Category Archives: beauty

Blink! the Eyelash Expert – Sunshine Coast lash extension review

Ok, so I know I’ve said before that I’m a pretty casual no-makeup kind of girl… but I still love being pampered. I think it’s super important to spend time on yourself and do what makes you feel beautiful.

I have previously had lash extensions, but whilst I loved the dramatic look of them on the day they were applied, they very quickly began to fall out, taking my natural lashes with them. I had been thinking about getting lash extensions again recently, but was nervous, and not sure I could deal with the patchiness and spidery look between appointments. Then I spotted my friend and fellow Sunshine Coast blogger Natalie Tink (AKA Miss Monogram) looking fresh as a daisy with gorgeous long natural-looking lashes, and she gushed about Janice of Blink! the Eyelash Expert*!

Natural-looking Blink lashes

Fate was kind, and Janice actually reached out to me to ask if I’d like to try a set of her lashes, and I agreed… with a little trepidation. Janice works out of Soul Ocean Spa at Ramada Marcoola (the ol’ Surfair for longtime Coasties) and a skin clinic in Mooloolaba, as well as being mobile. That’s right, she can COME TO YOUR HOUSE!

Because I am a sucker for a day spa visit, I trotted along to Soul Ocean Spa which is only 5 minutes from my place, and immediately felt right at home – this place is a hidden treasure on the Sunshine Coast! With plenty of lush plants and gorgeous tropical decor, it’s a stunning spot to get pampered.

Janice asked me to be open and honest about what I wanted from my lashes, and since I am pretty minimal with makeup, I wanted them to look very natural and nothing too dramatic. I also wanted to make sure they wouldn’t look clumpy or spidery  at all! After a quick chat, it was time for a nap. Seriously… I have fallen asleep within 5 minutes of every appointment, as it’s just so relaxing!

The results:

Makeup free and fresh with Blink! lash extensions

I feel so much more confident even when I’m not wearing makeup. I can just run out the door and run my errands without really having to worry about putting on makeup since the lashes make my eyes look brighter and fresher – and there’s no mascara residue casting a shadow under my eyes.

Makeup free and fresh with Blink! lash extensions

With all that said, I am SO happy with my experience with Janice from Blink! the Eyelash Expert, she really is an expert. Janice has really customised my lashes to my face and lifestyle, and certainly won’t apply lashes that are too long and heavy that would damage my natural ones. I will share a ‘how to look after your lashes’ post shortly, and can tell you that it’s super-simple really. Just keep ’em dry after application and a few brushes a day!

Straight out of the pool, makeup free and needing a gentle brush through. (Clearly it’s time for me to work on my brows now my lashes are sorted!)

Don’t just take it from me, all of Blink! the Eyelash Extension’s reviews are outstanding and I can see why! If you’re looking for a freshen up for Summer – I love that I can swim makeup-free and not look like a panda – then contact Janice and let her know I sent you, for an exclusive discount on your first appointment!

Phone: 0477 460 603

https://www.facebook.com/blink.the.eyelash.expert

*Sponsored post – I am delighted to now be a brand ambassador for Blink!, and of course only support businesses I love.

Looking after blonde hair

I’m a bit of a creature of habit. For the last 16 years, I’ve been a blonde of sorts – not a real, light-up-the-room Scandi blonde, but I’ve been getting foils and highlights on the regular for almost all my adult life. Right up until October last year, when my regrowth looked so much like bad ombre balayage that I wanted to see what GOOD ombre balayage would look like on me. And I liked the results and I loved the lack of upkeep.

Freshly balayaged in October 2015 for Styling You’s #everydaystyle birthday party
I loved the hair salon which gave me that look, and I was really pleased with the condition of my hair afterwards – it’s like taking a big break from all-over blonde gave my hair a rest and recuperation holiday. 
My biggest issue with my balayage was that it ‘threw warm’. This is my totally untechnical term for the way my mouse-brown hair always has more brassy notes when it’s lightened than cooler, creamier notes. This has the undesired effect of making my hair look dirty (even though I wash it every. damn. day.) and kinda trashy.
The way I dealt with this for the last year was to blonde tone the heck outta it, and hope that I just never had that silver rinse look that Bea and the Golden Girls rocked so well. It wasn’t until July that I finally found a blonde toning range of products that actually worked for my super-porous locks, and now I’m in love with the Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde collection.
After two weeks of regular use of the Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde shampoo, conditioner and toner, my blonde hair was so much creamier. 
My thoughts on the Blue Cypress range? Well, firstly it really worked. I didn’t get that dreaded Violet Beauregarde shade at all, and the condition of my over-processed blonde ends definitely improved after regular use of the leave-in toner. All three of the products smell delicious (think a light Body Shop Dewberry scent, circa 1994 YUM!) and I really only needed to use them sparingly – no palm-sized dollops required just to lather up!
I also had the chance to hit up Marc Daniels Ambassador, Eugene Sokolovs from Gold Coast salon Ette Studio, to find out his top tips for keeping blonde fresh, especially as we head into Summer and all the coastal girls load on the fake tan and lighten our hair!
Eugene recommends using a quality toner on towel dried clean hair, such as Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde leave-in toner to keep blonde in peak condition throughout the warmer months.
The best feature of this time-saving product is that it’s a leave-in treatment!
His biggest do’s and dont’s for blondes?
Regular visits to the hairdresser for colour refresh and cut, wash and condition hair regularly and use a treatment product such as Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde at least once a week.
Blonde ombre and balayage hairstyles are still everywhere, what’s the latest spin on them for this Summer?
Balayage and ombré are still highly in fashion. For SS16, ‘Nude’ hair is popular, where there’s an even amount of warm and cool tones applied which cancel each other out to create a neutral colour.

The leave-in toner is now a hair essential for me – I won’t leave home without it!

The Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde range is available at Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse, and priced super-reasonably at around $13-$14 for each product.


Please, if you have blonde hair care tips, let me know! What do you use to fight the brassiness?

*I was gifted the Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde range, and under no obligation to write about it. I’ve tried it now for 8 weeks, and have been super-impressed. Thanks Marc Daniels!

5 of the Best Blowdries on the Sunshine Coast

Today is the first is a little series of posts I’m sharing about Spring hair and beauty. Let’s all agree that I’m no beauty blogger – I don’t know how to contour, Kylie Jenner’s lip kits are well beyond my lippie-application skills, and I may have the world’s most boring hair. But I’m interested in it all. I have friends with fabulously bouffy hair, and I really appreciate a good brow. So here’s hoping I learn a little sumthin’ sumthin’ when I write these posts!

My locks are limp. Always have been, and probably always will be. I send texts on the regular to my bouncy-haired best mates, saying ‘Nah, not coming tonight, I’ve hurt my neck blowdrying my hair upside down’, and ‘My hair doesn’t want to come out and play with your hair tonight, it’s feeling insecure’.

If you’re too lazy to lift a brush, or like me, just don’t have the skills to create Victoria’s Secret-worthy bounce in your limp locks, the solution is a salon blowdry. Once the sole domain of the rich and famous with private stylists on call 24/7, the professional blowdry is fast becoming the quickest way to freshen up limp locks – especially if you’ve got a BIG weekend coming up. Best part is, the professionals can really make a blow dry last, sometimes up to four or five days with the right products!

Whether you’re after a glam retro beehive, Gigi-style blowout (always my goal!) or a casually undone lob á la Jennifer Lawrence, check out my favourite lock-lifting blowdries on the Sunshine Coast, and swish your way through the day in style.

Heads in the Cloud, Buderim
This smart salon doesn’t just boast an adorable name; it’s practically a description of how high they can get your hair with the magic of their driers! With brushskills that are recognised around the world, head stylist Sam Rizzo can really make you feel like a Texan beauty queen, and he’s recently been crowned 2016 Creative Artistic Ambassador for Keune Haircosmetics. The locally owned salon is also often searching for hair models for training, competitions and photo shoots – who knows, you might end up on the cover of one of the world’s big hair glossies!

Evalyn Parsons, Moffat Beach
For the coastal Southerners who like to channel a big-haired Southern Belle, the team at Evalyn Parsons know how to transform – and you won’t be left waitin’ around either, darlin’! Their Glam & Go services will pack a punch, transforming you from drab to fab in under 20 mins for just $30, or if you need a little more work, upsize to the 30-40 min Style package for only $50.

House of George, Maroochydore
The goal: thicker, fuller hair with volume that lasts. The action: book a blowdry at House of George. New salon manager Samantha joins the George team with a wealth of knowledge from her UK-trained background, and official ghd educator. Anyone who can wield a straightening tongs with that much experience definitely knows how to add shine, body and ontrend style to every ‘do! PS it’s part of the cutest old Queenslander, and their barista serves fab coffee too, so every moment at House of George is totally Instagram-worthy!

Image credit: House of George
Never fear, hinterland readers – you have follicle friends in your part of the world too! Rhonda and the team at Uptown Hair will give you a big city blowdry, with classic regional Queensland service with a smile. Uptown has won Sunshine Coast Business Awards Excellence in Business awards for so long now, that they were inducted to the Hall of Fame – really speaks of a loyal customer base, doesn’t it! What really sets Uptown apart is their attention to detail: complimentary beverages served with tasty cookies, stylists who don’t treat you like the next part on the assembly line, and plenty of advice on styling your hair at home. Pricing is super reasonable too, so there’s no excuse not to pop in and freshen up before you hit the rapidly growing nightlife in the sugar town. 
Universal Hair, Maroochydore
Another Maroochydore salon makes the cut, with Universal Hair consistently nabbing places on ‘best salon’ lists. With experts in upstyles, braiding and curling, you’ll be ready for your big night out in now time. Or if it’s a seamlessly smooth blowdry you’re after, the soft results from their iron-free blast dries will have you craving such straight hair, you’ll be back to book in for their Perfection or Keratin Fusion permanent straightening treatments!
Got a great blowdry salon I missed? Let me know in the comments?
Are you a fan of the salon blow dry?

Hello Autumn, hello adventure

Well, that Summer season just really whizzed by, didn’t it? I had probably one of my most relaxing Summers ever, with no real craziness, which was amazing. I think that had a lot to do with the fact that I am LOVING both my jobs, and really feel settled and content in them. Now that I’m a casual at Lorna Jane instead of management (I stepped down from management responsibility over a year ago, and hello excellent sleep quality), I worked a little less than I’m used to over Christmas and New Year, and it was grand.

A few of my favourite Summer outfits – so many dresses!

This next season should be a little busier; BB and I have some travel planned (more on that once we’re confirmed), and a few Australian holidays booked (Port Douglas and Melbourne, and even chilly Hobart) before Winter arrives to make me grumpy.

And yet again, there needs to be a wardrobe clear-out. I have struggled the past few weeks, finding my boring black shorts and pants to wear to work, and the clothes I never wear (because they don’t fit or I just don’t like them any more) seem to be multipying, taking up all possible wardrobe space. Cheeky sods. Time to turf ’em and shop smarter, I think.

So, according to fashionista-types, what’s on-trend this season? Well, let’s not look at the catwalk, because IMPRACTICAL. What are real people going to be wearing in Autumn 2016?

Here in (mostly) sunny Queensland it’s all about layering, because our autumn temperatures range from 13 to 25 degrees Celsius from March to May. We still get the odd stinking hot day, however, when the coastal breezes are a godsend!

1. Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans will always be a favourite for me, as their streamlined silhouette allows you to layer multiple items on top for warmth – although unless you’re headed south, you really only need a tank or tee. Wear them with ballet flats and a light blazer in the day or wedge heels and a beautifully-draping silk top for a night out on the town. These go-to pants can do no wrong, and I’m literally MAD about the ASOS Curve ones.

Ridley Skinny Ankle Grazer Jeans in Mhari Wash from ASOS Curve

2. Merino sweater

Nothing says off-duty chic like a crewneck merino sweater. I only have two, but I’ve owned them for years, and they still look fantastic.

100% Merino Crewneck Top from Glassons


3. Fedora hat

A wool or felt fedora is a great way to keep your noggin toasty warm, and hide the fact that it was a little too cold to get out of bed early, so you skipped washing your hair!

Grey Marl Fedora from Sussan

4. Statement Coat

In winter your outerwear is the most important aspect of your wardrobe so why not make a statement? A bright coat will add a pop of colour to any neutral or all-black outfit – and this red stunner is going to be a Winter classic. (In related news, I’ve never had a decent wool coat, nor a coloured one before, so I’m excited!)

Aryietta Double-Breasted Wool Coat from Review

5.Knee-high Boots

Super-sexy and warm as toast – ain’t no chilly ankles here. Living on the Sunshine Coast means that I rarely have call for knee-high boots, but heading south to Victoria and Tasmania is always a great excuse to pull them out of the cupboard and dust them off. I particularly love flat riding-style knee-highs, they can be dressed down with jeans and a sweater for a casual day, or glammed up with a dress and tights in the evening.

Madeline boot by Nina Armando from The Iconic

6. Knitted Jumper Dress

The easiest way to show a little leg and stay cosy at the same time is by wearing a knitted jumper dress. For added warmth, I pop leggings or tights underneath, and a coat on top. Bonus points for finding a stripe version, folks!

Mifa Stripe Knit Dress by Selected from ASOS

7. Blanket Wrap Scarf

While I first scoffed, I’ve grown to quite like a giant scarf wrapped all around me – like a doona on couch situation, really. There are countless ways to style this, either thrown carelessly over your shoulder or wrapped around multiple times. This Surafina version is pretty perfect for any Winter outfit, and will make a mighty fine in-flight blanky too!

Milano scarf bu Surafina


8. Turtleneck Top

Once the realm of nerds like Steve Jobs and Velma from Scooby Doo, turtlenecks are actually a fashion classic. My only suggestion is to be careful if you’re big-busted, because chunky versions can make you look like a linebacker! Turtlenecks do look great with pretty much anything though, whether worn under a sleeveless dress, or simply worn alone with jeans.

9. Leather Jacket

A leather jacket is essential for every cool-girl winter wardrobe, so the jury is out if I actually need one. They add instant edge and just scream badass, so at the very least, it might be useful for late night grocery trips when I want to make it through the checkout without chit-chat. Toss a black one in classic moto-style over your jeans and tee on the weekend or grunge up a frock with a beat-up tan version.

10. Ankle Boots

Ankle boots are a perennial wardrobe staple that I jumped on slightly later than everybody else, but am playing catch-up because comfort AND style, people. I love to wear mine with dresses and skirts during the day, skinny jeans or leggings at night. Remember #leggingsarepants and #ignorethehaters.

Awesome Ankle Boot (yup, they’re really called that!) by Jo Mercer

Who else is looking at building on some pretty awesome Autumn/Winter basics this year? Anything you’ve seen that I just HAVE to have?

Also, for more super-cute AW2016 style, check out Blonde Ambition. Brooke just posted her entire shopping list for the season, and I feel like I need everything.

Don’t forget to sign up to get Katy Potaty via email to go into my March subscriber draw to win a luxury Nocturna candle!

The winner of my February email subscriber giveaway was Malia H. I’ve emailed you, Malia – so holla me back with a postal address! Congratulations!

Summer ready skin with Brazilian Beauty Currimundi

As the seasons turn and we head into the glorious warmer months, my spirits are lifted and I’m feeling pumped up for Summer. My skin however… not so much. I’m notoriously bad at looking after my skin, even though I’m well-educated on the importance of caring for my body’s largest organ. In my younger years, whilst working on different cosmetics counters at David Jones and Myer, I even had the opportunity to learn from some of Australia’s best facialists, yet I still don’t regularly use good quality eye cream or moisturiser.

That should do right? A couple of fancy-schmancy skincare products are all you need for healthy, glowing skin. Nope. While quality skincare shouldn’t be underestimated, great skin is a result of homecare combined with regular salon treatments. You can cleanse and scrub all you like, but only the professionals can really get to and treat the source of your skin concerns.

Ugh. Brutally close photo of my skin before I left for my salon visit that morning. Dry patches of flaky skin on my forehead and cheeks (where I cop the most sun), enlarged pores everywhere, and a very oily t-section. Deep smile lines (too deep, if you ask me), and some hormonal pimples for good measure.
So when my skin feels dry and flat after a Winter of indoor heating and outdoor wind (I blame my work in retail and at a school sports department), it’s time to bring out the big guns. And by big guns, I mean a customised Detox Facial* at the new Brazilian Beauty salon at Currimundi on the Sunshine Coast.

This fresh new skin clinic and beauty salon is part of Queensland’s most well-known chains of beauty salons, and I was dying to book a visit as soon as I heard that franchisee Josie Paton was finally opening the first Brazilian Beauty on the Coast.

Josie Paton, owner of the newest Brazilian Beauty salon (and the first on the Sunshine Coast). Keep an eye out on the blog over the next week as I share a bit more about Josie.
After an initial skin scan, popping my face into a nice little dark cave whilst skincare guru Genna had a look under UV light, I was told that my skin was pretty good for a Queenslander (yup, I guess this means us banana-benders generally have pretty damaged skin… oops). Genna then settled me into a lovely fresh treatment room, dimmed the lights and worked her magic. I love when I’m asked about my preferred massage pressure, and Genna got my request for ‘hard, but relaxing‘ just right.
My skin got a much-needed deep cleanse using leading cosmeceutical skincare brand Australian Skin Institute (preservative-free, hurrah!), and my congestion and dead, dry skin cells were bid goodbye with lovely clean-smelling products.
But that’s not all… more glorious massaging (scalp, decolletage, arms, hands and feet!), a customised face mask massaged on beautifully, before Genna finished off by applying the ASI Good Night Serum, a highly concentrated delivery of Vitamin C to leave my skin absolutely glowing. With results this good, it’s no wonder Genna has fast become renowned for offering one of the best facials in town.
My salon visit was completed with Youngblood Mineral products applied to make me over and send me out for the day looking fresh and fabulous.
Facialist extraordinaire Genna of Brazilian Beauty Currimundi
Now, I’m really no good at photographing myself receiving a facial (that whole eyes-closed relaxing thing gets in the way), so there isn’t much point in me sharing photos. What I can share however, is that my skin felt incredibly plump and healthy. 
I’ve said this before, but I think 34 is the age at which I get serious about committing to a good skincare regime, which includes in-salon facials. They can pump up the moisture levels in your skin way beyond what you can get at home; and it’s these elevated products applied consistently that really give good skin.

Whether you’ve got all day to spare or just need a quick refresh and cleanse, it’s definitely worth checking out Brazilian Beauty Currimundi to get on track for great Summer skin!

*I was a guest of Brazilian Beauty Currimundi. I was not paid to write this post; I just loved the experience a LOT and am happy to share the good vibes.

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The eyes have it – Noosa Brow Co salon review

Two weeks ago*, I visited a new brow salon here on the Sunshine Coast, and experienced their Custom Noosa Brow Co Service.

Whilst I’m certainly no beauty blogger, I like to think I have my finger on the pulse of what’s new in different salon treatments, so when I noticed a new salon opening along the gorgeous Noosa River, it was very easy for me to decide to give it a try, and booked in for their two most popular services – a custom brow service and lash extensions.

As I entered Noosa Brow Co’s fresh white foyer accented with sunny yellow, I felt world’s away from the one previous lash extension place I’d visited before, years ago. There was no ruby red or leopard print, and I didn’t feel in danger of leaving looking like a china doll, with over-curled spiky eyelashes touching my eyelids! Noosa Brow Co epitomises the classic beachside style that Noosa women demand, and owner Hannah Dahl has done a magnificent job of creating a warm welcome. Soothing cafe music played through speakers and the floor to ceiling curtains kept prying eyes at the front of the salon from seeing me enjoying my service.

As I reclined on the comfy treatment chair, Hannah asked me about my current brow maintenance schedule (none!) and politely didn’t judge my lack of brow care. She’s a wealth of knowledge and educated me on some common brow problems as well as described exactly what she was going to do to give me better brows. There was talk of elongating lines and facial lifting, but to be honest, she had me at looking younger.
During some waxing (not painful at all) and tweezing (again, I hardly felt a thing), Hannah told me about her recent move from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. She has worked at some of Brisbane’s best salons and still has a full client roster in Brisbane, so has definitely earned her title as a brow aficionado. Hannah waxed both the top and bottom of my brows, then reshaped my brows to give a straighter line. Once the hair removal was out of the way, she custom mixed a brow tint and applied it to select areas of my brows to even out the colour.

Forget The Block, Hannah really is the master of the big reveal. Before showing me my brows, she started on my lash extensions. For the duration of the lash application (approximately an hour), I had my eyes closed. I’d previously experienced stinging when having lashes applied for my Hens party and wedding, and was pleasantly surprised this time around, because I didn’t have any discomfort at all.

The 2D lashes that Hannah applied are the newest thing in the lash world, and are designed to be lighter and less artificial-looking than other extensions – perfect for the natural look I was after. The 2D (or Russian) lash is a technique where 2 super-fine extensions are applied to one single natural eyelash, creating soft volume. It can actually go up to four lashes per each natural lash (as opposed to a 1:1 ratio for regular extensions) without weighing them down, and as a result, lashes will look much fuller, not just longer and darker.

Once the lashes were all applied and the adhesive dried, Hannah gently opened my eyes and sat me up to look in a mirror. Holy fluttering eyelashes… I was impressed!

Before: patchy brows with no shape, and spiky little straight lashes
After: a smooth brow line with even colour throughout, and long, natural-looking lashes

Will I repurchase or come back for another session? Honestly, I went into this thinking that they’d be a bit of fun, and that I’d not want to have them reapplied. And yes, eyelash extensions could be quite challenging to maintain. But these were so great, and I hardly lost a single natural eyelash in the first two weeks, that I’d definitely consider reapplication. Hannah is a skilled brow artist, and the compliments I received about my peepers were so fabulous that I could become an addict!

Two weeks on: still long and luscious, with no visible gaps

  

My brows still look amazing, and require no maintenance brushing!

And not wearing eye makeup has cut down my getting-ready-for-work time immensely!

Hannah has generously shared two wonderful offers for my Sunshine Coast readers, and I can’t speak highly enough of her salon and services, so I’m happy to share!

Simply mention you read this review (but without sounding like you’re name-dropping) when you book, and you will get a complimentary lash tint with your first brow appointment, and/or your first set of 2D lashes for $140 (normally $180).

Thank you so much to Hannah of Noosa Brow Co for inviting me in to her lovely new salon, I know it’ll be a hit with local Sunshine Coast ladies who have highbrow expectations.

Noosa Brow Co
Shop 8 Da’Vos
201 Gympie Terrace
Noosaville 4566 (entry via Thomas Street)
Phone 07 5474 1218

Check out their Facebook page here, and their oh-so-classy Instagram here!
*I did have all sorts of good intentions about blogging about this visit straight away, but decided to wait to two weeks to see if the lashes lasted the distance. The answer is yes.

Catherine from Coconut Tree Products, and her divine Coconut Body Butter

One of the perks of my (day) job is that I get the chance to hang out in Noosa, and chat with fabulous women. And pretty soon after starting there, I realised that most of the fabulous women on the Sunshine Coast end up visiting Noosa.

Serendipitous timing was in my favour when I met the incredibly lovely Catherine Reddaway of Coconut Tree Products. I was looking for generous local businesses who wanted to get behind what I was trying to do with the upcoming Active Nation Day event to be hosted in Noosa, and I wanted to work with small businesses who could benefit from exposure to lots of women who are passionate about treating their body better, and living their most positive and healthy life. 
Catherine visited my store, and she spent some time showing me her gorgeous new range of Coconut Tree Products, and then (bless her) offered to provide 30 samples of her delish-smelling  Body Butter for our Active Nation Day participants! I loved this idea, because as a regular promotional event attender, I get real sick of the ‘gift bags’ full of bits of paper inviting me to spend money to save it. Nope, I wanted to provide proper gift bags, you know, with gifts and all? Catherine’s stock went up even further in my book when she gave our staff some testers too (ok, I left one for everyone else to share, and snaffled one all for myself*).

I quickly ran out of this addictive butter, and then I went to Organika and snapped up some more, it was THAT amazing. I’ve always loved the scent of coconut oil, but have struggled to find a moisturiser that wasn’t too heavy and greasy, the Coconut Tree Products butter was perfect. I have had this product for a while now, but I finally finished my second small tub and realised I liked it that much that I wanted to review it for you all. (Because you know, I’m such a professional beauty product reviewer and all. Pffft.)

The Coconut Tree Products Body Butter is so thick and moisturising, really leaving my (often sun-damaged) skin feeling soft and nourished, without leaving a greasy residue. It smells amazing, so amazing that you really can’t believe it’s not a cocktail, and you’re not relaxing on a breezy tropical beach. I love the smell of coconut but sometimes when in a product the scent can be too strong or artificial.

Since I can tend to say amazing quite a few times in a row when I’m talking about something I love (go on, ask me about how awesome The Lion King show was the other night…), I decided that this blog post would be better with some input from Catherine herself, the woman behind my new favourite product line. So I asked Catherine some nosy little questions, let’s hear from her on how this brilliant brand began.

What do you do? What do you make? I have developed and am in the process of building a new natural coconut body and hair brand called Coconut Tree Products.

Why and how did you make your first product? Having fair skin that is always dry, especially in winter, I have tried endless products of all kinds seeking a body moisturiser that actually works.. A local naturopath suggested coconut oil and I was hooked. It was the only product that went close. It is such a beautiful natural moisturiser on its own but I believed that it could be improved and boosted with other natural ingredients to provide more protection and hydration, and to make it easier to use. So, with the help of professional formulators I developed our first product, the Coconut Body Butter which was the beginning of our launch range.

Who was your key support during the fledgling stage of Coconut Tree Products?

My father who is my business partner and has great insights from his life as an entrepreneur and successful businessman.

How do you manage your time so well? It’s something I struggle with every day! Like most women, juggling work, home, kids, after school activities and finding time for exercise is a challenge!. I try to organise myself for the day, the night before and just set a few key priorities for the day than a long to do list. I do think stress impacts on productivity so for me it’s important to get the main priorities ticked off and schedule time to exercise.

How did you distinguish yourself from your competitors? Our vision is to offer an alternative to toxic products with simple natural, nurturing, effective body and hair products that are fun and fresh and importantly, affordable. We hope to make them accessible for everybody.

If you could have given yourself a piece of knowledge or advice when you started what would that be? Have a distribution plan even before the products are developed.

Which opportunities should you have followed?

I hope I haven’t missed any yet, it’s only early days though!

How do you conquer any moments of doubt that threaten to stop your great ideas? What pushes you through?I remind myself that I started this for the right reasons. I totally believe in the potential of the brand and am passionate about the products and believe that people will love using them and want them as part of their lives. I hope that for some people, this range may inspire them to be more aware of what goes on their bodies and on those of their families and friends.

Righto, time for some fun stuff.

What is your ‘uniform’? What do you wear more often than anything else?Comfort is key. Anything remotely not comfortable stays in the cupboard and the comfy gear gets all the outings. If I don’t have to meet people I tend to spend the day in jeans, tshirts, shorts or active gear and runners – always on the off chance I’ll get time to squeeze in a walk or gym session.

What is your favourite thing to wear to make you happy?

Anything simple, stylish and comfortable. Not too much pattern,..love my black! No more high heels!
(I’d like to make a small note here. Catherine has purchased some really cute activewear from me, and yes, it was impossible to get this sunny and bubbly blonde to try anything coloured. Sigh. K x)
Thanks so much for taking the time to share a little of your Coconut Tree story with me, Catherine. Nothing is more amazing than watching people take small steps to achieving big things!
If you’d love to try Catherine’s beautiful range (there’s even a yummy-smelling range for kids) for yourself, head to Coconut Tree Products for a comprehensive list of stockists, or jump over to their Facebook page to go into their monthly draw to win a divine product pack!

*As usual, review is all my own opinions. I purchased product myself after receiving a small sample. I would (and will) continue to purchase this lovely product, and have started trying more of this gorgeous range. 

Monday Manicures and fitting it all in

Mondays are my day off. They’re a day when I should, by rights, cram in some serious laundry, write a few blog posts, bake lunchbox muffins/brownies, enjoy a mid-afternoon catch-up with a lovely friend who also – by virtue of working in retail – has Mondays off, and maybe whip around the house with the vacuum and steam mop after a weekend of relaxation. Perhaps read half a novel and get some sunbaking done, and also manage to prune back some palms or wash my car.

This rarely never happens. 
Today, I had all sorts of good intentions to rise and be dressed by 7am, get some washing on, load up my bag with interior design mags and my iPad and head to Bare, my favourite cafe to abuse their free wifi and write eleventy billion blog posts as well as return just as many emails that have been moved to my WRITE BACK OR ELSE folder… all by 10am.
What actually happened was that I rolled over and hit snooze because it was raining, then didn’t get out of bed until 9, drank two cups of coffee at home, washed one small load of laundry, went to one appointment and came straight home, and painted my nails. That is all.
Yet, I’m exhausted and feel like I’ve had the busiest day. 
On the upside, my nails are making me happy.
CND Vinylux Lobster Roll, quality cuticle trimming all my own

The Little Things

Sometimes one or two of the smallest things can make my whole day awesome. Whether it’s a new beauty or bath product I find on sale at the supermarket, or my favourite tune popping up on shuffle when I start my car… these are the things that I want to share with you guys. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll do it semi-regularly, like a good blogger would.

Yankee Candle Margarita Time / Home Secret

New cushions, Yankee candle and AWW delish dessert cookbook for $29.80,
all from Home Secret. Hopefully these newbies will keep my home feeling Summery for just a little longer!

While the calendar says that it’s almost Winter, here in South East QLD we’re appreciating a very unseasonal warm patch! Normally this time of year, we experience dry and mild days, but right now it’s sunny with an average high of 25 degrees! The only thing is… it’s still really dry, and my scaly skin is really showing the signs! I’m loving this Palmolive Strawberry Smoother Body Wash right now, it’s SO strawberry-scented that it takes me right back to the mid-80’s and my prized Strawberry Shortcake mini figurines. What? You’re not old enough to remember these…? Go google it, younglings. They were AWESOME.

Palmolive Strawberry Smoother Body Wash / purchased at Woolworths
This is the perfect way for me to start my day, it’s fresh and fruity and it granular enough to make me feel like I’m really scrubbing away the dirt and icky skin cells, but body-butter soft enough to feel luxe. 
And that’s how easy it is to please me, folks. Surely that’s not a bad thing?
What are your little pleasures? And how do you deal with dry Winter skin, I am so curious about what other people use!

Fox in Flats Hair Dare: round 2

I do love a good dare. Not the kind involving risque behaviour at a Hen’s Night, but a good Style Dare. I need style dares occasionally to get out out of a rut, to try something new, and to see what everyone else is
up to!

Not my best work last year

Enter the awesome Fox in Flats Hair Dare! Last year, I only managed to style my hair differently for five days before I resorted to my staple hairstyle, the ponytail. This year I’m determined to nail it, with a little pre-planning, a bunch of hair accessories, and my new favourite hairstyling tool… my new GHD Wonderland Straightener.
For my baby-fine poker-straight hair, straighteners have always been slightly unnecessary, and because my hair doesn’t love to hold a curl, it can be pointless me trying to fancy it up with heated hair styling tools. 
I am standing here before you this morning however, to proclaim that this time, it’ll be different. I am going to get this Hair Dare done, and I will provide you with photographic evidence on the way, as well as a blog post next week showing all the hairstyles I tried (both the successful and not-so-successful)!
If you’re interested in playing along, you can join in on Facebook, Instagram or your blog, sharing your hairstyle selfies with the hashtag #foxinflatshairdare.