My blogspiration

Monday, March 3, 2014

Slimbliss ~ seeing what the fuss is about...

In my quest to be healthier and, ahem, obtain a flat stomach, I decided to give Slimbliss a shot. Slimbliss is one of those detox teas that everyone's been hearing so much about lately. There are a few different ones on the market and they all basically say/ do the same thing:
* to reduce bloating
* to minimize sugar cravings
* to feel fuller for longer
* to assist in losing weight
* to gently detox the body of nasties


Does it even work? I know a lot of people have been asking this, as at $19, it is most definitely an expensive tea, especially if it doesn't yield any results. I decided to do this, not to lose weight, but to reduce bloating (yay, flat stomach) and to stop my sugar cravings. I decided Slimbliss was the one to try as it is the cheapest one I could find, (not being a tightass, but for being experimental = very expensive tea).

Initial thoughts:
I was so excited to receive it and ripped open and had a cup right away. It had a very clean, fresh taste. Closest to peppermint but not a strong taste. Very pleasant. (I'm used to drinking green tea).

After a week:
My stomach definitely feels less bloated. I wake up with a flat stomach which is what I wanted. My sugar cravings have definitely decreased. Instead of wanting/ eating chocolate almost everyday, I've eaten it once and that was out of it being there, wanting to just finish it off and boredom. I haven't really noticed a difference in regards to feeling fuller quicker/ for longer, but it's still early days I guess.

After the 14 days:
I really love this tea and have definitely been recommending it to everyone who wants to know about it/ will listen to my spiel. I definitely have a flat stomach from it and my sugar cravings definitely were not what they usually are. I didn't feel fuller at all but I definitely ate much healthier with the thought of it in the back of my mind. I have repurchased and am waiting for my second pack to arrive I love it that much. I highly recommend it!


As with any detox tea, a clean diet and exercise always works best alongside it to see maximum results. I personally hate/ don't exercise so all results are followed with a clean diet only.

Slimbliss detox tea
RRP: $19
Available: Slimbliss.com.au
Postage: free within Australia. I ordered on a Friday/ Saturday and received it on the second Monday after ordering (5 business days. 1 public holiday in amongst that time).


My morning healthy smoothie + routine

I've been doing this for a while, and I do feel better for it. I do feel more energised and just, healthier. I am starting to read up more about having/ achieving an alkaline body (vs a toxis acidic body), and my morning ritual is definitely on the right track to doing that.

My morning routine:
* 1 glass of warm water with lemon
* 1 glass of cold water with 1-2tsp of Swisse Chlorophyll
* 1 morning smoothie (or if I'm lazy the night before, a bowl of oats with almond milk and fruit)


This is my morning go-to, healthy, breakfast smoothie. I make this nearly every night, ready to kick start my morning off on the right foot...

200ml coconut water
2 tsp coconut oil
1/3 can of pineapple
1/2 can of pineapple juice (from above)
1 large handful of spinach leaves
1/3 cucumber
Small amount of ginger

Put above in blender and wiz away to a smooth consistency. I do prefer mine slightly chunkier as I hear that "chewing" your smoothie actually prepares your stomach for better digestion. I also do drink this as a "meal".


* Chlorophyll is available at the supermarket, health food stores and priceline.
RRP: usually around the $20 mark



Wednesday, March 13, 2013

It's already Autumn, apparently...

So if you live in Adelaide, you know that it's been stinking hot and the signs of summer haven't gone away (hello 35* days!?). However, pretty soon autumn will be settling in and will be that start of the warmer wear. I, myself know that I'll need all the warm clothes I can get as I feel the cold easily. So pants it is. I'm pretty ecstatic that leather is in once again so i'll be bringing out my sexy leather wear when the time is appropriate. However for now, something a little more lightweight should do the trick. As the world knows, I'm a glitter/ sequin lover to the max (unicorns anyone?), so I thought these are extremely me and extremely appropriate! I am expecting these to be delivered Thursday due to the extremely timely shipping from The Iconic and will update me in my new shiny pants by the end of the week. I'm just so darn excited that I wanted to share!




Available from: Bardot & The Iconic
RRP: $79.95

BONUS: For this month, if you purchase anything from The Iconic you can get 20% off your purchase by typing COSMO4U20 into the coupon code. Enjoy! X

Monday, March 11, 2013

All things beauty...

So, along the path of me growing up and becoming wiser in my journey through life, I've also realised that MAC isn't the be all end all of cosmetics (shock horror!) and have pledged to myself to be more experimental with other brands and share a bit of that love. Also to realise that high end brands also aren't the be all of all things created (I am/was a bit of a product snob, I'll be honest).

I guess I realised I have wayyyy too much makeup for 5 people, let alone myself, hence why I stopped buying makeup (MAC especially). I haven't bought makeup (minus the basics/staples) for almost 2 years. Yeah that's crazy. In this time, I have hit pan on 1 (yes only 1!) item, Stila's Kitten eyeshadow. Isn't that just a teeny tiny bit disgraceful? Lol. In this absence of purchasing, 2 things have occured since my makeup binging days. MAC do the whole "animal testing" thing now (well, not quite but may as well...) and my closest MAC counter, the girls aren't so crash hot (think not knowing products, leave customers waiting whilst doing full makeovers on customers kinda thing). I'll be honest, if you haven't already guessed, I've become soured. Yes, soured by MAC. (If my mother heard, I think she would drop dead!

Now I guess they've done it for years but I'm finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I went in to buy something from the new Archie range. I went in to purchase something, anything. I feel like a recovering drug addict with MAC, walk in with the intent to purchase something then leave realising, no you do not need another friggin piece of makeup! Anyway, I kinda wanted the powders but have too much blush so I picked up a lipstick. It was amazing. It's that perfect pink coral shade that's bright but not too bright. Delicious. (It was Betty Bright by the way). So I swatched it. Ummm hello Costa Chic, where have you been hiding? Yes, it's basically an exact dupe. So after picking up the matching  lipglass (again, just wanted to purchase SOMETHING), and waiting 15 minutes to be served (on my lunch break too), I decided (or the universe did, I can't quite tell) that I really didn't need it that badly. Put it down, walked out and then came up with the ingenious idea to shop my stash (so clever I know).  So from now on, (minus the Too Faced sweetheart pearls, i MUST own them. they are heartshaped people, HEARTSHAPED!!!) I'll be shopping my stash for a long while, coming up with some rediscovered gems that I've long forgotten about! I'm quite excited about this and in the process, I'll be able to explore more creative looks that I've long forgotten! So shop my stash here we come! So far these are the gems I've rediscovered:

MAC Costa Chic lipstick (it's perfect and one of my faves!)
Bobbi Brown Nectar shimmer brick (going for a coral theme here)
MAC Gana blush
MAC A Rose is a Rosé quad (I KNOW! I completely forgot about this beauty!)

Well that's it so far... As the month progresses, I will do a post about what else I find!


In the meantime, I want to know this:

Tell me, what surprising awesome "low end" brands/ products do you think are amazeballs? Share them with me! X

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Glasshouse candles: Tahaa

Now I'll be honest. I love candles. Especially highly fragranced ones and ESPECIALLY glittery ones. Now Glasshouse candles have been around for quite a while, you've probably noticed them walking past Peter Alexander, taking in as much of that caramelly, delicious scent as you can, probably not even knowing what THAT scent is. I was that person until probably a year ago, I HAD to know what it was. They showed me, and I've been hooked since. Tahaa, the creme de la creme of caramel fragrances as far as caramel goes (in my eyes anyway...).

Tahaa is caramel and vanilla scented (2 of my faves!). It is extremely rich in fragrance (triple scented) and really is value for money. These babies are pricy as far as candles go but are worth every.single.dollar! They come in 2 sizes, 60g or 350g with up to 80 hours burn time.

Glasshouse make a wide range of delicious fragrances and if I can stop myself buying Tahaa then ill be sure to check out the other delicious scents, (I think Rio De Janiro will be next!)




Available: Peter Alexander, David Jones or browse Glasshousefragrances.com for stockists.
RRP: $16.99 (60g), $34.99 (350g) 
Burn time: 20 hours and 80 hours respectively. 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Kardashian Kollection at eQuip?

So since I've been gone the Kardashian family has grown immensely in the way of popularity. We all know the Kardashian's and would probably be lying if we said we didn't slightly envy their lifestyle/ cash. With a career change that has seen me move into retail, I thought, why don't I bring you the inside scoop of one of the Kardashian's newest ventures to Australia with their EXCLUSIVE range of jewellery to eQuip? Now I do realise that it has been out for almost a month already and I'm sure most of you have seen it, so I'm a bit late with the first collection but due to me working at eQuip, I can continue to let you in on when its due to be released and what exciting things were getting in.

Some details in case you don't already know:

EQuip are EXCLUSIVE to have the Kardashian Kollection jewellery range in Australia. 
Tea Tree Plaza store (in SA) also do stock the bags and purses.
Strandbags do also stock the Kardashian Kollection bags. I know that a lot of people who would be interested in the bags don't go to strand bags as it is seen as less of a "hip" store and more likely to carry suitcases and the like. Well GO IN THERE! 

Another random tidbit: Kim does not feature on the promo banners for the KK jewellery range due to her commitment with her own jewellery label Belle Noel. (I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wondered... ;))

RRP: $20-35
Available: EXCLUSIVE to eQuip!!! Come in and see the Kollection in person so we can have a play together, or alternatively, if you don't have an eQuip store near you...

Buy Kardashian Kollection here...


My favourite pieces:

Metal bars ring: $19.99


Plate segment necklace: $24.99

Are you guys down with the Kardashian train or do you find them "overrated"? Did you get any pieces from this collection? Let me know in the comments!

Mel xx



Welcome back!

So, it's been just under 2 years since I did anything with this blog. Why I'm back: I simply forgot about it when life got busy. I've been thinking about it more and more recently and I really do miss it. I've grown up a lot in the past 2 years and feel like maybe I have more to contribute than rehashing the new collections that every other blog did, which is why I'm adding more to my blog in the way of fashion and food bites and other random things I think of that may be useful or interesting. I've grown out of makeup a little bit as my life over the past year or so has felt like a whirlwind of events, new career changes is the biggest thing. I now have different goals and different priorities which happens as you mature and grow which is what I've been through and am currently and continuously doing. I've taken a more healthy approach to life hence the fitness, health and nutrition side of things I'd like to bring. I always swore I'd never become a lettuce leafer and I haven't completely turned that way (I do still enjoy *cough devour cough* a block of chocolate every now and again), but its definitely more of a focus in my life. I always used to have a strict "plan" of how I wanted my life. I'm currently "floating" around a bit and I'm loving it and enjoying life MUCH more which I think is more important on the grand scheme of things. Anyways, I'm back and thought I'd re-introduce myself as I take you along this new journey with me and see where this blog ends up.

See you all soon,
Mel xx