll give this product 5 out of 5 stars. I loved it. You can pick it up from your local pharmacy or beauty store or online at: www.chemistwarehouse. com

Travel Diary – The Cataract George Launceston Tasmania

 

 Travel Diary- The Cataract George

 Kings Bridge

 

 

I will be writing a travel diary for every place I visit; combining my love of writing, photography and travel on this blog. I will also add photo diaries so you guys can see all my pics. This will be different from my normal travel section, something more personal to give readers more insights into my thoughts and personal experiences. I will have more information in the travel section about the destination and facts and little history and info if you are interested. This is my first travel diary I hope you all enjoy and maybe get some inspiration to travel and explore some unique and different places. The world is a big place and I am a firm believer that we need to see as much of it as possibly to truly live. I believe that people who never explore or travel are missing out on everything that the world has to offer thankfully I am not one of them.  

Peacock

My visit to this wonder of natural beauty was a real treat. I decided to take the more scenic entrance via Kings Bridge. It’s a bit of a walk compared to the easy drive in way but it was totally worth it also good exercise. So I was strolling along with my camera looking like a complete tourist; there were plenty of them around all with their cameras out just like me. The people I met here were very warm and kind all very welcoming to everyone they encountered. Walking along the path I noticed a crowd huddled around a fence overlooking the cliffs and the water. Being the nosy person that I am I simply could not resist having a look and what I saw absolutely delighted me. There were two seals splashing about in the water very near us and lazing about on the rocks. I discovered from a very chatty local that apparently it’s a very rare sight to see a seal here; though they do occasionally come into the George in search of the abundance of food on the water. The photographer in me took over at this point and I snapped I don’t how many shots before finally leaving the seals after about half an hour. After the long walk I was totally hungry so I stopped for a bite to eat at the kiosk I was longing for a meat pie; I have to say it was delicious. As I was eating a peacock decided to come over and try to eat my lunch, though unamused at my lunch almost getting stolen by a bird it was quite funny. After lunch I was off to the swinging bridge. Being not a big fan of heights I was a bit edgy to say the least but I took the plunge and took the first steps onto the bridge my legs were shaking as I looked out over the edge to the rushing rocks and water below. That was a bad move on my part as I was about half way across a bunch of young kids came running and yes I mean actually running across the bridge like they were running around their own backyard. The bridge was rocking as they made their way across I hung onto the sides of the bridge tightly as they passed me; afraid that the bridge would snap. May seem stupid but it looks like a very old bridge and was certainly not meant to be ran across by a group of moronic kids.

After finally making it to the other side I breathed a sigh of relief though I quite enjoyed it after those kids were gone. Then I made my way down to the heart of the George, the sounds of peacocks and wonderful wildlife combined with rushing water and just plain serenity filled my ears. I found a nice spot to sit close to the water that gave me full views of the bridge and the water and surrounding cliffs. It was so peaceful that I just sat there for a while taking in the stunning views with my eyes as well as my camera. The heat of the day had started to settle in so I headed up to the George café to get a nice ice-cream, the swimming pool was packed with people trying to cool off and the barbecue and playground was filled with kids and families. The Cataract George really is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world and spending the day here it is easy to see why.

Seal on rocks

The ice cream seemed to have given me some more courage so I decided to face my fear of heights again and take a ride on the chair lift. The chair lift at the George is the longest single span chairlift in the world. It’s not very expensive to ride either it only cost me $15 to go alone. There is only room for two adults and I noticed a lot of couples snuggling up on the chair lifts, it’s quite a romantic ride though I was going it alone. It was exhilarating, the wind blew through my hair as I glided slowly high above the George; close to the trees and the cliffs, the sounds of the water rushing below. It was a little bumpy at times and there is only a single bar over your chest to hold you in which had me a little edgy at times but honestly I loved it and could not resist going back for another ride. As I made my way out I spotted a beautiful animal hiding up in the bush and got another great shot then made my way out of the beautiful George and back to the city.

Chair Lift

Truthfully I would have loved to have stayed there all day it is a truly beautiful natural wonder. The trip also helped me to slightly overcome my fear of heights as I took my fears head on with the bridge and the chairlift. Okay so I didn’t completely overcome my fear of heights if I’m being honest that will probably never happen but I didn’t let my fears stop me from doing wondrous things that if I had been too much of a wuss to try I would have really missed out on great adventures.

If you haven’t been to The Cataract George in Launceston yet then I suggest you get on it ASAP. It is a beautiful place that has a little something for everyone and your time there is bound to create lasting memories that you will cherish forever just as it did for me.

 

 

 

Step by step guide to achieving a salon look manicure at home

Professional Nails at home

 

This post will focus on how you can get quality salon level gel nails at home without making expensive trips to the nail salon or needing to use a uv lamp. I will take you through a simple step by step process to achieve that expensive salon look yourself for less hassle and at a great price. Doing it yourself is a lot cheaper than going to a salon every week and getting your nails done or getting new fake ones we can’t all be like kylie Jenner and live her life of luxury. But we can achieve our own levels of luxury ourselves without breaking the bank so that’s a plus in my book.

To achieve the best salon look at home I will be using my favourite nail brand Nails Inc. London. Their gel effect plumping polish collection to achieve the salon look no UV light needed.

This is my nails before the manicure. In desperate need of a polish in case you didn’t notice.

Step 1

Apply a base coat to the nails to condition and strengthen them. This treatment can also be used alone on its own to add a touch of natural shine to your nails without the colour if you wish.

As you can see the base conditions the nails and gives them a nice sleek finish.











I’m using nails Inc. London – Kensington caviar base coat polish buy from www.nailsinc.com pack of two base coat and top coat for 25 euros.

 

Step 2

Apply the colour you want on top of the dried base coat. I’ve found it best to apply the colour twice just to lock in the colour and help it to last longer but you don’t have to do that if you don’t want to. It all depends on your personal preference and finding what works best for you.

I’ve chosen nails Inc. London Bond Street. A lovely purple shade because I’m a total purple girl.

Step 3

Apply the top coat to condition your nails and to lock in the colour so that it lasts longer. I’ve found that the nails Inc. London 3 step system can last for up to 5 days depending on your lifestyle and other circumstances.

For the top coat I’m using nails Inc. London Kensington caviar 45 second speed dry conditioning top coat.

It dried really fast and makes the manicure process much easier and quicker as well as making your nails look awesome which every girl wants.

So there you have it. The perfect gel nails salon look you can do yourself at home. Get great nails for a lot less than regular trips to the salon. Of course all girls need a little treat now and then maybe we can get a facial instead.

 

 

 

Nail Trend: Gel Effects

On trend: Gel Effect Nails

Basically every make up brand out there on the market today has some form of gel effect nail polish. It's right on trend to have the perfect polished shine of gel effect nails which anyone can do at home without sacrificing on the quality that you would get in a salon. 

The gel salon look in manicures is very popular right now. So I've decided to do a post on my pick for the best way to get the professional gel manicure. 

The brand I've chosen is my fave Nails Inc. their best selling Gel Effect Polish range is formulated with plasticiser technology perfect for achieving a flawless manicure at home. 

The extra wide brush on these polishes makes it easier to apply neatly. Which means less polish running down the sides of your nails; which if you are anything like me happens quite frequently when I give myself a manicure or attempt to anyway. 

I've discovered that the Nails Inc Gel Effect polish is very pigmented so it provides great coverage. As well as a plumping agent in the polish to level out any imperfections on the nail, and believe me we all have nail imperfections wether it's from biting our nails too much or just not looking after our nails properly so that they begin to chip. The Nails Inc polishes can help to condition the nails and protect from chipping to make the nails stronger. 

My picks from the Nails Inc London Gel Effect range are the most popular colours in Australia at the moment:

 

Bond Street- available from www.nailsinc.com for £10 currently on sale and down from the original price of £14. 

Kensington High Street- avaliable from www.nailsinc.com for £15

Porchester Square- available from www.nailsinc.com for £15

St James- striking red. Available from www.nailsiinc.com for £15

The Kensington Caviar top and base coat  duo treatment pack. Available from www.nailsinc.com for £25, though you can buy each separately but it will cost you double the price then the pack. So I'd definitely recommend getting the duo treatment pack. 

I often use the base and top costs with other brands of polish as well as it adds a little something extra to any manicure. 

You don't have to ise nails inc to get the perfect gel look but they are my pick. i find its best to try as many brands you wish as some brands work better than others for many people. We all have our faves and at the moment Nails Inc is mine. So for the best, most salon like professional manicure I would definitely recommend The Nails Inc London; Gel Effect Collection but I'm sure there are many other great gel effect polishes out there which I will search for in my efforts to get the best manicure at home. 

My pick for nail polish pack of the season

You always need a good nail polish to complete a great look. Wether it's for daily wear or for a girls night out we all want to look our best and having a good selection of polishes to choose from for the season ahead is a great place to start to glam it up. 

My nail pack fave for this season is from my favourite nails brand- Nails Inc London. 

Mini Gel Effect Autumn/winter collection. A limited edition nail polish collection 5 polishes. You can buy them for £29.00 from www.nailsinc.com

These limited edition polishes are directly inspired by the catwalk. The shades provided in the pack reflect the smoky tones seen across the AW15 collections. 

Nail colour of the season

This season in nail's trends different shades of blue's seem to be very popular. Blue adds a touch of classic glamour to any look. It can be dressed casually with a pair of jeans or elegantly in a nice dress for a night on the town. 

My pick's are Chanel Le Vernis:681- Fortissme and 665- Vibrato. 

My Best look style tip

Amy Kahn ring- to add a touch of glitz and glamour- from www.amykahn.com

Sacha Drake Sapphire Dynasty Silk Maxi-Dress to add a touch of edgy elegance to your outfit with a popular but subtle animal print. Shop at www.tvsn.com.au

Zizi by Florsheim Marie Soft Suede Bootie. Buy at: www.tvsn.com.au

With this complete look you are sure to turn many heads and get a few compliments as well as jealous looks from girls eying your outfit with envy. 

 

New Fashion Jewellery Obsession

For those girls that like a lot of glitz and glamour as I do and like to sparkle, I have found a new jewellery obsession. Sexy silver jewellery by Israel artist/jewellery designer; Orit Schatzman. 

Her jewellery pieces are spectacular,real statement pieces, bold,sexy and glamourous. I'm completely addicted to this designers pieces. I've been getting lots of compliments from guys about these pieces. They aren't even gay guys that noticed my jewellery; well not all of them anyway ;) 

I will show you some of the pieces I have brought for my collection and will share the links to where you can also buy them from in another post soon.