Caring for cuticles (Guest Author)

It’s such a lovely, satisfying feeling to have a well-cared for body – exfoliated, purified, hydrated & moistened.  But how often are we able to luxuriate in that feeling?  Mostly, we simply don’t seem to find the time or have the energy.   Is there an answer?  To some extent, there is – it’s convenience.  If something is “convenient” we tend to do it.   This is why I always keep a small cosmetic bag close by when watching tv – even if it’s just the news!  My cosmetic bag contains cuticle...

Coconut Lovin' Bath Bliss

I love a bath. I probably have a bath a minimum of once a month if not twice a month. If this ever comes up in conversation with others I get an ‘OMG’ reaction that it is so frequent. I did say I love a bath. Besides, it’s not that frequent compared to my hubby who I doubt would go a week without at least one bath, if not two. Yes, we are a big bath loving little family.   I love to have baths with bubbles and other products like oils & salts etc.  I really don’t know if I would bother with a bath if it didn’t have...

Re-use Candle Glasses/Jars

Candles can be beautiful. They can make a house a home with their scent and ambience.  I spend many evenings and nights with the only light being that of my candles burning.   There are so many styles - from the glass they are contained in or the wax they are made with. The choice seems endless. I continue to find brands I have never heard of.   Like many, I am attracted to how the candle looks. Sometimes I am lucky enough to be given candles to try them out. I accumulate so many empty glass containers and am always...

Treat your hands with Crabtree & Evelyn

I’m rough on my hands and I don’t look after them. I have no good excuse for not treating them with a little care; I am surrounded by products day in/day out designed to treat and pamper.  So I have decided to treat my usually neglected hands.  I have chosen Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Recovery followed by Crabtree &Evelyn Hand Therapy - both in the scent of La Source.   Hand Recovery is basically a hand scrub. Hand Therapy is basically a moisturising hand cream.     ·        I...

Illamasqua Purchases

I was in Melbourne CBD for work recently and squeezed in a little retail therapy whilst I was there. I thought I would, along the way, pick up some more foundation. Alas, this did not happen. I could not get any service. No-one was around to assist at the brand I wanted plus the ladies at the neighbouring counters couldn’t/wouldn’t help me. A disappointing situation that I find more and more frequent. I should just find a foundation that is available at an independent retailer so as to avoid this kind of frustration and disappointment.   However good...

Little Village Market Elwood

For a year now the Little Village Market Elwood has been running.  It’s on a few times a year when school holidays are on.   I had a stall myself at the very first one. It was a great experience. It was my first market stall anywhere and what a great one to have as a first. The people organising the market and the fellow stall holders were all lovely.  I’ve since developed a friendship with the organiser and brains behind it all, Bella. She is all round a lovely, lovely person.  My stall at Little Village...

AHAVA favourites (Guest Author)

A number of years ago a customer walked into my shop with an empty soap wrapper.  The soap had been a gift from her grandson from his travels.  She asked if I was familiar with the brand and whether or not I could source the product.  The brand was AHAVA.  This led me on my own journey of discovery into the fascinating world of the Dead Sea and the wonderful benefits of the minerals it contains.   AHAVA products focus on hydration, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory agents and stimulation of the skin cells to...

Comfy Walnut Shoes

Walnut Shoes could just be the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned!   I bought myself a pair Walnut shoes for the first time. I chose a pair of plain black leather ballet flats. “Oh how boring!” I can hear you saying. All I can say to that is practicality wins sometimes. I find black flats versatile and easy to slip on when in a rush.  Walnut shoes all have little details, so my plain black ballet flats have subtle stitching and elastic features that I love.   My Walnut ballet flats are sensationally...

New fragrance range from Crabtree & Evelyn

Himalayan Blue is the newest offering from Crabtree & Evelyn.  The range includes an EDT and body products.           The inspiration behind this new release was the search for the mythical blue poppy in the heart of the Himalayas by British explorers of days gone by.   The fragrance is a blend of smoked black tea, warm ginger and spices, golden champaca (magnolia), and base notes of patchouli and exotic woods.           I mostly love patchouli...

L'Occitane Training

I consider myself fortunate that I stock L’Occitane en Provence. I am truly a lover of many of their products and their ethics. There is no shortage of promotions, support with merchandising and training.         I have recently attended my second training session with L’Occitane. It was a full day of sampling and trying their lovely products. We watched mini movies by L’Occitane, youtube clips and did a little note taking along the way.   There was a certain amount of the day that was just a refresher/reminder...